Veterans Be Real

John Wayne Troxell is a retired United States Army senior non-commissioned officer who served as the third Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This position made him the most senior enlisted member of the United States Armed Forces.

He is the owner and founder of PME Hard Consulting, LLC. He is also the Personal Brand Ambassador of Hiring Our Heroes, the Brand Ambassador of Veteran’s Lending Group, the Brand Endorser of ESS, the Strategic Consultant of Alpha Warrior, Vice President for Strategic Planning of DFND USA, the Military Consultant of Film 45, Advisory Board Chairman of Fit Ops Foundation, Advisory Board Member of Allied Forces Foundation, and Advisory Board Member of The Patriot Foundation.

In this episode, Sgt. BeReal talks to John about his life experience in and out of the Military. They will discuss the importance of mental health and physical fitness to reduce the rate of the Veteran suicide epidemic by providing purpose when they transition in the civilian world.

Join us in this episode of Veterans Be Real and remove that guilt and anger which piles up and leads to depression. We’ll also know how to be there for our brothers and give them the support to continue to have a purpose in life.

Key Points:

Connect with John Wayne:

https://fitops.org/

https://www.hiringourheroes.org/

https://dfndusa.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheAlphaWarrior/

http://www.film-45.com/

https://alliedforcesfoundation.org/

https://www.patriotfoundation.com/

Connect With Sgt. 1st Class (SFC) John Valentine:

Website:

https://veteransbereal.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/veteransbereal/

Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/veterans-be-real/id1507792755

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave us a 5 star written review on iTunes.

Army Veteran Boone Cutler is an author, columnist, music video director, and Warfighter Rights leader. He holds the distinguished honor of being the first nationally recognized radio talk show personality who is also a combat veteran from the current war.

Boone began writing his Iraq War-inspired autobiographical account of what he experienced, Voodoo in Sadr City, during his combat tour in Iraq, and completed it during his two-year recovery from wartime injuries at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, during the Neglect Scandal of 2007.

In 2011, his show Tipping Point with Boone Cutler was launched, providing a weekly platform for Boone’s raw Paratrooper, no-holds-barred style. The show quickly becoming a hit over the airwaves and online, with an audience of fellow Warfighters and curious mainstream American listeners.

In June 2014, Tipping Point with Boone Cutler began its partnership with KNEWS 107.3 FM in Reno, NV airing for three hours every Saturday.

In this episode, Sgt. BeReal and Boone will talk about how to prepare when you are getting out of the Military and why one must be prepared mentally just like when you're going in. They will also discuss the difference between Military and civilian life.

Join us in this episode of Veteran Be Real and listen to Boone and Sgt. BeReal as they tackle what needs to be done when you’re getting out of the Military and when you’re already out. We will also know how important it is to establish rapport and build relationships with people to expand your network.

Key points

Identity crisis

Anger, Depression Suicide, PTSD, and Support System   

Build a plan to stay in and a plan to get out

Find people that can help you

Networking thru social media using a professional platform like Linkedin

Your network is your value to people

Take responsibility/respect one's network

You manage your time, you manage your life, and you can’t manage your life if you're not managing your time

3 types of leadership in the Military: Delegatory, Participative, and Directive

Be your own SGT and build an internal squad

Be likable to as many people as you can and have a clean reputation

Health, Medications, Regular Exercise, Low Sugar Diet, Cannabinoids, Staying Active, and Exercise Modification

Be likable as you can to as many people as possible

Connect with Boone:

https://boonecutler.com/

https://gallantfew.org/

Connect With Sgt. 1st Class (SFC) John Valentine:

Website:

https://veteransbereal.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/veteransbereal/

Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/veterans-be-real/id1507792755

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave us a 5 star written review on iTunes.

Sandra Hardy has over 20 years of Human Resource Management Experience, MBA Human Resource Management, Retired Military Veteran, Public Speaker, and over 20 years of career development experience. She brings not only an educational experience but life experience to the table. Her passion is helping women to reach their full potential in life, and empowering women to become victorious in their journey is her life's goal.

As a human resource in the Military, she's the one in charge of all the soldiers' records, promotions, and insurance. She has to adapt to being in the field as a woman and had worries about her hygiene and how to clean herself. When she became an NCO, she really had to step up as a woman. Her transition to the civilian world was slow but gave her a chance to adapt and adjust.

In this episode, Sgt. BeReal talks to Sandra about her experiences with her Military and civilian life. Sandra will share her baby steps in transitioning to the civilian world and how she overcame her struggles. They also talked about not letting someone or something stop you from feeling and enjoying being a woman.

Let's join them and know how you can be both a woman and a Military. We'll also know some ways to adapt and learn things as we are transitioning to the civilian world.

Key Points:

Single parent

Baby steps to the civilian world

Learned how to say please and thank you

When in Military, it's like - do this and do that

She has to tone down as a supervisor

Find ways to adapt

Worries on how to look and what to wear

Women military shouldn't let someone stop you from feeling and enjoying being a woman

Connect with Sandra:

Website:

https://bootztoheelz.com/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-hardy-35019a49/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Bz2Hz

Connect With Sgt. 1st Class (SFC) John Valentine:

Website:

https://veteransbereal.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/veteransbereal/

Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/veterans-be-real/id1507792755

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave us a 5 star written review on iTunes.

United States Army Sergeant Major Dave Poist is a charismatic Head Coach with a demonstrated history of working in the military industry. Skilled in Microsoft Word, Operational Planning, English, Management, and Training. He is a strong professional with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) focused on Sports Business MGMT from Saint Leo University.

He has been in the Army for 30 years and wants to be a full-time dad and husband after he retires. He is also into coaching little league kids and is open for opportunities of being a coach for high schools. Sgt. Major Dave Poist believes that with PTSD come underlying problems like substance abuse – alcohol and drugs. He also believes that PTSD can lead to depression and suicide.

In this episode, Sgt. BeReal talks to Sgt. Major Dave Poist about his experiences as an Army and his plans after getting out of the Military. They also tackled PTSD and some healthy ways to help someone that has this condition.

Let’s listen to them and share the knowledge that we will gain so we’ll know how to help someone make an effort to be sober, change their life, and gain self-respect again.

Key Points:

Wants to be a full-time dad and husband

Advocating for veterans making sure they are safe

PTSD is not a disease, it's a condition

We don't leave a guy fallen in the battlefield, we also don't leave a guy fallen in the civilian sector, we pick them up, we clean them up and get him moving

With PTSD comes underlying problems like substance abuse (alcohol and drugs)

He is addicted to getting angry because it pushed him to do whatever he wants

Learned to stay calm, drugs and alcohol were demons

Listen to your wife/family

Make an effort, be sober and change your life

PTSD can lead to depression, suicide

A healthy way to help someone is to explain that you are not judging them, you are there to listen

Connect with Sgt. Major Dave:

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-%E2%80%9Cdavid%E2%80%9D-poist-jr-81ab9676/

Connect With Sgt. 1st Class (SFC) John Valentine:

Website:

https://veteransbereal.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/veteransbereal/

Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/veterans-be-real/id1507792755

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave us a 5 star written review on iTunes.

April Lewis is an Army veteran and a dynamic speaker and Mental Fitness Coach. As a teacher of healthy living, happiness, and high-performance she can help you, or your team, de-clutter mindsets to get the results you want. She teaches proven principles to improve the performance of an organization's greatest asset - the people. She also teaches the "how" when motivation wears off and equip you with tools you can use when "life" happens.

She was the one who called the Military at the age of 15 and the first one in her family to join the Military. She lost a fellow soldier and a loved one that gave her PTSD which led to addiction and behaviour issues.

In this episode, Sgt. BeReal talks to April about her experiences as an Army and her transition out of the Military. They also talked about how people act depending on their mindset and how to be engaged and be an optimal employee.

Let’s listen to this episode and find out why April joined the Military, her experience and life after the Military. We’ll also know how to take care of the “human” and teach them their job.

Key Notes:

Was the one who called the Military at the age of 15

First one to join the Military

Losing a fellow soldier and a loved one gave her PTSD which led to addiction and behaviour issues

See the "why" behind the work that they do, take care of themselves first, so they can show up to work and be engaged and be an optimal employee

Take care of the human and teach them their job

People act depending on their mindset

Connect to April:

Website:

https://www.aprillewis.com/

Connect With Sgt. 1st Class (SFC) John Valentine:

Website:

https://veteransbereal.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/veteransbereal/

Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/veterans-be-real/id1507792755

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave us a 5 star written review on iTunes.

Army veteran James McNeil is an experienced motivational speaker and author as well as the founder and owner of the Inspirational Connection, bringing you the best patriotic and inspirational products.

James is the author of Finding Your Personal Mission, it chronicles the obstacles people face when they have suicidal thoughts.

In this episode, Sgt BeReal and James will talk about the suicidal minds of veterans. James explains the reasons why many people commit or attempt suicide and can provide professional help to overcome it.

Let's listen to them to gain more information about suicidal attempts, how to get rid of it, and how James can be of assistance to you or to someone you know.

Key Points:

Had 2 different suicide attempts

Reaching out does not make you a failure, it gets you healed

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, asking for help is true strength

The value of having a battle buddy

You can't do it by yourself when you go out of the Military

Your story is not over yet

Connect with James:

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmcneil/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/james.mcneil

Book:

Finding Your Personal Mission

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.ca/Finding-Your-Personal-Mission-Transforming-ebook/dp/B088MLR58M

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/findyourpersonalmission/

Connect With Sgt. 1st Class (SFC) John Valentine:

Website:

https://veteransbereal.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/veteransbereal/

Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/veterans-be-real/id1507792755

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave us a 5 star written review on iTunes.

Denny Katona enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 1993.  After serving seven years as an Armor crewman, he became an active-duty Army National Guard recruiter in 2000. In 2002, Denny transferred to the Regular Army as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Non-Commissioned Officer.  Denny deployed in 2003 for the Invasion of Iraq and again in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also deployed in 2011 to Japan in support of Operation Tomadachi, providing relief efforts after the earthquake and tsunami that hit in March 2011.

After being honorably discharged in 2012 as Staff Sergeant, Denny applied his operational planning experience to a career as a project manager.  A discipline that he has applied in both the Information Technology and Manufacturing industries.

Since leaving the Army, Denny has dedicated himself to serving the Veteran Community.  He has planned coordinated and executed fundraising events for Praying for Kaelie, Fisher House, Austin Dog Alliance, and the CPL Chad O. Foundation.  Throughout the planning and execution of these many events, Denny saw the need to bring the Veteran non-profit community together to better serve area Veterans.  Denny developed the concept, planned, and networked, bringing together over 50 nonprofits, veteran service organizations, and veteran-owned businesses for the inaugural Vet Fest Austin in November 2016. In the spirit of that collaboration and community, Denny, along with members of the Vet Fest team founded O.P. Veteran in order to lighten the ruck of area veterans and at the same time assist nonprofits to maximize their impact upon the Veteran Community.

In this episode, Sgt. BeReal chats to Denny about his experiences as an Army and after transitioning out of the Military. Denny didn’t truly know who he was after he got out of the Military. They also discussed that when you are medically discharged, you won’t have a timetable to plan your transition.

Let’s listen to them and know how Denny figured out who he really was and also know how he can help veterans with his project management skills.

Key Notes:

A medical discharge doesn't have a timetable to plan your transition

Didn't know who he really is after he got out of the Military

Saw the need to bring the Veteran non-profit community together to better serve area Veterans

Assist non-profits to maximize their impact upon the Veteran Community

Connect With Denny:

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/denny-katona/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/denny.katona

Vet Fest Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/LVNKVetFest

Connect With Sgt. 1st Class (SFC) John Valentine:

Website:

https://veteransbereal.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/veteransbereal/

Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/veterans-be-real/id1507792755

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave us a 5 star written review on iTunes.

Matt Hesse is the Founder and CEO of FIT OPS, an innovative health and wellness company.

With a background ranging from athletics to the military, as well as owning and operating a chain of nutritional retail outlets. Matt has combined his lifelong passion for health and nutrition education with savvy marketing platforms to launch successful, pioneering brands such as PERFORMIX, Training Day, and ORB Wellness.

Matt leads FIT OPS and its brands with a determination to evolve the wellness space. Offering honest, straight forward products and services which help users create a healthier lifestyle. Matt is intensely involved in the veteran community, and his mission in helping veterans find a healthy transition from the military into fitness, this is his greatest passion.

In this episode, Sgt. Be Real talks to Matt about his experiences during and after the Military. They also discussed that many veterans tend to forget the importance of physical fitness after they got out.

Let's listen to them and find an opportunity to refocus, find a purpose, and live that purpose. We will also know about Fitops, it was founded on the belief that fitness is transformative to every aspect of our lives. To be humble and hungry for success in being our physical best is a mindset that can be brought into both personal and professional relationships.

Key Notes:

Creating a better transitioning program for veterans

Veterans tend to forget the importance of physical fitness after they got out

Lost of purpose can really affect veterans after transitioning out of the Military

The Military gave him leadership skills

Connect With Matt:

https://www.instagram.com/matt_hesse/?hl=en

Fitops:

https://fitops.org/

https://www.facebook.com/FitOpsFoundation

Connect With Sgt. 1st Class (SFC) John Valentine:

Website:

https://veteransbereal.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/veteransbereal/

Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/veterans-be-real/id1507792755

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave us a 5 star written review on iTunes.

Rolande Sumner is the creator of the Triple-A Approach veteran retention and engagement designed to help organizations retain their good veteran hires after they’ve been recruited.

LASTCo's CEO and Veteran Employment Retention Consultant, Rolande Sumner, is a US Army Retiree, Business Development Consultant, Author, Speaker, and Trainer with 24 years of Leadership, Management, Human Resources, Administration, Coaching, and Consulting expertise. Rolande is also a best-selling author of Behind The Rank Vol. 3.

Rolande has created an unparalleled signature program to transform veteran acclimation, facilitate veteran advancement, and develop veteran alignment so stakeholders coexist in the workplace productivity, resulting in an emotionally healthy and financially secure partnership. She has successfully transitioned veterans out of the military and into productive careers and fulfilling lives.

In this episode, Sgt. BeReal talks to Rolande about her experiences while in the Military and after she got out. They discussed that fear is one of the reasons why you don't do the things that you are exceptional at.

Let's listen to them and know Rolande's challenges and how she overcame it. We'll also know how Rolande can help us with our transition and live a fulfilling life through productive careers.

Key Notes:

Involved in a mortar attack while on a convoy

Had a challenging Military experience

Got fired in just 2 months from an HR job

Veterans are amazing entrepreneurs by nature

Having a mentor and coach brings a connection to each other

Fear can control your life

Professional Development

Connect With Rolande:

Website:

Life After Service Transitional Coaching

https://lastco.vet/

Group:

Vetpreneur Tribe

https://www.facebook.com/groups/vetpreneur

Connect With Sgt. 1st Class (SFC) John Valentine:

Website:

https://veteransbereal.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/veteransbereal/

Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/veterans-be-real/id1507792755

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave us a 5 star written review on iTunes.

Lane Belone is the Co-Founder at Quality Of Life Enterprises and Founder at Increase Freedom. He helps others do more of what they really want in life.

Lane is the lead on high-performance training and Implementer of the HIT and QOL movement. He also trains entrepreneurs to develop a “flow state” to perform their best in business. Lane is applying the Special Forces mindset to business to dominate their industry and extract individual purpose to then express fundamental purpose via business.

In this episode, Sgt. BeReal and Lane talk about how to prepare and why it's important to have a plan when you transition out of the Military. They also talked about the book - Unleash Your Humble Alpha and how it can help us.

Let's listen to them and get lots and lots of information about transitioning out of the Military and how to humble ourselves to get the results that we want in life.

Key Notes:

Gave himself 12 months from the day he got out (planned everything on those 12 months)

Setting up a plan gives yourself opportunities for adjustments

It's not about who you were, it's about who you are now

Transitioning out of the Military is very challenging and it has many hurdles

Connect With Lane:

Facebook.com:

https://www.facebook.com/lane.belone

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanebelone/

Book:

Unleash Your Humble Alpha

https://humblealphabook.com/

Non-Profit:

Generosity Feeds

Vetpreneur Tribe:

https://vetpreneurtribe.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/vetpreneur/

Connect With Sgt. 1st Class (SFC) John Valentine:

Website:

https://veteransbereal.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/veteransbereal/

Apple Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/veterans-be-real/id1507792755

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave us a 5 star written review on iTunes.