#YearOfTheVet

Manny Garcia finally joins the #YearOfTheVet family to open up about his transition journey from his past life of 9-years in the Marine Reserves, to the life of a Student Veteran...itching to re-enlist.

But don't let the "R" word fool ya. He wasn't just a weekend warrior looking to fight for college credits. Manny lived, breathed, and engulfed himself into the life of an active duty Marine; volunteering for as many deployments as possible—finding himself walking on the same path as many active duty Marines find themselves after falling in the rabbit hole... looking for himself in all the wrong spots.

Getting Manny to be as socially vulnerable as he was in this conversation, was a gift... and I hope this episode is able to connect with you and convey the reasons why I coerced him to join me.

I met Manny at California State University Northridge, in the CSUN Veterans Resource Center—where Manny aides veterans map their way through college and into their new lives as student veterans into life outside of the schoolhouse as the Student Administration Support Assistant. As a natural leader, Manny found himself taking on the role as President of the Veteran fraternity Sigma Tau Alpha (ΣΤΑ), where working with a skeleton crew, he still managed to create and implement an annually hosted 5K that supports The Soldiers Project, a 501(c)(3) devoted to helping the veteran and their families by providing free counseling services.

Manny and I talk about the road the lead him from HMLA-775 to the Intel community. We also explore the mindset of going back into the service after separating... but more importantly we talk about purpose, identity, and how easy it is to find yourself not being true to yourself.

The conversation between the two of us takes us into an area of solution... more-so for Manny, but a solution that could possibly help others get past their demons, and get out of their own way. For Manny, this absolutely requires discipline, routine, as well as a thirst for knowledge.

Once again... from this conversation I hope that you pull, that like many others who've served, Manny is a veteran who does not often share emotions—nor venture far outside of his circle of trust. And to have Manny come on to #YearOfTheVet, I am honored that this is the platform that a veteran of this caliber can come and open up for others that follow behind him to potentially learn from, by relating to.


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Show Notes

 Pre-Marine Corps Manny (11:09)

 Keeping a small circle (12:54)

 Joining the Corps… in a Mexican family (13:28)

 The road from Aviation Mechanic Technician to Intel guy (18:00)

 That moment when you thought you knew someone, and then they blow your mind with “let’s scratch that” (20:57)

 Just because you’re a reservist… (22:34)

 Reserve/Life Balance (23:46)

 The end of an era (24:48)

 The “Break Up” (26:46)

 Hey HQMC, I know you’re listening… (27:49)

 Leaders are Magnetic (30:19)

 Identity (32:23)

 Shout out to Tim Ferris (35:16)

 Books, Books, Books (35:37)

 You can take the boy out the Corps (40:58)

 Manny’s Daily Routine (42:26)

 I don’t read so good…(43:53)

 “Of Mice and Men” Spoiler Alert… (45:02)

 Explaining “Work Study” (45:48)

 The Veteran Resource Center East Coast WORLD TOUR… (47:00)

 The reason you should EAS and move to Connecticut (47:32)

 The Birth of the Beard, and the Re-Birth of Manny (49:10)

 “Who is that person in the mirror?” (52:48)

 Tipping back the bottle (55:35)

 The next big thing (1:02:01)

 Manny’s advice to those separating from the service (1:05:36)

 Guidance to Recruit Garcia (1:09:43)

 Ask those that have been in your shoes…(1:12:33)

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Shout Outs:

 Jimmy Guevara

 HMLA-775

 John Bui

 Jun

 Tim Ferris

 Capt. Timothy Jones

"In war, destruction is everywhere. It eats everything around you. Sometimes it eats at you." —Major Scott Huesing, Echo Company Commander

From the winter of 2006 through the spring of 2007, two-hundred-fifty Marines from Echo Company, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines fought daily in the dangerous, dense city streets of Ramadi, Iraq during the Multi-National Forces Surge ordered by President George W. Bush. The Marines' mission: to kill or capture anti-Iraqi forces. Their experience: like being in Hell.

During his career spanning ten deployments, he operated in over 60 countries worldwide. Throughout his numerous deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa he planned, led, and conducted hundreds of combat missions under some of the most austere and challenging conditions.

Scott is a published author since 2005. Echo in Ramadi is a snapshot in time that changed the face of operations on the battlefield; a captivating story of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines during the Second Battle of Ramadi in support of the Multi-National Forces (MNF) Surge Strategy in 2006. His true-life account provides keen insights into what may be an unfamiliar world to readers, but very familiar to those, like Scott, who lived it and endured this historic fight.

Echo in Ramadi is a firsthand account of the U.S. Marines as they fought in the deadliest city of Iraq. He conducted over 75 interviews with his Marines, soldiers and Gold Star families to honor their sacrifices both on and off the battlefield. His story shares not only the firefights and friction but also the tragic aftermath of war and healing of those that continue to battle with the effects of Post Traumatic Stress.

The foreword, written by Major General James Livingston (Medal of Honor Recipient), Vietnam Veteran and former Echo Company Commander, speaks volumes. Praise for Echo in Ramadi includes LtCol Oliver North, political commentator and host of War Stories on the Fox News Channel. Dale Dye, Actor, and decorated Vietnam Veteran. Best-selling authors Bing West, Jack Coughlin, Robin Hutton, Charles Sasser. Most important to Scott are the endorsements from his Marines and Chris Libby, Gold Star brother of Corporal Dustin J. Libby (KIA 6 December 2006). Echo in Ramadi was written to honor the sacrifices and spirit of his Marines and the families they supported - it is his tribute to them and honor to tell this great story. Readers will no doubt feel the pain, emotion, laughter, intensity, and friction that Scott describes in unvarnished detail.

We discuss his career path from enlisted Marine to an officer as he led Echo Company through the bloody streets of Ramadi - and the qualities that ultimately shaped his leadership style and decisions to write about this historic battle.

He shares his process of writing. Describing how putting pen to paper can serve as an outlet for others to heal - helping veterans cope with and share the unnatural acts they faced on the battlefield.

Scott describes with humility how he learned from his examples of leadership over the span of his career - both good and bad. Listeners will also gain perspective on the importance of learning from the living warriors from the past battles and how to tap into those of the Greatest Generation while they are still alive. He shares his network skills and how to leverage tools and programs available to veteran artists, such as The Veterans Writer’s Project to help move forward with personal goals in writing, speaking, and life.

Finally, Scott talks about his charity, Save the Brave, a certified 501(c)3 serving as the Executive Director. Connecting veterans through outreach bringing service members together to share camaraderie long after they leave the service and no longer wear the uniform. Providing outreach programs provided by Stoked on Fishing hosted by Fox West Sports.

Along with his selfless work with Save the Brave, he is also the President of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines Association, a non-profit that helps Veterans and active duty Marines and is the Vice President on the Board of the KD Poynter Legacy Foundation to provide funds and support to all Veterans. He is a sought-out public speaker and a member of Bravo 748, a military speaking consortium and a featured author with Patriot Authors Unsung online magazine.

I had a great conversation with Scott, and from it—I can easily see why if anyone can show the world that heroes are real… he is the one to do it.

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Show Notes

 Pre-Marine Corps Huesing (08:39)

 I try to get Scott’s recipe for leadership (10:50)

 Filling voids (12:48)

 Scott’s decision to go to college (15:00)

 A calling to serve (15:57)

 Learning how to and how NOT to lead from the environment around you (19:49)

 Leading from the front: “It’s not just a bumper sticker” (21:32)

 Leading up to leading the Marines of Echo, in Ramadi…(23:12)

 Chemistry (25:08)

 Experiencing Ramadi over 75 times (28:42)

 Scott’s advice on writing your own story (36:00)

 The Veterans Writer’s Project; The Writers Guild of America (WGA) (38:22)

 Finding a way to maintain the high-tempo life outside the service (39:52)

 “It’s acceptable to struggle” (42:25)

 Scott talks about the process of starting a/his business after the service (44:56)

 Learning from Veteran Warriors: Lunch with PFC Jim Skinner (48:08)

 Save The Brave! (52:28)

 A sneak peek into book number two (55:15)

 Scott’s advice for those struggling to find themselves today (55:57)

 20-year Hindsight (59:05)

 The “Major” Legacy (1:00:00)

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Shout Outs:

Save the Brave Foundation

Nick Velez

Ernesto “Ernie” Delgado

Stoked on Fishing

Fox Sports - West

Shea McIntee

Andrew Pereira

PFC Jim Skinner

The Veterans Writer’s Project; The Writers Guild of America (WGA)

The Marines of Echo Company 2nd Bt, 4th Marines

The Soldiers of Task Force 1-9 infantry

The warriors of 77th armored Steel Tigers

The Gold Star families that sacrificed their families to protect ours

Major General James Livingston

Colonel Oliver North

Dale Dye

Bing West

Jack Coughlin

Dustin Libbey (KIA)

Wanting to be Maverick, Leland Schulz knew he was going to go to the Naval Academy after high school. Leland, a Combat Engineer Marine Officer, joins the #YearOfTheVet family to talk about his transition from being an advisor to the Army’s of Iraq and Afghanistan, into an Account Manager—or as he simplified it… software salesman.

I mention it earlier, but my conversation with Leland was simply insightful.

We talk a lot about giving yourself a shot at anything you want to do—and we talk about it in different ways. And you can see what I mean from some of my favorite quotes from the conversation!

“Don’t short change the skills you have, because it’s not JUST what your MOS is. There are underlying skillets that you can extract from your experience in the Marine Corps”

“The biggest lesson I learned in transition is to not be afraid! This implication of failure in the Marine Corps is measured in lives, most things aren’t the serious in the corporate world. It’s ok to try something and fail!”

Don’t try to replicate the past!

Leland talks about his experience with utilizing the headhunters like Lucas Groups, Bradley Morris, or Orion, similarly to how I had (don’t wait till they contact you… reach out and let them know you’re interested in their help).

We also talk the awkward moment when people “Thank you for your service!” We talk about a separation of Enlisted vs. Officers as it pertains to employment, and how career progression is not outlined in the civilian world isn’t like it is in the service…You now have the control of your destiny… USE IT!

Shout out to Arleen Graves for setting this up!

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Show Notes

Some tips you may want to take into consideration pulled from the conversation:

• Learn humility

• You need a good balance of leadership and rapport

• Get out before your stop having fun

• Use the veteran LinkedIn benefits and used the allowed LinkedIn Job Seeker badge

• Use your terminal leave as a buffer between the military and getting back into the job force

• Taking chances on opportunities, in aspects to employment

• “You have a right to get a feel where they want you to work!”

• “If you can, don’t sign anything till you have the opportunity to feel what the company culture is like”

• You CAN make demands as it pertains to accepting a job offer! BUT they must be statements and not “wishy washy” mentions…

• Take the time to break down your roles in the military instead of you’re overall MOS. The small things such as maintaining your own inventory, can turn into a resume bullet point of something along the lines of, “Responsible of $780,000 of government owned gear. most civilians have never been in charge of that kinda of price tag.

• Be Ambitious, but be realistic…”

Episode 12 introduces one of my best friends, Marine veteran, and owner of SD Moto—Landy Cordero.

Landy joined the Marine Corps a year exactly prior to 9/11 and even though he served honorably, like many who leave the service in a hurry after their first enlistment, Landy found himself trying to separate himself from the Corps as far as possible... until his motorcycle wreck had him viewing the big picture, a little more clearly.

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Show Notes

Landy talks about:


-The hard work it takes to achieve your goals

-Taking care of your paperwork first and foremost, immediately after the service

-The type of demeanor experienced from others, that helped him easily decide to leave the Corps, and...

-How one's hobby can turn into a business

Kevin Boughan had hopes to serve honorably in the military the same as his brother, uncle, father, and father's father, only to have it end one day from a motorcycle accident that he would never remember, and one that turned him into 4-year old all over again as a 20 year old man. A vet that never made it, and an alcoholic who progressively crawls his way out of rock bottom, he still has time to find his way to celebrate the Christmas spirit!

Since the age of 17, Kevin has been a certified Santa, and he brings the gift of Wisdom on this episode of #YearOfTheVet.

Justin Jones joins us as the newest #YearOfTheVet family member to drop a little bit of transition knowledge. When I met Justin, I was JUST transitioning out of the Corps, and after having this conversation with him, I now understand why he always seemed so elevated compared to the rest of us.
Learning his way to the top, Justin shares stories about what it's like to land a job in the the kitchen, and what it takes to become and stay successful when it gets too hot in the kitchen.

Justin also brings the element of family life and work life balance
to the conversation, which I know for a lot of veterans... is one of the hardest things to figure out.

Seriously, one of the most down to earth guys... who can tell you that nothing comes easy from taking the shortcuts in life. Read through the show notes below and throw this episode on, and just chill all the way through, till the end of the conversation.

Show Notes
Hear the excitement in Justin’s excitement to be on the show (4:07)

Pre-Marine Corps Justin (4:47)

We talk about the little Filipino inside of Justin (7:00)

The road to the literal chopping block (7:39)

The recruiter lies to the Chefs too! (8:30)

“Working at the prisons…didn’t speak to me…” (11:13)

The GI Bill… “back in the day” (13:03)

Starting over at 22 (15:31)

Esprit de… Kitchen (18:00)

California Culinary Academy on Polk Street (19:01)

The energy in a kitchen—the kitchen high (21:10)

Does Justin have a “Top Gun” of cooking movies? (25:00)

Justin’s culinary resume (27:18)

How children can ruin a job as Chef to the Playboy Bunnies! (29:38)

Becoming the feeder of nerds! Culinary master to the one of the greatest brains this generation has seen, and his employees that will send us all to space… Space-X (31:44)

Maintaining discipline in the kitchen (34:35)

What it takes to become successful in the food business (36:52)

Passing on knowledge (40:36)

Burritos and Rosemary! (41:37)

Chitterlings aka the “poo trap” (43:58)

Justin’s dreams (46:08)

Balancing family vs food (47:35)

Justin’s advice to struggling veterans (51:48)

“Shut up and Listen” (54:33)

Final advice for aspiring chefs (55:10)

Josh Heath joins the #YearOfTheVet family to share his journey in, through, and out of the service—into his current day-to-day life.

Josh is an Entrepreneurial Peace builder, a Freelance Writer and Editor at High Level Games, Game Developer, and this summer he launched his company, Reach-Out Roleplaying Games, as well as his website www.keepontheheathlands.com.

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Show Notes

Josh and I talk about how setting small realistic goals has been an important tool in helping get to his next highest point. We talk about his path of advocacy, not only for student veterans, but also for an under-recognized religious culture, Heathenism.

Last, we talk about using the hobbies you have to act as a transition buffer in order to have something to break the ice into your new life. Apart from some other common themes we hear on #YearOfTheVet such as networking, and working hard for what you want, Josh introduces a solid lesson on using your future endeavors, to not only choose the schools you apply to, but more importantly choose the specific professors you should study under--in order to help advance your career.

Josh is also the author of Old Don: A Heathens Tale, and the founder/co-founder of The Open Halls Project, which I highly suggest you look into.

Jose Roman pulls in the 16th episode of #YearOfTheVet, and when I asked Jose how he would like to be introduced—he said, “Veteran Advocate at the Military Resource Center at Regent University and NVG, Networking Veterans Group,” however I want to label him… Jack-of-All-Trades-Master-of-None!

Fresh off the streets of Anaheim, California while presenting at the 2017 Student Veteran of America National Conference, where about1800 Student Veterans talk about issues and solutions revolving around student vets, and vets in general. There—corporate sponsors such as Google, Raytheon, Disney, and many other companies work together, and engage with these vets to support and touch on topics such as: How to connect with student vets on campus, how to get the most out of networking, how to use your job experience, building your resume, how to get into grad school, law school, and as far as hire students ON THE SPOT to large fortune 500 and smaller companies. Ultimate, Jose mentions that the goal is to take this information back to YOUR campus.

Having both his parents pass away while in high school, Jose had to make some big boy choices for his future, and even as a student in high school, he knew to keep his options open and find the best option for his future when it came to which service he would enlist in. In a similar mind, just to get the hell out of dodge—right before Jose signed his life away to the Army to drive tanks and blow shit up, a Navy recruiter who’d seen him earlier during community service asked the right question to get him focused on his future: What are you going to do when you’re done driving tanks?

Look… I could write a small book on all we talked about… from his background in martial arts—having started kickboxing in high school “… before it was cool—before UFC 1,” and even though at the time it was just his outlet or a hobby, he never knew that it would turn into his first created, and failed company that he opened with his friends, and shares the hard lessons of what it takes to be a business owner… the right way.

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Show Notes

Other topics we hit on:

 We talk A LOT about veteran advocacy, and how you can get involved, or open up your own.

 What it means to be a veteran

 “VOW OF POVERTY”

 Being “The old man on campus,” as a student veteran.

 Work Study

 3 phases of how the public views veterans: Appreciation/Indifference/Resentment

 Being a Good leader, as well as a good follower

 The WIFM (what’s in it for me) for why he advocates

 The reason why you shouldn’t burn your DD-214

 Paying it forward

 Looking at starting a business as a cautionary tale of taking ownership of your “thing” whatever it is, from beginning to end… you have to Ride or Die with it

 “The post-deployment hangover”

 … and the fact you need to start looking for a job on day one of school!

Seriously that looks like a lot, but this Navy vet and mentor talks about so much more, and its SO freaking interesting.

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Jose wanted me to make sure to give props where props are due to:

• Ron Capps & Veterans Writing Project

• Operation Motown Muster via Mission Continues

• Outward bound via Sierra Club

• Vice president of Diversity: Kevin Preston for your work with the SVA

• The SVA itself

• Phillip Wyman

• Mike Stack

• Jared Lions

• … and last but not least, the Military Resource Center, Regent University

Please reach out to Jose if anything in this conversation piques your interest and you have any questions comments or concerns!

Don’t forget to leave a comment on the page, and thanks for tuning back into #YearOfTheVet

James Klarenbach joins the #YearOfTheVet family and brings a conversation full of the mental side of achieving your goals.

A recently retired Chief Petty Officer and a self-proclaimed "nomad," James really does hit the key thoughts and emotions of what it's like to start over—whether starting over means starting over at a new duty station, or starting over after the service. Lessons learned from noticing he wasn't a good match for a company and vice versa due to the atmosphere, and the people surrounding him in his workplace... to learning and practicing "Intentional Focus," in order to work toward your visions, as well as letting your visions work for you, James comes to the show to share all that valuable gold here with you.

James, also being a Certified Hypnotherapist and Veteran advocate, talks about how he uses his trade to help those individuals suffering from battle fatigue, depression, body syndromes, pain, cancer, and PTSD, by using tools a "scripting," law of attraction, guided imagery, and a whole tool bag full of mental tools.

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Show Notes

Some key takeaway points from our conversation is to:

 “Plan Better…Your chances of greater success, come from planning longer and further out and looking at what you want do and coming up with a solid plan”

 “Where attention goes, energy flows”

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Email:

[email protected]
[email protected]

Eric DeVries (Dev rEs) is an Author, Peak Performance Coach, Vet Advocate, and most admirably—an Air Force veteran. Born into that role through “The War Generation,” Eric’s dad is a Vietnam vet, his grandpa fought in WW2 … and he can trace family all the way back to both sides of the revolutionary war. But instead of joining the service immediately after high school, he waited till he felt that he was mature enough before enlisting, stating that “I wanted to be willing to give my life away, instead of irrationally following directions.”

After a first term as an Air Force Helicopter mechanic, he lat moved into computer programming, and then forced into intel to finish his time in the service.

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Show Notes

Eric talks about the rigidness of the system saying “if I had been in control of my own destiny… there would’ve been different opportunities and different options available there for me and therefore there would’ve been different decisions…”

In 2012, he found himself in a military that “wasn’t recognizable,” and knew he “didn’t want to do this for 20 years and started thinking about what jobs were out in the civilian world that I can translate this trade to.” Simultaneously he started fundraising for those suffering with PTSD, which at the time 18 suicides per day and there was a “calling,” which helped the transition from the Air Force to APEX, where he worked a lot in mental training (concentration, focus, guided imagery, etc…) where he was helping clients learn to focus on the task at hand, and helping teach ways to filter out the noise in order to focus on the moment.

In our conversation he gives tips on Lat Moving. He says to “look for MOS’s that are undermanned… if you have flexibility… because then you don’t run into being placed into a place that they’ll place you where Uncle Sam wants you.”

He talks about active listening. Saying that “we spend more time listening to people in order to RESPOND, than we do in order to UNDERSTAND,” and that we can get away from that by realizing that we don’t have to fix everyone’s problems and just need to” listen sometimes and respond only when needed, show empathy, and ask how we can help… instead of offering advice.”

Eric talks about Breaking the mindset that these already set organizations that are already established (such as the Legions, VFW, etc…) won’t accept you because you are a veteran of a different era. He mentions it’s important to get involved in a peer groups because they are a great alternative to seeing a one-on-one therapist. “You get around those individuals that share similar interest, or similar problems… and through active listening, healing happens…” and in case one isn’t near you or you’re not comfortable with the ones around, he reminds us that all you all you need is to get 2 people to meet up, and you have a peer support group.

We talk about scholarships, reverse engineering the brain, the profession of counseling, LinkedIn, biofeedback, CSF2, the concept of who you know, the process of writing a book, but most importantly—his book, Control it, Influence it, or dump that S**it, his first of a three part series in which the first book is about the things you control, the things you can influence, how you respond to the inevitable that will happen, and how your influences have affect on other people. The second book would cover military transition: moving from a flexible machine to a different type of chaos, and book number three, would focus on the spouses.

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Nothing is wrong with your radios around 45 minutes… its my fault… operator error…