One of the hardest parts about leaving the military is finding a sense of purpose & belonging in our new chapter of life. For Benji, his journey was full of adversity, but he always continued to push himself & bring those around him up.

After serving 15 years in the United States Marine Corps as a Critical Skills Operator (Special Forces) he knew that he wanted something different after the military & that idea led him to pursuing business at the University of Southern California (USC). He would soon discover that while he was very interested in the world of business he found a passion in helping others that could only be accomplished by building his own company & getting involved with the local community at the ground level.

His story is full of appreciation, a true sense of selflessness & a continued ambassador of the military community.

As the month of March comes to a close we wanted to take a moment to highlight one of the many women who served honorably & continues to have an impact on those around her. Our friend Christena Johnston-Pulliam, "CJ" for short has been on an incredible path since she joined the US Army as an Engineer some 25 years ago. After separating from the military things did not go as planned, but that didn't stop her. She has continued to excel above her peers & take on important roles in support of the Department of Defense & Department of State. 

For those who aren't quite sure what they want to do after the military, follow the path that feels right for you, not what society or those around you want.

It's a question that many (while they may not admit it) think about at least once during their military service... Is the grass really greener on the other side?

For some transitioning service members they may be thinking about the civilian workforce, but for a select few they are thinking about life in a different branch of service.

Today we get to catch up with my friend, Leigh Zelepugas, who went from serving in multiple MOS (job fields) in the Marine Corps to becoming a full time recruiter in the Army National Guard.

I learned a great deal from this interview & hope that those of you listening share the same experience.

We've all seen it in the news... unemployment claims in the US have increased substantially during the recent pandemic & that has unfortunately resulted in many families or individual filers feeling like they are stuck in between a rock & a hard place. 

That being said, we recently spoke with our friend & Marine Corps veteran Jose Inoa on a separate podcast episode about his difficult transition (pre-pandemic) from the military & learned that because he was attending school full time he was denied unemployment benefits.

Was his case just a mistake?

Well today we dive into the topic of unemployment & uncover the mistakes that are getting you disqualified. 

In this episode we talk to our good friend Jose Inoa who's transition from the military into the civilian workforce was anything but seamless. From having a 9 year military education in aviation ordinance & pyrotechnics that didn't open doors for him outside the service to being behind on several months of tuition because the VA had transferred funds to a different "pot" his strides seemed perilous at times, but he never gave up. Find out how he made it out, found a new calling in IT & what resources he took advantage of as a service member. 

We interview Army Junior Captain, Brendan Duebner about his military non-profit, Life Skills For Soldiers (LSFS). He discusses the "train the trainer" method that has made his organization so successful in improving the lives of soldiers, as well as what makes service members feel more inclined to reach out for help or guidance during difficult times. Whether its learning how to budget, long term investments, or making an expensive purchase they are developing courses to make talking about finances less taboo.

The Holiday Season can be lonely for many people, including some of our military veterans in hospice care.

Find out how Christina “Christie” Etchberger & her organization It’s A Military Life are teaming up to write 10,000 letters during the Holidays to show their appreciation for our elderly veterans.

Don't waste time, take full advantage of your free education benefits!

If you are on Active Duty, Tuition Assistance (TA) & Clep Testing may help you get your degree faster than you expected. As a veteran or retiree, you can use the Post 9/11 GI Education Bill for a formal education at a 4 year university (nationally or internationally), getting your pilots license, attending a certified trade school or an abundance of other programs. 

Join us as we interview Evan Thomsen about how he maximized his military education benefits.