February 19, 2025 • 54 mins
Today on TripWire, Staci and I discuss "Veteran Brotherhood / Sisterhood Community"
We dive into related topics of the VFW's and American Legions, the evolution of the community in the digital age, mentorship, networking and the impact of the different generations of Veterans in America.
Get Your TripWire On!!
We dive into related topics of the VFW's and American Legions, the evolution of the community in the digital age, mentorship, networking and the impact of the different generations of Veterans in America.
Get Your TripWire On!!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Good afternoon everybody. It is Wednesday, February nineteenth. I am
joined by the gracious Stacey Bowyer, the co host here
on trip Wire. It's time to get trip wire on Stacy.
How the hell are you doing, dear?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Just great now that we've got all the technical difficulties
out of the way, Great to see you.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
We've got a great, great still ahead of us today.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Hopefully it's really informative.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
We'll be adding a bunch of links and things to uh,
so everything is accessible as we go through this, so.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Hopefully it'd be great. Yea, So, uh how was your
How was the last week for you?
Speaker 4 (01:19):
It was good? Okay?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
So I got okay since we last spoke. I think
I was able to dress up like Pocahontas for the
Disney karaoke fundraiser for the National Home for Children for
the VFW.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Then was able to.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Do a Roaring twenties outfit that was for city council fundraiser. Yeah,
so I've got Then we had the Veteran Business Fair
this weekend. That was huge success and very very well attended.
What is the next thing, Oh, Mardi Gras Casino night
(01:52):
is going to be Friday. I've got a really great
Mardi Gras mask then I'm going to wear for that.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
So just stay tuned to Facebook and Instagram posts.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yeah, yeah, I'm not I'm not in Illinois anymore, but
I'm starting to get the consensus that you know, as
you became commander of the VFW.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Now it's just not one party after another.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Well I mean, yeah, I mean we do. We do
what we can.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
So let's let's get into this.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
We're going to talk about the Veteran brotherhood, sisterhood, and community. Yes,
very important topic for us from both of our stances,
as we've had many conversations about that in the past
at different times. The first one, let's uh, out of
the four that we've highlighted moving forward for our guests today,
(02:52):
let's talk about the importance of the VFW and the
American Legion posts in today's day and age.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Okay, so it's kind of a twofold conversation a lot
of people. So we have a lot of veterans that
are watching this, but believe it or not, veterans don't
always know the difference between the VFW and the American Legion.
A lot of veterans aren't sure what they're actually qualified
(03:21):
for a lot of civilians.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Have no idea.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
So we've got a variety of different people that watch
the show here. For example, I often as the commander
of the VFW, I often get questioned, oh, so were
you in the military did you serve? And I you know,
And I have learned since that not to have a
knee jerk reaction of like, I mean, are you kidding?
(03:46):
Of course, there's people that just don't know. And I
have really made a point of knowledge is power.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Getting the word out.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
It's about, you know, really letting people know, oh that
the VFW is is here, the American Legion is here,
and that there's qualifications for each and how a person
can qualify and be a part of each.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
And I think.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
You know more people. I think we go out to
the schools, we do a lot in the community, we
do so much. And I can speak for my posts specifically,
but I know a lot of posts that do that.
Education is key here because these veterans, these veterans, even
if they're that they could have been in for two,
three years, four years, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
There isn't And I know this for a fact.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
You've got to tell me when you were in did
somebody go, hey, when you get out, you should go
look at join in the VFW.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Did anybody say that to you?
Speaker 3 (04:48):
No?
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Okay, me either, And.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So there's a lot of things that we weren't told
before we got out. So I one of the things
that I've been working with a lot is the recruiters.
I've become very close with the recruiters in the area
and getting the recruiters, you know, to be a part
of all the community events.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
They're awesome.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
They come out to the Phoenix Natural Noble Warrior that
I promote, They're in the schools all the time, They're
at all the fundraisers. These guys, And I'm speaking for
recruiters in general, because I haven't met one that I
don't like, but I'm very close to the ones here
in my town, and you know, they are really good
at communicating all the things about what the military can offer.
(05:33):
But they're really good lately about communicating with how the
VFW and the American Legion can enrich their lives when
they get out and become that that that tribe, you know,
that band of brothers are the comrade that they're looking for.
That what were we calling it? The fire what did
we call it?
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Fire team? Did Daniel call it a fire team?
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
I think he did when we interviewed him. Yeah, you
know that fire team, the fire team, right. And so
like when we do when we do our interviews with
these people that have struggled with PTSD and and they've
been trying to connect, they're having a really time hard
time connecting with the civilian world. This is their fire team,
(06:19):
and I think that it should be spoken about more
through that transition, that process, that tap process they transition out.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
I know I'm rambling. I'm rambling, but I think that.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
You're not rambling.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
You're not rambling, You're bringing up very good points.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I was talking.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I had a conversation caught up with a brother of
mine recently, Ron Ron served as an analyst on a
ship in the first in the first.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Person go for uh.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
And you know, he's at least a couple of years
older than I am, and he still hasn't gotten his
rating yet.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Yeah, So, I.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Mean it is, it's I think a lot of it is.
It's the atmospheric of you know, I did my time,
I've moved on. I don't need it but here some
of us, like yourself and myself, because I have my
rating and because I did so many combat tours, you know,
(07:28):
I've been a huge advocate for people to try and
get their rating.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Because they deserve it. You deserve everything you get out
of the VA, you know. And why put.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
If it's if it's related to your service connected problems
when you're seventy or eighty, why should your kids have
to worry about whether or not you're going to be
taken care of?
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Right?
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Does that make sense? And that's what I try and
tell them. That's what I try and tell people. I
got back from my first deployment and convinced my Vietnam
uncle go get his rating finally, you know.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
And how old and how old was he?
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Oh? He was in his sixties, okay, back.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
In two thousand and three when I or two thousand
and four when I got back from me. And now
he's just he just turned seventy five, you know, and
he's gotten they're they're helping him out with his ticker
and he had a shoulder replacement or he's doing much
better because.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
He earned it from his combat tour in Vietnam.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
So so, and another thing too, with you know, he's
he's older. A lot of these people will get out
of the military and then not know and and struggle well,
So trying to connect with the VA, even if you
get out and you've got a seamless process with getting
your benefits, even if that happened during your transition process,
(08:52):
it's still scary to just be like calling up the
VA or trying to find a VA center that's close
to you and your community. And that alone is a
reason to connect with the VFW or the American Legion
because of the resources, the guidance, the people that are
in officers. So there's officer positions within the VFW and
(09:15):
the American Legion and it's those bubbles jobs to.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Help and take care of you.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
So we have like me as a commander, then I
have the junior Vice, the Senior Vice, and then we've
got other roles and committees that are throughout the VFW,
and the American Legion has got the same kind of setup,
and so we have a service officer that is very
proficient and well versed on benefits and resources and the
(09:42):
VAC and homeless veterans and what the National Home can offer.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Depending on what.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Somebody certain circumstances are and it's.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
An easy it's an easy thing.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
To do is to be able to connect with one
of those and then have those resources at your fingertips.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
One of the it's not in the topics that we're
discussing tonight, but I want to bring it up at
the next time this, this particular.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Show type of show shows.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Up, and that is how do we connect when individuals
when they leave the military, they just want to be
just disconnected to begin with.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Does that make sense? We'll table that for another time, but.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Yeah, the are you saying, well, saying because they get
out and they're like a lot of people get out
because they're ready to get out.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
They've got.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Yes, they left with a bad taste in your mouth.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
They got out for whatever reason, they got out, and
that's why they walk away from it. And they don't
they don't realize that the brother and sisterhood that they
belonged to while they were on active.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Duty is still exist in the civilian world.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
It just looks a little bit different, smells a little
bit different, it tastes a little bit different.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Does that make sense?
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Yeah, And so with some of those people, you know,
you can't and if anybody like is watching this that
has somehow come across the trip wire and are intrigued
by the things that we're talking about, or you know,
and maybe they have just recently got out of the
military and they're not ready to I'm not ready to
go into the VFW. I'm not ready to be a
(11:28):
part of something like that. I don't want to do it.
I don't want to be asked to do a bunch
of things that I'm not comfortable with. I don't want
to be in charge of anything right now. I just
want to figure out what my next steps are. Well,
I encourage those people to know that, for example, at
(11:48):
my post on the first Tuesday of every month between
like ten and two, we've got resources, and we've got
this rally point with the VAC. We've got a ton
of different mental health experts and resources directly with the
VA Hospital that are up there, not just for members
(12:10):
of the VFW. So like you're needing some help, you're
needing some guidance, you're needing some questions answered, but you're
not quite ready to be like a part of something again,
then you can still come by, still come by, and
you can come up there, and then just ask questions
and get some help your veteran and we're there for
(12:31):
you to help you. So, you know, I want if
they're watching this and there's something that they need and
they're unsure of how to reach out to do that,
they can you know, come up on that first Tuesday
up to the Naperville VFW and we can guide them.
We're not going to try to strong arm them, strong
(12:52):
arm them into joining or anything at all. We'd love
to just invite them to come to some events that
they're comfortable with and and and see if they have
a good time.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
You know that that's I do want to.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
I want to share this with our audience as well.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
It's amazing how if you just take that first initial
step to say what you're talking you know, just attend
that right there, what you're talking about, first Tuesday of
the month, around mid day. It's amazing how they can
meet really good part of people and then the ice
is broken and then they end up freaking wanting to
(13:29):
spend more time there. They want to spend more time
around the people that they've met, you know. They Preville
has a your your place has a fantastic community of
veterans of all ages uh, and just you can feel
the you can feel the love and the support in
the air when you when you like, I've I've gone
(13:52):
away for a while, and then I've come back. I've
spent time in Virginia, and then I come back and
I visit and I you know.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Now I'm in Ohio.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
You know, I'm I'm an eping gypsy all over the
damned place. But every time I come back to visit,
not just to see you and to talk business with you,
but also to see people at the VFW.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
My sister's in Naperville.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
My dad's just on the other side of Lyle, the
border of Lyle, and then yeah, brought dad to the post.
You know, the atmosphere is amazing, and it's just it's enveloping,
and it's warm, it's compassionate, and it's always a good time.
And people were always there with genuine concern of how
they can help if something's going wrong for you.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
And we have a lot of people, you know, and
you're one of them that we have members of the
VFW or the American Legion for that example, and they're
not they don't like the structure or the they don't
necessarily like the structure or the tradition of a meeting,
because we are very formal in the meeting, right and
we are because we've got traditions and that's just how
(14:53):
we are. But they will come up there on Thursdays
and they'll be up there at the end of the meeting.
We all come down and then we all hang out
and we talk about whatever we want to talk about.
People have a drink if they want, there's we have
non alcoholic beverages available to and so sometimes people just
make a point of being up there on that, you know,
(15:15):
that second Thursday of the month, because they know that
they're going to be there when the meeting's over and
we all come downstairs.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
And if that's what they're comfortable with, that's fine. You know,
you don't have to go.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Up there and sit sit down in there for the
hour in that regimented moment. You can just wait for
the fun that will happen after.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Absolutely, let's know what they're for the audience members as well,
because you guys, when you have new new people to
get memberships, you bring them in on that that that Thursday,
the second Thursday of the month, isn't that correct?
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Yeah, So when new people join. We we invite them
to come upstairs to the meeting and we swear them in.
We give them a cross of malta pin. You know,
everybody shakes their hands, they get to introduce themselves a
little bit. And if that's the only time they ever
come to a meeting, that's totally fine. They're still going
to be able to get email information and our Kendle
(16:11):
Graham newsletter, and they'll be able to come into the post.
And we have everything that we've got going on, you know,
advertised on our on our TV screens and within within
our email information and social media platforms, so they can
they can be a part of as much or as
little as they're comfortable with, which you.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Bring up a great point there with this h you
talk about the social media platforms and the emails and
and all that. And uh, in case our audience members
didn't watch that show, I had your you and your
power three freaking ladies, the three of you on the
(16:51):
freaking the three amigos were on this show and I
barely the word an edgewise, And uh, but.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
That that's a segment.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
That's a segment, or uh, it's a movement into the
next topic. That I thought we would to talk about
one of your veteran brotherhood, sisterhood and community, and that
is let's let's discuss about that. Let's talk about the
evolution of the veteran community based on this new digital
age that we have.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
I think it's fantastic that, like.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
I get Facebook, I see Facebook threads, you know, not
only just your personal page, but I see I see
the the post throw things out there.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
I see the advertisements.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
I get the advertisements from not I get the advertisements
from Rita and Jennifer and emails up the lazoo from
all the ladies and are freaking, you know, taking over
the world in Naperville and uh. And I think it's
fantastic because it's so informative. You have so many options
to get connected should you choose to.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Do it right.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
And and the social media platforms are a really good
way to you know, get the word out of all
the fundraisers that we're doing, all of the local communities
that are supportive of veterans, there's quite a lot, and
people just you know, you only know what you know.
And for that person that's not sure how much they
want to be involved, it's a good way for them
(18:11):
to go, ah, you know, I I want to do
that rock March, but I'm not sure I want to
do the casino night.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
But I do like the idea of the car show.
Oh and karaoke.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Okay, my friend, you know, my spouse whatever, probably even
enjoy that.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
So let's go do that, you know.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
And so there's lots of ways to be able to
stay on track, figure out what it is that you
want to do. And then some people just want to
be supportive. You know, everybody's different with their level of involvement.
Some people are like, I just want to, you know,
support you and shout you out and share your stuff.
And so then they stay connected and they because they're
(18:48):
in the know and they like to maybe they like
to connect.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
They go, I saw something.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I know five people that might want to do that,
and then they connect and maybe they're a little bit
more of an introvert, but they still like connecting people
and say, you never know, we've just got to you know,
meet people where they are, and you know, sometimes it's
on Instagram and sometimes it's on Facebook or you know wherever.
But yeah, and the digital age has really made it
(19:14):
even better to make sure that veterans know that they're
taken care of, they're looked out for that they've got
a fire team, you know, in every town. And and
you can always and I love that you can pop
in and you do this, you pop into vfw's where
you travel and and and like, I'll take pictures with people.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
I've seen you do that right a few times.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
And we had somebody from another state.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
We posted it on Facebook.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
He was a commander and I forget what state he
was in, but he popped in and took and I
took a picture with him and his wife and it
was just he loved our spot and he loved the energy,
and it was really cool to like, you know, chit
chat and like catch up, you know, on that level
with and also with with legislation and how much is
(20:02):
out there regarding veterans benefits right now, there's a lot
of rumor.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Mills and fear mongering going.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
On with what Trump is doing where he's laying off
people and making changes. There's eight bills now that are
on the docket that we're looking for witness slips on
and I just sent out some emails about it. So
if anybody's like watching this and is interested in knowing
(20:28):
the eight Bills that we are some we are four,
but some we are opposed to. I actually can put
some of these in a post in the comments if
people are interested in that. But in this day and age,
in the digital age, us being able to say, hey,
(20:51):
we are opposing this. This is why we're going to
dumb this down because it's hard to understand. And you
know v W h Q and American Legion HQ, they're
real good about how they explain things on social media.
So we are able to understand what these laws are
(21:12):
written for to do for us or or secretly not
to do for us. And this way we can do
the Witness slips. We can we can use our voice
to be heard. And it's far more efficient with the
digital age than it ever has been before people didn't
even know what they should do or how to do
(21:33):
it right. So I'm making some notes on some things
and I'm going to post so good deal yeah about
the Witness slips and the and the eight and there
is actually have you seen any of those, Stephen, any
(21:55):
of what the Witness the bills not?
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Not just yet. I'm as you always like it. When
I'm in school, I'm in school, yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
So I got it.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
But I'm gonna I'm gonna post some things about these
witness lips. But the HB thirteen fifty two is one
that collectively that we are in an opposition for. So
I'll post that and people can kind of look that up,
and then anybody can anybody can reach out to me directly.
I'm pretty easy to find and I can always answer
(22:32):
the questions and steer you through the right channels.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Right same here with me too. We both have you know,
public pages.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Look forward to anybody who messaging us, any anybody from
the audience to ask questions, you know, and I'm more
than happy to let you guys know that.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
You know, if I don't have the answer, I'll put
you in touch with Stacy. She has all the answers.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
So all there.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
But but but no, I have a lot of resources,
you know, I know who'd asked.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
I've curated a really good.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Network of people that are super smart I can ask them.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
But I wanted to add this too as well, because
when I came back to Naperville and I was team
care of mental health at HINES, I was living with
you know, staying with my father.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
You know that that whole scenario.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
So through the network at your VFW at that time,
I was put in touch with the Veterans Project or
Veterans Office at the University of Illinois Circle Campus Law School,
and they provide.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
Legal guidance and what's the word I'm looking for.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
They handled legal issues for veterans that are having problems
with the VA or other things, whatever the case may be,
and it's been it's been a huge help for me.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Over the years, you know.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
And obviously, but that's only for Illinois state veterans, but
there may be something similar at a law school wherever
our listeners are from and in their in their states.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
They just have to check it out. So I want
to throw that out there.
Speaker 4 (24:21):
Hold on, I got to make a correction to what
I said before.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
The HB thirteen fifty two is one that we support.
They're the HB ten fifty nine is one that we oppose.
But it doesn't really matter. I'm going to post this
in a comment and people will be able to clarify.
Speaker 4 (24:39):
I just wanted to correct that one statement.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
I have a lot of these House bills going around
in my brain right now.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Yeah, well, there's a lot of changes going on this
you know, since last month with the new administrations, I
get it completely. So anything else that you want to
add to.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
To the digital to the digital age?
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Yeah, what email are you using these days?
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Me?
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (25:15):
Is it the od NBC one or the other one?
Speaker 3 (25:18):
It's the other one, the McCoy the one you just.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Read off is for the coffee company.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
That's right, You're okay.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
We've we've gone back and forth a couple of times
because you have several emails I have.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Brief Yeah, I know, I just sent you. I just
sent you that.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
I just sent you an email with the witness lips. Okay,
So yeah, I mean I think that that's the digital age.
The thing with the digital age is, I think a
lot of people are connected through social media now, but
there are some people that aren't. And I highly suggest
if you're a veteran entrepreneur that you get connected with
some kind of veteran business owner networking group in the
(25:58):
area that you live in. So if you are local here,
myself and Jennifer Sloan chair one that we created and
we meet twice a week. We meet one once or
twice a month, once in the morning and then another
time in the evening. So if you're interested in doing
something like that, you can you can reach out to
me about that as well. But the VBC that that
(26:20):
veteran business connection. We teach these new veteran entrepreneurs how
to figure out how to create an online presence for
themselves and the digit the digital age is good for
resources and getting the word out. But also with the
veteran entrepreneurs if they're coming right coming right home, and
they never really were big with social media, but they
want to start their own business, that can be just
(26:43):
as scary as just walking into you know, canteen alone
for the first time.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Yeah, no, I get it.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
And uh so, uh that's fantastic for with you you
guys in your area, I can I can assist anybody,
you know, they're a different state, or they're doing this
or that, whatever, I can help them out. I have
a huge, massive network nationwide, been accused of knowing more
(27:10):
people than the common cold.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
So uh, you know, we'll figure it out. Between the
two of us.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
We can help whoever is interested in any of our
any of our you know, attendees for the podcasts and.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Whatever the case may be.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
So this one, this next topic I really find.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Very important because I think it's.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
I think we can expand upon it. And again and
another great segue into this, because you just talked about
networking within your community to try and help veterans. But
I want to just throw this out there, veterans helping veterans.
I mean, how better does it get than that? And uh,
it's the power of mentorship in networking. And I want
(27:54):
to I want to do a deep dive onto this because,
as you know, I'm it's very important for me with
what I do for veterans to help veterans. I don't
have I don't have a structured a structured place to
or institution to utilize to help veterans like you do.
(28:17):
But I do what I can, you know, as much
as I can. I really want to talk about that.
So I know you mentor a lot, So I'm gonna
let you start if you don't mind.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Okay, Yes, I mentor a lot. One of the things
that I was just thinking about while.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
You were.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Running my mouth, Yes, yeah.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
And I wanted to.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
Okay, I'm looking for something specific that I was going
to say. But one of the things that Okay, so
the veterans that are just recently out of the military
that are looking for a job.
Speaker 4 (28:59):
So you've got two kind.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
You've got veterans that are looking for a job that
is within their mos or their job description that they
had in the military, right and so then you've got
those that are coming out that might try to get
a job, it might not be something that's in line
with what they what they want to do, or they
realize they have an entrepreneurial spirit, which a lot of
(29:20):
veterans do. You start working for someone else in the
civilian world and it's completely different than what we're accustomed
to in the military, and you're like, why are you
doing things like that?
Speaker 4 (29:29):
This is absolutely ridiculous. I can't work for you.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
And I see that all the time. And then they
move back and then they become an entrepreneur. So with
mentoring one of the things that we like to do
with the VBC group, but also that I think is
super important and probably is done in a lot of
these veteran resource groups that are out there with with
job skills, resume building, things like that. Veterans that are
(29:53):
out there that are struggling to find a job, they
need to realize that there's so many different ways to
leverage being a veteran in how you use buzzwords with
your resume, how you interview, what you say about what
(30:13):
you bring to the table, right.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
And I was just talking.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
I just had coffee with my girlfriend this afternoon and
she's a in a in a top level executive position
at USA Bank, and she's a civilian and not, you know,
not a veteran. And we were talking about how when
she goes to look at a resume, she always will
pick out, you know, that veteran. That's who she wants.
(30:40):
She wants to hire veterans. And I said, okay, so
tell me, tell me why from your point of view,
And she says, because they always go above and beyond.
They always think outside of the box. They are looking
to do the best job for the bigger picture, not
just for a paycheck, right right, And they will always
(31:00):
persevere in their tenacious And I was like, Okay, that's
exactly it. And I love that because if we look
at what we've done, like I was in the medical field,
but I have all this experience with supply and demand
and graphic design and teaching and all these things that
you know, you wouldn't think just a medic in the
military wou would have.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
And there are a lot of us, all of us,
you know, I mean the.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Things that Nadia can do where and she was in
food service and like the she's like ten times more
than what that job description might display, right, and I.
Speaker 4 (31:36):
Mean any of us you too. So I think that
these young.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Veterans or any veteran that that could be, could benefit
from mentoring, mentorship. That's one of the things that we
need to teach them is how to truly advocate for
themselves when entering that civilian space and saying, I'm a veteran.
Here's why I can add value to your organization.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Right.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
So, leaving the leaving the army. Uh, they used to
call it a cap I think it was, you know,
a couple of weeks of of classes on how to
build a resume, what to look forward to out there.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
Now, I will say this, in the last I'd say.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Ten years, they've probably enhanced that that outprocessing portion, whether
they're just you know, there are times up on their
tour or they're retiring. As far as the veterans status
or the soldiers or the the service member status is,
they've enhanced these programs to get to help them get out,
(32:48):
you know, make the transition into civilian life. But you know,
do you have you or will you uh have like
a little resume building freaking workshop, you know, if if
if it's something that needs to be done in the community,
(33:10):
because I mean it is it is extremely daunting at
times when you take everything that you had when you
were in the military and then you try and it's
in military ease, and then you try to transfer.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
That into articulate it into exactly it is very difficult.
And while we're while we're talking right now, I actually
do have two different people in mind that I'm gonna
that I'm going to reach out to so I can
get some some links that I'm going to make sure
that I can post. I'm going to text them real
(33:43):
quick because that's a great idea. That's definitely a workshop
that I think would be very beneficial. Because one of
the things with the digital age that a lot of
people don't realize is that everything is automated. So we've
got your resume, you know, like in our day and age,
it was who you know, and it's still it still is.
(34:05):
Because if you can get FaceTime with somebody that you
want to hire you, that's going to be more beneficial
than just trying to send your resume through indeed or
or something you know, like like like that.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Because LinkedIn or whatever any other of that.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Yes, and because one of you know, one of the
things that people don't realize. And I was going through
this with my son. I was I was trying to
talk to him about submitting his resume, and he's like,
nobody's looking at it, you know. And so then I
went and I said, well, what are you applying for?
And I went and I looked at the description of
the job, and I looked at his resume and there
(34:43):
was nothing in his resume. Even though he was qualified
to do the job, there was not any direct words
in his the beginning of his resume that were the
keywords that they scan for. So they're going to scan
for and not everybody knows this, or they're going to
scan the resume for those keywords, and if those keywords
don't show up, then you're immediately just pushed off to
(35:04):
the side. So they're they're they're going to pull in
for a second look the resumes that have keywords that
are directly connected to the job description or pre prerequisites.
If it's a high if it's higher level. And so
a lot of younger people don't know that, especially if
they're coming right out of the military, they're not going
to know.
Speaker 4 (35:23):
They're just going to get frustrated.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
And if they've got PTSD or anger issues or personality
to sort, is there anything that that is coming stemming
from their experience in the military, and that's going to.
Speaker 4 (35:35):
Be a struggle for them.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
They're not going to have the patience for it, and
it's going to be and it's going to be a problem.
And if and and all they you know, if somebody
can just help them build that resume correctly, that'd be
half the battle.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Well, yes, but then they can Also there's the dav
puts on uh workshops UH and also hiring events, you know,
job function and events. Recruit Recruit Military is a national website.
They have events in all the locations across America. You
(36:11):
have to when you when you register with them, maybe
create an account you just it's uh, it's it can
be zoomed into your specific area that you live in,
rather than getting all this information from all over the
states as far as when job fares are and stuff
of that nature.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
You're saying that the veterans of the Department of Veteran
Affairs website directly.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
That's what you said, correct.
Speaker 1 (36:34):
Recruit Military. Yeah, I'll say the link. There's a there's
a website out there. It's called Recruit Military. It acts
like indeed or linked in specifically for veterans. They have
hiring events in Chicago all all the time, job fairs,
that type of stuff.
Speaker 3 (36:57):
I was when I was looking for work, but.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
I just used to go all the way downtown to
the corner place to go to to go to a
job fair. When I was utilizing other resources, you know,
I didn't. I didn't feel like sitting downtown.
Speaker 4 (37:12):
And uh it's funny, you.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
Know how much I like crowded places.
Speaker 4 (37:17):
You were frozen and it was funny. I was frozen
that you were like.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
I had my head off like this.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
So anyway, No, So this this power of mentorship, I
want to talk about it from a different perspective.
Speaker 4 (37:36):
Dot com Yeah, you're right, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
So I want to talk about power mentorship. Sometimes power
mentorship is just you setting an example. It's not even
you doing anything specifically for one specific individual. And what
I mean by that is is my personal experience. I
started up to bring awareness to suicide rates and veterans
(37:59):
and first respond I started doing pushups again, you know,
a couple of days ago Monday, as a matter of fact,
was I hit und days.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
I'm back at it. I'm in triple digits again.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
But you know I took four months off and before
that I went eight hundred and forty.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
One days straight. Now I know, you know, I know.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
I also remember that that somebody is certain not mentioning
any names, gave me a ration of crap when I
was decided to take a break.
Speaker 4 (38:30):
So no, I did not give you a rational crap.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
What I did was I did was look up some
statistics to give you some motivation yeah to possibly going.
And I maybe a ration of that because I was
being I was being very gentle in my nudging with you,
because I knew that you were going through an internal
(38:55):
struggle which was causing you to take a break.
Speaker 4 (38:57):
But at the same time, I wanted to give you a.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
Little nugget that's aperation in case you wanted to keep going.
It might help well back off. But then I back
off when you said, no, I'm going to do this
on my own time, and this time I'm going to
do it for me and I respected that and I said, yes,
you do that right.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
So I'm doing it for me.
Speaker 1 (39:19):
And I've always appreciated your support, nuggets of wisdom, everything
that you've shared.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
I appreciate it all.
Speaker 1 (39:29):
But anyway, so being back at it, you know, I
don't I have those I have those regulars that respond
to that.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
But I also know that I've been in.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
I've gone to the EOD Memorial, and I've been into
the Gallas and out of nowhere, somebody extends her hands
and yeah, we're around.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
Social media together. But they never said any They never
say anything.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
About the posts that I put up, but yet they
come up and then they just want to say thank
you for what I continue to do.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
And I love how that works.
Speaker 1 (40:03):
That that That's what I was trying to get at
as far as that version of power of mentorship is
just setting an example leading, you know, showing people that
things can happen good for them by establishing a pattern,
establishing what's the.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Being consistent. That's the word I was looking for, being consistent.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
So yeah, I'm I'm super super ecstatic about being back
at it.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
It's things are going good.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
Things are going good in sense and always networking and
I look forward to being done with school eventually and
getting back into.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
Yeah, I'm looking forward to you being done with school too.
Speaker 1 (40:51):
I was looking forward to being done with school and
you totally rolled your eyes.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
That was hilarious.
Speaker 2 (41:00):
Oh my god, So Skywatcher watch this or does he
just watch it later.
Speaker 1 (41:08):
I'm just totally laughing completely because we're you know, this
is he never knows what's gonna happen when you were
on here, you know, thank god, we're not when we're
here on supervised where we don't have to take care
of a guest. You know, it's like, who knows what's
gonna happen?
Speaker 4 (41:22):
We're unsupervised, I know.
Speaker 2 (41:23):
And so okay, and then then another flips I can
I can I where you finished with that?
Speaker 4 (41:27):
Can I tell HI about? Okay?
Speaker 2 (41:28):
So another flip side with mentoring. It's one of the
things that I love about the VFW is. I mean,
some of my best friends are these like seventy eighty
and ninety year old men that I've met there, you know,
And I'm like, it was so funny. I'm at this
district meeting and you know Phil Mayhon, who's.
Speaker 4 (41:45):
I think he's like seventy eight, say seventy eight.
Speaker 2 (41:48):
But you know, him and I both have our legacy
gold plated VFW cards and we're like twins. We're like,
we're twinning and it's like so stupid, But I mean,
I love these guys and I'm like, and it's just
it's so funny because they've taken me under their wing
and they.
Speaker 4 (42:09):
Teach me so much stuff.
Speaker 2 (42:11):
I'm like and I love it, and it's like, I
just I feel like I'm at this point where, I mean,
I'm so fortunate that they're mentoring me. And it's not
just military stuff, you know, it's life and it's.
Speaker 4 (42:26):
Their experiences lessons they learn.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
Oh my gosh, I'm learning so much about how to
be more patient and more and diplomatic, how to work
with people that have completely different personalities than me. I'm
a much better leader, a much better like manager because
I do all of those things at the VFW.
Speaker 4 (42:47):
And you know, there's it's.
Speaker 2 (42:49):
It's I've always tried to pride myself in knowing that
it's not about me, you know, it's not the world
is so much bigger, there's so many more things, but
I'm so much more tapped into that. There's so many
other things going on that and and I really do
enjoy being able to help people, and the mentorship that
(43:12):
I'm getting that I never even expected to get is priceless,
and from unexpected people like you know, you just I
love it.
Speaker 3 (43:23):
Absolutely, absolutely. It's great to great to have.
Speaker 1 (43:26):
That that consistency of those those people that have been there,
there the legacies that they're sharing with you, that you know,
there's a saying out there if you want to. What
we don't do is talk to the elderly anymore, you know,
And I think it is I think it's a I
(43:46):
think it's a it's a massive loss on our on generations,
maybe not ours, but generations below us, younger than us.
Speaker 3 (43:55):
They don't talk to old people.
Speaker 1 (43:56):
They don't hear the old stories, they don't get the
passive knowledge, the life lessons, the skill.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
And I tell you, yes, your point is is, oh
my gosh, because these kids that are in the Student
Veterans Support Club that go out to the Hindes Hospital
and go to these assisted living facilities on this every Saturday,
and they spend the time to sit there and talk
to these these these veterans and they hear their stories,
they interact with them, and they and then they continue
(44:28):
to tell those stories.
Speaker 4 (44:30):
These kids are they're so.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
I don't know what the word is, but they are
going to grow into being some of the most amazing
people because they have opened themselves up to learn to
these to these elders. Right to call them the elders
because they and they're open to it. They don't and
they don't sit around thinking they know everything. They don't
(44:54):
sit around acting like they're entitled. And anybody, and whether
it's a veteran, any kid these days in this generation,
any any younger person that takes the time to listen
to their grandparents and their grandparents' friends and and and
absorb that and process those stories and those experiences, they're
going to be better off for that.
Speaker 1 (45:15):
Absolutely couldn't couldn't have said it better. Absolutely right. Still,
we should do a we should do a show with
with some of the some of the elders. Maybe yeah,
you get yeah, we'll figure it out, all right, So
last last one we've got for today's show. Uh, and
(45:39):
then we can expand upon stuff because we've got some great,
great stuff coming up next week too. How young veterans
can get involved in traditional veteran organizations.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
I think we hit the nail on the head. But
let's let's drive it home.
Speaker 1 (45:53):
Uh, in the conversation of the last three topics, you know,
check out, check out your v so get in touch
with your vsos to help you get your ratings.
Speaker 3 (46:04):
The VFW, the American Legion, d a v uh.
Speaker 1 (46:09):
We're going to throw up the you know, the recruit
military thing for employment. A lot of people focus on
just getting the job and then they can broaden their
horizons on other things, you know, because it's so important
that they have a source of income, especially if they
have a family and such. So you deal with young
(46:29):
veterans much more than I do at the moment. So
I'm I'm speaking your guidance here and your your wisdom
on this as as we talk about this topic.
Speaker 2 (46:42):
So, okay, how younger veterans can get involved in traditional
veteran organizations.
Speaker 4 (46:46):
So traditional veteran organizations.
Speaker 2 (46:47):
Typically would be, uh, you know, the the VFW, the
American Legion, and then there's spin there's spin off organizations
that are for family members, you know too, like the
Daughters of the American Revolution. Then you've got the Sons
of the Legion, You've got auxiliary.
Speaker 4 (47:06):
So let's say you.
Speaker 2 (47:08):
And I think that a lot of younger veterans they
don't know that their spouse could also be involved maybe
and maybe they want their spouse to be involved, and
they don't want to go join the VFW, and then
what well their spouse could be in the auxiliary, you know.
Or if a female veteran is wanting to be involved
with the American Legion and they've got you know, you know, teenagers,
(47:31):
and they want to figure out how those kids can
be involved. They can join the you know, the sons
of the Legion. You know, there's there's ways. American Legion
has auxiliary as well, So there's ways that these younger
families can can all be involved and do stuff together.
Speaker 1 (47:50):
Right.
Speaker 2 (47:50):
And then the beauty of the digital age is that
if you are a younger veteran and you just want
to be involved in some stuff that veterans are doing,
then it's easy to find that stuff by by looking up,
you know, the VFW in your area and see what
they've got going on through their Instagram or social media posts.
Speaker 4 (48:12):
And if you're here in our.
Speaker 2 (48:13):
Area, it's easy to do because you can just look
up the Aperville VFW or Saint Charles or you know
Batavia Lombard Villa Park. Look up what's in your town,
and then look up what they're posting on their websites,
on their social media, and again look and see is
it a car show?
Speaker 4 (48:30):
Just go check it out. You know, it's karaoke open
to the public.
Speaker 2 (48:34):
The Fish Fry like our fish Fry March March seventh
through April eighteenth.
Speaker 4 (48:38):
It's open to the public. You know. You you don't
even have to tell anybody you're a veteran. Just come
check things.
Speaker 2 (48:43):
Out and eat some fish and so, you know, and
it's just it's it's there's a lot of ways and
I do, you know, I talk to the younger people.
Speaker 4 (48:51):
And that's one of the reasons I have been so.
Speaker 2 (48:55):
Hard pressed on creating so many different things, because my
as commander is to create experiences that veterans want.
Speaker 4 (49:03):
To be a part of.
Speaker 2 (49:05):
And that means that there's got to be a lot
of variety because there's I've got to create stuff that
I may not necessarily want to do, you know, but
there's people that want to do that stuff. And we
want to have different choices and things, and and and
letting the young veterans know that we're going to have
a good time, but we also are going to help
you not only with your benefits, but with resume building
(49:29):
and finding those finding that job and helping you start
your own business.
Speaker 4 (49:34):
And that fire team I mean Daniel.
Speaker 2 (49:37):
I love when Daniel said that, you know, it really
resonated with me when we interviewed him, because you know,
I look around, you know, and I've got a couple
of those fire teams myself, you know, in different capacities
with the body being held and with my veteran world,
and some of them are crossovers. But but but that's
the thing too, is making sure that these younger veterans
(49:59):
know that this these these traditional organizations are are set
up for for support, for guidance, for love, for fellowship
and and and not for controlling or or forcing right
or or mandates.
Speaker 1 (50:18):
And it's important because well, and so here's here's I
think real quick.
Speaker 3 (50:22):
Uh and and then we'll wrap this up.
Speaker 4 (50:25):
Yeah we gotta go then.
Speaker 1 (50:26):
Yeah, So but here's here's one of the I think
the hindering blocks of when veterans get off active duty
and when they when they're approached by people, you know,
it's you know, do you want to we.
Speaker 3 (50:40):
Need a membership.
Speaker 1 (50:41):
You need a membership to belong, or there is a
membership to belong. And I'll be honest with you, when
I first got off active duty, I was looking for
a job. I didn't have what I think, what is
it thirty two or forty bucks for the for the
year or whatever for.
Speaker 3 (50:56):
One year members right, I didn't have that at the time.
Speaker 1 (51:00):
So yeah, I wasn't wasn't really you know, I wasn't
really interested in joining.
Speaker 4 (51:04):
The priority for you at the time, exactly.
Speaker 1 (51:07):
That's my point exactly, so, but yeah, you have done
amazing things for young not only young veterans, but also
the youth of your community as they view us as
a community, as they view us as the veteran community.
And I got to give you props for that because
you're you're engaging with them, you're, you know, so many
(51:30):
things going on over there. I've seen and I can't
ratle them off the top of my head at the moment,
but it's just it's very impressive.
Speaker 3 (51:36):
It's it's extremely impressive.
Speaker 4 (51:38):
Than the village. It really takes a village.
Speaker 1 (51:41):
It does take a village on so many different levels. Absolutely, so,
any alibis what alibi.
Speaker 3 (51:51):
You don't know what an alibi is.
Speaker 1 (51:53):
If I'm you're on the rifle range and you have
an extra for whatever we have a malfunction, you got
an extra bullet?
Speaker 3 (52:03):
Ali, do you have any albis? Come on, Stacey. No.
Speaker 2 (52:08):
I was thinking like if I'm supposed to be somewhere,
you know, and I'm not there, albo with me.
Speaker 1 (52:15):
It is kind of that that too, Like if you
have any extra information that you'd like to share that
we didn't talk about, So that would no?
Speaker 4 (52:21):
I think we I think I said enough. What I
didn't say, I'll post in the comments.
Speaker 2 (52:27):
Okay, like eight things, So I'll be posting in comments.
Speaker 4 (52:34):
That's sweet, all right.
Speaker 1 (52:35):
So yet, so for our guests that are watching today,
I want to throw out there that next week we
have a very special guest, another one of Mas. She's
just a huge professional, uh in a great place to
help veterans and do great things with veterans the veteran community.
I will not get a word in edge ways next
week on that show.
Speaker 2 (52:56):
Yeah, I might not get a word in edgeways. Brittany
from the vac in du Page County is coming on
and we're going to be wanting to take We're gonna
We're gonna want to take questions if you are watching
this right now and you have questions for her from
the VAC of du Page County.
Speaker 4 (53:12):
She's a wealth of knowledge and we are going to
be posting.
Speaker 2 (53:17):
About about what she's going to be able to offer
for the show, uh next next week, So stay stay
tuned for that.
Speaker 3 (53:23):
Tell them what the VAC stands for.
Speaker 4 (53:26):
The Veterans Veterans Commission. Oh, I hate you.
Speaker 3 (53:35):
It's been a long day, has it been? Stay?
Speaker 4 (53:38):
Yeah, I've not done yet. I've got people at the door.
Speaker 3 (53:42):
Let's wrap this up, all right.
Speaker 1 (53:43):
I'm sorry, all right, So look forward to seeing everybody
next week. Thank you very much for joining trip Wire today.
We H we appreciate your attendance. We have a great time.
Thanks for supporting us being on supervised skywalkers.
Speaker 3 (53:56):
In the back.
Speaker 1 (53:57):
And remember the path of freedom is paid with courage
and honor.
Speaker 4 (54:02):
Is the wire we never trip
Speaker 3 (54:16):
Hm
Good afternoon everybody. It is Wednesday, February nineteenth. I am
joined by the gracious Stacey Bowyer, the co host here
on trip Wire. It's time to get trip wire on Stacy.
How the hell are you doing, dear?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Just great now that we've got all the technical difficulties
out of the way, Great to see you.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
We've got a great, great still ahead of us today.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Hopefully it's really informative.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
We'll be adding a bunch of links and things to uh,
so everything is accessible as we go through this, so.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Hopefully it'd be great. Yea, So, uh how was your
How was the last week for you?
Speaker 4 (01:19):
It was good? Okay?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
So I got okay since we last spoke. I think
I was able to dress up like Pocahontas for the
Disney karaoke fundraiser for the National Home for Children for
the VFW.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Then was able to.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Do a Roaring twenties outfit that was for city council fundraiser. Yeah,
so I've got Then we had the Veteran Business Fair
this weekend. That was huge success and very very well attended.
What is the next thing, Oh, Mardi Gras Casino night
(01:52):
is going to be Friday. I've got a really great
Mardi Gras mask then I'm going to wear for that.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
So just stay tuned to Facebook and Instagram posts.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yeah, yeah, I'm not I'm not in Illinois anymore, but
I'm starting to get the consensus that you know, as
you became commander of the VFW.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Now it's just not one party after another.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Well I mean, yeah, I mean we do. We do
what we can.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
So let's let's get into this.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
We're going to talk about the Veteran brotherhood, sisterhood, and community. Yes,
very important topic for us from both of our stances,
as we've had many conversations about that in the past
at different times. The first one, let's uh, out of
the four that we've highlighted moving forward for our guests today,
(02:52):
let's talk about the importance of the VFW and the
American Legion posts in today's day and age.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Okay, so it's kind of a twofold conversation a lot
of people. So we have a lot of veterans that
are watching this, but believe it or not, veterans don't
always know the difference between the VFW and the American Legion.
A lot of veterans aren't sure what they're actually qualified
(03:21):
for a lot of civilians.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Have no idea.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
So we've got a variety of different people that watch
the show here. For example, I often as the commander
of the VFW, I often get questioned, oh, so were
you in the military did you serve? And I you know,
And I have learned since that not to have a
knee jerk reaction of like, I mean, are you kidding?
(03:46):
Of course, there's people that just don't know. And I
have really made a point of knowledge is power.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Getting the word out.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
It's about, you know, really letting people know, oh that
the VFW is is here, the American Legion is here,
and that there's qualifications for each and how a person
can qualify and be a part of each.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
And I think.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
You know more people. I think we go out to
the schools, we do a lot in the community, we
do so much. And I can speak for my posts specifically,
but I know a lot of posts that do that.
Education is key here because these veterans, these veterans, even
if they're that they could have been in for two,
three years, four years, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
There isn't And I know this for a fact.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
You've got to tell me when you were in did
somebody go, hey, when you get out, you should go
look at join in the VFW.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Did anybody say that to you?
Speaker 3 (04:48):
No?
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Okay, me either, And.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So there's a lot of things that we weren't told
before we got out. So I one of the things
that I've been working with a lot is the recruiters.
I've become very close with the recruiters in the area
and getting the recruiters, you know, to be a part
of all the community events.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
They're awesome.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
They come out to the Phoenix Natural Noble Warrior that
I promote, They're in the schools all the time, They're
at all the fundraisers. These guys, And I'm speaking for
recruiters in general, because I haven't met one that I
don't like, but I'm very close to the ones here
in my town, and you know, they are really good
at communicating all the things about what the military can offer.
(05:33):
But they're really good lately about communicating with how the
VFW and the American Legion can enrich their lives when
they get out and become that that that tribe, you know,
that band of brothers are the comrade that they're looking for.
That what were we calling it? The fire what did
we call it?
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Fire team? Did Daniel call it a fire team?
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
I think he did when we interviewed him. Yeah, you
know that fire team, the fire team, right. And so
like when we do when we do our interviews with
these people that have struggled with PTSD and and they've
been trying to connect, they're having a really time hard
time connecting with the civilian world. This is their fire team,
(06:19):
and I think that it should be spoken about more
through that transition, that process, that tap process they transition out.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
I know I'm rambling. I'm rambling, but I think that.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
You're not rambling.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
You're not rambling, You're bringing up very good points.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I was talking.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I had a conversation caught up with a brother of
mine recently, Ron Ron served as an analyst on a
ship in the first in the first.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Person go for uh.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
And you know, he's at least a couple of years
older than I am, and he still hasn't gotten his
rating yet.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Yeah, So, I.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Mean it is, it's I think a lot of it is.
It's the atmospheric of you know, I did my time,
I've moved on. I don't need it but here some
of us, like yourself and myself, because I have my
rating and because I did so many combat tours, you know,
(07:28):
I've been a huge advocate for people to try and
get their rating.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Because they deserve it. You deserve everything you get out
of the VA, you know. And why put.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
If it's if it's related to your service connected problems
when you're seventy or eighty, why should your kids have
to worry about whether or not you're going to be
taken care of?
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Right?
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Does that make sense? And that's what I try and
tell them. That's what I try and tell people. I
got back from my first deployment and convinced my Vietnam
uncle go get his rating finally, you know.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
And how old and how old was he?
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Oh? He was in his sixties, okay, back.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
In two thousand and three when I or two thousand
and four when I got back from me. And now
he's just he just turned seventy five, you know, and
he's gotten they're they're helping him out with his ticker
and he had a shoulder replacement or he's doing much
better because.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
He earned it from his combat tour in Vietnam.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
So so, and another thing too, with you know, he's
he's older. A lot of these people will get out
of the military and then not know and and struggle well,
So trying to connect with the VA, even if you
get out and you've got a seamless process with getting
your benefits, even if that happened during your transition process,
(08:52):
it's still scary to just be like calling up the
VA or trying to find a VA center that's close
to you and your community. And that alone is a
reason to connect with the VFW or the American Legion
because of the resources, the guidance, the people that are
in officers. So there's officer positions within the VFW and
(09:15):
the American Legion and it's those bubbles jobs to.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Help and take care of you.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
So we have like me as a commander, then I
have the junior Vice, the Senior Vice, and then we've
got other roles and committees that are throughout the VFW,
and the American Legion has got the same kind of setup,
and so we have a service officer that is very
proficient and well versed on benefits and resources and the
(09:42):
VAC and homeless veterans and what the National Home can offer.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Depending on what.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Somebody certain circumstances are and it's.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
An easy it's an easy thing.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
To do is to be able to connect with one
of those and then have those resources at your fingertips.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Right.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
One of the it's not in the topics that we're
discussing tonight, but I want to bring it up at
the next time this, this particular.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Show type of show shows.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Up, and that is how do we connect when individuals
when they leave the military, they just want to be
just disconnected to begin with.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Does that make sense? We'll table that for another time, but.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Yeah, the are you saying, well, saying because they get
out and they're like a lot of people get out
because they're ready to get out.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
They've got.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
Yes, they left with a bad taste in your mouth.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
They got out for whatever reason, they got out, and
that's why they walk away from it. And they don't
they don't realize that the brother and sisterhood that they
belonged to while they were on active.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Duty is still exist in the civilian world.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
It just looks a little bit different, smells a little
bit different, it tastes a little bit different.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Does that make sense?
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Yeah, And so with some of those people, you know,
you can't and if anybody like is watching this that
has somehow come across the trip wire and are intrigued
by the things that we're talking about, or you know,
and maybe they have just recently got out of the
military and they're not ready to I'm not ready to
go into the VFW. I'm not ready to be a
(11:28):
part of something like that. I don't want to do it.
I don't want to be asked to do a bunch
of things that I'm not comfortable with. I don't want
to be in charge of anything right now. I just
want to figure out what my next steps are. Well,
I encourage those people to know that, for example, at
(11:48):
my post on the first Tuesday of every month between
like ten and two, we've got resources, and we've got
this rally point with the VAC. We've got a ton
of different mental health experts and resources directly with the
VA Hospital that are up there, not just for members
(12:10):
of the VFW. So like you're needing some help, you're
needing some guidance, you're needing some questions answered, but you're
not quite ready to be like a part of something again,
then you can still come by, still come by, and
you can come up there, and then just ask questions
and get some help your veteran and we're there for
(12:31):
you to help you. So, you know, I want if
they're watching this and there's something that they need and
they're unsure of how to reach out to do that,
they can you know, come up on that first Tuesday
up to the Naperville VFW and we can guide them.
We're not going to try to strong arm them, strong
(12:52):
arm them into joining or anything at all. We'd love
to just invite them to come to some events that
they're comfortable with and and and see if they have
a good time.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
You know that that's I do want to.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
I want to share this with our audience as well.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
It's amazing how if you just take that first initial
step to say what you're talking you know, just attend
that right there, what you're talking about, first Tuesday of
the month, around mid day. It's amazing how they can
meet really good part of people and then the ice
is broken and then they end up freaking wanting to
(13:29):
spend more time there. They want to spend more time
around the people that they've met, you know. They Preville
has a your your place has a fantastic community of
veterans of all ages uh, and just you can feel
the you can feel the love and the support in
the air when you when you like, I've I've gone
(13:52):
away for a while, and then I've come back. I've
spent time in Virginia, and then I come back and
I visit and I you know.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Now I'm in Ohio.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
You know, I'm I'm an eping gypsy all over the
damned place. But every time I come back to visit,
not just to see you and to talk business with you,
but also to see people at the VFW.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
My sister's in Naperville.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
My dad's just on the other side of Lyle, the
border of Lyle, and then yeah, brought dad to the post.
You know, the atmosphere is amazing, and it's just it's enveloping,
and it's warm, it's compassionate, and it's always a good time.
And people were always there with genuine concern of how
they can help if something's going wrong for you.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
And we have a lot of people, you know, and
you're one of them that we have members of the
VFW or the American Legion for that example, and they're
not they don't like the structure or the they don't
necessarily like the structure or the tradition of a meeting,
because we are very formal in the meeting, right and
we are because we've got traditions and that's just how
(14:53):
we are. But they will come up there on Thursdays
and they'll be up there at the end of the meeting.
We all come down and then we all hang out
and we talk about whatever we want to talk about.
People have a drink if they want, there's we have
non alcoholic beverages available to and so sometimes people just
make a point of being up there on that, you know,
(15:15):
that second Thursday of the month, because they know that
they're going to be there when the meeting's over and
we all come downstairs.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
And if that's what they're comfortable with, that's fine. You know,
you don't have to go.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Up there and sit sit down in there for the
hour in that regimented moment. You can just wait for
the fun that will happen after.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Absolutely, let's know what they're for the audience members as well,
because you guys, when you have new new people to
get memberships, you bring them in on that that that Thursday,
the second Thursday of the month, isn't that correct?
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Yeah, So when new people join. We we invite them
to come upstairs to the meeting and we swear them in.
We give them a cross of malta pin. You know,
everybody shakes their hands, they get to introduce themselves a
little bit. And if that's the only time they ever
come to a meeting, that's totally fine. They're still going
to be able to get email information and our Kendle
(16:11):
Graham newsletter, and they'll be able to come into the post.
And we have everything that we've got going on, you know,
advertised on our on our TV screens and within within
our email information and social media platforms, so they can
they can be a part of as much or as
little as they're comfortable with, which you.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Bring up a great point there with this h you
talk about the social media platforms and the emails and
and all that. And uh, in case our audience members
didn't watch that show, I had your you and your
power three freaking ladies, the three of you on the
(16:51):
freaking the three amigos were on this show and I
barely the word an edgewise, And uh, but.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
That that's a segment.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
That's a segment, or uh, it's a movement into the
next topic. That I thought we would to talk about
one of your veteran brotherhood, sisterhood and community, and that
is let's let's discuss about that. Let's talk about the
evolution of the veteran community based on this new digital
age that we have.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
I think it's fantastic that, like.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
I get Facebook, I see Facebook threads, you know, not
only just your personal page, but I see I see
the the post throw things out there.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
I see the advertisements.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
I get the advertisements from not I get the advertisements
from Rita and Jennifer and emails up the lazoo from
all the ladies and are freaking, you know, taking over
the world in Naperville and uh. And I think it's
fantastic because it's so informative. You have so many options
to get connected should you choose to.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Do it right.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
And and the social media platforms are a really good
way to you know, get the word out of all
the fundraisers that we're doing, all of the local communities
that are supportive of veterans, there's quite a lot, and
people just you know, you only know what you know.
And for that person that's not sure how much they
want to be involved, it's a good way for them
(18:11):
to go, ah, you know, I I want to do
that rock March, but I'm not sure I want to
do the casino night.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
But I do like the idea of the car show.
Oh and karaoke.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Okay, my friend, you know, my spouse whatever, probably even
enjoy that.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
So let's go do that, you know.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
And so there's lots of ways to be able to
stay on track, figure out what it is that you
want to do. And then some people just want to
be supportive. You know, everybody's different with their level of involvement.
Some people are like, I just want to, you know,
support you and shout you out and share your stuff.
And so then they stay connected and they because they're
(18:48):
in the know and they like to maybe they like
to connect.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
They go, I saw something.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
I know five people that might want to do that,
and then they connect and maybe they're a little bit
more of an introvert, but they still like connecting people
and say, you never know, we've just got to you know,
meet people where they are, and you know, sometimes it's
on Instagram and sometimes it's on Facebook or you know wherever.
But yeah, and the digital age has really made it
(19:14):
even better to make sure that veterans know that they're
taken care of, they're looked out for that they've got
a fire team, you know, in every town. And and
you can always and I love that you can pop
in and you do this, you pop into vfw's where
you travel and and and like, I'll take pictures with people.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
I've seen you do that right a few times.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
And we had somebody from another state.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
We posted it on Facebook.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
He was a commander and I forget what state he
was in, but he popped in and took and I
took a picture with him and his wife and it
was just he loved our spot and he loved the energy,
and it was really cool to like, you know, chit
chat and like catch up, you know, on that level
with and also with with legislation and how much is
(20:02):
out there regarding veterans benefits right now, there's a lot
of rumor.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Mills and fear mongering going.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
On with what Trump is doing where he's laying off
people and making changes. There's eight bills now that are
on the docket that we're looking for witness slips on
and I just sent out some emails about it. So
if anybody's like watching this and is interested in knowing
(20:28):
the eight Bills that we are some we are four,
but some we are opposed to. I actually can put
some of these in a post in the comments if
people are interested in that. But in this day and age,
in the digital age, us being able to say, hey,
(20:51):
we are opposing this. This is why we're going to
dumb this down because it's hard to understand. And you
know v W h Q and American Legion HQ, they're
real good about how they explain things on social media.
So we are able to understand what these laws are
(21:12):
written for to do for us or or secretly not
to do for us. And this way we can do
the Witness slips. We can we can use our voice
to be heard. And it's far more efficient with the
digital age than it ever has been before people didn't
even know what they should do or how to do
(21:33):
it right. So I'm making some notes on some things
and I'm going to post so good deal yeah about
the Witness slips and the and the eight and there
is actually have you seen any of those, Stephen, any
(21:55):
of what the Witness the bills not?
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Not just yet. I'm as you always like it. When
I'm in school, I'm in school, yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
So I got it.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
But I'm gonna I'm gonna post some things about these
witness lips. But the HB thirteen fifty two is one
that collectively that we are in an opposition for. So
I'll post that and people can kind of look that up,
and then anybody can anybody can reach out to me directly.
I'm pretty easy to find and I can always answer
(22:32):
the questions and steer you through the right channels.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Right same here with me too. We both have you know,
public pages.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Look forward to anybody who messaging us, any anybody from
the audience to ask questions, you know, and I'm more
than happy to let you guys know that.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
You know, if I don't have the answer, I'll put
you in touch with Stacy. She has all the answers.
Speaker 4 (22:53):
So all there.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
But but but no, I have a lot of resources,
you know, I know who'd asked.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
I've curated a really good.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Network of people that are super smart I can ask them.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
But I wanted to add this too as well, because
when I came back to Naperville and I was team
care of mental health at HINES, I was living with
you know, staying with my father.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
You know that that whole scenario.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
So through the network at your VFW at that time,
I was put in touch with the Veterans Project or
Veterans Office at the University of Illinois Circle Campus Law School,
and they provide.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
Legal guidance and what's the word I'm looking for.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
They handled legal issues for veterans that are having problems
with the VA or other things, whatever the case may be,
and it's been it's been a huge help for me.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Over the years, you know.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
And obviously, but that's only for Illinois state veterans, but
there may be something similar at a law school wherever
our listeners are from and in their in their states.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
They just have to check it out. So I want
to throw that out there.
Speaker 4 (24:21):
Hold on, I got to make a correction to what
I said before.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
The HB thirteen fifty two is one that we support.
They're the HB ten fifty nine is one that we oppose.
But it doesn't really matter. I'm going to post this
in a comment and people will be able to clarify.
Speaker 4 (24:39):
I just wanted to correct that one statement.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
I have a lot of these House bills going around
in my brain right now.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Yeah, well, there's a lot of changes going on this
you know, since last month with the new administrations, I
get it completely. So anything else that you want to
add to.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
To the digital to the digital age?
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Yeah, what email are you using these days?
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Me?
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (25:15):
Is it the od NBC one or the other one?
Speaker 3 (25:18):
It's the other one, the McCoy the one you just.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Read off is for the coffee company.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
That's right, You're okay.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
We've we've gone back and forth a couple of times
because you have several emails I have.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Brief Yeah, I know, I just sent you. I just
sent you that.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
I just sent you an email with the witness lips. Okay,
So yeah, I mean I think that that's the digital age.
The thing with the digital age is, I think a
lot of people are connected through social media now, but
there are some people that aren't. And I highly suggest
if you're a veteran entrepreneur that you get connected with
some kind of veteran business owner networking group in the
(25:58):
area that you live in. So if you are local here,
myself and Jennifer Sloan chair one that we created and
we meet twice a week. We meet one once or
twice a month, once in the morning and then another
time in the evening. So if you're interested in doing
something like that, you can you can reach out to
me about that as well. But the VBC that that
(26:20):
veteran business connection. We teach these new veteran entrepreneurs how
to figure out how to create an online presence for
themselves and the digit the digital age is good for
resources and getting the word out. But also with the
veteran entrepreneurs if they're coming right coming right home, and
they never really were big with social media, but they
want to start their own business, that can be just
(26:43):
as scary as just walking into you know, canteen alone
for the first time.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Yeah, no, I get it.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
And uh so, uh that's fantastic for with you you
guys in your area, I can I can assist anybody,
you know, they're a different state, or they're doing this
or that, whatever, I can help them out. I have
a huge, massive network nationwide, been accused of knowing more
(27:10):
people than the common cold.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
So uh, you know, we'll figure it out. Between the
two of us.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
We can help whoever is interested in any of our
any of our you know, attendees for the podcasts and.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Whatever the case may be.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
So this one, this next topic I really find.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
Very important because I think it's.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
I think we can expand upon it. And again and
another great segue into this, because you just talked about
networking within your community to try and help veterans. But
I want to just throw this out there, veterans helping veterans.
I mean, how better does it get than that? And uh,
it's the power of mentorship in networking. And I want
(27:54):
to I want to do a deep dive onto this because,
as you know, I'm it's very important for me with
what I do for veterans to help veterans. I don't
have I don't have a structured a structured place to
or institution to utilize to help veterans like you do.
(28:17):
But I do what I can, you know, as much
as I can. I really want to talk about that.
So I know you mentor a lot, So I'm gonna
let you start if you don't mind.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
Okay, Yes, I mentor a lot. One of the things
that I was just thinking about while.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
You were.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Running my mouth, Yes, yeah.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
And I wanted to.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
Okay, I'm looking for something specific that I was going
to say. But one of the things that Okay, so
the veterans that are just recently out of the military
that are looking for a job.
Speaker 4 (28:59):
So you've got two kind.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
You've got veterans that are looking for a job that
is within their mos or their job description that they
had in the military, right and so then you've got
those that are coming out that might try to get
a job, it might not be something that's in line
with what they what they want to do, or they
realize they have an entrepreneurial spirit, which a lot of
(29:20):
veterans do. You start working for someone else in the
civilian world and it's completely different than what we're accustomed
to in the military, and you're like, why are you
doing things like that?
Speaker 4 (29:29):
This is absolutely ridiculous. I can't work for you.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
And I see that all the time. And then they
move back and then they become an entrepreneur. So with
mentoring one of the things that we like to do
with the VBC group, but also that I think is
super important and probably is done in a lot of
these veteran resource groups that are out there with with
job skills, resume building, things like that. Veterans that are
(29:53):
out there that are struggling to find a job, they
need to realize that there's so many different ways to
leverage being a veteran in how you use buzzwords with
your resume, how you interview, what you say about what
(30:13):
you bring to the table, right.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
And I was just talking.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
I just had coffee with my girlfriend this afternoon and
she's a in a in a top level executive position
at USA Bank, and she's a civilian and not, you know,
not a veteran. And we were talking about how when
she goes to look at a resume, she always will
pick out, you know, that veteran. That's who she wants.
(30:40):
She wants to hire veterans. And I said, okay, so
tell me, tell me why from your point of view,
And she says, because they always go above and beyond.
They always think outside of the box. They are looking
to do the best job for the bigger picture, not
just for a paycheck, right right, And they will always
(31:00):
persevere in their tenacious And I was like, Okay, that's
exactly it. And I love that because if we look
at what we've done, like I was in the medical field,
but I have all this experience with supply and demand
and graphic design and teaching and all these things that
you know, you wouldn't think just a medic in the
military wou would have.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
And there are a lot of us, all of us,
you know, I mean the.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Things that Nadia can do where and she was in
food service and like the she's like ten times more
than what that job description might display, right, and I.
Speaker 4 (31:36):
Mean any of us you too. So I think that
these young.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Veterans or any veteran that that could be, could benefit
from mentoring, mentorship. That's one of the things that we
need to teach them is how to truly advocate for
themselves when entering that civilian space and saying, I'm a veteran.
Here's why I can add value to your organization.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Right.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
So, leaving the leaving the army. Uh, they used to
call it a cap I think it was, you know,
a couple of weeks of of classes on how to
build a resume, what to look forward to out there.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
Now, I will say this, in the last I'd say.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Ten years, they've probably enhanced that that outprocessing portion, whether
they're just you know, there are times up on their
tour or they're retiring. As far as the veterans status
or the soldiers or the the service member status is,
they've enhanced these programs to get to help them get out,
(32:48):
you know, make the transition into civilian life. But you know,
do you have you or will you uh have like
a little resume building freaking workshop, you know, if if
if it's something that needs to be done in the community,
(33:10):
because I mean it is it is extremely daunting at
times when you take everything that you had when you
were in the military and then you try and it's
in military ease, and then you try to transfer.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
That into articulate it into exactly it is very difficult.
And while we're while we're talking right now, I actually
do have two different people in mind that I'm gonna
that I'm going to reach out to so I can
get some some links that I'm going to make sure
that I can post. I'm going to text them real
(33:43):
quick because that's a great idea. That's definitely a workshop
that I think would be very beneficial. Because one of
the things with the digital age that a lot of
people don't realize is that everything is automated. So we've
got your resume, you know, like in our day and age,
it was who you know, and it's still it still is.
(34:05):
Because if you can get FaceTime with somebody that you
want to hire you, that's going to be more beneficial
than just trying to send your resume through indeed or
or something you know, like like like that.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Because LinkedIn or whatever any other of that.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Yes, and because one of you know, one of the
things that people don't realize. And I was going through
this with my son. I was I was trying to
talk to him about submitting his resume, and he's like,
nobody's looking at it, you know. And so then I
went and I said, well, what are you applying for?
And I went and I looked at the description of
the job, and I looked at his resume and there
(34:43):
was nothing in his resume. Even though he was qualified
to do the job, there was not any direct words
in his the beginning of his resume that were the
keywords that they scan for. So they're going to scan
for and not everybody knows this, or they're going to
scan the resume for those keywords, and if those keywords
don't show up, then you're immediately just pushed off to
(35:04):
the side. So they're they're they're going to pull in
for a second look the resumes that have keywords that
are directly connected to the job description or pre prerequisites.
If it's a high if it's higher level. And so
a lot of younger people don't know that, especially if
they're coming right out of the military, they're not going
to know.
Speaker 4 (35:23):
They're just going to get frustrated.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
And if they've got PTSD or anger issues or personality
to sort, is there anything that that is coming stemming
from their experience in the military, and that's going to.
Speaker 4 (35:35):
Be a struggle for them.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
They're not going to have the patience for it, and
it's going to be and it's going to be a problem.
And if and and all they you know, if somebody
can just help them build that resume correctly, that'd be
half the battle.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Well, yes, but then they can Also there's the dav
puts on uh workshops UH and also hiring events, you know,
job function and events. Recruit Recruit Military is a national website.
They have events in all the locations across America. You
(36:11):
have to when you when you register with them, maybe
create an account you just it's uh, it's it can
be zoomed into your specific area that you live in,
rather than getting all this information from all over the
states as far as when job fares are and stuff
of that nature.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
You're saying that the veterans of the Department of Veteran
Affairs website directly.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
That's what you said, correct.
Speaker 1 (36:34):
Recruit Military. Yeah, I'll say the link. There's a there's
a website out there. It's called Recruit Military. It acts
like indeed or linked in specifically for veterans. They have
hiring events in Chicago all all the time, job fairs,
that type of stuff.
Speaker 3 (36:57):
I was when I was looking for work, but.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
I just used to go all the way downtown to
the corner place to go to to go to a
job fair. When I was utilizing other resources, you know,
I didn't. I didn't feel like sitting downtown.
Speaker 4 (37:12):
And uh it's funny, you.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
Know how much I like crowded places.
Speaker 4 (37:17):
You were frozen and it was funny. I was frozen
that you were like.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
I had my head off like this.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
So anyway, No, So this this power of mentorship, I
want to talk about it from a different perspective.
Speaker 4 (37:36):
Dot com Yeah, you're right, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
So I want to talk about power mentorship. Sometimes power
mentorship is just you setting an example. It's not even
you doing anything specifically for one specific individual. And what
I mean by that is is my personal experience. I
started up to bring awareness to suicide rates and veterans
(37:59):
and first respond I started doing pushups again, you know,
a couple of days ago Monday, as a matter of fact,
was I hit und days.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
I'm back at it. I'm in triple digits again.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
But you know I took four months off and before
that I went eight hundred and forty.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
One days straight. Now I know, you know, I know.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
I also remember that that somebody is certain not mentioning
any names, gave me a ration of crap when I
was decided to take a break.
Speaker 4 (38:30):
So no, I did not give you a rational crap.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
What I did was I did was look up some
statistics to give you some motivation yeah to possibly going.
And I maybe a ration of that because I was
being I was being very gentle in my nudging with you,
because I knew that you were going through an internal
(38:55):
struggle which was causing you to take a break.
Speaker 4 (38:57):
But at the same time, I wanted to give you a.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
Little nugget that's aperation in case you wanted to keep going.
It might help well back off. But then I back
off when you said, no, I'm going to do this
on my own time, and this time I'm going to
do it for me and I respected that and I said, yes,
you do that right.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
So I'm doing it for me.
Speaker 1 (39:19):
And I've always appreciated your support, nuggets of wisdom, everything
that you've shared.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
I appreciate it all.
Speaker 1 (39:29):
But anyway, so being back at it, you know, I
don't I have those I have those regulars that respond
to that.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
But I also know that I've been in.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
I've gone to the EOD Memorial, and I've been into
the Gallas and out of nowhere, somebody extends her hands
and yeah, we're around.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
Social media together. But they never said any They never
say anything.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
About the posts that I put up, but yet they
come up and then they just want to say thank
you for what I continue to do.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
And I love how that works.
Speaker 1 (40:03):
That that That's what I was trying to get at
as far as that version of power of mentorship is
just setting an example leading, you know, showing people that
things can happen good for them by establishing a pattern,
establishing what's the.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Being consistent. That's the word I was looking for, being consistent.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
So yeah, I'm I'm super super ecstatic about being back
at it.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
It's things are going good.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
Things are going good in sense and always networking and
I look forward to being done with school eventually and
getting back into.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
Yeah, I'm looking forward to you being done with school too.
Speaker 1 (40:51):
I was looking forward to being done with school and
you totally rolled your eyes.
Speaker 3 (40:55):
That was hilarious.
Speaker 2 (41:00):
Oh my god, So Skywatcher watch this or does he
just watch it later.
Speaker 1 (41:08):
I'm just totally laughing completely because we're you know, this
is he never knows what's gonna happen when you were
on here, you know, thank god, we're not when we're
here on supervised where we don't have to take care
of a guest. You know, it's like, who knows what's
gonna happen?
Speaker 4 (41:22):
We're unsupervised, I know.
Speaker 2 (41:23):
And so okay, and then then another flips I can
I can I where you finished with that?
Speaker 4 (41:27):
Can I tell HI about? Okay?
Speaker 2 (41:28):
So another flip side with mentoring. It's one of the
things that I love about the VFW is. I mean,
some of my best friends are these like seventy eighty
and ninety year old men that I've met there, you know,
And I'm like, it was so funny. I'm at this
district meeting and you know Phil Mayhon, who's.
Speaker 4 (41:45):
I think he's like seventy eight, say seventy eight.
Speaker 2 (41:48):
But you know, him and I both have our legacy
gold plated VFW cards and we're like twins. We're like,
we're twinning and it's like so stupid, But I mean,
I love these guys and I'm like, and it's just
it's so funny because they've taken me under their wing
and they.
Speaker 4 (42:09):
Teach me so much stuff.
Speaker 2 (42:11):
I'm like and I love it, and it's like, I
just I feel like I'm at this point where, I mean,
I'm so fortunate that they're mentoring me. And it's not
just military stuff, you know, it's life and it's.
Speaker 4 (42:26):
Their experiences lessons they learn.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
Oh my gosh, I'm learning so much about how to
be more patient and more and diplomatic, how to work
with people that have completely different personalities than me. I'm
a much better leader, a much better like manager because
I do all of those things at the VFW.
Speaker 4 (42:47):
And you know, there's it's.
Speaker 2 (42:49):
It's I've always tried to pride myself in knowing that
it's not about me, you know, it's not the world
is so much bigger, there's so many more things, but
I'm so much more tapped into that. There's so many
other things going on that and and I really do
enjoy being able to help people, and the mentorship that
(43:12):
I'm getting that I never even expected to get is priceless,
and from unexpected people like you know, you just I
love it.
Speaker 3 (43:23):
Absolutely, absolutely. It's great to great to have.
Speaker 1 (43:26):
That that consistency of those those people that have been there,
there the legacies that they're sharing with you, that you know,
there's a saying out there if you want to. What
we don't do is talk to the elderly anymore, you know,
And I think it is I think it's a I
(43:46):
think it's a it's a massive loss on our on generations,
maybe not ours, but generations below us, younger than us.
Speaker 3 (43:55):
They don't talk to old people.
Speaker 1 (43:56):
They don't hear the old stories, they don't get the
passive knowledge, the life lessons, the skill.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
And I tell you, yes, your point is is, oh
my gosh, because these kids that are in the Student
Veterans Support Club that go out to the Hindes Hospital
and go to these assisted living facilities on this every Saturday,
and they spend the time to sit there and talk
to these these these veterans and they hear their stories,
they interact with them, and they and then they continue
(44:28):
to tell those stories.
Speaker 4 (44:30):
These kids are they're so.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
I don't know what the word is, but they are
going to grow into being some of the most amazing
people because they have opened themselves up to learn to
these to these elders. Right to call them the elders
because they and they're open to it. They don't and
they don't sit around thinking they know everything. They don't
(44:54):
sit around acting like they're entitled. And anybody, and whether
it's a veteran, any kid these days in this generation,
any any younger person that takes the time to listen
to their grandparents and their grandparents' friends and and and
absorb that and process those stories and those experiences, they're
going to be better off for that.
Speaker 1 (45:15):
Absolutely couldn't couldn't have said it better. Absolutely right. Still,
we should do a we should do a show with
with some of the some of the elders. Maybe yeah,
you get yeah, we'll figure it out, all right, So
last last one we've got for today's show. Uh, and
(45:39):
then we can expand upon stuff because we've got some great,
great stuff coming up next week too. How young veterans
can get involved in traditional veteran organizations.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
I think we hit the nail on the head. But
let's let's drive it home.
Speaker 1 (45:53):
Uh, in the conversation of the last three topics, you know,
check out, check out your v so get in touch
with your vsos to help you get your ratings.
Speaker 3 (46:04):
The VFW, the American Legion, d a v uh.
Speaker 1 (46:09):
We're going to throw up the you know, the recruit
military thing for employment. A lot of people focus on
just getting the job and then they can broaden their
horizons on other things, you know, because it's so important
that they have a source of income, especially if they
have a family and such. So you deal with young
(46:29):
veterans much more than I do at the moment. So
I'm I'm speaking your guidance here and your your wisdom
on this as as we talk about this topic.
Speaker 2 (46:42):
So, okay, how younger veterans can get involved in traditional
veteran organizations.
Speaker 4 (46:46):
So traditional veteran organizations.
Speaker 2 (46:47):
Typically would be, uh, you know, the the VFW, the
American Legion, and then there's spin there's spin off organizations
that are for family members, you know too, like the
Daughters of the American Revolution. Then you've got the Sons
of the Legion, You've got auxiliary.
Speaker 4 (47:06):
So let's say you.
Speaker 2 (47:08):
And I think that a lot of younger veterans they
don't know that their spouse could also be involved maybe
and maybe they want their spouse to be involved, and
they don't want to go join the VFW, and then
what well their spouse could be in the auxiliary, you know.
Or if a female veteran is wanting to be involved
with the American Legion and they've got you know, you know, teenagers,
(47:31):
and they want to figure out how those kids can
be involved. They can join the you know, the sons
of the Legion. You know, there's there's ways. American Legion
has auxiliary as well, So there's ways that these younger
families can can all be involved and do stuff together.
Speaker 1 (47:50):
Right.
Speaker 2 (47:50):
And then the beauty of the digital age is that
if you are a younger veteran and you just want
to be involved in some stuff that veterans are doing,
then it's easy to find that stuff by by looking up,
you know, the VFW in your area and see what
they've got going on through their Instagram or social media posts.
Speaker 4 (48:12):
And if you're here in our.
Speaker 2 (48:13):
Area, it's easy to do because you can just look
up the Aperville VFW or Saint Charles or you know
Batavia Lombard Villa Park. Look up what's in your town,
and then look up what they're posting on their websites,
on their social media, and again look and see is
it a car show?
Speaker 4 (48:30):
Just go check it out. You know, it's karaoke open
to the public.
Speaker 2 (48:34):
The Fish Fry like our fish Fry March March seventh
through April eighteenth.
Speaker 4 (48:38):
It's open to the public. You know. You you don't
even have to tell anybody you're a veteran. Just come
check things.
Speaker 2 (48:43):
Out and eat some fish and so, you know, and
it's just it's it's there's a lot of ways and
I do, you know, I talk to the younger people.
Speaker 4 (48:51):
And that's one of the reasons I have been so.
Speaker 2 (48:55):
Hard pressed on creating so many different things, because my
as commander is to create experiences that veterans want.
Speaker 4 (49:03):
To be a part of.
Speaker 2 (49:05):
And that means that there's got to be a lot
of variety because there's I've got to create stuff that
I may not necessarily want to do, you know, but
there's people that want to do that stuff. And we
want to have different choices and things, and and and
letting the young veterans know that we're going to have
a good time, but we also are going to help
you not only with your benefits, but with resume building
(49:29):
and finding those finding that job and helping you start
your own business.
Speaker 4 (49:34):
And that fire team I mean Daniel.
Speaker 2 (49:37):
I love when Daniel said that, you know, it really
resonated with me when we interviewed him, because you know,
I look around, you know, and I've got a couple
of those fire teams myself, you know, in different capacities
with the body being held and with my veteran world,
and some of them are crossovers. But but but that's
the thing too, is making sure that these younger veterans
(49:59):
know that this these these traditional organizations are are set
up for for support, for guidance, for love, for fellowship
and and and not for controlling or or forcing right
or or mandates.
Speaker 1 (50:18):
And it's important because well, and so here's here's I
think real quick.
Speaker 3 (50:22):
Uh and and then we'll wrap this up.
Speaker 4 (50:25):
Yeah we gotta go then.
Speaker 1 (50:26):
Yeah, So but here's here's one of the I think
the hindering blocks of when veterans get off active duty
and when they when they're approached by people, you know,
it's you know, do you want to we.
Speaker 3 (50:40):
Need a membership.
Speaker 1 (50:41):
You need a membership to belong, or there is a
membership to belong. And I'll be honest with you, when
I first got off active duty, I was looking for
a job. I didn't have what I think, what is
it thirty two or forty bucks for the for the
year or whatever for.
Speaker 3 (50:56):
One year members right, I didn't have that at the time.
Speaker 1 (51:00):
So yeah, I wasn't wasn't really you know, I wasn't
really interested in joining.
Speaker 4 (51:04):
The priority for you at the time, exactly.
Speaker 1 (51:07):
That's my point exactly, so, but yeah, you have done
amazing things for young not only young veterans, but also
the youth of your community as they view us as
a community, as they view us as the veteran community.
And I got to give you props for that because
you're you're engaging with them, you're, you know, so many
(51:30):
things going on over there. I've seen and I can't
ratle them off the top of my head at the moment,
but it's just it's very impressive.
Speaker 3 (51:36):
It's it's extremely impressive.
Speaker 4 (51:38):
Than the village. It really takes a village.
Speaker 1 (51:41):
It does take a village on so many different levels. Absolutely, so,
any alibis what alibi.
Speaker 3 (51:51):
You don't know what an alibi is.
Speaker 1 (51:53):
If I'm you're on the rifle range and you have
an extra for whatever we have a malfunction, you got
an extra bullet?
Speaker 3 (52:03):
Ali, do you have any albis? Come on, Stacey. No.
Speaker 2 (52:08):
I was thinking like if I'm supposed to be somewhere,
you know, and I'm not there, albo with me.
Speaker 1 (52:15):
It is kind of that that too, Like if you
have any extra information that you'd like to share that
we didn't talk about, So that would no?
Speaker 4 (52:21):
I think we I think I said enough. What I
didn't say, I'll post in the comments.
Speaker 2 (52:27):
Okay, like eight things, So I'll be posting in comments.
Speaker 4 (52:34):
That's sweet, all right.
Speaker 1 (52:35):
So yet, so for our guests that are watching today,
I want to throw out there that next week we
have a very special guest, another one of Mas. She's
just a huge professional, uh in a great place to
help veterans and do great things with veterans the veteran community.
I will not get a word in edge ways next
week on that show.
Speaker 2 (52:56):
Yeah, I might not get a word in edgeways. Brittany
from the vac in du Page County is coming on
and we're going to be wanting to take We're gonna
We're gonna want to take questions if you are watching
this right now and you have questions for her from
the VAC of du Page County.
Speaker 4 (53:12):
She's a wealth of knowledge and we are going to
be posting.
Speaker 2 (53:17):
About about what she's going to be able to offer
for the show, uh next next week, So stay stay
tuned for that.
Speaker 3 (53:23):
Tell them what the VAC stands for.
Speaker 4 (53:26):
The Veterans Veterans Commission. Oh, I hate you.
Speaker 3 (53:35):
It's been a long day, has it been? Stay?
Speaker 4 (53:38):
Yeah, I've not done yet. I've got people at the door.
Speaker 3 (53:42):
Let's wrap this up, all right.
Speaker 1 (53:43):
I'm sorry, all right, So look forward to seeing everybody
next week. Thank you very much for joining trip Wire today.
We H we appreciate your attendance. We have a great time.
Thanks for supporting us being on supervised skywalkers.
Speaker 3 (53:56):
In the back.
Speaker 1 (53:57):
And remember the path of freedom is paid with courage
and honor.
Speaker 4 (54:02):
Is the wire we never trip
Speaker 3 (54:16):
Hm
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.