How Veterans can leverage military skills to build networks and navigate civilian careers.

To the Veterans who never stopped believing — in themselves, in their brothers and sisters, and in the future. We’ve all been those “streetlights, people, livin’ just to find emotion, hidin’ somewhere in the…” well, usually the VFW or the local dive bar. May we carry the skills we earned in service into every new mission, building bridges, networks, and opportunities. Here’s to resilience, camaraderie, and never giving up on the journey ahead. Cheers!

This episode of The Common Veterans is brought to you by Mission: Communicate, a Veteran-owned marketing company that helps businesses and nonprofits share their story, and by Winter Oak Studios, founded by T.C. Miller, author of BlackStar Ops, with our own Jeff Schrock contributing as co-author. Their support keeps this conversation alive.

Veterans leave the service with powerful skills — leadership, discipline, adaptability, and teamwork — that translate directly into civilian careers. The real challenge is confidence: learning how to own your background, not downplay it. Many of us have seen how quick decision-making, problem solving, and grit gave us an edge in the civilian workplace. These qualities don’t just fade when the uniform comes off.

But resumes alone aren’t enough. Networking is what opens doors. For many Veterans, this can feel uncomfortable — the fear of being misunderstood or stigmatized is real. Too often, companies say they’re “Veteran Friendly” when really what we need are organizations that are “Veteran Ready.” Veteran Friendly means the welcome mat is out. Veteran Ready means there’s a real plan: mentorship, resources, and pathways for growth. The difference is everything.

LinkedIn is a great place to start. Build a profile that translates military service into civilian terms and join Veteran-specific groups to expand your circle. Local networking apps like Nextdoor can also open doors to jobs, services, and visibility for Veteran-owned businesses. Private communities matter too — FreedomSystem.org’s social site (currently on Facebook, soon moving to our website) offers a safe Veteran-only space. Platforms like Together We Served help you reconnect with old comrades and form new bonds. These networks work best when we don’t just log in, but actively show up and participate.

Navigating the civilian career landscape also requires strategy. Informational interviews are a great way to learn about industries before committing. Mentorship is huge. Every Veteran benefits from both having a mentor and becoming one. Research organizations before interviews, tailor your cover letters, and don’t forget to follow up. Balance humility with confidence — don’t minimize your value, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Pride comes before the fall.

And when it comes to mental health, remember that help isn’t limited to the VA. Programs like H.A.P.P.Y. provide independent psychological support without the red tape. Sometimes what we need most is someone outside the system who understands the challenges we face.

Stories like John Burk’s remind us that refusing to give up and continuing to network can lead to meaningful civilian careers. Our tenacity and resilience carry us through, proving we never stop believing in ourselves or in each other.

So here’s your call to action: reach out to IN Vets or similar organizations that focus on Veteran employment, and take a moment this week to update your LinkedIn profile. You already have the skills — it’s time to share them with the world.

We are The Common Veterans — and we don’t stop believing.

Next time, join us for Episode 13: Veterans in Entrepreneurship, where we highlight Veterans like Ty Bancroft and John Burk who’ve built their own businesses, and share tips to help you succeed as a Vet-preneur.

The Gap We’re Closing

Transitioning from military to civilian life can feel like stepping off a moving train. The speed changes, the rules change, and—surprise— and no one issued you a manual. That’s where mentorship and camaraderie step in. This episode digs into how Veterans can leverage local programs, especially county VSOs and groups like IN Vets and FreedomSystem.org, to build a real support network that lasts.

Why Mentorship Works

Mentorship isn’t a buzzword; it’s a battle buddy in peacetime. Peer mentors get the culture, the tempo, and the unspoken stuff. They help decode resumes, demystify interviews, and translate “I was NCOIC” into something hiring managers recognize. More importantly, they restore the rhythm of teamwork we miss after ETS/retirement.

• Trust: Shared experience builds instant credibility.
• Navigation: From VA claims to first civilian job, someone’s already walked that path.
• Belonging: The feeling of “I’ve got your six” doesn’t have to end at the gate.

Making Your County VSO Work for You

A VSO—Veteran Service Officer—is one of the most overlooked resources in a county. They’re trained to help you navigate VA claims, connect to benefits, and point you toward organizations that can support you. But here’s the catch: they can only help if you actually sit down with them.

1. Show up: Schedule an appointment and bring your DD214.
2. Be specific: Tell them what you need—healthcare, education, housing, claims.
3. Follow up: Paperwork isn’t glamorous, but persistence wins the day.

IN Vets (and leaders like MSgt (Ret.) Victoria Molnar) partner with VSOs and employers to turn “good ideas” into working pipelines—mentors, job placements, and community supports that actually answer the call.

LDRSHIP: Values that Still Punch Above Their Weight

From the early 2000s playbook, the Army Values still apply off-duty and off-base. The full acronym is LDRSHIP:

• Loyalty
• Duty
• Respect
• Selfless Service
• Honor
• Integrity
• Personal Courage

These aren’t just posters on a wall—they’re a roadmap for building trust in a world that doesn’t run on rank structure. Carrying these values forward keeps the uniform’s spirit alive in civilian life.

One Team, One Fight

There’s a reason “One Team, One Fight” sticks. No matter the branch, service era, or MOS, we share the same struggle in transition. It’s not about competing for resources; it’s about linking arms and reminding each other that camaraderie is still the mission. Whether you’re talking to your VSO, plugging into IN Vets, or sitting across from a fellow Veteran at the bar, remember: none of us do this alone.

The Truth: Adulting is Dumb

Paying bills, juggling insurance, and learning how to “network” doesn’t hold a candle to a field exercise or a deployment tempo. Civilian life can feel like death by paperwork. But mentorship, VSOs, and camaraderie soften the blow. It may still be dumb—but it doesn’t have to be lonely.

The Toast We Missed

Somewhere in the episode, we forgot our toast—classic. So here it is now: "To the mentors who guide, the VSOs who fight the paperwork battles, and the friends who keep us grounded. One Team, One Fight. Cheers!"

Till Next Time

So whether it’s through ⁠IN Vets⁠, your local ⁠VSO office⁠, or simply reaching out to a buddy who might need it, remember: none of us have to do this alone. With a little help from our friends, we can continue to live with purpose, pride, and community.Until next time: PEACE

Married to a Veteran – The Spouse Episode

Season 3, Episode 10 of The Common Veterans

When we think of service and sacrifice, it’s easy to focus on the Veteran — but what about the ones who held the line back home? In this episode of The Common Veterans, Jeff Schrock sits down with two of those very people: Sarah Holmes (wife of Army Veteran Kenny Holmes) and Katy O'Toole (wife of Marine Veteran Adam O'Toole). And when Jenn Schlorke couldn’t make it, her husband — and our own Fred Schlorke — stepped up to represent their marriage and share his perspective on the Veteran-spouse dynamic.

This isn’t just another military conversation — it’s the real, unfiltered experience of the military and Veteran spouse. From the stress of deployments to the chaos of solo parenting, from missed milestones to the small victories of surviving the homefront, these conversations give us a candid look into what it truly means to be married to a Veteran.

The Other Side of Service

Jeff opens with a toast to the ones who made sure there was still a home to come back to. While the service member was away, training or deploying, these spouses became the cook, the disciplinarian, the financial planner, the home repair expert, and the emotional anchor for their families.

Meet the Guests

• Sarah Holmes – wife of Kenny Holmes, Army Veteran
• Katy O'Toole – wife of Adam O'Toole, Marine Corps Veteran
• Fred Schlorke – filling in for his wife Jenn Schlorke, sharing the Veteran’s side of marriage dynamics

Each guest shares stories of family life, marriage, and the challenges and triumphs that come with balancing service and home life.

Life Behind the Scenes

What happens to a marriage under the strain of military life? How do kids process having a parent deployed to a war zone? How does a spouse stay connected to someone on the other side of the world — and keep a family running in the meantime?

We explore all of these questions and more. The spouses — and Fred — discuss the long nights of worry, the exhaustion of being "everything to everyone," and the surprising moments of pride that come from being part of a military family.

Reintegration and Post-Service Life

What happens after the uniform comes off? The conversation shifts to the complexities of reintegration — reconnecting as a family, adjusting to civilian life, and redefining family roles after years of deployments and duty stations.

Real Talk and Reflections

From funny stories about miscommunications and military quirks that never die, to heartfelt reflections on personal growth, each guest offers insights that any military family — or civilian curious about military life — will appreciate.

Final Thoughts

The episode wraps with reflections on what people often misunderstand about military and Veteran spouses, along with what each guest is most proud of from their family’s journey.

Whether you’re a Veteran, a spouse, a family member, or just someone curious about military life, this episode offers a perspective rarely shared but deeply important.

Listen now to Season 3, Episode 10: Married to a Veteran — only on

The Common Veterans

.Up Next on The Common Veterans:

Episode 11: The VFW Episode — The Common Veterans dive into the VFW, the American Legion, and the DAV. What works, what doesn’t, and the quirky traditions that come with them.