Hosts: Kenny Holmes, Jeff Schrock, Tony Buoscio

Guest: Ty Bancroft — The Bancroft Companies

In this episode we highlight Veterans who’ve built businesses and share practical tips for entrepreneurial success. We talk about stories and lessons from founders like Matt Best (Black Rifle Coffee), John Burk (Shell Shock CBD), Daniel Alerik (Grunt Style), and our guest, Ty Bancroft of The Bancroft Companies.

Introducing Ty Bancroft

Ty served as an Army Combat Medic and went on to build The Bancroft Companies — a Veteran-owned firm that delivers electrical and utility solutions, roadway lighting, and specialty directional drilling under roads, bridges, and rivers. We cover his military background, business journey, how family influenced the business (including his brother), and what drives the company’s commitment to integrity and quality.

Deep Dive — Veteran Entrepreneurship

• The spark: Why Veterans start businesses — purpose, ownership, and using military-honed skills in new ways.
• Common challenges: financing, translating military experience to civilian markets, and building networks outside the military.
• Success strategies: what worked, what didn’t, and practical tactics for launching and scaling.
• Tips for aspiring Vet-preneurs: real, tactical advice from people who’ve been there.

We invite listeners to follow, subscribe, and share. Join us at upcoming FreedomSystem.org events:

• Remember — November 8, 17:00
• Road Bike Ride — 9/27, Abshire Park, Goshen, IN, 10:00 AM
• Mountain Bike Ride — 10/4, Bonneyville, 9:00 AM
• Bridge the Gap — monthly, 1st Friday, INVets, 17:00

Toast

Delivered by Kenny with Jeff and Tony chiming in:

“Here’s to the Veterans who traded their rifles for risk, their boots for business plans, and their battle buddies for boardrooms. May your mission always be clear, your coffee always be strong, and your success stories always inspire the next generation. To Vet-preneurs—cheers!”

WE ARE THE COMMON VETERANS

Next Episode — Episode 14: The Battle Within

We’ll have candid conversations about mental health, PTSD, and the resources that support Veterans. This episode digs into trauma, recovery, and how friends, family, and communities can help. Perfect for anyone who wants to better support a Veteran facing internal battles.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on your preferred podcast platform, share with a friend, and drop us a review. Follow FreedomSystem.org for more events and resources for veterans.

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