Join Kathleen Smith and Rachel Bozeman as they welcome Rob Fuller, a U.S. Marine veteran, cybersecurity leader, and community founder, for a raw look at his journey. From blowing up 300 pounds of C4 as a combat engineer to thriving in cybersecurity, Rob’s story takes a sobering turn with his struggle for VA benefits. Impacted by a culture of "toughing it out" and relying on "Vitamin M" (Motrin) instead of documenting injuries, he shares his battle with ongoing denied claims for nerve damage. Along the way, he discusses leadership rediscovery, building the Nova Hackers community, and even his role as a technical advisor for HBO’s Silicon Valley.

Chapters

• 01:59 - Rob’s Marine Corps Highlights
• 04:11 - Transition Shocks and Low Expectations
• 06:58 - Rediscovering Leadership Skills
• 10:19 - Pivoting from Government to Commercial Sector
• 13:43 - Prioritizing Family Over Work
• 17:19 - Embracing the Power of Being Wrong
• 20:00 - Building the Nova Hackers Community
• 25:01 - VA Benefits Warning: The Cost of Toughing It Out
• 29:32 - Technical Advisor Role on Silicon Valley
• 32:48 - Closing Thoughts and Marine Shoutout

Key Takeaways

• Document Everything: Don’t simply “tough it out”—get seen for everything. An injury may not bother you much now, but it could affect you down the road. Document now so there is a paper trail to refer back to in the future.
• Embrace Being Wrong: Rob has a superpower worth adopting—he doesn’t just mind being wrong, he loves it. When you’re wrong, you’re learning, so don’t be afraid to be wrong so that you can continue to progress and better yourself.
• Prioritize What Matters Most to You: Rob’s decision not to miss his son’s first day of kindergarten reminds us that jobs are replaceable, family milestones aren’t.
• Build Your Tribe: Rob took action when a poorly organized meetup left him wanting more. Despite early setbacks, he persisted, eventually co-founding Nova Hackers, which now has over 900 members.

Follow us for more veteran stories to guide your transition journey, and text this episode to a fellow service member who’s navigating their exit. Catch you next time!

Send us a text

Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.

Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at ashleyjones.creative@gmail.com.

In this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You, Air Force veteran Jaimee Freeman shares her recent military transition experience—shedding her Chief identity for "just" Jaimee after 28 years of service. Jaimee reveals how she pivoted from linguist to Pentagon event planner, turned down a lucrative job upon transition (not allowing fear to make her rush into something), and used networking, skill-building, and a bold proposal to land her dream SkillBridge internship at National Geographic.

Chapters

• 02:57 Military Beginnings and Linguist Life
• 04:05 Pivot to Event Planning
• 09:12 Insights from an RV Adventure
• 11:24 The Courage to Turn Down a Job
• 13:33 SkillBridge with National Geographic
• 18:06 Shedding "Chief," Becoming Jaimee
• 20:05 Finding Identity and Purpose

Key Takeaways

• Start Soul Searching Early: 3-4 years out from transition, make sure you’re asking yourself questions like, What makes me happy? What do I really want to do? And what do I need to do to get there?
• Prepare for a Shift in Identity: Start practicing who you are outside of your rank before your military exit. Jaimee began signing her emails "Jaimee" while still in uniform because she knew one day she would be out of the service and just Jaimee.
• Say No to Fear: Sometimes fear of uncertainty can make you want to accept a job. Pause and really ask yourself if it’s what you want. Jaimee felt that fear, but courageously stuck to her plan instead of rushing.
• Jaimee’s Three Keys to Success: Build your skills, network, and take your shot!

Follow us for more veteran stories to guide your transition journey, and text this episode to a fellow service member who’s ready to design their next chapter. Until next time, keep taking your shot!

Send us a text

Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.

Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at ashleyjones.creative@gmail.com.

Air Force veteran Josh Mason shares his journey of military transition and personal growth on this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You. From cybersecurity to teaching, entrepreneurship, podcasting, and building a chicken coop, Josh showcases the power of creativity, networking, and embracing challenges with a stoic grin. He reveals how strategic outreach on LinkedIn and a willingness to tackle the tough stuff led to unexpected opportunities.

Chapters

• 02:09 Josh’s Pivot to Cybersecurity and Teaching
• 06:50 Transition Journey and SkillBridge Internship
• 08:29 Networking Creativity Lands a Job
• 15:06 Entrepreneurial Ventures Post-Military
• 20:18 Embracing the Suck with Stoic Strength
• 25:43 Parting Advice on Cybersecurity Careers

Key Takeaways

• Embrace the Uncomfortable: As Josh says, nothing’s going to be as uncomfortable as basic training or being deployed was—civilian transitions are just another challenge to conquer. Get creative, step out of your comfort zone, and approach new opportunities with curiosity.
• Network with Purpose: Leverage veteran communities, LinkedIn, and online platforms. Your next opportunity may likely come through your connections, not traditional job application processes. Veterans take care of veterans.
• Continuous Learning is Your Superpower: Whether it’s cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, or building a chicken coop, approach new challenges with a learning mindset. Your ability to acquire and apply new skills is your greatest asset.
• Create Your Own Path: The civilian world isn't prescribed like military life. Be willing to craft unique opportunities, whether through internships, side projects, or unexpected career pivots. Your creativity is your competitive advantage.

Follow us for more veteran stories to guide your transition journey, and text this episode to a fellow service member who’s navigating their exit. Until next time, keep finding ways to endure and enjoy the tough stuff!

Send us a text

Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.

Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at ashleyjones.creative@gmail.com.