Description:
Jeffrey Panik joins the VET S.O.S. Network to dive into financial literacy and share insights on managing money, debt, and long-term financial decision-making during major life transitions.

In this episode, we explore:
• Building a strong financial foundation through budgeting
• Understanding credit scores, debt, and student loans
• Avoiding common money traps that derail long-term success
• How financial maturity protects your future

Whether you're navigating military transition, entering the civilian workforce, finishing college, or searching for tools to strengthen your next chapter, this conversation gives you clear, actionable steps you can use today.

About the Guest:
Jeffrey Panik is a financial educator, author of Your Future Is Now, and a veteran advocate with over 25 years of experience in financial advising. His work focuses on helping veterans and young adults simplify finances and build lasting financial confidence.

Grab the Lifeline:
The VET S.O.S. Network connects veterans, spouses, and service members with real resources and real people who want to see you thrive.

Follow the Show & Explore More Episodes:
VET S.O.S.
VET S.O.S. – Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight
VET S.O.S. – Veteran Educational Resources Spotlight

Connect with VET S.O.S.:
Website: vetsospodcast.com
X/Twitter: @vetsospodcast
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcast
YouTube: youtube.com/@vetsospodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/vetsospodcast
Instagram: instagram.com/vetsospodcast
TikTok: tiktok.com/@vetsospodcast

#VETSOS #TheScoop #FinancialEducation #VeteranLife #TransitionSupport #MoneyManagement #CreditScores #FinancialPlanning #GrabTheLifeline

Derek Adametz joins the VET S.O.S. Network on The Scoop to dive into leadership, resilience, and navigating life-altering transition. A retired Naval Aviator, cancer survivor, and author of Unbreakable Wings, Derek shares hard-earned lessons from the cockpit, the chemo chair, and beyond.

In this episode, we explore:
• Leadership through adversity and uncertainty
• The mental and emotional battle behind cancer recovery
• Transition, identity, and redefining success after service
• Building resilience when the mission suddenly changes

Whether you're navigating military transition, facing a personal challenge, or seeking leadership perspective forged through adversity, this episode delivers real, actionable insight.

Derek Adametz is a retired U.S. Navy Naval Aviator with nearly three decades of service, a cancer survivor, and the author of Unbreakable Wings. His work focuses on leadership, resilience, and overcoming life’s toughest battles with clarity and purpose.

The VET S.O.S. Network connects veterans, service members, and military spouses with real resources and real people who want to see you thrive.

VET S.O.S.
VET S.O.S. – Operation Startup
VET S.O.S. – Learning Lifeline

Website: vetsospodcast.com
X/Twitter: @vetsospodcast
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcast
YouTube: youtube.com/@vetsospodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/vetsospodcast
Instagram: instagram.com/vetsospodcast
TikTok: tiktok.com/@vetsospodcast

#VETSOS #TheScoop #VeteranLeadership #Resilience #MilitaryTransition #CancerSurvivor #LeadershipJourney #VeteranStories #MentalStrength #UnbreakableWings #GrabTheLifeline

Episode Description:

Michael Pack joins the VET S.O.S. Network to discuss the making of The Last 600 Meters and share powerful insight into the Iraq War’s most significant urban battles — Fallujah and Najaf — and the veterans who lived them. He breaks down the emotional, tactical, and historical realities of the 2004 battles and explains why capturing these stories matters now more than ever.

In this episode, we unpack:
• The untold ground-level experiences of Marines, Soldiers, and Airmen in 2004
• Why Fallujah and Najaf remain critical to understanding modern urban warfare
• How the documentary preserves veteran stories for families and the American public
• The meaning behind “the last 600 meters” — and the emotional toll carried for decades

Whether you're navigating the military-to-civilian transition, supporting a veteran, studying military history, or seeking a deeper understanding of the Iraq War, this conversation delivers clarity, perspective, and a lifeline to understanding what service members endured.

Michael Pack is an award-winning documentary producer and director with more than 15 nationally broadcast films on PBS. His newest documentary, The Last 600 Meters, chronicles the largest U.S. battles since Vietnam — the 2004 battles of Fallujah and Najaf. He is the founder of Manifold Productions and Palladium Pictures, and has spent decades preserving complex American stories through film. Though not a veteran himself, he has dedicated years to amplifying military voices and honoring the service of those who fought.

0:00 – Welcome
0:30 – Guest Introduction
2:15 – Why Michael Created The Last 600 Meters
4:00 – Capturing Ground-Level Reality from Marines & Soldiers
6:00 – The Meaning Behind “The Last 600 Meters”
10:20 – The Emotional Weight Carried by Veterans
14:00 – Why These Stories Matter 20 Years Later
18:00 – Fallujah & Najaf: The Battles America Forgot
23:00 – Preserving History for Veterans’ Families
26:00 – How to Watch the PBS Documentary
27:18 – Final Thoughts & Lifeline Message

VET S.O.S. connects veterans, service members, and military spouses with real resources and real people who want to see you thrive.
Don’t drown in the sea of transition — grab the lifeline.

VET S.O.S. — Military Transition Resources Show
VET S.O.S. — Operation Startup (Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight)
VET S.O.S. — Learning Lifeline (Veteran Educational Resources Spotlight)
VET S.O.S. Presents The Scoop

Website: vetsospodcast.com
YouTube: @vetsospodcast
TikTok: @vetsospodcast
LinkedIn: VET S.O.S.
Instagram: @vetsospodcast
Facebook: @vetsospodcast
X/Twitter: @vetsospodcast

#VETSOS #TheScoop #TheLast600Meters #MichaelPack #Fallujah #Najaf #IraqWarStories #MilitaryDocumentary #VeteranVoices #PBSFilm #GrabTheLifeline

Susan L. Combs joins the VET S.O.S. Network to dive into the power of mentorship, the legacy behind Pancakes for Roger, and how every one of us can learn to “slay our dragons” by mastering the pillars of self, love, family, and career. She breaks down the emotional journey of caregiving, the truth about imposter syndrome, and how purpose transforms adversity into impact.

In this episode, we explore:
• How Pancakes for Roger became a national mentorship and service movement
• Why confronting the “dragon in the mirror” is the first step to growth
• How legacy, mentorship, and chosen family shape our path forward

Whether you're navigating military transition, building a business, pursuing higher education, or searching for tools to strengthen your next chapter, this conversation gives you clear, actionable steps you can use today.

Susan L. Combs is an award-winning entrepreneur, best-selling author, nonprofit founder, and daughter of Major General (Ret.) Roger Combs. Her book Pancakes for Roger: A Mentorship Guide for Slaying Dragons distills a lifetime of wisdom into four powerful pillars—self, love, family, and career—while her nonprofit continues to support veterans through grants, community engagement, and nationwide mentorship initiatives. Her work blends grit, humor, heart, and service in a way that resonates with audiences everywhere.

The VET S.O.S. Network connects veterans, spouses, and service members with real resources and real people who want to see you thrive.

VET S.O.S. – Military Transition Resources Show
VET S.O.S. – Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight
VET S.O.S. – Veteran Educational Resources Spotlight

Website: vetsospodcast.com
X/Twitter: @vetsospodcast
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcast
YouTube: youtube.com/@vetsospodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/vetsospodcast
Instagram: instagram.com/vetsospodcast
TikTok: tiktok.com/@vetsospodcast

#VETSOS #TheScoop #PancakesForRoger #SusanLCombs #MentorshipMatters #VeteranCommunity #SlayingDragons #MilitaryFamilies #LeadershipGrowth #GritAndResilience #GrabTheLifeline

On this episode of The Scoop from the VET S.O.S. Network, host Kings connects with Gene Moran, retired Navy Captain and author of Make Your Move: Charting Your Post-Military Career. Gene shares essential strategies for navigating transition with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Gene discusses:

• How military perspectives can both empower and limit you

• Why mapping your career path matters more than you think

• How to identify mentors and guides who accelerate your growth

• Why focus and disciplined planning prevent wasted time

• How to translate military experience into civilian value

• The importance of diplomacy and navigating office politics

• Why continuous learning is the key to long-term success

Gene also highlights what veterans often overlook: your unique experiences, leadership attributes, cultural exposure, and problem-solving abilities make you far more capable than you realize.

If you’re stepping into your next mission, this conversation will help you see what’s possible — and inspire you to make your move with courage and intention.

🎙️ VET S.O.S. Network — Grab the Lifeline.

#VETSOS #TheScoop #VeteranTransition #GeneMoran #MakeYourMove #VeteranCareer #TransitionJourney #MilitaryLeaders #CareerGrowth #VeteranCommunity #GrabTheLifeline

On this episode of The Scoop from the VET S.O.S. Network, host Kingsley “Kings” Scott dives deep with Chris Marvin, a combat-wounded U.S. Army Black Hawk pilot and Veteran Engagement Lead at Everytown for Gun Safety.

Chris discusses how veterans bring a unique and essential perspective to the national gun safety conversation. Through his leadership in the Train Smart Gun Safety Program, he’s redefining what responsible firearm ownership looks like — rooted in training, safety, and accountability.

Listeners will learn how the program empowers both veterans and civilians to approach firearms with the same discipline and respect instilled in America’s armed forces. Chris also explains how anyone can enroll in or teach Train Smart courses to make communities safer and reduce preventable gun violence — without political bias or agenda.

💡 Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on bridging military values with civilian responsibility, and how veterans continue to serve through education and advocacy.

🎙 “The most important thing you learn in the military is not when to shoot — but when not to shoot.” — Chris Marvin

#VETSOS #TheScoop #VeteranVoices #GunSafetyTraining #TrainSmart #VeteranLeadership #MilitaryToCivilian #EverytownForGunSafety #ResponsibleGunOwnership #GrabTheLifeline

🎙️ The Scoop — VET S.O.S. Network

Resilience Under Fire: Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Bart Womack on Betrayal, Leadership, and Healing

Sergeant Major (Ret.) Bart Womack joins the VET S.O.S. Network on The Scoop to share the untold story behind one of the most shocking insider attacks in U.S. military history. His book, Embedded Enemy: The Insider Threat, reveals what happens when the battlefield turns inward — and leadership, loyalty, and resilience are tested beyond measure.

In this episode, we explore:

• The harrowing “Five Minute Mayhem” at Camp Pennsylvania during the 2003 insider attack

• How leadership and training guided survival under chaos and betrayal

• The long journey toward healing, justice, and the fight for recognition of his wounded soldiers

Whether you’re navigating military transition, facing adversity, or rebuilding after loss, this conversation offers a raw and powerful perspective on resilience and leadership under fire.

Bart Womack is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major, Bronze Star recipient, and author of Embedded Enemy: The Insider Threat. A survivor of the 2003 Camp Pennsylvania insider attack, he now speaks worldwide on leadership, resilience, and situational awareness through his security consultancy.

Grab the Lifeline:The VET S.O.S. Network connects veterans, spouses, and service members with real resources and real people who want to see you thrive.

Follow the Show & Explore More Episodes:VET S.O.S. – Military Transition Resources ShowVET S.O.S. – Operation Startup (Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight)VET S.O.S. – Learning Lifeline (Veteran Educational Resources Spotlight)

Connect with VET S.O.S.:Website: vetsospodcast.comX/Twitter: @vetsospodcastLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vetsospodcastYouTube: youtube.com/@vetsospodcastFacebook: facebook.com/vetsospodcastInstagram: instagram.com/vetsospodcastTikTok: tiktok.com/@vetsospodcast

#VETSOS #TheScoop #VeteranResilience #BartWomack #EmbeddedEnemy #Leadership #InsiderThreat #MilitaryCourage #VeteranHealing #GrabTheLifeline

In this powerful episode of The Scoop, part of the VET S.O.S. Network, Kings reconnects with mentor, veteran, author, and leadership expert Todd Simmons — a man whose story has inspired thousands.

Todd opens up about his upbringing, early adversity, surviving failure, navigating mental health battles, and discovering his purpose through service. His bestselling book Why Not Me? Born to Fail, Destined to Succeed reveals the deepest layers of identity, shame, resilience, and breakthrough — and this conversation brings those lessons to life.

From mental health transparency, to leadership truths, to personal battles hidden behind the uniform, Todd’s words remind us that self-love, imagination, and persistence are the foundation of success. He also shares behind-the-scenes stories of military service, tough times at RAF Lakenheath, and how he rebuilt himself after burnout.

If you're looking for transformation, truth, and a reminder that you are capable of more than your circumstances — this is your episode.

Remember: You don’t have to drown in the sea of transition. Grab the VET S.O.S. lifeline.

#TheScoop #VETSOS #VeteranInspiration #WhyNotMe #ResilientLeadership #MilitaryTransition #VeteranSuccess #PersonalGrowth #MentalHealthJourney #ToddSimmons #GrabTheLifeline