Veteranology #18 – Redmond Ramos

Redmond Ukulele

Redmond Ramos is a former FMF Navy Corpsman and founder of Redmond Ramos STS, where he continues to serve as a motivational speaker.  During a deployment to Afghanistan with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, where he joined up with the marines and sailors as a combat replacement, Redmond was struck by an IED, severely injuring his left leg.  After failed attempts to save his leg he decided to have the medical staff perform a below-the-knee amputation.

Shortly after Redmond has his leg removed he continued his fight through physical therapy.  He was not about to be stopped by his injury, nor let it define him.  It would merely become a part of who he was.  He began to train for the Warrior Games, an adaptive sports competition for wounded, ill and injured service members.  He doesn’t stop there and his incredible story is one of the greatest Veteranology has gotten to host to this point.

Redmond Ramos STS – http://www.redmondramos.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/redmondramos.com

The Travis Manion Foundation: http://www.travismanion.org/

The DoD Warrior Games: http://warriorgames.dodlive.mil/

Challenged Athletes Foundation: http://www.challengedathletes.org/

Nic Gray – Founder & CEO of HyprLoco

HyprLocoNicResized2

In this episode of Veteranology I visit the HyprLoco Global Headquarters here in downtown Denver.  I got to sit down with HyprLoco’s co-founder & CEO Nic Gray.  Nic served in the Army from 2004 to 2007 as a Tanker.  Nic joined the Army halfway through his twenties after a long history of entrepreneurial endeavors starting all the way back when he was 10.  He served a tour in Iraq, was stop-lossed, and after coming back stateside, was quickly back out in the civilian world creating business opportunities. Diligence, research, and networking led him to an “Ahha!” moment shortly after meeting HyprLoco co-founder and CTO Damon Baker, a Marine Corps veteran entrepreneur with his eyes on the changing future marketplace.  They took their combined ideas and founded HyprLoco three years ago.

HyprLoco is an intelligence platform that is currently focused on allowing businesses to treat every one of their customers as a regular.  This is done by providing business intelligence to the companies on customers that have walked through their doors.  This empowers employees and gives them the ability to serve the customer in the best and most efficient way possible.

Also in this episode:

Nic explains how to approach entrepreneurship and what it takes to be successful.

We share advice for military members and veterans on how to have healthy and fulfilling transitions out of the military.

We talk about his first business card he had created when he was 10.

CardResized

My favorite idea from the episode:

“Military service by far, taught me so much more about leadership, building culture, finding the right people, and not micro-managing then I ever did in college.”

Show Links:

HyprLoco

Stop Soldier Suicide

Intro Links:

Inkfidel: www.inkfidel.com

Don’t forget to use coupon code “Veteranology” at checkout for 10% off your order!

Veteranology survey: http://goo.gl/forms/s79vY9BBGJ

Veteranology #16 – Curt Bean

Curt Bean is an Army veteran and the Executive Director of the Art of War project based out of Denver, CO.  Curt served two tours in Iraq, each lasting more than a year.  After leaving the service he spent time traveling but soon started to wonder what was next for him.  He moved to Florida and started to work towards becoming a firefighter and EMT.  He passed all the training with flying colors but his PTSD was flagged as a disqualifying factor.  Curt had moved to Denver to start his firefighting career and after finding that this would not be the path he would take signed into a PTSD in-patient clinic at the local VA Hospital.

While at the VA Hospital he saw that art was not being included into the program as much as he thought it could.  With the help of some of his mentors he brought an art therapy program to the in-patient clinic and then expanded it into the community, eventually starting his own non-profit based out of downtown Denver, the Art of War Project.  Curt has an amazing story to tell and a lot of hope to share with his fellow veterans.

During the show you’ll hear:

How the Art of War Project helps veterans with art therapy, art appreciation, retreats, meditation, and other creative and healthy practices.

How Curt created his program while in treatment in the VA and how he turned it into a thriving non-profit in Denver.

The importance of being the best version of yourself each day.

Why acting like or calling yourself a disgruntled veteran is hurting more than just yourself.

How opening up to the civilians around you and helping them undertand your service can help bridge gaps in your social and professional life.

Show Links:

The Art of War – http://www.artofwarproject.com/

Intro Links:

Inkfidel: www.inkfidel.com

Don’t forget to use coupon code Veteranology at checkout for 10% off your order!

Veteranology survey: http://goo.gl/forms/s79vY9BBGJ

Veteranology #15 – Wayne Robinson

Another great episode is here!  I am joined by Command Sergeant Major Wayne Robinson (Ret.) and he shares his amazing post-service journey.  There is a lot of wisdom and good advice all over this episode so make sure you have time to listen to the whole thing!

Wayne attended grad school after 26 years of service in the United States Army.  He graduated from The University of Chicago – Booth school of business with his MBA in finance and entrepreneurship.  Against the odds other threw at him he found a job on Wall Street, eventually becoming a partner at Drexel Hamilton Investment Partners.

While working on Wall Street Wayne realized that the problem solving skills veterans developed while serving in the military were precisely the skills companies needed in the private sector.  Seeing that the Student Veterans of America needed a CEO, he interviewed and took the position.  He now serves as a VA Secretary appointed advisor for the Committee on Education at the the Department of Veterans Affairs and is the Senior Strategic Fellow at the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Things to listen for in this episode:

Wayne’s most important advise for transitioning veterans, especially enlisted service members.

The 10 things he would tell himself about transitioning and success knowing what he knows now.

His work on improving the GI Bill

And a whole lot more…

Show links:

GI Bill Accepting Coding Bootcamp: http://skilldistillery.com/

Upward Bound Veterans : http://www2.ed.gov/programs/triovub/index.html

Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America: http://iava.org/

Student Veterans of America: http://studentveterans.org/

Intro Links:

Inkfidel: www.inkfidel.com

Don’t forget to use coupon code Veteranology at checkout for 10% off your order!

Veteranology survey: http://goo.gl/forms/s79vY9BBGJ

Veteranology #14 – Travis Blair

This episode of Veteranology is with Travis Blair, an Army with 10 years active duty and now serving his second year in the Texas National Guard. Travis is currently a special education teacher at the elementary level and has now written his first children’s book. When I asked him if he considered himself an entrepreneur he said he liked to use his father’s words and calls himself a “Stuff-Maker.”

Travis got told “no” a lot while trying to publish his first book and he shares his wisdom about persistence and determination. My favorite quote from the episode: “But if you feel it’s something that you want, do not let anyone take it from you.”

Travis also shares his belief in the importance of community and urges veterans to not only tend to their military relationships on social media but to put effort into building and fostering new relationships in your local area.

If you’d like to help fund his Kickstarter there are still a few days left to get yourself an early copy of his book:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2140811709/the-knitting-chicken

If you would like to reach out to Travis you can do so on Twitter: @Zarf

Intro Links:

Inkfidel: www.inkfidel.com

Don’t forget to use coupon code Veteranology at checkout for 10% off your order!

Veteranology survey: http://goo.gl/forms/s79vY9BBGJ

Veteranology #13 – Stop Soldier Suicide

Retired Army Lt. Col. Jason Roncoroni joins me on Veteranology to talk about the non-profit Stop Soldier Suicide. Jason joined the organization last year as serves as their executive director. Stop Soldier Suicides takes a holistic approach to helping veterans battling anxiety, PTS, and suicidal thoughts.

Through a comprehensive communication plan and supporting caseworker network the veterans they serve are contacted on a regular basis to ensure their safety, well-being, and personal growth. Their goal is an amazing one: To not exist in 10 years or less, because the mission of finding the best solution to the veteran suicide rate has been found.

Jason also shares his personal story and discusses in detail the anxiety and depression he felt leave the service and his path to healthy and fulfilling life.

If you are, or know, a veteran in need of assistance you can call them at 1-844-889-5610

Links from the show:

StopSoldierSuicide.org

Book:  What it is Like to Go to War by Karl Marlantes

Book: The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

Book: Once an Eagle by Anton Myrer

Links from the Intro:

Inkfidel: www.inkfidel.com

Don’t forget to use coupon code Veteranology at checkout for 10% off your order!

Veteranology survey: http://goo.gl/forms/s79vY9BBGJ

Veteranology #12 – Eric Wright of Vets2PM

Dr. Eric Wright

Dr. Eric Wright

I get on the mic to speak with Dr. Eric Wright, PhD, PMP, and MPM.  Eric is a navy veteran who eats, sleeps, and breathes project management.  He and his partner, retired Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant Tim Dalhouse have created one of the most comprehensive programs for veterans looking to pursue a career leading projects and people in the civilian sector, Vets2PM.

Vets2PM’s mission is to help military veterans become project managers by inspiring them about the incredible value of their military experience to the lucrative field of project management, training them how to manage civilian projects and earn professional certifications, and preparing them to connect with employers who value their experience and expertise.

Logistics, Intelligence, Admin, and…Combat Arms.  If you’ve planned, executed, or briefed missions in the military than you probably have what it takes to get your Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Links from the show:

Vets2PM.com

Project Activities explanation for the PMI application

Links from the Intro:

Inkfidel: www.inkfidel.com

Don’t forget to use coupon code Veteranology at checkout for 10% off your order!

Veteranology survey: http://goo.gl/forms/s79vY9BBGJ

Veteranology #11 – David Shandera

Former Navy Corpsman (Greenside) David Shandera and I discuss his transition from the medical side of the military into the civilian medical field.  David lays out his advice for other veterans wanting to do the same.  He also gives specific advice for all veterans leaving the service on how to stay healthy and keep a positive outlook on life outside the military.

We also discuss the challenge and prestige of being a 19 year old Navy Corpsman with the responsibility of keeping all those around you healthy and safe, some of the negative situations that can cause a veteran to want to leave the military, and the initial pitfalls a veteran can face during their first year out of the service.

 

Show links:

Inkfidel: www.inkfidel.com

Don’t forget to use coupon code Veteranology at checkout for 10% off your order!

Veteranology survey: http://goo.gl/forms/s79vY9BBGJ

Veteranology #10 – Kenneth Elliott

Episode 10!  Kenneth Elliott is a Marine Corps veteran, serving as a machine gunner for the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines Regiment from 2005 to 2009.  He served two tours, first to Iraq and then to Afghanistan.

Kenneth is currently a police detective for the Houston, TX police department, assigned to murder investigations.  He has been a police officer for 5 years and has found great fulfillment in the line of duty.  During the episode we talk about the following and more:

-The difficulties he faced and overcame as a white cop in an urban neighborhood with a large minority population.

-The struggles of being a great Marine waiting to EAS and try and prepare for the civilian world.

-His befriending of a WW2 Marine veteran who landed at and helped take Iwo Jima.

-The efforts he and his partner took to help a homeless veteran reconnect with his distant family, get an ID and his birth certificate, and finally get VA support and a home.

-His important advice for young marines, veterans leaving the service, and those wishing to pursue a career in law enforcement.

I am incredibly proud to call this man my brother.  You will always find him doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason.

 

Show links:

The story about him befriending the WW2 Marine

Inkfidel: www.inkfidel.com

Don’t forget to use coupon code Veteranology at checkout for 10% off your order!

Veteranology survey: http://goo.gl/forms/s79vY9BBGJ

Veteranology #9 – Inkfidel

In this episode I sit down with Pete Bell. Pete Bell is a former Cavalry Scout who served with both the 82nd Airborne Division and 173rd Airborne Brigade. After leaving active duty in 2011 he returned to school completing his degree in Graphic Design with minors in Marketing and Art History. He has designed both the 2013 official Army Ten-Miler race tees and the 2015 IAVA (Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America) Veteran’s Day Parade hoodies. He is the CEO of the military apparel lifestyle brand, Inkfidel, which he founded in 2013. He currently lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife, Tristan and their three children.

Show links:

Inkfidel: www.inkfidel.com

Don’t forget to use coupon code Veteranology at checkout for 10% off your order!

Veteranology survey: http://goo.gl/forms/s79vY9BBGJ