Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You

The Off Ramp: Empty Chairs, New Chapters, and Betting on Yourself

In this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You, Kathleen and Rachel sit down with Joey Meininger, an Air Force veteran who spent 20 years as a firefighter, became a command chief, and then had to figure out what it meant to be “just” himself without the rank, title, or guaranteed paycheck. He shares how growing up overseas on an Air Force base, choosing firefighting over a flying job, and spending decades running toward other people’s worst days shaped his calm-in-the-storm perspective. From sitting alone in an auditorium after his retirement ceremony, staring at empty chairs, to helping other veterans face their fear of the unknown, this conversation digs into the part of transition TAP class doesn’t cover: grieving identity, betting on yourself, and learning you don’t have to do it alone. Chapters * 00:31 – Welcome to Exit Buddy & Joey’s Story * 04:27 – Perspective from Other People’s Worst Days * 06:25 – From Chief to “Just Joey” * 08:59 – The Empty Chairs Moment * 10:16 – What TAP Doesn’t Cover * 13:23 – Preparing Emotionally Before You Separate * 14:16 – Location First, Job Second * 17:14 – The Fear That Keeps People In * 18:45 – You Can’t Do It Alone Key Takeaways * Everyone Has an Off Ramp—Don’t Stay Just Because You’re Scared: At some point, every service member leaves. Staying in only because you’re afraid of the outside world, losing guaranteed income, or starting over is an understandable instinct—but not a great life strategy. Fear shouldn’t be the primary reason you delay a transition you already know is coming. * Your First Job Is Not Your Forever Job: With most veterans changing roles in the first year, Joey urges you to choose location first, job second so you’re not uprooting your whole life every time you change employers. * TAP Covers Resumes, Not Identity Grief: TAP is great for job search basics, but it doesn’t always prepare you for losing rank, status, and built‑in community. Joey’s story shows that becoming “just Joey” was a much bigger emotional shift than he expected. * You Don’t Have to White‑Knuckle Transition Alone: Joey’s biggest message: you cannot and should not do this by yourself. Lean on other veterans, cohorts, and community, so you have people to call when the auditorium is empty and your next chapter begins. Follow us for more real veteran stories to guide your transition, and share this episode with someone who’s standing at their own off ramp and afraid to take the exit. They may need to hear that they’re not the only one scared of the unknown. Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Exit Buddy: Veteran Voices [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/exit-buddy-veteran-voices-7372976624780353536/], to stay updated and connect with other listeners and guests. #VeteranStories #MilitaryTransition #ExitBuddy #IdentityAfterService #BetOnYourself Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535619/fan_mail/new] Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com [https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com/] to learn more about the show. Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at ashleyjones.creative@gmail.com [ashleyjones.creative@gmail.com].

A Brochure Changed Everything: From JAG Courtroom Battles to Page‑Turning Political Thrillers

Join us as we get to know Army veteran, former JAG officer, civil affairs officer, and political thriller author Francine Ehrenberg. Francine shares how a random brochure in a law firm desk drawer rerouted her from a bored real estate attorney to Army JAG. She opens up about the shock of coming home to “too much” comfort after living on MREs and unexploded ordnance, why she keeps serving through American Legion and Boys State, and how decades in criminal law and military justice fueled her second act as a novelist. Her story is a reminder that your path doesn’t have to be linear, humor is a survival skill, and you’re never as alone in transition as you may feel. Chapters * 01:19 – Introducing an Army JAG, Civil Affairs Officer, and Author * 02:16 – The Desk Drawer Brochure That Changed Everything * 05:05 – From Active Duty JAG to Civilian Prosecutor and Army Reservist * 06:35 – Humanitarian Missions in Albania * 09:18 – Reverse Culture Shock: Coming Home Overwhelmed * 11:22 – Serving After Service with American Legion and Boys State * 15:00 – A New Mission: From Courtroom to Creative Writing * 19:19 – Transition Advice: You’re Not Alone, Reach Out, Stay Open Key Takeaways * One Brochure Can Change Everything: Francine didn’t grow up around the military and was bored stiff in real estate law—until she opened a drawer, found an Army JAG Corps brochure, and discovered a path that matched her desire for meaningful, high‑stakes work. Be open to opportunities that don’t look “planned.” * Reverse Culture Shock Is Real: Coming home after deployment from harsh conditions to a comfortable bed, full grocery stores, and constant connectivity can feel overwhelming and even guilt‑inducing. If your transition feels “off” or “too much,” you’re not broken—you’re recalibrating. * Service Doesn’t Stop at ETS or Retirement: Through the American Legion and the Boys State program, Francine continues to mentor rising high‑school seniors, teach criminal justice, and expose them to public service and the legal system. There are countless ways to keep serving and stay connected after you take off the uniform. * Your Skills Translate More Than You Think: Years of JAG, prosecution, and financial crimes work translated into rich storylines for political thrillers filled with courtroom scenes, money laundering, and high‑stakes investigations. Your experiences (good, bad, and bizarre) can fuel a powerful second act. * Humor Is a Survival Tool, Not a Cop‑Out: Francine’s mantra—“you can either laugh or you can cry”—isn’t about minimizing hardship; it’s about staying human in the middle of it and giving yourself space to move forward. Follow us for more real veteran stories to guide your transition, and share this episode with someone who feels overwhelmed by coming home. They may just need to hear they’re not alone and it’s okay to laugh through the hard parts. Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Exit Buddy: Veteran Voices [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/exit-buddy-veteran-voices-7372976624780353536/], to stay updated and connect with other listeners and guests. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535619/fan_mail/new] Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com [https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com/] to learn more about the show. Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at ashleyjones.creative@gmail.com [ashleyjones.creative@gmail.com].

Goldfish in a New Tank: Acclimating to Civilian Life Without Shock

In this episode, we sit down with Marine Corps veteran Ferguson “Juice” Dale, who went from chasing a football scholarship to flying aircraft, then founding Semper Sky, a company focused on emergency management and airborne disaster response. Juice shares how losing his shot at college football, a life‑altering car accident, and a tough lesson in integrity pushed him toward the Marines—and how a simple challenge to “do one more” pull‑up reshaped his mindset for good. He breaks down what it really means to rebuild structure as a civilian, why SkillBridge was his “goldfish in a bag” moment, and how mentorship, reservists, and AI are helping him scale a mission‑driven business. His story is a blueprint for veterans who feel unmoored after service and need practical ways to design their own systems, protect their value, and carry that mission focus into a new kind of fight. Chapters * 02:07 – Chasing a Football Scholarship & the Cost of One Bad Decision * 03:35 – The Car Accident and Losing the Team * 05:10 – “You Don’t Have Integrity”: A Hard Lesson at 18 * 06:20 – The Recruiter, Pull‑Ups, and “Do One More” * 08:54 – From Enlisted to Officer: Different Roles, Different Expectations * 10:10 – Marines Give You Structure, Civilian Life Makes You Build It * 11:15 – The Goldfish in a New Tank: SkillBridge as a Gentle Transition * 12:27 – Starting Semper Sky and the Power of a Mentor * 14:45 – Three Lessons for Entrepreneurs: Fire Yourself, Use Your Network, Leverage AI * 17:48 – Know Your Value and Stop Underselling Yourself Key Takeaways * “Do One More” Is a Mindset, Not Just a Pull‑Up Count: A recruiter’s challenge (“You know why you can’t be a Marine? Because you never tried to do one more.”) became a lifelong mental model. For transition, that “one more” might be one more application, one more conversation, or one more uncomfortable step toward a new career.  * The Military Gives You Structure—Civilians Have to Build It: In uniform, structure is handed to you: training schedules, evaluations, missions. On the outside, freedom without structure can end up being chaos. Civilian success means designing your own systems so that important things still get done without someone else’s orders. * SkillBridge Can Be Your “Goldfish in a Bag”: Juice compares his SkillBridge internship to gently lowering a goldfish (in its old water) into a new tank. Supporting the Marine Corps from the private sector gave him time to acclimate to new expectations, culture, and pace before fully jumping into civilian life. * Fire Yourself from the Wrong Jobs: As a founder, Juice learned that trying to do everything made him the bottleneck. The real job is identifying where only you add value, and “firing yourself” from everything else so the team can move faster and do better work. * Know Your Value and Don’t Undersell It: Many veterans have a heart of service and are vulnerable to being underpaid or under‑titled. Recognize your worth, negotiate for fair pay and benefits, and walk away from organizations that don’t see your value. Follow us for more real veteran stories to guide your transition, and share this episode with someone who’s struggling to build structure after service—they might just need a new way to think about their “goldfish in a new tank” moment. Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Exit Buddy: Veteran Voices [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/exit-buddy-veteran-voices-7372976624780353536/], to stay updated and connect with other listeners and guests. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535619/fan_mail/new] Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com [https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com/] to learn more about the show. Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at ashleyjones.creative@gmail.com [ashleyjones.creative@gmail.com].

We Can All Win: Don’t Self-Select Out of Your Next Mission

In this episode, Kathleen and Rachel chat with Air Force veteran Jacki Davenport, a 20+ year intelligence and special operations professional who refused to take no for an answer from the very beginning. Jacki shares her journey from recruiter office moments to tight-knit special missions units, cyber operations, and eventually, the private sector. Along the way, she gets honest about the cost of high-tempo deployments, the identity whiplash of going reservist, and the power of a network that believes “we can all win.” Her story is a reminder not to self-select out, and to use your non-negotiables to steer your next chapter instead of settling for whatever comes first. Chapters * 02:18 – Jacki’s Path to the Military  * 04:05 – Saying Yes to the Unknown * 09:14 – Humanity Catching Up & Choosing the Reserve Path * 10:35 – Redefining Identity and Impact * 11:40 – Standing Up an Offensive Cyber Unit * 13:25 – From Intel Targeting Officer to Chief & Mama Bear * 15:01 – “We Can All Win”: How Jacki’s Network Carried Her Transition * 16:33 – Starting at the Bottom Again: New Acronyms, New Language, Same Grit * 19:35 – Building Intelligent Systems in the Private Sector * 22:24 – Don’t Self‑Select Out & Know Your Non‑Negotiables * 23:40 – It’s Okay to Ask for Help: Using Your Network Without Shame Key Takeaways * Prepare for Identity Whiplash: Going from a fast‑paced, small special mission unit to the reserves was Jacki’s first real separation struggle. Recognizing and naming identity shifts early can help you avoid making rushed decisions to return to what’s comfortable. * Don’t Self‑Select Out of Opportunities: If you can say yes, say yes. You can always course-correct later, but you can’t win if you never step up to the plate. * Your Network Really Can Be the Difference: The right people can open doors you didn’t even know existed when it’s time to transition. Jacki reminds us: you are not burdening your network by asking for help; you are finally using it for what it was built for. * Let Your Non‑Negotiables Guide Your Next Role: Go into your civilian job search (and interviews) clear on what you will and won’t accept. Those guardrails will help you quickly rule out misaligned roles. * Be Humble Enough to Start at the Bottom Again: By the time Jacki retired, she was at the top of the food chain in uniform—but in the private sector, she had to be the person writing down acronyms and Googling them after meetings. Her advice: accept that your rank and past titles don’t automatically transfer. What does transfer is how you bring value, learn fast, ask questions, and build credibility all over again. * Impact Can Shift from Mission to People—and That’s Okay: In uniform, impact meant operational results and mission success. As a chief and later in industry, Jacki’s impact became about developing people, protecting her team’s mental health, and reducing human cost through better systems. Accepting that your definition of service can evolve is key to feeling fulfilled after the military. Follow us for more real veteran stories to guide your transition, and share this episode with someone who feels stuck between who they were in uniform and who they’re allowed to be next. Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Exit Buddy: Veteran Voices [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/exit-buddy-veteran-voices-7372976624780353536/], to stay updated. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535619/fan_mail/new] Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com [https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com/] to learn more about the show. Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at ashleyjones.creative@gmail.com [ashleyjones.creative@gmail.com].

Cracking the Corporate Code: Turning Military Skills into Cyber Success

In this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You, Kathleen and Rachel sit down with Army veteran and West Point grad Bryson Bort, who went from feeling “complete ignorance and sheer terror” in terms of military transition, to successfully building multiple cybersecurity companies and a nonprofit. From a global commodity manager who didn’t know what an RFP was, to an IT asset manager, to the creator of a global CMDB that actually worked, to offensive cyber in the intelligence community, Bryson shows how curiosity and tying your work to dollar value can open doors you never knew existed. He also delivers some tough‑love truths: why you need to stop sacrificing yourself for the mission in profit‑driven environments, what risk in entrepreneurship really looks like, and how networking and reputation can turn even your missteps into momentum. Chapters * 02:09 – Meet Bryson: Choosing West Point Over MIT * 04:50 – Medically Discharged & First Civilian Interviews * 06:30 – “What’s an RFP?” Alone, Unqualified, and Learning Fast * 09:06 – Back to Tech as IT Asset Manager & CMDB Builder * 10:30 – Cracking the Corporate Code with the CFO * 11:57 – State, DIA, Special Forces & Googling “What’s a CTO?” * 13:40 – Building an Offensive Cyber Unit at the Tip of the Spear * 14:55 – Tough-Love Truth: Stop Sacrificing Yourself for the Mission * 15:31 – From Napkin Sketch to Launching GRIMM * 17:59 – Rethinking Risk & Failure in Entrepreneurship * 20:57 – Co‑Founding ICS Village & Giving Back to the Community * 22:08 – Network, Ask Questions & Fix Your Resume Key Takeaways * Tie Your Work to Dollars: In corporate environments, showing financial impact keeps projects alive through leadership changes and budget cuts. Bryson’s global CMDB didn’t simply survive because it was technically elegant; it survived because he could show hard dollar savings to the CFO. * Stop Sacrificing Yourself for the Mission: Bryson’s wake-up call to veterans in the civilian, profit‑driven world is, if you’re yoked to the mission at the expense of your health and family, someone else is profiting from your sacrifice. You are allowed to set boundaries. * Entrepreneurial Risk Is Often Lower Than You Think: For professionals with strong reputations, starting a consultancy is usually a measured risk. Worst case? You build a bigger network, deepen your expertise, and become more valuable when you step back into a traditional role. * Network Your Way into Clarity: If you don’t know what civilian job fits your MOS—or if you even want that path—conversations are your intel‑gathering. Each coffee chat narrows the options, sharpens your resume, and reveals opportunities that never get posted. * You Already Know How to Figure Things Out: From West Point to Signal Corps to offensive cyber, Bryson kept succeeding in jobs he didn’t initially understand by doing what veterans do best: figuring it out under pressure, seeking guidance, and taking ownership. Follow us for more real veteran stories to guide your transition, and share this episode with someone who feels afraid of what lies ahead. They may just need a new mission and permission to bet on themselves. Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Exit Buddy: Veteran Voices [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/exit-buddy-veteran-voices-7372976624780353536/], to stay updated and connect with other listeners and guests. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535619/fan_mail/new] Visit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com [https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com/] to learn more about the show. Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at ashleyjones.creative@gmail.com [ashleyjones.creative@gmail.com].