The Common Veteran’s Season 2
Episode 3: Free Lunch Day
The Common Veterans discuss Free Lunch Day. Free Lunch Day is and was Veteran’s Day. The Common Veterans talk about their favorite meals and why it is now been adopted by this pet name. The dangers of it and the gratitude that comes with getting a free meal, or are they free?
I) Free Lunch Day?
a. Discuss the historical significance of Veteran’s Day and how it has evolved into being referred to as “Free Lunch Day” among veterans.
i. Veterans were not always recognized.
ii. Soldiers start to expect it.
1. Overdo it – some go to many restaurants, and it becomes a lot
b. Explore the reasons behind this shift in terminology and what it means to the Common Veterans.
II) Favorite Meals and Restaurants
a. Share personal stories from the Common Veterans about their favorite meals on Free Lunch Day.
i. What changes when a Veteran dines with another Veteran?
1. Shared experiences
ii. Traditions that last
1. Common Veterans is a time for us to eat, rehearse, record, then reminisce!
2. Changes hearts and minds.
a. Caleb
i. Best V-Day Ever.
III) Gratis is Awesome, But Does it Attract Scammers?
a. Examine the potential dangers of Free Lunch Day, including overindulgence and exploitation of veterans.
i. Discuss the differences between restaurants that care vs those that create a “free meal” for marketing
1. Offer no drink.
2. Require to eat in a restaurant rather than eating at home
ii. Does it matter that it is a “free lunch?”
1. Better to have a free lunch or get together as Veterans and brothers/sisters in arms?
b. Discuss the stolen valor people that it attracts.
c. Stigma of being, “Anyone would do what I did” (Not a hero.)
IV) Next Podcast: Episode 4: Let’s Talk About War
a. The War, huh, yeah… What is it good for?” The Common Veterans take on war – the amount of Veterans that have fought in combat – or been to a combat zone, and why it is so hard to transition back into a noncombatant once back home…
b. Until next time
A Veteran who needs to navigate the VA is frequently turned off by the lengthy process that is sometimes experienced. The Common Veterans discusses best practices on how to get started with the process and how to be your own best advocate.
Common Veterans Podcast
SEASON 1 ADDENDUM
Episode 12: TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT
From getting out of the military to new jobs as civilians, the transition inevitably feels like it was forced! The Common Veterans take a stab at why everything seems so difficult to do in a civilian job.
I. Introduction
a. Welcome to the addendum to Season 2
i. Why we do what we do
ii. Brief introduction to being a military member and the sense of humor and mindset that goes along with it
II. I QUIT
a. Leaving the military and returning to civilian life perspectives
i. Initiative
ii. Humor
b. You don’t know what you don’t know…
i. Specialized jobs such as combat arms have a different view on civilian employers
ii. Logistics and public figures
iii. Life in the background
c. Can you trust your civilian counterparts like you trust your military siblings?
i. Cops and firefighters
ii. Doctors and social workers
iii. General civilian contracting
III. Entrepreneurial Spirit
a. Veterans start their own companies…
i. Bro shirts
1. GruntStyle CEO gets the boot
2. Other Veteran owned companies
ii. Creative Companies
1. Craft companies
a. Leather
b. Graphic Design
c. C&C and Printing
2. Podcasting and Public speaking
iii. OnlyFans and other sex work
1. Veteran’s do this?
iv. Chapter 30 Benefits – Section 4
IV. Retirement and Disability and other Benefits
a. You earned it, get it
i. Many Veterans don’t utilize their earned benefits because the process is hard.
1. Need to be your own self-advocate.
b. College Benefits are more than just college
i. Get a degree with the GI Bill
ii. Chapter 30 VA Benefits through the VA
1. Helps entrepreneurs establish or get trained in a specific realm.
a. Spouses can utilize it as well.
b. Children, in the state of Indiana, can go to school for free if you have at least a 0% rating
c. Retirement is not Retiring (for most)
i. Retiring from the military a lot of times is not the end for military members.
1. No Golf
2. Work still
a. Bored
b. Not enough to live on
V. TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT!!!
a. What does it take to quit the military and why people get out if everything is so good.
i. Review the redeployment process.
1. Not just for getting out of the military, but out of the country
b. Becoming self-made
i. Camaraderie helps and being relational
ii. Having initiative to do what needs to be done
c. Working for the “man”.
VI. Wrap up
a. Conclusion of being a Veteran
b. End Season 2 Toast
c. Common Veterans
The belief that dying in battle brings soldiers to the table of Odin. The Common Veterans take on the sensitive topic of suicide and PTSD.
** WARNING ** This episode discusses a very sensitive subject with Common Veterans. This episode discusses suicide, religion, the different beliefs of certain religions, and triggers that could be hard to handle.
I. Introductions
a. Which of us has experienced someone that has suicided or attempted suicide
i. Fred
ii. Jeff
iii. Tony
iv. Kenny
II. Let's talk about life.
a. Being a Veteran means that one has signed a blank check to the government for them to cash, up to life itself
i. Being killed in combat is not suicide
ii. Suicide is illegal in the military
1. Suicide is illegal in most of the United States and goes against the Constitution of the United States – “Pursuit of happiness…”
b. Cannot separate body and soul
i. Separating the soul from the body is death
1. Souls go where the body has been commended to
a. Heaven
b. Hell
c. Purgatory (?)
c. Religions do not condone suicide
i. Christianity
1. Martyrism – certain death, but saving lives
ii. Muslim
1. Suicide bombing to certain sects gets them Virgins
iii. Judaism
1. Assisted suicide from a doctor to maintain
iv. Shinto
1. Only as an act of selflessness
III. Valhalla
a. Valhalla, Old Norse Valhöll, in Norse mythology, is the hall of slain warriors who live there blissfully under the leadership of the god Odin (Encyclopedia Brittanica)
i. Modern Day Interpretations are that this is the “Warrior’s Heaven”
1. Dying in combat sends you to Valhalla
a. This was the old Norse thought
b. Valhalla today is not always “combat related”
IV. Modern Day Valhalla
a. The interpretation often for modern-day Valhalla is that Valhalla is for anyone who sees combat and dies regardless of their death.
i. This often includes suicide with the response of “Til Valhalla!”
1. This frequently glorifies suicide and states that you’ll be in a Heaven type environment once your soul is separated from your body
2. As we discussed earlier there is no religion that condones suicide
b. Many people discuss that for it to be suicide you have to be in the right headspace and timing
i. Anyone that creates suicide are not in the right headspace
1. Mental health illness is very real and usually puts people in the wrong frame of mind
2. Being depressed does not make you suicidal
V. Suicide is Selfish
a. Suicide is a selfish act and it doesn’t only take away from the suicided, but the family and love ones of the suicided
i. Makes things difficult for people who loved the suicided
1. Trauma for whomever finds and/or cleans up the mess made
2. Loved ones wonder why
a. Even with a suicide note on why there is often something left out and the reason is never really ever uncovered
b. No suicide note = never having closure
i. Speculation only
ii. Renders any act of selflessness useless
1. Committing suicide is selfish and any aid that was given to others makes it useless
VI. Closing up
a. Review what has been discussed
i. Life
ii. Separation of Body and Soul
iii. Religions
iv. VALHALLA
v. Selfishness
b. Where to get help
i. National Suicide Hotline
1. 988
2. 1-800-273-TALK(8255)
ii. Veteran Suicide Hotline
1. 988 Option 1
iii. VetCenter
iv. FreedomSystem.org
v. 22 Until None
vi. Other Veteran Organizations
VII. Next Episode: Episode 10 Friends in Low Places
a. VFW, DAV, American Legion, Marine Corps League, and other fraternal organizations are out there for Veterans. This breakdown of the organizations talks to members and the benefit of the camaraderie that these programs provide. The Common Veterans represent FreedomSystem.org’s martial arts and mountain bike association.
