Mary Fisk, Marine Corps veteran and Student Veteran Career Counselor at Penn State University, joins us to talk about proactive veteran career support and how higher education can be a powerful anchor in the military-to-civilian transition.

Mary shares how Penn State offers one-on-one advising, career fairs, lunch & learns, and hybrid-access workshops to support more than 3,000 military-connected students across 24 campuses and its World Campus. She also gives advice on internships, resume building, and why engaging early in your career journey is essential for success.

If you're a veteran or military-affiliated student looking to thrive after service, this episode is packed with insight, tools, and motivation.

🎓 Learn more at vetsospodcast.com
📬 Contact Mary: svcc@psu.edu
🎙 Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

#VETSOS #VeteranCareerSupport #PennStateVeterans #MilitaryTransition #VeteranSuccess #StudentVeterans #CareerCounseling #VeteranReadiness #MilitarySupport #HigherEducationForVets #GIbillResources

In this powerful episode of the VET S.O.S. Military Transition Podcast, we speak with Ashley Sard, an Air Force veteran and Community Partnership Specialist at Empath Health. Ashley shares her deeply personal military transition story, from medical retirement and career uncertainty to championing hospice and palliative care for veterans in Florida.

We explore:

• The impact of medical retirement on military families

• Women Veteran advocacy at the VA

• Empath Health’s veteran-focused hospice, palliative, and grief support services

• Unique programs like “We Honor Veterans” and personalized pinning ceremonies

Ashley’s journey is one of resilience, purpose, and compassionate service. If you’re a veteran or caregiver, this episode offers crucial insights on community resources and how end-of-life care can honor military service.

🎙️ Tune in to hear how one veteran turned transition challenges into lasting impact.
#MilitaryTransition #VeteranSupport #HospiceCare #PalliativeCare #EmpathHealth #WomenVeterans #VeteranAdvocacy #EndOfLifeCare #WeHonorVeterans #VETSOS

Christian Echeverri, Navy veteran and outreach lead at Best Military Resume and Hire Valor, joins the VET S.O.S. Podcast to share how cutting-edge AI is helping veterans bridge the gap between military service and civilian employment.

He dives into the challenges of rediscovering identity after retirement, adjusting post-COVID, and how his journey led him to help others find meaningful careers. Christian explains how Best Military Resume’s AI system builds tailored resumes and elevator pitches while Hire Valor acts as a job placement ally—not just a recruiter.

Tune in to hear how this combination of tech and human connection is creating better career outcomes for transitioning veterans and military families.

🎙️ Catch every Wednesday at 5 AM EST for more inspiring stories.

#MilitaryTransition #VeteranEmployment #HireValor #BestMilitaryResume #TransitionSupport #VETSOS #VeteranCareerHelp #MilitaryToCivilian #CareerCoaching #JobSearchAI

Marine Corps veteran and resiliency coach Garret Biss joins us on the VET S.O.S. podcast to share his journey through anxiety, addiction, and identity loss—and how those experiences led to the creation of Valiant Path, a revolutionary program in Veteran Resilience Training.

Garret explains how most veterans lose more than just a job when they leave the military—they lose connection, meaning, and identity. Through the lens of applied positive psychology and post-traumatic growth, he introduces a powerful framework for rebuilding emotional strength and direction. You’ll learn about the Three C’s—Confidence, Competence, and Capacity—and how they help veterans reclaim control of their future.

We also discuss his work with incarcerated veterans, his collaboration with Boulder Crest Foundation’s Warrior PATHH program, and the urgent need for strength-based recovery solutions in the veteran community.

If you or someone you know is navigating life after military service, this episode will give you hope, insight, and a practical blueprint for resilience.

💡 Download Garret’s free guide: www.thewarriorreset.com

#VeteranResilienceTraining #ValiantPath #VetSOS #VeteranMentalHealth #PostTraumaticGrowth #VeteranSupport #WarriorPATHH #MilitaryTransitionHelp #PositivePsychology #VeteranReintegration

In this episode of the VET S.O.S. podcast, hosts Shawn Welsh and Keith Cassant talk with Katie Helbling, content creator at ClearanceJobs and host of the Security Clearance Careers podcast. Katie brings her trademark humor and honesty as she discusses how veterans can successfully navigate the security clearance job search after leaving the military.

Katie offers a behind-the-scenes look at the ClearanceJobs platform and explains how it differs from other job boards like USAJobs and LinkedIn. Learn why creating your profile early—before your out date—is crucial, how to maintain your clearance status under the new two-year policy, and what recruiters are really looking for when hiring cleared professionals.

Topics include:

• Building a strategic job search timeline

• Translating military skills for civilian hiring managers

• Busting myths about “automatic” job placement for senior leaders

• The power of niche platforms in federal and defense employment

• Katie’s sassiest memes and why humor is a powerful transition tool

We also explore ClearanceJobs' ecosystem: job groups, newsletters, virtual bootcamps, and new initiatives like FedWork.net and ClearanceJobsBlog.com.

Whether you're six months out or just getting started, this episode will give you real tools and advice to succeed in your post-military career journey.

🌐 More at: www.vetsospodcast.com
🔎 Check out: www.clearancejobs.com
📧 Contact Katie: katie.helbling@clearancejobs.com
🎙️ Subscribe to VET S.O.S. on all platforms @vetsospodcast

#SecurityClearanceJobs #VeteranCareerAdvice #MilitaryTransition #ClearanceJobs #DefenseContracting #VeteranSupport #FedCareers #MilitaryToCivilian #VETSOS #CareerStrategy

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Erick Saks joins VET S.O.S. to discuss Operation Lifeline, a nonprofit empowering veterans through housing, SkillBridge internships, and hands-on job training. Discover how Veteran Workforce Development is at the heart of this growing grassroots movement reshaping what veteran support can be.

🎙 Hosted by Shawn Welsh & Keith Cassant
🌐 Learn more at opLifeline.org

#VeteranWorkforceDevelopment #SkillBridge #VeteranSupport #NonprofitLeadership #VetCareers #ConstructionTraining #PostMilitaryJobs #OperationLifeline #CommunityService #TransitionPrograms #vetsos

In this inspiring episode of the Military Transition Resources Show, we sit down with Brian Cain, Director of Development at Guitars for Vets, a nonprofit putting guitars—and hope—into the hands of America’s veterans.

Brian opens up about his personal battle with PTSD and brain injury following service in the Marine Corps and law enforcement. He shares how music, Boulder Crest’s Warrior PATHH, and the Guitars for Vets program helped him rediscover purpose—and how he’s now helping others do the same.

🎸 Topics include:

• The therapeutic power of music

• Why community is essential to veteran healing

• The G4V 10-week model and graduation gift

• Their expansion plans including songwriting retreats

• How to join or support Guitars for Vets

Learn more or donate: guitarsforvets.org
Connect with Brian: brian@guitarsforvets.org

🎧 Subscribe now so you don’t miss any episodes of VET S.O.S.!

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3PXqxzptNSgBuSXpgDpDPM

#GuitarsForVets #MilitaryTransition #VETSOS #MusicTherapy #VeteranSupport #PTSDRecovery #CreativeHealing #VeteranStories #JamSessionHealing #NonprofitVeterans

This week on the VET S.O.S. Podcast, we speak with Shannon Huffman Polson—veteran Apache pilot, leadership expert, and founder of The Grit Institute. Shannon opens up about her military service, her unexpected pivot into corporate life, and the mindset and values that helped her lead with purpose through it all.

Shannon introduces us to her powerful Grit Triad model—Commit, Learn, Launch—and shares how veterans can embrace transition by reconnecting with their story, building new skills, and stepping forward with audacity and authenticity.

Whether you’re in the middle of a career shift, reflecting on your next steps, or mentoring someone who is, this episode delivers clarity and strength to help you lead the way forward.

🎯 SPECIAL OFFER: Use code VETSOS at thegritinstitute.com/courses for 50% off Shannon’s training programs.

💬 Connect with Shannon Huffman Polson:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shannonhpolson
Instagram: @shannonhpolson

#VeteranResilience #GritFactor #PostMilitaryLife #LeadershipDevelopment #FemaleVeterans #VeteranSupport #FindYourPurpose #MindsetMatters #PurposeDrivenLife #VeteranGrowth #VETSOS