Episode 1: The Introduction

The Common Veterans introduce Kenny and Jeff as our hosts; they introduce the format and structure of the podcast, including what FreedomSystem.org is and why.

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Common Veterans Podcast

Episode 1: The Introductions

• The Common Veterans
  • Kenny: 3 Things
    • 12 Years medically retired United States Army
      • Combat Veteran Iraq 07-08
    • 3 Children – 1 Woman who has been my wife for 14 years
    • Work history spans social work, security operations, marketing, graphic design, and media
    • Jeff: 3 Things
      • 30 years in the Air Force, retired as Chief Master Sergeant
        • E-1 to E-9
      • Deploys 5x
        • Operation Jump Start (2008)
      • Retired Goshen, Indiana Police Officer
    • History of FreedomSystem.org (FSO)
      • Blog for Timmie Mangrum and Kenny
        • Was a No-Go due to OPSEC
          • Loose lips sink ships
        • The suicide of Steven James Oelslager
          • Reached out to Kenny the night of his death
            • Kenny missed the reach out
            • Reached out the next morning, and it was too late
            • Deep dark depression for Kenny
            • Kenny was jobless
              • Work One and Elkhart Military Veteran Stand Down with a Heart
              • Kenny did graphics and logo
            • Elkhart Military Veteran Stand Down with a Heart
              • Kenny and Jeff were on the committee that made it a total success
              • More than 200 Veterans showed up all across the state of Indiana
              • Our standards that were set are still being followed by Stand Downs all across the United States
                • Kenny wrote the marketing standards for Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University
              • 2^nd Year Brought FSO in as an official 501(c)3 to be able to give receipts to donors.

• First FSO Board Meeting
  • Italian Restaurant named Rullis
    • Jill loved Jeff and gave us some free drinks
  • All original members put in $100 per family to get the FSO bank account started
• First big donation was given in honor of Kenny’s children after the birth of his daughter
  • Thank you to the Meeks Family
• What is FSO today?
  • Cohesive group of Veterans and their families & civilian volunteers to help reintegrate Vets into the civilian world
    • Martial arts
    • Mountain Biking
    • Career Building Skills
    • General Camaraderie
    • Help Navigating the VA and other Veteran Assistance Programs
  • Why?
    • Give back to local Veterans and their families to assist in moving forward with camaraderie
      • To help us
        • All of the FreedomSystem.org board has a servant mentality and need to give back to our Veteran community
      • Next Podcast
        • Heroes
          • Next podcast will be career look back stories of our career heroes