Military Bottom Line

David grew up in San Francisco and commissioned via OCS while attending Princeton University. He served as an artillery officer in the Marine Corps and completed two deployments before separating in 2021. In this episode, we focus on David’s creative pursuits and his encouragement for other veterans to do the same. We talk about the community David is building known as League of Veterans and how h...

The habits your build early in your military career have a massive impact on how your transition plays out. Start your first year in the military by building strong habits that will pay dividends in the future.

Despite this being a joke, I regularly see people take these steps when transitioning out of the military. If you want to make it hard on yourself, follow these steps.

Not every state as equal benefits for its guard members. Some states offer as little as $4,500/year towards tuition, while other offer a tuition waiver that allows you to attend school for free as long as you're in the guard.  The guard unit you  you join has a massive impact on your overall ability to achieve your educational goals affordably.   Combining the state education b...

You have two choices if you're failing a class using the GI Bill. Either you drop the class, or you keep going and take the F.  Don't miss the dangers of both of these options.

Before you buy your first investment property with the VA Loan, it is critical to make a list of what you DO and DO NOT want in your property.   The more you can define your criteria the better.   Make sure your deal is going to make you money! Use www.rentometer.com to find out if the deal is a good investment or not.

The VA Home Loan is arguably the most valuable benefit for veterans if used correctly. The standard method if getting into home ownership is proving harder and harder. The VA loan allows you to get into a home without paying 20% down or hundreds of dollars a month in PMI.   The best part - the VA loan can be used to purchase a property with 1-4 units, giving you the opportunity to become a re...

Juliet joined the Army National Guard after graduating from college in order to take advantage of the Student Loan Repayment Program, which offered to pay back up to $50,000 worth student loans!   In this episode, Juliet and I discuss her experiences in the military to include pandemic relief missions, training, and the regular drill schedule. In addition to that, Juliet brings valuable advic...

Whether you're looking to use your GI Bill for college, studying abroad or getting your way into employment. This toll should be tried and tested to ensure your maximizing your GI Bill Benefit. GI Bill Comparison Tool

In this episode, we discuss the two ways to use your GI Bill abroad. There are: 1. Do a semester abroad while enrolled in an American University 2. Attend a foreign university for the entirety of you higher education. There are pros and cons to both as well as warnings to be aware of. Going into this with the right information will help you get the most out of the opportunity. As suggested in the...

Victor is a first generation American. His parents fled a war-torn country in southeast Asia, so when he told them he was dropping out of college to join the Army, they weren’t exactly thrilled. Victor has spent over 13 years in the Army, between Active Duty and Reserves. We talk about his motives for joining, heavy lessons learned during the transition, civilian employment, and his current pursui...

I spent 4 years pursuing this and it didn't work out. Everything happens for a reason. Thanks for sticking around and supporting me.

The Non-Paid Work Experience Program through VR&E is a great way to kickstart your career in federal, state or local government. Take advantage of this sure fire way to get hired and prove yourself once you're in.

The VA VR&E program provides eligible Veterans an opportunity to obtain training and practical hands-on experience concurrently through the Special Employer Incentives program. The VA  determines if a Veteran is eligible for the SEI program. Veterans approved for the SEI program are hired by participating employers. The SEI program is beneficial for both Veterans and employers.   EMP...

The Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program has been around since 2007 and has updated to include military service as program eligible employment.   Does this mean you should stay in the military to get your loans forgiven? Probably not.   The program does not have a good record for accepting applicants. There are far better ways to go about getting your loans paid off.   Se...

VR&E Independent Living track is for veterans with serious employment handicaps that need assistance with setting up their independent living needs.  For more Info visit Here

As service members, you are protected under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). However, this doesn't mean you will not run into trouble with your civilian employer as a result of your military service.   It can be a difficult battle that you should not go at alone. If you need this assistance from VR&E, go ahead and apply.   For more information a...

Wondering how to get a job after the military? If you don't want to go back to school after you get out and prefer to go straight to work, this benefit is for you.   Don't miss out on the opportunity of applying to and using VA benefits you have earned. Use VR&E and the Rapid Access to Employment track to get the help you need landing the job that will support you and your family.  F...

Veteran Rehabilitation and Employment has many tracks to assist veterans become independent.  In this episode we discuss the Self-Employment Track.  If you are a veteran that DID NOT receive a dishonorable discharge and was rated at 10% or more by the VA, you are eligible for this program.   This program assists eligible veterans start their own business and become self employed. &n...

Veteran Rehabilitation and Employment is an incredible benefit with many updates. In this video we are going to focus on the Employment Through Long-Term Services track.   Check out the VA site for more information on this benefit 

For veterans, submitting a FAFSA application can literally be the difference of a million dollars tax free.   *** I am not a legal, finance or tax professional. All videos and information is for entertainment purposes only. Check with a legal or tax professional before acting on any entertainment from this channel.

The INDIVIDUAL MOBILIZATION AUGMENTEE (IMA), is an incredible way to continue service after your initial military contract.    I stumbled on this opportunity when I met other IMA Marines that came down intermittently from their full time NY State Police jobs to avoid the winter months in upstate New York.   The IMA offered tremendous flexibility to avoid active duty and the standard...

In this video were are going to discuss two routes for staying in the military directly after active duty. You can do this via the Army/Air National Guard or the military reserves.    Some great reasons to go from active duty to national guard are as follows:  -You want to serve local to your home of record (or a specific area)  -You want to get a new MOS (military occupational...

Is it worth using your GI Bill for online programs?   In this episode we're going to discuss the reality of using your veteran education benefits for online school.   We'll cover: Who should and should not be using their GI Bill for online programs, Pros and Cons of using the GI Bill online, BAH, and Strategy on how to make the most of your GI Bill while using it online

You will grow up! The military will force you to leave your comfort zone and grow up, especially if you go active duty where you’re forced to leave home and all the comforts and security that you may have been used to.   College (TA, GI Bill, etc) While your counterparts will graduate highschool and go on to take out tens of thousands of dollars in debt to complete a college degree, you’ll ge...