For those who’ve served, transitioning to civilian life can feel like entering a different world. In Episode 8: You Can’t Do That, the hosts of The Common Veterans take a humorous but honest look at what doesn’t translate from the military to the civilian world—and how Veterans are forced to adjust.

Field Habits Die Hard

From combat parking at Target to scanning rooms like a security team, old habits are hard to break. Military communication styles—direct and loud—don’t always fly in corporate settings. Even eating habits, like wolfing down meals in two minutes, raise eyebrows.

Kenny zeroes in on his biggest pet peeve: posture. “Even my kids. Stand up straight—it’s not that hard!”

Mentality Misfires

It’s not just behaviors—it’s mindset. Mission-first urgency doesn’t always mesh with civilian workflows. Tony admits, “I have trust issues when people say they’ll finish something.” Without structure or hierarchy, projects get lost and leadership gets muddy.

Fred adds, “Too many chiefs, not enough Indians,” calling out a common frustration in decentralized civilian teams. And while vulnerability is encouraged in civilian spaces, veterans are often wired to push through silently.

“We were taught to suffer in silence. Civilians expect you to speak up.”
“In the military, failure meant someone could die. Out here, it just means a reschedule.”

Relearning the Rules

Fred sums up the emotional difference: “Bad things happen and you have to move on.” That kind of resilience is misunderstood outside the military. Dark humor, another survival tool, often misfires in civilian life.

Jeff reflects on the struggle of forming trust and relationships. In a roundtable, each host shares something they’ve had to “unlearn” after taking off the uniform—things that helped in service, but don’t always help after it.

What’s Next

In Episode 9: Game Night, the team shifts gears for a fun night of games and camaraderie. From strategy to laughter, it’s a reminder that joy and bonding still have a place in post-service life.

Whether you served or support someone who did, this episode delivers truth, laughs, and insight you don’t want to miss.

The Common Veterans explores the seven most dangerous words in the world. In this episode, we dive deep into the promises, pitfalls, and realities of government systems affecting Veterans’ lives—blending candid discussions, expert insights, and real-life experiences.

Sponsors

• Winter Oak Studios
• Mission: Communicate

Setting the Stage

Government programs have long been touted as a safety net for Veterans. From the GI Bill and VA Home Loan to the Vet Center and VA Healthcare, they promise opportunity, stability, and care. But how often do those promises match reality?

• What they should do: Provide support, healthcare, and reintegration tools.
• What they actually do: Often underdeliver due to red tape, underfunding, or misunderstanding.

Navigating the Systems VA Healthcare

VSOs can be a lifeline—or a liability. A caring VSO can save lives. An indifferent one can cost them.

Breaking It All Down

We examine the contrast between bureaucracy and humanity. Systems often forget who they are meant to serve. We ask: Who watches the watchers?

We also tackle the civilian-military cultural divide—a source of many of these disconnects.

What’s Working

• Faith-based and nonprofit programs that deliver real community outreach
• Pilot programs unburdened by legacy bureaucracy

Enter FreedomSystem.org & Common Veterans

FreedomSystem.org exists because the system wasn’t enough. Built by Veterans, for Veterans, we focus on:

• Suicide prevention
• Camaraderie
• Real-world solutions

Final Thoughts

• Don’t wait for broken systems to fix themselves—self-advocate or find someone who will.
• Community over complacency: Have your Veteran connect with peers, even if they're Navy.

Final Toast:

“Here’s to the brothers and sisters we’ve lost—may their memories stay sharp and their legacies never fade. And here’s to those still with us—may we share laughter, carry each other’s burdens, and never forget the bond we earned.

Sláinte.

” Next Episode

Episode 8: GAME NIGHT

We mix camaraderie with competition as Veterans and guests connect over games and good times—celebrating the unique bonds of service through joy and play.

Through music, the Common Veterans reflect on the songs that helped them survive the suck… and maybe even dance in the rain with a poncho and an MRE.

I. Introduction

In this episode, we dive into how music shaped our military experiences—from boot camp blues to barracks karaoke. Shoutout to our sponsors: FreedomSystem.org, your go-to for veteran support, and whoever left that Bluetooth speaker in the latrine… thank you for your service.

II. Setting the Stage

Music during service wasn't just background noise—it was therapy, a hype man, and sometimes the only thing louder than our senior NCOs. From Metallica to Motown, it helped us cope, push through, and occasionally start unauthorized dance battles.

III. Personal Reflections

The team shares personal tracks that carried them through the chaos. Warning: this part contains feelings… and Nickelback. Judge us, we dare you.

IV. Stories Behind the Music and Needs

• Then and Now: How “Fortunate Son” hit different during field ops. Even though it was a protest song!
• Resonance Today: These tracks still slap—PTSD-approved.
• New Civilian Jams: From war drums to dad rock.

V. Final Thoughts

Music connects Veterans across time and branches. Got a track that got you through it? Send it our way. Unless it’s the Barney theme—then we need to talk.

VI. Closing

Thanks for tuning in, sharing your earbuds, and not judging our playlists (too harshly). Next time, we’re tackling military portrayals in Hollywood—so expect lots of yelling at movie screens.

To close this episode… we raise our canteen cups in a toast: To music, to memory, and to that one guy who thought “Eye of the Tiger” was a lullaby. Hooah.