The best podcast for military veterans, police officers, firefighters, and first responders preparing for veteran transition and life after service. Helping you plan and implement strategies to prepare for your transition into civilian life. In this episode, Navy SEAL veteran John Collins shares an unfiltered, gritty look into what it takes to navigate the unforgiving landscape of military life—and rebuild purpose after devastating setbacks. If you’re a veteran or first responder seeking inspiration, identity, and lessons in mental fortitude, this episode is a must-listen. John opens up about his upbringing in small-town Maryland, early brushes with trouble, and the dream that kept calling—becoming a Navy SEAL. With candid vulnerability, he recounts multiple grueling attempts at SEAL training, the mental resilience following the obstacles put in his way, but this story doesn’t end in defeat. Shipped off to Guantanamo Bay as a “BUD/S dud,” John found himself face-to-face with high-level detainees, performing duties he never imagined—balancing human dignity with the reality of national Security. For veterans and law enforcement professionals, his prison operations experience reveals rare crossover insights into correctional environments, chain-of-command politics, and professional identity in uniform. What makes this story powerful is John’s relentless pursuit of redemption. Amidst command resistance and peer resentment, he trained in silence, kept his nose clean, and fought his way back into BUD/S and eventually earned his Trident – after being part of 6 different classes. It’s a story of raw perseverance and the kind of internal discipline only military and first responder communities truly understand. He eventually chose to exit the Navy after 12 years due to ineffective leadership and the desire to pursue a family. Today he is a Safety Director. Listeners will relate to John’s personal reflections on loss, leadership, and the battle between self-doubt and grit. Whether you’re a transitioning service member, aspiring operator, or someone looking for motivation after failure, this episode delivers a profound message: the fight for purpose is never over, and resilience is forged in the fire of rejection.
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