This entrepreneur wants you to know military veterans are more than the uniform

Blake Stilwell
Apr 29, 2020 3:54 PM PDT
1 minute read
Sports photo

SUMMARY

It’s easy to see American military members in uniform and sort of lump them all in together as a single unit – that’s kind of the point of part of their lives. But it’s only a part of their lives. Once the uniform is off or they’re out of the …

It's easy to see American military members in uniform and sort of lump them all in together as a single unit – that's kind of the point of part of their lives. But it's only a part of their lives. Once the uniform is off or they're out of the military, what remains is a person. The Military Fresh Network aims to show that U.S. military members can serve their country while being the unique individuals they were created to be.


The Military Fresh Network provides them a platform to promote their real passions. From music to fitness, active military members and veterans alike turn to the Military Fresh Network to join a family and put their talents to work for them.

(Military Fresh Network)

If you look at Hank Robinson's (above) ten years of Army infantry service, with his three Bronze Stars and Combat Infantryman Badge, you might be quick to lump him in with the stereotypical infantry grunt and all the baggage which might come along with it. But get to know the person and you'll see a man who became enamored with metal work – so enamored he started his own engraving business after spending years perfecting his chosen art form. This is a man who now helps others work through PTSD via art therapy.

Then you realize you were too quick to judge. We all are. It's sometimes hard to see past the decorations and the uniform. The Military Fresh Network is here to help change all that. Jimmy Cox, the founder of the Military Fresh Network, is as passionate about the talents of the people on the network as he is about his own.

Gabrielle Torres funded her college education through Miss America scholarships, but the dual-bachelors student will also be an Army officer upon graduation.

(Military Fresh Network)

"This is finally something we can do and show for ourselves," says Cox, a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Army. "The reason so many people don't join the military today is the same reason they didn't join ten years ago – they don't want who they are to get lost. But it doesn't have to be that way. Your life does not have to be on hold while you wear the uniform. The Military Fresh Network shows them that. "

On the Military Fresh Network's website, you can see the stories of dozens of America's finest troops, officer and enlisted, who took the oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States out of uniform and in their natural habitat. There, you can read their stories, see the faces of the men and women who serve, and realize their talents and skills in a way never before seen – ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Air Force veteran, Navy spouse, and fitness professional Tarryn Garlington is also a civilian working for the Army.

The site is broken down by branch of service and by the kind of skills and talent on display. Here you can see military members at their finest, playing musical instruments, bodybuilding, giving fitness tips, even showing off their street art and business savvy. It truly is a way to get to know America's vets as real people, to interact with them, and appreciate people on a new level.

"I had my own following when I started in graphic design," says Ana Valencia, a U.S. Army senior NCO who is also a Military Fresh Network volunteer. "The Military Fresh Network provided me with a huge platform for my work, so I became a huge advocate."

In 2019, the Military Fresh Network will even be joining the ranks of the Military Influencer Conference sponsors. If you're interested in starting your own business and don't know where to begin, the Military Influencer Conferences are the perfect place to start. There, you can network with other veteran entrepreneurs while listening to the best speakers and panels the military-veteran community of entrepreneurs can muster. Visit the Military Influencer Conference website for more information.

Then you can post your own business skills on The Military Fresh Network.

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