American Dream U is on a six-week #EndlessCaravan road trip in an Airstream, visiting military bases and veteran-owned businesses across the country. Founder Phil Randazzo shares about ADU’s time in Fort Hood over Veterans Day weekend!
Phil Randazzo, founder of American Dream U, back here for week two on the road for Airstream’s Endless Caravan! As I mentioned last week, ADU is an organization dedicated to providing educational tools and mentor support to military members and their families across the country who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life.
For over 15 years, ADU has brought in some of the world's best entrepreneurs, thought leaders, business leaders and authors to share what's possible for transitioning military members’ next mission and purpose. This past weekend in Ft. Hood, Texas, was no different!
Over Veterans Day weekend, we had the privilege of spending time and meeting folks at Ft. Hood, where there was a senior leadership transition workshop for folks with 20+ years in the military. Everyone involved was extremely appreciative of both ADU and Airstream for helping make the workshop possible.
During our time in Ft. Hood, we held proactive discussions in regard to military transition, talking through topics like making valuable connections and breaking through the noise to reach hiring managers at potential new jobs. We heard from some incredible thought leaders with stories of perseverance and determination.
One of the leaders we heard from was Colonel Matt Elledge, who served in leadership positions for more than 25 years in the U.S. Army and is the founder of Embrace the Edge. Having deployed into combat several times, he learned that to succeed in extreme situations you have to have the mental edge to thrive and win in any environment. Today, he offers programs and consulting with the goal of helping others live extraordinary lives.
We also heard from JT McCormick, President and CEO of Scribe Media. JT has an incredible story of resilience, as he was born into an extremely rough situation but overcame those odds to live a life of purpose and passion. (You can read more about JT here.) JT captivated the entire room and provided incredible inspiration for all present!
Just like professional athletes who have dedicated their entire lives to a single sport, the identities of servicemen and women are tied very deeply to the military. Additionally, these individuals spend the large majority of their lives doing a job that benefits the entire country. It can be hard to transition away from a position like that and find an equally mission-driven and purposeful job in the civilian sector.
This all combines to make transition extremely difficult, and highlights the need for programs of support.
Luckily, we have the opportunity to bring ADU directly to the people courtesy of our Airstream. Taking our organization on the road has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I’m so excited we got to make this a reality.
Spending time with our military has made this Veterans Day even more special for me and our organization. The men and women who have served this country inspire me daily and I’m so excited to be on this journey to meet so many new people along the way. We are so fortunate to be supported by Airstream on this trip!
For any military members or first responders reading this post, I encourage you to check out Airstream's program called Airstream Salute. This gives a special offer toward the purchase of a new Airstream for those who serve our country!
Now, I'll leave you with a powerful rendition of our National Anthem by a soldier on-base at Ft. Hood.
Happy Veterans Day, everyone!
