Dixon Center for Military & Veterans Services posted our 10th episode of Service Before Self, a podcast that tackles the evolving needs of veterans and their families, based on the idea that veterans can succeed in the community where they live. The Service Before Self Podcast introduces you to people and the programs that are having an impact today; you will hear about their successes and lessons learned in creating effective programs in which veterans and their families reach their full potential.

Listen to Episode 10: Breaking the Barrier between Civilian and Military Leaders with David Hamilton, founder and CEO of America’s Future Series (AFS), a national speaker series that brings together business and military leaders to discuss issues involving national security.

America’s Future Series, directly and indirectly, impacts the lives of veterans, by raising money to support charities that assist veterans and their families. AFS also fosters conversations and connections between people from different sides of the civil-military divide while delivering opportunities for veteran entrepreneurs.

In this episode, your host, Retired Army Colonel Sam Whitehurst, Dixon Center Vice President of Programs & Services, and David, discuss how even though the military, as an institution, is held in very high regard by the public, many people perceive that military service is either mentally or physically damaging to those who serve.

This perception contributes to the increasing divide between military members and the civilian communities they serve. Based on his long experience with employers and veterans, David tackles this issue head-on and highlights the resiliency inherent to veterans; he exposes common misperceptions about veteran employees, and how veterans can create an organizational culture that enhances a company’s bottom line.

David highlights how America Future Series brings together military and civilian leaders to break down barriers and foster collaboration that creates opportunities for veterans and their families. He also discusses how he is creating a space for veteran entrepreneurs to showcase the entrepreneurial spirit that is represented in so many American veterans.

Dixon Center, through our Operation Vetrepreneurs, supports veteran entrepreneurs with both education and pro-bono consultations with mentors so veterans can turn their skills and aptitudes into solid results. Our goal is not to create new programs. Rather, the goal is to enable the integration of military and veteran services into existing programs to increase impact. If you are an organization or community that wants to connect with transitioning service members or veterans and are unsure how, listen to this episode to learn more about an organization that is addressing the evolving needs of veterans and their families and how Dixon Center can assist you in reaching your goals.

Subscribe To/Follow Service Before Self Podcast

​Whether you are an avid podcast fan or new to the medium, we invite you to give Service Before Self a listen. We invite you to listen and subscribe to the podcast. We welcome your feedback and will be reading your reviews and comments on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or one of the many other distributors.

To learn more about Dixon Center’s efforts in assisting veteran entrepreneurs, see the Dixon Center Bugler: Veteran Entrepreneurs and contact Colonel (Ret.) Sam Whitehurst, VP of Programs & Services, at swhitehurst@dixoncenter.org.

The podcast’s name, Service Before Self, recognizes the commitment demonstrated by veterans and their families during their military service as well as their potential as they reintegrate back into their communities when military service ends.