Stories of Service, Sacrifice and Strength
Podcast Transcription
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Maddy: Hi everyone. Welcome to PFCU's Money Talk podcast. I'm your host Maddy. This is the last episode of this very special series honoring our veterans. I hope you have enjoyed listening to each of their stories as much as I did. Taking the journey with each of them and learning about their unique experiences has been eye opening and humbling to say the least.
This final veteran is another just amazing individual. I think his story and experience, like the other stories before, will make a lasting impression. I know they have with me. Through his story, you’re going to hear how much his time in the Army National Guard impacted him and what it means to have served this country. Again, reminding us of the commitment, the courage and the sacrifice of our veterans.
So, thank you so much for joining me on this journey of listening to these incredible stories, honoring their service and expressing our deepest gratitude. And a very special thank you to our veterans, not only Scott, Lariza, Jen and Benjamin, for sitting down with me and being willing to open-up but to all of the veterans out there. Without further delay, please join me as I sit down with Scott.
Hi, Scott.
Scott: Hi.
Maddy: How are you?
Scott: I'm well. How are you?
Maddy: Good. Thanks for being on the podcast, again.
Scott: Absolutely.
Maddy: So, we're here because you're a veteran and we were just chatting a minute ago that I have no background knowledge of your history. So, do you want to start with sharing a little bit about yourself and your experience?
Scott: Yeah. Yeah. I kind of started in the Michigan Army National Guard. I did that for 11 years. Doesn't seem like a long time but when it's once a month, a couple weeks out of the summer, it drags a little bit. But I started my career as what they call the CBRN Specialist, you know, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear fallout.
Maddy: Wow.
Scott: Yeah. It was a very grueling class, about 10 weeks long. And I was one of 16 that successfully made it through on the first time which is rare but there's a lot of late-night studying and kind of like cramming to kind of pass your exams. From there I went into being an infantryman, which is probably the most funnest type job I've ever had in my life. Who wouldn't want to shoot big guns rolling down the street in a Humvee, right? And then from there I went to being a cook, kind of hearing got a little bit bad, and then spent a few years there and then went back to my CBRN role before I got out.
Maddy: Awesome. What year did you go in? How long ago was that?
Scott: I got in in October of 2013.
Maddy: Okay.
Scott: And just got out November of ‘24.
Maddy: Oh, wow. So recently. Well, thank you for your service.
Scott: Thank you.
Maddy: What inspired you to join?
Scott: My good friend from high school, to be honest.
Maddy: Okay.
Scott: He did… he was a five-year Navy vet. He did search and rescue, came out, couldn't find a job other than like door-to-door sales. So, he re-enlisted back into the military for probably four or five years and then ended up passing away.
Maddy: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I love hearing what inspired people to join and a lot of it has been someone that they know or that they're close to. I think that's really cool that someone inspired you to make that choice.
Scott: Yeah, it was a great experience.
Maddy: Yeah.
Scott: And I had my dad was in for four years in the Air Force and then my great my grandfather was in the Army as well. So, kind of a family line there, but yeah, it was a great time.
Maddy: Yeah, and how did that experience shape who you are today? Lessons that you learned? Things that come into your everyday life now?
Scott: It changed me a lot, to be honest, because when I went in, I was 32. I was a little bit older. Usually when people go in, they're fresh out of high school, right? 18, 19 years old. And think you know everything. And I thought I kind of had a good grasp on life at 32 until I joined. When you go through basic training it just it's, you don't know really what to expect, they kind of tell you but they don't tell you. And it's a, it's a complete strip down of everything you think you know, thought you knew, whatever the case may have been. Strips you down to completely nothing and then just rebuilds you how they, how they, want you, you know what I mean? And you learn a lot of things along the way. How to be a good leader, you know how to be a good, they call it a battle buddy and all the general life lessons, self-discipline, you know, that kind of stuff and kind of just stuck with me through those 11 years and that's how I kind of run myself today.
Maddy: Yeah. I've heard that a lot. It's been a common theme. It's, it’s interesting. You said that they, they strip you down and, and you kind of start over. Cause Ben, when I talked to Ben, he said pretty much that exact same thing. It sticks with you for sure.
Scott: Well, cause you gotta, you gotta form to what different tasks you're gonna have to able to perform and you have to be able to perform them potentially under such a high stress level, you have to strip down to the barest possible minute thing and then just rebuild it from the ground up.
Maddy: Right. Was there a moment that really hit you that made you especially proud to serve, to have served?
Scott: Goodness gracious. Probably... Well, there's a lot. There's always a lot, you know. Probably September 11th. It's probably a big one.
Maddy: Yeah. What do you wish more people knew about veterans and serving?
Scott: Oh, goodness. There's a lot that happens in the veteran’s mind, right? We've been deployed or you haven't been deployed. You still go through a bunch of stuff together. But it's probably the most humbling experience that you can have.
Maddy: Yeah, take your time.
Scott: Just to be a part of something bigger than yourself is awesome.
Maddy: Yeah. I think everyone has made me tear up. And again, it's like I can't thank you enough for everything that you've done. I mean, you said 11 years. That's, that's a long time. And that's, yeah, that's a big deal so, thank you. Do you have any insight into community support or how just like someone like me could support a veteran or do you work with any organizations that are that you're close to anything like that?
Scott: I don't but I'd like to.
Maddy: Yeah.
Scott: And there are so many different organizations out there that, you know, Joe off the street can, can help.
Maddy: Yeah.
Scott: I think locally we have the, I think, Grand Rapids Community College has a veteran service.
Maddy: Oh okay.
Scott: Kent County has a veteran service. So, you just pick up, you know, donate your time. You know, we have a veteran’s home just north of Grand Rapids, so that would be a good one as well. But I'd like to, just haven't been in that direction yet.
Maddy: Yeah. Things get busy, right?
Scott: Yeah, absolutely.
Maddy: And like you said, you just I mean, it was just last year, that, that you got out. So, fairly fresh still. And then you came here and now you're at the credit union.
Scott: Yeah, I did. Now I’m living my best life.
Maddy: Yes. Is there anything else you want to share while we're here that's on your mind?
Scott: Just really that, you know, veterans are, or they get what they, how do I want to put this? They don't get what they deserve. So, they get a, you know, a bad rap on a lot of things. Cause it's very hard to try and find help when you're in that place.
Maddy: Yeah.
Scott: So, you know, give them grace.
Maddy: Thank you so much, Scott.
Scott: Absolutely.
Maddy: Really. Thank you. And thank you for your service again.
Scott: Thank you.
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