This ‘Offensive’ IG Page Is Secretly Helping Veterans Find Love with MJ and David

Perspective And The Real Mission

SPEAKER_00 0:57

Warriors fall in. It's time for formation. Today's episode is about perspective because sometimes what catches you off guard at first glance deserves a deeper look. I'm joined today with MJ and David, the creators behind a platform that sparked a lot of attention across both veteran and civilian communities. But today isn't about reacting, it's about understanding the mission, the intent, and the impact behind what they're building. The conversation is about bridging gaps, creating dialogue, positivity, and continuing to serve beyond uniform. Thank you guys for joining me on the morning formation today. Happy to be here. This is great.

SPEAKER_04 1:32

Thanks for having us.

SPEAKER_00 1:34

You know, I uh I first found you on Instagram when we just you just had a few thousand followers, and I was like, what is this? This is this is interesting.

SPEAKER_04 1:44

So that could have been anywhere from a year ago to a month ago that you started following us because we really only blew up like at uh Valentine's Day. So really like two months ago.

SPEAKER_00 1:57

Yeah, I think it was about two or three months ago when I when I found your account. Um was there something that you did different around that time? And you're saying you started a year ago?

SPEAKER_04 2:07

Yeah. So um we we actually just started doing the single veteran stuff um at Valentine's Day. I used to do it on my personal page for many years. Um, and you know, I was just like, let's shoot our shot. Let's try, let's try bringing this over here. And it just took off, and and that's what we've been doing ever since. Um it's what the people want. So we're gonna give the people what they want.

SPEAKER_00 2:31

Well, you know, taking it back even further than that when you first started, like what was the inspiration to even create the the profile and the platform?

SPEAKER_04 2:41

Well, it all started with a joke about 10 years ago. So um, as you might relate, Dave doesn't really like to showcase, you know, his his service a lot. He'll he's more than happy to talk about it with people ask, but he's not like, you know, putting it in people's faces. So on Veterans Day, it's a little different. He likes to he likes to talk about it. He likes to be, you know, out there getting getting his discounts and stuff. Um, and this one day on Veterans Day, about a decade ago, we were driving by this long line of people, and I popped my head out of the sunroof and I said, Fuck veterans, I do. And I even did a little and um no, it only bra. And uh every people laughed, he laughed, he laughed so hard. In fact, that he was like, You have to do something with that. Like, that's so funny. Um, and for years he was like, You have to make it a bumper sticker or a t-shirt or something, like just let's just start something. Um, he would tell his veteran friends, his military friends, and they would laugh. And it's like, okay, this is there's something here. So um, about a year ago for my birthday, almost exactly one year, he surprised me by um copywriting fuck veterans. I do. There you go.

SPEAKER_03 4:04

Wow, yes.

SPEAKER_04 4:05

Um, so that kind of threw me into the deep end of building something off of this and really making it a a brand that can can play and also give back. Um, so we started with bumper stickers and we sold probably, I don't know, maybe two, three hundred of them. And we're like, okay, this is something. And then people started to say, like, oh, we really want this on t-shirts, on mugs and stuff. So we started to play around and do some couple different designs. Um yeah, so um it really in essence started as a joke, but now every every purchase gives back to helping veterans adjust after civilian life. Um, we we donate to Team Red, White, and Blue with every purchase. And clearly, like we have this little community now, especially on Instagram. And um yeah, ever since we started doing these single veteran showcases, um, we've gained almost 40,000 followers in two months. So it's been really fun. It's been a little overwhelming, um, especially for me who is running the whole social, you know, side of things. Um, but it's been it's been really overwhelming, overwhelmingly positive.

How MJ And David Met

SPEAKER_00 5:18

You're doing a great job. You're doing a really great job. I I I can imagine like how overwhelmed you were to go from thousands to over 40,000 followers, like literally in the span of just a few months. But talk talk to me about how you guys even got together. Like, was it while he was in the military, after the military, like how did this whole relationship start?

SPEAKER_04 5:42

Dave, you want to take that one?

SPEAKER_02 5:43

I'll take that one for sure. So um we so I I did my military service right after high school, right? I came in and as enlisted. Uh, we were talking ahead of time about how I saw the tanks rolling across the desert in 2003, rolling across the Iraqi desert, and I just I felt a calling. Uh so I I joined up, you know, as soon as I got out of high school and uh ended up becoming an infantryman, went to airborne school. Uh so that was that was really great and cool. But when I got out, I you know, we have the great benefit of being able to get the GI Bill, right? So I said, this is great. I basically have a more or less a blank check to go kind of anywhere in the U.S. that I want to go to, because I lived in Maryland at the time. Uh so I ended up picking Michigan State and went went up there. I really loved the campus. I loved the people up there, you know, that that Midwestern, you know, vibe and and kindness that comes out from them, right? So uh it really resonated with me. Um so we ended up meeting um on a random Thursday night, um, nothing special planned or no birthdays, nothing. We just show up at a bar separately, but I ended up spotting her at the bar and I said, All right, I'm gonna go shoot my shot. So I walked up, I shot my shot, and uh we ended up talking the rest of the night. I ended up walking her home. I left. I will I walked her to the door and then I left and I went home. Uh but uh but she really um she really you know put something in me of like, oh, this is a great gal and something somebody I'd really be you know interested in and hopefully dating. Um but I will say, and MJ, I feel like I have to throw you the mic now because um when she found out that I was a veteran, I think that caused a little bit of uh let's hit the brakes, baby. I don't really know about these kinds of guys who are there. And plus I had a couple years on her too, right? Because I was I had done my mil I had done college after my military service. So um, I don't know, MJ, like you know, dating a vet. What did you think?

SPEAKER_00 7:26

Um I don't think initially, and how's it been? There you go.

SPEAKER_04 7:31

I think no, I I honestly like I didn't have any experience with like military members. So when you told me, I was almost mostly like intrigued and surprised because I'm like, okay, you're in college, you have all this life experience behind you that like I just feel like opens up my whole world. So when he told me, I was like, what? Like you just don't, you know, I was living in a co-op at the time, so I had 21 other roommates. He look he was the pris president of his fraternity, you know, surrounded by like all these people who just go about their day and how they go to school, and and that's just you know what life is college, uh, high school, college, you meet people, you party, whatever. But like this guy had so much more life behind him and experience and you know trauma and bravery and and just you know, traveling and living in such a different way that I was I was really intrigued. Um, you know, now I've learned a lot. I've learned a lot, you know, even just in these last couple months where we're getting a lot more eyes on our page and just like how how even just like this little bit of dark humor, if you will, like resonates with veterans in such a fun way. Um, that actually is inspiring, you know, over 600 people to apply to be featured on our page because they want that help. They want help finding somebody and getting out there. And you know, it's been it's been a really enlightening experience, even just in these last couple months, but also just from meeting Dave and meeting other veterans and watching how he talks to other people and how he instantly connects to, you know, your experience, even just like before we started filming, you guys were just chit-chatting. It's just like it's always really fun for me to see him light up in that way and just be able to relate to someone because we don't often, you know, have those those friends in our close lives that are in our neighborhood. It's just kind of like when you find each other, it's it's really fun to watch.

Reentry Shock And Dating After Service

SPEAKER_00 9:36

Yeah, and just even David's story, like as far as being inspired to serve after watching a war take place, I mean, that's to me, that's a courageous thing to do because I remember what it was like for me when I knew I was getting commissioned and I was gonna go right into the fire. It was right after Fallujah when I went to Iraq. And um, that's a really hard thing to sign up for. I mean, to know that you're going to go over there and that's what you're gonna have to deal with, it does take quite a quite a bit of bravery to do that. Now, David, for you, you served and then you went to college afterwards. Was that a little intimidating for you?

SPEAKER_02 10:12

Well, that you know, that that kind of dovetails really great into why I really pushed MJ to do this for for so long, because um I I don't know if I I don't want to speak for every veteran because certainly everybody's different, but I know I can speak for myself, and I don't think I'm alone based off of the the folks I've interacted with, is adjusting back to to regular life. Like you and I are both, we're both GWAC guys, right? Like we're both global war on terror folks, right? So, so you get really excited about the the concept of going home when you're in Iraq or in my case Afghanistan, right? But but going home is is great, but there's a whole different world about it when you talk about actually reintegrating into society, right? It's like I'm excited to get home, and then you get home and it's like, oh, I'm not, I didn't wasn't actually ready for this the way that I wanted to, right? So so my you know, my professional relationships were very difficult because you and I, right, we can talk to each other in a very specific way, but not everybody resonates with that, right? Because we have to act with urgency and fewest words as possible, right? Like you think back to radio calls and like you don't have time for any of the fluff. I I joke all the time with my quote quote unquote civilian friends about like, I don't know how you guys start a 30-minute meeting with the first five to seven minutes catching up. I'm like, let's get to work, guys. Like, why are you know and and I have to realize that that's that's just that's just me. That's just the way that, you know, like uh, you know, coming up in the military, that's how I do things, right? So so those were hard, especially coming into a college environment where one, everybody was younger than me, but two, right, they're just not used to, you know, let's call it my level of intensity, and and I don't mean to be that way, it's just that that's my way of doing things because that's what I'm used to. Um, so so that was really, really hard. Um, and and now to the point where I really was like, MJ, you gotta do something with this. Dating. Dating was like the hardest thing. I mean, it's not like riding a bicycle, it's a perishable skill. Like dating, talking to women, talking to men after, you know, like especially in my in my case, combat arms, and maybe you experienced this a little bit too, but you you know, you're around a bunch of guys all day long, you forget how to speak softer or how to uh you know, or how just how to just like how to riz. Like you just you just forget how to do it because you just haven't done it in so long. So um, so when when this when the you know we kind of saw the when we started really started it, you know, a couple there last year, I was like, MJ, like this is something that people really like the veterans specifically, they really, really want because um there's a lot of small military towns. Um, and let's be honest, right? Like the the the pickings are a little slim there in terms of because they're over because the civilians in the area are overwhelmed by the fact that they see soldiers or or airmen or or marines or whatever it is, right? They see them all the time. So it's like they just they're not interested. Um, but this this is a great way to bring people together uh and realize that, like, hey, veterans bring a lot, and I'm happy to talk about I'm sure you can too, but all the great qualities that we bring to a relationship, that we bring to life, professional life, you know, personal relationships, um, the way that we just see the world, you know, physical, or not physicologically, psychological psychologically, right? Um, it's just it was it was like we got to do something with this because um I I know military men are screaming for it. I'm sure military women are too, right? I didn't interact with a ton when I was in the military because I was an infantry unit. Um, but I also know that there are tons of civilians out there as well that see the characteristics that we I wouldn't say we inherently have, but are ingrained in us because of our military service and would love to be able to capitalize uh on on having a relationship with those folks, right? Because our resiliency, and again, I could I have a long list of those things, but that's you know, I was like, this is a great way to make those connections between the civilian and the military world. And that's why when we just we're trying to figure out, you know, who we're gonna give, you know, donate to for the for anyway, the our you know, 10% of our profits go to Team Red, White, and Blue. And I did a lot of research and found they're an excellent, excellent reputation organization, but they also that's exactly what they do. They help people that are coming out of the military specifically transition back into uh into civilian life through events and and meeting up with people. So that was a no-brainer, but nobody does it for dating. No one does it for dating, or there's very few that do it for dating, I should say. And I said, this is a great way to do this. So um, and a long answer to a short question, but I mean, but it's there's there's there's definitely a lot, a need in this space, uh, and we are more than happy to fill it because we just have so much fun doing it. It's great to see the success stories, it's great to see uh people link it up traveling. People are traveling across the country to go meet up on this stuff. It's amazing, so it's really cool.

SPEAKER_00 14:37

I I you know it you're right. There's a huge void in the whole dating side of it all. Um getting people to assimilate, getting veterans and you know, service members to assimilate back to just society is really important for me. You know, I've been a board member on a nonprofit acto education for the last four years, um, and we help in the education side of it all. But you're right, like I've never seen anyone talk about the dating side of it all. And you always hear the negative stuff, you always hear this the hear about the stereotypical, like, oh well, he was in the military, so he's crazy, he's got PTSD, and and you always hear that over and over again. And um, to be honest with you, like I went through a divorce um, you know, almost 10 years ago, and one of the things that she said, and I don't even know if she even realizes, but she made a comment, you know, we're we're still good, we still talking. Um she said, uh, I'll I'll never get involved with another service member again. And I was like, really? Like that's like that just kind of hit home for me. And there are a lot of good qualities because a lot of us, we, you know, like you talked about the intensity. Like when we leave the wire, we have to have everything with us and we have to leave on time. So, you know, that's a good quality trait to have, right? To be squared away, to be prepared, to be organized, and all these things. But um, yeah, so just that understanding, you know, that and that's kind of what resonated with this profile was like finally, finally, there's something out there like talking about we're not bad relationship people. A lot of us are willing to work on ourselves, and a lot of us are willing to, you know, be upstanding characters, um, but you just constantly hear about the negative stuff over and over again. And um, I wanted to ask you, MJ, like talking about this whole, you know, the whole fuck veterans uh profile and the platform, what's the what's the mission behind what you're building?

Mission, Tone, And The Bullet Mic

SPEAKER_04 16:35

Yeah, I mean, it's pretty simple. It we are celebrating hooking up with veterans. I mean, don't get scared away by the the the handle, the Instagram handle, fuck veterans. Like that, of course, like brings a lot of eyes in, but most people in my DMs and in our apps are are looking for a long-term relationship and they are looking for their person. And I am honored to be able to get these people out there in a way that no one else is really doing. I mean, we've done some research on what's out there, it's like pretty lame, you know, okay, cupid type of military apps that are just kind of reskinned to just like, okay, it's it's okay cupid, but it's for military people. But like, I feel like, you know, especially with Dave's experience, like we are we are for veterans and military people. We're not just like, you know, trying to be for everyone. If you're trying to be for everyone, you're not gonna be for anyone. So this is very specific in in our goal to help veterans and military members find their person. Um, there's just not a lot of support out there for for veterans as far as like like Dave was saying, dating and um in in words that are relatable to veterans and military people. Like, yes, we have some swear words to have some fun with it, but we're also not trying to make it too serious. We're not trying to bring you to like another app. Like we're trying to do it different and speak to speak to you guys where you are and how you how you talk. So our mission, I guess, in short, is we're trying to get veterans laid, but at the same time, we're ri trying to find you, your your person.

SPEAKER_00 18:25

I think it's an attention grabber for sure. Like when you see it, you're like, what? Like, what is this? And so it's it's and again, we're we're all adults, and I want to ask you, is that a real microphone? Yeah, yes, it is. It is like I I thought you were still in character, maybe like, oh, she she's holding the brass right there as just a character thing.

SPEAKER_04 18:46

No, real mic. It used to not be. I it was a fake mic at first, whereas the milder bullet.

SPEAKER_00 18:53

Did you just pick it up one day and like use it as a prop and you thought this would be a good idea?

SPEAKER_04 18:56

Yeah, I I used to have a little tiny bullet and then um started doing those, and then actually um a veteran named Zach, um, who's single ladies in California, he sent me this microphone. He was like, We need to re- we need to upgrade you um to a bigger shell. And he sent me this handwritten note and you know, described where it came from. It was from his I his time in Iraq in 2006, and you know, it's just it's just honestly overwhelming with like love and positivity from this community, from me being a stupid, dumb Civy. Like, I'm just a civilian, like I don't have the experience you guys have, but like the welcoming energy from my followers is like contagious. I mean, it just makes me want to keep going because people appreciate it so much, even with like little gestures like this and like supporting us like with our with our gear and stuff, you know, like it's just it's just been amazing, truly.

SPEAKER_00 20:03

What do you guys think is some of the biggest misconceptions that surveyants have about the veteran community from both your perspectives?

SPEAKER_01 20:13

I can definitely start that one off for sure, right?

SPEAKER_02 20:15

So I mean we talked about some of the characteristics of of veterans, right? Um so before you know, before we get to that, like I think I think you you kind of said it already, right? Um, especially during the GWAT time, there was a lot of like, oh, these guys are messed up. It was, I mean, Vietnam was really the first war that was really kind of publicized and televised in front of the to the whole US, but you know, the the GWAT war kind of took that to the next level. Uh social media wasn't necessarily a thing until maybe the light, the latter part of it, but that was a big, you know, it was in everybody's eyes and everybody and and seeing terrible things happening um causes a lot of just fear, right? Like, you know, not everybody's exposed to that. We're all exposed to different things, but especially the civilian community. I love the fact that, you know, we were getting care packages, I'm sure you were too. People were very supportive, but when it came to let's call it interpersonal relationships um between you and like one other person or you with a small group of people, or in my case, me with a fraternity, right? When I got to college, um there was a little bit of hesitant hesitancy um to really get to know us because I think there was some fear around like, you know, is he gonna fly off the handle at any point? Um, you know, is is you know, is he gonna not is he gonna scare us with a story, you know, that sort of, you know, that that kind of thing. And so I think like that part, um, I think is and that's the other thing, good thing too. I got out in 2011, and that was when PTSD, TBIs, that was really kind of coming to the forefront um in both the medical community but in the in the civilian community as well. So a lot of that stigma is kind of cleaned up now, especially, you know, in the US, I'd say in the last 10 years. But I mean, originally that was probably probably the hardest part. Um, the other, the other one that I'd say uh is is kind of common is is I think I talked about it earlier, but the intensity. I think people aren't necessarily really like they're not really necessarily prepared for the directness, um, and they they perceive it as sometimes as um rudeness, and they don't know and vets don't mean it that way. Like that's not it's just like look, we got let's just get to let's just get to the meat of things, right? So um, you know, I I work I've worked in learning and development and training for many, many years. So I've obviously had a lot of interactions with HR departments because that's just you know, usually that's where you sit under uh as a trainer. Um and um, you know, it's it's I just sit in I've sat in meetings, I just watch people just beat around the bush, beat around the bush, but I'm like, can we just get to what you need to say? And and I and I have to check myself and go, hold on, dude, like this, this is a different world, it's a different environment. Um, let that be. So I I think that's that's two things. It's the directness, and I think it's it's the fear of of the veteran losing control. I think a lot of people just think that we're just sitting on the edge of the knife all the time, um, especially those of us that have seen combat, and I I know you have too. Um, I think that that that kind of scares people a little bit, uh, just because you know, people are scared what they don't know and they don't know what what we've been through and they don't. Know how we've experienced this stuff and how we're going to react to it. So it's it's it's a smart evolutionary thing to protect yourself and be like, ah, I'll keep you at an arm's distance. So that has certainly evolved and gotten better over the years, but I I definitely say that's those are the two big ones for me.

SPEAKER_01 23:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:12

What about you, MJ?

SPEAKER_00 23:13

Coming from a civilian perspective.

SPEAKER_04 23:16

What was the question?

SPEAKER_00 23:19

What do you think some of the misconceptions with veterans that civilians have?

SPEAKER_04 23:24

Um I I do think Like what did you have early on?

SPEAKER_00 23:27

What did you think?

SPEAKER_04 23:29

So mine was more led with curiosity, but there's still that there's still that unknown. Like you don't know what you don't know. So I think oftentimes civilians assume that veterans don't want to talk about their experience. Um so I think that there's kind of this like hush hush mentality. Like, I mean, as soon as I tell people Dave's a combat veteran and you know is crazy and went to Afghanistan twice on his own volition, and I mean people's eyes are just like, oh, and they they like don't know if they're supposed to ask anything, they don't know if they can ask anything. And I've learned from 10 years of being with Dave that he is a completely open book. Like he, if you ask him seriously anything about his experience, he will shoot you straight, like he was just saying. But I I I think that I think that oftentimes people just assume a lot, one of which is that veterans don't want to talk about their experience, which in my case I have found to be kind of the opposite. I mean, I I don't think a lot of people want to just like insert themselves in a conversation and start the conversation about you know their experience, but from from my POV, like y'all are really open to answering questions the best of your abilities. Um, so I think that's often something that I I have to kind of break through with my civvi friends where I'm like, you can ask him something, like, oh yeah, you see that, you see that big piece of glass? Yeah, that almost killed him. You got any questions? Like, like we have we have some cool stuff from his experience, and like I'm just like, yeah, it's on display for you know conversation, and like so you can learn and and grow from it and and learn, you know, the sacrifice and the bravery that people give up for our freedom. And I just think there's like a little bit of disconnect of if if it's okay to ask about.

SPEAKER_00 25:34

Yeah, no, I agree. And David, I don't know how you feel about it, but for me, like I'm a hundred percent okay talking about anything. It's just having the interest. Because usually after I start a story, I see the lights shut off like in the first like three, four, or five minutes, and like now they're somewhere else. And I'm like, okay, I I lost this person, obviously. So either I'm not a good storyteller or it's just not connecting, right? I don't know if you agree with that, right? I certainly I certainly can.

SPEAKER_02 26:02

I certainly can, right? It's I think it's it's it's very difficult to relate, but I think there's also that like mental gymnastics that are going on in people's heads where they're like, how much attention should I play to this? Because that, you know, normal conversation is let's follow up, let's learn more about you, right? And I think that some people are just like, I don't, it's hard to follow along with something that I like maybe intuitively know that I can't ask any more questions about because you might, you know, you might not be comfortable with that sort of thing, right? So um I think honestly, KP, I think you and I are pretty rare breeds. Um, I've certainly, and I'm sure you have too. I've certainly met my fair share of vets that are um that are a little more, you know, closed about it. They don't want to bring it up, they don't want to, and and I can and I obviously have all the respect in the world for for them, and uh it takes a lot for them to get up on a stage or or just to tell their stories. Um, but uh, but I think uh there's certainly a lot out there that are willing to uh to to share as much as possible. And and and the other thing too, like to the to the whole dating thing, right? I think MJ mentioned the fact that she was curious. I think you would find if you know anyone who's who's interested in reaching out to a vet and and you know, potentially starting a relationship, even just a friendship, right? You'd be surprised how much they're willing to give you before they get anywhere near that threshold, right? If if someone has a threshold where I don't want to talk about it, they'll be straightforward with you about it right up front, like, hey, it's just not my thing. They're not gonna be rude, they're not gonna be mean about it, they're just like it's not my thing. And they're like, hey, that's completely fine. There's lots of other things to talk about. Um, but I think most people who are looking to date veterans or you know, just have interactions with them or friendships with them, ask them questions, right? They're they're willing to share uh uh certainly a unique experience. And I would certainly encourage people to uh to take an interest uh in the in the th in the things that we have done. Uh, because you know, KP, you know, it's not just about combat, it's about basic training, which I have some hilarious stories from basic training, right? Like it's like because it's just you're in a different weird environment and you know things aren't used to. So ask those, ask questions about people, uh, about veterans. They're they're more than likely willing to share it.

Who Follows And Why It Works

SPEAKER_00 27:58

Yeah. I I just reconnected with a guy I hadn't spoken to in probably 20 years. And uh he was uh I met him when I was going through the SP like green to gold program and when I was a cadet. So I went from like specialist E4 to cadet, and I had to join ROTC land for a moment in time. And I back then I was in college and I was like, you know, I I knew this guy, his name was Johnny, and I I was the kind of guy where I I refused to let uh my my uh time in ROTC like ruin my college like experience. So yeah, hey, it was Ladies' Night on Wednesday, and then it was college night on Thursday, and but I had to get up three days a week to do PT at 0-6 in the morning. So I still went out and I would come home at 2 a.m. and then I would sleep for a little bit and then get up and go run like six miles, and then just puke almost every single time. And then go to class relate to dude, and then go to class and rinse and repeat. And it was like, I and the other cadets, you know, that were under scholarship, they were looking at me like I'm crazy, and I'm like, well, I'm prior enlisted, first of all, and like I'm not gonna let this like ruin my I'm gonna I'm gonna work hard, play hard mentality. And that's that's how I that's how I looked at it. And I reconnected with that guy today, we're laughing about that because I remember showing up for like a Ranger Challenge, and you know, it's Ranger Challenge, right? It's just R O T C land. And uh I'm standing there, we're getting ready to do a long ruck march, and I I reached into my cargo pocket and I pulled out. For some reason, that morning I just grabbed all my shit, put it on, and I I put a PlayStation controller in my pocket, and I'm pull I pulled it out right there in formation, and I'm like, what the hell is this? And everybody's like looking at me like, what is that? I was like, I don't know. Like I'm I I just I left the club at like 2 a.m. and I slept two hours and now I'm here. Like, I don't know, work hard, play hard. That was my mentality. It wasn't like straight lace whatever. But anyways, yeah, so that's those are the kind of stories that like it's so funny that you mention that because today I just literally reconnected with a dude I had spoken to in 20 years, and that just that whole uh memory came back to me. Um J, I want to ask you like most of your followers are they veterans or are they civilians or just a mix of both?

SPEAKER_04 30:15

That's a great question. So I would say it's a big mix of both. Um I believe we are like 63% women. Um it's tough to say. Dave, you might have better answers on that from the stats point of view.

SPEAKER_02 30:32

So yeah, when I split it out, it was roughly it was like a 65-35 split between civilians and veterans. Um so most so well, and here's the other thing, too, right? It's not just veterans, it's active service or service members currently serving, guard, reserves, whatever have you. So I count those in the 65, but there's, I mean, way more than I anticipated. Civilians are in there too, being like, I'm looking for this. This is great. I would love to, you know, link up with a service member uh, you know, for dating or friendship or whatever the heck it is. Um, so it's a good it is a good split. And there's lots of veterans, uh, veterans and service members as well that are also looking for other people, right? Again, the military world, it's it's funny, it's it's a very big world, but it's a very small world. I don't know about you, KP, but I used to get the question all the time. It's like, oh, I'm at, I, you know, I was at the 82nd Airborne. I'm like, I'm down at Fort Bragg, and I'm like, oh, I know this guy, you know, Dave Johnson, and then he's in the 82nd, and I'm like, hey, man, it's 50,000 people that work there. The odds of me knowing that guy are very, very small, right? So um, but it is, but it's but it's a it's a small world uh as well. And and um we've had a couple of, I wouldn't say full success stories, but we've had people, you know, reaching out, interacting with each other that are actually very close um, you know, to each other, uh, you know, no more than maybe a couple hours drive that are that are veterans that are talking to one another, um, which is which is really, really cool to see. So again, if it just expands that pool, that's great. Everybody likes to get on Tinder and shoot their shot, that's fantastic. But I think what sets us differently than everybody else uh in the dating scene is that you kind of, if you're on the site and you're submitting to us and saying, hey, feature me, I want to be on, I love this, right? You've already made a couple of assumptions in your head about the positivity that comes with being a service member or with or that comes with being a veteran, right? You already know about that world, that lifestyle. So I think it makes it kind of gets through those those barriers that I was talking about earlier about the fear uh about you know just the the personality mismatches, like you kind of jump through those hoops very quickly because you already just know like this is great, I I would love to, you know, meet up with a service member or meet up with a civilian who already kind of unders at least understands my experience. Um, that sort of thing. So you don't have to do what me and MJ, me and MJ did, where we sat on the on the couch and and her co-op for a couple hours and be like, okay, here's what being in the military means. Okay, here's what being an infantryman means, right? Here's what being a parachutist means. Right. You know, and you know, here's what an MOS is. You know, like I had to explain all this stuff to her. She's like, I don't understand any of this. You know, so so it it it jump you jump through a lot of those hoops a lot faster.

SPEAKER_04 32:52

But I also think, you know, there's a lot, I would say my most active followers are civilians looking for a service member or a uh a veteran. Um whether that's because they grew up in a family who, you know, it was surrounded by military and that mentality, or just like they kind of dig a guy in uniform or a woman in uniform. Like there's we do Civi Saturdays every Saturday, and and we have a huge pool of women and men looking for these people who kind of are the forgotten bunch, you know. Like it's oftentimes they're like I'm getting messages from veterans and active duty. Like, does is this actually gonna work? Or like are are are women actually gonna you know be interested in me? I'm like, the best you can do is apply and let me help you get out there. And I will tell you, it's it's been working, and it's been working for even the most surprising of the applicants. I'll even say that. Like it, it's just there are there are people out there who are looking for exactly that type of guy or that type of women and who have that mentality and that bravery and that sacrifice, and it's just about time that there is a platform that celebrates that.

Loving Veterans After They Get Out

SPEAKER_02 34:12

Agreed 100%. What is that, David? I want to I just want to add one more thing uh about kind of the the intent behind the brand. I'm sure you recogn you know this as well, but like in the military, I think we do we they did a decent job of really recognizing the spouses, especially on the active duty side, um, for you know, for the support that they give, staying home with the kids for a year, 15 months, 18 months in some in some cases, right? Like that's incredibly difficult. Um, and they do a good job of of supporting, you know, those those men and women that do that. Um, but one of the things that really kind of jumped out at me as we really started to get into this is like nobody gives any love to the MJs of the world, to the people who, to the spouses of veterans after they get out. Because you MJ has dealt with some shit in my life. She has dealt with some things that like, you know, I get out of the service and it's not, I mean, that's that's everybody knows that. I get out of the service and it's not over. But she has been an amazing partner and friend and confidant in in in you know supporting me, supporting our hail, our house, our family to make sure that you know things are still running and and stuck by my side. And I just feel like this, and and again, that's where you know the brand, the stuff that we're selling is like, you know, crushing on a sailor, crushing on a soldier. You know, it's like uh, you know, we want to recognize those folks. It's just a fun way to do it because if you're in this community, you already have that type of humor, right? You think it's funny, it's dark, it's it's where you're all you're already you're already there. And if you know veterans, and and MJ has specifically gotten to know quite a few of my veteran friends over the past, I'd say, two years, um she's starting to see it of like, oh my god, you guys really do have a dark sense of humor. Um, but it but if you're in that world, like if you're in that world, like this, you know, it speaks to you, and it and that's that's a uh we really want started the brand, not just for this reason, but one of the big ones was like, let's show some love and appreciation for the people that um are hooking up with our heroes, married to our heroes, our heroes, uh, you know, have kids with our heroes, fiances, you know, that it's it's a big thing. So um it's a really cool endeavor to be on.

Feedback, Success Stories, Real Impact

SPEAKER_00 36:10

Man, you you really resonate uh with me a lot on what you just said because I have more times than not ran into uh uh spouses who are spouses of veterans who don't see themselves as military spouses, and they if they get kind of imposter syndrome because they're not living on base, they're not living in the base housing. But here's the deal like you're dealing with a veteran, uh a guy who or a gal who served at one point, and you're you're all the experiences come with it, like all the all the quirky stuff comes with it. So you are a military spouse, and that's the one thing with the nonprofit I work with, is we recognize military spouses, even those who are just married to veterans, because we know that you're dealing with the whole person, you know, and everything that comes with it. Um and then you mentioned uh something about being a small world, man. I I I ran into my drill sergeant in Iraq. Like, dude, and like I ran into so many NCOs that worked with my dad. Uh one downrange, one one uh when I got back to Hawaii, got me into the the air assault course. Um so yeah, small world, man. Like ran into people all the time. Um big army, small world. But have you guys ever thought about doing uh like any local events? I know you're in the city of what, brotherly love? Is that the city?

SPEAKER_04 37:38

That's right, you dealt it.

SPEAKER_02 37:39

This is MJ's uh forte all the all day.

SPEAKER_04 37:42

Yeah, it was actually my birthday yesterday, and someone asked me what my goals were for this upcoming year, and that's definitely one of them. I want to host a live event um to get people mingling in real life. I mean, that face-to-face um interaction is so important, and that's really what it's all about, right? Like we want we want to get people to feel the energy of their other person and and really create a fun, cool environment that feels different. So we haven't really exactly nailed down how that's gonna happen or where it's gonna happen, but ideally we could start doing that all over. I mean, that's that's really the goal is to have meetups and and tangible events where you can go and potentially meet the love of your life.

SPEAKER_00 38:33

I love it. I love the mission, man. And uh what's been the most meaningful feedback that you've received so far?

SPEAKER_01 38:43

You're gonna make me cry. You got this, Jane. You got this. It's all about going two two to three tiers deep.

SPEAKER_04 38:54

This sounds so silly, and and I I will preface I did a post recently about um a way that civilians can give back is by DMing their titties to a veteran or active service member. And let me tell you, it really worked and it really raised the morale, if you will. Um, and I genuinely got so many messages from from veterans saying that they have never felt so thanked in their life until they found our page. Like it's silly, but it it it really is making a difference.

SPEAKER_00 39:41

I mean, I I like I said the negative stuff sticks out like a sore thumb sometimes. And it's just yeah, I know some people might think that this is over the top, you know, with even the name Fuck Veterans, I do. Um but at the end of the day, it's good to see the other end of the spectrum for me. And that's really why I love and support what you're doing with all this, um, you know, with all this trying to, you know, get us out there to where we're not like a monster, we're not like someone that you should avoid um because I've heard so much negative over the years. Now, can you share a moment where you actually felt like your platform truly made an impact?

SPEAKER_04 40:18

Oh, absolutely. I mean, even when we first got started, um I got a lot of interest, but people were kind of scared to put themselves out there. One of the uh the first guy we ever posted, first two guys let me post them, it was David. Okay, so the first guy that ever let us post him, his name was David Pier. Um, followed quickly by a guy named Maddie Cakes. And just their bravery and letting me put them out there inspired so many more people to DM me. I mean, that that was the snowball that just started, okay? So, so a lot of people were like, okay, I saw this guy get posted. I'm really nervous. And and I would just kind of like help them through it. I'm like, it's not that deep, you know, they're, you know, it's it's just a fun, silly thing, but like you never know what's gonna happen. And those people that were most nervous to submit ended up coming back to me and being like, I have never gotten so many DMs, I've never gotten so much love. I didn't think I was like worthy of it, and I didn't think that it was gonna work for me. And I I just think that the constant surprise that men and women are getting from this page of like after they uh after they overcome the fact that yes, this is a real page and we're actually trying to make a difference here. It's not just like one big joke or you know, surprise, we're the government trying to trap you. Um it is real. So the feedback that we constantly get is like holy shit, this I feel seen, I feel loved, I feel like re-inspired to get myself out there because they kind of took this leap in a new and different way. I mean, that's not just like throwing your profile picture on an app. Like, we're really trying to make connections and in a community that is welcoming and willing to kind of tackle this in a different way. So uh to in short, the best feedback that I get is from the people who are were so nervous to submit and then coming back to me and saying like they're so happy they did because they're really feeling the love and actually found connections. I mean, the best the best messages I get are like I met up with someone or I just booked my flight, or you know, I can't wait to see this person. We're we're both driving four hours to meet each other in the middle. Like I I would I would I would say that we're almost like the raya of the military world because if you're putting yourself out there, we're you know, it's an adventurous group. You know, these people aren't just saying, like, oh, I sit on my couch and read books. Like, yes, we get some of those, but it's really like I love adventure. I never want to stop trying new things, and traveling is kind of part of that. So people are people have been traveling a lot to to see what it's like to meet this person in real life, and it's all because of our once silly little page turned into a real opportunity to meet somebody.

SPEAKER_00 43:30

Yeah. Have you guys had like other veteran brands reach out to you to for support or to um to to work with you?

SPEAKER_02 43:41

Yes and no. Yes and no. Uh so we we've had a couple of of people, you know, again, they we love what you guys are doing, um, potentials for partnerships, for you know, helping us with uh our merchandise and warehousing and production and those sorts of things. We're testing the waters kind of everywhere to see what's up because it's it's very again, it's very young. I mean, the business was started over a year ago, or just about a year ago, but really in the last two months, I mean, it's been knockdown, drag out brawl in terms of just getting things done and trying to keep up with everything. I mean, MJ mentioned it earlier, but we have 600 submissions in just two months. That's I mean, that is a lot for MJ to keep up with. Um, you know, we've we've already posted about 200 people, a little bit over that, across 40 separate posts. Um there's certainly a lot of eyeballs out there that are that are looking at us, and and you know, obviously there's always the riffraff, there's always the scammers and things that are out there. So you have to be a little bit careful with that stuff. Um, but there's there's a there's a lot of interest, and we would certainly be open to the right the right collaboration, the right um, the right people, um, you know, people that that are very much aligned with us. And again, I want to shout out Team Red, White, and Blue for the work that they do. Um, those are the types of people that we're we're looking to potentially partner with in the future.

SPEAKER_04 44:54

I was gonna say, I just started to like tag a bunch of Brands randomly, um, because I I would love to get some support from because this is, I mean, it's genuinely a lot of work. It's like I I I basically have two full-time jobs. Um, just the social aspect of it in itself is like I love, I love it. I mean, I genuinely do. It's like it's really cool watching this community build from zero to 35,000. Um, and those people who have been with us from day one messaging me and being like, holy shit, I saw your page like UKP. I saw your page at 1,000 followers, and now you're at 36. Like, this is so cool. Um and it also comes with a level of understanding, which is nice when they message me. They're like, Okay, listen, I know you have thousands of DMs, and I'm like, Yes, I do. What do you need? Like, it really is just me responding to everyone, community management, posting, you know, making sure I have content lined up for when we're out of town or at weddings or funerals or birthdays or whatever. It's just like it's very, very fun. And I feel like this is kind of the lightning in a bottle moment. So we're not gonna be letting it slip away anytime soon. Um, but yeah, Trojan condoms, if you want to sponsor us, we would definitely that's that's where all the money is right there.

SPEAKER_00 46:18

You know, you know, the one thing that you kind of hashed over earlier, and uh the one thing that I, you know, being an older veteran now, um by the way, happy birthday. I'm so sorry that I did not say that earlier. Happy birthday. I hope I hope you hope you have a wonderful birthday weekend as well. But uh as the weekends go or or as the years go on, um, I've noticed, man, because when I served back in 04 when I deployed, came back, there was almost no support at all. Like there was hardly any nonprofits out there to help bridge the gap for like even careers. Um and it the one thing that I have enjoyed over the years is seeing the support get better and better each and every year. And like this is the sort of thing that I'm talking about where you it's positivity, it's connecting veterans to other people to find that relationship that they might be looking for. Have you guys thought about at some point making like a database or something like that? Or is that maybe over the horizon?

SPEAKER_02 47:22

So that's actually on the horizon right now. One of our kind of big things that are coming up that we're working through right now is we'd hope, and we haven't figured out exactly how we want to do it, but we would hope to start up like some kind of website, right? Because just doing everything through submissions through Instagram is a lot for you know MJ to handle, um, since he's really the face of the brand, um, and um and building a website that might be able to you know kind of cater to these sorts of things. Because again, we we know that there's uh there's at least one other one that I know of out there for like dating veterans, uh really is for dating active service members or just service members currently serving, but there's not really one for this. And and they they do take, not to knock on them by any means, but they they take a little bit more of like a match.com type of approach, which is fine. EHarmony, that's completely fine. Um, but we, as you as our name implies, we want to have some fun with this, you know, and that's and that's really where I I think we can we can really break into this community and really serve all the veterans, all the civilians that are interested in uh all the veterans, all the service members, all this all the civilians that are really interested uh in finding love and finding relationships by really leaning much more heavily into the, let's be honest, very dark, very cryptic humor that we have, and we don't take ourselves too seriously, and a lot of veterans don't either, because let's be honest, life's too goddamn short. You know, so like just you know enjoy, enjoy life while you've got it. Um so so yeah, so that's that's definitely something that we're we're looking into uh in the future. We've we've got some some leads on that stuff, which is really, really exciting because again, the community wants to help. Once I think everybody sees this idea, they're like, oh my god, why didn't I think of this first? kind of thing, right? Uh so it's really, it really is exciting, and there's a lot of there's a lot of interest and momentum behind it. And I really think uh MJ is very talented.

SPEAKER_00 49:02

Like honestly, where do you get your natural moxie like on the camera? Like you you just stand there and you just like you talk and it's it's entertaining, like legit. Like, did you did it take like a lot of m takes, or you were are you just naturally like great in front of the camera?

SPEAKER_04 49:21

You're gonna make me blush, KP.

SPEAKER_00 49:23

I'm being serious, like the you just talking and like with the the the glasses that you wear and the and the brass that you're holding, it's just it's pretty creative.

SPEAKER_04 49:32

Thank you. Yeah, so I actually I work in advertising. Um so I've gotten many years of coming up with some wild ideas for brands from Pringles to Listerine, like just having fun with it. Um, and that comes with presentation uh to clients and stuff. So I think that's definitely helped. Um but as far as this, I mean I really don't do a lot of takes. It's it's really me looking at a stupid little spreadsheet that you know everyone's submissions get funneled into this like giant spreadsheet. So we have like 600, 700 names in like this big spreadsheet. Um I mean, I really try not to just take it too seriously. I'm like, okay, this guy tells me, you know, this fact, and I'm like, I process it for a second, and then I just whip over here and I'm like, I don't know. Like, this is what I got to go off of, and I just kind of let it flow. Um, I think if I if I I think if I thought about it too much and tried to rehearse it too much, it just wouldn't feel authentic to me. So I kind of just try to let it ride.

SPEAKER_00 50:39

Yeah, so you're a natural more or less.

SPEAKER_04 50:42

Thank you, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:42

Sounds like yeah. So you said around Valentine's Day, that last Valentine's Day, this became more than just a page, right? It turned into something bigger.

SPEAKER_04 50:51

Yes. Yeah. So Valentine's Day is when we started to feature single veterans and military members almost explicitly. Um at first it was kind of trying to get our brand out there, more like awareness stuff, silly like trends, and we'll still do some of that. But I think at this point our bread and butter is now almost like a pseudo-matchmaking. I can't, I don't think I can like legally say I'm a matchmaker, because then there's a lot of stipulations that come with that. But I'm just helping bring awareness to single veterans and military members that deserve it and that don't get that spotlight a lot. Um and yes, so veteran Valentine's Day, we're like, you know what? It's all about love. Like who who needs more love than anyone? Our brave men and women who sacrificed themselves for our freedom. So we brought it and launched it with uh David and Maddie, and it just really, it really took off. I mean, we have we have people that volunteered to get their name in the mix on February 15th that I still am like, I'm gonna get to, I swear. I'm just like a little, I'm a little over overwhelmed right now. But we're gonna we're gonna try to pay um uh homage to those who are with us from day one or two more because you know it's it's only fair. And also like they've been with us since since we first started doing this. So um, yeah, so that a Valentine's Day is when we really, really took off.

What The Veteran Community Means

SPEAKER_00 52:30

Yeah. And I, you know, you mentioned earlier something about the potential of a database in the future. I I really think the connection of the social media, the the brand, and the person that you are being the face attached to that database is really what makes it more personable for everyone, and it makes it a little more unique versus just a flat website. I have David and MJ who are a part of this, and I understand their background and their overall, I guess, um their drive behind all this, because you you you both seem to genuinely care about the veteran community, and I guess my my question to each of you is what does the veteran community mean to you to each of you on a personal level?

SPEAKER_02 53:17

So for me, uh I when I when I got out, I spent a lot, I didn't I spent a couple years again, I was in college, so I I didn't I really didn't lean into the veteran community. I I kind of at the time wanted to kind of put that chapter behind me. Um and and really and I I think most people can probably understand why, right? You know it was very stressful, very, very hectic. Um you know, a lot of a lot of gunfights, a lot of firefights, a lot of explosions. Um so it was it was just it was just easier to walk away from at the time. Um but really I'd say over the past I'd say three or four years, um, I've really started leaning back into it. Uh kind of like some of the stuff you were talking about earlier, right? Reaching out to old buddies just to see what they're up to, um, you know, where they're at. And and it's funny, and I'm kicking myself for not doing it earlier, but like, man, the instant connection, it's just it's so quick. It's so quick. Um, it really doesn't take very much to to reconnect with these guys and gals. So uh, but but I will I will say this, and I have to shout out this organization as well. But the um the Warriors organization, there are there's a there's Flyers Warriors because we're in Philadelphia, but the Warriors organization, um, there's there's I think there's just there's Stars Warriors, but they're they're beer league hockey teams uh that are only in intended for uh veterans who have some sort of disability as rated by the VA can play in these leagues. And and I really got in with them only about three or four months ago, about the same time we started this up. Um and I'm bringing I'm dragging MJ along and and she might have been kicking it, screaming every first, but hanging out with these guys now a couple of times, she's like, all right, this is pretty great, actually. I love this. Um so it's it's been a really, really cool thing. And again, just being on the ice with them. Um I think the idea of playing with the team, right? Like it you just go right back to that, right? We all talk the the same way, we communicate the same way. Um, it it really is there. So it's um those types of organizations that really help kind of capitalize on, I'd say the two things. One, bringing veterans together. That's fantastic. Lots of organizations do that and they do a fantastic job. Um, but I think bringing them in specifically through like organized sports is just it's a whole nother level because it's it's like we're back out uh on metaphorical battlefield, but you know, we're we're doing in in the fun and love of sport. Um so that's that is really, really cool. And I've really, really loved uh my time with those guys and gals because they're fantastic and they say wild shit, and so well, and I say wild shit, and it's freaking great, and I love it. So that's for me.

SPEAKER_01 55:37

What about you, MJ?

SPEAKER_04 55:40

It's hard to put it in like a word or two, but I guess I'm going to say understanding because one, I think there's a big lack of understanding, kind of back to what we were talking about, is like people don't know if they can ask about it or whatever. Um, but for me, the veteran community, it it feels uh you know, at first I fully, fully, fully uh believe what you said earlier about the imposter syndrome. Because I didn't know I didn't know Dave when he was, you know, deployed and his family tells stories of how like scary it was for the unknown and not being able to contact him and stuff. And I know I didn't have that experience. So when Dave was first pushing for us to kind of make this a thing, I'm like, I I don't know if I can because I don't know if I have that that street cred and that and that that credibility to be able to speak to this. Um but we kind of found that niche to be able to use my civilian status as a as a new way at it because I mean we all follow these military influencers that kind of all speak the same and kind of have like similar content and like you know, there is a space for that, but I think carving out this new way to connect veteran the veteran community with the civilian side in this new unique way that definitely catches some eyes. Like I feel empowered to and and and quite frankly honored to be welcomed into this community in that way. Um, like I said, because I you know I don't have uh a DD214. Yes, I know what that is now. Um, but I I can speak to you know being married to someone who has been through a lot and how that manifests later in life. And and now I am proudly, you know, a military spouse. But at first I didn't feel that, and just like throughout this whole experience of just getting so many beautiful messages thanking me for my service, which is fucking wild to have a thousand, two thousand people telling me thank you for your service. I'm like, at first I was like, I can't accept that. Like, no, thank you for your service. And like, I just think that finding this like symbiotic relationship with while helping while helping the veteran community find a relationship is just really beautiful.

Give Veterans A Shot

SPEAKER_00 58:15

Well, I just want you guys to know, like, me having this conversation with both of you is so refreshing for me. Um, it really energizes me after a long week of work and um you know, so much negativity out there, that like having this conversation is a great way to start the weekend off for me. And I I really appreciate and I'm honored that you guys decided to do this interview. And um, you know, it's like this is why I do this podcast, is because at the end of the day, it's sort of therapy for me too. Um, and I hope that others out there can listen to this and also um get something positive out of it. Um, because even like what David just mentioned when he's talking about when he first got out, he wanted to get away from the uniform, like kind of push the boat out. And you know, I now I'm back in the civilian world. I did the same thing where I didn't want anything, I didn't want to have conversations about it, I didn't want to talk about it. I remember just throwing away a bunch of stuff because I was like, all right, it's time to be a civilian, so let's just get rid of all this junk. And then here I am today with a military heavy civilian or military podcast. And um, you know, I guess we all kind of just come back to the table when it comes to this sort of thing. But one last question I have for for both of you, and uh, you know, if if someone out there sees the name but never hears this conversation, what would you want them to know?

SPEAKER_02 59:41

I would simply say we're not taking ourselves too seriously, we're trying to have fun. Simple as that. This is this is fun, yeah, it's I get it's eye-catching, that's what it's meant to do. But uh and it's funny, we've done you know, we've done small some small live streams and stuff before in the past, and and it's funny to actually watch people in the comments go, wait, what the hell? Who's commenting on my or we're we're in somebody else's thing, you know, and they're like, what the hell is this? And then they click it, and then like, you know, in all capital leathers, ha, you know, lol. And it but and that's exactly it. It's just like we're just here to have a good time. Uh to quote MJ from earlier, we're not for everybody, and that's okay. That's a okay, right? If if it if we're not your style, that's you know, no problem at all. Um, but I really do think that there is a large niche in the military and the veteran community um that would be served by this type of effort and and putting it forth. So don't take yourself too seriously, have a good time with it. Uh, that's what it's really all about.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:37

I I definitely have a clear answer for this one. Um if someone were to see our Instagram handle and kind of have their pre preconceived notions, I would want them to know that it's not all about just hooking up. That that is one of the big biggest misconceptions that we get is like, oh, hey, can I be featured if I don't just want to fuck? You know, like I want a wife. I'm like, yes, absolutely. Like I would I would argue that 90% of our submissions are looking for their long-term partner. It's not just a hookup. So I think what a lot of people think right off the bat is that we're just you know a hookup uh platform, but that's just not the case. Like we're really giving back um both by you know our time and energy and content and really making connections, but also like you know, every everything we sell, we're giving back. We're trying to help the community in in a lot of different ways. And um, we're even we're even gonna start doing um some uh some partnerships with the a team called or uh organization called Team Foster. They uh they develop puppies from zero to two and um to be service service dogs for veterans. So we are gonna we're we're in talks with them on how to like make their um bring a little fun and levity to their charitable events. They do this 24-hour biking um event called Rough Ride, and we're gonna be part of the entertainment for that. Like we're we're just trying to kind of bring this more out into the real world, and it's yeah, once again, it's not it's not about just hooking up. We're really trying to make real connections.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:21

Yeah. Yeah, you know, and honestly, that's what caught my attention when I first saw the Instagram and it said fuck veterans, and I was like, Oh, here we go. Like another negative profile, and then I saw the I do, and then I was like, What's this about? And then I click on the stories, and there's MJ like talking with a piece of brass in her hand, like, like, what is this? What is this lady doing? And it is like, and after that, I was like, finally, finally, something positive. And you know, that's how that's what it took to catch my attention was just the name itself. And then from there I went down the rabbit hole and like, well, this is really interesting. And um, I can't tell you how much I appreciate and how how honored I am today to uh having given an opportunity to talk to both of you sort of behind the scenes. I see the stories, I see the posts, I see the reels, um, but now I know like how you guys met. I know why you started all this. Um, and um was there anything before we round this podcast off that I didn't mention that you would like to mention before uh we end the show?

SPEAKER_02 1:03:30

I I wanna I want to make a pitch for a vet. How's that sound? Yeah, I want to pitch veterans, I want to pitch service members, right? So we talked about like again, like there's all these negative connotations about them. Let me tell you, they are we are highly disciplined, we are completely selfless 99% of the time. We're always we love a plan. We always love a plan, right? Tell us what we're supposed to do or or where you need us to be or how we're gonna, you know, what's what's the hit what's the what's the objective? We'll put we'll figure out a way to get us there or get you there. We are extremely hardworking. Um we're always on time, are we not? We are always on time to things, right? So so ladies, men, if you've you know, if you've been uh if you've you know been dating on the dating scene and you're like, God, people show up 50 minutes late, what's up with that? That's so disrespectful. Date a veteran, because they're not gonna do that. They are not gonna do that. Um, incredibly resilient, great problem solvers. There's just there's just so many positive things that I think most people just don't connect immediately to a veteran or to the military community as as these are great things. And I know that that those things are certainly true within uh within the dating scene, right? People are very flaky, you know, they're they're you know, they ghost you. Like there's I know we you know we've heard all those things and we've seen those in in the DMs and things that have come in. But uh give, I guess the main thing is give a veteran a shot. Give him or her a shot. You won't be you may be disappointed, right? I'm not gonna vouch for every veteran out there, but but I promise you, you'll see a lot of those characteristics uh stand out. So if you've been burned in the past because uh a person didn't have those characteristics, give a veteran a shot.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:00

Yeah, and just to double down, man, we are passionate, intense, prepared, organized. Because like I said, there was a time in our lives where when we left the wire, we had to have all of our water, all of our rations, all of our bullets, there was no turning back, like, and we had to meet the SP time. We had to leave at this time because other units were in support. And right, yeah, yeah, that and that's that's something understanding MJ, you hit the nail on the head. Like, understanding all that, I think, is definitely something that a lot of people miss. Um, but was there anything that I didn't mention, MJ, that you'd like to mention before we finish off the show?

SPEAKER_04 1:05:39

I mean, I would say even just sim same, same but different, like from my point of view, I mean, having a veteran husband is empowering because he's not afraid of anything. I mean, if you're if you like emergency situations are like his bread and butter. I don't know how it happens, but like he remains calm, you know, he he has a mission now, he decides like what we're gonna do. I can be freaking out, and he's like, I got this. Like anything that goes wrong is is you know almost like exciting to him because he gets to problem solve on how to make it happen. If there's a fucking spider on the wall, he'll take care of it. If there's you know a noise that goes bump in the night downstairs, he grabs his gun. Like, I I just feel protected and safe, and there's no better feeling than that in our relationship.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:34

Yeah. I've heard that before. I I really I've I've heard that before. And uh with uh with with veterans specifically and um folks out there they're looking for you. You're on Instagram. Yeah where else are you?

SPEAKER_04 1:06:48

We're on TikTok, TikTok and Instagram both at fuck veterans, um, mostly doing our uh our single stuff on On Instagram because that's where we kind of blew up, and it's just a lot for a little old me to take care of. So I'll I'll say find us on Instagram at fuck veterans.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:05

You you started a backup count recently. What was that about?

SPEAKER_04 1:07:08

Yeah, we actually got banned for three months. Um, we were out of the out of the game for three whole months um because meta's AI just identified us as predators of some sort and decided that they're gonna yink us. Um so that once we got brought back on, I was like, okay, we need a backup um account just in case. And now we we have been getting flagged for a lot of stuff, so I'm gonna have to try to figure out some code words um and maybe be a little little more coy. Um, but yeah, that that was the backup account came from being banned for three months and it was very sad.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:49

Man, I noticed that TikTok and Instagram kind of go back and forth on their censorship. Uh TikTok was really hard on it, and now in Instagram was light, and now I'm thinking like Instagram is getting a little more censored and TikTok is like lightened up a lot. So kind of a back and forth game.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:05

I think it is part of however they're coding their AI because it's not like humans are scraping through um, you know, comments and stuff. It's just like trigger words and and whatnot. Um but yeah, we're safe for now. Maybe not, maybe not long.

Final Takeaways And How To Help

SPEAKER_00 1:08:21

Yeah. Well, I'm here for it and I'm here for the support. Um, I appreciate both of you guys being on the podcast today. Folks out there, MJ and David gave us some insight into how something so unconventional can still be rooted in purpose, supporting veterans, creating meaningful dialogue, and finding new ways to connect communities. At the end of the day, it all comes back to service and how we choose to carry that forward. Because as I always say, a life of service is a life worth living. So if this episode made you think, made you reflect or see things differently, please share it with someone else out there. And uh make sure you follow Buck Veterans on TikTok and Instagram, and actually uh you can watch the very entertaining MJ uh do her dialogue on there because it's uh honestly, she's a true natural. And thank you guys both both for being on the uh on the show today. I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:11

Yeah, thank you, KP.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:12

Thanks, KP. Fantastic. Thanks, man. As always, for everyone out there, I want you to stay tuned, stay focused, and stay motivated. Warriors, fall out.