He Joined The Military At 17 But Quickly Realized It Wasn't For Him | RealTOC Ep. 23

In this episode of RealTOC, host Cameron Hardin sits down with Anthony Klimbal to chat about his love for cars and his military career. We kick things off at a local car show with a former Army wheeled-vehicle mechanic (MOS-91B) to explore his lifelong passion for imports, tuners, and car culture. From collecting thousands of Hot Wheels as a kid to dreaming of a Porsche 911 GT3 RS (and currently rocking a boosted Honda Accord 2.0T), Anthony breaks down what makes the car community so special, how Fast & Furious shaped an entire generation of enthusiasts, and why modern tuning beats raw straight-line speed.Then, we head back into the studio for a candid conversation about his service in the U.S. Army. Enlisting at just 17, right out of high school, Anthony signed up to be a 911B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic. He shares what it was like navigating basic training at Fort Jackson during the peak of 2021 COVID restrictions, enduring nocturnal AIT schedules at Fort Lee, and landing his very first duty station with the elite 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.Anthony opens up about the reality of working alongside Special Forces operators, maintaining military vehicles during high-stakes desert exercises from Death Valley to the Mint 400 in Las Vegas, and the unique challenges young soldiers face when entering high-profile units without traditional structure. We also dive into his decision to transition back to civilian life, managing an auto repair shop, pursuing a degree in business organizational management, and learning how to navigate life after military service at 23 years old.Whether you’re a gearhead, a veteran, or someone figuring out your next move in life, Anthony’s story offers an honest look at passion, service, and finding your own path.Connect with RealTOC:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/realtocpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@realtocpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/realtocpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@realtoc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RealTOC.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Anthony Klimbal:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthony.klimbal.1Nominate a veteran to be a RealTOC guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4bIczd7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find the Best Deals and Maximize Your Benefits:Veteran Auto Insurance Rates:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4rCwuA6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy a Home with $0 Down (VA Loan):⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4bi5pO0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Compare Home Insurance Rates & Save:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3PfSFyH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Top Credit Cards & Perks for Veterans:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4cY013P⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support Veteran-Owned:30% Off Black Rifle Coffee (Code: GET30):⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4sNxNx0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠30% Off BRCC Subscriptions (Code: COFFEE30):⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3PglBqe⁠Special thanks to Gunner Gearhttps://gunnergear.com/Special thanks to Gerarado Hernandez and Car Community Connection:https://www.facebook.com/groups/603565554642257#CarCulture #ArmyVeteran #veteranstories