Where the River Leads with Corey Fossbender

Summary In this episode of the Vector Accelerator podcast, Scott Schimmel interviews Corey Fossbender, a veteran with a rich military background and a unique transition journey. Corey shares his experiences of life on the road with his wife, the challenges of navigating relationships during transition, and the importance of community and networking. He reflects on the struggles of identity and belonging after leaving the military, discusses his transition fails, and emphasizes the significance of hope and purpose in this new chapter of life. The conversation highlights the value of seeking help and building connections within the veteran community. Takeaways Corey has a 30-year military background, transitioning from various roles.He and his wife have been traveling the U.S. for nearly 860 days.Corey emphasizes the importance of relationships during transition.He reflects on the challenges of identity and belonging after military service.Corey shares his transition fails and the lessons learned from them.Hope is a crucial element in navigating life after the military.Community and networking are vital for successful transitions.Corey encourages veterans to seek help proactively.He discusses the importance of having a purpose and mission in life.Corey highlights the interconnectedness of veteran support organizations. Sound Bites "I went feral.""I still am questioning that.""Hope is a purpose to me." Chapters 00:00 Corey's Military Background and Transition05:20 Navigating Life After the Military12:19 Transition Fails and Lessons Learned17:19 The Importance of Community and Support23:30 Finding Hope and Purpose in Transition About Corey Fossbender Corey was born in Baltimore, Maryland and was raised and graduated from high school in Riverside, California. Corey enlisted in the Air Force in 1992 as an Aircraft Armament Technician. He was assigned to Holloman AFB, NM after graduation of technical school and was a Weapons Technician in the F-117 program. In 1995 he volunteered and was selected for special duty as an aerial gunner on the USAF MH- 53 helicopter. He served in six different assignments in the MH-53 Pavelow helicopter and helped retire the weapons system flying the last combat sortie. After the Pavelow’s retirement he transitioned to the AC-130U Gunship in 2008. Corey retired from the Air Force after 30 years on service. He spent 27 years in Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). Corey is an accomplished goal-oriented leader and under his leadership, organizations and teammates have excelled and proven themselves winning multiple awards for performance and professionalism. Corey has had over 20 combat deployments in support of United States Special Operations Command. He has over 5,500 flying hours to include 500 combat sorties. Corey is married to the former Mary Burke, and they have one son, Cody. Corey and Mary are building their camper van and plan to travel and connecting with new friends.