1 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,100 In a perfect world, every Congressional office. 2 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:18,300 Senate, and House would have a military connected person on 3 00:00:18,300 --> 00:00:21,300 their staff. Welcome to when see a podcast, 4 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,700 this is Jack. That's the voice of Jodi Harmon 5 00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:28,000 from he'll vets Foundation Jody, and he'll vets. 6 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,200 Help service members and their families gain staff positions on 7 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:33,800 Capitol Hill. We're bringing them on today 8 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,200 because they currently have a marine, see a reservist in their 9 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,200 fellowship program. So it seemed like a great idea 10 00:00:40,500 --> 00:00:43,100 and a great opportunity to bring Jody and and discuss the 11 00:00:43,100 --> 00:00:46,400 program. This will be a great episode for 12 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,300 people who are interested in policy or veteran advocacy. 13 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,500 We had a lot of fun putting it together, so stay tuned. 14 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:00,900 You give me your professional summary right now. 15 00:01:00,900 --> 00:01:02,600 How you got to go? That's okay. 16 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:03,600 I can do that. Sure. 17 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:07,700 How did you get to help vets? Well, it's an interesting. 18 00:01:07,700 --> 00:01:10,600 It's an interesting story. Much, like many people who end 19 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,000 up in the nonprofit world, you don't grow up as a little kid 20 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,900 going. I want to work in a non-profit 21 00:01:15,900 --> 00:01:18,200 because, you know, you do make any money working in a 22 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,500 non-profit. It's all about the cause many 23 00:01:20,500 --> 00:01:23,500 years ago. I was an elementary school 24 00:01:23,500 --> 00:01:25,700 teacher actually, for about 15 years. 25 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,700 It was a nice portable military spouse career. 26 00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:31,800 Understand. This was the mid to late 90s 27 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:33,900 into the two thousand. So it's been a minute. 28 00:01:34,100 --> 00:01:37,900 We didn't have at the time, a lot of the cool advantages that 29 00:01:37,900 --> 00:01:42,100 military spouses have. Now things like licensing and 30 00:01:42,100 --> 00:01:45,600 certifying and things like that being reimbursed by the service. 31 00:01:45,700 --> 00:01:49,000 You know, your spouse preferences on jobs that kind of 32 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,700 thing. Yeah, so we footed those bills 33 00:01:51,700 --> 00:01:54,400 and we made do. Luckily, I never had while I was 34 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,700 teaching the on and underemployment issues that 35 00:01:57,700 --> 00:02:02,100 military spouses We all know have the unemployment rate is 36 00:02:02,300 --> 00:02:05,600 among military spouses as well into the 20% and that's 37 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:06,900 terrible. Yeah, it's terrible. 38 00:02:06,900 --> 00:02:09,500 It's awful. And luckily as a teacher, I 39 00:02:09,500 --> 00:02:11,800 didn't face that and that was understand. 40 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:15,100 Pre-internet era you were doing everything by phone and snail 41 00:02:15,100 --> 00:02:19,300 mail and you know, so I was lucky because I had a very 42 00:02:19,300 --> 00:02:21,800 portable career. At the time when we went 43 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:26,200 overseas in 2007, we went to Okinawa we were there for four 44 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,500 years. I had every intention of Still 45 00:02:29,500 --> 00:02:31,800 teaching. When whenever it was we came 46 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:33,500 back to the States. We thought we were going to be 47 00:02:33,500 --> 00:02:34,800 there. Three years, we ended up being 48 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,600 there for years, but when we came back in 2011, the u.s. 49 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:40,700 educational system had changed in a way. 50 00:02:40,700 --> 00:02:43,400 I didn't agree with. I don't want to like say it for 51 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,700 the record, but everybody G work in given the timeline. 52 00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:48,100 I'm sure everybody can figure it out. 53 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,900 It just didn't agree with it. And we had gone to a state that 54 00:02:50,900 --> 00:02:55,100 had adopted it. And I was like, no, I know plus 55 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:00,200 generation of people that I am not part of Started having kids 56 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:01,800 and they were Elementary School students. 57 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,500 Not like I am not dealing with these parents, not doing it. 58 00:03:07,900 --> 00:03:12,700 I am not dealing with these. So out of the job, I was like, 59 00:03:12,700 --> 00:03:15,900 nope, I'm this is no longer the profession for me while we were 60 00:03:15,900 --> 00:03:18,700 at MacDill Air Force Base. My husband was with Marine 61 00:03:18,700 --> 00:03:21,700 forces Central Command. I went to grad school, I went to 62 00:03:21,700 --> 00:03:24,700 the University of South Florida which was there in Tampa and got 63 00:03:24,700 --> 00:03:26,700 my masters of library and information science. 64 00:03:26,700 --> 00:03:28,600 It had always been kind of my goal. 65 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:33,500 To be a librarian and we're like a archivist style librarian or 66 00:03:33,500 --> 00:03:35,700 researcher librarian type. They know what archives 67 00:03:35,700 --> 00:03:37,800 actually. That's exactly my passion. 68 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:39,200 It's interesting that you say that. 69 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,600 Yeah, while I was in grad school, I discovered like 70 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,600 archiving and special Collections and I decided I 71 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:46,800 wanted to be one of those people, you know, working in a 72 00:03:46,808 --> 00:03:49,800 clean room, with white gloves touching thousand year old 73 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,800 manuscripts, you know, I am fascinated by that. 74 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:56,600 So, that was my specialization. My husband got orders to the 75 00:03:56,608 --> 00:03:59,600 Pentagon in 2015 and I was So excited. 76 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,700 I was like, woo, Library of Congress, archives Smithsonian. 77 00:04:03,100 --> 00:04:06,800 Let's go. USA Jobs is a soul-sucking 78 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:12,100 experience. I'm sorry, I'm not even see the 79 00:04:12,100 --> 00:04:15,500 plan color in my eye skin, that's because I've gotten, I've 80 00:04:15,500 --> 00:04:19,500 applied for many jobs. It's pulling the life out of me. 81 00:04:19,899 --> 00:04:22,800 It's like, what the Library of Congress as an example. 82 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,500 There were a library assistant positions. 83 00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:27,800 I have a master's in library science. 84 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,200 The box would come back as oh, you know, sorry you didn't, you 85 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,100 know, you don't qualify for this job and I was like, what are you 86 00:04:33,108 --> 00:04:35,500 talking about? I'm overqualified for this job, 87 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:37,500 right? It was just trying to get 88 00:04:37,500 --> 00:04:42,500 through the box and I had Taking the KSA classes that MCCS offer. 89 00:04:42,500 --> 00:04:45,900 I mean I done all that, right? And apparently it didn't help 90 00:04:45,900 --> 00:04:51,800 and so I gave up, I didn't have my network which I'll talk about 91 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,100 the importance of networking when we please don't fucking 92 00:04:54,100 --> 00:04:56,500 about the actual Hill that's fellowship and whatnot. 93 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,600 Yeah, I didn't have that Network and I didn't know anybody here. 94 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:01,400 I was just trying to get through these Bots. 95 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,400 Using all the right keywords but it just wasn't happening and I 96 00:05:04,407 --> 00:05:08,900 gave up and person who's now a dear friend of mine an army. 97 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:14,100 House and she was in the veteran, nonprofit space in DC 98 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,700 and used to just Rave about everything she was doing and I 99 00:05:17,707 --> 00:05:21,700 was like, wow this is so cool. She moved from one veteran, 100 00:05:21,700 --> 00:05:25,100 nonprofit to a different veteran nonprofit and after being there 101 00:05:25,100 --> 00:05:30,300 are only a couple of months the DC office of that nonprofit was 102 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:33,600 expanding and I get this text one day, are you still looking 103 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,300 for a job? And I was like well yeah I you 104 00:05:36,300 --> 00:05:38,400 know I absolutely would love to have a job. 105 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:40,900 I'm not Stay at home, mom, take one person. 106 00:05:41,300 --> 00:05:44,100 And at that point, like my son had graduated from high school. 107 00:05:44,100 --> 00:05:46,000 My kids were now. Technically adults. 108 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:47,800 No reason for me to be at home all day. 109 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:52,300 So I said, yeah, sure. They basically had created a 110 00:05:52,308 --> 00:05:55,000 position just for me. Again, the importance of 111 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,800 networking, put it on indeed, as soon as I submitted my resume, 112 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,900 they closed the hijab. Now, don't get me wrong. 113 00:06:02,900 --> 00:06:05,300 They didn't do anything, you know, unethical. 114 00:06:05,300 --> 00:06:08,200 They actually interviewed two other people in the time, it 115 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,000 took me to get my A resume finalized? 116 00:06:11,100 --> 00:06:13,600 Wow. Yes it's not like they, you 117 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,400 know, didn't do things, right? And they actually did interview 118 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,900 to other people, but all of a sudden I'm working for a veteran 119 00:06:19,900 --> 00:06:23,900 nonprofit and I started out doing events, which I'm very 120 00:06:23,900 --> 00:06:28,200 good at, as a military spouse as a teacher plan and Implement a 121 00:06:28,207 --> 00:06:30,400 thing I could do that in my sleep. 122 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,600 Fantastic. Yeah, that's a, that's a, that's 123 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:35,900 a skill. Yeah. 124 00:06:35,900 --> 00:06:39,600 And so then her husband got orders and they moved and It 125 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,300 just kind of a series of odd events. 126 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,600 All of a sudden I was doing veterans advocacy. 127 00:06:45,900 --> 00:06:48,700 Instead, the gentleman, I worked under, I'm totally going to name 128 00:06:48,700 --> 00:06:51,000 him here because he's amazing, his name's Bob Kerrey. 129 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:54,600 He's been in the DC veteran space for, I don't know. 35, 130 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,500 something like that years. He is a known entity. 131 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,700 The man is brilliant. And I don't think I could have 132 00:07:00,700 --> 00:07:07,300 had a better Mentor in the DC, veterans face to teach me how 133 00:07:07,500 --> 00:07:10,500 basically I learned, And so much and understand. 134 00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:14,800 I have no background in policy government political science. 135 00:07:15,100 --> 00:07:17,900 Any of that my bachelor's degree is in vocal performance. 136 00:07:17,900 --> 00:07:21,700 I mean really I have no hope other than my lived experience 137 00:07:21,700 --> 00:07:27,000 as a military spouse this was completely brand new to me and I 138 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,800 realized I'd found my cause my calling I was like, you know 139 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:34,500 what, my husband is an officer. He's getting ready to retire. 140 00:07:35,100 --> 00:07:38,200 We don't have to live on my salary, I can work in a 141 00:07:38,207 --> 00:07:41,000 non-profit. We'll be okay you know forget it 142 00:07:41,008 --> 00:07:44,100 let's go into in the nonprofit life to be rich and so I did 143 00:07:44,100 --> 00:07:47,200 that for three and a half years like I said I learned so much 144 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:53,300 but dot dot dot the frustration that I as a military spouse felt 145 00:07:53,300 --> 00:07:56,900 when trying to talk to a congressional staffer about 146 00:07:56,900 --> 00:08:00,900 veteran legislation and that staffer had no military 147 00:08:00,900 --> 00:08:03,800 connection whatsoever. There were days I felt like I 148 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:08,800 was going to pull out my hair and so I knew if I was this 149 00:08:08,900 --> 00:08:12,700 Rated as quote unquote, just a military spouse. 150 00:08:12,900 --> 00:08:17,100 I can't imagine how actual veterans who are in the veteran 151 00:08:17,100 --> 00:08:20,400 advocacy space and let's face it, most of better and advocacy 152 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:23,800 people are veterans or there may be still reservists and guard. 153 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,300 And you know, whatever I can't imagine how frustrated they were 154 00:08:27,500 --> 00:08:31,400 or can be if I was as frustrated as I was here. 155 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,400 So I had heard of Hill that I knew all about them fellow DC 156 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,299 veteran, nonprofit had been to several of their monthly 157 00:08:37,299 --> 00:08:40,799 networking socials. Then the pandemic hit and of 158 00:08:40,799 --> 00:08:43,299 course, life changed as we all know it. 159 00:08:43,299 --> 00:08:46,300 But when this position came open about just a little over a year 160 00:08:46,300 --> 00:08:50,200 ago, I had no life for different people. 161 00:08:50,900 --> 00:08:53,100 Ping me, like Joe, do you need to apply for this job? 162 00:08:53,100 --> 00:08:57,200 You'd be perfect for this job. This job again, the network, the 163 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,900 network was alerted. You, this is it for you pretty 164 00:08:59,900 --> 00:09:02,500 much and I actually have a decent Network. 165 00:09:02,500 --> 00:09:05,500 And I've probably never even met in person most of these people. 166 00:09:05,700 --> 00:09:11,200 So it just it's an interesting piece of Kind of just how it is 167 00:09:11,300 --> 00:09:13,500 of how important networking truly is. 168 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,100 So, I applied for the position, it took a minute to get through 169 00:09:17,100 --> 00:09:20,000 the application process and the interviewing process and all 170 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,900 that. But I started in January of this 171 00:09:22,900 --> 00:09:25,100 year as director of programs nice. 172 00:09:25,500 --> 00:09:27,400 So since everyone said it was perfect for you. 173 00:09:27,700 --> 00:09:31,200 How you feeling? I love it when when everyone was 174 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,100 like, oh this job just came open and you need to apply for it. 175 00:09:34,100 --> 00:09:37,100 I heard of Hill that's been to a couple of other things but I 176 00:09:37,100 --> 00:09:41,800 looked into it more deeply as Does and he'll Vex Mission at 177 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:47,500 its core to be a support system for the DC veteran Community, 178 00:09:47,500 --> 00:09:52,000 particularly those in the public policy realm, and to increase 179 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,200 the voice of the military connected community. 180 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:58,500 In public policy making I was all in that's a big roll. 181 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:02,700 It it because like I said, the frustration, I felt trying to 182 00:10:02,700 --> 00:10:05,300 talk about veteran legislation with someone who had no idea 183 00:10:05,300 --> 00:10:09,200 what I was talking about is proof positive that we Need more 184 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:12,100 people who would know what I'm talking about in Capitol Hill, 185 00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:17,100 offices, and so, I am. I'm all-in, I love Hill. 186 00:10:17,100 --> 00:10:22,100 That's his mission. I'm 100% on board with it. 187 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,700 I do truly love our mission and I love the people. 188 00:10:25,700 --> 00:10:29,000 I meet everyone in this space is amazing. 189 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,700 And I love hearing everybody's stories of how how did you get 190 00:10:32,700 --> 00:10:36,300 to DC and become interested in public policy making as a 191 00:10:36,300 --> 00:10:40,100 veteran or as a spouse or as all whatever You know, it's just 192 00:10:41,300 --> 00:10:45,000 it's great and you guys have helped place a number of 193 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:49,000 veterans and spouses in two positions within the hill or in 194 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:53,300 policy or into nonprofits in the region to do advocacy for 195 00:10:53,300 --> 00:10:57,100 veterans and others, right? We certainly have so 196 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:01,500 programmatically. We kind of have three pillars. 197 00:11:01,500 --> 00:11:06,900 Let's say the Hallmark program of Hill, vets is the hill. 198 00:11:06,900 --> 00:11:10,600 That's fellowship. And basically that is a program 199 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:13,900 in which we act as the scaffolding. 200 00:11:13,900 --> 00:11:19,000 I like to say to support a transitioning service member 201 00:11:19,100 --> 00:11:24,800 veteran guard reservist or gold star family member to help them 202 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:29,800 find their own Fellowship in a Capitol Hill office. 203 00:11:30,500 --> 00:11:33,100 And when we say Fellowship, we're talking about six ish 204 00:11:33,100 --> 00:11:35,600 months. And we're talking about doing 205 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:39,800 substantive policy work. Just like a staffer would do. 206 00:11:40,100 --> 00:11:43,100 This is not an internship. Our folks are not making coffee 207 00:11:43,100 --> 00:11:45,200 and copies. These, that would be horrible, 208 00:11:45,500 --> 00:11:48,000 right? And don't get me wrong interns, 209 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,700 there's a role for interns, I'm not being disparate to those 210 00:11:50,700 --> 00:11:53,000 folks, but that's not what our people are. 211 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:56,200 Our folks have completed, bachelor's degrees at a minimum, 212 00:11:56,300 --> 00:11:59,800 most of them have more than that not to mention whatever 213 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:01,700 schooling they went through in the military. 214 00:12:01,700 --> 00:12:05,400 So, you know, our folks, the idea Is that they will be 215 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,700 learning. Truly what it is. 216 00:12:07,700 --> 00:12:11,200 To be a staffer. We consider this to be an entry 217 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,400 level type of a thing. You have a great example. 218 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,400 Right now you have a see, a soldier who wants to get a 219 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,000 position on the hill. He is currently a fellow. 220 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,200 So yeah, Jonathan Pierce is actually a Marine Corps 221 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,800 reservist. She's a drilling reservist he 222 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,900 drills once a month. Interesting least has to past 223 00:12:28,900 --> 00:12:30,400 fly. All the way to Oregon to do his 224 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:33,600 drilling but he makes it work. He is currently an inn. 225 00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:36,600 In house fellow and I'll talk about Hill, that's housed in a 226 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,500 minute, he has a background in civil Affairs. 227 00:12:40,500 --> 00:12:43,700 And I will tell you. He has received his placement 228 00:12:43,700 --> 00:12:47,400 offer and has accepted it, but only verbally hasn't come in 229 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:50,600 writing yet. So I don't want to say who it 230 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:54,300 is, he will start in a house office right after the new year. 231 00:12:54,300 --> 00:12:56,400 January, 3rd or 4th or whatever it is. 232 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,700 He applied, he stayed in house. He went through the training, 233 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:02,400 right? I mean, how did his process work 234 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,800 so well? Process of becoming a Hilbert's 235 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,600 fellow is actually pretty simple. 236 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:13,000 I think by comparison to a lot of other programs that are out 237 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:17,000 there and we have basically, two requirements for our applicants. 238 00:13:17,100 --> 00:13:19,000 You have to have a completed bachelor's degree. 239 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,500 And again, transitioning service member veteran Guard, Reserve 240 00:13:22,500 --> 00:13:25,400 Gold Star Family Member. You tick those boxes. 241 00:13:25,500 --> 00:13:29,500 You can apply the application. You send us your resume cover 242 00:13:29,500 --> 00:13:34,700 letter and I do the initial sort of evaluation On that. 243 00:13:34,700 --> 00:13:40,000 And then I contact the applicant and either say no thank you. 244 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:41,900 It doesn't look like you're going to be the right fit and I 245 00:13:41,900 --> 00:13:45,500 have actually had to do that. Just since January or I ask them 246 00:13:45,500 --> 00:13:48,200 if we can get on a phone call. And so I start with a phone, 247 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:50,800 call one, because I want it to be a very personal experience 248 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:56,500 for the applicant and I'm big on expectation management and I 249 00:13:56,500 --> 00:13:59,100 want the applicant to go into the rest of the application 250 00:13:59,100 --> 00:14:03,200 process with eyes wide open, so that there will be no. 251 00:14:03,700 --> 00:14:07,100 Is they can ask me all their questions about the logistics of 252 00:14:07,100 --> 00:14:11,200 the fellowship about compensation and benefits or in 253 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,500 our case, the lack thereof all the things and they can then 254 00:14:14,500 --> 00:14:17,100 decide if this is definitely the fellowship for me and I'm going 255 00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:20,700 to move forward or okay. No thank you but I make it clear 256 00:14:20,700 --> 00:14:24,900 even to those folks if he'll vets can still help you in any 257 00:14:24,900 --> 00:14:27,400 way. If our vast Hill, that's 258 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:31,800 Community Network, can help you in your goals, please continue 259 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,500 still reach out, still use us. Us as a resource. 260 00:14:34,500 --> 00:14:38,600 So we are a resource for any veteran or military connected 261 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:43,600 person, not just those whom we deem, you know, worthy of our 262 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:47,400 programs or who choose to use our programs. 263 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:52,000 We're still a huge resource. So after that initial phone 264 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,700 call, if the applicant decides Yep this is for me, I'm going to 265 00:14:54,700 --> 00:14:58,000 move forward, we asked for a writing sample, we check 266 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,800 references and we do a one-hour formal interview with myself and 267 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:03,100 a member of the board of directors. 268 00:15:03,100 --> 00:15:06,400 We Do that by Zoom because obviously our applicants are all 269 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,100 over everywhere. I mean, we have I have an 270 00:15:09,100 --> 00:15:12,200 applicant right now. I believe he's in Bahrain right 271 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:14,200 now, I don't know. So scheduling a phone call has 272 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:18,600 been interesting but we you know we've made it work so Then 273 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:22,800 becomes, then once I say poof, you are a hill vets fellow, yay. 274 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:25,700 Starts the onboarding process and onboarding is, you know, a 275 00:15:25,708 --> 00:15:29,600 bunch of back-end paperwork and boring stuff like that, but one 276 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:33,800 of the first things I ask our new fellows to do is to revamp 277 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,800 their resumes. I call it Pilla fiying their 278 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,200 resume. Now, I'm not an HR professional 279 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:43,400 and I've never worked on the hill so I do as much as I can in 280 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:47,700 guiding them to he'll, if I their Mm, a. 281 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:52,800 But that's where our network of a lot of our alums either our 282 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:57,100 fellowship alums, or even our lead alums Who currently work on 283 00:15:57,100 --> 00:15:59,800 the hill. I then connect our brand-new 284 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:04,600 fellow with those folks and say here is his or her resume as it 285 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,400 currently stands. Could you take a look, give them 286 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:10,300 some feedback so that we can move forward. 287 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:15,800 So we look for, you know, truly anything that we can highlight 288 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:20,400 and focus on that. Well, Make them super attractive 289 00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:25,600 above and beyond their status as a military connected person to a 290 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:29,100 congressional office transfer some that's easier than others. 291 00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:31,400 Like I said, this is an entry level program. 292 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:37,200 A lot of our fellows have never done anything like this kind of 293 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:41,100 like when Jody joined her first nonprofit and had never done any 294 00:16:41,100 --> 00:16:45,100 advocacy of any kind ever. That is true for our fellows. 295 00:16:45,100 --> 00:16:49,600 These folks do not necessarily have Degrees in Poli SCI public 296 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,700 policy, government relations, whatever. 297 00:16:52,700 --> 00:16:55,100 But they've decided that this is what they think they'd like to 298 00:16:55,100 --> 00:16:57,500 be when they grow up, you prepping before they jump in the 299 00:16:57,508 --> 00:16:59,700 deep end. Exactly, exactly. 300 00:16:59,700 --> 00:17:02,700 So that's why we exist. It is the hill right? 301 00:17:02,700 --> 00:17:04,700 For you. We have had fellows 302 00:17:04,700 --> 00:17:07,700 historically, prior to my tenure, with the organization 303 00:17:08,300 --> 00:17:11,000 who have finished their fellowship and and gone. 304 00:17:11,500 --> 00:17:16,500 Nope, I want no part of this little Hill is not for 305 00:17:16,500 --> 00:17:18,700 everybody. It's just not A lot of times you 306 00:17:18,700 --> 00:17:22,099 look behind the curtain and don't like what you see and 307 00:17:22,099 --> 00:17:25,000 that's okay. That and again that's part of 308 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:28,099 why we're here with kind of like a try it before you buy it so to 309 00:17:28,099 --> 00:17:30,700 speak. Kind of a thing, the fellowship. 310 00:17:30,700 --> 00:17:34,300 So saves saves those people from committing a lot of time and 311 00:17:34,308 --> 00:17:38,100 money and I've been a horrible place that they're like, I just 312 00:17:38,100 --> 00:17:39,400 can't stay on this. What am I doing here? 313 00:17:39,500 --> 00:17:41,000 Exactly. Exactly. 314 00:17:41,100 --> 00:17:45,400 Because as we all know here in DC, it's about who you know it 315 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,500 really is, it just did whether you agree. 316 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,400 With it or think it's right wrong or otherwise, it just is. 317 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:53,600 That's how you get a job in this town is you got to know 318 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:55,800 somebody. And so if these 319 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:58,900 military-connected folks, without a hill that's 320 00:17:58,900 --> 00:18:04,000 Fellowship, opportunity had just come to d.c. blindly and started 321 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,700 trying to be hired. As a staffer on Capitol Hill, 322 00:18:06,700 --> 00:18:10,300 they would very likely find it. As frustrating as I did going, 323 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,100 trying to get jobs, because they wouldn't know anybody. 324 00:18:14,100 --> 00:18:19,200 And they're just another resume in a pile and It would be very 325 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:24,500 frustrating for them so what we do to help our brand new fellows 326 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:29,400 find their optimal placement. I have sort of what I call free 327 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,200 buckets, we have Hill vets fellowship ambassador's and you 328 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,600 can find those on our website. We have a think it's 44 right 329 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:39,600 now, though, we do have four who did not run for re-election. 330 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:42,700 They are retiring from politics, so we're going to lose those 331 00:18:42,700 --> 00:18:47,000 folks, but I think we have 44 right now, both Chambers both 332 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,100 sides of the The aisle even fairly extreme sides of the 333 00:18:50,100 --> 00:18:53,400 aisle because he'll vets is 100% nonpartisan. 334 00:18:53,500 --> 00:18:58,500 We are non issue based we do not do any advocacy of our own. 335 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:02,500 We do not sign on to issue letters or anything like that. 336 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:09,300 So if a fellow wants to try to get into an AOC office or even a 337 00:19:09,300 --> 00:19:12,600 Marjorie Taylor, green office, we are going to help them do 338 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:16,700 that regardless of our personal feelings of either of those more 339 00:19:16,700 --> 00:19:19,000 extreme. Either side of the aisle. 340 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,600 So that works well, because most military members been beaten in 341 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:26,400 our heads to accept that people who are elected or there by the 342 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,600 people, and you support them. So, I'm sure that a lot of the 343 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,900 vets that come in there can digest that better than the 344 00:19:32,900 --> 00:19:35,200 average person, but then they still have their own. 345 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:37,500 Yeah, they're on tendency. So they're going to go after 346 00:19:37,500 --> 00:19:40,900 them and in find that that position that makes them fit 347 00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:43,900 best or they'll get out. Yeah. 348 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:46,100 So okay with you that was one program. 349 00:19:46,300 --> 00:19:47,500 Can you talk through the other two? 350 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,300 Programs sure. So the second one is not so much 351 00:19:50,300 --> 00:19:54,600 a program as it is staying true to our Roots about the 352 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,300 importance of networking. I've mentioned it numerous times 353 00:19:57,300 --> 00:20:00,300 already the importance of networking meeting people 354 00:20:00,300 --> 00:20:03,500 connecting with people, this town is about who, you know, 355 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:08,600 he'll that's was started as a group of veterans who worked on 356 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:10,800 the hill and got together and drink, not even going to 357 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,600 sugarcoat that that's just how he'll that's got started. 358 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:17,500 So we stay true to those roots and we offer monthly. 359 00:20:17,700 --> 00:20:20,700 Events that are free and open to the public right now. 360 00:20:20,700 --> 00:20:23,600 They're being held the first Thursday of every month at one 361 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:27,300 specific place, but into 2023. We're going to mix that up a 362 00:20:27,308 --> 00:20:29,800 little bit. Kind of, make them new and fresh 363 00:20:29,900 --> 00:20:32,600 every month. Those are free and open to the 364 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:34,500 public. You do not have to be a fellow 365 00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:38,300 or lead, Protege, or even in the hill. 366 00:20:38,300 --> 00:20:40,800 That's community on our radar to attend. 367 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:42,700 You don't even have to be military-connected. 368 00:20:42,700 --> 00:20:46,000 We put these events out on Facebook, I share them from 369 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:47,500 there. I share them on LinkedIn. 370 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:50,000 Tin. So literally anybody who wants 371 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:53,600 to can come, we even buy the first round of drinks. 372 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:57,200 Wow, quite a little light food. First round of drinks is on us 373 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:01,100 but the idea is to meet people to meet people who have similar 374 00:21:01,100 --> 00:21:05,500 interests or possibly art completely different from you. 375 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:09,200 Because that is a whole that a lot of people fall into when 376 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:11,900 their networking. Everybody is just like them 377 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:15,100 because that's comfortable and safe and not that there's 378 00:21:15,100 --> 00:21:20,300 anything wrong with it. But meeting People who do not 379 00:21:20,300 --> 00:21:23,900 have the exact same experiences as a person. 380 00:21:24,300 --> 00:21:30,500 Is it can open far more doors in terms of networking than if 381 00:21:30,500 --> 00:21:33,700 everybody is just like you. So, that's why these are bring 382 00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:35,700 everybody and their brother, as long as they're old enough to 383 00:21:35,708 --> 00:21:37,400 drink. We're good because meeting 384 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:39,300 people is meeting. People is meeting people, 385 00:21:39,500 --> 00:21:43,500 networking is networking is networking, you never know when 386 00:21:43,500 --> 00:21:49,000 someone you met at XYZ place and talk to about their Their dog, 387 00:21:49,100 --> 00:21:53,600 you know, whatever might come in handy when you are job hunting 388 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:55,200 because you never know. You don't know what you're going 389 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:57,800 to do in 10 years. No, I certainly don't know what 390 00:21:57,800 --> 00:21:59,200 I'm going to be doing in 10 years. 391 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,900 That's kind of its not so much a program as it is but action or 392 00:22:04,900 --> 00:22:07,600 practice you guys. It's kind of a practice, that's 393 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:10,600 a good way of putting it, but it is integral to our program. 394 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:14,300 And as a matter of fact, our fellows part of their 395 00:22:14,300 --> 00:22:18,100 Fellowship, they have a requirement from us, they Has to 396 00:22:18,100 --> 00:22:20,600 do a certain amount of their own networking. 397 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:23,000 There is that they actually have a networking tracker, a 398 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:27,100 spreadsheet, that is a live document that they fill out as 399 00:22:27,100 --> 00:22:29,800 they go. And I can check on my end to 400 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:34,000 make sure they are not just relying on us to make their own 401 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:37,000 connections, that they are making their own connections, 402 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:39,600 that they are having coffees with people that they are 403 00:22:39,900 --> 00:22:42,700 reaching out to strangers on LinkedIn, you know, we could do 404 00:22:42,708 --> 00:22:45,700 a whole podcast on the importance of length we could. 405 00:22:45,700 --> 00:22:50,900 So I attest I tell our fellows, my personal experiences with 406 00:22:50,900 --> 00:22:54,900 LinkedIn and my husband is retiring 1 January. 407 00:22:55,100 --> 00:22:57,800 He was originally going to retire and the pandemic hit. 408 00:22:58,100 --> 00:23:01,200 So he pulled his retirement papers and spent the pandemic 409 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,100 networking on LinkedIn. He is like that working on 410 00:23:04,100 --> 00:23:08,000 LinkedIn, success story. And so, I share that with our 411 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:12,600 fellows and with other people of don't discount how important 412 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:17,100 online platforms, can be to network a person can be in your 413 00:23:17,100 --> 00:23:18,900 network. You've never met them in person. 414 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:22,400 Sure, we're still in your, you know, there's still somebody, 415 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:26,200 you know, in a professional ish capacity, who could be as use 416 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:30,800 some day, not of you, someday you might be of use to them. 417 00:23:30,900 --> 00:23:36,200 So we recognize and embrace the validity and value and 418 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,700 importance of networking. Well, Jodi if you don't mind, 419 00:23:39,700 --> 00:23:41,100 I'm gonna plug a friend of mines. 420 00:23:41,100 --> 00:23:44,800 Networking class, it's free. That his name is Jordan 421 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:48,500 Harbinger and he has a podcast, and he has Free online courses 422 00:23:48,500 --> 00:23:51,800 for people on how to network how to dive into all the contacts, 423 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:55,500 you have and start building a structure for keeping them in a 424 00:23:55,500 --> 00:23:58,400 warm Network and then how to reach out to new people, how to 425 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:02,000 reach out to people that you feel are in a senior position 426 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,000 and talking to them, it's a great program. 427 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,000 It's free. He does it because it helps save 428 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:10,500 him from a miserable job. So Jordan, Harbinger.com check 429 00:24:10,500 --> 00:24:13,100 it out. I will and I will actually ask 430 00:24:13,100 --> 00:24:15,600 you when we're done. I love to, you know, have you 431 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:18,800 send me information about him? Our awesome friend event. 432 00:24:18,900 --> 00:24:22,300 So that's a good thing in our onboarding, for both our 433 00:24:22,300 --> 00:24:27,000 fellowship and our lead program, giving resources, Professional 434 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:31,300 Resources, that veterans, and anybody can just kind of have 435 00:24:31,300 --> 00:24:34,100 under their belt. I'm all about having more 436 00:24:34,100 --> 00:24:39,400 resources so I absolutely will will share that opportunity with 437 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:42,900 our fellows and so that brings me to program number. 438 00:24:42,900 --> 00:24:48,000 Three is our lead program, LED stands for leadership Ethics 439 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:51,800 advocacy, and dedication can say dedication to self, cause 440 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:53,900 purpose, whatever just dedication. 441 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:58,800 We are about to start lead cohort. 8 lead cohort, 8 will 442 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:02,400 begin at the end of January. Solely date is currently 443 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:06,000 scheduled to begin Tuesday, January 31st. 444 00:25:06,100 --> 00:25:08,900 Once a week, it's held in the evenings at Hill vets house, 445 00:25:08,900 --> 00:25:11,400 which is on 12th Street Southeast in between 446 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:13,600 Independence Avenue and Lincoln Park. 447 00:25:13,700 --> 00:25:17,800 We have a whole basement, common area that we use for our Lead 448 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:22,600 program we bring in expert guest speakers in a range of topic 449 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:28,500 areas and expertise areas. The lead program is for anyone 450 00:25:28,700 --> 00:25:32,200 who is sort of mid career level in their lives. 451 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:38,700 So a me, a you major ish level gunny ish level or whatever. 452 00:25:38,700 --> 00:25:41,300 I only know Marine Corps speak. So I'm not trying to exclude 453 00:25:41,300 --> 00:25:45,300 other services and a disclosure. I was a member of lead six. 454 00:25:45,500 --> 00:25:47,900 You were, that's yeah. And I painted. 455 00:25:47,900 --> 00:25:50,600 So that's part of the reason I want to bring on the podcast 456 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,600 because I felt like the connections I made where 457 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:55,300 tremendous. I mean I met the you know 458 00:25:55,300 --> 00:25:59,000 leaders of Wounded Warrior Project a couple Congressional 459 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:02,800 members and some former secretaries of defense that was 460 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:06,500 amazing. Yeah so when now interestingly 461 00:26:06,500 --> 00:26:10,700 when you went through lead lead six it was 12 weeks lead is now 462 00:26:10,700 --> 00:26:13,600 16 weeks and it is only once a year. 463 00:26:14,500 --> 00:26:20,400 It is a leadership development program at it's sort of core. 464 00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:24,100 It does have a military slant to it. 465 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:29,400 It does have sort of a policy slant to it, but you don't have 466 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:33,000 to be in either of those areas to go through lead because at 467 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:34,700 its core. It truly is a leadership 468 00:26:34,700 --> 00:26:38,000 development course. And so, the expert guest 469 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:42,600 speakers, we bring in every week, our leaders in whatever 470 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:46,600 their field is. As an example, we have had like, 471 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:51,000 you said members of congress, former cabinet secretaries, we 472 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,200 have Congressional staffers, as our expert guest speakers, we 473 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:58,700 have leaders from the vs Oak. We've had VA press secretaries. 474 00:26:58,700 --> 00:27:04,100 We've had Chiefs of staff's from federal agencies during the lead 475 00:27:04,100 --> 00:27:07,400 7 earlier in 2022. We had the former commandant of 476 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:08,800 the Marine Corps General above nellore. 477 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:12,800 I mean, you name it. We've had someone in a similar 478 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,700 type of a roll Two Nuts is kind of what I call it right? 479 00:27:16,700 --> 00:27:21,900 And something I would bring up is that it's both on-site and 480 00:27:21,900 --> 00:27:25,600 remote so if you don't live in d.c. you can still participate. 481 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:28,400 You can still dial in and be in these conversations and 482 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:32,400 typically from what I remember they would have the person come 483 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:36,200 in and it would talk a little bit about their experiences and 484 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:39,000 give some recommendations. And then they go around the 485 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:42,600 internet in the room and people can ask questions and they can 486 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:45,900 talk and they can do follow-ups. Usually give a contact to so. 487 00:27:47,900 --> 00:27:51,700 And so it's valuable for anyone who wants to be involved in that 488 00:27:51,700 --> 00:27:53,800 level of discussion and it's wonderful. 489 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:57,700 I leave 7 earlier this year was obviously my first experience 490 00:27:57,700 --> 00:28:00,900 with it as a staffer though. Kapkan six your cap con. 491 00:28:00,900 --> 00:28:05,000 I did actually attend just as an attendee I had applied for my 492 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:06,900 job by then. So I was like, let me attend 493 00:28:06,900 --> 00:28:09,700 capcom's, see what it even is so that I can, you know, kind of 494 00:28:09,700 --> 00:28:11,900 eyes wide open go into this position. 495 00:28:11,900 --> 00:28:15,000 If I get it, I did get it. So at least I had Seen a Capcom 496 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:17,600 from that side. Interestingly cap Khan is now, 497 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:21,500 two days yours was one day Captain is now two days and 498 00:28:21,500 --> 00:28:25,000 actually for lead eight expanding the fire teams, we're 499 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:27,500 going to have more fire teams with different topics. 500 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,900 Keeping the original Three of defense and National Security 501 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:34,000 veterans and military families and media. 502 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,800 And Communications we're expanding, we're going to have 503 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:41,200 one that's intelligence and cybersecurity one that is D EI 504 00:28:42,100 --> 00:28:45,500 and one that is foreign. Relations or international 505 00:28:45,500 --> 00:28:48,700 relations. I haven't TI diversity equity, 506 00:28:48,700 --> 00:28:51,600 and inclusion, diversity, equity and inclusion. 507 00:28:51,700 --> 00:28:54,000 Okay. My apologies, I should have said 508 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:59,800 it that way, no problem. And the lead cohort will plan 509 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:03,900 and Implement a significant portion of the Capcom event. 510 00:29:03,900 --> 00:29:06,800 As you're aware, what? Fire team were you on high 511 00:29:06,900 --> 00:29:08,600 defense, six? Okay. 512 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:11,400 That's, and I figured, you probably were either defense or 513 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:13,300 veterans. Just given your background 514 00:29:13,300 --> 00:29:14,000 though. Now, with this. 515 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:17,800 Podcast you could be considered like a media Communications type 516 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:21,600 of a person so I was I was competing with Michael Levine 517 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,200 for that one, so I was out. Hi. 518 00:29:27,500 --> 00:29:33,500 So the lead cohort as a full cohort decides on the overall 519 00:29:33,500 --> 00:29:38,500 theme of the Capcom event. For example, lead 7 decided on 520 00:29:38,500 --> 00:29:42,800 the theme of recruit retain reinvent and you know who knows 521 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:47,100 what Lee date will decide on. But that way cap, Khan is 522 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:53,200 co-workers and it looks and it's going to be a value to them the 523 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:55,600 protégées. That's what we call our lead, 524 00:29:55,700 --> 00:30:00,300 participants, it's a value to them, they have ownership of it 525 00:30:00,300 --> 00:30:04,900 because they decided on the theme now under that General 526 00:30:04,900 --> 00:30:13,000 theme each fire team, then plans 100% their own panel for Capcom, 527 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:16,400 they decide there, Panels titles, they reach out to 528 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:21,400 speakers that are of interest to them and who can speak to what 529 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:25,700 their specific fireteam focus is Under the Umbrella of the 530 00:30:25,700 --> 00:30:29,100 greater Capcom theme someone from the fire team is the 531 00:30:29,100 --> 00:30:32,700 moderator of that panel. I mean, when we say they plan 532 00:30:32,700 --> 00:30:36,000 and Implement their panel, we mean by a plan and Implement 533 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:38,800 their panel now. Obviously, he'll that's does all 534 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:41,900 the logistical stuff. We get the place in the time and 535 00:30:41,900 --> 00:30:46,000 we pay for things and whatnot. We We also have certain partners 536 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:49,500 and sponsors of the lead program, who then do their own 537 00:30:49,500 --> 00:30:53,900 panels and have keynote speakers and that kind of thing, but a 538 00:30:53,900 --> 00:31:00,200 vast majority of cap. Khan is cohort lead, sure. 539 00:31:00,300 --> 00:31:04,800 So I think that's amazing. A lot of times you take a 540 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:07,300 leadership development course and your culminating thing is 541 00:31:07,300 --> 00:31:09,500 you write a paper. Well, who wants to do that 542 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:15,100 sounds like screaming. Like I wrote enough papers in 543 00:31:15,100 --> 00:31:16,500 grad school. I don't want to write your 544 00:31:16,500 --> 00:31:19,700 papers, you know, and we recognize that we recognize 545 00:31:19,700 --> 00:31:22,300 that, you know, these folks, they all have jobs. 546 00:31:22,300 --> 00:31:26,400 These are mid-career level, folks, many of them are often 547 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:29,400 active duty. A large portion of lead 7, were 548 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,100 DOD fellows and so this was right up there. 549 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:34,500 Rally. But everybody has day jobs, we 550 00:31:34,500 --> 00:31:39,900 recognize that and lead. Seven kept Khan seven was 551 00:31:39,900 --> 00:31:43,300 fantastic. Granted it was my only one as on 552 00:31:43,300 --> 00:31:46,100 staff at Hill vets but I thought it was wonderful. 553 00:31:46,100 --> 00:31:49,400 There are generally evening functions that go along with cap 554 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:53,900 con, like a reception kind of a thing Capcom is completely free 555 00:31:53,900 --> 00:31:56,400 and open to the public in the couple of weeks before. 556 00:31:56,400 --> 00:32:00,900 Cap con, we start sharing the actual panel titles and things 557 00:32:00,900 --> 00:32:03,300 like that. And as As is true with any 558 00:32:03,300 --> 00:32:05,500 conference attendees, come and go. 559 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:09,200 It's a full two days. Attendees might be interested in 560 00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:12,900 the nine am panel and then the next day's, 1:00 panel, for 561 00:32:12,900 --> 00:32:16,300 example, and so people are going to come and go and do that kind 562 00:32:16,300 --> 00:32:17,800 of thing. And that's that's good. 563 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:23,600 Plus, we live stream it as well. You know, one thing I noticed is 564 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:28,000 that whether I was in a good mood, I'd had a great day or I'd 565 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:31,100 had a horrible day and I was going to loan or a terrible. 566 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:34,700 There everyone was sympathetic and they were always open and 567 00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:38,500 welcoming, and I never felt like, I was battling a click or 568 00:32:39,100 --> 00:32:42,100 that I didn't fit. And I think that anyone who's 569 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:45,700 not comfortable jumping into a new environment that this one is 570 00:32:45,700 --> 00:32:50,000 very welcoming and that the people work hard to be open and 571 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:53,800 friendly and interesting. So, it helps you to grow in your 572 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:56,400 own development. I love hearing that, you know, I 573 00:32:56,408 --> 00:33:00,100 think you're actually the first person who's ever articulated 574 00:33:00,100 --> 00:33:04,300 that to me, obviously, I've Only been staff for one cohort but I 575 00:33:04,300 --> 00:33:07,400 love hearing that I am going to use your story. 576 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:08,800 I'm just going to tell you right now. 577 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:11,600 I'm going to use your story going forward about no. 578 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:14,100 Another advantage of the lead program. 579 00:33:14,100 --> 00:33:16,600 I'm absolutely. I'm totally going to Pirate your 580 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:18,900 words. So if you want to talk a little 581 00:33:18,900 --> 00:33:23,100 bit about he'll bet house. Yeah, he'll that house. 582 00:33:23,500 --> 00:33:28,200 When we were originally founded in 2013, I believe the first 583 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:32,400 Hill vets fellow was placed in a congressional office. 2014, 584 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:35,500 there was no housing associated with the hill. 585 00:33:35,500 --> 00:33:38,300 That's Fellowship. The first Hill, vets house was 586 00:33:38,300 --> 00:33:40,800 actually a three bedroom apartment in Crystal City that 587 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:44,100 far predates my association with the organization. 588 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:49,500 In July of 2019, we cut the ribbon on he'll bets house. 589 00:33:49,500 --> 00:33:52,600 And like I said, earlier Hill that's house is on 12th Street 590 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:55,100 in between Independence, Avenue and Lincoln Park. 591 00:33:55,100 --> 00:33:57,200 So it is walkable to Capitol Hill. 592 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:00,700 Matter of fact, the fellows who choose to live in Hill, that's 593 00:34:00,700 --> 00:34:02,700 house. During their Fellowship. 594 00:34:02,700 --> 00:34:05,900 We actually don't have a way to support them bringing their 595 00:34:05,900 --> 00:34:08,100 vehicle. We're in a residential area, you 596 00:34:08,100 --> 00:34:11,400 need a DC parking permit. We can't provide those and we 597 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:14,199 tell fellows. This is a walkable area Eastern 598 00:34:14,199 --> 00:34:17,600 Market and Eastern Market Metro is around the corner, turns of 599 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:20,300 shops and restaurants. There's lots of lots of walkable 600 00:34:20,300 --> 00:34:25,000 stuff in the Metro right there. And and again, I being from the 601 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:29,300 general DC area, I grew up writing our Metro System, I 602 00:34:29,300 --> 00:34:31,100 think our Metro system is fantastic. 603 00:34:31,100 --> 00:34:35,100 I've Then on a ton of Metro's Subways around the world, but I 604 00:34:35,100 --> 00:34:38,800 think our Metro system is perfectly adequate for what DC 605 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:42,699 is and we have a metro station, that's like a 10 or 12 minute 606 00:34:42,699 --> 00:34:45,100 walk. And you can then go anywhere 607 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:49,500 100% walkable to Capitol Hill, which is kind of the point 608 00:34:49,500 --> 00:34:51,600 because that's where our fellows are going to be working. 609 00:34:51,600 --> 00:34:56,600 So basically Hill that's house. We can house up to eight fellows 610 00:34:56,600 --> 00:35:00,800 at any given time and male, female Democrat Republican all 611 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:03,800 the Has all the ranks. Matter of fact, I don't even 612 00:35:03,800 --> 00:35:07,400 think I know what most of our fellows ranks are because we as 613 00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:09,700 Hill, that's we don't care. They aren't wearing that rank 614 00:35:09,700 --> 00:35:12,300 anymore. So that doesn't matter to us and 615 00:35:12,300 --> 00:35:16,800 a matter of fact, we'd we'd love to get more enlisted as fellows. 616 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:21,800 So we have four double bedrooms so it's it's not the Taj Mahal 617 00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:28,800 but it is functional and furnished and safe and free. 618 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:35,700 Time to heal vets live free. Well, you're a little bit, 619 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:38,900 you're here in d.c. How much would rent be in East 620 00:35:38,900 --> 00:35:40,700 Capitol Hill? Three thousand dollars? 621 00:35:40,900 --> 00:35:45,400 Yeah, our fellows can live in Hill, vets house for free in 622 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:51,000 East Hill for however, long from the time that I say poof, you 623 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:54,200 are a hill vets fellow, they can move in immediately, they don't 624 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:57,300 have to wait until they've received their placement for 625 00:35:57,300 --> 00:35:58,900 gentlemen. I was speaking of earlier 626 00:35:58,900 --> 00:36:02,400 Jonathan who has a civil Affairs background He's lived in Hill 627 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:06,700 vets house now for six weeks, but won't start his placement 628 00:36:06,700 --> 00:36:09,300 until January, right? So what does he have to move 629 00:36:09,300 --> 00:36:10,600 out? Once he gets his job and his 630 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:12,600 first paycheck kind of thing? Or how's that work? 631 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:17,400 Our agreement within house, fellows. 632 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:22,900 They have 30 days after the last day of their Fellowship to 633 00:36:22,900 --> 00:36:26,900 remain in the house. The idea being they've got a job 634 00:36:26,900 --> 00:36:29,200 and hopefully a paycheck under their belt. 635 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:32,200 Now, right. That said, We're not going to 636 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:38,800 kick him to the curb as long as we are not full and and don't 637 00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:42,200 have, you know, people waiting to get into the house. 638 00:36:42,700 --> 00:36:47,000 They were again, we're not going to kick them out that were not 639 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:49,100 about that. We're not, you know, we're here 640 00:36:49,100 --> 00:36:52,100 to support the veteran Community, not make them 641 00:36:52,100 --> 00:36:55,300 homeless, so grab them off a cliff, got it exactly. 642 00:36:55,400 --> 00:36:58,900 It just depends on their particular Fellowship because 643 00:36:58,900 --> 00:37:01,600 the length of their Fellowship is between the oh, and the 644 00:37:01,600 --> 00:37:05,300 Congressional host office, he'll vets does not dictate your 645 00:37:05,300 --> 00:37:08,600 fellowship, starts X and ends X. We don't get involved in that. 646 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:12,900 We suggest that it be about six months, because that's truly how 647 00:37:12,900 --> 00:37:17,400 long it takes for someone to really learn how a hill office 648 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:20,500 works, right? Some offices might want a fellow 649 00:37:20,500 --> 00:37:23,300 for less time. Some offices might want fellows 650 00:37:23,300 --> 00:37:26,400 for longer. Now, you'll notice that I said, 651 00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:29,200 a lot of times our in-house fellows are in House fellows. 652 00:37:29,500 --> 00:37:31,200 We have fellows who do not live in Hill. 653 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:33,700 Taos, you do not have to live in hell. 654 00:37:33,700 --> 00:37:35,200 That's house to be a Hilbert spello. 655 00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:39,200 We cannot support families or pets because we are technically 656 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:42,400 a private residence that we rent from someone else. 657 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:46,100 We have to abide by our lease as well. 658 00:37:46,100 --> 00:37:49,500 And so if people have pets if people, you know, married with 659 00:37:49,500 --> 00:37:52,900 families, then they have their own accommodations. 660 00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:59,700 So our major benefit to being a hill vets, fellow, not only the 661 00:37:59,700 --> 00:38:02,200 help getting you into To Capitol Hill. 662 00:38:02,500 --> 00:38:05,500 But our major benefit is that free housing during the 663 00:38:05,500 --> 00:38:09,700 fellowship. Many congressional host offices 664 00:38:09,900 --> 00:38:15,600 will choose to offer a fellow compensation at some level. 665 00:38:16,100 --> 00:38:20,400 Now, I say it that way because again, he'll vets 100% does not 666 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,400 get involved in that, that is between the fellow and the 667 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:26,000 Congressional host office, sometimes fellows. 668 00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:30,000 Really need an office to offer them compensation. 669 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:33,900 And so if they Siva placement offer from an office that cannot 670 00:38:33,900 --> 00:38:36,000 compensate them. They'll turn it down because 671 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:39,600 they need one that can compensate them and actually on 672 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:42,800 our end. We don't even track that because 673 00:38:43,100 --> 00:38:47,200 we know Congress is a living breathing changing entity just 674 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:51,800 because Congressman Chaka tele gave, you know, fellow XYZ a 675 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:56,600 stipend a year ago does not mean that that Congressman can give 676 00:38:56,600 --> 00:39:00,300 fellow ABC a stipend this time, their budget may have changed 677 00:39:00,300 --> 00:39:03,300 their Staffing, may have I've changed, we don't know that kind 678 00:39:03,300 --> 00:39:06,100 of information, and therefore, we don't get involved. 679 00:39:06,100 --> 00:39:08,600 But again, remember I was talking about that initial phone 680 00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:12,000 call with a brand new applicants, this is explained to 681 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:16,600 them in intricate detail. I mean, I truly go over all the, 682 00:39:17,200 --> 00:39:19,600 you know, the what ifs and maybes and the whatnot. 683 00:39:19,600 --> 00:39:22,900 Because like I said, I do want applicants to know these kinds 684 00:39:22,900 --> 00:39:28,300 of things Eyes Wide Open, so that if their dream office 685 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:32,500 offers them a placement, but Compensate them. 686 00:39:32,900 --> 00:39:35,600 They knew that going in that that was a possibility that they 687 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:38,400 would not get compensated. And they're not like, oh I can't 688 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:41,900 do this because I can't be compensated and they're possibly 689 00:39:41,900 --> 00:39:43,900 giving up. What could be the greatest 690 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:47,800 Fellowship experience they could ever have in their dream office, 691 00:39:48,700 --> 00:39:50,800 simply because that office can't compensate them. 692 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:53,200 So great. Do like I said, expectation 693 00:39:53,200 --> 00:39:54,900 management. I'm very big on that. 694 00:39:54,900 --> 00:39:58,200 And our applicants do go in, knowing that that is the the 695 00:39:58,200 --> 00:40:01,400 financial situation. Therefore, our fellowship is Not 696 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:03,800 for everyone. And we know that I've had 697 00:40:03,800 --> 00:40:07,300 applicants just this year, since I came on, in January, we have 698 00:40:07,300 --> 00:40:10,900 this conversation and they're like, oh yeah, I can't be 699 00:40:10,900 --> 00:40:14,000 without income for that long and, you know, we go our 700 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:17,400 separate ways. I asked them to still consider 701 00:40:17,500 --> 00:40:21,300 he'll vets as a resource in their professional lives. 702 00:40:21,300 --> 00:40:24,400 I encourage them if they're local, you know, still come to 703 00:40:24,400 --> 00:40:26,700 our Network important. Yeah. 704 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:29,700 Still take advantage of us. Our fellowship isn't right for 705 00:40:29,700 --> 00:40:31,200 you but maybe lead would be right. 706 00:40:31,300 --> 00:40:32,700 You, you know, that kind of thing. 707 00:40:32,700 --> 00:40:37,800 So, it's I just love us, just love it. 708 00:40:38,600 --> 00:40:42,900 Well Jodi, we've had an hour or so, let's find your clothes. 709 00:40:42,900 --> 00:40:46,700 What would you like to say? Last pitch anything? 710 00:40:46,700 --> 00:40:51,200 Which you got in a perfect world every Congressional office. 711 00:40:51,300 --> 00:40:56,400 Senate and House would have a military connected person on 712 00:40:56,400 --> 00:40:58,800 their staff. The veteran Community, the 713 00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:04,600 military connected Community, as a Subset of the US population is 714 00:41:04,600 --> 00:41:12,700 one of the most diverse educated subsets that there is we are all 715 00:41:12,700 --> 00:41:17,800 genders, all Races, all nationalities, all levels of 716 00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:20,400 Education. Even if you never have a college 717 00:41:20,400 --> 00:41:22,700 degree, education is still education. 718 00:41:22,900 --> 00:41:28,300 Military folks are resilient. Motivated. 719 00:41:29,600 --> 00:41:35,200 Honest, and loyal. They're they're committed Marine 720 00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:37,600 Corps, you know, honor, courage, and commitment. 721 00:41:37,600 --> 00:41:41,400 I mean, you know, that doesn't go away our folks just because 722 00:41:41,400 --> 00:41:45,500 of their military connectedness have incredibly high integrity. 723 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:50,900 And so I do, you think that that honesty and integrity and 724 00:41:51,200 --> 00:41:55,100 mindset that hard work mindset, that the military and Views, it 725 00:41:55,100 --> 00:41:59,200 is soldiers. As these people go into working 726 00:41:59,300 --> 00:42:05,000 in advocacy or Congressional positions helps bring that to 727 00:42:05,700 --> 00:42:10,000 our government as well. Oh, 100% 100%. 728 00:42:10,600 --> 00:42:13,800 Okay, and then he'll fetch is the bridge for people to get 729 00:42:13,800 --> 00:42:16,900 there. We certainly want it to be that. 730 00:42:16,900 --> 00:42:20,800 That is our goal is, is to be that support system for the 731 00:42:20,808 --> 00:42:24,700 veteran community in the DC area, primarily in the public 732 00:42:24,700 --> 00:42:28,900 policy. Realm of the world in whatever 733 00:42:28,900 --> 00:42:32,600 way we can be. Whether it be that Fellowship 734 00:42:32,600 --> 00:42:36,500 help education through the lead program, the sense of community 735 00:42:36,500 --> 00:42:39,900 through our networking events and obviously housing for our 736 00:42:39,900 --> 00:42:43,600 fellows who choose to take it, you know, utilize the advantage 737 00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:47,200 of living in Hill that's house. So I just can't say enough good 738 00:42:47,200 --> 00:42:50,300 things about Hilda. I mean, I really didn't have to 739 00:42:50,300 --> 00:42:51,700 because I'm kind, I'm cutting you off. 740 00:42:54,400 --> 00:42:56,900 But let me say Jodi and the That's Foundation. 741 00:42:56,900 --> 00:42:59,100 Thank you for coming on. When see a podcast. 742 00:42:59,100 --> 00:43:01,600 I think this has been great. You're very, welcome, Jack. 743 00:43:01,600 --> 00:43:05,100 I relish this opportunity and I'm so, so thankful that you 744 00:43:05,100 --> 00:43:08,900 asked me and he'll vets to join you today. 745 00:43:09,100 --> 00:43:13,700 I hope that even if one listener benefits from hearing about Hill 746 00:43:13,700 --> 00:43:17,600 vets, I've utilized my time to the best of my ability. 747 00:43:17,600 --> 00:43:20,700 So, you know, hopefully there's one person out there going. 748 00:43:20,700 --> 00:43:23,300 Yes, this is for me, and they go to our website. 749 00:43:26,200 --> 00:43:31,200 Dot org and they look at us and see what we're all about and 750 00:43:31,200 --> 00:43:34,900 decide that this is a resource they'd like to take advantage of 751 00:43:34,900 --> 00:43:37,000 and we will welcome them with open arms. 752 00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:46,200 Okay, thank you, absolutely thanks for tuning into one. 753 00:43:46,200 --> 00:43:49,200 See a podcast, a product of the Civil Affairs Association. 754 00:43:49,800 --> 00:43:53,000 If you like the show, please share and subscribe to hear all 755 00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:55,900 our latest and greatest. If you have a story idea or 756 00:43:55,900 --> 00:44:01,000 want, Guest host, contact us at see a podcasting at gmail.com. 757 00:44:01,600 --> 00:44:04,000 I will have our email and links to Hill vets and the ca 758 00:44:04,000 --> 00:44:06,500 Association websites in the show notes. 759 00:44:07,100 --> 00:44:10,200 I appreciate you, listening, and stay tuned for future episodes.