In this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You, Kathleen flies solo to sit down with an Army Reservist whose career reads like a masterclass in relentless effort and reinvention. From active-duty tanker and All-Army wrestler to Iraq deployment as an embedded advisor, drill sergeant, roofing/construction business owner, and now equity partner at a law firm, Anthony "Tony" Kuhn shares the twists, setbacks, and hard-won lessons that shaped his path. Hear how a near-miss with the Buffalo Police Department became the spark for law school, why he still credits military work ethic as his biggest edge, and what he’s looking forward to most as retirement nears. This story is packed with practical wisdom for anyone facing transition: do the work, push your comfort zone, and never stop moving forward.

Chapters

01:52 – Tony’s Early Active Duty Days
03:31 – First Civilian Pivot: Roofing, Re-Enlisting as a Drill Sergeant
05:25 – The Windy Road: Construction, Iraq Deployment, Starting His Own Company
05:59 – Embedded Advisor in Iraq, Family Impact, Police Dream Derailed, Pivot to Law
11:23 – Top Tip: Be the Hardest-Working Person in the Room
12:47 – Military Experiences That Prepared Tony for Law
14:49 – Inner Tools: Time Never Stops, Push Your Comfort Zone
17:14 – Retirement on the Horizon: Reclaiming Family Time After Years of Sacrifice

Key Takeaways

Lean Into Your Military Work Ethic: The single most universal advantage veterans bring to any civilian role is a rock-solid work ethic. Show up ready to outwork the room, and doors will open—whether you start your own business or join an established one.
Push Your Comfort Zone Relentlessly: Growth happens outside what feels safe. From wrestling injuries to writing SOPs in Iraq, to launching a veterans law practicum, stepping into discomfort led to extraordinary rewards for Tony.
Time Never Stops—Neither Should You: When adversity hits, remember the clock keeps ticking. Hang on one more second, one more minute—perseverance compounds.
Military Skills Translate Farther Than You Think: Leadership under pressure, teaching troops, managing teams in chaos, and self-taught business development all became tools for success in law and beyond for Tony. Don’t sell your experience short.

Follow us for more real veteran stories to guide your transition, and share this episode with a service member who needs a reminder that relentless effort pays off. Until next time, keep pushing—your Exit Buddy is right here with you.

#VeteranStories #MilitaryTransition #ExitBuddy

Resources & Links

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Check out Tony's previous appearance on Security Cleared Jobs: Who’s Hiring & How to hear his legal advice for security-cleared military personnel.

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Wrestler, Drill Sergeant, Contractor, Lawyer: The Unstoppable Path of Relentless Effort