Welcome to the "Militarily Speaking" podcast with Tom McLean and Jodi Vickery.
In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Mark Doyle, founder of Rags of Honor and Veteran Roasters, discuss his incredible journey that led him to create businesses that focus on providing low-barrier entry jobs for homeless and chronically unemployed veterans.
“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes military community who they are.
Ep. 31 – Rags of Honor and Veteran Roasters with Mark Doyle
Mark Doyle, founder of Rags of Honor and Veteran Roasters, joined us for an inspiring conversation to detail his journey from being a financial subject matter expert in Afghanistan to creating businesses that focus on providing low-barrier entry jobs for homeless and chronically unemployed veterans. His dedication to making a difference in the lives of veterans is truly admirable, and we were captivated by his passion for helping our nation's heroes.
During our conversation, Mark shed light on the challenges faced by veterans, such as high unemployment rates and homelessness, and how his silk screen shop and coffee roastery are providing much-needed lifelines. We also discussed an upcoming venture with Veteran Roasters, which promises to create even more job opportunities for veterans. As if his story wasn't inspiring enough, Mark also shared his experiences working with Joe Biden and his time in Afghanistan, which ultimately fueled his desire to create these life-changing initiatives.
Making a Difference for Veterans
Mark Doyle's commitment to helping veterans is remarkable. His business, Rags of Honor, is a silk screen shop that is 100% run and operated by homeless and chronically unemployed veterans. This initiative aims to provide low-barrier entry jobs, giving veterans a chance to re-enter the workforce and regain their independence. To date, Rags of Honor has hired over 100 veterans, providing them with a stable income and a sense of purpose.
In addition to Rags of Honor, Mark founded Veteran Roasters, a veteran-owned and staffed coffee brand that sources, roasts, and distributes its own coffee beans, cold brew, and other coffee products. This venture not only provides employment opportunities for veterans but also gives them a chance to learn valuable skills in the coffee industry.
The Impact of Veteran-Supportive Businesses
The impact of businesses like Rags of Honor and Veteran Roasters cannot be understated. By providing stable employment opportunities and a supportive environment, these ventures help veterans break the cycle of homelessness and unemployment. For many of these individuals, having a job and a steady income is a crucial step towards regaining their independence and dignity.
Mark's upcoming venture, Veteran Roasters, promises to create even more job opportunities for veterans. Potentially partnering with Veterans Community Project, they aim to create a community where veterans can live and work, as they build their civilian life. This initiative will build on the success of Rags of Honor and Veteran Roasters, further expanding the support available to veterans in need.
Supporting Veterans: Engaging with Veteran Organizations and Utilizing Services
Mark believes that engaging with veteran organizations and utilizing services that prioritize the hiring of veterans is essential for addressing the challenges faced by this population. By supporting these initiatives, individuals and businesses can help create a better future for veterans in need.
In addition to supporting businesses like Rags of Honor and Veteran Roasters, individuals can also make a difference by reaching out to veteran organizations and using services that prioritize the hiring of veterans. This not only provides much-needed support to veterans but also helps raise awareness of the issues they face, encouraging more people to get involved in helping this vulnerable population.
Military Minute
Jodi concludes the episode by introducing the Military Minute, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.
- Last episode’s Military Minute: The Swiss Constitution prohibits Swiss citizens from participating in foreign military service, except for the military unit responsible for guarding what area in Europe?
- Answer: Vatican City
- This week’s Military Minute question: What movie recently became one of the top 5 grossing movies of all time?
- Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.
- Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.
Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.
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