What makes a veteran? Is it combat? Is it time served? Or is it an internal state of being? This week on The Collective, we tackled the heavy and often misunderstood topic of “What is a Veteran?” Joined by former Recon Marine and actor Rudy Reyes, we unpacked the invisible space between service and civilian life, the trap of comparison, and why the mission never truly ends—it just changes form.
This Week’s Guest:
– Rudy Reyes: Former Recon Marine, Actor (Generation Kill, SAS: Who Dares Wins), Conservationist, and co-founder of Force Blue.
Key Insights from Our “What is a Veteran?” Discussion:
1. “Veteranus” Means Experienced
Chance stripped the word back to its root: Veteranus, meaning “experienced.” It doesn’t mean “combat hero” or “broken warrior.” It means you have gained experience in a specific service domain. Whether you were a cook or a Tier 1 operator, you entered a world of consequence to serve your country.
2. The “Never Enough” Trap
Rudy and I both confessed to feeling like we didn’t do enough. Comparison is the thief of joy. There is always someone who did more tours, saw more combat, or lost more friends. If you measure your value as a veteran by comparing your scars to someone else’s, you will always feel like a fraud. You need internal validation for your service, which can ebb and flow over time.
3. Service, Suffering, Service
Rudy mapped out the cycle: You serve, you suffer (the transition, the loss of identity), and to heal, you must serve again. Rudy felt the depression and addiction he faced came from a lack of purpose. The moment he found a new way to serve—through conservation or fitness—the anxiety vanished. The cure for the pain of the past is often service in the present.
4. Representation is a Duty
Rudy spoke about wearing his unit t-shirt or a “totem” when he goes out in public, like to Costco. It’s not about ego; it’s about representing the lineage. When you wear the shirt or the hat, you stand a little taller, you act a little better, because you are representing the dead and the living.
5. Karate in the Garage
I made the point that not every veteran is for every veteran. If Rudy calls me at 0300hrs to do karate in the garage, we’re doing karate in the garage. Other veterans might be into kicking it back and relaxing, maybe throwing some darts. You have to know who your tribe is within the tribe. Finding the specific type of connection you need—whether it’s high-intensity or low-key—is critical to avoiding isolation.
6. The Removal of the Superficial
Chance noted that the military removes the superficial layers of society. You all have the same haircut, the same clothes, the same risks. This forces a deeper, more authentic human connection. The struggle some veterans face as they depart the military is the return of the superficial—the lack of genuine, consequential human connection.
7. You Never Leave the Unit
Rudy realized that his suicidal ideation came from feeling he had left the unit. The breakthrough was realizing he never left—he just joined a new unit. Whether it’s Force Blue, The Collective, or another mission-focused team, we all tend to work best when we are in a unit.
Final Thought:
You are an experienced human being who stepped into the arena when others didn’t.
The mission didn’t end when you took off the uniform. The mission is to take that experience, that grit, and that capacity for brotherhood, and apply it to your new life. You are still serving; you just need to define the new objective.
Are you still serving, or are you just suffering?
Listen to the full “What Makes A Veteran?” discussion here: What Makes A Veteran?
Keep representing,
Shaun & The Collective Crew
