rapidfire
Retiree Spotlight
I
n 2008, former Army ranger change of mission. I still look after soldiers, I just
Lt. Col. John Campbell, USA- don’t wear a uniform anymore.
Ret., founded Vetmade Industries What does Vetmade Industries do? We make
Inc. in Tampa, Fla., a nonprofi t that Adirondack furniture, birdhouses, [and] fl ag
trains and prepares disabled and boxes and do some customized woodworking.
unemployed veterans to reenter We not only produce high-quality items, [but
the workforce. we also] give veterans a paycheck, a skill
What did you do on active duty? they can use, and a chance to get their
I started out as an infantry offi cer, résumés together and build up a
but the Army moved me into the work history so they can fi nd
Chemical Corps. I became a long-term employment.
command chemical offi cer, and How many people does Vet-
in 2003, I was part of a team made employ? We have eight
that searched for weapons people right now.
of mass destruction in Iraq. Did you receive any seed
I also did weapons of mass money to help you start
destruction defense plan- Vetmade? No, I didn’t
ning and pandemic infl u- receive any grants or seed
enza response planning. money. I cashed in all of
Did you get called back my IRAs [and] my mutual
to active duty when the funds and took out a $100,000
H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak home equity line of credit. I’ve in-
occurred? I thought the vested everything in the business.
phone might ring if anybody needed Has it been worth it? I wouldn’t
anything, but it didn’t. trade it for anything. I walk into the
Why did you start Vetmade? shop and see the guys working, and I
As a military offi cer, you have an can see the results. They’re not just
obligation to your soldiers, and I building chairs. They’re building
found you can’t just turn that off. themselves back up.
I view my retirement orders as a — Kris Ann Hegle
Attention! Check out these military-related entertainment offerings.
BOOK A Path Out of dle East’s many crises and (Macmillan Audio, 2009) BOOK Crow Call (Scho-
the Desert: A Grand explains how the U.S. can The soldiers who made lastic Press, 2009) Based
Strategy for America in address these problems. up the Monuments, Fine on her experience, chil-
the Middle East (Random Arts, and Archives section dren’s book author Lois
House, 2009) Ken Pollock AUDIOBOOK The risked everything during Lowry delivers a timeless
offers a long-term strategy Monument Men: Allied and after World War II to story about a young girl
to improve the political, Heroes, Nazi Thieves, protect many of the world’s getting reacquainted with
economic, and social prob- and the Greatest Trea- greatest works of art and her father who has just re-
lems that underlie the Mid- sure Hunt in History historical artifacts. turned home from war. MO
30 MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2009 PHOTO: REBECCA PUJALS-JONES
NNov_RF.indd 30ov_RF.indd 30 110/6/09 12:35 PM0/6/09 12:35 PM
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