Episode description

🎙️ Host: Scott Schimmel
🎙️ Guest: George Frausto

Episode Overview
In this episode of the Vector Accelerator Podcast, Scott Schimmel sits down with George Frausto, a Navy veteran with 23 years of service as a corpsman, to talk about the realities of transition, overcoming missteps, and rediscovering purpose after military service.

George shares his biggest transition fail—not taking the time for self-reflection and networking early enough—and how that led to lessons that shaped his post-military journey. He also discusses the importance of self-discovery, how to filter out career paths that don’t align with personal values, and why taking on non-traditional roles can be the key to professional reinvigoration.

This conversation is a must-listen for veterans (regardless of rank) who are trying to navigate their next chapter and want practical, real-world advice on making the transition successfully.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ Why landing a job right away isn’t necessarily a success
✅ The biggest mistake senior veterans make when transitioning
✅ How collateral duties in the military can shape your civilian career
✅ Why self-reflection is critical in career planning (and how to do it)
✅ How to identify what you don’t want to do in your next career
✅ The importance of networking and how to shift your mindset around it
✅ How to structure your transition like a job search without burning out
✅ Why taking a non-traditional role (even part-time) can reignite your motivation
✅ The role of mentorship and career coaching in finding the right fit
✅ Why Vector Accelerator’s self-paced program helps veterans navigate transition with clarity

Memorable Quotes:
💬 "My biggest failure was not networking and not figuring out who I was outside of the military." – George Frausto

💬 "Veterans often take on roles and figure them out quickly. We’re wired for problem-solving and adaptability." – George Frausto

💬 "If you don’t take time for self-reflection, you’ll end up in a job that doesn’t make you happy—even if the paycheck is great." – George Frausto

💬 "I had no idea how much I accomplished in the military until I went back and read my service record." – George Frausto

💬 "Taking a job at H&R Block wasn’t about the work—it was about engaging professionally, staying sharp, and keeping momentum." – George Frausto

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Transition Challenges
05:20 The Importance of Networking
11:28 Self-Discovery and Reflection
18:01 Finding Fulfillment in Work
20:11 The Value of Vector Accelerator
30:15 Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations

Resources & Links:
🔗 Vector Accelerator Program – vectoraccelerator.org
🔗 Take the Transition Readiness Quiz – vectoraccelerator.org
🔗 Connect with George Frausto on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgefrausto/
🔗 Follow Vector Accelerator on LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/company/vector-accelerator

About George Frausto
Field Sales Executive, George Frausto has over 13 years of experience in medical simulation, spearheading sales efforts across diverse U.S. markets and increasing revenue by 13% through effective client engagement and territory management. He expanded the government and military
customer base by acquiring 24 new clients through strategic prospecting, aligning with organizational goals to enhance market presence. George also developed and delivered impactful presentations, fostering consultative relationships with clinical call points and supply chain partners. His expertise in the SLED markets led to a 10% growth by implementing targeted
strategies, demonstrating his ability to meet organizational objectives and adapt to evolving challenges. George stood up and managed a simulation center for the Navy with hospital-based high-fidelity simulators, trauma simulators, immersive environments, and task trainers. He consulted military simulation centers on setup, equipment selection, and procurement.

George grew up in Blue Island, Illinois, and enlisted in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, serving for 23 years before retiring as a Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman. While on active duty, he served stateside and overseas at Military Treatment Facilities and deployed in support of Desert Shield/Storm on the USS RALEIGH (LPD-1) and with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operations Iraqi Freedom I & II. His last duty station was as an Instructor at the Surface Warfare Medical Institute (SWMI).

George has a passion for ensuring that his military successors receive the best training and tools to prepare them to care for their sailors, soldiers, and Marines in peacetime and conflict. In his free time, George enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife Lisa, sons Jordan and Jarod, daughter Isabella, and their spoiled dog Tinker and cat Nala.