For the almost 40% of the US military with real jobs. 

We talk business, finance, news, and culture for the National Guard and Reserve.

This week:

• POLL: How Much Money Do You Make?

• Friendly Forces is Popular

• USERRA Problems at Work? Hit up Brian Lawler

• The Rise of the Military LinkedInfluencer

• So You Want to be an OC/T…

• News Roundup: What Happened Last Week?

Job Market Snapshot: Nov 16-22, 2025

Missed the headlines? Labor data drama dominated—delayed reports revealed a mixed bag, signaling a cooldown without full panic. Key hits:

• September Jobs Surprise: Economy added 119,000 roles (beating forecasts of ~50k), with gains in healthcare (+45k) and leisure/hospitality (+30k). But transportation shed jobs (-15k). Bottom line: Hiring ticked up modestly after summer slump, but not enough to thrill. BLS Report

• Unemployment Creeps Up: Rate hit 4.4% (highest since October 2021), as more folks jumped back into job hunting. Fed doves see recession red flags; hawks cheer the gains. Bloomberg Coverage

• Data Blackout Fallout: October report canceled, November's delayed till Dec 16—blame a "lengthy blackout" (government shutdown). Expect volatility in Fed rate bets. Reuters on Delay

• Trend Watch: AI's reshaping roles (e.g., agentic tools in ops), but white-collar slowdown lingers. If you're job hunting, target healthcare/service gigs—they're hiring steady. BLS AI Projections

Quick Takeaway: Market's stable-ish, but rising unemployment means more competition. Update your resume if sidelined.

Finance Market Snapshot: Nov 16-22, 2025

Stocks swung wild amid delayed econ data and Fed whispers—tech took hits, but rate-cut hopes sparked a Friday bounce. Weekly vibe: Cautious optimism with underlying jitters. Major moves:

• Weekly Wrap: Dow dipped 0.8% Thursday on broad sell-off, Nasdaq plunged 2.2% (tech drag from AI bubble fears). Friday rebound lifted S&P +0.3%, Nasdaq +0.5% on 75% odds of Dec Fed cut. Net: Modest weekly losses, but November's off to a +1% start. Schwab Weekly Outlook

• Big News: Powell Industries crushed Q3 earnings ($298M revenue beat), boosting industrials. Broader: Cooling inflation + job softness fuels 2-3 more cuts in 2026. Investing.com Transcript

• Risks Bubbling: Consumer sentiment tanked on stock drops and sticky shop prices; credit worries loom if unemployment climbs. AI hype props Nasdaq, but fragility shows—watch for policy pivots. UMich Surveys

• Trend Watch: Defensive plays (utilities, staples) outperformed; bonds rallied as yields fell. Global echo: EU forecasts sluggish 1.3% GDP growth. EU Autumn Forecast

Quick Takeaway: Volatility's your cue—diversify beyond tech. If investing casually, eye Fed minutes Wed for cut clarity. Stay nimble.

Interested in becoming a featured newsletter sponsor? Reach out to [email protected]

Need some new boots?

We’ve been running OTB boots. Can’t recommend enough.

If you need boots, check ‘em out.

Quick Pole Poll

Mostly just curious here. We all know Captain Chadwick made over $550K last year and hasn’t had a carb since 2004. How much did you make?

Friendly Forces is Popular

For some reason, corporate America has apparently discovered Friendly Forces.

Last week we completed two white papers recommending how companies from two different industries could and should improve their military leave policies. We expect broader partnerships to come from them, which is awesome.

We are currently authoring another 6 white papers for other companies.

We have also secured a partnership with a massive financial institution to promote reservist-friendly policies and get the part⚡time bois employed with the company with others in the works. More to come on that.

Recent additions to the Friendly Forces Reservist Friendly Companies List include:

• ZScaler

• Boston Scientific

• Excel Energy

• Stryker

• Puget Sound Energy

We are planning a Friendly Forces Happy Hour in the Washington, DC area for early December. Details TBD.

As always, reach out and tell us how your employer handles military leave. If they’re awesome, we want to know. If they suck, we want to help them.

Your Job. Your Service. Your Attorney.

Boss giving you grief about your military commitments? Call Brian Lawler.

If you’re running into problems with your employer due to your military service, contact Brian Lawler.

Brian’s a former Marine pilot, reservist, and one of the top USERRA attorneys in the country. He knows the law better than your HR department, and he’s made a career out of holding employers accountable.

Free consult. No win, no fee.
If your job’s on the line, Brian’s the guy you want in the fight.

Set up a meeting here.

The Rise of the Military LinkedInfluencer

The social media dystopian hellscape ecosystem has given rise to a new phenomenon: the military influencer.

Traditionally, influencers, to include those of the military variety, build followings on the OG platforms—primarily TikTok and Instagram, where they make cringy self-serving posts dressed up to be about helping others. A few of them are actually funny, most are garbage. No news there.

But the most sinister type of narcissist military influencer is actually the military LinkedInfluencer. The chosen platform for these social media terrorists moguls is the business platform LinkedIn.

These people are diabolically brilliant.

They can’t be shamed and torched on a professional platform like LinkedIn where current and future employers may be watching the way they can/would/should be on traditional social media platforms.

Compounding the issue, is that the people posting the most, talking the loudest, and anointing themselves military ambassadors tend to have the least experience and have no idea what they’re talking about.

There is, quite literally, a direct, negative correlation between how much someone has actually done in the military, and how much they talk about it.

Please, if you’re a recent Direct Commission Captain in the Reserve, limit the selfies in uniform, war stories from the Direct Commission Course, and military analysis of current events.

It’s embarrassing because while clueless civilians may thank you for your service and “like” your post, the rest of us are dying of cringe.

-the Management

So You Want to be an OC/T…

by SSG Kariken Stepanian

Being an Observer-Controller/Trainer (OC/T) is one of the most challenging yet rewarding roles in the Army. As an E6 who has served as both a tactical and operational OC/T, I've seen firsthand how this position transforms units and prepares them for Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). If you're considering stepping into this role, here's what you need to know.

First off, OC/Ts are the backbone of collective training exercises. We evaluate units, commanders, and staffs to determine if they can accomplish their Mission Essential Tasks (METs) or Commander's Training Objectives (CTOs). Whether you're working with tactical-level units or operational staffs, the fundamentals remain the same: observe, evaluate, and provide feedback. You'll utilize Training and Evaluation Outlines (T&EOs), doctrine, and After Action Reviews (AARs) to assess performance, identify gaps, and help units improve.

However, being an OC/T isn't just about following doctrine. You are the face of the training environment for the Rotational Training Unit (RTU). Soldiers, commanders, and senior enlisted leaders will look to you for guidance and feedback, and they will treat your insights as authoritative. That's why it's essential to know your material thoroughly. You were chosen for this role because of your experience, but it's crucial to connect that experience with doctrine. Avoid being the "back in my day" OC/T. Stay current and know how to incorporate your expertise in a relatable and actionable way.

This job is not easy. You will spend long hours in the field, sometimes facing challenging conditions, and you will need to be adaptable and resilient. Professionalism is key. Always uphold the standards, even when the RTU becomes relaxed. Remember, while you can come and go, the RTU may be stuck in the desert for days. Be the leader they need, not the person who shows up with pizza while they are eating MREs on day 12. Your attitude and professionalism will set the tone for the training environment.

If you're serious about becoming an OC/T, speak with your training personnel about getting certified. The certification course will teach you the methods and systems needed to observe, evaluate, and effectively shape training. After certification, if you're not already assigned to an OC/T unit, you can reach out to your functional area's representatives at Combat Training Centers, Mission Command Training Platforms, or the USAR's 84th Training Command to get assigned as an OC/T for a specific rotation or exercise. There are also opportunities to serve as a "guest" OC/T for events.

Being an OC/T is challenging, but it is worth it. You will help units grow and improve, leaving training better prepared for the fight. If you're ready for the challenge, I promise it will be one of the most rewarding roles you will ever take on. You will walk away knowing you made a tangible impact on the Army's readiness and the Soldiers who depend on it.

Unit Merch Increases Lethality

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PART⚡TIME News: What Happened Last week

National Guard deployments stretch from Chicago to Texas as governors cite migration and public safety concerns

Lawmakers urge troops to refuse illegal orders in video

Government Reopens: What Every Service Member and Veteran Needs to Know Right Now

‘Golden Dome’ implementation plan under review; Congress may get look this week

Selected Reserve Marines eligible for up to $20,000 retention bonus

Holiday Mailing Guidelines

Army Reserve Soldiers support JTF-North mission in the Southwest

Coast Guard reverses course on policy to call swastikas and nooses ‘potentially divisive’

Everything Is Contingent Now

Texas Airman charged in plot to help Haitian coup leader return to power

Donald Trump reportedly said Democrats want to take over the military if he loses

The secret list that is ending military careers

Support the Fight

If you support the work that Friendly Forces does, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help keep the lights on. Every bit helps. Turns out stuff is expensive and we put countless man hours into the work.

That’s it for this week.

Absolutely massive things coming.