Posted on Sep 4, 2014
SFC Mark Merino
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Petrock
If I had my way I would have a slice of land and set up an outdoor rifle/pistol range. I have ZERO business skills so that isn't a reality for me, but it sure would be FUN! If you had a military ID I'd let you help police the range in lieu of membership fees! I'd have the reloaders on station doing their thing. I'd even have a coffee shop so I could have all my vices covered and co-located. Do you have a dream business? Are you already living your dream? You may already have the next great idea!
Edited 11 y ago
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Responses: 65
MSG Brad Sand
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Mark,

They have classes for business side of your dream. If it what you love, then do it. The VA also has money to help you reach your dream.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
>1 y
MSG Brad Sand TOO FUNNY!!!! That's how I finished school the last time. Morphine dripping out of my ears and one arm at a time with only 2 fingers and a thumb! I would try s hard to make deadlines and they would send me a link back my paper saying "try submitting again in another week" Sometimes I don't even remember writing the paper. Thanks for the memories!
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MSG Brad Sand
MSG Brad Sand
>1 y
SFC Mark Merino

If you have morphine dripping out of your ears..no matter how good it feels...you need to slow the meds down. :)

I was lucky enough to spend a short period as a Grad Asst. working on my Masters...did I say lucky?...and was able to look at some of my 'peers' work. I was not impressed. When I was putting together the final, the Professor made me make it more 'fair'. I am sure you were doing fine with two fingers because one was not up your...fourth point of contact.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
>1 y
That's where I keep my head MSG Brad Sand
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MSG Brad Sand
MSG Brad Sand
>1 y
LOL

SFC Mark Merino Mark, I have found myself in that position too.
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LTC Paul Labrador
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If I had freedom not to worry about profits to maintain the business, I'd open up a dance studio/event venue/party hall. There is always need for this kind of place but they are very hard to keep open due to the unpredictability of funds coming in.
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SFC Human Resources Specialist
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
Very true.  I use to be in the business and fond that "good' staffing was my primary issue due to the industry,  this can all be off set by Gorilla marketing and great marketing among the many other variables of course.
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SSG Pete Fleming
SSG Pete Fleming
>1 y
LTC Paul Labrador, that kinda goes inline with what I had attempted... Basically helping Vets follow their dreams within the arts (music, writing, dance)... I wasn't creating the physical studio per say, the goal would have to help them reach that goal.
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LTC Gregory Bishop
LTC Gregory Bishop
>1 y
What I'm doing now….a partner in Musa Productions, running the All Warrior Network. Entertainment for Warriors. http://www.facebook.com/allwarriornetwork
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SPC David Wyckoff
SPC David Wyckoff
11 y
That's how I fund my business. I just take from my budget as I can and then buy items to stock or for special orders. Then I put the money back when I sell it. It also allows me to determine my profit margin or if I want to just donate items to local charities or causes.
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SSgt Gregory Guina
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I have tossed around a indoor range (you need a crap ton of money for that). Also wouldn't mind doing a burger/beer place. Anyone in SoCal want to open a bar with me next year once I retire?
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
>1 y
I can't afford Cali. In AZ we could put a range together for next to nothing I imagine. What is the biggest cost? Insurance?
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SGT CH-47 Helicopter Repairer
SGT (Join to see)
>1 y
Air Handlers (If indoors) Bonding, Insurance, FFL, TIME.
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
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See what I did there? 75th response?? lol
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
I saw that! Thanks Big Larry!
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
11 y
My honor!
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MSgt Electrical Power Production
MSgt (Join to see)
11 y
You guys kill me! LOL!
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
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I am working on something that may pay off big and I will also hand this off to someone else and be a consultant to my business. Has to do with Weather.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
I have nothing but good thoughts and prayer for you my brother!!!
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SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
11 y
Thank you! Mark.
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MSgt Electrical Power Production
MSgt (Join to see)
11 y
Weather! Now that's surprising Larry! LOL! All jokes aside good luck brother!
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SGT Kristin Wiley
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1
0
Not really a business, but I would like to open a no-cage animal shelter.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
I'm a serious animal lover too.
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SA Harold Hansmann
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1
0
All I want is a minimum of 40 acres that I can raise my own meat for the freezer. ( beef, pork, sheep, rabbits, pheasants, turkeys, chickens, ect…) plant a decent sized garden. build a 300 yrd rifle range and pistol range. And hunt venison on. My wife has her own business (Beckalynsmasquerade.com) where we actually use the feathers from the birds we eat and rabbit hide we get tanned.
So we don't have much that isn't used from the animals we process out.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
Very cool. I bet you love those "roughing it" shows on Discovery et al. Alaska is the serious challenge.
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SA Harold Hansmann
SA Harold Hansmann
11 y
I have seen some of them reality shows. Survivor is a joke. People starving when there is a lot of meat walking, crawling, flying, slithering, and swinging through the trees. Seen some of them Alaska shows also, young and the restless with more drama. The best hypocracy was the two hillbillies in Kentucky one with a home made crossbow and the other with a muzzleloader. When they "snared" that deer. Funny part was when they were skinning it you could see the buckshot holes in the hide and meat.
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SA Harold Hansmann
SA Harold Hansmann
11 y
Don't get me wrong those shows do have some truth to them. Subsistence living is very difficult and a lot of work to survive.
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SGT Combat Documentation/Production Specialist
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I plan on photographing full time once I'm out. While keeping it mostly with rodeos and competitions would be ideal, personalized portrait sessions are where the money is at. If I wasn't in the military right now, I'd probably be following BPIR on their circuit right now.
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
Sounds like a solid plan. I keep meeting photographers who use much older equipment. Is the older technology better? It didn't even look digital. Even though we live in a technology driven, larger than life, in-color world,.....I LOVE B & W Military pictures. I don't know why. Maybe they remind me of older campaigns.
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CPT Chris Loomis
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Well, whatever you folks decide to do, don't become a licensed CA Private Investigator in Los Angeles, CA. The market is too diluted and full of people with no background in law enforcement or detective work. And then they try to undercut the market, and lie to their clients.

I'm in the process of greater diversification. I've taught surveillance operations and response to active shooter for years. More of my focus is in that direction....

I will say this in advance to all of us: Enjoy your post military life. Take it easy and smell some roses and see some sunsets.... Life is too short not to. Enjoy our families/friends and the freedoms we have defended and made possible.

An finally: GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!!
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
Amen! Family first!.....and Go Army, Beat Navy!!!
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
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SFC Marino, Gunsite Academy N. of Prescott is ? miles from San Tan Valley? I knew 1ea x-Sheriff who worked there as an ad hoc instructor. CSM
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
11 y
San Tan Valley is centrally located between the middle of nowhere, and the land that time forgot. It is conveniently 1 hour from anywhere, 2 hours to Tucson, and 1.5 hours from Phoenix. My neighbor is a cotton field (who knew....cotton in AZ???) and a ghost town. Long live RallyPoint and the internet!
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