Veteran Connection Coach
Resilience Architect
ZACK STARR
817-717-2848
info@ZackStarr.com
RECONNECTING
VETERANS TO MISSION, IDENTITY & COMMUNITY
Empowering Organizations to THRIVE Beyond the Uniform
There Are 18-22
Veteran Suicides Daily.
But did you know
the majority never experienced combat?
It’s not just battlefield trauma that’s killing our veterans.
It’s the loss of identity, community, and purpose when they leave the uniform behind.
That’s the silent battle our
THRIVE Framework is built to win.
The Hidden Battle of Transition
And Why It's Costing Companies Millions
For every veteran, there comes a day when the uniform comes off for the last time. And in that moment, something profound is lost.
Because the uniform was never just clothing – it was identity, community, purpose, routine, accountability, and pride all woven into one. When it’s removed, it strips away the very structures that shaped who we are.
And that’s where the battle begins.
This transition – from military to civilian life – is the single greatest unspoken challenge facing veterans today. Not just those with combat injuries or moral wounds, but every veteran. Even those who never saw combat face a silent struggle to answer the question:
“Who am I without the uniform?
Until veterans rebuild these pillars – community, routine, activity, accountability, and purpose – they remain at risk. That’s where my THRIVE Framework comes in. It replaces what was lost with something stronger, creating a foundation for a life of meaning and momentum beyond service.
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44% of veterans leave their first civilian job within one year.
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65% change jobs within two years.
For organizations, the stakes are high. Replacing a single veteran employee can cost up to 200% of their salary – not just in recruitment and training, but in lost leadership, productivity, and institutional knowledge.
These aren’t just statistics. They are the direct result of a transition process that fails to rebuild identity, belonging, and purpose. Worse yet, they point to the deeper crisis behind veteran suicide – a crisis rooted not just in what veterans endured during service, but in what they lose after.
Zack Starr has cracked the code on this hidden war. And now, he is on a mission to help veterans – and the organizations that support them – build a life worth living beyond the uniform.
KEYNOTE
THRIVE BEYOND THE UNIFORM
From Silent Suffering to Purposeful Living: How to Heal, Retain, and Empower Our Military Heroes
Too many veterans return home only to face a silent battle alone. They lose their team, their mission, and their identity overnight – and the cost is devastating.
In this deeply moving and practical keynote, veteran and resilience architect Zack Starr shares Warriors Burden – his own near-suicide story of chronic pain, invisible injuries, and the deadly price of silent suffering. But he doesn’t stop there.
Through his THRIVE framework, Zack equips veterans with tools to rebuild purpose and resilience, empowers families to understand and support their loved ones, and guides corporations to create a culture where veterans don’t just survive – they thrive.
✔️ For Veterans: Discover how to redefine your purpose and pride beyond the uniform
✔️ For Families: Learn how to break the code of silence and truly support your hero
✔️ For Corporations: Understand why replacing a single veteran employee can cost up to 200% of their salary – and how to build loyalty, leadership, and retention by addressing the identity shifts that most overlook
This keynote doesn’t just inspire. It transforms silent struggles into collective strength – saving lives, strengthening families, and unlocking the full potential of those who served.
Book this keynote if you want to:
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Prevent veteran suicide and disengagement
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Retain top veteran talent in your organization
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Strengthen resilience and purpose within your teams
THE SOLUTION
THRIVE Framework
The Foundation for a Successful Future
In his powerful keynotes, Zack Starr reveals why the transition from military to civilian life is the greatest unspoken battle veterans face – and how his THRIVE Framework replaces what was lost with something stronger:
T – Team: Building networks of deep support and belonging
H – Habits: Creating daily practices that sustain resilience
R – Resilience: Strengthening the ability to rise after setbacks
I – Investment: Committing time and energy to what matters
V – Vision: Defining a clear purpose to guide each step forward
E – Engagement: Turning insights into bold, meaningful action
Event organizers trust Zack because he leaves audiences with more than hope. He equips them with practical tools to rebuild identity, reignite purpose, and thrive in the next chapter of life – creating measurable impact for veteran-focused organizations and companies committed to retaining their veteran talent.
"Zack's story was the inspiration I needed to keep fighting against my PTSD. His message completely changed my life and helped me find my next step in healing."
— Jennifer Andrade, United States Air Force Veteran
DOCUMENTARY FILM
THE EPIC MILE
(Zack's personal suicide to success story)
A Veteran's 2,650 mile journey through the darkness.
After years of chronic pain and facing a 6th surgery for a Military service-ending injury, Zack Starr’s life was at a crossroads. Determined to no longer allow his injury to define him, Zack sets off on an intense 2,650 mile solo hike along “The Everest of Hiking Trails” (The Pacific Crest Trail).
This documentary film follows his journey as he navigates daily challenges, extreme weather and dangerous terrain. But when word reaches him on trail that doctors cannot offer any relief from his escalating pain, Zack is forced into a familiar dark place of hopelessness which threatens his finish. In a powerful twist of events, he uncovers a truth that will forever change his life.
The Epic Mile is not just a hiking film nor a film just for veterans. This film is a testimony to the power of perseverance, and an example of how mastering mindset can carry us through the darkest of challenges. This is a true "Tragedy to Triumph" film that leaves you feeling inspired.
Zack's Bio
Zack Starr knows the silent battle that begins when the uniform comes off. As a veteran who faced years of chronic pain, depression, and near suicide, he discovered that the greatest threat to veterans isn’t just what happened during service – it’s what’s lost after.
Identity. Community. Purpose.
When those disappear, so does hope.
Today, Zack equips veterans and the organizations that support them with his THRIVE Framework – a practical, proven roadmap to rebuild what’s lost and transform silent suffering into unbreakable resilience and purpose-driven performance.
Audiences don’t just hear a powerful story. They leave with tools to:
✅ Rebuild identity beyond the uniform
✅ Create daily habits that sustain resilience
✅ Strengthen team belonging and morale
✅ Replace disengagement with purpose and momentum
Zack’s mission is simple:
To stop the quiet slide from transition to despair – and replace it with a life worth living.
As a devoted father, husband, Christian, and disabled veteran, Zack balances his time between family, service to the community, travel, and adrenaline filled adventures with his service dog, Nellie.