‘An All-Around Good Dude’ – How Jason Van Camp & His Businesses Have Inspired Veterans

For our Vets to Ventures series this year, we have made it a point to focus on outreach, talking with organization executives to gauge how their military experience has translated to their corporate success. This month, we feature decorated Green Beret turned entrepreneur Jason Van Camp, founder of Mission Six Zero and Warrior Rising.

Jason channeled his military background to launch successful businesses, and through these ventures, he has helped inspire tens of thousands of veterans in their return to the workforce. In 2013, Jason founded Mission Six Zero – a leadership consulting firm for companies and sports teams, and in 2015, Jason founded Warrior Rising – a nonprofit that has empowered over 40,000 veterans through business training. Through his businesses, Jason is an entrepreneur, leader, and motivational speaker who empowers company employees and sports athletes to thrive in complex environments and an action leader who helps veterans with critical corporate training.

In addition to founding two impactful organizations, Jason is a best-selling author, husband, and father, and he hopes people describe him as just “an all-around good dude.” Jason is an inspiring example of how service can forge not just warriors, but exceptional leaders and compassionate entrepreneurs. His work focuses on rebuilding lives and restoring purpose, and he has helped veterans transition their military service into successful business careers.

Discipline, Self-Sacrifice, and Dedication to Duty

Jason's journey began with a path that many of us in the military recognize – one of discipline, self-sacrifice, and dedication to duty. Born in DC and raised in Virginia, Jason came from a family steeped in military service with his father serving in Vietnam. This exposure, combined with his natural drive, led him to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. There, he not only excelled academically but also played football for Army, honing leadership and teamwork.

A pivotal moment for Jason came on September 11, 2001. Stationed at Fort Sill, he saw the planes hit the Twin Towers on TV. Jason knew the Army would soon be going into battle. This propelled him to volunteer for Ranger School, a grueling qualification process that began with 200 candidates and ended with only three graduates, one of whom was Jason.

His deployments took him to Korea, then with the 101st Airborne Division during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It was during this time that he observed the Special Forces and was deeply impressed by their professionalism and the respect their work commanded. This admiration led him to pursue and earn the coveted Green Beret in 2006, joining the 10th Special Forces Group.

During Jason’s time as a Detachment Commander with the 10th Special Forces Group, he led his team on close to 300 combat missions, directly targeting high-value individuals. Beyond direct action, he also created and commanded one of the largest Foreign Internal Defense Forces in U.S. history, training nearly 4,000 Iraqi and Kurdish soldiers in everything from hand-to-hand combat to unconventional warfare. His valor and leadership were recognized with numerous awards, including the Bronze Star with a V device for Valor, and two additional Bronze Stars during his combat rotations in the Middle East and Africa.

However, the relentless demands of combat eventually took their toll. While deployed in Mali, Africa, Jason began experiencing severe health issues, later suspected to be caused by a parasite, leading to tonic-clonic seizures. The difficult decision was made for him to medically retire in 2015, marking the end of a distinguished 14-year military career.

From Military Leadership to Business Entrepreneur

For many veterans, the transition to civilian life can be disorienting. The sense of purpose, the camaraderie, and the clear mission that define military service are often difficult to find in the civilian world. But Jason saw not an ending, but a new beginning – an opportunity to leverage his unparalleled leadership experience from the military into business.

After earning his M.B.A. from BYU, Jason noticed a burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit around him with several classmates starting businesses. Jason realized that the leadership principles refined in the crucible of special operations were directly applicable to the corporate world and professional sports. He played football for Army, and he had a passion for sports, so he combined the two things. This led him to the founding of Mission Six Zero. He started working with NFL and MLB clients, including Jets, Raiders, Packers, and Steelers, teaching leadership and team-building skills to athletes. These representations extended to leadership training for companies and as keynote speaking opportunities at business conferences.

As Jason often says, he’s teaching people what he knows. It’s about taking the science behind Special Forces and applying it to everyday challenges, helping individuals prosper holistically across: Mental, Emotional, Physical, Spiritual, Professional, and Social. As Jason describes in his best-selling book, Deliberate Discomfort: How U.S. Special Operations Forces Overcome Fear and Dare to Win by Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable, and his second book, Authority, these are not just motivational talks; they are deep dives into human performance and behavioral science, translated into actionable strategies

Warrior Rising: Empowering Veterans to Find New Purpose

While Mission Six Zero flourished, Jason noticed a recurring theme among his veteran colleagues that they would tell him, ‘We had a purpose in the military, and now we don’t.’ These conversations sparked a new mission, one that would directly address the yearning for purpose that many veterans feel after service.

In 2015, Jason founded Warrior Rising, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to empowering veterans and their immediate families by providing them with tools and opportunities to create sustainable businesses. He recognized that for many veterans, entrepreneurship offered a path to regaining control, finding new purpose, and continuing to serve – not in uniform, but in the marketplace.

The various business programs offered at Warrior Rising are designed to translate military skills into business acumen:

• Warrior Academy®: A proprietary instruction that builds on military training and experience, translating the military decision-making process into a business model and preparing veterans for the challenges of entrepreneurship.
• Monthly Coaching and Master Class Sessions: Coaching sessions address general business questions, while master classes feature keynote speakers and breakout rooms with expert mentors covering specific business topics, akin to an MBA class.
• Warrior University™ - Veteran Business Accelerator Program: An eight-week accelerator program that hones business plans for real-world application.
• Veteran Business Showers: Like a bridal or baby shower, these events shower vetrepreneurs with everything they need to succeed. This includes grants, access to clients and investors, custom business suits, laptops, custom-built websites, SEO services, professional headshots, and marketing videos.

The impact of Warrior Rising has been phenomenal. From raising just $90,000 and helping six veterans in its first year, the organization has grown exponentially, raising over $20 million and assisting more than 40,000 veterans to date. They've hosted 180 business showers, and their goal is to help create 100 veteran-owned million-dollar businesses over the coming years.

A Blueprint for Purpose and Perseverance

Jason’s life offers a powerful inspiration to both aspiring entrepreneurs and military veterans. He reminds us that the greatest achievements often stem from a deep understanding of one’s own experiences and the courage to share those lessons to empower others. For veterans, his story is a beacon of hope, demonstrating that sense of purpose and camaraderie found in service doesn’t have to end with a uniform and that discipline, leadership, and adaptability forged in the military are highly valuable assets in the civilian world.

The success of Mission Six Zero and Warrior Rising speaks to the power of authentic passion and the profound impact that can be achieved when an entrepreneur’s personal mission aligns with a genuine need in the world. Warrior Rising is a living testament to this truth, providing a structured pathway for veterans to translate their unique experiences into entrepreneurial success, reminding them that their skills and drive are exactly what’s needed to build new ventures.

About Our Author

John Woods is a member of the Adams & Reese Financial Services Practice Group, and a former infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard. Practicing in the firm’s Memphis office, John represents corporate clients in commercial litigation, business disputes, and insurance defense that encompasses professional liability claims. He is an experienced trial and appellate attorney.

Adams & Reese Vets to Ventures Series

(Vets to Ventures features articles addressing legal and business topics impacting service members and veterans.)

• “Protecting Your Mission: A Veteran Business Owner’s Guide to Contracts”
• “Protecting Your Patent: How a Vet-Owned AI Company Safeguarded its IP”
• “Reconnaissance is Key – A Veteran Business Owner’s Guide on Commercial Leases”
• “Military Spouse Federal Workers Exempt from Return-to-Work Mandate”
• “What Do Businesses Need to Know About the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)?”
• “Fighting Homelessness – Pro Bono and Legal Aid Resources to Help Vets Find Shelter”
• “A Special Veterans Day Tribute – Adams & Reese Employees Reflect on their Service”
• “Programs Available to Veteran Entrepreneurs with Service-Connected Disabilities”
• “What Can Employers Ask Military Veterans During Job Interviews?”
• “What is the Civil Reserve Air Fleet Program? Why is CRAF Beneficial to the Military and Airline Industry?”
• “What are the Best Practices for Internal Controls and the Warning Signs of Embezzlement?”
• “Document Organization is Critical for Corporations and LLCs”
• “Remembering Our Fallen Heroes: Significance of Memorial Day”
• “Employer-Employee Considerations and Tips for Veteran Business Owners”
• “Succession Planning for Veteran-Owned Businesses with Federal Certification”
• “From Battlefield to Boardroom: Applying Military Principles to the Business World”
• “Operation Litigation: Top Tips if Your Business is Threatened with a Lawsuit”
• “Forming an LLC or Corporation: Which Business Entity is Right for You?”
• “Legal Intel for Veteran Entrepreneurs”