MilCom Founders Podcast – Episode 38: Ryan Patrick Hunt, Founder of Tenth Mountain Recruiting and the Veteran Social Summit
Join host Rod Loges as he sits down with Ryan Patrick Hunt, founder of Tenth Mountain Recruiting and the Veteran Social Summit. Ryan is a retired U.S. Army officer who went from accidental e-commerce entrepreneur to boutique recruiting firm founder, and he’s spent the last decade building platforms and community infrastructure for veteran entrepreneurs.
In this episode:
- How growing up as a son of an entrepreneur and visiting 30+ countries before age 11 shaped who Ryan became
- Why Ryan left the Army as Sergeant Hunt in 2001, only to return to ROTC after 9/11 with a calling to lead soldiers into combat
- The Army pilot program that made Ryan one of the only active duty recruiters coordinating across 274 ROTC battalions nationwide
- How a $5 joke about stickers turned into 5,000 orders and launched his first business
- The difference between top line and bottom line, and why his first million-dollar year still taught him hard lessons
- Why his ideal client starts with value alignment, and what happens when it’s missing
- The IVMF story: why Ryan turned down the program for years, and what finally changed his mind
- What “planning is everything, the plan is nothing” really means for entrepreneurs
Key takeaways:
- Soft skills like leadership and communication are not secondary, they are the foundation that carries everything else
- Mission command works in business: give your team the vision and intent, then trust them to execute
- You have to be receptive before you can receive the network, mentorship, and collaboration that will change your trajectory
- Veterans who treat their business like Gollum treats the ring will limit what they can build
- 98% of everything is mindset, and consistent action beats a perfect plan every time
- Niching down does not mean turning away opportunity; it means knowing where to aim first
Guest: Ryan Patrick Hunt, Founder, Tenth Mountain Recruiting and the Veteran Social Summit
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanpatrickhunt/ Tenth Mountain Recruiting: www.tenthmountainrecruiting.com Veteran Social Summit: www.veteransocialsummit.com
Ryan Patrick Hunt is a retired U.S. Army officer and seasoned talent acquisition leader with over two decades of experience building high-performing teams across multiple industries. As the founder of Tenth Mountain Recruiting and Rally Point HR, he specializes in sourcing top talent and creating scalable recruiting solutions for growing organizations. Ryan is deeply embedded in the veteran entrepreneurship ecosystem, serving as an IVMF Ambassador and the driving force behind the Veteran Social Summit and the evolving “Forged by Service” platform.
In 2025, he was named Military Friendly’s Illinois Vetrepreneur of the Year, awarded the IVMF Ambassador Ecosystem Synergy Award, and recognized as one of Military Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 25 Military Changemakers. Known for his leadership, execution, and ability to connect people, Ryan continues to build platforms that drive opportunity, collaboration, and long-term success.
Looking ahead: Ryan’s Veteran Social Summit returns September 9-10 with a free virtual conference bringing together voices from across the military entrepreneurship community. The Forged by Service platform continues to evolve as a resource for veteran founders.
The MilCom Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business founders. Each episode brings practical insights from successful veteran entrepreneurs.
Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com
Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at milcomfounders.com