What do the Marine Corps and entertainment industry have in common? More than you might think.

Actor and comedian Rob Riggle, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, compared the two during an Oct. 29 panel discussion at the end of MOAA’s TotalForce+ conference at the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.

“They are totally different things, but … if you choose a life in the arts, you’re going to get beat up,” he said. “It’s not friendly. It’s not kind. Guess what? So is the Marines.”

The discipline gained from 23 years of service has been key to his success in the entertainment business, Riggle added.

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Riggle was joined by panelists Nate Boyer and B. Taylor in a session moderated by MOAA President and CEO Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), to discuss how military service has led to their professional success and why young people today should consider wearing the uniform.

Boyer, a former Green Beret who was on the roster of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and co-founded Merging Vets and Players (MVP), said serving in the Army taught him intangibles that other people don’t get to experience.

“Military service opened up the aperture,” he said. “I’m drawn to obstacles and problems that need to get solved, whether they are my own or somebody else’s. Part of that is from the military …. You elevate quicker because of that background.”

Nate Boyer’s post-service path included time with the Seattle Seahawks and co-founding a veteran- and athlete-focused nonprofit, as well as acting in and producing movies. (Photo by Sean Shanahan/For MOAA) 

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Taylor, an artist, producer, songwriter, and decorated Navy veteran, said he carries the “never-quit mentality and attitude” he gained from service.

“I think that's the greatest skill that I learned in the military is we're going to get it done and execute no matter what the cause,” he said.

An award-winning artist, B. Taylor has produced multiple chart-topping songs since leaving the Navy. (Photo by Mike Morones/MOAA)

All three panelists emphasized the positive impact uniformed service can have on a young person’s life.

There’s the foundation that service provides, said Riggle. “[In] your 20s, you're going to be the grunts. … It's not fun, so you might as well be in the Marines, or you might as well be in the Army or the armed services, developing some real skill sets, getting to go around the world doing some amazing things, living out some adventures, serving your country. … The mindset and the maturity and the discipline and all the things … they're real, they make a difference. … And then when you are ready, and you've got this amazing foundation that you've built over your 20s, you will launch into your 30s … whatever you decide to do, you're going to kick butt,” he said.

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Boyer focused on the idea of purpose, something he believes members of Gen Z – those born between 1997 and 2012 – are looking for.

“I think that is a very unique and special thing that the military does. … You do it for the sense of purpose and that mission and knowing that you’re around a group of people who have also gone through challenging things, hard things,” he said.

Taylor offered an important reminder to those considering service.

“[There’s] the camaraderie and the skillsets you learn,” he said. “There is a certain sacrifice, but [there is also] the many jobs — the great musicians in the military, you can be an accountant, you can be a cook. ... You can get your foundation. And your life is not over when you join. You’ve got to remember that. When you join the military, it’s just beginning.”