Veterans Day stories: From protecting American independence to achieving financial independence
Every year, thousands of American service members trade military life for the civilian workforce. Once they’ve wrapped up their missions at home and abroad, Turo is proud to provide a path for many veterans to pursue a new mission: achieving financial independence.
As of 2023, 7% of U.S. hosts reported they were active duty military, reservists, or veterans. This Veterans Day, we’re celebrating their stories.
A new challenge on the homefront
Rebekah Moncure spent 16 years serving in the Air Force and Navy, including tours in Okinawa, Japan and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Now working in Las Vegas as a successful IT executive, she’s facing a new challenge on the homefront: raising four kids as a single mom and being the primary caretaker for her own mother, all while navigating surging costs of living.
At the recommendation of a fellow veteran, Rebekah listed her two cars on Turo’s peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace. She has since acquired a Chevrolet Corvette to add true Las Vegas flair to her fleet.
In between her day job and parenting duties, the income Rebekah earns from hosting allows her to cover Nevada’s high gas and car ownership costs as well as put more money toward grocery and healthcare bills. In her words, she’s no longer “so strapped paycheck to paycheck.”
With an extra car in the driveway now, Rebekah can also lend her oldest daughter a car for driving lessons. Just not the Corvette for at least a few more years, Rebekah says.
Her message to other veterans is simple: “I want to get the word out to other veterans who are thinking, 'How can I offset what I need to bring in or add another stream of revenue?’ Definitely leverage your ability to be a vet... I think it’s a wonderful opportunity.”
An entrepreneurial pivot
Jivaro Johnson is a disabled veteran who operates his Turo business in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
After serving in the Army, National Guard, and Air Force, Jivaro retired from military duty in 2020. Soon after, he founded an entertainment company that specializes in hosting events across North Texas.
He originally began hosting on Turo to build capital and business credit that would support his existing small business. Before long, his Turo profits were outpacing his entertainment company’s. So Jivaro did exactly what his training taught him to do: adapt. While he still operates his entertainment business today, Turo is now Jivaro’s primary business.
Jivaro uses his host earnings to supplement his veterans benefits and income as an ROTC instructor at a local school, while also paying down remaining business loans.
Reflecting on his pivot, Jivaro says, “Turo has been essential to supporting my entrepreneurial dreams.”
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Rebekah and Jivaro are two of the many veterans who have made Turo part of their next chapter. Whether they’re covering costs of living or pursuing entrepreneurship, veterans across the country are using the skills they’ve built while serving the public to find new success in the private sector.
This Veterans Day, and every day, Turo is grateful to all who have served and all who continue to serve. Below, read what other veteran hosts say hosting means to them.
