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Jake Froehlich

Jake Froehlich | U.S. Navy Seabee Veteran | Palm Harbor Small Business Owner | Community Leader

Jake Froehlich (he says “Jake Freric” in the intro, but the title spells Froehlich) joined the military at 18. He was raised mostly in San Diego, California (born in Redding, bounced between SoCal and NorCal as a kid).

Why he joined

At 18, Jake wasn’t sure what direction to take, but he wanted to leave home, “spread his wings,” and pursue a bigger version of what had always pulled him: service.

Before enlisting, he was drawn to being a firefighter/EMT—volunteering at fire stations and even spending time in a hospital program that put him close to ER work (he mentions helping around sutures and seeing an autopsy). Then a switch flipped: he wanted “the next more badass thing,” still rooted in service.

Branch and job

  • Branch: U.S. Navy

  • Community / Type: Seabees

  • Rating mentioned: “CV” (he chose it largely because it kept him off ships, which he specifically wanted)

The twist: color blindness changed his path

Jake originally thought he’d pursue something like diver/special operations, and he did well in the recruiter’s DEP/PT pipeline. But during processing he learned he was color blind, which sharply limited his options—so he picked “CV” after being told it would keep him off boats.

First station and first deployment

After boot camp, his A-school was in Port Hueneme, California (close to home). Top of the class could choose between Guam or Gulfport, Mississippi. Jake and another student were neck-and-neck; the other guy edged him out—so Jake got Gulfport/Biloxi.

He checked into the command, but the command was already overseas, and after combat skills training he linked up with them in Kuwait.

The “hard hat” initiation (Kuwait)

He describes arriving as a young Seabee with a “shiny hard hat.” His first boss took the hard hat, admired how shiny it was, and kicked it a hundred yards across the desert—twice—sending Jake running after it. That was his introduction to Seabee culture: humor, toughness, and learning fast.

Mentor who shaped him

Jake names Chief Johnson (“Big Dog”) as his most influential mentor—especially during convoy operations in Afghanistan, where Chief Johnson was convoy commander: “hard charger,” “hammer down mentality,” kept people focused and moving.

He says they still keep in touch, and Chief Johnson even donated toward the Purple Heart Park project in Palm Harbor, which Jake is involved with.

Service time and deployments

  • Time in service: just shy of 8 years

  • Overseas: five times

  • Locations/mentions include:

    • Kuwait

    • Afghanistan

    • Guam

    • Africa (Djibouti region; he describes work near Tajoura, building a village concept for pregnant women—project outcome unknown after relief)

He notes the Seabees were often overmanned (~110%), promotions were tough, and after multiple deployments plus family responsibilities, he decided it was time to transition out.

Family

Jake married a high school sweetheart early on (didn’t last). He later met the woman he’s been with for 12 years.

When he entered her life, she had a 2-year-old son. Jake describes consciously stepping into mentorship and then a father role—especially because the boy’s biological father faded from the picture, paralleling Jake’s own father situation. Later, they had a daughter together.

What the military gave him that he still carries

Jake’s core takeaway is camaraderie—the kind where people would “defend you till the end of the earth,” and where time doesn’t break the bond. He describes getting calls from buddies after years of silence and it instantly feels like no time passed—starting with them roasting him like old times.

He also highlights a second layer: mentors who actually care about your growth, not just your performance.

And he’s blunt about the downside: once you’re out, it’s hard to find that again, which he links to why he and his wife moved so much after separation—always feeling like something was missing.

Transition after separation (the winding road)

Jake’s post-service path is a real-world roller coaster:

  1. Network marketing (briefly; lost trust in people and got out)

  2. Construction (leveraging Seabee skills: versatile trades)

  3. Illinois: building modular homes (factory + field assembly)

  4. Real estate / flipping houses: went south after mismanagement and trusting the wrong person; foreclosure and business loss

  5. Mississippi: tough stretch—forklift job, brutal swing shifts, exhaustion

  6. Caterpillar (Illinois): engine assembly line → promoted to proving grounds / R&D (“work with engineers to break stuff,” test machines, crash/roll equipment—he loved it)

  7. Florida: moved for quality of life, warmth, “palm tree life,” better on the joints

Why Palm Harbor

They explored Florida broadly (East Coast felt too fast; St. Augustine was cool but not their fit). They landed in Palm Harbor / Dunedin area and felt it was uniquely patriotic with a strong veteran community—despite being expensive and increasingly congested.

What he does now: small business owner

Jake owns a pet waste management company:

Scoop Recon 360

  • Residential + commercial service

  • Strong brand launch: wrapped truck, website, and full social presence

  • Handles marketing content himself now, getting “pretty decent” at editing

Veteran community leadership

Jake says finding the Pinellas County Veterans Association felt like finally finding home. He describes it as the first place in a long time where he and his family felt they belonged.

He also mentions running for Honorary Mayor of Palm Harbor (and jokes about people putting air quotes around it because Palm Harbor is unincorporated—but he’s in it for the community engagement).

Advice to a young person considering service

Jake’s guidance is practical and non-tribal:

  • Explore every branch (Navy, Army, Coast Guard, etc.)

  • You’ll gain experiences and relationships you can’t replicate elsewhere

  • You’ll get pride and hardship—but camaraderie helps you survive the hard parts

His closing message (legacy)

Jake looks into the camera and delivers a clean “life philosophy” message:

  • Live a life you’re proud of

  • Pour into others; don’t be selfish

  • The service helped shape him into the man, father, husband, and community member he is today—so “take that and run with it.”