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This Veteran Lived on a Thai Island… Now He Runs a T-Shirt Empire / Brandon Mills Total Promotion Co

Brandon Mills, U.S. Army Veteran, Abrams tank gunner, print shop founder, tells their story to Vegas Veteran Voices, a Veteran-led nonprofit in Las Vegas.

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In this story
Brandon Mills, U.S. Army Veteran, Abrams tank gunner, print shop founder
Service branch
U.S. Army
Organization
Total Promotion Company
Published
Running time
59 minutes (59:59)
Production
Filmed by Vegas Veteran Voices, a Veteran-led nonprofit in Las Vegas
Recorded before Vegas Veteran Voices became a nonprofit.

About this story

From firing 120mm rounds in an Abrams tank to launching a speedboat business on a remote Thai island, and now running one of the most badass apparel print shops in Las Vegas... Brandon Mills has lived a life you have to hear to believe.

In this episode of Vegas Veteran Voices, we sit down with Army Veteran and founder of Total Promotion Company, Brandon Mills, to unpack his unbelievable journey from military service to entrepreneurship. What starts as a story about resilience quickly unravels into a full-blown odyssey: surviving the 2008 crash, escaping to Asia, becoming a dad abroad, faking official documents to keep his business alive during the COVID lockdown, and pioneering Direct-to-Film (DTF) technology for apparel in Las Vegas.

We talk about what it really takes to adapt after the military... especially when the civilian world doesn’t play by the same rules. Brandon shares real, unfiltered insight on imposter syndrome, burnout, leadership, building something from scratch, and staying sane when everything’s falling apart.

If you’re a Veteran, creative, small business owner, or someone grinding through your own pivot, this conversation hits deep.

Topics we cover include:
, Life in the U.S. Army as an Abrams tank crewman
, Backpacking across Southeast Asia & building a business in Thailand
, Starting over as a father and husband after leaving the military
, How Brandon kept his business open during the COVID lockdowns
, What DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing is and why it’s a game changer
, Mistakes first-time merch buyers make (and how to avoid them)
, The truth about entrepreneurship as a Veteran
, Why freedom... not money... is the goal

Whether you’re a Veteran navigating transition, a side hustler trying to scale, or just someone who loves a wild underdog story... this episode is packed with raw moments, hard lessons, and unexpected humor.

About Total Promotion Company:
Based in Las Vegas, Total Promotion Company specializes in high-quality custom apparel and branded merchandise using cutting-edge Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing. They support nonprofits, musicians, startups, and major brands alike with fast turnaround and personalized service.

Connect with Brandon Mills:
Website: https://totalpromotioncompany.com
Instagram: @totalpromotioncompany

Follow Vegas Veteran Voices:
Instagram: @vegasveteranvoices
Website: https://vegasveteranvoices.com

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