Looking to supplement my military retirement income w/stocks,etfs

For some reason mods removed my post in r/dividends.

$45k cash
$53k military pension
$1,000 cash to invest monthly

I’m thinking about splitting the $45k between JEPQ/JEPI w/drip and investing the $1,000/month in individual growth stocks.

I want to avoid SPY, VOO and the like. I believe we’re in a new investing environment post pandemic and historical S&P 500 returns are not a good indicator of future returns.

Thoughts? Thanks