Tl;Dr for what I've read so far - Basically an older guy impressing a bunch of naive, sheltered younger people with life experience that they haven't developed on their own yet, and getting away with it because he's so charismatic. Rile them up with good cooking, big stories on his military experience, emotional vulnerability and all - which anyone who knows people in the military can tell you, they are really fond of telling stories to make them sound all badass. Then convincing them to move in together before starting the real cult work.

It reminds me of all the stories of the young high school girl who has a boyfriend who's way too old for her, because he has a car and a job and "really gets her".