Combat Story

🪖 Today’s Combat Story dives deep into the career and combat experiences of former infantryman turned Cavalry officer turned Special Forces Green Beret, Dan Pace. Dan retired after over two decades of service in the military, seeing combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan on both the enlisted and officer sides of the house.

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📚 Dan recently wrote a book titled "It Was What It Was: A Tale of the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq (2006-2008)" where he details his experiences, particularly those with the 1st ID in Iraq during a pivotal moment in the war. In this episode, we dive into the transition from enlisted to officer and conventional to SF, some of the tougher moments in combat, and how perspective may change from that of a soldier to an officer.

🎖️ General Petreus on the book: "...the timeless tale of a young leader and his soldiers on the ground seeking to find meaning and purpose in the gritty, visceral reality of war at the small unit level.

🎧 Enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with retired Special Forces officer, Dan Pace.

🔗 Guest Online Information:

📧 Contact Dan: [email protected]

📘 It Was What It Was: A Tale of the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq (2006-2008) https://www.amazon.com/Was-What-Infantry-Division-2006-2008/dp/B0CW3MH7KT

📚 Grey Zone Ethics Courses https://danielvpace.com/courses.html 

👨‍✈️ Join host Ryan Fugit in a gripping episode of Combat Story as he delves into the remarkable military career of Dan Pace, a former infantryman, cavalry officer, and special forces Green Beret. Dan shares his intense experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, from frontline battles to coordinating medevacs. Explore his journey from enlisted to officer roles, the evolution of military strategies, and the personal toll of long deployments. The episode also addresses innovative countermeasures against IED threats, fortified vehicles, and ethical dilemmas faced by troops and leaders. This raw and insightful look into Dan's life and the complexities of modern warfare sheds light on the creativity, resilience, and moral challenges within the military.

🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story:

🌐 Ryan’s Linktree

🛒 Merch Store

📸 Instagram: @combatstory

📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial

🔍 Learn more about Ryan

🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:03 Meet Dan Pace: From Infantryman to Green Beret
• 02:35 The Story Behind the Book Title
• 03:36 Reflecting on the Surge and Its Impact
• 09:23 Joining the Military: A Whimsical Decision
• 15:16 First Deployment Experiences
• 20:11 Life in Afghanistan: Challenges and Reflections
• 33:37 The Decision to Become an Officer
• 34:18 Encouragement and Motivation
• 34:57 Transitioning to Officer for Better Opportunities
• 36:03 Financial Incentives and Career Moves
• 36:51 Branching and Trading Roles
• 37:47 Formation of Brigade Combat Teams
• 40:52 Deployment and Initial Challenges
• 47:00 Extended Deployment and Coping Mechanisms
• 01:03:00 Leadership Decisions and Ethical Dilemmas
• 01:09:34 A Life-or-Death Decision
• 01:10:11 Moral Dilemmas in Combat
• 01:12:14 Humor Amidst Chaos
• 01:14:03 Economic Stimulus in a War Zone
• 01:14:52 Transition to Special Forces
• 01:22:20 Ethical Challenges in Special Forces
• 01:32:45 Training Mishaps and Close Calls
• 01:38:25 Reflections and Farewell
•  

Today we have a great Combat Story that ranges from the military intelligence tactical front lines of counterterrorism and the Korean peninsula to the most strategic of all, serving as the PDB briefer to the President of the United States (POTUS) with senior intelligence officer Michelle DiGruttolo. 

👀 Don't miss out! Check out our Combat Check-In for exclusive updates, fascinating historical snippets, and much more! Visit combatstory.com/newsletter.

I strongly encourage you to listen to the end of this podcast to get a full appreciation of Michelle’s experience as the President’s briefer, to include her role as the briefer during the Benghazi Consulate attack (you can, of course, listen to our previous interview with Kris “Tanto” Paranto who was on the ground during that attack to hear both the front lines and halls of leadership perspectives on that pivotal day).

Michelle began her career as an Army intelligence officer and then transitioned to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) where she would eventually lead a division of 40 fellow analysts. While at DIA, she was handpicked to compile and deliver the President's Daily Brief (also known as the PDB) to then President Obama and his Chief of Staff Jack Lew. 

The PDB role to POTUS is not a political appointment and is only entrusted to the elite of the intel community’s analytic core, which Michelle is. As always, we do not get political in this podcast, however, to ensure we hear both sides, we also have former President Trump’s PDB briefer booked for later this summer to understand what her experience was like in the Oval Office under another administration.

Michelle also briefed and/or worked closely with retired senior leaders Petraeus, McChrystal, Clapper, and several household names across her career, exposing her to leadership at the very highest levels. 

After service, Michelle went on to found Sage Raven Advisors, where she leverages an extensive network of local advisors, partners, and affiliates and couple them with cutting-edge technologies and data analytics, to provide actionable and timely insights to clients in complex and dynamic geopolitical landscapes.

I hope you enjoy this very interesting deep dive into the life of a career military intel officer and the life of a PDB Briefer to the President as much as I did.

• Find Michelle on LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelledigruttolo/
• Email [email protected]
• Sage Raven Advisors www.sage-raven.com

🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story: 

🔗 Ryan’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/combatstory

🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/

📸 Instagram: @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory

📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial

📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus

🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Key Highlights:

Military Intelligence to Presidential Briefings: Michelle's journey from an Army intelligence officer to leading a division at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

The President's Daily Brief (PDB): Discover the intricacies of compiling and delivering the PDB to President Obama and Chief of Staff Jack Lew, including her crucial role during the Benghazi Consulate attack.

Leadership Insights: Michelle's interactions with renowned leaders like Petraeus, McChrystal, and Clapper, and her exposure to leadership at the highest levels.

🔔 Subscribe for More Combat Stories: https://www.youtube.com/combatstory

👍 Like, Comment, and Share: Your support helps us bring more incredible stories to light!

#CombatStory #MilitaryIntelligence #PDBBriefer 

Show Notes:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:36 Guest Introduction: Michelle DiCartullo
• 01:22 Michelle's Role as PDB Briefer
• 03:00 Insights into Intelligence Analysis
• 08:08 The Path to Becoming a PDB Briefer
• 18:26 Early Career and Military Experience
• 38:26 Tactical Missions in Korea
• 39:13 Life as an Officer in Korea
• 39:42 Differences Between Intel and Service Personnel
• 40:42 9/11: A Personal Account
• 41:51 Counterterrorism Operations During the Surge
• 43:00 Challenges of Analytic Work in Counterterrorism
• 44:52 Daily Life of a Deployed Branch Chief
• 46:31 Building Morale and Team Spirit
• 49:28 Rewards and Challenges of Targeting Work
• 50:40 Standing Up the CJIATF in Afghanistan
• 54:05 The Bin Laden Raid and Its Impact
• 57:21 Reflections on a Diverse Military Career
• 01:05:27 The Role of a PDB Briefer
• 01:12:40 A Tough Night for the PDB Briefer
• 01:13:51 Initial Signs of Trouble in Benghazi
• 01:14:59 Realization and Response
• 01:16:51 Disagreement with the Analyst
• 01:19:22 Briefing the President
• 01:20:29 Aftermath and Fallout
• 01:23:50 Leaks and Challenges
• 01:30:50 Reflections on Mentorship and Leadership
• 01:34:41 Current Work and Insights
• 01:39:02 Personal Touches and Sentimental Items
• 01:40:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
•  

Today we have a fascinating deep dive on Chinese intelligence structure, tactics, capabilities, and threats with long-time China expert Nicholas Eftimiades. Nick spent 34 years in the US government with DIA, CIA, State, DHS and more with an intense focus on China and high tech space programs.

👀 Don't miss out! Check out our Combat Check-In for exclusive updates, fascinating historical snippets, and much more! Visit combatstory.com/newsletter.

In the 90’s, Nick wrote the book Chinese Intelligence Operations, which is an examination of the structure, operations, and methodology of the Chinese intelligence services and widely regarded as the seminal work in the field. To give you an idea of how impactful this work was, Nick was immediately labeled by the Chinese government as an ‘enemy of the state,’ 100+ Chinese intel assets were recalled to China, and he was asked to appear before Congress and personally brief political leaders on both sides of the aisle.  

Nick served overseas in Vienna, Frankfurt, Moscow, London, and Tokyo after studying in China and Taiwan in college where he picked up the language. His long career in DIA includes senior assignments as the Chief of Counterterrorism Operations, Transnational Issues Division, Futures Division, and Space Division. He has been awarded the National Intelligence Council Achievement Award and DIA Director's Intelligence Award - that agency's highest recognition of achievement. He is also a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Forward Defense practice of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.  

He is a professor at Penn State and a frequent lecturer and public speaker on future technology, space, and national security issues. His company Shinobi Enterprises offers confidential consulting and training with specific and in-depth expertise on China's domestic environment, national security, and commercial espionage operations and tactics. 

With that, please enjoy this deep dive on all things Chinese intelligence and threat-related from an expert in the field.

🎙️ Find Nick Online:

1. Professor Site:

   • Visit Nick's faculty page at Penn State for more information about his academic work.
   • Penn State Faculty Page

2. Shinobi Enterprises:

   • Explore Nick's consulting company for confidential consulting and training on China's national security and espionage operations.
   • Shinobi Enterprises

3. Books by Nicholas Eftimiades:

   • Chinese Espionage Operations and Tactics: Dive into Nick's detailed analysis of Chinese espionage.
     • Chinese Espionage Operations and Tactics on Amazon
   • Chinese Intelligence Operations: Discover the seminal work that examines the structure, operations, and methodology of Chinese intelligence services.
     • Chinese Intelligence Operations on Amazon

🌟 Stay informed and connected with Nick's expertise on Chinese intelligence and global security!

🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story: 

• 🔗 Ryan’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• 🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
• 📸 Instagram: @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• 📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• 📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• 🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

 

⏰ Show Notes:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:04 Guest Introduction: Nicholas Eftimiades
• 03:05 Nick's Career Journey
• 05:14 Language Skills and Early Career
• 14:13 Writing the Seminal Book on Chinese Intelligence
• 20:04 Challenges and Investigations
• 25:39 Understanding Chinese Espionage Motivations
• 42:40 Google Engineer's Espionage Case
• 44:22 Nick's Childhood and Early Influences
• 45:42 Overview of Chinese Intelligence Organizations
• 47:59 Internal Politics and Purges in China
• 49:28 China's Global Influence and Espionage Tactics
• 01:04:19 The Threat of TikTok and AI
• 01:13:43 Nick's Career Reflections and Advice
• 01:24:38 Conclusion and Listener Comments
•  

In today's Combat Story, we sit down with Kevin Seiff, a former Marine officer turned Navy SEAL who now leads the Vet Collective and co-hosts the Harder Not Smarter Podcast with Green Beret Greg VanDyne. 🦅🎙️

👀 Don't miss out! Check out our Combat Check-In for exclusive updates, fascinating historical snippets, and much more! Visit www.combatstory.com/newsletter.

In this episode:

• Kevin's relentless journey to become a Marine and Navy SEAL 🪖⚓
• Two attempts to get into the Naval Academy and BUD/S Hell Week 😲🏊‍♂️
• Must-read books and the no-shortcuts mantra 📚🛡️
• Overcoming swimmer-induced pulmonary edema 🏊‍♂️🤒
• The bizarre ritual of Climbing Herndon Monument 🗿🤸‍♂️
• Tips on avoiding chafing in sensitive areas 🩳💡
• Navigating tough transitions from military to civilian life 🎖️➡️👔

We dove into several challenges in Kevin’s route to become a Marine and SEAL, including two attempts to get into the Naval Academy and two attempts at Hell Weak in BUD/S. We also dive into great reads, why there’s no such thing as shortcuts when it comes to BUDS or Selection, overcoming swimmer induced pulmonary edema, the strange and slippery ritual that is Climbing Herndon Monument at the academy, stronger mindset, how some SEALs to stop chaffing in the more sensitive regions, and tough transitions out of the military into civilian life. 

Kevin’s Vet Collective is making waves with 80 members and a newsletter boasting over 6K subscribers! 🌊📬 He's on a mission to help fellow vets find purpose after service. Kevin spent 12 years in service ‘chasing the dragon’ as he calls it trying to find his way into combat which can even be a challenge within the Marines and SEALs. That said, he’s been undeterred in trying to help other vets navigate the transition out of uniform and find renewed purpose.

With that, please enjoy this episode with Kevin Seiff.

Join us as we dive deep into Kevin's story of determination, resilience, and dedication to helping others. 💪

🔗 Links:

• Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn: Kevin Seiff LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-seiff/
• Listen to Harder Not Smarter Podcast: Harder Not Smarter https://www.collective.vet/podcast
• Learn about Vet Collective: Vet Collective  https://www.collective.vet

🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story:

•    🔗 Ryan’s Linktree:  https://linktr.ee/combatstory
•    🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
•    📸 Instagram: @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
•    📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
•    📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus
•    🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

📢 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more incredible Combat Stories! 👍🗨️🔔

#CombatStory #KevinSeiff #VetCollective #HarderNotSmarter #NavySEAL #MarineCorps #MilitaryTransition #Veterans #Podcast

Show Notes

• 00:00 - Intro
• 00:52 Guest Introduction - Kevin Seiff
• 02:08 Kevin's Mission to Help Veterans
• 02:35 Challenges of Military Transition
• 05:17 Kevin's Post-Military Career
• 06:44 Starting a Business
• 08:55 Building the Vet Collective
• 11:02 Kevin's Military Background
• 13:08 Journey to Becoming a SEAL
• 22:48 Life in the Marine Corps
• 31:10 Leadership and Training in the Military
• 39:21 Transitioning from Marine Corps to Navy SEALs
• 40:10 Pivotal Lessons from the Marine Corps
• 43:46 Surviving BUDS and Hell Week
• 46:58 The Mental and Physical Toll of SEAL Training
• 55:49 Leadership and Command in SEAL Teams
• 01:03:27 Transitioning to Civilian Life and Entrepreneurship
• 01:11:28 The Importance of Mental Health in Veteran Communities
• 01:16:22 Final Thoughts and Reflections

 

Today we have a round two Combat Story with Kent Hillhouse where we recorded the episode with a screen available to look and talk through some more of his combat experiences with maps and photos from his time in service. Kent is a retired Major General who spent a year as a Platoon Leader and Tank Commander in Vietnam from August of 1967 to August of 1968. 

👀 Don't miss out! Check out our Combat Check-In for exclusive updates, fascinating historical snippets, and much more! Visit www.combatstory.com/newsletter.

We wanted to do a Round 2 with Kent after I spent some time with him following our first interview looking over some of his photos from his year in ‘Nam and bringing some of the stories to life. In this episode, we dive into the Tet Offensive, which Kent was a part of as his platoon was sitting close to the Cambodian border when it kicked off in late January 1968.

We cover Kent’s months fighting in the Iron Triangle - an area notorious for being controlled by the enemy in dense vegetation and triple canopy jungles. We also hear a story of a fellow platoon leader who would go on to become a member of the storied SOG outfit following their initial rotation.

If you didn’t catch Round 1 with Kent, he grew up in California and Georgia and attended San Jose State while part of ROTC. He ended up in tanks (Armor) thinking he’d see little combat given how challenging the terrain in Vietnam was for tanks. Little did he know he’d be in a fight for his life, emerging on the other side with a purple heart and two Silver Stars. He would go on to become a two star general and continues to support the veteran community leading our local Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation of Los Gatos.

If you’re just listening to this episode and not watching on YouTube, you may want to take a peak at the video version on YouTube to see some of the images we talk through to get a better feel for what it was really like. With that, please enjoy this second round discussion with Kent Hillhouse.

You can support the Los Gatos Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation at https://honoravet.org/

Thanks to our sponsor - Mad Rabbit for taking care of your tattoos : For 25% off your order, head to MadRabbit.com/COMBATSTORY25 and use code COMBATSTORY25.  

#vietnamwar #veterans #army #combat 

🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story:

•    🔗 Ryan’s Linktree:  https://linktr.ee/combatstory
•    🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
•    📸 Instagram: @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
•    📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
•    📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus
•    🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

⏰ Show Notes:

• 00:00 Intro
• 00:58 Guest Intro Round 2 w/ Kent Hillhouse: A Combat Story of Valor
• 03:13 The Tet Offensive: A Firsthand Account
• 05:29 The Journey to Saigon: Combat and Camaraderie
• 16:04 Inside the M48 Tank: A Detailed Look
• 21:50 Inside The Iron Triangle Encounter
• 26:35 Navigating the Dense Terrain: A Combat Story
• 27:29 Radio Station Assault: Strategy and Challenges
• 28:13 The Heat of Battle: Survival and Tactics
• 35:47 Aftermath and Reflections: Leadership in Combat
• 37:56 Reconnecting and Remembering: The Story of Lou
• 44:04 Closing Thoughts and Viewer Engagement

 

Vietnam,Vietnam War,SOG,Special Operations,Tanks,Silver Star,Purple Heart,Cavalry,M48,M109,Veteran,Stories,Action,Adventure,Images,combat story,Tet Offensive,Cambodian border,Iron Triangle,platoon leader,tank commander,Major General,veteran community,combat experiences,RPG,AK-47,screen available,maps and photos,Nam

 

Today we have a Combat Story first with Greg Shaffer, who spent a career in the FBI as an Agent, SWAT member, and Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) operator. He also started his career leading a patrol boat team in the Coast Guard before moving over to the Bureau.

👀 Don't miss out! Check out our Combat Check-In for exclusive updates, fascinating historical snippets, and much more! Visit combatstory.com/newsletter.

In this episode, we talk about the selection and entry process to both the FBI and HRT, the origins and mission of the HRT - which numbers fewer than 500 members since its inception in the early 1980s, one of the most successful surveillance and bust operations you’ll ever hear against the Bicycle Bandit, Operation Black Widow, border security, taking down targets and the hunting the deck of cards in Iraq with Delta Force and more. 

Greg now runs Shaffer Security Group that provides executive protection, active shooter response, investigations, firearms training and more. He also wrote Stay Safe: Security Secrets for Today’s Dangerous World, which provides practical lessons on mindset, situational awareness, and self-defense.

It took us too long to have our first Bureau agent and HRT operator on the show and we’ll absolutely be looking to have more. With that, please enjoy this hilarious but inspiring discussion with former FBI Agent and HRT operator Greg Shaffer.

🎙️ Find Greg online:

• Shaffer Security Group - https://shaffersecuritygroup.com/our-founder/
• Stay Safe: Security Secrets for Today’s Dangerous World https://www.amazon.com/Stay-Safe-Security-Secrets-Dangerous/dp/1948484579 

🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story: 

• 🔗 Ryan’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• 🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
• 📸 Instagram: @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• 📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• 📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• 🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

⏰ Show Notes:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 00:46 Guest Intro: Greg Schaefer's Journey from Coast Guard to FBI
• 02:27 The Threat Landscape: Border Security and National Safety
• 05:14 The Significance of a Special Painting: HRT Brotherhood
• 08:10 Choosing a Career in Law Enforcement: It's in the Blood
• 08:57 From the Coast Guard to FBI: A Path of Service
• 16:00 The Rigorous FBI Selection Process
• 28:34 First Steps and Early Successes in the FBI
• 40:10 The Dynamics of SWAT Operations
• 45:10 The Mental Toll of Law Enforcement Work
• 45:49 Undercover Challenges and Mental Separation
• 46:35 Comparing Military and Law Enforcement Stress
• 47:17 The Importance of Mental Resilience
• 48:19 Transitioning to HRT and Selection Process Insights
• 48:44 Sponsor Break: Mint Mobile's Offer
• 49:58 HRT Selection: A Grueling Process
• 54:26 Tactical Training and Surveillance in HRT
• 55:36 The Origins and Mission of HRT
• 01:01:14 Challenges and Operations with HRT
• 01:13:12 Public Perception of Law Enforcement
• 01:16:36 Writing a Book on Active Shooter Survival
• 01:26:37 Reflections and Advice for Future Generations

Greg is a former FBI agent, SWAT team member, and HRT operator. Discover the intensity of his career, including in-depth insights into high-stakes operations such as the Bicycle Bandit and DC Sniper cases. Greg discusses the complexities of HRT selection, major national security concerns, especially regarding border security, and the adrenaline-fueled world of elite FBI missions. Learn about his background, transition from the Coast Guard to the FBI, and the indispensable qualities required in law enforcement. This narrative provides a compelling look at true crime, FBI operations, and military strategies.

Today we have a unique Combat Story where we hear about the armored cavalry in Vietnam from then Platoon Leader with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Kent Hillhouse. Kent would go on to retire as a Major General in the Army Reserve and has continued to support veterans leading his community’s Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation of Los Gatos.

👀 Don't miss out! Check out our Combat Check-In for exclusive updates, fascinating historical snippets, and much more! Visit combatstory.com/newsletter.

Many will likely be surprised to learn we had tanks in Vietnam given how the war has so frequently been depicted as a fight by infantrymen in the jungles. Kent’s firsthand accounts of commanding an M48 platoon from 1967 to 1968 provide an inside look at the way these tanks were employed, leveraged, and targeted. 

In this episode, we get into battling for your reputation, pushing through complex ambushes, near death experiences, trusting and leaning on your NCOs, taking the initiative, the responsibility of command, and never giving up. 

With that, please enjoy this amazing piece of history as we look at the age and employment of tanks in Vietnam with retired Major General Kent Hillhouse.

#vietnamwar #warzone #combat #army 

Check out the Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation of Los Gatos at https://honoravet.org/

🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story:

•    🔗 Ryan’s Linktree:  https://linktr.ee/combatstory
•    🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
•    📸 Instagram: @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
•    📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
•    📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus
•    🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

 

⏰ Show Notes:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 00:47 Guest Introduction Kent Hillhouse: From Vietnam to Major General
• 01:09 The Unseen Role of Tanks in Vietnam
• 01:30 Battling for Reputation and Trust in Leadership
• 01:59 A Personal Connection with Joe Galloway
• 05:22 Debunking Hollywood: The Realities of War vs. Movies
• 17:58 The Legacy of Leadership and the Importance of NCOs
• 18:20 The Path to Becoming an Armor Officer
• 22:37 ROTC Challenges and Leadership Lessons
• 34:43 Journey to Vietnam: Engagements and Expectations
• 36:55 Arrival and First Impressions in Vietnam
• 37:29 Adapting to Military Life and Unit Dynamics
• 40:43 The Technicalities of Armored Warfare
• 46:12 Experiencing the Heat of Battle
• 47:40 Learning Through Mistakes and Misfires
• 50:15 Navigating Leadership and Tactical Challenges
• 52:12 The Intensity of Night Convoys and Combat
• 01:07:28 Reflections on First Combat Experience
• 01:16:43 Recalling Vietnam: Maneuvering and Survival
• 01:17:11 Life in the Field: Challenges and Adaptations
• 01:19:25 First Contact and Leadership Under Fire
• 01:23:39 The May 5th Encounter: A Detailed Recollection
• 01:30:44 Overcoming Adversity: Tactics and Teamwork
• 01:41:52 Reflections on Leadership and Disobedience
• 01:44:32 Personal Mementos and the Value of Letters
• 01:46:15 Veterans Foundation: Building a Legacy
• 01:50:18 Listener Engagement and Closing Thoughts

 

This interview combines the compelling experiences of Vietnam War veterans, including Kent Hillhouse's leadership in armored warfare with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and another veteran's close-quarters combat and survival instincts against the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army. It portrays the harrowing and unpredictable nature of the Vietnam War, detailing initial combat encounters, leadership challenges, intense ambushes, and the adaptation required to navigate the difficult terrain and psychological impacts of warfare. It also highlights moments of courage, quick decision-making, and the importance of camaraderie. Additionally, the narrative touches on post-war efforts to honor the sacrifices of veterans, weaving together personal stories of combat, survival, and the enduring bonds formed in the crucible of war.

 

This episode dives deep into the challenges and conditions dubbed 'Operator Syndrome' faced by veterans and active-duty members of the military, exploring both psychological and physical facets, including traumatic brain injury, PTSD, hormonal imbalances, low testosterone, existential issues, and more. 

👀 Don't miss out! Check out our Combat Check-In for exclusive updates, fascinating historical snippets, and much more! Visit combatstory.com/newsletter.

The episode features insights from Dr. Chris Frueh, a clinical psychologist with extensive experience treating thousands of veterans, on the complexity of these issues and the effects on individuals and their families. It also highlights the importance of a holistic approach to treatment, covering proper diet, sleep, medical care, and the support structures provided by organizations like the Warrior Health Foundation. 

 

Additionally, it addresses the unique experiences of female operators and the broader implications of these syndromes across different nations and military roles.

 

Check out our interview with Derek Nadalini - former Delta Force operator featured in this video - at https://youtu.be/IjaGelOdV6U

Special thanks to Mad Rabbit for sponsoring this video: For 25% off your order, head to MadRabbit.com/COMBATSTORY25 and use code COMBATSTORY25.  

🎙️Find Chris Online:

   🔗 Website https://chrisfrueh.com/

   📘 Book Operator Syndrome https://www.amazon.com/Operator-Syndrome-PhD-Chris-Frueh/dp/1962202070

   📖 White Paper https://chrisfrueh.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Frueh-et-al-2020-2.pdf

   📸 Instagram: drchrisfrueh

 

🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story:

   🔗 Ryan’s Linktree:  https://linktr.ee/combatstory

   🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/

   📸 Instagram: @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory

   📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial

   📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus

   🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

#veterans #operatorsyndrome #ptsd #specialoperations 

⏰ Show Notes:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 01:11 Unveiling Operator Syndrome with Dr. Chris Frueh
• 01:22 The Science Behind Operator Syndrome
• 02:01 Chris Frueh: A Life Dedicated to Veterans' Health
• 04:36 The Power of Music and Connection
• 06:20 Understanding Operator Syndrome: A Deep Dive
• 14:58 The Personal Journey of Dr. Chris Frueh
• 25:43 Insights into History of Suicide in Active Duty Military since the 1800s
• 36:27 Why do we call Operator Syndrome a Syndrome
• 42:18 What exactly is TBI (it's not what I expected)
• 50:36 The Hidden Impact of TBIs Beyond Physical Injuries
• 53:29 Diagnosing and Recognizing TBIs: Challenges and Approaches
• 55:04 The Signature Injury of Modern Warfare: Research and Realities
• 55:41 Innovations and Adjustments in Training to Mitigate TBI Risks
• 01:05:51 The Psychological and Existential Effects of Operator Syndrome
• 01:14:31 Addressing TBIs: Medical Insights and Personal Stories
• 01:15:31 The Global Perspective: Operator Syndrome in International Forces
• 01:16:42 Women in Combat w/ Operator Syndrome
• 01:24:56 Three Things to Change if You're Dealing with Operator Syndrome 
• 01:29:56 Closing Thoughts and Listener Comments

 

What is Operator Syndrome?

 

From Chris' Research paper: We identified a consistent pattern of health-care difficulties within the special operation forces community that we and other special operation forces health-care providers have termed “Operator Syndrome.” This includes interrelated health and functional impairments including traumatic brain injury effects; endocrine dysfunction; sleep disturbance; obstructive sleep apnea; chronic joint/back pain, orthopedic problems, and headaches; substance abuse; depression and suicide;

anger; worry, rumination, and stress reactivity; marital, family, and community dysfunction; problems with sexual health and intimacy; being “on guard” or hypervigilant; memory, concentration, and cognitive impairments; vestibular and vision impairments; challenges of the transition from military to civilian life; and common existential issues.

 

“Operator Syndrome” may be understood as the natural consequences of an extraordinarily high allostatic load; the accumulation of physiological, neural, and neuroendocrine responses resulting from the prolonged chronic stress; and physical demands of a career with the military special forces. Clinical research and comprehensive, intensive immersion programs are needed to meet the unique needs of this community.

 

🔥 Dive deep into the heart of armored combat in this gripping interview with Tim Gauthier, a Platoon Leader during the iconic Battle of 73 Easting in Desert Storm! 🎖️

🚀 From the tactical viewpoint of both a scout platoon leader and a tank commander, discover the intense preparation, reconnaissance, and combat strategies that shaped this pivotal tank-on-tank clash. 🛡️

🤝 Experience the high-stakes world of M1A1 Abrams and Bradleys as they faced off against Iraqi T-72s and armored vehicles. Learn about the tactics, challenges, and crew dynamics that define the fierce realm of armored warfare. 🌍

💥 Uncover the critical lessons in leadership, speed, and initiative that emerged from the battlefield. Reflect on the broader impact of this battle on modern combat doctrine and the enduring bonds forged in the fires of conflict. 📚

👥 Join us as we explore the real stories of courage, strategy, and teamwork that secured a decisive victory, and delve into the profound human elements of warfare, from handling POWs to the deep camaraderie among soldiers. 💪

#tankwarfare #combat #military #M1A1 🌟 Don't miss out on this powerful recount of history and heroism!

Show Notes:

• 00:00 - Intro
• 00:36 Welcome to Combat Story: Insights from a Veteran
• 00:55 Tim Gauthier's Journey to the Front Lines
• 03:44 The Making of an Armor Officer: Early Influences and Decisions
• 11:54 Choosing the Armor Path: A Decision at Advanced Camp
• 13:53 The Rigorous Training and Preparation for Combat
• 33:58 Introduction to HR McMaster and Leadership Dynamics
• 37:04 The Formidable Leader: Setting the Stage
• 38:30 Preparation and Training: The Road to Combat
• 40:48 Deployment and Anticipation: The Desert Beckons
• 43:31 Adapting to the Desert: Training and Tactics
• 48:04 The Eve of Battle: Tension and Strategy
• 56:05 Engagement: The Battle Unfolds
• 01:02:10 A Moment of Triumph: Overcoming the Enemy
• 01:15:13 The Devastating Power of Depleted Uranium Rounds
• 01:16:00 Tactical Challenges and Advancements in Tank Warfare
• 01:16:32 A Detailed Account of a Rapid and Decisive Battle
• 01:18:22 Reflections on Combat Dynamics and Teamwork
• 01:25:06 The Importance of Training and Adaptability in Combat
• 01:29:01 Handling POWs with Humanity
• 01:31:05 Post-Battle Reflections and the Importance of Leadership
• 01:36:48 The Emotional Toll of War and the Value of Brotherhood
• 01:39:24 Insights into Modern Warfare and Leadership Lessons
• 01:49:57 Personal Reflections and the Significance of Mementos

🎯🔥 Today's Combat Story Features Mark Greene, an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper! 🔥🎯

Join us as we dive deep with Mark Greene, a courageous former Navy SEAL who has experienced the sharp edge of battle as both an officer and enlisted sniper. 🎖️💥 Mark's extensive service spans the pivotal moments of our time, from the intense pre-9/11 missions to the high-stakes post-9/11 operations where his sniper skills were put to the ultimate test.

👀 Don't miss out! Check out our Combat Check-In for exclusive updates, fascinating historical snippets, and much more! Visit combatstory.com/newsletter.

In this gripping episode, Mark shares heart-wrenching stories of loss and thrilling near-misses that define the SEAL brotherhood. 🌊🔫 Plus, get a sneak peek into his compelling book, "UNSEALED: A Navy SEAL's Guide to Mastering Life's Transitions", where he offers invaluable advice on navigating life's many challenges, whether in military or civilian life. 📖➡️ Grab your copy here!

🏈🏊‍♂️ From tackling college football to conquering the grueling BUD/S training, and from surviving close calls to engaging enemy targets as a lethal sniper, Mark's journey is nothing short of extraordinary.

📹 Enjoy this expansive discussion and walk a mile in the boots of a true warrior with Mark Greene.

🌟 Find Mark Online:

• 📸 Instagram: @TheMarkGreene
• 🌐 Official Website: themarkgreene.com
• 📘 Check out Mark’s Book: Unsealed: A Navy Seal's Guide to Mastering Life's Transitions

🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story:

• 🔗 Ryan’s Linktree: linktr.ee/combatstory
• 🛒 Merch Store: bonfire.com/store/combatstory
• 📸 Instagram: @combatstory
• 📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial
• 📖 Learn more about Ryan: www.combatstory.com/aboutus

🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

⏰ Show Notes: 

• 00:00 - Intro
• 00:31 - Welcome to Combat Story
• 01:41 - Guest Introduction
• 02:10 A Grandfather's Influence: Baseball and Beyond
• 12:43 Transitioning to Military Life: The SEAL Path Begins
• 17:09 The Rigors of SEAL Training: Overcoming Challenges
• 27:46 Deployment Realities: Facing Combat and Brotherhood
• 34:36 Surviving the Unthinkable: A Near-Death Experience
• 46:28 The Loss of a Brother: The Reality of Training Risks
• 46:44 The Heartbreaking Loss of a Brother-in-Arms
• 48:05 A Solemn Duty: The Hardest Task of All
• 51:33 Reflections on Mortality and the Bonds Forged in Battle
• 54:40 The Sniper's Craft: Precision and Peril
• 01:09:03 Teaching the Next Generation: Lessons from the Field
• 01:19:13 Leadership in the Shadows: Commanding SEALs
• 01:26:25 The Journey to Authorship: Sharing a SEAL's Story
• 01:35:49 Final Thoughts: The Weight of Service and Sacrifice

💬 We value your thoughts! Drop a comment, like this video, and don't forget to subscribe for more unmissable stories from the front lines! 🌟📽️

#NavySEALs #MilitaryStories #CombatStory #VeteranAdvice

Today we have a once in a lifetime Combat Story with one of the few living Medal of Honor recipients from the war in Afghanistan: Earl Plumlee. Earl was a Marine infantryman, Force Recon team leader, and Special Forces Weapons Sergeant in the pre- and post-9/11 era.

Earl would deploy multiple times with the Marine Corps and the Army, to include combat deployments with Force Recon and a historic deployment in 2013 with the his ODA where he would earn the Medal of Honor. 

In this episode, we touch on both of Earl’s Recon deployments but spend a considerable amount of time walking through the battle in which he earned the Medal of Honor and in which his fellow Green Berets earned other medals for valor. It’s an amazing story to hear firsthand that includes a coordinated and lethal attack of a US installation in Ghazni, Afghanistan; suicide bombers; injured Americans; and several Green Berets who had never fought together operating as one element to repel the attack. 

Earl’s work during this assault is amazing and almost impossible to imagine he didn’t get more gravely wounded. He had over 300 rounds of enemy fire directed at him from very close range, dozens of grenades lobbed his direction, and suicide vests detonating meters away.

He now speaks out about civic duty and service and provides motivational and public speaking for customers around the world. Please enjoy this selfless story of a rare and living Medal of Honor with Earl Plumlee.

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

For 25% off your order, head to MadRabbit.com/COMBATSTORY25 and use code COMBATSTORY25.

🔗 Find Earl Online: - Guest Speaker Website www.earlplumlee.com - Instagram earl_plumlee_official https://www.instagram.com/earl_plumlee_official/ 🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

👇 Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 01:02 - Guest Profile: Earl Plumlee 02:25 - Start of Interview 02:33 - Life As Medal of Honor Recipient 07:02 - Childhood 12:38 - Military Family History 14:07 - Deciding to Serve 16:33 - Recruitment Story 22:26 - Basic 24:58 - Mad Rabbit Tattoo Ad 26:22 - Graduation from Marine Corps. 31:14 - First Time Down Range 39:14 - S.E.A.R. School 39:42 - New Guy In Recon Unit 43:04 - First Time Outside The Wire 45:08 - Give Legacy Ad 46:30 - Formative Moments 53:38 - Losing Teammates 55:35 - Hindsight Advice 59:49 - Second Deployment 01:0:52 - Second Deplyoment Difficult Moments 01:01:52 - Special Forces 01:07:21 - First Special Forces Deployment 01:12:36 - Having Kids At Home While Deployed 01:14:25 - Medal OF Honor Story 02:06:58 - Battle Afterthoughts 02:16:49 - Sentimental Items 02:17:35 - Would You Do It All Again 02:19:33  - Listener Feedback

Today we have a Combat Story where we bring two F-15E Strike Eagle aviators - a front seater and backseater - together to talk about what it was like flying at the same time and some of the adventures that come with that life. Both Tom “Gunny” Moser and Mike “Pako” Benitez are decorated aviators, both Fighter Weapons School qualified and both former Marines (Tom an 0311 and Mike a helicopter aircrew member and door gunner). We interviewed both Gunny and Pako individually if you’re curious about their other near misses and danger close shots (or the origins of their call signs…Pako shared his call sign origin story with us on air for the first time!).

Pako now distributes The Merge newsletter that provides an inside and more fun look at the defense industry with over 20K subscribers and hosts The Merge podcast. Gunny is now a commercial airline pilot flying domestic routes across the US. 

Special thanks to Ryan “Stinger” Fishel for connecting us with these two vets and with that, please enjoy this rare opportunity to hear from two combat aviators together! Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

This episode was sponsored by Give Legacy. Listeners can use the code COMBATSTORY to get 10% off everything on the site You can find out more by going to www.givelegacy.com. That’s givelegacy.com. 

🔗 Find Mike Online: - The Merge https://themerge.co/ - The Merge Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TheMergeMedia

🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

👇 Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:55 - Guest Profile: Mike Benitez 00:19 - Marines Becoming Friends 03:28 - Mike and Tom First Meeting 10:32 - Teachings in Fighter Weapons School  22:25 - Mike's Close Calls 31:09:12 - Tom's Close Calls 41:44 - Flying Together Down Range 51:16 - Working With Foreign Forces 01:00:56 - Dropping Bombs  01:28:09 - What Do You Miss Most 01:36:48 - Listener Feedback

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today I’m so excited to share this Combat Story with a legend from the CIA spanning the First Cold War battling the Soviet Union, to the fall of the Berlin Wall, to the Counterterrorism refocus, and then the second Cold War with Putin’s Russia: Glenn Corn. 

Glenn recently retired after 34 years of US government service that included time with the Army and State Department but, primarily, was with the CIA as Case Officer, Russia expert, and multiple time Chief of Station in some of the most important countries in the world for America’s security.

In this interview, we delve into Glenn’s experience at the Agency, to include close calls, lessons learned, his command of foreign languages (Glenn’s a fluent Russian speaker) and where the Agency is going today, but we spend the entire second half digging into everything Russia, to include Putin’s motivations, Navalny’s death, the experience of the Russian people from the late 1980s until today, and what it would take for Putin’s reign to finally stop and give the Russian people a just leader.

I’m good friends with Glenn’s brother, Gavin, who was sitting just off-screen during this interview, who also spent many years in government service with the Department of Justice. They come from a family that has given so much to this country and I’m so excited for you all to hear Glenn’s story for the first time.

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

👇 Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:56 - Guest Profile:  02:13 - Start of Interview 2:43 - Getting Out of CIA 04:46 - Thoughts To Return To Russia 06:09 - Interest In Government Service 10:00 - Learning Languages 15:29 - Time in Soviet Union 19:55 - Challenging Moments 22:19 - Bolotor Ad 23:32 - Experience During 9/11 27:26 - Children Going Into the Military 29:00 - Mentorships 33:10 - Losing Teammates 40:37 - Planning and Executing 45:25 - Misunderstandings of the Agency 47:18 - First Time Outside the Wire 50:44 - Give Legacy Ad 52:05 - Aftermath of the First Mission 59:27 - Pre and Post 9/11 CIA 01:05:31 - Toughest Moments 01:08:34 - Thoughts on Russia/Soviet Union 01:23:47 - American/Russian Proxy Wars 01:29:50 - Second Cold War 01:34:11 - Russian Propaganda 01:41:50 - Putin's Motivations 01:45:29 - Theoretical Changes in Russia 01:56:04 - Glenn's Book  02:01:54 - Sentimental Items 02:030:06 - Would You Do It All Again? 02:04:57 - Listener Feedback

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

In this second round interview with Mike “Pako” Benitez, we dig deep into a series of combat experiences in the air that you won’t believe, including a low pass to danger close strafing run covering two troops-in-contact almost simultaneously to Pako’s description of the operation where he earned his Distinguished Flying Cross (you’ll feel like you were in the cockpit with him).

Mike now creates and distributes The Merge (themerge.co) newsletter - which has 20K subscribers - and podcast - which has 40 episodes as of this airing. The Merge brings defense and tech news and insights in a more lighthearted and interesting approach that I’m confident most listeners of Combat Story will appreciate!

We only found Pako thanks to former guest Ryan “Stinger” Fishel who was a beneficiary of the tough love and tutelage of Pako (listen to the end to hear Pako’s commentary on Stinger - it will come as no surprise to those who listened to Stinger’s interview). Stay tuned for a follow-on episode next week with Pako and Tom “Gunny” Moser interviewed together about their experiences in Afghanistan and Syria leading units.

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

This episode was sponsored by Give Legacy. Listeners can use the code COMBATSTORY to get 10% off everything on the site You can find out more by going to www.givelegacy.com. That’s givelegacy.com. 

🔗 Find Mike Online: - The Merge https://themerge.co/ - The Merge Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TheMergeMedia 🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

👇 Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:55 - Guest Profile: Mike Benitez 01:52 - First Fatality During Deployment 13:20 - Tough on New Recruits 20:47 - Harrowing Flights 28:23 - Give Legacy Ad 29:45 - Earning The DFC 01:00:57 - Time in Syria 01:09:54 - The Merge Newsletter and Podcast 01:15:10 - Sentimental Items 01:16:32 - Would You Do It All Again? 01:16:55 - Story About Ryan Fishel 01:18:20 - Closing Thoughts 01:18:49 - Listener Feedback

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear Round 1 of a two part Combat Story with former F-15E Strike Eagle Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) Mike “Pako” Benitez. In this episode, we follow Mike’s very unlikely path to the cockpit that begins with a career in the Marine Corps as a helicopter mechanic and aircrew member in the very first push into Afghanistan to fighting in Iraq during Fallujah II.

Mike’s path is anything but direct as he found his way to becoming an expert tactician and aviator in the F-15E. Since retiring, Mike has gone on to create The Merge (themerge.co) newsletter - which has 20K subscribers - and podcast - which has 40 episodes as of this airing. The Merge brings defense and tech news and insights in a more lighthearted and interesting approach that I’m confident most listeners of Combat Story will appreciate!

We only found Pako thanks to former guest Ryan “Stinger” Fishel who was a beneficiary of the tough love and tutelage of Pako (Stinger mentions a crusty older Weapons Officer during his interview who made Stinger look info up as opposed to handing it to him - that was Pako). Stay tuned for a follow-on episode after Rounds 1 and 2 with Pako to hear both Pako and Tom “Gunny” Moser be interviewed together about their experiences in Afghanistan and Syria leading units together.

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military. This episode was sponsored by HelloFresh! Go to www.HelloFresh.com/combatstoryfree and use code combatstoryfree for FREE breakfast for life! Thanks to our sponsor, Mint Mobile. To get the new customer offer and your new 3-month unlimited wireless plan for just $15 a month, go to www.mintmobile.com/combatstory. Additional taxes, fees, & restrictions apply. 

🔗 Find Mike Online: - The Merge https://themerge.co/ - The Merge Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TheMergeMedia

🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

👇 Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Guest Profile: Mike Benitez 02:13 - Start of Interview 02:37 - PAKO Callsign 07:45 - Finding Aviation 10:03 - Family Military Background 11:17 - Recruitment 13:43 - Bootcamp 21:29 - Time in Marines 23:43 - 9/11 33:23 - Hello Fresh Ad 34:37 - Time As A Mechanic 40:15 - First Raid Outside the Wire 50:25 - Reenlistment to Weapons Officer 01:06:30 - Mint Mobile Ad 01:07:51 - Transition From Marines to Air Force 01:11:12 - Path to Strike Eagle 10:18:24 - Welcome to First Air Force Unit 01:20:00 - First Operational Squadrant 01:39:07 - First Danger Close 01:42:02 - First Fatality 01:42:03 - Listener Feedback

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we have an amazing Combat Story with someone from the very elite Special Missions Unit community who was part of an organization still referred to only as The Unit for operational security purposes: Adam Gomal. Not to be confused with Delta Force (which is also often referred to as The Unit), this SMU blended intel and special operations in combat and non-combat theaters and remains highly secretive and rightly so.

Adam recently wrote a fantastic book - the first about this organization - titled “The Unit: My Life Fighting Terrorists as One of America’s Most Secretive Military Operatives” that details the experiences of someone operating in this shadowy, kinetic, and clandestine world so other fellow unit operators would have something they can point much the way DEVGRU and Delta can explain the great work they did by referencing other excellent books written about those experiences.

Since the work remains so secretive, however, you’ll notice we’ve implemented some controls to protect Adam’s identity, including not clearly showing his face on camera and distorting his voice. We are able to vouch for Adam’s experience thanks to previous guests who know him personally and worked with him directly. Additionally, Adam’s book went through the lengthy publication review process with DoD, indicating his story is, in fact, legitimate.

With that, please enjoy this amazing story from an epic and unlikely upbringing in Egypt to being ambushed downrange, shot in the stomach, surveilling HVTs, and delivering missile strikes that have a 90 minute time of flight, and more from one of the very, very few cleared to talk about their experiences.

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military. Thanks to our sponsor, Mint Mobile. To get the new customer offer and your new 3-month unlimited wireless plan for just $15 a month, go to www.mintmobile.com/combatstory. Additional taxes, fees, & restrictions apply. 

🔗 Find Adam Online: - The Unit: My Life Fighting Terrorists as One of America's Most Secret Military Operatives https://www.amazon.com/Unit-Inside-Americas-Secret-Military-ebook/dp/B09Y457JN5

🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

👇 Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro 08:36 - Connecting with Foreign Fighter Through Interrogation 16:26 - The American Dream: Coming to America with $500 and no English 36:04 - Mint Mobile Ad 59:59 - First deployment 01:05:15 - Close calls in an Arms Market 01:09:50 - Getting shot downrange and fighting your way out 01:24:16 - Deciding to stay in or get out after being shot 01:26:22 - Hostile counterintelligence environment and Embassy attack 01:31:07 - Tracking down a high value target and delivering a TLAM 01:46:15 - The Operator Syndrome 01:54:42  - Listener Feedback

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear round two of our two-part Combat Story from seasoned F-15E Strike Eagle fighter pilot Tom “Gunny” Moser. Moser would go on to be a Weapons Fighter School graduate (the Air Force’s Top Gun), in addition to a Squadron and Wing Weapons Officer, and Squadron Commander. 

In this episode, we dig into several combat experiences from the F-15’s front seat and what makes this aircraft so lethal. This includes the very first strikes into Syria in 2014 taking on ISIS where Gunny helped plan these missions and lead some of the first attacks into theater.  

If you didn’t hear round one with Gunny, he’s finally made it to his Squadron after three years as a Marine infantryman (hence the call sign!) and a stint as a Police Officer (something he loved). He’s got an incredibly supportive spouse who told him to not come home if he didn’t get F-15s because there are only winners in their house!!

Gunny is good friends with both former guest Ryan “Stinger” Fishel and our next guest coming in one week - Mike “Pako” Benitez - another F-15E Strike Eagle aviator. Stay tuned after our interviews with Pako to hear Gunny and Pako interviewed together about their time downrange as a front seater and back seater as standard bearer Weapons Officers!

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

👇 Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:55 - Guest Profile: Tom Moser 02:17 - Start of Interview 03:10 - After Mission Debrief 06:06 - '07 Deployment 20:25 - Providing Cover for Marines on the Ground 25:54 - Home Life 29:24 - '09 Deployment pt. 1 32:20 - Verstreppo Inspiration 37:00 - '09 Tough Missions 51:34 - Moral After Losing A Teammate 54:40 - The Officer's Club 56:20 - '14 Deployment 01:15:00 - After The Last Deployment 01:20:50 - Cutting Edge Technology 01:23:49 - Deciding to Retire 01:29:04 - New Career Path 01:31:28 - Miss Most About The Military 01:32:03 - Most Courageous Act 01:33:48 - Favorite Role 01:38:42 - Sentimental Items 01:40:38 - Would You Do It All Again? 01:41:23 - Listener Feedback

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear Round 1 of a two part Combat Story from seasoned fighter pilot Tom “Gunny” Moser who flew the F-15E Strike Eagle, served as a Squadron and Wing Weapons Officer, was a Fighter Weapons School graduate (akin to the Navy’s Top Gun), commanded a Squadron, and more. 

In this episode, we follow Gunny’s circuitous route into the military first as a Marine 0311 (Infantryman), followed by a stint as a Police Officer, followed by a very decorated career in the Air Force. 

Since retirement, Gunny has gone on to a career flying for the commercial airlines which we should all be grateful to know that we’ve got this seasoned combat aviator at the controls on our regular domestic flights!

Special thanks to former guest Ryan “Stinger” Fishel for helping us find Gunny!

And with that, please enjoy this first round discussion with someone who found his way to his dream job.

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🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

👇 Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:59 - Guest Profile: Tom Moser 01:57 - Start of Interview 02:26 - Callsign 'Gunny' 04:02 - Growing Up 04:55 - Path to Military 11:26 - Love of Flying 12:25 - Choosing Enlistment Route 16:46 - Exiting the Marines 20:40 - Law Enforcement Career 23:02 - Path to Aviation 28:52 - Law Enforcement to Pilot Experience 31:08 - Family Life 35:09 - Close Calls 39:00 - Mindset during Dangerous Jobs 41:29 - Flight School 47:25 - Getting Assigned Strike Eagle 51:52 - Responsibility as an Aviator 57:40 -  Strike Eagle Mission Set 01:02:05 - Weapon Loadout for F-15 01:08:53 - Hazing Stories 01:12:11 - Schedule for Pilots 01:14:24 - Weapons Officer 01:21:06 - Why Not Marine Corps. 01:22:17 - First Unit 01:26:58 - First Deployment 01:30:30 - First Flying Operation 01:38:49 - Listener Feedback

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This is our first JOINT Combat Story where we bring two combat veterans on the show to talk about combat operations they were part of together. This time we’re fortunate to have Sam Mackey and Joel McGuire, both former SEALs, who speak about some of the toughest moments they had deployed to Afghanistan. 

I always wanted to have two guys who fought side by side to see what they remember, where they each have gaps and to watch the bond firsthand that was forged in those difficult moments downrange. 

For those who listened to the individual interviews with both Sam and Joel, you’ll recall that Sam was somewhat of a free agent SEAL being shipped to various teams to support operations for weeks or months at a time given his unique sniper skill set. Joel was leading a team at a smaller FOB that needed all the help they could get and welcomed Sam with open arms.

Please enjoy two seasoned vets get down to what actually happened on particular ops when they were downrange together.

This Combat Story was sponsored by Factor, America’s #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Delivery Service. Use FACTORMEALS.com/combatstory50 and use code combatstory50 to get 50% off!

 

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👇 Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:42 - Guest Profile: Sam Mackey and Joel McGuire 01:40 - Start of Interview 02:13 - Joel and Sam post deployment relationship 05:50 - How Joel and Sam met 21:28 - Factor Meals Ad 22:45 - Deploying A Sniper in Battle 31:40 - Sam and Joel Reminiss Same Gun Fight 42:12 - Hairy Engagements 47:29 - Deployment During Bin Laden Raid 49:54 - Favorite MRE 51:59 - Favorite Part About Teams 01:02:44 - Joel Grazed In The Range 01:10:31 - Advice to A Future SEAL 01:12:34 - Outsider Mugs 01:13:08 - Listener Feedback

We sit down with previous guest and former Ranger and Delta Force operator Brad Thomas as he sets the record straight about what happened back in Mogadishu and how his recollection of one event (as he shared back on Episode 58) was different than what another person remembered. 

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In the former interview, Brad describes a "jackass lieutenant" running around during the battle collecting fastropes because they were an accountable item. The individual in question listened to the interview and contacted Brad to explain what was actually going on.

Being the standup guy that he is, Brad immediately wanted to acknowledge this new information and share that we often don't recall things as they were.

Many will recall Brad gave up a promising musical career to serve, first with Ranger Battalion and then finding his way into Delta Force. His first combat experience was in Mogadishu in what we know as Black Hawk Down as part of 3rd Ranger Battalion in a true baptism by fire.

Since leaving the military, Brad returned to his passion: music. He gathered a group of veterans who now make up the band “Silence and Light” and saw far more success than they expected on their debut album.

We sit down today to discuss misinterpretations on the battlefield and clarify a situation discussed in Brad's interview from two years ago (Ep58).

🔗 Find Brad Online: - Instagram @bradthomas_official - Silence and Light Website https://www.silenceandlightmusic.com/ - Silence and Light Merch http://www.silenceandlightmusic.com/

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Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we have our second round Combat Story with Sam Mackey, who overcame a challenging and rebellious youth to successfully earn his SEAL Trident, carrying him to SEAL Team Eight where we left off at the end of round one.

In this second round interview, Sam’s deployments continue as he faces defining moments, including the loss of a close friend in a helicopter crash and intense firefights in Afghanistan. This includes a brief morbid but hilarious story of Sam nearly breaking the longest sniper shot record.

Transitioning from the military, Sam partnered with former pro-football QB Jay Cutler to launch Outsider, focusing on high-quality outdoor lifestyle products. This venture reflects his entrepreneurial spirit, shaped by his time in the SEALs. Sam's story, from a troubled past to military excellence and business success, is a testament to the power of resilience and adaptability. It's an inspirational tale for those who admire the military, combat, and life's challenges.

For those who heard our recent Combat Story interview with Joel McGuire, you’ll recall Joel mention that he and Sam served together in Afghanistan. Stay tuned next week to hear Joel and Sam interviewed together talking about the same battles and what it takes to earn the trident (and recommendations to aspiring SEALs and Special Operators).

Many thanks to Ari for connecting us with Sam! 

And now, please enjoy this wide ranging discussion with retired Navy SEAL and entrepreneur, Sam Mackey.

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 01:04 - Guest Profile: Sam Mackey 02:33 - Start of Interview 02:40 - First Hairy Operation 11:26 - Specialties Within Teams 13:13 - Sniper School 14:35 - Respect In Teams 18:33 - Challenging Moment 1  20:31 - Mint Mobile Ad 21:38 - Challenging Moment 2 32:54 - After Op De-Brief 34:07 - Working With Lithuanians 39:03 - Lithuanian Operation 48:06 - Most Courageous Act 51:20 - Responsibility For The Team 52:09 - Marriage Throughout Teams 55:07 - Outsider Company  01:08:25 - Entrepenurialship in Teams 01:21:58 - Sentimental Items 01:23:10 - Would You Do It All Again? 01:24:47 - Listener Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle 🔗 Find Sam Online: - Outsider https://shop.outsider.com/

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Today we have our first of a two round Combat Story as we delve into Sam Mackey's extraordinary journey from a rebellious youth to a Navy SEAL and, after retiring with 20 years in the service, to a successful entrepreneur. His early years were marked by selling drugs and legal troubles, finding purpose in a love for boxing and eventually joining the military. This decision, fueled partly by a need to escape legal issues, led Sam on a transformative path of discipline and self-discovery.

Sam's time in the military was challenging yet formative. His first attempt at BUD/S training was unsuccessful, leading to a stint in Italy where misadventures and personal growth went hand in hand. However, Sam returned to BUD/S more mature and focused, eventually joining SEAL Team 8. His first combat experience comes in Iraq, where he first grappled with the harsh realities of warfare with an intense gunfight marking a significant shift from training to real-world operations, highlighting the need for quick, tactical decision-making and adaptability. 

Stay tuned for Round 2 where we cover even more of Sam’s time downrange and the entrepreneurial skills he develops in the teams that translate into his current work on Outsider, an outdoor lifestyle brand with high quality products, alongside former NFL QB Jay Cutler.

Many thanks to Ari for connecting us with Sam! And now, please enjoy this inspiring episode with retired Navy SEAL, Sam Mackey.

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 00:31 - Guest Profile: Sam Mackey 01:48 - Start of Interview 05:32 - Fighting Growing Up 10:31 - Legal Troubles 14:17 - Joining the Military 16:50 - Mentors 21:46 - Hello Fresh Ad 23:09 - Taking Accountability 24:03 - Deciding Branch of Service 27:47 - Boot 33:26 - Path to Teams 41:00 - BUDS 49:47 - Time In Italy  01:01:45 - 2nd BUDS 01:04:29 - West Coast Team 01:15:29 - First Call After Making Teams 01:23:12 - First Time Downrange 01:29:51 - Loadout Advancements 01:32:25 - Feeling Coming Back Home 01:33:08 - Listener Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle 🔗 Find Sam Online: - Outsider https://shop.outsider.com/

This episode was sponsored by HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/combatstoryfree and use code combatstoryfree for FREE breakfast for life!

To help us support our Veterans, Subscribe, Like, and Comment on this video. It helps us get more people to watch and bring more guests on!

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Today we hear a Combat Story with former Navy SEAL Joel McGuire, who completed multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, in addition to deployments to Europe and South America over a 20 plus year career. We were introduced to Joel when scheduling an upcoming interview with Sam Mackey, another SEAL.

Sam was deployed with Joel and we’ll have a combat story with both individuals together talking about a few of their battles they fought in. In this episode, Joel goes into detail about his multiple attempts to finally get through BUD/S, his battlefield experiences, managing short-term memory loss, sleep deprivation, and emotional challenges of losing close-knit community members in action.

Joel also talks through the challenges of Maritime Interdiction Operations (or MIO), which many have likely seen in the news recently as an MIO tragically claimed the lives of two Navy SEALs in the past month, and it’s helpful to better understand what goes into these operations and what makes them so risky.

With that, please enjoy this conversation with Joel McGuire, a tough old frogman (stay tuned for a future episode for our joint interview with Joel and his fellow SEAL, Sam)!

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 00:43 - Guest Profile: Joel McGuire 01:51 - Start of Interview 02:22 - First Time In California 03:49 - Childhood 05:47 - Javolina 08:05 - Fighting As A Kid 17:29 - Path To Teams 26:37 - NordVPN Ad 28:14 - BUDS 32:39 - Teammates in Teams 35:32 - Team 2 Reputation 43:36 - Maritime Interdiction Operations 52:20 - Specialties Within Team 53:53 - Leadership and Platoon Relationships 59:18 - FIrst DA Op. 01:04:27 - Being A Parent While Deployed 01:11:33 - Team 10 Petty Officer 01:14:33 - Relationships With Squad 01:19:30 - A Memorable Op. 01:23:34 - 2011 Deployment 01:39:34 - Post Deployment 01:51:49 - Losing A Teammate 02:08:10 - Deciding To Get Out 02:13:05 - Sentimental Items 02:14:25 - Would You Do It All Again 02:15:42 - Listener Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online:

- Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

 

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In this second round Combat Story with Jack Beaumont, we pickup with Jack being forced to walk away from flying jets after wrecking his back in a hard landing. His back was too injured to handle the Gs and an ejection from the aircraft, making him a liability to his fellow fighter pilots. 

He found his way over to fly planes in the French COS or Special Operations Command in some amazing circumstances, to include evading radar and landing to unimproved runways at night in bad weather (it’s really amazing piloting), followed by a transition into the very secretive world of the French External Security Service or DGSE, which is the French version of the CIA and a very capable service. 

In this episode, Jack shares some of the challenging experiences in the cockpit and in the shadowy world of the intelligence community, including the unthinkable moment of losing a human source and his family. This tragic story forms the basis of the book that Jack wrote - The Frenchman - which was picked up for TV by the people who delivered True Detective, The Night Manager, and A Most Wanted Man. His next book, Dark Arena, comes out in February 2024.

Please enjoy this very insightful Combat Story that goes deep into the experiences of a French special operator and intelligence professional!

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👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Guest Profile: Jack Beaumont Round 2  02:14 - Start of Interview 02:44 - SOCOM and Life After Plane Incident 12:46 - Serbian Mission 19:06 - Jack's Books 25:53 - Nord VPN Ad 24:33 - DGSE Reputation and Rainbow Wire 32:04 - Getting Accepted To DGSE  46:40 - Factor Ad 48:05 - Spy Training 01:08:24 - Truth To The Frenchman Opening 01:18:50 - Toll of Intelligence Officers 01:26:25 - Sentimental Items 01:27:19 - Would You Do It Again? 01:28:24 - Making of The Frenchman 01:31:48 - Listener Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online:

- Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

🔗 Find Jack Beaumont Online: - Website https://jackbeaumontofficial.com/ - Purchase The Frenchman or Dark Arena https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jack%20Beaumont/author/B0034O2UHA

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Today we have round one of an incredible two part Combat Story and our first from a member of the French military and intelligence services, Jack Beaumont. Jack was an elite fighter pilot in the French Air Force flying single seat Mirage2000’s, designed for dog fighting, in combat operations. 

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He would go on to fly Special Forces aircraft in unbelievable conditions (blacked out, bad weather, to unimproved runways), and then found himself running covert intel operations across the globe with the French DGSE (the French version of CIA and an incredibly capable service as I know very well!). He went on to write a spy thriller called The Frenchman that was recently picked up for a TV show by the people who delivered True Detective, The Night Manager, and A Most Wanted Man!

In this first round interview, we hear about Jack’s storied family military history that goes back to Napoleon’s generals and a member of the French resistance in WWII. Jack would carry that lineage forward by competing with 3,600 other would-be fighters pilots and becoming just one of only three men who made it through that gauntlet.

We also hear one of the most challenging experiences for any recruit during training in terms of loss that really hits home, followed by an unprecedented hazing for someone arriving at a new unit that I’ve ever heard that will leave you crying with laughter. 

We end this episode when Jack wakes up in a hospital after a very hard landing with a surgeon telling him he’d never fly again. He was back in the cockpit three months later. 

Stay tuned for Round 2 where Jack has to change flying roles as he moves into the secretive French Special Operations aviation community doing things in the air you can’t imagine and eventually finding his way into the French DGSE.

With that, please enjoy this very interesting and unique Combat Story from our close partners across the pond!

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 01:05 - Guest Profile:  02:48 - Start of Interview 04:26 - The Frenchman and Dark Arena 06:20 - Childhood 21:52 - Path to the Military 28:22 - HelloFresh Ad 29:35 - Flight School 43:18 - Tough Part of Flight Curriculum 52:11 - Induction Into First Unit 01:03:46 - Timeline of Career 01:04:29 - First Combat Flight 01:20:16 - The Crash 01:38:42 - Continuing To Fly 01:39:55 - Listener Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online:

• Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

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🎙️  🎙️ Today we hear the second round of our insightful two part Combat Story with former Green Beret and Delta Force operator Brent Tucker. In this episode, Brent runs through deployments with The Unit, including what it feels like breaching a door on an objective and earning a Purple Heart (the last one on his team to earn one), after being shot and hit with grenade shrapnel.

Since leaving the military, Brent founded First Responder’s Coffee Company, which uses the tagline ‘Coffee with a purpose’ because it supports the First Responder community. We dig into the intent behind it’s sister entity, First Responder’s Cigar Company, and Brent’s recollection of cigars and coffee in the military.

Please enjoy this deep dive and wide ranging discussion with a former Tier 1 operator and all the ups and downs that come with that career…and maybe listen to this with a cup his Bourbon flavored coffee from FRCC!

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families.

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 00:54 - Guest Profile:  02:02 - Start of Interview 02:09 - First Responders Coffee and Cigar Company 10:37 - Smoking Cigars in Uniform 21:21 - Celbrating After A Mission 25:41- Mint Mobile Ad 26:53 - First Near Death Experience 38:42 - Losing a Teammate and Grief 46:54 - Loss of Purpose After Service and First Responders 01:05:02 - Getting Shot Story  02:02:02 - Existing Outside The Military 02:08:11 - First Responders Coffee Company Future 02:10:36 - Sentimental Items 02:15:01 - Would You Do It All Again? 02:17:47 - Listener Comments and Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online:

- Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

🔗 Find Brent Online: - First Responders Coffee Company https://frccoffee.com/

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Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we have round one of our two part Combat Story with an elite member of the Tier 1 community, Brent Tucker who completed over a dozen deployments with Special Forces and 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (or more commonly referred to as Delta Force). Brent is now the founder of First Responder’s Coffee Company and First Responder’s Cigar Company, which uses the tag line ‘Coffee with a purpose’ because it directly supports the First Responder community. 

In our first round interview, we cover Brent’s unlikely path into the military, to include bringing along his brother and somehow going from Air Defense Artillery to Special Forces to Delta. In this episode, we also delve into Brent’s first deployments with 20th Group, which sounds very similar to a former guest who many will recall who went from 20th Group into Delta: Bob Keller.

Brent is what many of us expect when we think of the Delta Operator as his experiences downrange, book recommendations, friendships, and approach to life show. Please enjoy this wide ranging discussion with a former elite operator, Brent Tucker.

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Guest Profile:  01:55 - Start of Interview 03:45 - Childhood and Sibling Relationships 10:23 - Fear Bfore and During Enlistment 14:44 - Family Business and Raising Kids 24:08 - Factor Meals Ad 25:27 - Family Discussions on Enlisting 27:11 - Recruiter Experience 30:45 - Deciding To Go Special Forces 38:01 - 1st Deployment and Going to Selection 52:52 - Raising Kids and Missing Missions 01:01:25 - Time in 20th Group 01:10:08 - Thinking of Quitting 01:18:34 - First Time in Combat 01:32:10 - Recommended Literature 01:51:35 - Experiences with Apaches 01:53:56  - Listener Comments and Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online:

- Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

🔗 Find Brent Online: - First Responders Coffee Company https://frccoffee.com/

This Combat Story was sponsored by Factor, America’s #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Delivery Service. Use FACTORMEALS.com/combatstory50 and use code combatstory50 to get 50% off!

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we have the second round of our two part Combat Story with Mike Edwards, a former Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC) operator and longtime Ranger with 18 combat deployments.

Mike was one of the few to serve in the Omega Program, which the Washington Post described as “units comprising CIA personnel and troops with JSOC…using co-mingled bases in Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen” and “mostly designed against specific high-value targets.” Effectively, Omega was some of the best and most elite operators and intelligence officers paired up downrange to bring the full weight of both JSOC and the Agency. 

Mike served alongside former Combat Story guest Rodney Brown, a former Navy SEAL and member of the Navy’s Special Warfare Development Group (or DEVGRU which is often referred to in the press as SEAL Team Six). In this episode, Mike describes an operation taking on an entire Taliban camp with Rodney that Rodney also described in his interview. Be sure to go back and listen to Rodney’s and Mike’s account of this same operation to get a more complete picture of the event from two vantage points!

If you missed round one I would highly recommend listening to hear about Mike’s start as an 11M and transition into Ranger Regiment, his combat jump into Iraq, and how he earned a Purple Heart and Silver Star.      Once again, special thanks to our brothers Jack, Dave, and Dee at the Team House for introducing us to Mike! And with that, please enjoy this second interview with Mike Edwards.

For more information on the Omega program, check out the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/06/06/seal-team-6-the-cia-and-the-secret-history-of-u-s-kill-missions/) or Wired Magazine (https://www.wired.com/2011/09/cia-killing-machine/).

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 00:57 - Guest Profile: Mike Edwards Round 2 02:33 - Start of Interview 02:41 - Route to Regimental Reconnaissance Company  06:43 - Tough Ops. in Rangers 07:51 - Training and Selection for (RRC) 12:30 - Difficulties During Selection 20:14 - Skydiving and Freefalling 23:31 - Human Tracking 28:23 - Relationship with Rodney Brown 37:30 - Mike's MI-47 Helicopter Crash 41:54 - Interrogations 44:08 - Difference Deploying With A Child 46:39 - Mike's MP7 Op. 58:06 - Challenges With Mental Health and Religion 01:04:40 - A Tough Op. 01:12:15 - Battlefield Interogations 01:17:20 - Most Courageous Act 01:20:58 - Post Service Recovery 01:23:46 - Religious Community 01:26:54 - Exedous Relief 01:30:01 - Plans for the Future 01:34:18 - Sentimental Items 01:36:00 - Would You Do It All Again? 01:36:38 - Listener Comments and Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online:

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🔗 Find Mike Online: Project Exodus Relief Afghanistan https://www.proexodusrelief.com/

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

This episode was sponsored by HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/combatstoryfree and use code combatstoryfree for FREE breakfast for life!

Today we have part one of a two part Combat Story with Mike Edwards, a former special operations soldier and leader with 18 combat deployments with the Ranger Regiment, Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC), and as part of the Omega Program where JSOC and CIA personnel were paired together to form lethal operational units downrange.

The Washington Post described the Omega Program as “units comprising CIA personnel and troops with JSOC…using co-mingled bases in Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen” and “mostly designed against specific high-value targets.”  

In this first interview, we dive into Mike’s entry into the military as an 11M and his first round of deployments with Ranger Regiment post-9/11, including earning what is often referred to as the mustard stain on his jump wings after a static line jump to seize an airfield at the outset of the Iraq war (he ends up very much like Shrek did on his first combat jump!). We dig into hunting the deck of cards, earning an EIB, then CIB, losing friends to a female suicide bomber, and then the intense operation in which Mike was awarded a Purple Heart and Silver Star. 

Stay tuned for part two with Mike where we dive into some of Mike’s more intense combat experiences, low vis tactical work, and fighting in Omega and RRC.

Special thanks to our brothers Jack, Dave, and Dee at the Team House for introducing us to Mike! And with that, please enjoy this first episode with Mike Edwards.

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 00:48 - Guest Profile: Mike Edwards 02:06 - Start of Interview 02:38 - Childhood 05:15 - Serving with Family 09:53 - Path to the Military 10:55 - Decision to Enlist 14:50 - Start of Career and Korea 22:35 - HelloFresh Ad 23:50 - Switching to Ranger Battalion  27:06 - Overlap of Special Forces and Regiment 30:35 - Welcome into the Ranger Community 36:40 - Welcome into the Unit 41:42 - First Deployment 47:57 - First Combat 52:30 - Coming Back After First Deployment 54:07 - Injury During Operation 01:08:25 - Realizing Invinciblity  01:15:25 - Learning from Gunfights 01:17:25 - Strykers 01:18:30 - Snot Story 01:20:46 - Listener Comments and Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online:

- Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

This episode was sponsored by HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/combatstoryfree and use code combatstoryfree for FREE breakfast for life!

On today’s Combat Story we dive into stories of a handful of the brave men who were at Pearl Harbor during the tragic December 7th, 1941 attack that changed the course of history. These are stories of action, selflessness, and courage that few of us can imagine, but sound right at home with the stories we often hear on Combat Story and should not be forgotten.

[Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families.] 

This episode includes Joe George, who was locked in the brig of a ship when the attack started and was released to save himself and then became a hero when he disobeyed orders to save the lives of other sailors.

We also hear about a long term friendship between a US sailor (Richard Fiske) who was attacked and a Japanese service member on the other side. Then we hear about a family member of a longtime Combat Story listener who was there at Pearl Harbor during the attack.

In this episode, we start by setting the context for the events of Dec 7th and the lead up to the war so we can better appreciate the very unique stories of service members who step up when the attack starts.

To help bring these stories to life, we went to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii and sat down the National Park Service’s David Kilton, who is the Chief of Interpretation at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial (his job is to bring these stories to life).

Prior to the Pearl Harbor Memorial, David worked at Rocky Mountain National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Golden Spike National Historic Site, and Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site (which memorializes the desegregation of that school).

Please enjoy these intimate stories of service and sacrifice in one of the most momentous days in American history.

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Learn More About Pearl Harbor Online: - Joe George and Don Stratton https://www.nps.gov/perl/learn/historyculture/joe-george.htm - Pearl Harbor Background https://www.nps.gov/perl/index.htm

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:49 - Guest Introduction (David Kilton) 01:53 - Interview begins  02:15 - WWII Political background  05:22 - Japanese Preparation for Pearl Harbor attack 11:10 - Sunday morning on Oahu 16:00 - Pearl Harbor Geography 17:29 - Security before Pearl Harbor 21:26 - Pearl Harbor Attack 27:12 - The Joe George Story 31:41 - The Richard Fisk Story 43:14 - The Walter Sealock Story 49:50 - Closing Thoughts 51:23 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

🎙️ Today's Combat Story: Navy SEAL, SDV Team One, and DEVGRU  🎙️

Today’s Combat Story focuses on both Navy SEAL, SDV Team One, and DEVGRU member Rodney Brown and his connection to an upcoming guest, Mike Edwards. I asked Mike, in preparation for a future interview, who I could talk to about Mike’s time downrange. Surprisingly, Mike, an Army Ranger, referred me to Rodney, a Navy SEAL. After talking to Rodney, however, it’s easy to see why and how this brotherhood was created.

Rodney spent years with SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One and then several years providing intel support and advanced special operations techniques with Naval Special Warfare Development Group (or DEVGRU and what the press will often refer to as SEAL Team Six).

During his time downrange, Rodney fought side by side with Mike and a host of other international and national forces, and other government agencies (or OGAs). He would go on to handle sources and provide tactical HUMINT for coalition forces, at times rolling outside the wire with just an interpreter! 

Rodney was one of those who went to BUD/S multiple times, persevering to earn his Trident on the fourth attempt. He would support DEVGRU, work with the elite in the special operations community, create his own company, provide security for Tom Cruise and other celebrities, and give his personal time to help fight human trafficking. 

Be sure to stay tuned until the end for a few rapid fire questions and outtakes with Rodney and, of course, listen in for his stories about Mike Edwards ahead of our upcoming interviews with Mike where we’ll ask Mike about the same events to see how two operators remember these events.

📸 Visual Aids Thumbnail is Navy Divers and Navy SEALs Conduct PRODEV Training [Image 19 of 19], by PO1 Trey Hutcheson.

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Guest Profile: Rodney Brown 02:49 - Start of Interview 05:16 - Childhood 05:59 - First time with a weapon 12:10 - Time in Alaska 16:53 - Path to the SEAL Team  29:16 - Responsibilities During SEAL Training 31:02 - Lessons learned in Training 32:55 - BUDS Reputations 40:10 - Meeting Mike Edwards 42:47 - SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 48:25 - First Deployment With SDVT1 51:22 - Advanced Special Operations Techniques 56:12 - First Time Outside The Wire 01:02:18 - Time in Green Platoon Course 01:07:16 - A Challenging Operations 01:12:55 - Taking Life 01:17:57 - Experiences With Mike Edwards 01:19:49 - Clearing A Room With Mike Edwards 01:31:04 - Questions for Mike Edwards  01:38:38 - Relationship to Mike Edwards 01:40:10 - Most Courageous Act 01:42:00 - 53-26 Consultants 01:44:30 - Security Tom Cruise 01:48:15 - Kingsman 01:51:26 - Retiring Young 01:53:25 - Sentimental Item 01:56:36 - Would You Do It All Again? 01:57:27 - Closing Thoughts 01:57:45- Listener Feedback 02:01:23 - Bonus Content

🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

🔗 Find Rodney Online: - 5326 Consultants https://www.5326consultants.com/

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

🎙️ Today's Combat Story: Training Dogs for SEAL Teams and Founding the Warrior Dog Foundation🎙️

Today we have the second portion of a two-part crossover Combat Story with former Navy SEAL, NY Times Best-Selling Author, Trikos Founder, and founder of the Warrior Dog Foundation: Mike Ritland. Many will, of course, know Mike as the host of the long-running Mike Drop podcast. I traveled out to Texas to interview Mike in-person and then he returned the favor. 

For those who missed part one, Mike described growing up in Iowa and, while still undersized, was bullied at school and had to sit in the same class as his attackers. He vowed to never let that happen again and immersed himself in a Karate Kid-like experience in the martial arts studying under an old school sensei who helped send him on his path to the Teams. In the Teams, Mike would largest operation in the history of Naval Special Warfare when SEAL Team 3

Mike would contract an illness that would take him out of the door-kicking side of the teams but also allowed him to follow a passion training dogs for west coast SEAL teams. He followed this path to build a successful business in Trikos training working dogs for clients and creating the Warrior Dog Foundation, among other ventures.

Mike has done so much to find purpose and continue serving after hanging up the uniform in a way that will, undoubtedly, be motivating to people seeking their own purpose and next chapter. With that, please enjoy this episode with Mike Ritland.

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 01:04 - Guest Profile: Mike Ritland 02:09 - Interview Begins 02:14 - Background of Navy Seal Dogs book 3:55 - Aftermath of Oil Rig Operation 13:36 - New Mission Cycles 15:52 - Gulf War Veterans for Iraq War 20:36 - First Leave and Becoming a K-9 Trainer 25:54 - Contracting Fungal Lung Infection  30:36 - Interest in K-9 Handling 32:51 - Mentors and Experience in K-9 Training 43:19 - Human and Dog Psycology 50:03 - Proudest Accomplishment 53:53 - Biases Against Former Warrior Dogs 57:16 - Sentimental Items 58:11 - Would You Do It All Again? 01:01:04 - Downtime 01:08:05 -  Listener comments and shout outs

🔗 Find Ryan Online:

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🔗 Find Mike Online:

- Warrior Dog Foundation https://warriordogfoundation.org/about-us/

- Navy SEAL Dogs: My Tale of Training Canines for Combat https://www.amazon.com/Navy-SEAL-Dogs-Training-Canines/dp/1250049695 - Mike Drop Podcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNZR15cy3w1fzGXgI5oy5aA

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

🎙️ Today's Combat Story: Training Dogs for SEAL Teams and Founding the Warrior Dog Foundation🎙️

Today we have a cross over Combat Story with former Navy SEAL, NY Times Best-Selling Author, and Trikos Founder Mike Ritland who many will also know as the host of the Mike Drop podcast. I traveled out to Texas to interview Mike and then he returned the favor. 

For those who don’t know Mike, he earned his Trident pre-9/11 and found himself on the largest operation in the history of Naval Special Warfare when SEAL Team 3 simultaneously took control of two oil terminals and a control facility on sea and land as the Iraq war kicked off.

Mike would contract an illness that would take him out of the door-kicking side of the teams but also allowed him to follow a passion training dogs for west coast SEAL teams. He followed this path to build a successful business in Trikos training working dogs for clients and founding the Warrior Dog Foundation, among other ventures.

Mike has done so much to find purpose and continue serving after hanging up the uniform in a way that will, undoubtedly, be motivating to people seeking their own purpose and next chapter. With that, please enjoy this episode with Mike Ritland.

 

👇 Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction 01:04 - Guest Profile: Mike Ritland 02:05 - Start of Interview 03:05 - Settling in Texas 07:45 - Leaving the SEALs 11:20 - Transition to Dog Training 12:57 - Confidence and Success 23:25 - Siblings and Military Path 25:49 - Fighting During Youth 36:11 - Martial Arts Training 43:53 - Path to joining the Teams 47:00 - Ultra Competitive Nature 54:13 - Almost Quitting 59:26 - Largest Naval Special Warfare Op. 01:11:19 - Kicking off the Iraq War 01:19:37 - Listener Feedback

🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

🔗 Find Mike Online: - Warrior Dog Foundation https://warriordogfoundation.org/about-us/

- Navy SEAL Dogs: My Tale of Training Canines for Combat https://www.amazon.com/Navy-SEAL-Dogs-Training-Canines/dp/1250049695

This episode is brought to you by Nutrisense. Visit nutrisense.com/combat and get $30 off your first month and one month of board certified nutritionist support.  When they ask how you learned about Nutrisense make sure to tell them it was the Combat Story podcast.

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Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

This is the second round of our two part Combat Story with former Force Recon, Scout Sniper, and Marine Rifleman AJ Pasciuti who recently retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Gunner) and passed on more lucrative careers in the defense industry to keep a promise he and his fellow Marines made after losing some of their closest friends in combat to lead a purpose- and service-driven life as he runs for public office in his hometown of San Jose, California.

AJ was an unlikely candidate to be the Marine Corps sniper who, as part of a team, was responsible for killing the most lethal sniper in Iraq (known as Juba) who took the lives of, potentially, 140+ Americans using a US sniper rifle taken off the bodies of a fallen Marine Corps sniper team. AJ is credited with ultimately pulling the trigger on Juba but, in true Marine Corps fashion and very much in line with AJ’s character, he has forever eschewed the spotlight and attributed the work to the team of Marines that stopped Juba (who was personified in the movie American Sniper) from terrorizing other US forces.

In a very sad and emotional but inspiring turn of events, AJ would lose a coin flip in which his closest friend’s team would take the decisive position on a particular operation in Afghanistan while AJ’s team served a supporting role. During the fight, AJ would lose this Marine and confidant during a multi-hour gunfight.

When you hear his story of loss and sacrifice, it’s no surprise that AJ chose to continue serving in his post-military career, running for office in northern California. He’s a great reminder of the type of people we all want in office, even when these office’s tend to undervalue the integrity and dedication to others that he embodies.

With that, please enjoy a story that was made for the big screen from the son of an immigrant to one of the Marine Corps’ most lethal shooters: AJ Pasciuti.

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Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find AJ Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/posts/angelo-pasciuti_the-pathway-to-public-representation-continues-activity-7044775065183272960-wyMZ/ - Washington Post aricle on Juba https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/01/22/iraqi-sniper-the-legendary-insurgent-who-claimed-to-have-killed-scores-of-american-soldiers/

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Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 01:00 - Guest Introduction (AJ Pasciuti) 02:39 - Interview begins 02:55 - Nickname  05:02 - Thespian 09:35 - What goes into a hunt 13:50 - The Juba Sniper hunt 35:06 - Nutrisense Ad 36:21 - The Juba Sniper hunt cont. 01:02:43 - Aftermath of Juba 01:06:30 - Matthew Ingham and Award Qualifications 02:05:40 - Sentimental items 02:09:22 - Would you do it all again? 02:09:42 - Closing thoughts 02:10:07 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Check out this week's sponsor AUSA's podcast Army Matters. Amplifying the voices of the Total Army: https://www.ausa.org/podcast This episode is brought to you by Nutrisense. Visit nutrisense.com/combat and get $30 off your first month and one month of board certified nutritionist support.  When they ask how you learned about Nutrisense make sure to tell them it was the Combat Story podcast. =======

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

This is part one of one of our best Combat Story’s with former Force Recon, Scout Sniper, and Marine Rifleman AJ Pasciuti. He recently retired from active duty and decided to pass on lucrative post-career defense contracting roles to, instead, continue serving in the name of several fallen Marines by running for public office in his hometown of San Jose, California.

AJ left northern California as an 18 year old in response to 9/11 with little military family background and an immigrant’s mentality having never touched a weapon and would go on to be a lethal sniper and Force Recon Marine, eventually instructing at the Scout Sniper school and helping to evolve the Marine Corps’ fundamental education system when he retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Gunner).

He would go from city life to Iraq in OIF I crossing the berm with Third Battalion, Fifth Marines Regiment, of the First Marine Division; then, as a sniper in Fallujah, he would find himself in a building providing overwatch for Marines when a SEAL named Chris Kyle happened to occupy the same building as AJ and Chris’ sniper teams competed to keep the Marines safe as they cleared the battlefield. He would later find himself fighting in Ramadi in 2005/2006 with another team of snipers. 

This is a two-part interview with AJ. Stay tuned for our part two with AJ and his story of hunting, trapping, and killing Iraq’s most lethal sniper: Juba (personified in the film American Sniper); and AJ’s story of losing his best friend in combat as a result of a coin toss.

AJ’s reputation speaks for itself and his perspective on service and overcoming odds is simply inspiring. His take on what “Service” truly means will have you looking for ways to do more in your own community and lives. With that, please enjoy part one of one of our best Combat Story episodes with Force Recon Marine AJ Pasciuti. 

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Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find AJ Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/posts/angelo-pasciuti_the-pathway-to-public-representation-continues-activity-7044775065183272960-wyMZ/ -  - Washington Post article on Juba https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/01/22/iraqi-sniper-the-legendary-insurgent-who-claimed-to-have-killed-scores-of-american-soldiers/

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Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 01:03 - Guest Introduction (AJ Pasciuti) 02:56 - Interview begins 03:40 - Military connections and Childhood 10:25 - Boyscouts 14:45 - 9/11 18:20 - First Deployment and Choosing the Marine Corps. 21:15 - Life if not the Military 24:04 - AUSA Ad 25:59 - First time outside the wire 33:25 - First time in contact 41:57 - Calling home 44:48 - Second Deployment and Sniper Indoc 53:50 - Nutrisense Ad 55:05 - Ricky Jackson 01:00:00 - Fallujah Pt.1 01:14:50 - Sniper Instructor 01:17:32 - Fallujah Pt. 2 01:26:47 - 3rd deployment  01:31:18 - A difficult situation 01:35:17 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Go to www.joindeleteme.com/combat and use the code COMBAT to get 20% off your plan and keep your personal information online secure. =======

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we have an inspiring and vulnerable Combat Story from Trevor Beaman, an active duty Special Forces 18Z (former 18E). He went from Army cook to long range surveillance to Green Beret while overcoming significant challenges along the way. In an interesting twist, he would even be an instructor at the Army’s dive school where he oversaw Nick Lavery’s successful completion of the course.

As a warning, there are moments in this episode in which we get into some difficult content about abuse from Trevor’s childhood that may be hard for people to hear. We also, however, discuss how Trevor overcame that abuse and adversity and would go on to lead fellow Green Berets in combat.

Trevor’s path is anything but straight as he dealt with recruiting slight of hand that brought him in as a cook but eventually found his tribe with 3rd Special Forces Group. After multiple deployments, he voluntarily sought out mental health support and, in a positive turn of events, was granted the time to get healthy again. 

He has 18 months of active duty service remaining, still supporting Special Operations and is writing a book about his experiences in a way that will help others help themselves. He has an inspiring Ted Talk about overcoming some of the traumatic experiences of his life that provides more context about him and his career and, with that, I hope you enjoy this important story from Trevor Beaman. 

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Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Trevor Online: - Instagram @Trevor_a_Beaman https://www.instagram.com/trevor_a_beaman/ - Website https://trevorbeaman.com/ - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQKfGw2SZ2wFv-DRv0DHGg?app=desktop - Ted Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9KsEMaT78E =======

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:37 - Guest Introduction (Trevor Beaman) 01:54 - Interview begins 02:25- Breaking Rules 04:40 - Childhood and abuse 07:35 - Abuse and leadership 09:45 - Ted Talk 19:50 - Deciding on the Military 25:05 - DeleteMe Ad 26:32 - Time in the National Gaurd 32:28 - First encounter with the Green Berets 37:37 - Perspective on younger self 46:11 - Kevin Flick and Alive Day 48:00 - Dealing with loss of old teammates 56:34 - First shot at O.D.A. 01:07:19 - Performance after trauma 01:10:27 - Hardest deployment 01:21:46 - Deception training 01:25:40 - Mental Health while deployed 01:34:00 - Dive school 01:48:15 - Would you do it all again 01:51:42 - Sentimental Items 01:52:52 - The next 10 years 01:56:17 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by Nutrisense. Visit nutrisense.com/combat and get $30 off your first month and one month of board certified nutritionist support.  When they ask how you learned about Nutrisense make sure to tell them it was the Combat Story podcast.

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Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

This is a fantastic Combat Story unlike those we’ve hosted before as we welcome Niloofar Rahmani, Afghanistan’s first female aviator and someone who has overcome tremendous adversity to simply serve her country. This episode is a great reminder about how great we have it in America, what our involvement in Afghanistan meant to so many people like her, and what perseverance and sacrifice really look like for an individual and a family.

We’ve hosted so many guests who had challenges growing up with homelessness and absent parents yet somehow, despite the odds, found their way to the military. This story is likely the most challenging we’ve heard in terms of getting into uniform from exile and defying societal norms and is absolutely the most challenging we’ve ever heard when it comes to how difficult and dangerous it was to just wear a uniform and serve every day.

Niloofar would be the first many times as one of the first women recruited into the Afghan military, in flight school, to graduate, and event fly the C-130. She was awarded the US’ International Women of Courage of Award, met the first lady, flew with the Blue Angels and, eventually, was granted asylum in the United States.

She’s written a fantastic book about her experiences titled Open Skies: My Life as Afghanistan's First Female Pilot and she and her husband (an American veteran) opened a company called the Afghanistan Tribal Rug Trading Company where you can get rugs from Afghanistan while helping support the women who make them. 

Despite the tragic fall of Afghanistan in 2021, Niloofar’s story has a happy ending and, as she’ll be the first to point out, is not finished being written. Although she didn’t say it, I suspect we’ll see her flying one day in an American uniform. Many thanks to former guest Ryan “Stinger” Fishel who got us in contact to make this interview happen and, with that, please enjoy this inspiring story from somebody who was truly a groundbreaker in her field.

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Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Niloofar Online: - Open Skies My Life As Afghanistans First Female Pilot https://www.amazon.com/Open-Skies-Afghanistans-First-Female/dp/1641603348 - Afghanistan Tribal Rug Trading Co. https://www.afghanistantribalrugs.com/ - Learn more about Niloofar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niloofar_Rahmani

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Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:55 - Guest Introduction (Niloofar Rahmani ) 02:56 - Interview begins 03:20 - Mutual friend Ryan 'Stinger' Fishel 05:43 - First time in a Fighter Jet 08:18 - Favorite Movie 09:25 - Childhood 16:24 - Parents and struggle with War 21:29 - First aspiration to become a Pilot 25:21 - Family Cultural background 27:08 - Challenges growing up around the Taliban 32:10 - Nutrisense Ad 33:26 - Girl's School and Education 35:57 - What Niloofar would have done not being a Pilot 37:10 - Path to Aviation 44:26 - Qualifying to be a Pilot 01:00:05 - Training to be a Pilot 01:07:20 - First time solo flying 01:11:49 - Discrimination for being a Woman 01:29:05 - A difficult mission 01:32:29 - Sgrt. Mohammad  01:40:17 - International Woman of Courage Award 01:44:48 - Seeking asylum in the U.S. 02:08:30 - Sentimental items 02:09:48 - Afghanistan Tribal Rug Trading Co. 02:12:06 - Closing thoughts 02:13:00 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Go to www.joindeleteme.com/combat and use the code COMBAT to get 20% off your plan and keep your personal information online secure. This episode is brought to you by Nutrisense. Visit nutrisense.com/combat and get $30 off your first month and one month of board certified nutritionist support.  When they ask how you learned about Nutrisense make sure to tell them it was the Combat Story podcast.

=======

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we have an in-depth Combat Story with 20 year veteran and Green Beret Jay Dorleus. Jay spent the initial portion of his career in the regular Army as a Combat Engineer, including two rotations to Iraq where he conducted route clearing and base patrol operations that included losing some of his best friends to IEDs in a very reactive environment.

Jay would eventually transition to the Special Forces where he was in a more proactive posture, taking the fight to the enemy this time around. He fought in some of the more challenging areas of Afghanistan with 3rd Special Forces Group and nearly died on multiple occasions, including a bullet narrowly missing his head.

His childhood is anything but ordinary as he moved to the US from Haiti with his family and maintained that New York immigrant mindset to help him succeed in the military. He created a YouTube channel now that he’s retirement to teach aspiring special operators how to successfully pass selection and learn from his mistakes.

I hope you enjoy this very real and wide ranging interview with a long time Green Beret as much as I did.

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Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Jay Online: - Instagram @Green_Beret_Chronicals: https://www.instagram.com/green_beret_chronicles/ - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreenBeretChronicles - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-dorleus-93a568142/ - Website: https://green-beret-chronicles.webflow.io/

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Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro  00:50 - Guest Introduction (Jay Dorleus) 01:55 - Interview begins 02:08 - Green Beret Chronicals 03:52 - Childhood 07:36 - Reaction to going into the Military 10:00 - American Oppurtunity 12:24 - Recruiter story 14:41 - 12 Bravo 15:21 - Reception at first Unit 17:40 - Initial missionset  22:00 - Memorable Ops. 26:56 - Dealing with death 32:46 - Nutrisense Ad 34:02 - Seeking help 39:58 - Enjoying the work 41:45 - Being a leader with experience 44:18 - The Special Forces path 45:44 - Preparation for Special Forces 47:05 - Weaknesses of new recruits 49:22 - Language selection 50:07 - Path to 3rd Group 51:50 - First Unit with 3rd Group 53:15 - Big Army vs. Special Ops. 56:34 - Race effecting enlistment 59:13 - DeleteMe Ad 01:00:42 - Tough missiion as Special Ops. 01:06:30 - Priority as Charlie on F.O.B. 01:08:26 - Team stability 01:09:28 - Firefights 01:10:55 - Close call engagements  01:12:15 - Joksters on the team 01:17:30 - A tougher mission 01:38:00 - Alive Day 01:46:38 - Green Beret Chronicals future 01:50:20 - Recommended literature 01:50:50 - Sentimental items 01:52:54 - Would you do it all again? 01:54:28 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by Nutrisense. Visit nutrisense.com/combat and get $30 off your first month and one month of board certified nutritionist support.  When they ask how you learned about Nutrisense make sure to tell them it was the Combat Story podcast. 

=======

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear a Combat Story from both a veteran Cav soldier and active duty Green Beret, Kenny Stone and Ben Raymond. Kenny and Ben did not serve together but have found community, purpose, and challenge as part of Kenny’s non-profit, Soldiers on Singletrack, which brings veterans and active duty soldiers together through mountain bike and racing.

Kenny served as a Cav soldier with 1-5 Cav in Iraq across two tough deployments during the surge where, during an IED event, he ended up with TBI. He found a rekindled love for mountain biking and realized it helped address some of the cognitive issues he’d experienced after leaving the service and wanted other vets to experience the same.

Ben met Kenny at a Soldiers on Singletrack event where they struck up a friendship. Ben is still in service with 3rd Special Forces Group and started his SF career as an 18D medic but then transitioned to the 18C route. He found mountain biking to be the hobby he needed to disconnect and clear his head when he’s out of uniform.

I hope you enjoy this story about finding a new path after service to help deal with the challenges faced after years of a traumatic and trying job like those in the military, law enforcement, or first responders and please check out Soldiers on Singletrack if this is something that you feel could help you or someone you know. 

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Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Kenny and Ben Online: - Website: https://soldiersonsingletrack.org/ - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/soldiersonsingletrackmtb/

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Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:37 - Guest Introduction (Kenny Stone & Ben Raymond) 01:54 - Interview begins 02:24 - Soliders On Singletrack 05:48 - Childhood and Mountain Biking 11:37 - Ben Joining the Army 15:47 - Kenny Joining the Army 18:37 - Recruiter experience 21:20 - Life in a CAV unit 26:02 - Nutrisense Ad 27:39 - Kenny's first time outside the wire 30:01 - Kenny's challenging moments 34:03 - Ben's path through the Army 44:20 - Kenny's deployment mid-rotation 46:51 - The right approach to loss in combat 49:22 - Coming back after combat deployments 55:33 - A mission that went wrong 01:00:05 - Shooting pistols and Mentors 01:04:49 - Marines and Army banter 01:05:47 - Most courageous action 01:10:28 - Commaderie while serving 01:12:50 - Transitioning out and S.O.S. 01:21:31  -  Listener comments and shout outs

Go to www.HelloFresh.com/50combatstory and use code 50combatstory for 50% off plus free shipping to get delicious and healthy meals that you can make at home with your family in no time and add some variety to what you serve! Our family has used Hello Fresh for years! =======

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear a second round Combat Story with long-time Night Stalker from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), Steve Lapping. Steve spent 31 years in Army Aviation, including two decades in 160th at the tip of the spear flying the MH-6 and AH-6.

This second round interview is chalked full of combat scenarios that Steve found himself in across 15 combat deployments, this time focusing primarily on his time flying guns for 160th. We talk vehicle interdictions, weapon malfunctions, danger close shots near women and children, a Dukes of Hazard-like chase, weaponeering, and more! 

Steve also shares his experiences on the Saddam Hussein capture (including something I’d never heard before about the aftermath of that operation) and the somber experience covering ground forces as they recovered the remains of Americans who didn’t survive the Jessica Lynch capture.

Many will recall our first interview with Steve, which was a clear favorite for so many listeners and seen or heard by over 200K people, as we touched on Steve’s childhood, decision to join the military (that story’s a great one where the advice he receives comes from an unexpected role model), and his combat experiences in Objectives REINDEER and LEADVILLE, which included a DFC. 

One thing that impressed me so much about Steve beyond being a CW5 and the unbelievable number of years he spent “rowing the boat” as he puts it (which is a reference to being at the very tip of the spear), is his humility and how he put his family as close to first as the mission will allow, wrapping up a storied career with the same wife and his children still by his side. 

With that, please enjoy this (second) wild ride from the cockpit of one of the baddest aircraft on the planet (no bias of course!) with Steve Lapping.

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Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Steve Lapping Online: - Learn more about  Steve: https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/71550  ======= Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:53 - Guest Introduction (Steve Lapping) 02:39 - Interview begins 05:12 - Connection with Pete Blaber 08:55 - Training in calmness 10:21 - Good and bad leaders 13:42 - 9/11 17:10 - The Black Swarm 20:55 - Little Birds and A-10's 26:05 -  9 Lines 27:46 - Sadam Hussein Capture 36:20 - Sadam Hussein post-mission  38:06 - Hello Fresh Ad 39:50 - Danger close shots 54:43 - First time pulling the trigger on a live target 01:02:12 - Training to take a life 01:12:48 - Layers of Management  01:15:24 - Jessica Lynch 01:26:18 - Ground Force and SAS mission 01:38:28 - Ticket on the airfield 01:42:49 - Jumping into trees 01:48:50 - Sentimental Items and do it all again 01:50:00 - Family relations during deployments 01:54:01 - Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Go to www.joindeleteme.com/combat and use the code COMBAT to get 20% off your plan and keep your personal information online secure. =======

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

This is a unique Combat Story with a Gregg Martin, a retired Two Star Army General who has two Combat Stories: one about fighting in uniform that included engineering the US military’s push into Iraq in 2003 and another that involved battling bipolar disorder for years.

Gregg was one of the highest achievers you can imagine as he road a wave of hyperthymia (a near continual state of mild-mania with abnormally high levels of energy, enthusiasm, and positivity that helped him graduate West Point, complete Ranger School, get a Masters and PhD from MIT, successfully command at multiple levels in the Army, while being an active leader in his community. 

Eventually, during the euphoria of leading combined operations in Iraq in 2003, Gregg had what he describes as the onset of his bipolar disorder that manifested as times of mania followed by bouts of depression until, after attained the rank of two star general, he was relieved of command.

Gregg’s book has just come out and is aptly titled “Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness” that goes into detail about his military experience and career alongside the mental health challenges he faced.

I hope you enjoy this insightful interview with a retired General who has successfully managed bipolar disorder for several years as much as I did.

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Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Ryan Rogers Online: - Website: https://www.generalgreggmartin.com

- Book Bipolar General: https://www.amazon.com/Bipolar-General-Forever-Illness-Association/dp/1682473805 

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Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:49 - Guest Introduction (Gregg Martin) 02:03 - Interview begins 02:35 - Traits of a General 05:37 - Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder 18:04 - PTSD to Bipolar Disorder 21:02 - Family Military history 25:30 - Engineer Corps.  27:02 - 5 year mark commitment 28:10 - Time at MIT 33:15 - Pre 9/11 Military experience 39:23 - Signs of Mania during enlistment 43:01 - DeleteMe Ad 44:06 - Time at Army War College 45:30 - Bipolar Disorder and Genetics 56:40 - Time in Germany during war time 49:24 - Mission set for Engineer Corps. 58:23 - Bridges to Baghdad  01:06:26 - Average day in Iraq 01:16:10 - Onset of Bipolar disorder during Ops. 01:20:46 - Challenging moments 01:26:13 - Differences in character coming home 01:29:18 - Being Relieved 01:53:14 - Life with medication 01:54:29 - Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness 01:54:50 - Sentimental items 01:55:32 - Would you do it all again? 01:56:37 - Closing thoughts 01:57:33 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

🎙️ Today's Combat Story: Unveiling the Truth Behind Pat Tillman's Tragic End in Afghanistan

🎙️ In this episode, we delve deep into the life and tragic end of Pat Tillman, the former NFL star turned Army Ranger, through the meticulous research and firsthand accounts of Pete Blaber, a former Delta Force Commander with extensive experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond.

🔍 Why Pete Blaber?

Pete served twice in the same Ranger Battalion as Pat Tillman, giving him unparalleled insights into the people, locations, and responsibilities involved in the battlefield. 

📖 The Quest for Truth

Mary Tillman, Pat's mother, sought Pete's help to uncover the truth about her son's death. Despite multiple military investigations, the true story remained elusive until Pete's involvement. 

📘 Common Sense Leadership Matters

Pete documents his findings and the toxic leadership climate in his book, "Common Sense Leadership Matters: Toxic Leadership Destroys, A Case Study." This book offers new perspectives on Pat Tillman's leadership, the state of special operations in 2004, and the daily life of a Ranger in combat. 

#CommonSenseLeadership #CommonSenseSuperpower #LeadershipTransformation #UnleashYourPotential #leadershipawareness #LanguageOfCommonSense

📸 Visual Aids

Follow along with images of the terrain at firefight.commonsenseway.com. 

======= Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Pete Blaber Online: - Common Sense Leadership Matters: Toxic Leadership Destroys, A Case Study https://www.amazon.com/Common-Sense-Leadership-Matters-Destroys/dp/B0C87BVQZY 

- Follow along with the battlefield description at: https://firefight.commonsenseway.com/ The Common Sense Way: A New Way to Think About Leading and Organizing https://www.amazon.com/Common-Sense-Way-Organizing-Leadership-ebook/dp/B096N2KGJZ

- The Mission, The Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XQEVWQ/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0 Instagram @blaberpete https://www.instagram.com/blaberpete/

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Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:44 - Guest Introduction (Peter Blaber) 02:51 - Interview begins 03:35 - Peter's background 08:55 - Being an Author and case studies 20:52 - Hello Fresh Ad 22:18 - 3rd book synopsis 29:48 - Patrick Tillman's mother Mary 36:42 - Command structure leading to firefight  41:18 - Toxic Management 45:17 -  Structure of the Rangers and terrain of the Spera District 54:23 - Command at Selarino 01:02:16 - Battle readiness in Afghanistan 01:10:41 - Oversought preventitive measures 01:24:00 - The mission and the firefight  01:44:00 - Writing the firefight 01:46:50 - The firefight 02:03:04 - Kevin Tillman 02:09:54 - Patrick Tillman 02:29:57 - Mission Debreif 02:38:12 - Relationships after book publishing 02:41:48 - Toxic climates 002:45:56 - Closing thoughts 02:46:43 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Go to www.HelloFresh.com/50combatstory and use code 50combatstory for 50% off plus free shipping to get delicious and healthy meals that you can make at home with your family in no time and add some variety to what you serve! Our family has used Hello Fresh for years!

This episode is brought to you by RocketMoney. Go to www.RocketMoney.com/combatstory and get help finding and canceling your unwanted subscriptions, monitor your spending, and help lower your bills—all in one place.  This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Go to www.joindeleteme.com/combat and use the code COMBAT to get 20% off your plan and keep your personal information online secure. =======

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

🎙️Dive into the riveting life journey of Mike Bloch, a valorous Marine Corps Veteran and MARSOC Special Operator. Mike's story is a tapestry of courage, resilience, and sacrifice, woven through multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

🇺🇸 #MarineCorps #MARSOC #VeteranStories #CombatStoryPodcast

📅 A Turning Point in Mike's Life 📅

On February 15, 2022, Mike encountered a life-altering mental health crisis, spotlighting the urgent need for comprehensive mental health support for our veterans. This episode is not just an interview; it's a call to action.

 🧠 #MentalHealthAwareness #VeteranSupport #PTSD

🎯 Why This Episode Matters 🎯

Our mission at Combat Story is to give a voice to the voiceless and bridge the gap between policymakers and the lived experiences of veterans. Mike's ongoing legal battle serves as a case study for how we treatment of veterans when they return from war.

🏛️ #JusticeForVeterans #LegalReform #PolicyChange 

👇 Take Action 👇

If Mike's story resonates with you, we urge you to support his case through the UAP organization and reach out to your elected officials. Your voice can make a difference. 📝 #UAP #VeteranRights #TakeAction

📲 Connect with Mike Bloch

• Support Mike's Case via UAP - https://www.uap.org/case/michael-bloch-marine-raider/
• Donate to UAP to support Mike’s case: https://www.uap.org/donate/
• Mike's Non-Profit for Veterans https://www.projectvetwerx.org/
• You can make an impact by contacting your state’s elected representatives, along with contacting North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, to request that they use their powers to help the transfer of Staff Sergeant Bloch’s case to the Veterans Court. You can also read Michael Bloch’s own letter to Governor Cooper here to aid with your effort to support: https://www.uap.org/post/michael-bloch-case-district-attorney-ernie-lee/bloch-letter-to-governor-cooper/

📲 Connect with Ryan 

• Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory Merch Store https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory
• Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
• 🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

======= This is an important Combat Story with former MARSOC Special Operator and Marine Rifleman Mike Bloch. Mike served multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan with conventional and special operations forces, returned with PTSD and TBI (like so many) but preserved. He went on to serve in a contractor role with JSOC, created his own company (EBS, a Defense Contracting Company), and founded a non-profit to help other veterans.

On February 15, 2022, Mike was on his way to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for a business meeting when he suffered a mental breakdown brought on by a combination of high-stress, lack of sleep, and a drug called ‘Nuvigil’ prescribed by the VA to Mike for over four years (when it should not be taken for more than 12 weeks).

Mike is now being treated as a violent criminal by the North Carolina court system and a District Attorney who has decided to target an honorable veteran who spent years in combat. The DA set Mike’s trial for September 11th in case you want to understand just how out of touch this is.

Part of the reason we created Combat Story was for politicians to understand what really happens to veterans when they’re sent down range, from the trauma and loss during combat to the experience when they return home and try to reintegrate. This interview does exactly that. Try to imagine where you were on Christmas day in 2004 and compare it to Mike’s experience. Listen to the number of brothers he lost along the way. Then try to understand what it’s like to lead a normal life afterwards.

Beyond an amazing set of combat stories, this is also an episode about how we treat our veterans when they come home. If Mike’s story moves you, as it did me, I’d ask you to check out the UAP site and donate what you can and write to your congressional representative and ask to move this case to a veteran court designed for such cases. You can find the necessary links in the episode description.

This is a special one and I hope you enjoy this humble combat story as much as I did.

======= Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  01:00 - Guest Introduction (Mike Bolch) 02:57 - Interview begins 04:15 - Trial backstory 06:43 - Motivation to go into the Military 13:59 - what life without the Military would be 14:53 - Family reaction to joining the Military 16:02 - Youth Ranch compared to Basic 20:25 - Rocket Money Ad 21:48 - Post 9/11 Deployment 27:14 - Deployment in Babylon 29:48 - Integrating with the Platoon 34:30 - First combat experience 39:45 - First deployment from Iraq 41:48 - DeleteMe Ad 45:51 - Subsequent Deployments 44:50 - Transition back home 47:28 - Close encounters 01:01:10 - Traumatic events 01:07:20 - Jay and MARSOC 01:11:45 - Preparing mentally for Deployments 01:14:00 - Arrival and preparation for MARSOC 01:18:38 - Challenging Operation 01:34:38 - Transition to Contracting 01:48:35 - FOMO on the Job 01:51:20 - PTSD, V.A and New Vigil, Trial case 02:05:32 - Sentimental Items 02:06:30 - Would you do it all again 02:07:19 - Listener comments and shout outs

Go to www.HelloFresh.com/50combatstory and use code 50combatstory for 50% off plus free shipping to get delicious and healthy meals that you can make at home with your family in no time and add some variety to what you serve! Our family has used Hello Fresh for years!

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

======= Today we have a unique Combat Story from a long time aviator Sean Borland. Sean flew Cobras, Apaches, MH-53 Pave Lows, and CV-22 Ospreys providing direct support to war fighters pre and post-9/11.

Notably, Sean was in the first set of aircraft to go into Afghanistan immediately after 9/11 as part of Air Force Special Operations flying the MH-53 in both combat search and rescue and multi-purpose infil and exfil operations for special ops units of varying flavors from white SOF to OGA. This is a deep dive into some of the technical aspects of aviation, particularly rotary wing, and some of the differences between the Air Force Special Operations aviation elements and 160th. 

I hope you enjoy this wide ranging discussion and insight into the rotary wing side of operations as much as I did. 

======= Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Sean Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-borland-2b0b2045/

======= Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:47 - Guest Introduction (Sean Borland) 01:37 - Interview begins 02:05 - Background in Aviation 07:07 - Media and influences 10:47 - Deciding to go Marines 17:10 - Flying guns 20:30 - HelloFresh 21:45 - Differences between Cobra and Apache 24:27 - Apache mentality in the 90's 30:32 - Going to FLERE?? 32:38 - Path to the Air Force 40:33 - Mision set of MH53 47:35 - Crew Configuration of MH53 50:42 - 9/11 and deployment 01:05:00 - First time outside the wire 01:28:18 - Fighter weapons school 01:32:48 - Challenging Operations 01:52:24 - Change to Osprey 01:58:44 - Close call Operation 02:07:13 - Sentimental items 02:08:44 - Would you do it again 02:09:28 - Vietnam History Flight 02:11:59 - Closing thoughts 02:12:39 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we go for our second Combat Story with a member of the Air Force’s aerial special operations community: Mike LaFeve, an MC-130 Navigator in the Air Force’s 8th Special Operations Squadron (8th SOS).

Mike was deployed consistently from 2001 to 2006 with the 8th SOS as the most deployed Air Force special operations squadron at the time. This included trips to both Afghanistan and Iraq as both the aircraft technology improved and bases in theater become more fortified. 

In the MC-130, Mike was responsible for a variety of mission sets supporting, primarily, the special operations community, including DEVGRU as we hear in this episode. The MC-130 is designed to support the special operations community with airdrops, delivery and extraction of special operators, refueling, combat search and rescue and so much more. 

In this episode, we pick up where we left off as Mike goes from the first deployment post-9/11 into the next and more established operational tempo going from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan to Kuwait to Iraq and back again and I hope you enjoy this set of combat stories in the versatile MC-130 as much as I did. =======

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Mike LaFeve Online: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelafeve/ - Stronghold Freedom Foundation https://strongholdfreedomfoundation.org/ =======

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:53 - Guest Introduction (Mike LaFeve) 02:02 - Interview begins 02:45 - K-2 11:30 - Coming back from first deployment and OIF 26:18 - Night the war kicked off 30:00 - OIF stories 36:50 - GPS guided DZ drops 42:30 - Kuwait deployment 46:22 - Big mission 50:28 - What makes a good crew in the cockpit 59:37 - Funny story from '05 01:05:39 - Keeping it light during missions 01:12:58 - Last deployment to Bagram  01:44:40 - Military persona into the civilian world 01:54:06 - Strong Hold Freedom Foundation 01:57:17 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by RocketMoney. Go to www.RocketMoney.com/combatstory and get help finding and canceling your unwanted subscriptions, monitor your spending, and help lower your bills—all in one place.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

======= Today we hear the Combat Story of a long time Marine and Special Operator Andy Milburn who, after retiring from 31 years of service, decided to then go to Ukraine to support their fight against the Russians through what he aptly named the Mozart Group. 

Andy has a knack for getting close to the action that started long before he became a Marine. Growing up in the UK, Andy found himself detained momentarily in Iran before meeting a group of Marine Security Guards in Pakistan that changed his career path from lawyer to Marine. He was part of operations in Somalia, Iraq (from the invasion to counter-ISIS operations), Afghanistan, and Libya.

He commanded at multiple levels, including the first ever O-6 level Special Operations Task Force while battling ISIS in Iraq. He’s battled some of the darkest moments of the trauma and grief that come from combat and loss but continues to give back, to include the time he spent in Ukraine with the Mozart Group.

Andy’s written a book about his time in service, When The Tempest Gathers, that helps clearly explain how he might end up in Ukraine after retiring and has been published in multiple journals, including The Atlantic and Task and Purpose. He and his Mozart Group have been featured in the New York Times and countless other news outlets.

We need to say a special thanks to our brothers at the Team House for making this interview happen and  I hope you enjoy this story of sacrifice and selflessness from a lifelong Marine as much as I did.

 

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Andy Online: - When The Tempest Gathers: https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations/dp/1526750554 - Learn more about Andy https://www.mei.edu/profile/andy-milburn - Twitter @andymilburn8 https://twitter.com/andymilburn8?lang=en - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023/ - Instagram @milburnar https://www.instagram.com/milburnar/?hl=en ======= Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:47 - Guest Introduction (Andy Milburn) 02:15 - Interview begins 03:00 - Marine House in Islamabad 11:26 - From Islamabad to Australia 16:30 - Family's reaction to dangerous trip 20:15 - Rocket Money 24:54 - Isolation of command  27:22 - Starting as a Private at Paris Island 32:23 - Hollywood Marines 34:23 - Path to Mogadishu 40:41 - First time in combat 52:41 - Being in Command 55:30 - Challenging battles 01:07:57 - Loss during Command 01:15:20 - Time in Libya 01:35:44 - Counter-ISIS 01:47:04 - Perseverance in traumatic times 01:56:05 - Similar role in the future 01:57:30 - Mental health experiences 02:02:12 - Sentimental Items 02:07:52 - Would you do it again 02:10:09 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Go to www.HelloFresh.com/combatstory50 and use code combatstory50 for 50% off plus free shipping to get delicious and healthy meals that you can make at home with your family in no time and add some variety to what you serve! Our family has used Hello Fresh for years!

This episode is brought to you by RocketMoney. Go to www.RocketMoney.com/combatstory and get help finding and canceling your unwanted subscriptions, monitor your spending, and help lower your bills—all in one place. 

This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Go to www.joindeleteme.com/combat and use the code COMBAT to get 20% off your plan and keep your personal information online secure.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

=======

Today we have an amazing Combat Story from a 28 year F-16 fighter pilot, Jet Jernigan. Jet’s story is remarkable from how he stumbled into aviation to eventually lead the first 20 F-16s into Kuwait in the Gulf War to take out 10 Surface-to-Air (SAM) Missile sites and clear the way for Air Force bombers.

Jet and his 19 wingmen evaded over 40 SAM launches in just a 9 minute period in what can only be described as organized chaos. He would go head-to-head with SA-2s, SA-6s, and SA-9s in a span of just a few months.

As a member of the South Carolina Air National Guard, it seems unlikely that Jet’s unit was chosen ahead of other Active Duty Air Force squadrons to be the first F-16s into Kuwait. Fortunately, Jet and his team had just won Gunsmoke, the Air Force’s preeminent international aviation air-to-ground combat training exercise despite flying older F-16s against the Active Duty Air Force’s modernized variants, proving they were equally capable aviators.

Jet had many firsts in his career, including being the first Air National Guard pilot to attend the Air Force’s elite Fighter Weapons School where, with his high school degree and Air National Guard pedigree, finished as the honor graduate or Top Gun. Jet is an incredibly humble, accomplished, and god fearing veteran who continues to live out a Hollywood-like story. Stay tuned to the end of this episode to hear Colin Powell’s very own description of when Jet was interviewed by a reporter just after landing from his first mission in the Gulf War…it says it all. #f16 #fighterpilot #airforce #veteran =======

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Jet Jernigan Online: - Instagram @Jetf16 https://www.instagram.com/jetf16/

=======

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Guest Introduction (Jet Jernigan) 02:40 - Interview begins 22:14 - What’s an A-7D aircraft? 28:45 - What’s it like flying the F-16? 33:53 - What’s it like to hit a bird (bird strike) at 450mph? 39:11 - What is Fighter Weapons School? 50:40 - What is Gunsmoke? 52:11 - Greatest answer to a media question in history…what’s it like to fly an F-16? 01:01:53 - Why did we have Desert Storm? 01:15:16 - Preparing for the Gulf War 01:23:43 - Taking off for the first F-16 flight of the Gulf War 01:39:31 - How to evade a Surface to Air Missile (the science behind it from a fighter pilot) 01:41:08 - An intense mission in Basra meeting an SA-9 and sinking a ship! 01:46:59 - Sinking a Navy ship with an F-16 01:56:04 - When Colin Powell talks about Jet Jernigan after the Gulf War 02:00:15 - What Jet carried on combat missions 02:03:19 - Sentimental Items 02:04:19 - Would you do it again? 02:07:30 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we have a unique and very interesting Combat Story with former Green Beret and later Command Chaplain at Special Operations Command, George Youstra. Do not be fooled by the Chaplain title, George's stories are powerful and show a side of the military very few who have not served will ever see.

George accumulated over 400 flight hours, primarily in the F-16, at the urging of his boss at the time, General Breedlove, so he could better connect with and serve the pilots and airmen he was assigned to. After building his reputation as a Chaplain within the Air Force fighter community, he was given a call sign, “Saul,” which is perfectly suited given his role and stature. 

In his career, George was a personal advisor to eight Four Star Generals and helped drive religious efforts at both tactical and strategic levels in multiple combat theaters, particularly within the Special Operations community. I had no idea how critical the Chaplain’s role would be for combatant commands at the strategic level, which is something we dive into in this episode, in addition to the tactical experience just being present for soldiers and airmen about to go into harm’s way, on the verge of taking their own lives, supporting brothers-in-arms who just lost a best friend, and wrestling with their spirituality in the heat of combat.

At SOCOM, George served as the principal and personal staff advisor to the Commander, Directors, and headquarters staff in areas related to morale, ethics and spirituality, to include advising on the role and impact of religion in the strategic environment. 

With that, I hope you enjoy this incredibly insightful and moving conversation with one of the few Chaplains to have seen combat himself as a Special Forces officer, as much as I did.

======= Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find George Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-youstra-92865746/ - Instagram @chaplainustra https://www.instagram.com/chaplainustra/?hl=en Suicide Prevention Hotlines: Call: 988 Text: 838255 ======= Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:44 - Guest Introduction (George Youstra) 02:12 - Interview begins 02:45 - Childhood 04:45 - George's Marine Father 06:18 - Religion and the Military 08:48 - Path to the Chapalain Core 12:24 - Time in the Army 13:08 - Strom Thurmond 22:30 - Time in Special Forces 24:27 - Time in South America 29:30 - Challenging Operations as a Green Beret 34:30 - Going down the Chaplain path 37:16 - Training as a Chaplain 39:34 - Differences between Army and Air Force 42:21 - What makes a good Chaplain 50:04 - Day in the life of a Chaplain downrange 54:59 - Goals of a Chaplain 01:02:28 - Assistance with Mental Health 01:08:31 - "Saul" callsign 01:10:10 - Working with Fighter Pilots 01:18:47 - Perspective of leadership 01:22:40 - Leadership lessons 01:26:04 - Different religions in combat 01:37:58 - Most courageous act 01:41:37 - Sentimental items 01:43:03 - Do it all again 01:44:35 - Administering last rights 01:45:18 - Closing thoughts 01:46:19 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Go to www.joindeleteme.com/combat and use the code COMBAT to get 20% off your plan and keep your personal information online secure. This episode is brought to you by RocketMoney. Go to www.RocketMoney.com/combatstory and get help finding and canceling your unwanted subscriptions, monitor your spending, and help lower your bills—all in one place.  Go to www.HelloFresh.com/combatstory50 and use code combatstory50 for 50% off plus free shipping to get delicious and healthy meals that you can make at home with your family in no time and add some variety to what you serve! Our family has used Hello Fresh for years!

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

======= Today we hear the Combat Story of former Navy SEAL and Naval Special Warfare Development Group (or DEVGRU) operator Chris White. Chris spent two decades in the Teams pre-9/11 and was in the first wave of contractors fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq with Blackwater and similar companies early in the war.

Chris hasn’t shared his story previously and did so, in part, to set the record straight on the experience of contractors in the post-9/11 era who had often been painted in a particularly negative way by the media. 

Chris now operates Tier One Tactical where he delivers expert training to people, particularly those in law enforcement, in shooting and tactical engagements. 

I hope you enjoy this wide ranging and insightful look at Chris’ experiences in both the elite levels of the Navy’s Special Operations community and his experience as a contractor in some incredibly challenging fighting, as much as I did.

=======

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Chris White Online: - Learn more about Chris https://aegisacademy.com/pages/instructors

======= Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:52 - Guest Introduction (Chris White) 01:45 - Interview begins 02:14 - Learnings from battles 10:00 - Fight, Flight, or Freeze 15:37 - UDT days 18:13 - Childhood and path to the Military 21:24 - DeleteME 22:29 - Deliniation between  Navy and Teams 26:53 - Deciding to join the Military 29:43 - Being molded by the Military 32:03 - Friends at BUDS 36:29 - Route to DEVGRU 41:23 - Callsign White Boy 43:15 - Rocket Money 44:08 - Chris's strengths 47:43 - Chris's weaknesses 49:27 - Army Navy game 55:29 - Honor of the Fu-manchu 53:34 - Future after 20 years 01:03:53 - Hello Fresh  01:05:11 - Being in Bahrain during 9/11 01:07:08 - First mission after 9/11 01:15:29 - A hairy situation 01:30:28 - Transition to Blackwater 01:45:08 - Upside of being a Contractor 02:24:13 - Sentimental Items  02:25:33 - Do it all again 02:26:13 - Final comments 02:27:41 - Listeners comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Will a former Army Aviator and CIA officer pass out or throw-up for his first flight in a jet?! This episode is best viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/RbyWbRWXky4 because it's all flying and exploring the L-39 jet and Patriots Jet Team hangar.

Strap in for a high-octane adventure with the Patriots Jet Team, the ONLY civilian-owned aerobatic jet team in the United States! 

Ryan is taking Combat Story on a thrilling journey in an L-39 Soviet Jet with the legendary pilot, Scott "Intake" Kartvedt. They're gearing up and rehearsing for a heart-pounding performance at the Sonoma NASCAR race, and you've got a front-row seat (well...it's a the backseat of the L-39 actually)! Before we take off, we get some insider tips from Ryan "Stinger" Fishel, Active Duty F-15 fighter pilot and former guest on the podcast (https://youtu.be/4jP3U2nHFUw - 400K views), on how to handle the intense G-forces during the flight and what to eat before getting in the cockpit.

Will Ryan keep his cool (and his lunch) as they pull 7-8 G's for 45 minutes? Fasten your seatbelts and find out!

We also hear from Kevin "K2" LaRosa Jr, a sought after Hollywood aerial coordinator and stunt pilot who was handpicked by Tom Cruise to choreograph Top Gun:Maverick (he was also behind the scenes and/or in the cockpit for Avengers, Iron Man, and over 100 other movies and TV shows)!

Next, we whisk you away on an exclusive tour of the Patriots Jet Team Hangar, a veritable Aladdin's cave of aviation wonders and also the world's greatest man cave! From sleek jets to Hollywood stunt aircraft, this hangar is a treasure trove. And the pièce de résistance? A bar made from a Russian Mig Wing or the "Help Me" sign used by Tom Cruise and James Corden when they go flying in Randy's aircraft (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1iZtBM23bY)?!

Enter Randy "Howler" Howell, the owner of the Patriots Jet Team. With decades of flying experience, Randy is more than a pilot; he's an aviation legend who taught his son to fly solo at the tender age of eight! When Tom Cruise need a stunt pilot for Top Gun:Maverick, he chose Randy Howell. Safety is paramount when you're flying with the Patriots Jet Team! We go through an awesome emergency procedure for a heart-stopping ejection process (I call it the turn and dump).

Then, it's time to take to the skies. Experience the adrenaline rush of formation flying, high-speed maneuvers, and the thrill of going inverted (many times!). Ryan even gets a chance to take the controls which is not unlike his days flying the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter!

Despite a bout of nausea (an occupational hazard!), Ryan revels in the exhilarating experience of getting back in the cockpit again. As we touch down from this wild ride, we invite you to become part of the Patriots Jet Team legacy through sponsorship opportunities. Plus, don't miss out on Combat Story's previous interviews with these legends (Randy, Kevin, Intake, and Stinger). So, are you ready to defy gravity with us? Tune in, hold tight, and enjoy the ride!

Special thanks to Joey Amtman for incredible editing and Four Winds Creative (filming). Find

Ryan Online:

• Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatsory
• Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial

Find Scott "Intake" Kartvedt Online:

• Scott's website https://scottkartvedt.com/
• Full Throttle Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7F91JCB
• Instagram @scottkartvedt https://www.instagram.com/scottkartvedt/

Find Randy Howell Online:

• Learn More about Randy https://www.patriotsjetteam.com/Media%20Package/Pilot%20Bios.pdf
• Patriots Jet Team Instagram https://www.instagram.com/patriotsjetteam/ @PatriotsJetTeam
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-howell-35347540/

Find Kevin LaRosa Online:

• Kevin's website https://www.k2larosa.com/
• Instagram @K2Larosa https://www.instagram.com/k2larosa
• LinkedIn: Kevin LaRosa II
• YouTube: TOP GUN: MAVERICK: Aerial Coordinator Kevin LaRosa Jr. Interview -

Patriots Jet Team Instagram:  @rhowlerhowell, @scottKartvedt, @deanwright15, @epic_flying, @patriotsjetuprt, @lovell.cory, @mtemby, @rings_patriotsjet, @mamainiero, @aviatrixemmy, @minijetmojoh2o, @stellantsystems, @dragonfly.films, @flygoodyear, @concordebatterycorp, @pjt_foundation

Timeline:

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:25 - G-force management tips from Ryan "Stinger" Fishel, F-15 fighter pilot
• 2:25 - Exclusive tour of the Patriots Jet Team Hangar
• 3:24 - James Corden and Tom Cruise Help Me sign!
• 4:00 - Blue Angel Action Figure/Doll!
• 4:35 - Kevin LaRosa describes Cinejet and Top Gun and Devotion filming
• 6:50 - How to EJECT from an L-39!!
• 8:19 - Scott Intake Kartvedt going Full Throttle
• 9:35 - Taking Off!!
• 11:23 - 7Gs on a left break!
• 17:00 - RTB (Return to Base) and landing
• 18:38 - Get your name on the L-39!
• 19:15 - Outtake

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear a Combat Story detailing the almost start-up like creation and expansion of the CIA and military’s drone program that would go on to help find, fix, and finish high value targets across the globe with Army veteran and CIA officer, Alec Bierbauer.

Alec was an Army intelligence soldier and Warrant Officer before being hand picked to join DIA and then being hand picked again, this time by CIA legend Cofer Black, to join the CIA. Prior to 9/11, Alec was detailed from DIA to CIA’s virtual station, coincidentally named Alec Station, tracking Al-Qaida and Bin Laden. He would later have the opportunity to fire some of the first shots of the war against AQ through the predator program.

He went on to be a CIA Chief of Base in the early years of the Global War on Terror to track down targets in Afghanistan and continued serving in austere environments, including several stints more recently in an expeditionary capacity in locations he can’t name while in more senior roles at the Agency.

Alec and Mark Cooter wrote the book “Never Mind, We'll Do It Ourselves: The Inside Story of How a Team of Renegades Broke Rules, Shattered Barriers, and Launched a Drone Warfare Revolution” which details never before seen experiences of how the drone program was stood up and leveraged post-9/11.

This interview was a blast and I hope you enjoy this detailed look at such a critical program to national security during such a pivotal time, as much as I did.

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Alec Bierbauer Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alec-bierbauer-a6b3135/ - BlackRock Strategy https://www.blackrockstrategy.com/ - Never Mind, We'll Do It Ourselve - https://www.amazon.com/Books-Alec-Bierbauer/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AAlec+Bierbauer

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:49 - Guest Introduction (Alec Bierbauer) 02:24 - Interview begins 04:05 - Getting connected 04:56 -Living overseas  07:00 - Giving a cover story 09:15 - Being in Moscow in the late 70's 11:20 - Moving around, growing up, and grades 12:53 - Path to the Army 15:48 - Impression of America growing up overseas 17:06 - Deciding what role to fill in the Army 20:03 - Joining the Seapower and Projection Forces Commitee 23:12 - Transition to the D.I.A. 27:47 - Drones during the late 90's 32:13 - Working with other Agencies 38:41 - Identifying terrorist threats 45:41 - Intelligence Operations in Afghanistan 57:05 -Alternate options to Drones to find Bin Laden 59:48 - 9/11 and Drone deployment 01:11:51 - Time in Afghanistan 01:23:13 - Leading a base at the front end of the war 01:31:13 - Mike Span's passing  01:35:40 - Most couragous acts  01:45:50 - Satisfaction of the Drone Program 01:49:45 - Unmaned aircrafts Vs. Manned aircrafts 01:51:11 - Keep going back to the fight 01:53:10 - Retirement 01:55:47 - Starting BlackRock Strategy 01:57:17 - Sentimental items 01:58:53 - Do it all again 01:59:43 - Closing thoughts 02:01:24 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear an aviation-focused Combat Story with three pioneers in the civilian, military, and filmmaking aviation communities who were the driving force behind the aerial scenes from Top Gun: Maverick.

Many will recall our interview with Scott ‘Intake’ Kartvedt as the Accountant turned Naval Aviator who went on to fly F/A-18s, command an F-35 Squadron, fly with the Blue Angels, and now flies the Number 5 airplane in the civilian aerobatic formation flight Patriots Jet Team. Scott’s fantastic book “Full Throttle: From the Blue Angels to Hollywood Stunt Pilot” chronicles his experiences in- and outside the cockpit.

Our second guest is the owner of The Patriots Jet Team, Randy Howell, who flies the Number 6 aircraft, and who taught Tom Cruise to fly the L-39 jet for Maverick. To give you an idea of how long Randy has been flying, he has 7K more flight hours than expert aviator Sully Sullenberger, who famously landed his commercial airliner in the Hudson River after an inflight emergency. Randy and Intake made up the pair of stunt pilots for Maverick, including the intense flying in the last eight minutes of the movie, for which they were awarded the Screen Actors Guild award for action.

Our third guest is Kevin ‘K2’ LaRosa who grew up in Hollywood as an aviation stunt man, pilot, and aerial coordinator. You’ve seen him in the air in over 100 films and TV shows, including Iron Man, Avengers, Transformers, Devotion, and Maverick. He is the VP of Aerial Production for Helinet Aviation. This is a rare glimpse into flying with three experts and pioneers in the field.

We dig into so much in this episode about flying on the edge and I hope you enjoy these stories of pushing the limits of aerial cinematography with both aircraft and cameras, teaching Tom Cruise to fly jets, and the close calls and near misses that inevitably come with aviation, as much as I did.

We have a special edition of Combat Story coming up where I go flying with Intake and Randy in the L-39 in formation with the Patriots Jet Team and try not to pass out or throw up! Stay tuned!

Find Ryan Online:

• Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
• Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Scott Kartvedt Online:

• Scott's website https://scottkartvedt.com/
• Full Throttle Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7F91JCB 

Find Randy Howell Online: 

• Learn More about Randy https://www.patriotsjetteam.com/Media%20Package/Pilot%20Bios.pdf 
• Patriots Jet Team Instagram https://www.instagram.com/patriotsjetteam/   @PatriotsJetTeam 
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-howell-35347540/ 

Find Kevin LaRosa Online:

• Kevin's website https://www.k2larosa.com/
• Instagram @K2Larosa https://www.instagram.com/k2larosa 

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:41 - Guest Introduction (Scott Kartvedt, Randy Howell, Kevin LaRosa) 02:40 - Interview begins 08:20 - Arial Coordinator responsibilities 10:27 - Arial Coordinator on Top Gun Maverick  15:07 - Camera rigging on Jets 20:06 - Getting 'Intake' on board 22:51 Intake on Top Gun Maverick 24:56 - Safety and Planning Top Gun Maverick fight scene 35:06 - Team dynamics during training 39:58 - Stick Model Practice 42:33 - Almost hitting a breaching whale 43:31 - A few tough maneuvers 49:00 - Perfecting Combat Comms 52:19 - Reminiscing on Top Gun Maverick 55:55 - Recieving a SAG award 01:00:24 - Patriots Jet Team 01:07:30 - Maintaining orientation 01:08:55 - Full Throttle  01:10:38 - Following the Arial Coordination path 01:15:31 - Close calls 01:25:04 - Sentimental Items 01:27:11 - Favorite aircraft 01:30:01 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= Today we have a fascinating Combat Story from Matt Stevens, a Troop and Squadron Commander in Naval Special Warfare Development Group or DEVGRU, the unit many know from the Bin Laden raid and the Captain Phillips rescue. 

After tours with SEAL Teams 4 and 8 and one rotation with a SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) unit, Matt successfully assessed for and was accepted into DEVGRU. He and his Troop deployed to Afghanistan immediately following 9/11 and supported efforts in the south of the country, on the “giving end” of things as Matt so aptly describes it. 

Matt was, unfortunately, intimately involved in the aftermath of Operation Red Wings in 2005 while serving as a DEVGRU Squadron Commander that included all the tactical and political challenges that come with that leadership role.

Today, Matt is the CEO of The Honor Foundation, a non-profit that helps elite warriors like himself successfully transition out of the military and into a civilian career. Part of the process for veterans in the program is how to manage your identity post-military, which so many of us struggle with, and Matt shares some of the tactics the Honor Foundation uses to help in this effort.

I hope you enjoy this front row seat to stories from a leader in one of the elite Tier 1 elements of our military as much as I did. 

 

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Matt Stevens Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewpstevens/ - Learn more about Matt https://www.honor.org/people/matt-stevens/ - The Honor Foundation https://www.honor.org/ - Instagram @honorfoundation https://www.instagram.com/honorfoundation/

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:45 - Guest Introduction (Matt Stevens) 02:00 - Interview begins 02:07 - Missions after 9/11 09:20 - Lobbying to get mission sets 12:03 - The Honor Foundation 18:49 - 4Patriots 20:07 - Childhood 23:59 - Deciding to join the Military 29:12 - Playing the clarinet 31:30 - Deciding to go the SEALs route 34:29 - Working alongside older Veterans 36:09 - Welcoming as a Junior Officer to SEAL team 38:51 - Jump to DEVGRU 46:22 - Measuring up to the competition 47:39 - Family reaction to going DEVGRU  48:44 - First mission set in Afghanistan  55:07 - Difference between training and live Ops at night 58:30 - Operation Red Wings  01:16:39 - Moral during Operation Red Wings  01:25:44 - Leadership position complications 01:29:32 - Experience with high ranking officials 01:31:24 - Advice for identity after service 01:44:39 - Sentimental Items 01:45:21 - Would you do it all again 01:47:01 - Final thoughts 01:47:12 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by the OSS Society. Use the link below to register for the Tuesday, June 13 · 6 - 7pm EDT 'Oh So Social' Conversation between General Jim Mattis and Dr. Michael Vickers. They'll discuss Vickers upcoming book In By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operation and Strategy and his remarkable career. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mattis-vickers-an-oh-so-social-conversation-tickets-627293320207

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= Today we have a unique Combat Story from long time veteran, CIA officer, and policy maker: the Honorable Mike Vickers. Mike spent 10 years in the Green Berets with 10th Special Forces Group as both an enlisted Weapons Sergeant and Officer, including command of a counterterrorism element operating in Europe during the Cold War. 

He then transitioned to one of the most impactful jobs in Cold War history as the Program Officer overseeing the covert action program to fight and ultimately defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan. His first assignments in the Agency before going to training were in stark contrast to my own as Mike went directly to a war zone (a story we begin the podcast with because it’s so unique) with nothing but his polo, linen pants, loafers, operational cash and a firearm!

Mike would go on to very senior levels in the government, including the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, Low Intensity Conflicts, and Interdependent Capabilities where he played an instrumental role in so many facets of our national security policy, to include pioneering drone capabilities to target Al-Qaida around the world and helping get the necessary support for the raid to kill Bin Laden.

I found this to be a fascinating piece of history and one that Mike details in his book, By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operations and Strategy. I found Mike thanks to Frank Gargon, who - along with MIke- is helping to raise funds to support the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Society in building a museum in honor of intelligence and special operations professionals. With that, please enjoy this front row seat to so many historical events over the past 40 years.

 

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Michael Vickers Online: - Learn more about Michae: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_G._Vickers - Purchase By All Means Available: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/537236/by-all-means-available-by-michael-g-vickers/ - OSS Society Conversation with Jim Mattis tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mattis-vickers-an-oh-so-social-conversation-tickets-627293320207 - OSS Society: https://www.osssociety.org/

 

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  01:01 - Guest Introduction (Ryan Rogers) 02:48 - Interview begins 04:00 - Unusual beginning at the CIA 09:40 - On the ground in Greneda 13:36 - Growing up and focus on the CIA 17:29 - Underachiever to Multitasker 19:20 - OSS Society Conversation Ad 20:22 - Time in the Army 23:48 - Serving along side Vietnam Soldiers 27:21 - Advantage of Special Forces training to CIA 29:03 - Chance encounter with Gina Haspel 30:34 - Homebased and the Covert Action Program 34:41 - Afghanistan Covert Action Program Officer 39:28 - 4Patriots 40:47 - Stalemate in Afghanistan 41:43 - Plan to infiltrate Afghanistan 45:00 - Secret partners 45:48 - Escalation against the Soviets 50:10 - Soviet withdrawl from Afghanistan 53:38 - A covert mission 56:17 - Afghanistan war post 9/11 01:01:13 - Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, Low Intensity Conflicts, and Interdependent Capabilities  01:07:30 - The Drone Program 01:12:02 - On the ground in Pakistan 01:13:53 - Secretary of Intel 01:17:52 - A challenging mission 01:21:42 - Building confidence in the Bin Laden raid 01:29:49 - Sentimental items 01:31:03 - Do it all again 01:31:53 - Plan B 01:33:02 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

Also be sure to visit our Combat Story website where you can keep up to date with the latest Combat Story episodes, connect with us, or purchase Combat Story merch at; https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= Today we hear the Combat Story of former Special Forces Green Beret Eric Neal. In fact, you’ll hear many combat stories in this episode as Eric recounts his four deployments to Afghanistan in just four years from 2010 to 2014 in very kinetic environments, losing many friends and brothers in arms along the way and learning so much about himself. 

Even Eric’s very first combat operation (which jump into in the first two minutes of this episode) was as chaotic as they get with multiple aircraft supporting his ODA going winchester (running out of ammo) trying to suppress the enemy. He would be involved in operations we’ve heard of previously - in one case carrying the bodies of the soldiers we lost in Extortion 17 - and many events we have not heard of, to include one of the largest VBIEDs in the post-9/11 era on the 10 year anniversary of 9/11, that wounded over 70 soldiers and local nationals. 

Eric experienced so much of this combat and loss in his mid-20s and, as he mentions, some of these moments are still with him today. It’s hard to imagine one person could experience this much combat in one lifetime, let alone in just four years and I hope you enjoy this gauntlet of trial by fire, literally, and the combat operations and insights he shares, as much as I did. 

 

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Eric NealOnline: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-d-neal/ - Gritr sports https://gritrsports.com/ - National Medal of Honor Museum https://mohmuseum.org/

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  01:01 - Guest Introduction (Eric Neal) 02:25 - Interview begins 02:48 - Background with Darrell Utt 04:24 - Medal of Honor recipients before award 06:17 - The importance of 3rd Group 07:55 - First mission outside the wire 21:27 - 4Patriots 24:29 - Childhood and joining the Army 30:00 - The Football Coach  34:54 - Path to Special Forces 39:42 - Combat Story Merch 39:58 - Gaining confidence 43:38 - The Q-course 49:34 - The drive for combat 50:58 - Hazing  56:13 - Loosing a team leader 59:01 - First deployment stories 01:03:14 - First deployment afterthoughts 01:04:49 - Second deployment   01:13:31 - Being on Comms during missions 01:15:16 - First mission back after IED 01:18:33 - A tragic situation 01:33:05 - Second deployment afterthoughts 01:36:47 - Third deployment 01:40:56 - Dealing with losing teammates 01:42:20 - Fourth deployment 02:02:57 - Courageous acts 02:06:56 - Sentimental Items 02:08:17 - Would you do it all again 02:09:28 - Final remarks 02:10:54 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by the OSS Society. Use the link below to register for the Tuesday, June 13 · 6 - 7pm EDT 'Oh So Social' Conversation between General Jim Mattis and Dr. Michael Vickers. They'll discuss Vickers upcoming book In By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operation and Strategy and his remarkable career. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mattis-vickers-an-oh-so-social-conversation-tickets-627293320207

This episode is also brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits. The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

======= Today we hear our first Combat Story from a member of the Air Force’s aerial special operations community: Mike LaFeve. Mike was an MC-130 Navigator in the Air Force’s 8th Special Operations Squadron (8th SOS).

The MC-130 is an incredible airframe and we dig into it’s configuration, aircrews, and mission sets in this episode. The platform is specifically designed to support the special operations community with airdrops, delivery and extraction of special operators, refueling, combat search and rescue and so much more, including something called the Fulton Recovery which is straight out of a James Bond movie. 

In this episode we go through Mike’s first deployment immediately following 9/11 in what can only be described as the Wild West of Afghanistan. We’ll do a second round interview in which we delve into several more deployments and the varied mission set as the battlefield becomes more established.

I hope you enjoy this detailed behind the scenes look at a very cool airframe from someone inside the cockpit as much as I did.

 

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Mike LaFeve Online: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelafeve/

 

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  01:00 - Guest Introduction (Mike LaFeve) 02:00 - Interview begins 02:23 - Influential Media 04:29 - Desire to fly 05:57 - Childhood 08:15 - Family Military history 09:08 - Deciding on the Air Force 14:59 - Air Maintenance Officer 20:18 - OSS Society 21:24 - Difference between Navigator and Pilot 29:20 - Heavy instead of Fighter 32:35 - Path to MC-130 and Special Forces 36:28 - In depth look at the C-130s 40:35 - 4 Patriots 41:58 - Aircrew and Mission sets 46:57 - Flying at 250 feet at night 51:00 - Retired plane-escape system 53:46 - Special Ops during 9/11 01:05:42 - Time in Pakistan 01:19:57 - First operation of the War 01:28:26 - Time in the War 01:32:20 - Texas 12 01:42:23 - ODA teamleader 01:46:47 - Last mission on first deployment 01:50:58 - Sentimental item 01:52:33 - Would you do it all again 01:56:35 - Final thoughts 01:57:54 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= Today we hear a remarkable Combat Story from longtime Special Forces Green Beret and 18D medic, Ryan Neel, who spent close to 25 years in the Army, most of that in Special Operations, to include nine deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

We spend a lot of time on Ryan’s combat experiences in this episode, starting right away with the story of how Ryan nearly died on his first Iraq deployment. I found Ryan through Darrell Utt (who many will recall from our interview #74 at https://youtu.be/Qzv6lISLnwA), who was a former Green Beret alongside Ryan. Oddly enough, both Darrell and Ryan share the same “Alive Day” as they both nearly died on the same day in April 2005.

Darrell described the event in the following way: “Ryan was 15 meters away when a tanker truck rammed through the gate and detonated 500 gallons of diesel fuel, 20 x 155mm HE Artillery shells, and ¼ metric tons of TNT…despite having multiple types of injuries and being trapped in his room while it was on fire for 2 minutes, his teammates kicked the door down and after a quick self-assessment – he proceeded to provide medical treatment to four SF brothers, two interpreters, three Peshmerga guards, reset security, and directed Iraqi & US reinforcements…And, yes, he has the actual terrorist video footage of the attack!”

Ryan provides a very real and honest perspective of what 15 years of combat does to a person and family and I am sure so many people will connect with his feelings and perspective. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did! 

 

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Ryan Neel Online: - Indeed https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-neel-mba-cpd/

 

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:58 - Guest Introduction (Ryan Neel) 02:42 - Interview begins 02:55 - Darrel Utt and sharing an Alive Day 19:10 - 4Patriots 20:30 -  Alive Day continued 28:05  - Being a Parent and Husband 37:04 - Recruitment and the path to the Army 41:12 - Family history and reception on joining 44:50 - Influences to joining 47:15 - Going Green Beret 51:23 - Time in Kosovo  01:02:59 - Skirmish on the border 01:08:43 - First Deployment with Special Forces 01:22:14 - Missions leading up to the Alive Day attack 01:25:16 - A tough operation #1 01:33:35 - A tough operation #2 01:41:14 - Patching up a Soldier 02:07:32 - Impacts on Home life 02:25:44 - Sentimental items 02:29:43 - Would you do it again? 02:32:24 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= Today we hear our first Combat Story from an 82nd Airborne soldier and medic, Colin Sesek. Colin would go on to serve in Special Operations but started his career as a medic fighting in Iraq during the surge and we’ve had so many fans asking for a Combat Story from a conventional soldier in the 82nd Airborne and Colin does not disappoint.

While downrange, Colin participated in infantry operations and raids while also wearing his medic hat managing mass casualty events, significant trauma incidents, and even treated insurgents who were wounded on the battlefield. 

After leaving Iraq, Colin went on to write a play titled Bent Compass that is touring in the US and Canada about a soldier changing as a result of the war and conflict he’s experienced that I got a sneak peek of and I know our listeners will really appreciate. 

This was a really fun episode and I hope you enjoy Colin’s perspective from the conventional and SOF sides of the house as much as I did.

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Colin Online: - Bent Compass https://neilbrookshire.com/bent-compass/ - @BentCompass https://www.instagram.com/bentcompass/?hl=en - Learn more about Bent Compass https://www.kivitv.com/news/bent-compass-tells-the-story-of-a-combat-medic-from-boise

 

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:54 - Guest Introduction (Colin Sesek) 01:50 - Interview begins 02:43 - A conscientious objector 09:10 - Going the Medic route 12:19 - Black Hawk Down generation 15:09 - Bent Compass Play 19:03 - Recruiter Office stories 21:41 - 4Patriots 23:00 - Medic training 24:05 - 82nd Airborne Division 36:24 - Deployment 41:34 - First time outside the wire 42:57 - First contact 44:24 - Time in Iraq 46:10 - Combat medic 57:16 - Deciding to engage 1:01:08 - Memorials 01:06:09 - Most courageous thing 01:08:03 - Almost going outside the wire 01:20:28 - The VA 01:28:30 - Bird Flu 01:32:18 - Hardest thing to do downrange 01:37:59 - Conventional to Special Forces perspective 01:42:24 - Bent Compass 01:50:02 - Sentimental items 01:50:45 - Would you do it all again 01:52:45 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= Today we turn the tables as Ryan Rogers hosts Combat Story's Ryan Fugit on the Choices not Chances Podcast. Listeners will recall Ryan Rogers' Combat Story interview from Episode (please add episode number and link to YouTube interview) where they dove into the Battle of Marjah.

Ryan Rogers returned the favor and hosted Ryan Fugit on his program and we dive into some new ground that hasn't been explored previously. I wanted to give a shout out to Ryan Rogers and his program and felt this was a great way to do it.

 

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Ryan Rogers Online: - Ryan's book Lions of Marjah https://www.amazon.com/Lions-Marjah-Combat-As-Saw/dp/0578891220 - Twitter @RyanRog98054437 https://twitter.com/ryanrog98054437 - Choices Not Chances Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsqcmxKqaR4dIFFpaJxhtrQ

 

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:20 - Guest Introduction (Choices Not Chances Podcast) 01:04 - Interview begins 03:20 - Childhood and Family life 10:11 - Coming back to the U.S. 12:32 - Living in Africa and Afghanistan 16:57 - Path to enlisting 19:43 - 4Patriots 23:05 - Deciding to become an Army Pilot 28:39 - Getting the Apache  32:48 - Flight school 41:28 - Flying the Apache 48:20 - Additional duties for a Staff Pilot 51:49 - First time downrange 58:23 - Time in Afghanistan 01:08:00 - Classified footage 01:11:20 - A bad day in Afghanistan 01:21:03 - Losing Faith 01:26:44 - Leaving the Military 01:29:30 - Time at the CIA 01:28:10 - After the CIA and Combat Story

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= Today we hear the Combat Story of Jack Carr, who many of us know as the author and creator of the book series and Amazon hit show Terminal List. Before becoming an accomplished author, Jack was a Navy SEAL, both enlisted and as an officer. He served as a sniper, led a platoon, and even a Task Force in combat. 

Jack is one of the most well-read people we’ve ever interviewed and has had tremendous success as a creator, SEAL, husband, father, and outdoorsman. I gravitated to Terminal List on Amazon because it so authentically depicts the emotions of a combat veteran and because it features a secondary character from Zimbabwe that elicits an amazing background that is so familiar to me from my upbringing in that part of the world (and that Jack and I speak about as we kick off the show).

Jack is releasing his sixth book “Only the Dead” on May 16th and, if it’s anything like the first five, is sure to be great. 

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Jack Carr Online: - Website https://www.officialjackcarr.com/\ - Instagram @jackcarrusa https://www.instagram.com/jackcarrusa/?hl=en - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jackcarrusa/ - Danger Close Podcast https://www.officialjackcarr.com/danger-close-podcast/ - The Terminal List Podcast https://www.officialjackcarr.com/terminal-list-podcast/ - (Pre) Order Only The Dead book https://a.co/d/fXC2Jnj - Learn more about Jack https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Carr_(writer)

 

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:56 - Guest Introduction (Jack Carr) 01:58 - Interview begins 04:23 - Zimbabwe 09:46 - Travel 15:33 - Becoming a writer 24:26 - 4Patriots 25:45 - Childhood 31:38 - Enlistment 37:56 - Experiences downrange 44:55 - Experiences that inspired writing 50:31 - Close calls   58:04 - Applying tactics in writing 01:04:47 - Most courageous act 01:06:55 - Sentimental items 01:08:56 - Do it all again 01:10:37 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

========

Today we hear one of our most inspirational Combat Stories from Aaron Hale, an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal tech who was blinded during an IED blast. Aaron later contracted meningitis and lost his hearing as well. You’ll want to feel sorry for him and, if you’re like me, yourself as well, but he truly has one of the most infectious and inspiring outlooks you’ll ever hear.

Aaron started his military journey doing exactly what he always wanted to by learning to cook as a Navy chef in Italy. After 9/11, however, he felt he wasn’t doing enough to contribute to the combat going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. He made a deliberate choice to become an EOD tech and it quite literally changed the entire course of his life. There was a point in time where his wife had to spell out every single letter of every word she wanted to say to him in the palm of his hand to communicate because he was, as he put it, trapped without the ability to see or hear.

This episode took me through a range of emotions and tears. Aaron’s story about the last time he got to physically see his son and his family before the blast reminded me of just how great so many of us have it in life and not to take it for granted.

I hope this episode takes you through your own range of emotions and helps put some of your own problems - that might not be so significant after all - into perspective the way it did for me. 

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Aaron Hale Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-hale-1861477 - E.O.D. Fudge https://eodfudge.com/ - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EODconfections - EOD Fudge Instagram https://www.instagram.com/EODconfections/ - Aaron Instagram @aclayhale https://www.instagram.com/aclayhale/

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:50 - Guest Introduction (Aaron Hale) 02:14 - Interview begins 02:40 - overcoming disabilities and demotivation 07:00 - Medical logistics 12:16 - Childhood and optimism 19:17 - 4Patriots 20:37 - Recruitment and cooking 31:13 - Culinary being deployed in Italy 33:20 - Soldiers and chefs 37:01 - Best Branches food 41:21 - Army E.O.D. path 52:37 - Jobset of an E.O.D. 59:50 - The tech side of E.O.D. 01:15:07 - First deployment 01:08:06 - Encounters with explosives 01:09:02 - First time facing an I.E.D. 01:11:08 - Complex times as an E.O.D. 01:14:11 - Caught in the explosion 01:24:55 - Thoughts while under fire and aftermath 01:40:35 - E.O.D. expectations 01:42:53 - animosity for the enemy 01:44:45 - Regrets 01:45:42 - Extrodinary Delights and Meningitus 01:56:06 - Favorite dessert on the menu 01:57:44 - Other businesses 02:01:05 - Sentimental item 02:01:51 - Do it all again 02:03:20 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======== Today we get a slightly different Combat Story where we still hear from a veteran, but this time in terms of overcoming challenges to succeed in business, in addition to their military experience. 

For this first Combat Story: Business Edition of, we hear from James Fugit, my brother and a very successful businessman who sold two companies in the defense space providing aviation, intelligence, IT, training, and equipment (in many cases delivering Soviet era helicopter parts and ammunition to various countries while supporting our efforts in Afghanistan). This took him all over the world with many meetings and partners in Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and more. It’s like a real life and legitimate Dogs of War if you’ve seen the movie.

James co-founded ARMA Global Corporation, which provided information technology, engineering, and technical support to defense and government customers, and helped build it from a handful of employees in 2008 to over 800 employees in 2014 when it was sold to General Dynamics Information Technology. He also co-founded and served as CEO of ARMA Aviation Corporation, which provided logistics, supply chain management, maintenance-repair- overhaul (MRO), and training and mentoring to the US government and its allies, which merged with another company called ARCTOS in 2019.

In the military, James was an Army Armor officer and we delve into how his time in the Army helped shape his business acumen and leadership skills, including going through Ranger school at the same time eight trainees died of hypothermia. 

As you can imagine, this was a special interview for me given that James is my older brother and someone I’ve looked up to my whole life so getting to dig into some of the bigger decisions and challenges he overcame meant a lot to me personally and I hope you enjoy this first ever business edition of Combat Story as much as I did.

 

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find James Online: - ARMA LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/arma-aviation

Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro  0:59 - Guest Introduction (James Fugit) 02:35 - Interview begins 04:16 - The biggest success 06:22 - ARMA Global history  11:07 - Childhood 13:15 - Boarding school and path to being successful 18:52 - Want to join the Military 19:59 - 4Patriots 21:18 - JMU and the Military 28:25 - Hypothermia at Ranger school incident and impact 30:38 - Time in the Army 39:18 - from the Army to ARMA 47:01 - Meeting Todd and taking risks 51:53 - Building the team 01:01:18 - Milestones of success 01:07:12 - Working with Russia 01:10:57 - Key players 01:12:55 - Surreal moments 01:15:29 - Military training to business success 01:19:58 - What's next 01:20:30 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= Today we hear our first Combat Story from a Marine aviator, David Berke, who is a TOPGUN Graduate and Instructor, in addition to being rated in the F-16, F/A-18, F-22, and F-35.

David has a remarkable story of multiple deployments, including dropping rounds in Afghanistan just weeks after 9/11. Beyond his distinguished and almost Hollywood-like time in the cockpit, David also volunteered to serve as a Ground Forward Air Controller where he was assigned to lead Marines in Iraq alongside the Army and Navy SEAL teams, including that of Jocko Willink’s in the middle of the fighting in Ramadi in 2006. Despite all the aviation accolades, David’s experience on the ground provided a unique experience that he never could have anticipated.

Jocko and Leif Babin reconnected with David and brought him onboard to help lead training and leadership development at Echelon Front, which trains leaders at all levels at companies in every conceivable industry. David effectively hung up his uniform as an instructor in the aviation domain (to include serving as the head trainer at TOPGUN) to instructing the next set of business leaders with Echelon Front.

This interview is an insightful, humble, and very real perspective of what it’s like to lead from the air and the ground while support soldiers, Marines, and SEALs. This was a really special episode from such an accomplished veteran and I hope you enjoy this whirlwind discussion as much as I did.

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find David Online: - Echelon Front https://echelonfront.com/dave-berke/ - Extreme Ownership https://echelonfront.com/extreme-ownership/ - Twitter https://twitter.com/davidrberke?lang=en - Instagram @davidrberke https://www.instagram.com/davidrberke/?hl=en - Learn more about David https://echelonfront.com/dave-berke-media/

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:58 - Guest Introduction (Ryan Rogers) 02:22 - Interview begins 02:38 - Callsigns 05:08 - Favorite aircrafts 09:07 - Childhood 15:42 - Would have done if not Military 18:20 - Family reaction to joining 21:04 - Leading up to enlistment 28:14 - Marine path to Aviation 32:27 - Who gets selected for command roles 34:34 - Last f18 out of El Torro 37:05 - Going to Top Gun 41:40 - 4Patriots 42:59 - Afghanistan after 9/11 47:30 - Night landing on an aircraft carrier 52:55 - First deployment after Top Gun 56:40 - Teaching at Top Gun 59:57 - Experiences that make a Top Gun instructor 01:05:46 - After Top Gun deployment 01:12:06 - Difference between ANGLICO and FAC 01:18:48 - A challenging operation 01:27:02 - Near death experience 01:39:22 - Hard to leave behind 01:42:46 - Echelon Front 01:47:20 - Most courageous thing 01:49:25 - Sentimental item 01:50:58 - Do it all again 01:53:11 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ======= Today we hear our first combat story from a Korean War veteran, Joseph Mills Wise. Joe was injured while in the front lines in 1951 as an infantryman engaged in fighting that, to this day (and understandably), has not left him.

When Joe was medevaced out of the combat zone he also had frostbite in both feet. He was able to recover only to be sent back to Korea.

While this fighting took place 70 years ago, it’s amazing how so many parts of the veteran experience don’t change from getting letters from your wife, to sneaking off base in the trunk of a car, to freezing outside in the cold, to humping a massive radio and weapon, and so much more.

Joe is part of the silent generation of warriors who, for the majority of his life, did not share these moments of horror with his family and, instead, kept the bottled inside. 

At 94 years old, he agreed to sit down and share these with us. His wife, Joice, was in the room for our interview and experienced Joe’s war through letters and telegrams and then, like many military spouses, was the one who supported Joe through the years of nightmares and pain that come with seeing combat firsthand. 

This was an honor for me and reminder of this war that came so close on the heels of WWII but with a very different experience for those who fought in it (the war was not even recognized as a war for years). With that, please enjoy this bit of history from someone who lived it. 

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:55 - Guest Introduction (Joseph Mills Wise) 02:33 - Interview begins 02:49 - Surviving Pearl Harbor 11:19 - Joining the Military 14:52 - WWII 16:12 - Being drafted 19:19 - Not dodging the Draft  19:51 - 4Patriots 21:11 - Atmosphere around the Korean War 24:30 - Sneaking out 27:24 - Getting from the States to Korea 34:56 - Being in Korea 36:30 - Meeting the unit for the first time 39:09 - On the front lines  47:10 - Contact with the enemy 48:33 - Passing time 50:18 - Moving in formation 52:35 - A tough operation 58:56 - Wounded in battle 01:04:01 - Letters to Joice 01:10:38 - Food on the battlefield 01:13:19 - Courageous act 01:15:07 - Hardest personal challenge 01:16:13 - Korean War Memorial 01:18:04 - "The Forgotten War" 01:19:08 - 9/11 01:20:43 - Sentimental items 01:23:15 - Joe and Joice

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ========= Today we hear our first Combat Story from a military intelligence linguist and signal interceptor, Clay Jensen. Clay deployed six times to both Iraq and Afghanistan and has spent considerable time helping to get our Afghan allies out of Afghanistan.

Clay was in a Blackhawk when it was shot out of the sky while trying to identify the location of Al-Qai’da’s then #2 leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan. Clay was also forward deployed in 2007 to identify the location of Bin Laden during what became a failed raid to capture AQ’s leader at the time (listeners will recall that our former guest Mike Rutledge was also on that operation).

Clay supported clandestine and Top Secret operations working alongside NSA and other three letter agencies in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Latin America as part of both the 82nd Airborne and 7th Special Forces Group in a Special Operations Team - Alpha (or SOT-A).

I hope you enjoy this first ever Combat Story from a signal interceptor who we, as Apache pilots, relied on regularly to triangulate targets, as much as I did.

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Clay Jensen Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/clayton-jensen-793b468b/   Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  01:02 - Guest Introduction (Clay Jensen) 02:15 - Interview begins 02:48 - Impressions on Iraq 20 years later 04:57 - Japanese upbringing 09:24 - Bilingual for Defense Language Institute 11:31 - Interest in the Military 12:58 - Joining the Military 14:57 - Recruitment  18:15 - Working with Agencies 19:24 - Training for the Signals and Intelligence 23:38 - Joining the 82nd 24:40 - Linguistics in regular MOS 28:08 - 9/11 31:05 - 1st Deployment to Afghanistan 37:28 - Supporting the battle as a Linguist 40:08 - Navigating the outcome of a battle 44:06 - Transfering to Special Forces 46:11 - Proving yourself 47:20 - Definition of SOT-A 49:33 - Difference between standard MOS and Special Forces 51:21 - The Raid for Zawahiri 01:09:33 - Columbia 01:16:59 - The importance of Vocabulary 01:19:37 - Funny things 01:24:19 - Relationship with Interpreters 01:27:03 - Getting involved in the Afghanistan Evacuation 01:34:57 - Most courageous act 01:38:26 - Best and worst MREs 01:40:07 - Sentimental items 01:41:22 - Would you do it again 01:43:09 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/COMBAT and get on your way to being your best self and HELP the show.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

=========

Today we hear the Combat Story of Mike Rutledge, a Navy SEAL turned to 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) aviator who completed 17 combat deployments over a 30 year career.

This is a special episode for me personally because I went to flight school with Mike (as we discuss in the episode) and I still remember being in awe when I saw this other flight school candidate wearing a trident on his uniform. 

Mike had a very unconventional route to becoming a special operator in two branches, and flew along some of the greatest pilots of our time, including Al Mack, who you’ll recall from a previous episode of Combat Story.

Among the multitude of mission during his 17 deployments, Mike found himself on a mission in 2007 when we thought we were going to capture Bin Laden. That was, of course, a dry hole but generated lessons learned that were used in 2011 in the final raid. 

I hope you enjoy this wide-ranging and humble perspective into the world of someone who went from being a SEAL to a 160th aviator as much as I did.

 

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Mike Rutledge Online: - Learn more about Mike https://www.westpointcoh.org/interviews/a-career-filled-with-detours-from-seal-to-night-stalker

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  01:07 - Guest Introduction (Mike Rutledge) 02:08 - Interview begins 02:30 - Office Statue 04:37 - Being a SEAL in Aviation classes 08:50 - SEALs in 160th 13:15 - Challenges growing up 16:56 - Experience with father 21:53 - Being bullied as a kid 25:50 - Being a parent 29:00 - Joining the Navy 49:38 - Regrets on path  01:00:42 - Going back to Guam  01:03:50 - First time outside the wire in combat 01:11:11 - Deciding to go into Aviation 01:23:50 - reminiscent on the SEALs 01:28:28 - First flight mission 01:39:22 - Things that go wrong  01:45:48 - One mission from Mike's perspective 01:53:48 - Processing crew rest 01:55:19 - A tough infil/exfil 02:00:47 - Close calls 02:10:38 - Perfection in the mission 02:14:16 - The most courageous thing 02:19:19 - Transitioning out 02:24:50 - Continuing being a pilot  02:26:35 - raising pilots 02:31:16 - Sentimental items 02:33:35 - Do it all again 02:39:47 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is also brought to you by CrayonEater Coffee. We’re proud to support CrayonEater coffee coming to you from, you guessed it, some former Marines (and current law enforcement officers!) You can order yours now at CrayonEaterCoffee.com

This episode is also brought to you by the MrBallen Podcast. Hey Prime Members, listen to the Amazon Music exclusive podcast, MRBALLEN PODCAST: STRANGE, DARK & MYSTERIOUS STORIES, in the Amazon Music App. Download the app today.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

========== Today we hear a unique Combat Story from the former Director of the CIA’s Directorate of Operations and long-time Case Officer Jose Rodriguez. Jose’s level at the CIA was equivalent to a general officer in the military, to give you an idea of his responsibility and impact.

Jose was a case officer and Chief of Station in several Latin American countries and would eventually lead Latin America Division at the CIA before transitioning over to CTC right after 9/11 where he served as the Division’s Chief Operating Officer (a title he made up in true Agency fashion) and then was tapped to lead CTC just months after the invasion of Afghanistan. 

Jose has a fantastic book titled “Hard Measures: How Aggressive CIA Actions After 9/11 Saved American Lives” which recounts not only some of the innovative HUMINT ops he ran as a CO (like his ability to use horses to gain access), but also some of the incredibly challenging decisions he made at the highest levels of the CIA, including the creation of the Enhanced Interrogation program.

This was a really special episode for me given Jose’s role and history at the Agency and hope you enjoy a glimpse behind the curtain of one of the most secretive organizations from someone who went from the bottom to the very top as much as I did.

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Jose Rodriguez Online: - Learn more about Jose https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Rodriguez_(intelligence_officer) - Hard Measures book: https://a.co/d/hkicr4h

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:41 - Guest Introduction (Jose Rodriguez) 01:59 - Interview begins 03:14 - Senior Leadership of the CIA 06:45 - Childhood 10:55 - Coming to the U.S. for the first time 13:20 - Interviewing for the CIA 17:38 - Fighting diversity in the Agency 19:05 - The importance of writing 21:30 - Deputy Director of Operations 30:58 - The relationship between Case Officers 33:02 - Becoming a good writer 34:48 - Loosing an Agent 37:55 - Becoming Chief of Station 42:47 - Tactics used to inspire 44:25 - First time in combat enviornment  48:18 - The feeling going into CTC 56:50 - Restructuring the CIA 01:10:26 - Challenges of Controversy 01:17:25 - CIA casualties 01:26:00 - Complexity of CIA operations 01:41:50 - Afterthoughts on the CIA 01:52:15 - Miss most from the Agency 01:55:00 - Would you do it again 01:56:18 - Closing thoughts  01:58:59 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off.

This episode is also brought to you by CrayonEater Coffee. We’re proud to support CrayonEater coffee coming to you from, you guessed it, some former Marines (and current law enforcement officers!) You can order yours now at CrayonEaterCoffee.com

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ===== Today we hear the Combat Story of Jonathan Cleck, a career Navy SEAL and Federal Agent turned entrepreneur and stand-up comedian.

Jonathan, like many SEALs in the Teams, lost several friends and brothers-in-arms to training and combat. He served in a SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) unit and deployed to Africa and South America, in addition to Middle East. 

After leaving the service, Jonathan has worn many hats, including founding a start-up technology company with his wife, and is stand-up comedian. In fact, we found ourselves talking about the similarities between jumping out of a plane and telling jokes on a stage.

You’ll want to stay tuned for a special segment towards the end where I ask John, given his comedic background, to tell me what someone from each branch of service would drink and he did not disappoint (it brought me back to some of the fantastic shenanigans we shared while in the service).

Jonathan is equal parts humble, impressive, and hilarious and I hope you enjoy this Combat Story (and leave with a smile on your face), just like I did.

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Jonathan Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathancleck/ - Instagram @Jlcleck https://www.instagram.com/jlcleck/?hl=en - Twitter @jonathanCleck https://twitter.com/jonathancleck - GreenCastle Consulting https://greencastleconsulting.com/leadership/jonathan-cleck/

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  01:01 - Guest Introduction (Jonothan Cleck) 02:05 - Interview begins 03:12 - Stand Up Comedy or BUDS 11:44 - Path into Comedy 14:13 - The moment that lead to the Navy 24:22 - The decision to leave college for the Navy 26:12 - The recruitment process 28:19 - Things you thought you would get out of the Navy 33:11 - The camaraderie of Serving 39:10 - Path to becoming an Officer 49:28 - Casual Comedy 50:20 - Humor when being assigned a team 01:05:33 - First time outside the wire 01:38:15 - Branches associated with alcoholic drinks 01:49:52 - Sentimental items 01:51:37 - Do it all again 01:56:40 - Closing statements 01:58:11 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily. They have different delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners. You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off. This episode is also brought to you by CrayonEater Coffee. We’re proud to support CrayonEater coffee coming to you from, you guessed it, some former Marines (and current law enforcement officers!) You can order yours now at CrayonEaterCoffee.com

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

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Today we hear a fascinating Combat Story from an active duty and currently serving F-15 Eagle fighter pilot, Ryan “Stinger” Fishel whose been involved in some of the most recent combat operations we’ve talked about on the show, including Syria and Iraq in Operation Inherent Resolve fighting ISIS.

Ryan has an absolutely remarkable story of how he found his way to the Air Force that included a Forest Gump-like path of hustling and fighting for any flight time he could get in the civilian world, to include incredibly risky and sketchy flights shuttling aircraft from the US to various countries in the Caribbean. At one point, Ryan was living out of his car and working in a grocery store deli before a moment on a beach changed his perspective on life.

I would ask you to please listen through Ryan’s story to get to the cockpit because it makes what follows (his exploits inside the aircraft) so much more special, to include an air to air shootdown in hostile skies of a drone, a stand-off and near international incident with a Russian fighter, and dropping danger close ordinance literally in neighboring buildings as friendlies were fighting ISIS.

I am so excited for you to hear one of our best combat stories with insight into the fighter pilot community I’d never heard of before from a long time Combat Story listener and active duty pilot and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Ryan Fishel Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-fishel-a258591b9/ Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:55 - Guest Introduction (Ryan Fishel) 02:15 - Interview Begins 02:22 - How Ryan met Ryan 04:22 - Taking advantage of Podcasts and Veteran stories 05:53 - Callsign Origin 07:20 - The role of a Flight Weapons System Officer 08:55 - The role of a Fighter Pilot 12:39 - Suprising people become a Fighter Pilot 14:21 - Determination to become a Fighter Pilot 15:41 - Training route 17:05 - Childhood 25:35 - Living out of the car after highschool 32:37 - Path into Aviation 43:29 - Selling airplanes 51:18 - Black Diamond Jet Team 56:42 - Path to the Airforce through OTS 59:09 - Trainings and tests that put Ryan ahead 01:01:36 - Advantage and disadvantages through intesne training 01:04:40 - 9/11 01:06:40 - F15 Jets 01:10:38 - Being the 'new guy from flight school' 01:17:18 - Sharing oral history 01:20:42 - The best roast jokes 01:23:21 - First combat mission 01:31:12 - Processing pulling the trigger and danger 01:39:56 - Crazy radios and the road to flying F35s 01:59:05 - Dealing with aftermath stress of combat  02:04:14 - How to deal with mortality 02:11:44 - TheMerge.co 02:12:43 - Sentimental item 02:13:58 - Would you follow the same route 02:15:03 - Envisioning the next 10-15 years 02:16:36 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/COMBAT and get on your way to being your best self and HELP the show.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

This episode is also sponsored by 4Patriots. Create your own stockpile of the best-selling 4Patriots Survival Food Kits handpacked in the US. Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off your first purchase on anything in the store.

This episode is also sponsored by Ten Thousand, a clothing brand for tough, durable gear for the outdoors, working out, and a more active lifestyle. I just took mine to Alaska and they held up like a champ. They also use former Special Operators to test and improve their clothing! Check out https://tenthousand.cc/combatstory and get 15% off and help Combat Story continue to grow! I got their long sleeve t-shirt and it was awesome. . . Today we hear the Combat Story of David Waterhouse who was part of 2nd Ranger Battalion for six deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. David had the honor of serving alongside his fellow Rangers for years and the challenge of being on the ground to recover the bodies from the wreckage of the Operation Red Wings crash that we all know from the Marcus Luttrell Lone Survivor story.

David and his friend Sean Spencer cataloged David’s combat experience in a documentary now streaming on Amazon Prime aptly titled “Ranger” in which David recalls his service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The description notes that this is seen through the eyes of a Special Operations soldier and a first hand account that documents the brutality of combat, and the raw nature of killing and death. It's a journey of innocence lost and the scars of war etched into the minds of service members. 

As David and I discuss in this episode, the documentary, like so many Combat Story episodes, tell the story of David but, at the same time, tell a story so familiar to so many veterans and family members. 

David and I get pretty deep on the concept of the brotherhood that exists between veterans and some of the scars this experience can leave behind and I hope you enjoy this Combat Story as much as I did. . . Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find David Waterhouse Online: - Ranger on Amazon Prime https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B8T8RRSD/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-waterhouse-56134047/ . . Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:42 - Guest Introduction (David Waterhouse) 01:52 - Interview Begins 02:00 - Making the Ranger Documentary 06:04 - Talking about outside the wire stories 08:40 - Wearing the Red Socks Cap in Ranger 10:32 - People who have reached out 16:20 - Bullies and joining the Military 22:39 - Knowing what you want to do 30:51 - Sterotypes of Second Unit 32:27 - What were your wants from the Military 34:12 - Friendships in the Military 38:15 - First time downrange 56:20 - The first deployment 01:04:12 - First gunfight 01:09:32 - Craziest Operation 01:12:41 - Composure during Combat 01:18:18 - Fastrope onto target 01:24:00 - Redwings 2  01:35:17 - Advice to former self 01:37:30 - PTSD  01:38:46 - Life after war 01:45:24 - The last mission 02:00:38 - Transition out of the Military 02:02:04 - The Ranger movie 02:02:56 - Sentimental items 02:05:53 - Would you do it all again 02:05:53 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode was brought to you by 4Patriots. Create your own stockpile of the best-selling 4Patriots Survival Food Kits. It’s not ordinary food. We’re talking good-for-25-years super survival food. Handpacked right in a family-owned facility in the U.S.A. and giving jobs to over 200 Americans. The kits are compact, sturdy, water-resistant, and stack easily.Just go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off. That’s the number four Patriots.com, use code COMBAT. Start building your own stockpile today.

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/combatstory. Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! When you use these, you help yourself and your family and Combat Story so it's a win-win-win. Thank you for your support!

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! _______________________________________________________________ Today we hear the Combat Story of Scott “Intake” Kartvedt who was such a proficient pilot that he was handpicked to be one of two stunt pilots in Top Gun: Maverick. Intake has over 6,000 flight hours, much of that in the F/A-18 Hornet, to include combat command of an F/A-18 Squadron. Intake’s story is remarkable as he went from accountant to Naval Aviator to Blue Angel to Top Gun Maverick to making another movie in South Africa with Tom Cruise. 

When the Navy needed to select its very first pilot to lead the first stealth fighter squadron of F-35s, they chose Intake. Before commanding in combat, Intake was a member of the storied Blue Angels where he flew Opposing Solo which put him less than 10 feet from his wingman in air shows at at a combined closing speed of over 1,000 mph (see more about Opposing Solo maneuvers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCnYTPAo550).

Intake had the misfortune of investigating the fatal accidents of his friends and fellow pilots and survived several near death experiences, including a straight dive that he pulled out of at 27 feet above the ground. 

He serves on the board of the Blue Angel Foundation where they’re trying to prevent veteran suicide. You can donate at https://www.blueangelsfoundation.org/ (I donated as well) to help the cause.

Intake is a special combat veteran who is infuriatingly humble and open about the expectations and challenges of a life in the most elite community of aviators and I know you’ll enjoy this discussion as much as I did.

Accountant to jet pilot | F/A-18 Combat Aviator F-35 Squadron Commander | Blue Angel

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Scott Online: - Donate to Blue Angels Foundation: https://www.blueangelsfoundation.org/ - Scott's website: https://scottkartvedt.com/ - Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kartvedt/

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  01:04 - Guest Introduction (Scott 'Intake' Kartvedt) 02:32 - Interview begins 02:40 - Role in Top Gun Maverick 02:05 - Scott and Tom Cruise 06:06 - Why Scott was chosen to fly 08:09 - Scott and 'Whiz' Buckley 08:56 - What 'opposing' means for flight profiles 13:04 - Accountant to Aviator 16:55 - Flying with Bob 17:54 - 'Intake' as a kid 19:07 - Scott and Ryan's kids 19:39 - Nord VPN  20:55 - Kartvedt's a Military family 22:59 - Competing for the right aircraft 27:31 - Important traits of a Fighter Pilot 30:05 - Air to air dogfighting more challenging than striking target 35:30 - Surface to air threats 37:37 - 4Patriots  38:57 - In the Blue Angels during 9/11  45:39 - Where 'Intake' nickname comes from 47:17 - How many flight hours 48:04 - Hardest hour of flight 54:08 - Advice on how to handle trauma 57:15 -  Enjoyment through the pressure 59:47 - Book Title ideas 01:00:56 - Challenging time in combat 01:14:38 - F-35 specs for combat 01:18:01 - Sentimental items 01:20:49 - Would you do it all again 01:23:07 - Unease for the future pilots 01:26:43 - Final comments   01:28:22 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Brian Slade, a former AH-64 Apache pilot and serving Air Force Search and Rescue pilot with multiple combat deployments both taking and saving lives.

Brian moved out of his house at the age of 15 and learned to make it on his own and carries the same conviction and passion in almost everything he does. He’s written a book called “Cleared Hot: Lessons Learned about Life, Love, and Leadership While Flying the Apache Gunship in Afghanistan and Why I Believe a Prepared Mind Can Help Minimize PTSD” that goes into greater detail about his combat experiences.

Brian showed me the gun tape from inside his cockpit after his front seater was shot in the leg, he lost an engine, and lost flight controls and it was amazing, bringing back the feel of the aircraft and the borderline chaos of radios during a gunfight. 

We spend time in this episode on how to remove the weight and burden of what Brian aptly calls the ‘insidious backpack’ that many of us carry from experiences down range or just at home, which is part of a larger effort he’s supporting called Trauma to Triumph to help others deal with this burden.

Brian and I definitely geek out on aviation lingo, aircraft, flight profiles, and emergency procedures and I hope you enjoy this discussion of chaos in the air and overcoming the associated burdens on the ground as much as I did.  

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Find Brian Online: - Brian's Instagram @brian.slade_ https://www.instagram.com/brian.slade_/ - Brian's Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BrianLSlade - Brian's Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/clearedhot - Cleared Hot book: https://a.co/d/hTUDFKK

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:53 - Guest Introduction (Brian Slade) 02:15 - Interview begins 02:54 - Difficulties in highschool  05:32 - Combat lesson learned through sports 17:47 - Father figures 21:45 - Trauma from a young age 23:58 - Road to enlistment 26:38 - Transition to flying Apache's 30:33 - Hovering and Apache Pilot training 39:27 -  Brian's time in the National Gaurd 41:23 - Afghanistan deployment 44:50 - Power Margin of the Apache in Afghanistan  46:17 - First tough engagement 57:03 - The relationship between air and ground forces 59:15 - Kinds of trauma 01:06:42 - Toughest moment in the pilot seat 01:14:20 - Guntape 01:16:26 - Toughest moment resumed  01:33:41 - Transfer to the Air Force 01:38:01 - Retirement coming 01:39:29 - Any sentimental items 01:41:40 - Would you do it all again 1:42:44 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Rob Huberty, a long time Navy SEAL who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan in some incredibly challenging battles. 

Rob lost over 30 people close to him from his time in the Teams from either combat deaths, accidents, or suicide, including the loss of his closest friend during a battle in which they were talking to each other when his friend, Kevin Ebbert, was killed. 

After service, and despite the pain and loss Rob endured, he fought back from depressive episodes, found psychedelics and plant-based medicines, attended one of the premiere business schools in the country, and founded a company alongside his ‘brothers’ who he went to school with. 

The company they founded is called ZeroEyes and uses AI to proactively help mitigate mass shootings and gun-related violence. They are, effectively developing the technologies that will prevent another Columbine or Sandy Hook (where, not coincidentally, Rob went to school). As you’ll see in this interview, Rob is eager to bring other veterans aboard this ride with him at ZeroEyes to build new skills and help save lives.

And I know you’ll appreciate Rob’s perspective on loss, sacrifice, and overcoming the odds as much as I did.

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Rob Online: - Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-huberty-605991a2/ - Website https://zeroeyes.com - YouTube ZeroEyes https://bit.ly/3vLvnDX - Facebook https://bit.ly/3WYnDuc - Twitter @zeroeyesai https://twitter.com/zeroeyesai - Instagram @zeroeyesai  https://bit.ly/3Izh4K2

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  01:02 - Guest Introduction (Rob Huberty) 02:08 - Interview begins 04:45 - Skydiving in college 06:41 - The way away from West Point 08:16 - Family background 12:39 - Path to enlistment 16:04 - Being a lawyer 17:17 - How long did it take to get downrange 19:25 - What is ZeroEyes 23:51 - First experience as a Navy SEAL 26:26 - First time downrange 29:10 - Working with Rangers 30:06 - Kids while serving 30:54 - dissapointing deployments 32:39 - SEAL team relationship  34:02 - Startup compared to the SEAL 35:44 - Second deployment 39:45 - Tough moment in Afghanistan 45:22 - Grief and loss 49:18 - Potentially leaving the military 51:56 - Hate for a commander 55:28 - Best commander 01:00:05 - Tough time with a tough commander  01:25:45 - Processing grief 01:32:03 - Psychedelics therapy 01:43:50 - ZeroEyes best moments 01:46:16 - Any sentimental items 01:47:18 - Would you do it all again 01:47:43 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/COMBAT and get on your way to being your best self and HELP the show. This episode was also sponsored by Ten Thousand, a clothing brand for tough, durable gear for the outdoors, working out, and a more active lifestyle. I just took mine to Alaska and they held up like a champ. They also use former Special Operators to test and improve their clothing! Check out https://tenthousand.cc/combatstory and get 15% off and help Combat Story continue to grow! I got their long sleeve t-shirt and it was awesome.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! ___________________________________________________________________ Today we hear our first Combat Story from a Top Gun and F/A-18 Hornet pilot turned successful options trader Matthew Whiz Buckley. 

Whiz found himself flying 44 combat sorties over Iraq and was scrambled just days after 9/11 to intercept a potential threat over the US where he was authorized to go supersonic at just 1,000 feet with a full weapons load (unheard of in the US)!

As with all aviators, we dig into the Call Sign and Whiz is a great one! Despite the highs of flying jets across the world and graduating from Top Gun, Whiz also lost 16 fellow fighter pilots to accidents and suicide, after losing a sister at a very young age that stuck with him for decades. 

As a result, he created the Top Gun Foundation to help keep veterans alive and found his way to plant based medicines and psychedelics with other veterans like Marcus Luttrell (aka “Lone Survivor”), which we spend some time on during this episode. Whiz has had tremendous success in his post-military career in the options trading world and continues to train everyday people how to make a living doing the same with Top Gun Options. In fact, his success is what made his foundation possible.

This was a special episode for me personally where we really dig into the experience inside the cockpit and nerd out on all things aviation (like landing on a carrier at night) and the learnings Whiz was fortunate to take from Top Gun and how we can all apply those. 

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did!

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Matthew Online:

• Matthew's LinkTree https://linktr.ee/whiznfh
• Matthew's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/official_whizbuckley/
• Matthew's Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/ematthewbuckley/details/experience
• Top Gun Options - https://topgunoptions.com/
• Book Covid Crash https://www.amazon.com/COVID-CRASH-Profit-Fighter-Strategies-ebook/dp/B09FKNLKB3
• Book From Sea Level to C Level https://www.amazon.com/Sea-level-C/dp/0615249604

Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro  00:54 - Guest Introduction (Matther 'Whiz' Buckley) 02:20 - Interview Begins 02:57 - Matthew's early life and his time at the local rescue squad 05:47 - Other career paths 09:23 - The idea of joining the Military 13:42 - Early deaths that motivate 16:20 - Experimentation with Psychedelic Therapy 19:32 - Better Help (AD) 20:35 - 'Competitive' nature of Top Gun pilots 24:33 - Boat landings 30:19 - Hardest aircraft to land on a carrier 33:51 - Optics while flying a fighter jet 36:26 - What it's like to fly the F/A-18 Hornet  39:43 - Ten Thousand (AD) 42:21 - The path to getting the right aircraft 47:21 - 'Whiz''s time with 9/11 58:40 - Top Gun and being the Advisary  01:03:01 - What makes Top Gun training the most difficult 01:07:21 - Red Teaming 01:09:17 - Top Gun takeaways that can benifit everyone 01:15:28 - The origin of 'Whiz' 01:19:14 - Mishaps and mistakes 01:30:05 - The transition to the Finance world 1:32:10 - Psychedelic Therapy philanthropy 01:46:12 - Would you do anything differently 01:54:11 - What feeling do you wish you could share 01:55:27 - Carried sentimental items 01:56:03 - Would you do it all again 2:00:20 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/COMBAT and get on your way to being your best self and HELP the show. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/combatstory. Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Ryan Rogers, a Marine Corps NCO who led Marines during the Battle of Marjah aka Operation Moshtarak which was a huge and intense International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) offensive in Helmand Province, Afghanistan involving 15,000 Afghan, American, British, Canadian, Danish, and Estonian troops, and the largest joint operation of the War in Afghanistan up to that point in 2010. 

The purpose of the operation was to remove the Taliban from Marja, thus eliminating the last Taliban stronghold in central Helmand Province. This was Ryan’s first experience of intense combat and we spend significant time on the fighting which began literally after stepping off the Chinook on the LZ. 

Many don’t know this about me but the Battle of Marjah had a profound impact on me personally in 2010 and was a primary reason I found my way to the CIA (which we touch on in this podcast).

After his intense combat experience, Ryan turned to drinking but then found his path and purpose, writing the book “The Lions of Marjah” about his experiences during this battle and co-hosting the Choices Not Chances podcast. 

This is a great one ya’ll. I don’t usually tear up during an interview but this one had me and Ryan in tears at one point talking about the relationships created down range. I know ya’ll are going to enjoy this one.

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Ryan Rogers Online: - Ryan's book Lions of Marjah https://www.amazon.com/Lions-Marjah-Combat-As-Saw/dp/0578891220 - Twitter @RyanRog98054437 https://twitter.com/ryanrog98054437 - Choices Not Chances Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsqcmxKqaR4dIFFpaJxhtrQ

Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:59 - Guest Introduction (Ryan Rogers) 02:25 - Interview begins 03:45 - Choices Not Chances Podcast 06:22 - Ryan's childhood and inspiration on joinging the military 11:27 - Ryan's family's reaction to him joining the Marines 13:02 - Why did Ryan choose to join the Marines 14:22 - Training for the Marines 22:38 - Americans Evacuated from Lebanon mission 27:40 - Does Hunting experience help in the Marines 30:20 - First time you found yourself downrange 32:45 - The yearning for combat 36:51 - The origins of the Lions of Marjah book 42:05 - Operation Moshtarak 49:03 - Relationship with the brand new squad in combat 51:53 - Dropping in the center of the fight 01:04:40 - The days that followed 01:18:20 - Any particullarly hard missions 01:25:41 - Building the bonds of combat Veterans  01:32:49 - The responsibilities of a USMC Squad Leader 01:38:19 - The transition out 01:42:33 - The emotional challenges of being a Marine 01:45:44 - Finding purpose 01:49:50 - Any sentimental items 01:51:00 - Would you do it all again 01:52:42 -  Listener comments and shout outs 01:54:33 - Sights Smells bring you back to combat 01:55:49 - Funniest memory of the time downrange  02:02:19 - Advice to 18-22 year olds 02:05:48 - Best piece of advice during your career

USASOC Operator & K-9 Handler | 7th SFG | 82nd Airborne | War Hogg Tactical | On the Range Podcast | Rick Hogg

This episode is brought to you by Wondery's new podcast AGAINST THE ODDS: UNCHARTED: TEDDY ROOSEVELT’S AMAZON EXPEDITION (link)

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of 29 year Army Special Operations veteran Rick Hogg, who spent time with the 82nd, 7th Special Forces Group and US Army Special Operations Command. His time ranged from Desert Storm deep into the post-9/11 era.

Rick spent years as a K-9 handler in the Special Ops community, forging a very strong bond with his dog “Duco” in particular. Rick managed through years of deployments and overcame the effects of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with a very concerted focus on his own health and transition from the military that many can learn from. 

After leaving the service, Rick now owns War Hogg Tactical offers mobile firearms, tactical and K9 training to civilians, military and law enforcement agencies that was borne out of his experience training Special Forces. He’s written the book “The Firearms Training Notebook: 1% Better Everyday”, co-hosts the On The Range Podcast, and founded the “In Honor of Duco” charity. 

I hope you enjoy this wide ranging and emotional discussion with a USASOC operator as much as I did. 

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Rick Online: - Rick's Linktree https://linktr.ee/warhoggtactical - Instagram @warhoggtactical https://www.instagram.com/warhoggtactical/?hl=en - Warhogg website www.warhogg.com - Rick's Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcfYEBZu_wjRsdqrKM-zhAw - In Honor of Duco Leash https://www.warhogg.com/product-page/in-honor-of-duco-loop-leash - K9 War Dogg CBD https://kindred-life.com/product/war-dogg/ - Learn more about Rick: https://www.warhogg.com/abou

Rick Hogg is the owner of War HOGG Tactical, Inc. and is a 29 year US Army Special Operation Combat Veteran including being a Special Operations K9 handler. He has taken his 13 combat deployment, to both Iraq along with Afghanistan, as well as his teaching experience as a Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat instructor and harnessed them into a proven training methodology service company, War HOGG Tactical, Inc.

War HOGG Tactical, Inc. offers professional comprehensive mobile firearms, tactical and K9 training to law abiding civilians, military and law enforcement agencies through combat proven techniques and experience to improve students skill ability. War HOGG also conducts product development and product field testing along with a verity of consulting services in the defense and firearms industry. 

War HOGG Tactical, Inc was born in 2002 when my Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat students returned from Afghanistan and said "That stuff you taught me saved my life!"

Rick and his retired Special Operations Forces K9 Duco have been featured on Trigger Time TV covering an entire season on training a military working dog. Rick has also has instructional videos with Panteao Productions. 

Our program’s main goal is to provide you with a skill set to defend yourself or your family members using a building block methodology of instruction

Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro  0:44 - Guest Introduction (Rick Hogg) 1:48 - Interview Begins  2:14 - Background of the Hogg last name 5:27 - Rick's childhood and early years 10:12 - Do you associate more with being an Operator or K9 Handler 11:53 - The Transition from Soldier to Civilian and what Rick did to help out 15:06 - Rick's advice on how to transition out of the Military easier 19:32 - Wondery the Teddy Rosevelt Amazon Expedition AD 20:34 - Rick's experience and dealing with T.B.I. 23:01 - Rick's experience with acceptance, loss, and grief 27:40 - Joe and Rick 35:36 - Rick's thoughts on handleing grief and emotions in the midst of the mission 45:09 - Officer Duco and Rick 50:11 - In Honor of Duco Loop Leash 53:38 - Lowering of a K9 Officer 54:51 - Jumping with a K9 01:00:00 - Rick's love for the K9 Unit 01:04:38 - A death defying mission from Duco 01:09:17 - Training K9 Units with Foreign Forces 01:11:46 - The difference between Conventional and Special Forces Units  01:17:09 - The balance between the Specail Ops and Entrepenureship  01:20:57 - Rick's opinion on if older vs younger generations views on each other 01:23:18 - How Rick divides his time amongst his many projects 01:28:48 - Rick's plans for 2023 01:32:08 - Did you bring anything sentimental with you into combat 01:32:41 - Would you do it all again? 01:34:57 - Is there a book you would recommend to people 1:24:07 -  Listener comments and shout outs

EXCLUSIVE - This episode was sponsored by Ten Thousand, a clothing brand for tough, durable gear for the outdoors, working out, and a more active lifestyle. I just took mine to Alaska and they held up like a champ. They also use former Special Operators to test and improve their clothing, which you know we love on Combat Story! Check out https://tenthousand.cc/combatstory and get 15% off and help Combat Story continue to grow! I got their long sleeve t-shirt and it was awesome.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Scott Mann, a long time Green Beret in the pre- and post-9/11 era. Ten years after his army service, he gained notoriety for his role leading what is now known as Operation Pineapple Express in August 2021 when he and a large group of veterans and active duty service members helped evacuate 1,000 Afghans as the Taliban returned to power and what was sure to be brutal retribution.

Scott served in the jungle and mountainous terrain of South America and spent years in Afghanistan executing a combination of direct action and village stability operations. Like any Green Beret we’ve interviewed, Scott’s desire to work with, by, and through local forces shines through.

He’s gone on to write several books in addition to Operation Pineapple Express, a play called Last Out that the Gary Sinese Foundation is helping to turn into a larger production, and a leadership company called Rooftop Leadership, all of which leverage the experiences he had in combat.

I hope you enjoy this very real and raw Combat Story with someone who never gave up helping others as much as I did.

Find Ryan Online:

• - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
• - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Scott Online:

• - Scott's Website: scottmann.com
• - Scott's Linktree https://linktr.ee/rooftop_leadership
• - Scott's Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYOQ7CDJ6uSaGvmfxYC_skQ
• - Instagram @scottmannauthor https://www.instagram.com/scottmannauthor/
• - Facebook @Scott Mnn https://www.facebook.com/ScottMannAuthor
• - Twitter @RooftopLeader https://twitter.com/RooftopLeader
• - RooftopLeader Podcast https://linktr.ee/rooftoppodcast
• - Rooftop Leadership Website https://rooftopleadership.com/

Show Notes:

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 1:08 - Guest Introduction (Scott Mann)
• 2:17 - Interview Begins 
• 2:54 - Last Christmas I evacuated Afghans out of Afghanistan
• 7:18 - Scott's ability to thrive in uncomfortable enviornments
• 8:39 - Scott's whiteboard with the first Afghan Evacuation plans
• 10:20 - Scott's childhood and planting the seeds of a Leader
• 12:09 - Scott's first encounter with a Green Beret Soldier
• 15:07 - What influenced Scott to join the Military
• 15:45 - Scott's opinion on bullies and the Military
• 16:35 - Scott's trejectory to end up in Special Forces
• 18:46 - Scott's battle with alcoholism in the Quartermaster Branch
• 21:14 - The value Quartermaster service had on Scott's knowledge and career
• 24:57 - The reputation of 7th group
• 26:17 - First assignment with the 7th group in Peru/Ecuador conflict
• 34:33- Cliff Patterson and the affects of 9/11
• 42:42 - Scott's advice on loss and grief
• 46:49 - 1st time outside the wire in Afghanistan
• 51:07 - Scott's experience with the Afghan National Special Forces
• 58:16 - Afghan National Army's first encounter with the Taliban
• 01:07:51 - Operation Pineapple Express
• 01:26:52 - Last Out: Elegy of A Green Beret
• 01:30:00 - Is there any sentimental items you brought with you into combat?
• 01:33:00 - Would you do it all again?
• 01:34:39 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Dan Schilling, who spent over 30 years in the military, primarily as a Combat Controller and Special Tactics Officer in the Air Force’s Special Operations community. He was on the ground calling in air strikes during Operation Gothic Serpent (better known as Black Hawk Down). 

He holds the Guinness World Record for most BASE jumps in 24 hours (201), and is a professional-rated demonstration skydiver, mountain speedwing pilot and volunteer ski instructor with Wasatch Adaptive Sports. He’s a best selling author, helping produce a movie, and recently wrote a song with his band: Spent Brass.

After years of combat, Dan found his way to Buddhism and shares some readings and learnings that you can apply if you are dealing with trauma and challenges in your life.

I hope you enjoy this hair on fire account of living life to its extremes - both in and out of uniform - as much as I did. 

Find Ryan Online:

• - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
• - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Dan Online:

• - Website https://www.danschillingbooks.com/
• - Dan's Books https://www.danschillingbooks.com/books
• - Instagram @danobooks  https://www.instagram.com/danobooks/
• - Special Operations Warrior Foundation https://specialops.org/
• - Spent Brass on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/3K3t1GNUdaPYmvEgCAslZg?si=NgQc3ywRRtmMiVSun8yFMw

Dan's Reading List:

• Book called the Power of Now https://shop.eckharttolle.com/collections/books/products/the-power-of-now?variant=7433430499358
• Book called the Power of Awareness
• https://www.thepowerofawareness.org/
• Book called Battle of Mogadishu
• https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Battle-Mogadishu/Matthew-Eversmann/9780345459664
• Book called Alone at Dawn
• https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/dan-schilling/alone-at-dawn/9781538729670/
• Book called What the Buddha Taught
• http://www.ahandfulofleaves.org/documents/what%20the%20buddha%20taught_rahula.pdf

Show Notes:

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:57 - Guest Introduction (Dan Schilling)
• 1:47 - Interview Begins 
• 2:33 - World Record Base Jumping in 24 hours
• 6:44 - Speed flying in the mountains
• 9:14 - Did you choose the dangerous life or did it chose you?
• 12:19 - Joining the Army
• 16:02 - Transition from the Army to the Air Force
• 20:15 - Media and Hollywood portrayals of the military  
• 25:29 - JTAC and Combat Controllers
• 34:06 - Special Tactics Officer 
• 38:48 - Culture differences between Seal Team 6 and Delta Force
• 42:09 - First experience in ground combat
• 48:00 - Combat Story - The Battle of Mogadishu
• 1:03:18 - Therapy through Extreme Sports
• 1:13:37 - How Dan found Buddhism
• 1:27:47 - Dan's Band: Spent Brass
• 1:22:19 - Dan's post military careers and book recommendations
• 1:31:35 - What did you carry into combat?
• 1:32:24 - Would you go back and do it all again?
• 1:35:27 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Jeff Adamec, a longtime Green Beret with six combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as an 18B and a K9 handler.

Jeff earned the Silver Star during the Battle of Debeka Pass in Iraq in 2003 during his first deployment. In his final deployment, Jeff was knocked unconscious by an RPG during a gunfight in Afghanistan while based out of FOB Cobra. He broke his back in four places and was medically retired for those injuries and the TBI sustained as a result.

He went on to find success in the corporate sector in network engineering and logistics and hosts the Changing Hearts and Minds podcast that focuses on military history of all eras prior to 1995. Jeff’s understanding of military history and weaponry absolutely shines through in this episode and will, I hope, attract some more listeners to his podcast.

I hope you enjoy this fast paced and wide ranging interview with Jeff as much as I did.

Find Jeff Online: 

• - Instagram @chm_podcast https://www.instagram.com/chm_podcast/ and @Jadamec77  https://www.instagram.com/Jadamec77/ 
• - Twitter @CHMPodcast https://www.facebook.com/CHMPodcast/ 
• - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CHMPodcast/ 
• - Changing Hearts & Minds Podcast https://chmpodcast.libsyn.com/website

Find Ryan Online:

• - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
• - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 00:45 - Guest Introduction (Jeff Adamec)
• 01:46 - Interview Begins 
• 06:10 - Aliens Movie in 1986 as inspiration to join 
• 08:42 - Influential Media
• 11:29 - Road to enlistment
• 16:29 - Path to Green Beret
• 20:28 - Missing 9/11
• 23:38 - Where did you find your confidence?
• 26:35 - Time in 3rd Group
• 30:41 - Deployment in Iraq
• 37:54 - Combat Story - Events leading up to Battle  of Debecka
• 50:49 - The Javelin story
• 01:09:41 - Returning from War 
• 01:10:42 - The Aftermath
• 01:16:56 - Other deployments 
• 01:19:12 - Dogs 
• 01:21:31 - Combat Story - Bait the Ambush
• 01:33:37 - The injury 
• 01:44:20 - Life with Traumatic Brain Injury
• 01:50:36 - Podcast origin and inspiration
• 01:54:22 - What did you carry into combat?
• 01:55:54 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of a long time aviator and CH-47 and MH-47 pilot who spent years with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), Alan Mack. Alan served over 35 years in the Army and retired with 6700 flight hours, including 3200 hours in NVGs. Alan survived an aircraft shootdown and multiple near death experiences in his time in uniform.

He was a part of iconic operations including Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operations Anaconda and Redwings, and many others he can’t discuss because they remain classified. He has two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Stars, a Legion of Merit, and 10 Air Medals, including one with Valor. 

His nickname was The ‘Stache which is almost a requirement for an aviator but sadly that mustache is now gone but I have confirmed with my old flight school roommate who served with Alan that the nickname was indeed, The Stache!

Alan’s book “Razor 03: A Night Stalker’s Wars” chronicles so much more of his experiences in the elite special operations community for those who are left wanting more, to include some of the more personal and challenging family dynamics he experienced with years in combat.

I hope you enjoy this perspective from the inside the cockpit where we dive deep into some of the aviation psychology, personalities, and Chinook configurations, as much as I did.

Find Alan Online: 

• - Twitter @AlanCMack2015 https://twitter.com/alancmack2015
• - Website https://alancmack.com/
• - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlanCMackAuthor

Find Ryan Online:

• - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
• - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:55 - Guest Introduction (Alan Mack)
• 2:22 - Interview Begins 
• 3:02 - Razor 03 A Night Stalkers War
• 4:10 - Bumper Hitching
• 7:26 - Enlistment 
• 11:35 - Path to Chinooks 
• 14:37 - WOJG
• 16:58 - Chinook Pilot Personality
• 20:51 - Loading the Chinook
• 24:54 - The Composition of the Chinook
• 33:40 - Right Ramp Left Ramp
• 38:51 - The Crew Chiefs
• 43:48- Sending Apache Guys
• 45:26 - First time flying in combat
• 55:00 - We own the night
• 01:02:59 - Eras of war
• 01:09:40 - Alan's Teaching Days
• 01:23:01 - The Anaconda
• 01:59:48 - The Aftermath
• 02:04:35 - What did you carry into combat?
• 02:07:01 - Would you do it all again?
• 02:11:29 - Razor 03 A Night Stalkers War
• 02:13:36 - Listeners comments and shout outs

EXCLUSIVE - This episode is brought to you by Uncommon Goods. Go to https://www.uncommongoods.com/combat for 15% off your order and find some killer holiday gifts (and you'll be helping keep Combat Story going!)

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Dean Stott, a former operator with the UK Special Boat Service (SBS) who saw combat with both SBS and the Commandos.  Dean would eventually injury his leg in a HAHO (high altitude high opening) accident getting ready for another deployment that would end his military career but would not end his thrill seeking sense of adventure. In fact, only two days after leaving the military, Dean was providing security for people in remote and dangerous parts of the world, eventually standing up his own security company.  Dean, like many former operators, tried a more predictable existence in an office but quickly found himself searching for the adrenaline highs he’d left behind. As a result, he found his way to biking and set two world records. Dean’s book “Relentless” will be available on November 28th in the US that details some of the topics we discuss in this interview and more, including his close friendship to Prince Harry, who listeners will know I appreciate given his background flying Apaches. Dean’s got more adventures ahead including another record breaking task in Africa. I hope you enjoy this discussion of what can only be called a full life lived to the edge as much as I did (and if you’re like me, you’ll also be a little jealous!). Find Dean Online: 

• - Dean’s Website https://www.deanstott.com/
• - Dean’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/Deanstott 
• - Instagram @deanstott  https://www.instagram.com/deanstott/ 

Find Ryan Online:

• - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
• - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:40 - Guest Introduction (Dean Stott)
• 1:53 - Interview Begins 
• 2:11 - Bike ride on the world's longest road, The Pan-American Highway
• 8:14 - Connection to Prince Harry 
• 13:00 - Growing up with a military family and competitive drive 
• 16:34 - Events that led to joining 
• 21:03 - Path from Commandos to UK Special Boat Service (SBS) 
• 24:58 - SAS and SBS selection and the differences and similarities  between them  
• 29:35 - First time outside the wire in Kosovo and a funny story about why he always asks about wildlife 
• 34:42 - First contact post 9/11 in SBSand a HAHO jump 
• 36:55 - HALO vs HAHO - the training, the dangers, and the mindset for operational jumps 
• 44:45 - Would you have done anything different in your career? 
• 46:23 - The injury that ended his military career 
• 40:41 - Identity crisis after leaving the military and finding a role in crisis management and private security 
• 58:41-  Purchasing weapons on the black market and finding a niche in the private sector  
• 1:05:57 - Are there any jobs you've had to turn down? 
• 1:07:55 - Becoming the first man in history to cycle 14,000 miles in under a hundred days and still making it to Harry and Meghan's wedding 
• 1:14:22 - The inspiration, process, and content of the book "Relentless"   
• 1:18:59 - What did you carry into combat? 
• 1:20:08 - Would you do it all again?
• 1:22:02 - Philanthropy work 
• 1:24:07 -  Listener comments and shout outs

 

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/combatstory Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! I use NordVPN myself so you're in good company (and I know security). If you sign up, it will also help the show so thank you in advance!

This episode is also brought to you by Uncommon Goods. Go to https://www.uncommongoods.com/combat for 15% off your order (and you'll be helping keep Combat Story going!)

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear a rare Combat Story from the highest echelons of the military from the eyes of retired General George Casey, who was the Commanding General, Multi-National Force – Iraq, from 2004 to 2007, and Chief of Staff of the Army from 2007 to 2011. 

General Casey’s decisions resulted in many of the combat stories we’ve heard on this show as Delta operators, snipers, soldiers, and Marines carried out tactical operations that he and his staff decided at the strategic levels. 

I have a very short but personally important moment in which my life intersected with the General’s: he commissioned me into the Army. I was a student and ROTC cadet at Georgetown University where I played football and was on campus during the aftermath of 9/11. Similarly, General Casey was a student at Georgetown, also played football, and was on campus during the Vietnam War when it was not popular to wear the uniform. 

Mine was the first full class to commission into the post-9/11 era and I found it fitting that General Casey was the man who made that possible. He’s got some amazing stories, including being asked to attend the second-ever selection course for Delta Force to create the conditions for the first-ever elections in post-Saddam Iraq decades later.

This was a special interview for me personally and I hope you enjoy the experience, highs, lows, and mindset of one of the very few to ever have the opportunity to wear four stars.

Show Notes

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:57 - Guest Introduction (General George Casey)
• 2:29 - Interview Begins 
• 3:27 - Time at Georgetown
• 6:34 - Where we you on 9/11?
• 7:49 - Family history in the military and the impact of losing his father in Vietnam 
• 13:24 - The political  climate in 1968 and the challenges the Army was facing internally 
• 20:55 - Father as a role model and  expecting to go to Vietnam and why he went to Germany instead 
• 25:48 -  Investing in the soldiers 
• 27:56 - life of the party personality 
• 29:20 - Story of getting a call for "a mission of the highest national importance" 
• 36:43 - The importance and overlooked part of the roles of military spouses 
• 42:56 - Formative years in Bosnia and Kosovo and first deployment in a combat environment 
• 4:57 - What the weight and pressure of General Officers is really like 
• 50:00 - Story of an uprising in Bosnia and major lessons learned 
• 56:02 -  Story of how he came to a senior role at 1st Cavalry Division where his father served 
• 1:01:04 - Where the "make the best of it" personality trait came from and what it was like at 1st Cav 
• 1:07:43 - Seeing the end of a war and a story about a bizarre dealing with Russia 
• 1:12:48 - Story of going to Iraq and  taking the most important role of his career 
• 1:20:39 - The basis for his decision making process 
• 1:25:32 - Thinking differently about veterans after 50 years of a volunteer force 
• 1:29:35 - What did you carry into combat? 
• 1:30:46 - Would you do it all again?

Book Supporting Veterans After 50 Years of the All-Volunteer Force and 20 Years of War: Ideas Moving Forward

https://www.amazon.com/Supporting-Veterans-After-Years-All-Volunteer/dp/B0B4WRPRKS/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1665942969&refinements=p_27%3AGeorge+W.+Casey&s=books&sr=1-1

Support the USO, where General (ret) Casey is Chairman of the Board https://secure.uso.org/OM_BRD/?sc=WF18SRCH07&gclid=Cj0KCQjw166aBhDEARIsAMEyZh79aLOZpIzkttNII41Q54cFGx88TxQHoXEIq5I1XOTn3VMK6ilNsCkaAmmREALw_wcB

This video covers the following subjects:

- Four Star General George Casey

- Army Chief of Staff

- Commanding General

- Multi-National Force-Iraq

General George W. Casey, Jr., enjoyed a 41-year career in the US Army following his graduation from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in 1970. As the Army Chief of Staff, he led one of the nation’s largest and most complex organizations during one of the most extraordinary periods in our history. He is widely credited with restoring balance to a war-weary Army and leading the transformation to keep it relevant in the 21st Century. Prior to this, from July 2004 to February 2007, he commanded the Multi-National Force – Iraq, a coalition of more than 30 countries where he guided the Iraq mission through its toughest days.

If you would like to learn more about Four Star General George Casey, look here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ

_________________________

Have I responded to all of your questions about Four Star General George Casey?

Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on Four Star General George Casey.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of a long-time Night Stalker from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), Steve Lapping. Steve participated in multiple high-profile operations that many of us have heard of like the Jessica Lynch rescue and the Saddam Hussein capture, and many operations we have not like Objectives REINDEER and LEADVILLE.

This was a special interview for me as you can imagine given Steve’s storied background as an elite pilot, spending over two decades in 160th. We also touch on some of the heartbreak that comes with years in the cockpit with accidents, shootdowns, and crashes, including the feeling in SOAR following Operation GOTHIC SERPENT (aka Blackhawk Down).

Steve is one of the most humble individuals you’re going to encounter. In fact, I had to dig to figure out that Steve was a CW5, which is a very difficult rank to reach and to learn about his awards and decorations in combat.

I hope you enjoy this Combat Story from inside one of the most lethal cockpits from such a humble warrior as much as I did.

Find Ryan Online:

• - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
• - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes: 

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:45 - Guest Introduction (Steve Lapping)
• 2:02 - Interview Begins 
• 5:10 -  First time flying with the W5 as a Junior Warrant
• 6:53 -  Story of jumping into cold water at a young age
• 11:32 - Fascination with military at an early age and an interest in aviation 
• 17:30 -  Starting as a Warrant Officer 
• and no regrets
• 19:27 - First aircraft after training 
• 25:35 - Path to 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) and the assessment process 
• 35:10 - Becoming a PIC (Pilot in command) in 6-7 months.
• 39:24 -  Getting accepted into the 160th and events at the time 
• 42:07 - Green Platoon assessment and selection course to become  Night Stalker 
• 46:16 - Flying MH vs AH personalities 
• and mission profiles 
• 49:44 - Mindset first time in combat after a 15-17 year career already 
• 55:48 - Morale after Black Hawk Down 
• 58:05 - Earning first combat patch in Afghanistan and invading Iraq with tough calls and tough weather 
• 1:11:26 - Combat Story - Objective REINDEER and DFC event 
• 1:21:19 - Combat Story - Objective LEADVILLE  
• 1:48:02 - Combat Story - Challenging Day Missions and engaging the wrong vehicle 
• 1:52:36 - Reflecting on anniversaries and working with veterans 
• 1:54:49 - What did you carry into combat? 
• 1:56:06 - Would you do it all again?
• 1:58:20 -  Listener comments and shout outs 

 

This video covers the following subjects:

 

- 160th SOAR Night Stalker

- AH-6 & MH-6 Pilot

- DFC

-160th SOAR 

- Silver Star

- CW5 Steve Lapping

 

The President of the United States of America, authorized by an Act of Congress on July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Chief Warrant Officer Five Steven A. Lapping, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force while serving as Pilot of an AH-6 Helicopter with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), while operating against an entrenched enemy force during a daylight raid in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. 

 

If you would like to learn more about 160th SOAR Night Stalker, Steve Lapping I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ

_________________________

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Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

This episode has two segments: an in-person interview with none other than John Skrek McPhee, former Sergeant Major in Delta Force or the Unit and our most watched and listened to guest to date; and a second segment where I reflect on some of the moments and interviews that stand out from the past 100. 

For the first portion, Shrek welcomed us to his annual in-person SOB Tactical members event in North Carolina where he taught me how to properly breach a door with a shotgun, where another former guest and fellow Special Operator Dutch Moyer taught my 15-year-old son to hit a 25-meter target with a handgun on his first ever shot, and where we celebrated with a grog that brought back some of the more lighthearted memories of formal military events I’d almost forgotten. 

For this interview, I asked Shrek some questions that our own Combat Story community wanted to know and a few that I’d been wondering about myself. We all know how tough Shrek is so the fact that Shrek and I both got choked up in this session is saying a lot.

For the second segment, I reflect back on some of the episodes from our first 100 that stand out to me for a variety of reasons and those that I’ll often think back on from time to time because they taught me something and help me process what’s going on in my life today by giving me perspective. Just thinking back on one of these interviews brought me to tears because it still makes me remember how grateful I need to be today.

We could never have made something like Combat Story without your support over the past two years and 100 episodes. Thank you to those who have been here since the beginning and to those who have only recently joined us. We’ve got so much more to come and it’s only possible because of you.

With that, please enjoy this special edition of Combat Story for our 100th episode. 

Find John Online:

• - Instagram @sobtactical https://www.instagram.com/sobtactical/
• - SOB Tactical https://sobtactical.com/
• - SOB TV https://watch.sobtactical.com/

Find Ryan Online:

• - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
• - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes: 

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 2:14 - Interview with John Skrek McPhee begins 
• 2:31 - From the original vision of SOB Tactical to the 5th annual SOB Tactical member's event 
• 5:49 - Planning cycles for ops and how it is applied outside of the service 
• 10:50 - Ops in Norway and freezing conditions 
• 14:31 - Fan question - Did you really have a 300 PT test ?
• 15:50 - The bonds and common ties that exist working with foreign forces 
• 23:26 - Do you wish you were over there fighting the Russians right now?
• 28:29 - Learning to be more humane downrange
• 30:55 - Have you had to do family notification before? 
• 33:33 - The value of "running your own race" in life  
• 36:17 - Fan question - As a first time handgun buyer, what would you recommend?  
• 38:26 - Fan question - What's Shrek's favorite book, poem, show, album" 
• 41:51 - Things that trigger memories of being downrange
• 48:38 - Philosophy of failures and taking risks 
• 51:16 - Preparing sons for the service and how it changed their relationship 
• 53:53 - When was the last time you took the uniform off?  
• 55:47 - The future of SOB Tactical  
• 57:08 - Ryan's reflections on 100 episodes 
• 1:23:48 -  Listener comments and shout outs 
• 1:27:33 - Bonus - Outtake from John Skrek McPhee interview 

This video covers the following subjects:

- Celebrating our 100th Combat Story

- Sergeant Major in Delta Force

- Special Operator Dutch Moyer

- Combat Story 

 

If you would like to learn more about Sergeant Major in Delta Force, John Skrek McPhee, and Special Operator Dutch Moyer I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ

_________________________

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Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear our first ever Combat Story from a Medal of Honor recipient David Bellavia. David was a squad leader in Task Force 2-2 with the storied 1st Infantry Division during the brutal second battle of Fallujah. At one point, his fellow soldiers were pinned down and David cleared a building in a way that, in his words, 9 times out of 10, would have ended up very differently and with him losing his life and included hand to hand combat with an insurgent.. 

David shares so much insight into how the military transformed him and gave him some of the most real love he’d ever experienced with his brothers in arms. His second book, Remember the Ramrods: An Army Brotherhood in War and Peace just came out and speaks directly to the bonds that can truly only be forged in combat. 

I highly recommend you listen all the way through to hear not just the event for which David would eventually receive the Medal of Honor, but also his response to the question if he would do it all again. It was something I never could have imagined. 

With that, I hope you enjoy this very, very rare glimpse into someone who truly risked everything for a handful of others.

#veteran #medalofhonor #army #combat 

Find David Online:

• - Book Remember the Ramrods https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09CQ33GFM/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0
• - Book House to House https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W5MI12/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i1
• - Only the Dead See the End of War documentary featuring David’s Medal of Honor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iubIoXda8Lw
• - Medal of Honor Citation https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/bellavia/
• - David's Website http://www.davidbellavia.com/

Find Ryan Online:

• - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
• - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:46 - Guest Introduction (David Bellavia) 
• 1:57 - Interview begins 
• 2:29 - Writing experience and mentors 
• 6:36 - Family background and feeling the need to avenge loss after Black Hawk Down
• 13:45 - A home invasion that left an impression
• 19:03 - Best night's sleep first night at Fort Benning 
• 22:42 - Why infantry 
• 25:11 - Kosovo and 9/11 
• 28:53 - The training accident that made things real
• 30:57 - Iraq deployment and a humbling first combat experience 
• 37:42 - What happens when you start taking casualties 
• 40:58 - Combat Story - Battle of Fallujah
• 52:24 - Combat Story - Medal of Honor Event 
• 1:21:43 - Being a leader not a soldier 
• 1:28:39 Generational differences and sharing experiences with his grandfather 
• 1:31:09 -  Remember the Ramrods: An Army Brotherhood in War and Peace 
• 1:33:35 - What did you carry into combat?
• 1:35:47 - Would you do it all again?  
• 1:42:34 - What do you want to be known for in the end?
• 1:44:10  - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of Danny Hernandez, a Vietnam Veteran who served as a Marine rifleman in Operation Utah in March 1966. Danny would later be awarded the Silver Star and there is currently a push to have that upgraded to a Medal of Honor. Danny came from the rough streets of East LA and after Vietnam would return to be a committed community activist and mentor for many of the kids who were not as fortunate as he was.  The Silver Star was certainly earned as Danny was shot twice while providing medical aid to a stranded and wounded Marine on the battlefield; refusing to be evacuated, and killing several enemy soldiers as they flanked the casualty collection point that Danny had just been sitting in.  Danny’s work on mentoring and building the community in his hometown is inspiring and you can’t help but laugh as you hear some of the stories of the Marine Corps back in the Vietnam era.  His story is documented in his book, titled “Silver Star: An American Story” in much greater detail for those who are left wanting more.  Find Danny Online:  -Book: Silver Star: An American Story https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Star-American-Danny-Hernandez-ebook/dp/B07CJYYLLS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Find Ryan Online: 

• - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
• - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Email [email protected]
• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus

Show Notes:

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:58 - Guest Introduction (Danny Hernandez) 
• 2:12 - Interview begins 
• 2:58 -  Growing up on the streets and early interest in joining the Marines 
• 12:04 -  What Marine Corps boot camp was like in 1965 
• 25:46 - Combat Story - Vietnam War - Movement into country and the amphibious landing 
• 30:05 - First time in battle the first night they were there 
• 33:35 - The brutal environment of Vietnam 
• 35:48 - First 45 days of battles and the brotherhood fighting for each other 
• 38:48 - How the streets made him sharper in battle 
• 40:44 - Combat Story - Operation Utah - the 2nd largest battle in Vietnam history by Marines
• 1:02:00 - Wounded and tagged to get out but went back into battle anyway
• 1:09:31 -  Getting shot again, flown out for medical care, and adjusting to not being in combat 
• 1:23:20 - Receiving a Silver Star 43 years later 
• 1:30:33 - How influential was Vietnam in your work later in the community? 
• 1:32:28 - About Danny's books "Silver Star: An American Story" and the new one "Chaos to Community"  
• 1:33:09 - Listener comments and shout outs 

This video covers the following subjects:

• - Marine Corps Silver Star Recipient
• - Operation Utah
• - Vietnam Veteran
• - Danny Hernandez

By the time Danny graduates high school in 1965, he must choose between the two futures represented by his two uncles: Street Warrior or Military Man. Danny chooses the Marine Corps. Danny graduates from boot camp the same year President Lyndon B. Johnson commits ground troops to Vietnam. While his cousins back home express interest in the civil rights movement, Danny loses good friends in jungle raids and skirmishes with the Viet Cong. This is a gripping, true-life story, told in Danny's own words. From his training at Camp Pendleton to his heroic actions saving the lives of his fellow marines during Operation Utah, through his honorable discharge during one of the most tumultuous years of the Civil Rights Movement, Danny's endearing, honest, and sometimes heart-wrenching story honors the lives of those who risked everything for their country and their fellow marines. If you would like to learn more about Marine Corps Silver Star Recipient, Danny Hernandez I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about Marine Corps Silver Star Recipient, Danny Hernandez? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on Marine Corps Silver Star Recipient, Danny Hernandez.

 

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! This is the true and frightening Combat Story of Aiden Aslin, a British citizen fighting for the Ukrainian military who was taken as a POW in February 2022 and then beaten and stabbed by his Russian captors for over five months.  Listeners will recall our first interview with Aiden from Feb 5th, 2022 (https://youtu.be/IbHSQ1xzpRc), just weeks before the Russian invasion where he predicted what would come after two deployments to the frontlines in Ukraine and significant fighting in Syria. Aiden was fighting on the front lines in the Donbas region of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, when Russia, completely unprovoked, invaded Ukraine. His unit fell back to the steel factory Mariupol where it was surrounded by Russian and Donetsk People’s Republic (or DPR, which is Russia’s foot soldiers and lackeys in Donetsk). Out of food and ammunition, Aiden’s unit would eventually surrender to the Russian military which promptly handed Aiden over to the DPR for regular beatings and violations of the Geneva Convention which surprised nobody. In our interview, Aiden recounts the harrowing experience of being on the frontlines when Russia invaded and how he survived captivity, without any of the advanced training that people like myself received regularly while in service to survive and escape these situations to return with dignity.  I’m sure you will be amazed at Aiden’s spirit and strength that pulled him through this difficult time and it will be a stark reminder for each of us that our day-to-day problems are not as hard as we might think when compared with what he endured.  As you can imagine, I was elated to hear of Aiden’s release in September and was nearly brought to tears after seeing his face again as we started this interview. Please enjoy this rare glimpse of hope and optimism from someone who survived a history-altering invasion and months in captivity as a modern-day POW as much as I did. Definitions: You’ll hear a reference to “GRADS” which is a mobile artillery vehicle used by the Russians that fire 122mm rounds (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BM-21_Grad). You'll hear DPR, which is the Donetsk People’s Republic. Find Aiden Online:  - Conflict Dispatch https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y-SiuIRHPpnUpcWgZRLgw - Instagram @CossackGundi https://www.instagram.com/cossackgundi/?hl=en Find Ryan Online: 

• - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
• - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Email [email protected]
• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 1:05 - Guest Introduction (Aiden Aslin) 
• 2:59 - Interview begins 
• 8:19 - Fighting on the front lines February 24, 2022 when Russia invades Ukraine  
• 37:47 - Knowing they were encircled 
• 50:33 - Being on the receiving end of an air strike 
• 56:52 - Choosing to surrender and live 
• 1:01:20 - Steps taken while preparing for surrender 
• 1:09:09 - Being processed by Russion military after surrender 
• 1:22:33 - Interrogations and beatings and getting stabbed 
• 1:30:28 - Keeping spirits up in the cell 
• and making propaganda videos 
• 1:38:30 - False charges and getting sentanced to death 
• 1:41:50 - What kept you going? 
• 1:48:14 - Returning with dignity 
• and being POW in the era of technology 
• 1:56:04 - What did you want to do when you had your freedom? 
• 2:02:43 - Are you going do anything differently now? 
• 2:06:52 - Listener comments and shout outs 

This video covers the following subjects:

• - Prisoner of War
• - Ukraine Marines
• - Tortured in Captivity by Russia
• - Ukraine Military
• - Ukraine War
• - POW
• - Modern POW

Aiden Aslin is a British-born dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Ukraine who was captured by Russian forces in April 2022 while fighting as a Ukrainian Marine in Mariupol. He was sentenced to death on 9 June by authorities of the Russian-backed breakaway unrecognized puppet state. Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) for "mercenary activities and committing actions aimed at seizing power and overthrowing the constitutional order of the DPR. He was released from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange in September 2022. If you would like to learn more about Prisoner of War, Aiden Aslin I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about Prisoner of War, Aiden Aslin? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on Prisoner of War, Aiden Aslin.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the second round of our Combat Story with Jason Lilley, a former Marine, MARSOC operator, Global Response Staff (GRS) with the CIA, and co-host of Savage Actual with co-host Patrick Moltrup having been a guest on our show on Episode 26 (https://youtu.be/YmOkCKtpvGk). You can find Savage Actual at https://www.youtube.com/c/savageactual.  We left off our first interview (which you can find at https://youtu.be/jYzw5zGR5SE) hearing about Jason’s first deployments with Marine Recon in OIF I going into Iraq, in which his unit was featured in the HBO show Generation Kill, and a subsequent deployment when Jason earned a Silver Star. At that point, Jason got out of the service, seemingly to find another path, got a lip ring as he said, and started surfing. He still had years of service ahead of him, and that’s exactly what we touch on in this episode.  We get into some interesting aspects of combat this time around but we also dive pretty deep into the psychological aspects of war and the insight that time and age bring. Listeners really connected with Jason the first time around, noting how genuine and down to earth he is, with one person saying that he comes across as both deadly and chill at the same time, which is absolutely the case. There were so many calls for us to do round two from our listeners and it was worth waiting for. As you all know, you can catch Jason on Savage Actual with his co-host Patrick Moltrup, both of whom I consider great people, Americans, and friends.  With that, please enjoy this insightful, selfless, and yet somehow equally hilarious discussion with Jason Lilley. Find Jason Online: 

• YouTube Savage Actual https://www.youtube.com/c/savageactual
• Website Savage Actual www.savageactual.com
• Facebook Savage Actual https://www.facebook.com/SavageActual 
• Twitter Savage Actual @SavageActual3 https://twitter.com/SavageActual3 
• Instagram @jason_lizzle @savage.actual https://www.instagram.com/savage.actual/ 
• TikTok Savage Actual https://www.tiktok.com/@savageactual

Find Ryan Online: 

•  Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
•  Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
•  Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
•  Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
•  Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
•  Email [email protected]
•  Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
•  Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:56 - Guest Introduction (Jason Lilley) 
• 2:18 - Interview begins 
• 2:38 - Experiencing Hurricane Ian 
• 11:02 - Anniversaries of significant events 
• 16:46 - Religion, buddhism, and dealing with anger
• 21:56 - Getting out of the Marine Corps after Silver Star event.  
• 28:44 - Still feeling his calling was to serve. 
• 31:26 - Adrenaline fueled desire for extremes
• 37:24 - The early days of MARSOC 
• 41:16 - Scout Sniper school and shooting so much he had cuts on his fingers  
• 47:07 -  How fighting Taliban was different 
• 51:!0 - Recon in Iraq compared to MARSOC ops 
• 54:04 - Story of hinting down Taliban at night 
• 1:02:43 - Feeling guilty for not going on a deployment 
• 1:06:07 - MARSOC Advanced Sniper Course 
• 1:12:28 - Time with Global Response Staff (GRS) with the CIA 
• 1:22:33 - Story of being in Iraq with GRS 
• 1:30:41 - ISIS and Ziti Hil incident 
• 1:36:21 - GRS culture and the darker  effects of experiences 
• 1:44:01 - What's new at Savage Actual? 
• 1:51:13 - Listener comments and shout outs 

This video covers the following subjects: Marine Special Operator (MARSOC)

• CIA Global Response Staff (GRS)
• Silver Star Recipient 
• Savage Actual

Jason Lilley's platoon was one of the most-decorated platoons for heroism in a single action in the War on Terrorism. On this date, his Platoon Leader Captain Brent Morel earned the Navy Cross (posthumously) and Team Leader Sergeant Willie Copeland also received the Navy Cross. Jason Lilley and four of his comrades were awarded Silver Stars for this combat operation. It is a record unmatched by any Marine Corps Company, much less by any platoon, in the Global War on Terrorism. If you would like to learn more about Marine Special Operator, Jason Lilley I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about Marine Special Operator, Jason Lilley? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on Marine Special Operator, Jason Lilley.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of Derek Nadalini, who spent decades in the Army with both Ranger Battalion and 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta, better known as The Unit. This is one of the most interesting interviews we’ve ever done. Derek deployed countless times beginning in Afghanistan in 2002 and conducted HVT operations, hostage rescue (including the rescue of Roy Hallums), ran low visibility and sniper operations, and eventually volunteered to execute singleton missions. After leaving the service, Derek went through a painful and long process to manage traumatic brain injury (TBI). Despite those challenges, he would go on to help sell the company Spatial Networks (earning what he aptly refers to as his “Business Ranger tab”), became a certified life and wellness coach providing pro bono support to Veterans, and is now the Director of Outreach and Development at MusiCorps, which is a music rehabilitation program that helps wounded warriors play music and recover their lives. Derek is easily one of the most accomplished people we’ve had on the podcast and I hope you enjoy this funny but also very personal experience and highs and lows of the elite as much as I did. Find Derek Online: 

• MusiCorps http://www.musicorps.net/Home.html
• LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-nadalini-0964141b6/
• The Warhorse https://thewarhorse.org/

Find Ryan Online:

• - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
• - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

 

Show Notes: 

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:31 - Guest Introduction (Derek Nadalini) 
• 2:07 - Interview begins 
• 6:41 - Growing up with a father  who is a Vietnam combat veteran. 
• 13:38 - Early musical influences
• 21:17 - How music and creativity are useful in the service 
• 23:28 - Choosing to join the military and why the Army
• 31:06 - Where were you on 9/11?
• 35;57 - Leaving The Battalion and becoming a  member of General Dell Dailey's staff in Afghanistan  
• 41:10 - Experiences while in a coveted General Staff position 
• and story of leadership lessons learned 
• 49:46 - Balancing OTC with having a family 
• 54:16 - Roy Hallums rescue mission
• 1:02:00 - Combat Story - a weapon malfunction 
• 1:09:26 - funny story of launching first grenade in combat 
• 1:14:43 - Why selection is so tough and how the training show up later 
• 1:16:21 - Most dangerous ops doing low visibility work as a singleton  
• 1:22:32 - Discovering a traumatic brain injury. (TBI)  
• 1:38:32 -  Life in the private sector and missing the mission 
• 1:42:53 - Going to Berkelee and starting MusicCorps
• 1:55:46 - Tattoos 
• 1:57:31 - What did you carry into combat?
• 1:59:02  - Would you do it again? 
• 2:01:23 - Listener comments and shout outs 

This video covers the following subjects:

• - 1st SFOD-D Operator
• -  Delta Force 
• - Sniper Ranger Battalion 
• - MusiCorps
• - Traumatic Brain Injury
• - Derek Nadalini 

If you would like to learn more about 1st SFOD-D Operator, Derek Nadalini I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about 1st SFOD-D Operator, Derek Nadalini? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on 1st SFOD-D Operator, Derek Nadalini.

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Today we hear our first Combat Story from a former Marine Corps Infantry Officer turned Civil Affairs Officer Frank “Gus” Biggio. Gus has a very unusual history in that he served his initial five years in the Marine Corps pre-9/11 and then got out to begin a very promising and successful career as an attorney.

 

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In the years following 9/11, however, Gus felt the need to return to service and support the war effort. So rather than hold onto a profitable and cushy corporate career, Gus did what many of dream of doing and went back in. 

 

He deployed in 2009 as a Civil Affairs officer which you can think of as a local mayor or governor of a particular area - in his case Nawa - where he settled local disputes, funded development efforts, compensated families for losses as a result of the war and far more. This required significant time outside the wire and in harm's way. 

 

Do not be fooled into thinking that this is an administrative role. I spoke to now Sergeant Major David Wilson who led the patrols that protected Gus as he moved around the battlespace and he confirmed that it was anything but quiet and that Gus shifted the balance of power locally, driving significant counterinsurgency wins.

 

Gus chronicled his experience and the service of his fellow Marines in the book ‘The Wolves of Helmand: A View from Inside the Den of Modern War’ (which is a great read) and is now directing proceeds to a charitable cause supporting efforts in Ukraine.

 

This is a wide-ranging discussion with the laughs, heartache and nostalgia of someone who gave up everything (including missing the birth of his second child) to be downrange with his fellow Marines and I hope you enjoy his Combat Story as much as I did.

 

#marines #veteran #helmand #army 

 

Find Gus Online: 

The Wolves of Helmand website https://wolvesofhelmand.com/

 

Show Notes: 

0:00 - Intro 

0:34 - Guest Introduction (Frank “Gus” Biggio) 

2:43 - Interview begins 

5:31 - Growing up, military family, and being a hell raiser 

7:04 - Why Marines and the influential  people at that time 

15:04 - Feeling like he's missing his big war, about Marines, and choosing to walk away  

17:45 - Successful career as a civilian and the impact of 9/11 

21:30 - Choosing to go back into the Marines in Civil Affairs unit 

30:56 - What Civil Affairs is and the mission set 

33:22 - Context for  Operation Khanjar a.k.a. Operation Strike of the Sword 

39:25 - Combat Story -  first kinetic engagement in Afghanistan as a passenger in a helicopter 

43:35 -  Combat Story - first outside the wire engagement on the ground getting shot at including with RPG 

52:18 - The conversations leaving law firm to go to Afghanistan  

55:23 - Why he kept a journal 

57:03 -Civil Affairs operations and how he sees his role supporting the Battalion 

1:02:09 - Story of settling a land dispute local farmers 

1:05:53 - Using a Polaroid camera as an icebreaker in Afghanistan 

1:09:04 - Funny and surreal story of getting paid in watermelons 

1:14:09 - Story of a moral failure and how it changed his approach to future engagements 

1:23:52 - Still wanting to do more after leaving a second time 

1:34:56 - Story of where the name of the book ‘The Wolves of Helmand” comes from 

1:38:46 - What did you carry into combat?

1:42:20  - Would you do it again? 

1:46:48 - Listener comments and shout outs 

 

This video covers the following subjects:

 

- US Marine Corps

- Marine Corps Infantry & Civil Affairs 

- The Wolves of Helmand 

- Frank “Gus” Biggio

 

Frank (“Gus”) Biggio served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from mid-1993 until December 1997 after graduating from Denison University. He then returned to his native Ohio where he earned a law degree from Case Western Reserve University, then worked in jobs in finance and law in New York City and Washington, DC, picking up a degree from Georgetown University along the way. Nearly ten years after first leaving the service, he rejoined the Marine Corps in October 2007. With his country at war, the same itch that drove him to volunteer in the 1990s drove his desire to serve again. His writing about the military and politics has appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Washington Post, Weekly Standard, and the online journal, War on the Rocks. The Wolves of Helmand is his first book. Through his work, he spends his time between Switzerland and Washington, DC, but has always called Ohio home. 

 

If you would like to learn more about Civil Affairs Officer, Frank “Gus” Biggio I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ

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Today we hear the Combat Story of Zack Harrison, a former Green Beret (18B) and 1st Special Forces Detachment - Delta (aka The Unit) operator. 

[If you want more about our guests and some behind the scenes insights, join our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/combatstory] 

Unlike many of our guests, Zack never planned to join the military. Like many people, however, 9/11 changed that. He used the 18X program to get his foot in the door and was in combat with the 3rd Special Forces Group in 2005 and 2006, which include being part of Operation Medusa, one of, if not the, largest NATO coalition operations in Afghanistan. 

He then transitioned to Delta Force where he honed his shooting, CQB, and tactical skills that he now uses to teach military, law enforcement, and civilians through his company, Hades Consulting, which he co-owns with another former Delta Operator.

I hope you enjoy this wide-ranging discussion with a very humble and thoughtful warrior as much as I did.

Find Zack Online:

• - Zack Instagram @chambered1_ziggy https://www.instagram.com/chambered1_ziggy/ 
• - HADES Consulting Instagram @Hades.consulting https://www.instagram.com/Hades.consulting/ 
• - HADES Consulting https://www.hadesunleashed.com/

Find Ryan Online:

• - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
• - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:44 - Guest Introduction (Zack Harrison) 
• 1:40 - Interview begins 
• 5:41 - A background in education 
• 16:39 - A story and thoughts about bullies 
• 20:03 - Wanting to join after 9/11 and why The Army 
• 26:50 - From a short MOS training phase to The 3rd Special Forces Group 
• 32:34 - First time in outside the wire in Kandahar, Afghanistan and being the new guy 
• 38:11 - Emotions coming back after first combat experience
• 42:17 - Combat Story - Operation Medusa fighting Taliban in Afghanistan 
• 46:16 - Types of missions with 3rd Group  
• and how they tend to operate 
• 52:35 - Combat Story: An  engagement during Operation Medusa 
• 1:01:57 - Combat Story - Losing fellow Green Beret, Bill Brown  
• 1:04:28 - Difficult anniversaries
• 1:11:58 - Time with the unit and going back to selection the second time 
• 1:22:02 - Combat Story - Being part of a direct action unit with DF and why you adhere to the three principles of CQB 
• 1:32:23 - HADES Consulting
• 1:35:27 - What did you carry into combat?
• 1:37:51  - Would you do it again? 
• 1:40:50 - Listener comments and shout outs 

This video covers the following subjects:

• - Delta Force Operator
• - Special Forces 18BGreen Beret
• - Hades Consulting 
• - Purple Heart 
• - Delta Force soldier Zack Harrison

Zack is a former Green Beret and member of SFOD-D (Delta Force) and was a member of Rusty Bradley’s ODA 331 During Operation Medusa in 2006. After joining the military in 2003 and deploying overseas as a member of Delta Force, Harrison left the military and joined Potynsky at Northern Red in 2014. Harrison appears in several Northern Red social media posts, including Instagram posts and YouTube videos, touting the training that he and Potynsky offered.

Harrison left Northern Red in 2020 to form his own company, Hades Consulting LLC, which, like Northern Red, caters to police departments and military personnel.

If you would like to learn more about Delta Force Operator, Zack Harrison I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ

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Today we hear an incredible Combat Story from across the pond from a legendary UK SAS operator Billy Billingham who served over 30 years with deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, Africa, and many other places we can’t discuss.

Billy came from an extremely challenging childhood drinking and fighting on the streets of Birmingham to being appointed a Member of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen for his efforts on select hostage rescues and serving as the SAS Ground Commander on what is known as 7/7 or the deadly coordinated attacks in London on July 7th, 2005. 

Billy went from being the absolute elite leader, working alongside our own Delta and DEVGRU operators for years in the post-9/11 world, to hanging up his uniform and finding a new path. He has know written an autobiography aptly titled ‘The Hard Way’ and two fiction novels based on his own exploits titled ‘Call to Kill’ and ‘Survive to Fight’ (think SAS meets 007). 

He is also a lead on two incredibly successful programs in the UK and Australia titled “SAS: Who Dares Wins” where he and other special operators take civilians and celebrities through punishing special ops training; he shared that the show is coming to the US soon! He and his wife run a charity organization and he does public speaking engagements across the UK.

I hope you enjoy this incredibly humble story that takes us inside the “Interest Room” (which I learned is the term for the SAS Team Room) and the highs and lows of a life well-lived at the tip of the spear from our UK brothers and sisters as much as I did. 

#military #veteran 

Find Billy Online: 

• - Instagram @billingham22b https://www.instagram.com/billingham22b/ 
• - Twitter @billingham229b https://twitter.com/billingham229b
• - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MarkBillinghamSAS/ 
• - Deux Mains Academy @rebuildglobally https://www.instagram.com/rebuildglobally/
• - Billy’s Website https://www.markbillybillingham.com/about

 

Find Ryan Online: 

• - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/
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• - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
• - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
• - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:41 - Guest Introduction (Billy Billingham) 
• 2:36 - Interview begins 
• 5:11 - Rough childhood in Peaky Blinders neighborhood in Birmingham, England
• 17:26 -Cadet School experience
• 22:12  - Overcoming getting burned by caustic soda at 15 yrs old and almost dying in a gang fight to still join the military  
• 28:30 - Joining The Second Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) 
• 30:03 - Lessons from the PARAs and first jump in the jungle of Belize 
• 42:48 - First time in a combat zone in Cypress 
• 44:23 -  Fighting terrorists in Ireland 
• 48:15 - Why SAS route and the brutal training and selection process
• 57:50 - Path after SAS selection into Mountain Troupe 
• 1:01:25 - Excitement of first op in first week as SAS
• 1:04:17 - Squad "Interest rooms" 
• 1:05:45 - The squadron dynamic and respect for those who came before 
• 1:09:21 - Why the B Squadron are characterized as the "rogues" 
• 1:11:12 - Combat Story - A hostage rescue during a bloody time in Bosnia 
• 1:19:36 - The sixth sense that comes with experience 
• 1:2102 - Emotions after a mission and after getting out 
• 1:24:25 -  Where were you on 7/7  during London bombings? 
• 1:27:56 - TV show "SAS: Who Dares Wins" and what is coming to the US 
• 1:30:40 - "The Hard Way" autobiography and "Call to Kill" novel 
• 1:35:46 - What did you carry into combat?
• 1:39:40  - Would you do it again? 
• 1:42:55 - Listener comments and shout outs 

 

This video covers the following subjects:

 

- SAS Sergeant Major 

- 7/7 SAS Ground CDR 

- SAS Ground Commander 

- UK SAS operator Billy Billingham

 

Billy is a certified SF and Counter Terrorist Sniper Instructor, Advanced Evasive Driving Instructor, Tracking/Jungle Warfare/Navigation Instructor, Demolition/Sabotage Instructor, Ski Mountaineering/Rock Climbing/Abseiling/Ice climbing Instructor, Combat Survival/RTI Instructor, Counter Terrorist Instructor (all options) and has worked as a Patrol Medic/Trauma Life Support agent for 5 hospital attachments.

 

If you would like to learn more about SAS Sergeant Major, Billy Billingham I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ

_________________________

 

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Today we hear a unique Combat Story from Ranger-qualified and former Engineer in combat Lisa Jaster who was the first female reservist to complete Ranger School…at the age of 37 with two kids!

Lisa is still in the reserves and recently rotated out of Battalion Command where she led Combat Engineers as she did early in the post-9/11 era as a young active-duty lieutenant, including in 2002 in Afghanistan, 2003 in Iraq, and back to Iraq 15 years later.

Her story is remarkable and highlights how much harder she worked to reach levels many others take for granted. She’s a West Point grad and stood on the shoulders of the brave women who came before her in breaking the barrier of women at the Academy only to break a similar barrier herself.

Beyond being a sought-after public speaker, accomplished entrepreneur, and part of retired DEVGRU Mike Sarraille’s Talent War Group, Lisa is also a competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter and CrossFit athlete and is getting ready to release her first book that describes her journey.

This is a phenomenal and wide-ranging interview with an accomplished, tough-as-nails Ranger and I hope you enjoy her story of perseverance as much as I did.

#army #military #veteran #rangers

Find Lisa Online: -

Instagram @lisaajaster https://www.instagram.com/lisaajaster/

Twitter @lisa_jaster https://twitter.com/lisa_jaster

Book Page for “Delete the Adjective”

and contact https://deletetheadjective.com/

Find Ryan Online:

- Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory

- Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/

- Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory

- Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial

- Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial

- Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus

- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

• 0:00 - Intro 
• 0:56 - Guest Introduction (Lisa Jaster) 
• 2:29 - Interview begins 
• 2:42 - A passion for Brazilian jujitsu 
• 6:06 - Being an unconventional Military couple and making sure her son can fight 
• 10:06 - Childhood as a naturally driven person and where the military comes in 
• 14:55 - Funny story of Army interview 
• 17:16 - Going to West Point and and choosing Engineer Branch after graduating
• 27:37 - What is Engineers and their role in Afghanistan 2002 
• 33:24 - Where were you on 9/11? 
• 41:06 - Story about combat patches 
• 45:01 - How an engineer prepares for deployment 
• 47:48 - Family and feelings before and during a dangerous deployment
• 53:47 - "There's no book for this" and funny story of trying to communicate with Pakistani man 
• 55:27 - Building the airfield in Afghanistan and funny story about constructing the sewage pond 
• 58:27 - From Afghanistan to Iraq 
• and being an SME as a First Lieutenant 
• 1:06:42 - Processing difficult experiences and how jujiostu helped 
• 1:09:33 - Ranger school  
• 1:21:17 - Advice for someone wanting to go to BUD/S or Ranger School 
• 1:29:04 - Hell Week at Ranger School  
• and being in the first ever class with women 
• 1:43:57 -Mixed emotions on graduating Ranger School  
• 1:47:48 - Full circle moment meeting author Carol Barkalow 
• 1:51:36 - What's the first thing you ate coming out of Ranger School?  
• 1:52:46 - What did you carry into combat?
• 1:55:08  - Would you do it again? 
• 1:57:11 - Listener comments and shout outs

This video covers the following subjects: - First Female Reservist Ranger School Graduate - Ranger School - Combat Leader - Combat Engineer Lisa Jaster Maj. Lisa Jaster, an Army Reserve soldier, performs a fireman's carry-on on a simulated casualty during the Ranger Course at Ft. Benning, GA. The 37-year-old engineer and mother of two children, aged 7 and 3, is the first female Army Reserve officer to graduate from Ranger School.

When Maj. Lisa Jaster walks across Victory Pond Friday at Fort Benning, she will secure her role in history as the first female Army Reserve officer to earn the distinctive black-and-gold shoulder tab. However, the 37-year-old engineer and mother of two children, aged 7 and 3, is the third female to graduate from the grueling combat leadership course, joining the ranks of fellow West Point graduates and Active Duty officers Capt. Kristen Griest, 26, and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, 25.

If you would like to learn more about First Female Reservist Ranger School Graduate, Lisa Jaster I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________

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Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear a Combat Story from the very tip of the spear from “Dutch” Chris Moyer, a long-time special operator who spent 14 years in Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in addition to years at 1/75 Ranger Battalion, and CIA’s Global Response Staff (GRS).

Dutch walks us through a very open and honest approach to what it’s like operating in the elite ranks for so long, including the pressure, brotherhood, and chaos. He doesn’t shy away from sharing where he felt he fell short, and how, even after decades of service he still felt like he had more to give.

He saw combat in multiple theaters in the pre-and post-9/11 era, fighting at the same time as and friends with many of the former Tier 1 operators we’ve heard on this show.

Be sure to stick through to the end where we hear Dutch describe his own “Mr. Goodbar” story (if you don’t know about Mr. Goodbar, check out Episode 30) where Dutch ends up in a room one on one having to fight none other than John “Shrek” McPhee (from Episode 25 https://youtu.be/6hvQj06fQUQ).

It’s hilarious. Dutch now runs DCM Consulting where he teaches military, government, and civilians how to apply the skills he learned in the Tier 1 community from shooting to CQB to leadership.

In fact, when I reached out to Dutch I had to leave him a message and his voicemail was one of the best I’ve ever heard and said something like “You’ve reached Dutch, I can’t take your call because I’m out on the range shooting, teaching CQB, or doing some other cool shit right now…”

I hope you enjoy this incredible peak behind the curtain of what it’s like in one of the most elite units in our military.

The video is all about Delta Force Sergeant Major, Dutch Moyer. If you want to learn more about Combat Story, you can click: https://www.combatstory.com/

Show Notes

• 0:00 - Intro
• 0:38 - Guest Introduction (Dutch Moyer)
• 2:15 - Interview begins
• 11:09 - Not being a naturally gifted shooter
• 18:55 - Important characteristics someone should have on a team
• 26:33 - Earning another nickname, Simon, after "blowing himself up" with a Simon device prepping for a mission in Bosnia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un-ApklIvj4)
• 41:10 - “Coolest thing I’ve ever done…” The difference coming back and what it is like at the different operational levels from Ranger to Tier 1 JSOC elements
• 50:51 - Getting through selection
• 58:13 - Imposter syndrome and how he handled shooting a paint round into the wall in the team room.
• 1:03:21 - Combat Story - Longest air assault raid in history
• 1:09:53 - The role of a Breacher
• 1:16:29 - Stories of hard landings and crashes including a rooftop helicopter crash
• 1:21:31 - Combat Story - Things go sideways during an ambush in Fallujah
• 1:26:04 - Transitioning out of the elite level and wishing he had done more
• 1:43:54 - DCM consulting for leadership through the evolutionary gun fighter process
• 1:45:55 - What did you carry into combat?
• 1:46:35 - Would you do it again?
• 1:49:17 - Story of fighting John “Shrek” McPhee in hand to hand combat at the end of training
• 1:52:50 - Listener comments and shout outs

This video covers the following subjects:

- Delta Force Sergeant Major - Ranger Battalion - CIA GRS - DCM Consulting Dutch Moyer DCM Consulting Founder Christopher “Dutch”

Moyer served 31 years in the Army – 26 of those in Special Operations.

He has taken part in over 1,000 successful combat assaults in classified & unclassified missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He found that the Army in the 1980s was not what he had hoped. After a five-year break, he returned. This time he “Wanted to be in the worst possible places with the best possible people.”

He became an Army Ranger and spent the last 14 years of his career with the elite Joint Special Operations Command. JSOC was created after the disastrous “Desert One” mission.

If you would like to learn more about Delta Force Sergeant Major, Dutch Moyer, I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________

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Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Joe McNamara, a former Marine Corps officer who experienced a unique kind of violence from his time on campus at Virginia Tech during the horrific 2007 shooting to leading Marines in combat in Afghanistan. After leaving the service, Joe founded a leadership development company called Impact USA that trained both elite athletes and private sector leaders. Impact was recently acquired by Mike Sarraille’s Talent War Group, where Joe is now a partner and Chief Revenue Officer. Many will recall a fantastic interview with Mike (episode 70 https://youtu.be/v4TPJtkZrek), the former enlisted Marine who went on to Force Recon then served as an officer in SEALs and, eventually, Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). The fact that someone like Mike who went through that crucible of leadership experiences went on to acquire Impact says a lot about what Joe does to develop leaders. This episode dives between combat experiences and the leadership lessons we can apply to our lives, from the foxhole to athletics to the office. In fact, Joe answers two questions I’ve always had: how do you create a sense of shared adversity in a corporate setting and how do you find time to train corporate leaders without taking them off operations for a full six to 12 months the way the military does it. I hope you enjoy this Combat Story with a battle hardened Marine Corps officer and some of the tangible leadership lessons we can all apply from his experiences as much as I did. Find Joe Online: - LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcnamara1/ - Instagram @joe_mcnamara_ https://www.instagram.com/joe_mcnamara_ - Impact Leadership https://www.impactthepace.com/ Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:35 - About our sponsor, Let's Get Checked 1:57 - Guest Introduction (Joe McNamara) 3:46 - Interview begins 5:13 - Childhood and path to the military 10:04 - Support for Combat Story brought to you by Manscaped 11:24 - Somber stories of courage and leadership from the school shooting at Virginia Tech 22:08 - When certain experiences harden you emotionally 25:10 - The most impactful leadership advice from Marine Corps mentors 30:40 - Training and what it was like in Afghanistan with insane amount of IEDs 40:31 - Being in a leadership role at 20-21 years old and the most important attribute in leadership 44:12 - Combat Story - What it is like as infantry men when your vehicle gets hit by massive IED 53:47 - Combat Story - First time someone in his platoon was hit while on foot 1:00:24 - What an "XO" is in the military and what the role entails 1:04:24 - Combat Story - How leadership planning and drills show up after a mass casualty event 1:14:29 - Formative Company Command time at Paris Island 1:24:55 - Where the idea for Impact Leadership came from 1:28:10 - Replicating shared adversity and military training in corporate sector 1:36:03 - The biggest challenges seen in corporate leadership 1:39:55 - What did you carry into combat? 1:40:39 - Would you do it again? 1:43:26 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Get extra Combat Story content like Ryan's personal thoughts on this episode on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/combatstory Today we hear the Combat Story of Jake Wood, a former University of Wisconsin football player who enlisted in the Marine Corps and fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a Marine Rifleman and Sniper. One of the key moments that led him to the Marine Corps was the death of Pat Tillman, the legendary NFL Safety who walked away from the League and joined the Army after 9/11, eventually being killed while serving as a Ranger in Afghanistan. Jake found himself leading Marines at the very front end of the “Surge” in Iraq and the bloodiest year of the wars, stepping into a kinetic environment only weeks after arriving in the theater. He was then in Helmand Province in Afghanistan as a sniper. Only two months after leaving the Marine Corps, Jake went on to found the humanitarian support organization Team Rubicon after hastily organizing what he describes as a “Motley Crew” of veterans and doctors to help the people of Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake. He recently created another charitable giving business called Groundswell which seeks to democratize philanthropic giving. In 2018, Jake was awarded the Pat Tillman ESPY for service (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Xef8StXi8), bringing his story full circle from Tillman’s death that propelled Jake into this life of service. I hope you enjoy this unique and insightful interview with someone who played football at the highest level and then selflessly decided to put on a different uniform to help others as much as I did. Find Jake Online: - Instagram @jakewoodtr https://www.instagram.com/jakewoodtr/?hl=en - Twitter @JakeWoodTR https://twitter.com/JakeWoodTR - Team Rubicon https://teamrubiconusa.org/ - Groundswell.io https://groundswell.io/ - ESPY Pat Tillman Award https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Xef8StXi8 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:27 - About our sponsor, Aura 2:28 - Guest Introduction (Jake Wood) 4:22 - Interview begins 5:00 - Football's influence in life and position played 13:23 - Family history and a perspective on a college campus protest in March 2003 17:30 - The significant events and people like Pat Tillman which lead to joining 23:36 - Funny recruitment stories and why Marine Corps Infantry 28:22 - Training with Pugil sticks in bootcamp as an elite football player 31:16 - Getting out of the training pipeline and into a Marine Rifle Platoon 37:58 - First "boots on the ground" moment in Iraq and first time taking mortar fire 40:27 - Combat Story - Driving into IEDs while in Humvees 49:59 - The bloody realities of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 53:25 - Combat Story - Injuries and booby traps during the bloodiest year of the Iraq war 1:00:14 - What do you tell your family? 1:01:23 - Marine Sniper School experience 1:03:13 - Combat Story - The tough operating environment in Afghanistan 1:08:54 - How snipers desensitize themselves 1:10:52 - Combat Story - Taliban attack and tending to injured civilian children 1:12:36 - Transitioning out and how Team Rubicon Disaster Response started 1:21:34 - Groundswell 1:25:48 - What did you carry into combat? 1:27:33 - Would you do it again? 1:29:04 - Accepting the Pat Tillman award 1:30:24 - Listener comments and shout outs The video is all about Marine Sniper from D1 College Football, Jake Wood. If you want to learn more about Combat Story, you can click: https://www.combatstory.com/ This video covers the following subjects: - Marine Sniper from D1 College Football - Marine Sniper - Marine Scout Snipers - Team Rubicon and Groundswell Founder January 12, 2010. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shakes Port-au-Prince. In moments, hundreds of thousands were injured, infrastructure and buildings were destroyed, and countless were made homeless. In the days following, many traditional aid organizations were slow to establish relief efforts, citing dangerous and unstable working conditions. Troubled by the scenes in Port-au-Prince and the lack of proper aid, two Marines, Jake Wood and William McNulty, decided to act. Gathering supplies and volunteers, the small group of veterans, first responders, and medical professionals deployed to Haiti in the days following the earthquake. If you would like to learn more about Marine Sniper from D1 College Football, Jake Wood I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about Marine Sniper from D1 College Football, Jake Wood? If you were searching for more info about Marine Sniper from D1 College Football, Jake Wood did this video help? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on Marine Snipers like Jake Wood.

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Today we hear the Combat Story of Jason Lilley, a former Marine infantryman, Marine Recon, sniper, MARSOC, and then CIA Global Response Staff (or GRS) operator. As many are aware, Jason is the other half of the veteran media company Savage Actual (https://www.youtube.com/c/savageactual), with his co-host Patrick Moltrup having been a guest on our show on Episode 26 (https://youtu.be/YmOkCKtpvGk). Jason survived brutal fighting in the initial invasion of Iraq with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion alongside journalist Evan Wright who would go on to write the book Generation Kill which was transformed into an HBO series by the same name, depicting some of the battles we talk about in this episode (watch more at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLlHcwJ5vS4). In another deployment, Jason earned a Silver Star during a battle on April 7th, 2004 in Iraq that was later depicted in the History Channel program “Ambush of April 7th” (https://www.history.com/shows/the-warfighters/season-1/episode-5#:~:text=On%20April%207%2C%202004%20a,in%20the%20War%20on%20Terror). It is believed to be the most decorations awarded for a single battle during the war, which included four Silver Stars, multiple Purple Hearts, and two Navy Crosses (one award posthumously). We didn’t want to shortchange listeners on Jason’s incredible stories so we’ll schedule a round two to dive into his time with MARSOC and the CIA. This episode is chalked full of combat experiences with a very human, empathetic, and thoughtful lens that I know you will enjoy as much as I did. #military #veteran #marines #combat Support us on Patreon and get exclusive content and insights at www.patreon.com/combatstory Find Jason Online: -YouTube Savage Actual https://www.youtube.com/c/savageactual -Website Savage Actual www.savageactual.com -Facebook Savage Actual https://www.facebook.com/SavageActual -Twitter Savage Actual @SavageActual3 https://twitter.com/SavageActual3 -Instagram @jason_lizzle @savage.actual https://www.instagram.com/savage.actual/ -TikTok Savage Actual https://www.tiktok.com/@savageactual Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Email [email protected] - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:39 - About our sponsor, Better Help 3:01 - Guest Introduction (Jason Lilley) 4:16 - Interview begins and a story of confronting Stolen Valor 12:48 - Childhood in a family of musicians and being bullied 17:56 - Joining the Marines in 2000 22:54 - Advice for young people going through tough times 24:55 - Path from infantry "grunt" to Recon 28:22 - Combat Story - First combat experience taking a Scud before crossing the border into Iraq 34:10 - Auditioning to play himself in Generation Kill (HBO TV series about his platoon) 39:40 - Story of finding a buried enemy helicopter and rockets 40:53 - Combat Story - first time close to danger accidentally driving through heavy fire 49:11 - Combat Story - Perilous engagement in a airfield 58:00 - Being back home after being in combat 1:01:06 - Mindset going in to second deployment 1:04:51 - Combat Story - 7, April, 2004 Silver Star event during second deployment 1:29:13 - Feelings about awards and ceremonies 1:35:04 - Taking a break and then transitioning to MARSOC 1:38:50 - A negative Hollywood experience and starting a media company 1:47:21 - What did you carry into combat? 1:49:48 - Would you do it again? 1:52:52 - Listener comments and shout outs The video is all about Marine Special Operator, Jason Lilley. If you want to learn more about Jason Lilley, you can click: https://www.combatstory.com/ This video covers the following subjects: - Marine Special Operator - Silver Star - CIA GRS - Savage Actual United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) is a component command of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) that comprises the Marine Corps' contribution to SOCOM. Its core capabilities are direct action, special reconnaissance, and foreign internal defense. If you would like to learn more about Marine Special Operator, Jason Lilley I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyA... _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about Marine Special Operator, Jason Lilley? If you were searching for more info about Marine Special Operator or Jason Lilley did this video help? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what else I can help you with or information on Marine Special Operator, Jason Lilley.

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Today we hear a Combat Story from a long-time Combat Story listener Christian Holloway, a former Marine who was part of the initial invasion into Iraq, fought in both Fallujah I and II, and was one of the first Marines in what we now know as Marine Special Operations Command or MARSOC. [Support us on Patreon and get exclusive content and insights at www.patreon.com/combatstory] Christian was just 18 years old when he crossed the line of departure into Iraq for the initial invasion alongside M1A1 tanks in his Marine Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV). He was then clearing buildings on foot in Fallujah alongside his Marine brothers, was among the first to see the effects of IEDs and what later became a very common and lethal enemy TTP, and was then in the elite special operations community training foreign militaries as a force multiplier. Since leaving the military, Christian continued to train service members in Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE) as a contractor and now hosts a financial information program on YouTube. This is a great Combat Story that follows the path from the tactical perspective of the Marine infantryman to the strategic MARSOC operator and I hope you enjoy his humble insights as much as I did. Find Christian Online: -YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs1jwxG_W_NAVVX8KlZ-Mig -Instagram @chris.holloway_fi https://www.instagram.com/chris.holloway_fi/ Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Email [email protected] - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:44 - Guest Introduction (Christian Holloway) 1:59 - Interview begins 2:40 - Growing up in Texas 7:31 - Why Marine Corps and recruitment story 10:44 - Training and preparing for deployment only 4 months after after boot camp and school of infantry 17:13 - Preparing for first deployment invading Iraq at only 18 years old 20:48 - MOPP levels and the nuclear, biological and chemical threat 24:53 - Combat Story - Engaged by an artillery unit and the invasion of Iraq 33:10 - Combat Story - An armor to armor engagement 55:27 - Combat Story - 48 hour engagement 1:18:01 - almost dying in Baghdad from celebratory fire 1:21:03 -Fallujah 1 fighting the insurgency and the first in incorporation of IED tactics 1:35:52 - Combat Story - a very persistent engagement 1:56:24 - Joining what would later be known as MARSOC and the intense training course 2:24:42 - Transition to contractor 2:27:42 - Refelctions on being in combat at 18 years old 2:30:45 - Personal Finance YouTube channel 2:37:19 - What did you carry into combat? 2:39:08 - Would you do it again? 2:40:21 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today we hear the Combat Story of Kristen Murdock, who spent 13 years in the Navy as a Naval Intelligence Officer from an Aviation Squadron off a carrier to Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). [Check out our Patreon page for more images of Kristen and for an upcoming Q&A with Ryan] Kristen spent most of her military time deployed around the world and focused primarily on intelligence in the Middle East, South Asia, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa, including deployments at the strategic level with joint staffs to the tactical with SEAL Team 3 and DEVGRU. After her time in service, Kristen transitioned thanks to a phenomenal program designed for Special Operations service members and support staff called The Honor Foundation which helped her find her next career in Silicon Valley working in the Trust and Safety space at Facebook and, most recently, Twitch, as a senior leader. Kristen narrowly avoided be kicked out of the Naval Academy and had her dreams of flying shattered at the last moment but ended up hustling to find a more rewarding path in Intel that serves as a great lessons for those still rising through the ranks and I hope you enjoy her insights into the shadowy world of intel at a Tier 1 unit as much as I did. Find Kristen online: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenmichele/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-murdock/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristenmurdock Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Email [email protected] - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 00:41 - Guest introduction for Kristen Murdock 6:05 - Reality check from an active duty father and aviator at Dover Air Force Base 12:17 - Avoiding the use of Intel “Jedi mind tricks” on regular people 12:38 - What is the “2” in military language (S2, N2, J2, G2, etc) 15:54 - Going to the US Naval Academy and almost not making it 25:00 - Losing your ‘dream’ career and finding your true path 30:27 - Unfortunate advice from another officer to a woman in service 32:27 - Arriving to your first assignment as the intel officer on a carrier 42:22 - Running intel at SEAL Team 3 45:02 - Strategic work as an intel officer and preparing “The Book” 49:47 - Doing time with DIA to get broader intel experience 53:48 - Detailed to a Special Forces Team (ODA) and then sent to support ISAF (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgRf_vdx0lg the International Security Assistance Force) 55:19 - Supporting General Stanley A. McChrystal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA0yXWAAais) and General Michael Flynn while meeting tribal leaders like Karzai 1:03:01 - Learning of the deaths of Brendan Looney and Travis Manion (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhn4vAgQneE) 1:05:28 - Working threat finance as an intelligence officer and the skills it teaches you 1:08:30 - Getting to SEAL Team 3 1:15:55 - The weight of giving intel to a team of operators and how much confidence you need to have 1:17:19 - Walking past the memorial for a fallen friend (Brendan Looney) at SEAL Team 3 HQs 1:18:28 - The transition to Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU, also known as SEAL Team Six) 1:20:43 - Had a great experience with all the Team guys 1:22:19 - Transitioning out of the military and into Tech with Facebook (now Meta) and then on to Twitch 1:30:18 - What did you carry with you on deployments? 1:31:12 - Would you go back and do it again? 1:32:55 - Listener comments and shout outs. Thanks for listening ya’ll! Stay safe. The video is all about special operations and special operators and intelligence officers and the intelligence profession. If you want to learn more about special operations and intelligence, you can click: https://www.combatstory.com/ This video is describing what it takes to be in special operations and make it in Intelligence but also try to cover the following subjects: - What are special operations? - Combat Story - Navy SEALs - Combat Operations - DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about what are special operations and what is intelligence? Individuals who searched for Kristen Murdock and intelligence also searched for Navy SEALs and intelligence officers and we have interviews with many Navy SEALs and former Intelligence Officers at www.combatstory.com, including those in Naval Special Warfare Development Group (or DEVGRU), which many people refer to as SEAL Team Six, and with the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency). If you would like to learn more about the intelligence profession or SEALs, look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ

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Today we have a phenomenal Combat Story with our first dedicated insight from a legendary CIA Case Officer, Paramilitary Operations Officer, and Senior Leader Enrique ‘Ric’ Prado, who fought terrorists from the jungles of Central America with the storied Special Activities Division to eventally overseeing all Agency operations at the helm of the counterterrorism center. [Support us on Patreon and get exclusive content and insights at www.patreon.com/combatstory, including additional photos of Ric and a story of the hardest training course he ever went through] Before joining the Agency, Ric successfully completed the famed Pararescue or PJ pipeline but did not, despite multiple volunteer attempts, have the opportunity to fight in Vietnam. Instead, Ric would see plenty of operations and battles but with the CIA, where he was operating as a solo Paramilitary Ops Officers or PMOO in the Nicaraguan jungles in his first tour. Early in his career Ric first came into contact with and was then mentored by some of the Agency’s giants like Cofer Black, Duey Clarridge, Bill Buckley, William Casey, and more. As you’ll see during this interview, these are all names I know and revere so I was star struck hearing Ric’s stories about these giants and just spending time with Ric, who many of these heavyweights consider one of the best CIA operators of his time. On 9/11, Ric was the Chief of Operations (or C/OPS as the role is know inside the building) of the counterterrorism center, responsible for all counterterrorism operations for the whole CIA. After leaving the service, Ric founded a successful company where he continued to take the fight to the enemy and recently wrote a great book that gives a true behind the scenes look at the wide ranging, unpredictable and often dangerous life of a CIA operations officer. This is one of my favorite interviews to date and I hope you enjoy this peek behind the curtain of the premier covert intelligence organization from one of its legends as much as I did. Find Ric Online: - Ric’s website https://ricprado.com/ - Black Ops Book https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/black-ops/ - Ric on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/enrique-ric-prado-052a11186/ Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Email [email protected] - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:47 - Guest Introduction (Ric Prado) 2:41 - Interview begins 3:42 - Growing up in Cuba during the revolution in the 1950s and coming to America without his parents 11:46 - Gratitude as an American and choosing life of service 14:54 - The Pararescue Pipeline and becoming a PJ 20:49 - Joining Ground Branch/Special Activities Division in the CIA and role as a Paramilitary Officer 25:11 - The type of work he was doing with the Agency early on and the rewarding feeling of being able to do something about injustice 29:10 - Story of first contact fighting on the front lines during the 1980s Cold War 34:32 - Feelings of being down range after not getting the chance in Vietnam 37:05 - How early experiences informed his role later as Chief of Operations Counterterrorism Center and a story of how street savvy saved him 46:46 - Being a solo operator 47:40 - Working with CIA legends Dewey Clarridge and Bill Casey 51:02 - About the LA (Latin American) Division 54:22 - Legend Joe Fernandez requesting him by name and working more traditional undercover ops 57:17 - Making his first recruitments in Costa Rica 1:02:47 - Role in Alec Station tracking Osama bin Laden 1:10:21 - 9/11 and being Chief of Operations at the Counterterrorism Center 1:16:23 - Story of a particularly dangerous mission 1:25:10 - Story of learning he was under surveillance 1:30:46 - What did you carry with you on missions? 1:32:29 - Would you do it again? 1:34:55 - Hear more on Patreon 1:35:35 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today’s Combat Story is one of perseverance and hustle on another level. We hear from Remi Adeleke who deployed multiple times as a Navy SEAL, but only after overcoming a truly difficult childhood of being stripped of his family’s wealth in Nigeria to hustling on the streets of the Bronx to make ends meet. Remi would be one of those rare people who wanted to become a SEAL even though he couldn’t swim, just to give you an idea of his attitude and beliefs. [Support us on Patreon and get exclusive content and insights at www.patreon.com/combatstory] After leaving the service, Remi has done it all. He was contacted by Hollywood and has either acted in or advised on multiple blockbuster movies and shows like Transformers, SEAL Team, and most recently the Terminal List with Chris Pratt. He’s also a best selling author with a fantastic book “Transformed: A Navy SEAL's Unlikely Journey from the Throne of Africa, to the Streets of the Bronx, to Defying All Odds,” a clothing line called Kojo and more. This is a true Combat Story of not just overcoming the odds down range, but overcoming every obstacle life in the inner city can throw at you. Find Remi Online: - Instagram @remiadeleke - Twitter @remiadeleke - Kojo Wear Clothing Line - Book Transformed: A Navy SEAL's Unlikely Journey from the Throne of Africa, to the Streets of the Bronx, to Defying All Odds - Muskegon Maritime Academy https://muskegonmaritimeacademy.org/ Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Email [email protected] - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:27 - Guest Introduction (Remi Adeleke) 2:00 - Interview begins 4:26 - About his family’s tribe from Nigeria and what it means to him today 7:12 - Growing up in Nigeria 13:16 - Formative years spent hustling in the Bronx 24:24 - Why the military? 27:58 - Being in NYC on 9/11 30:56 - An influential recruitment officer and getting his record cleared 34:43 - Becoming a SEAL without knowing how to swim 39:01 - First deployment experience 43:10 - Combat Story - First time outside the wire as a Humvee gunner 45:30 - Being an African American in the SEAL teams and how being black helped down range 50:25 - How his time in the Bronx gave him skills in the military 52:17 - Direct action ops and running sources 57:56 - Combat Story - a quick snatch and grab operation that turned into 14 hours with an intense foot chase 1:08:22 - The decision to get out 1:11:55 - Getting the call to work on Transformers without a formal audition and how he got into acting and consulting 1:21:50 - Starting the Muskegon Maritime Academy, a military themed charter school 1:26:59 - What did you carry into combat? 1:27:32 - Would you do it again? 1:27:50 - What do you think your old man would be saying now? 1:28:31 - Listener comments and shout outs This interview is all about special operations and special operators. If you want to learn more about special opertaions, you can click: https://www.combatstory.com/ This interview is describing what it takes to be in special operations but also try to cover the following subjects: - What are special operations? - Combat Story - Remi Adeleke - Navy SEALs - Combat Operations Remi Adeleke was born in Western Africa, but following the death of his father, he, his mother, and his brother relocated permanently to the Bronx in New York City. After years of making regrettable decisions, Remi joined the Navy in 2002 and later became a Navy SEAL. Ending his successful naval career in 2016, he was led to pursue a career in speaking and acting. Remi holds a BS in organizational leadership and an MS in strategic leadership, both from the University of Charleston West Virginia. He resides in Southern California with his wife, Jessica, and their two sons, Cayden and Caleb. Speaking about joining the team, Adeleke said: “Since I departed from the military in 2016 my main focus in life has been to inspire, motivate and educate people — whether through writing, speaking, or visual storytelling." If you would like to learn more about Remi Adeleke I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about what are special operations? Individuals who searched for Remi Adeleke also searched for Navy SEALs and we have interviews with many Navy SEALs at www.combatstory.com, including those in Naval Special Warfare Development Group (or DEVGRU), which many people refer to as SEAL Team Six.

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Today we have a special Combat Story that takes us from commanding in bloody fighting in Vietnam to some of the seminal moments in our military’s Special Operations history, all courtesy of retired colonel Keith Nightingale. Keith served two tours in Vietnam, one as an adviser to the Vietnamese where he learned jungle warfare from one of the most interesting and lethal characters in country, followed by taking command of an infantry company in the 101st that had just been wiped out, literally, hours earlier. Keith was a founding member of the 1st Ranger Battalion when it was created by Gen Creighton Abrams in 1974-later commanding both that battalion and the Ranger brigade. He then gives us a fly on the wall perspective of the Desert One catastrophe and the subsequent birth and creation of what we know today as JSOC, to include why we have DIA, 160th, Delta and more. We even touch on Keith’s time as the DoD lead tracking down none other than the Drug Kingpin Pablo Escobar. Keith has gone on to write three books, “Just Another Day in Vietnam”, “Phoenix Rising: From the Ashes of Desert One to the Rebirth of U.S. Special Operations,” and “A Soldier Looks Back: Memories and Reflections of a Combat Veteran, from Normandy to Afghanistan.” This was a memorable Combat Story that gives us a look inside some of the most significant moments that created the modern US military we all know and love today. Find Keith Onine: -Facebook Col Keith Nightingale https://www.facebook.com/ColKeithNightingale -Keith’s books https://www.amazon.com/Keith-Nightingale/e/B016H5SV66%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share Ryan Online Information Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Email [email protected] - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - Guest Introduction (Keith Nightingale) 2:17 - Interview begins 2:40 - What he did in the army 3:24 - how the military was “in his DNA” and being the first officer in the family that served as a career 7:30 - Getting orders to go to Vietnam and the most influential person in helping become a battlefield leader 18:10 - Combat Story #1 - first contact in Vietnam 24:59 - A “karmic” approach to combat learned in Vietnam 26:57 - Combat Story #2 - a long night in Vietnam 36:03 - Going back to Vietnam with Delta company 43:14 - An intense training in leadership 46:27 - Combat Story #3 - First time in the field with Delta and his leadership strategy for low morale 56:43 - The founding of JSOC and 1st Ranger Battalion 1:05:43 - Combat Story #4 - Operation Eagle Claw 1:32:57 - Tracking down Pablo Escobar 1:40:42 - What did you carry into combat? 1:41:54 - Would you do it again? 1:42:53 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today’s Combat Story is near and dear to my heart for reasons I can’t share because they’re classified. We hear the firsthand account from one of the men involved in the brutal 13 hours of fighting in Benghazi in 2012, Kris “Tanto” Paronto, who would later co-author the book “13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi” and advise Director Michael Bay and the cast who created the movie of the same name. This is one of my favorite episodes. Time flew by as we touched on so many topics from the learnings Kris shared in two other books (The Patriot's Creed: Inspiration and Advice for Living a Heroic Life and The Ranger Way: Living the Code On and Off the Battlefield) to insight into what it meant to be a part of the CIA’s GRS or Global Response Staff (read this CIA Career page to hear how interesting this job is and trust me when I say these guys were great: https://www.cia.gov/careers/jobs/protective-agent/) to how it felt the moment he and a handful of selfless other men decided to defy direct orders from above and risk their lives for other Americans in Libya. There’s ZERO politics in this episode. If you’re looking for that, you won’t find it here. This is all about what happened to the people on the ground at the time, which made me appreciate Kris and his perspective even more. Since leaving the military and Agency, Kris has become a serial entrepreneur with a clothing line, vodka brand, podcast, shooting and medical training courses, and is now making his tactical programs more of an experience with E3 Firearms which goes beyond just hitting the range and is something that I think many of our listeners will want to be a part of. I hope you appreciate this wide ranging, hilarious, and selfless Combat Story as much as I did. Find Kris Online: - Instagram @real_kris_tanto_paronto https://www.instagram.com/real_kris_tanto_paronto/ - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristantoparonto/ - E3 Firearms https://pages2.e3firearmsassociation.com/fol-page1638816034383 - Kris’s website https://kristantoparonto.com/ Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Email [email protected] - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - Guest Introduction (Kris Paronto) 2:25 - Interview begins 2:47 - How he got his call sign “Tanto” 6:30 - Background info on CIA GRS 11:43 - The GRS driving training course 13:20 - The detailed prep work involved in going into country somewhere as GRS 21:15 - Childhood, sports, and adrenaline rushes 26:33 - Why did you choose the military path? 30:10 - Time with the Rangers 36:58 - Getting kicked out of the Army 48:15 - Motivation for writing book “The Ranger Way” 50:51 - Why GRS? 56:47 - Getting a black passport and examples of GRS missions 1:05:13 - Benghazi 2012 and the endurance that you need to make it through a 13 hour gun fight 1:12:22 - Benghazi 2012 Waiting for authorization are deciding to do the QRF (quick reaction force) 1:17:59 - The significance of true sacrifice 1:20:41 - His current projects including Battleline Tactical, podcast, vodka company, and E3 Farms Association 1:26:25 - What did you carry into combat? 1:28:59 - Would you do it again? 1:32:27 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today we hear the Combat Story of a long-time Green Beret, combat veteran, and retired Sergeant Major Josh Johnson. Josh spent multiple years downrange in Iraq and Afghanistan, many with 1st Special Forces Group, in combat where he led from the front but also spent years teaching other Green Berets and partner forces. [Support us on Patreon and get exclusive content and insights at www.patreon.com/combatstory] Josh was selected as an Exchange Officer to the Australian Special Air Services Regiment where he trained and fought alongside our very close Australian brethren. In his last two years of service, Josh focused specifically on leadership development and training. Since leaving the service, Josh has continued training and developing leaders, this time with Mike Sarraille’s Talent War Group where Josh is a Partner and Senior VP of Leadership Development. I hope you enjoy this interesting and wide-ranging Combat Story as much as I did. Find Josh Online: -LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuafhijohnson/ Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Email [email protected] - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:41 - Guest Introduction (Josh Johnson) 1:36 - Interview begins 3:29 - His time fighting alongside the Aussies 8:11 - Growing up in small town in Utah and having a dad in military 18:41 - How he found himself on the SF track after National Guard and being an MP 30:24 - Funny story about robbing a Bosnian bathroom 32:32 - Selection experience in 1999 and where he was when 9/11 happened 34:56 - Combat Story #1 - Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines and his first time getting shot at 46:33 - Combat Story #2 -A multi-hour gun fight and getting hit with RPGs in Afghanistan 58:34 - Combat Story #3 - Stories of men getting shot next to him 1:09:35 - Experience as an ODA working with ranger battalion 1:19:18 - Transition to Talent War Group 1:25:42 - Benefits of vets in corporate America and unique challenges they face 1:31:24 - What did you carry into combat? 1:35:20 - Would you do it again? 1:39:20 - Listener comments and shout outs To learn more about a Green Beret In Combat, learn more at: https://www.combatstory.com/ The video is all about a Green Beret In Combat but also covers the following subjects: - Green Berets Overcoming obstacles - Special Operations - Special Operations combat - Exchange programs with the Australian SASR and UK SAS - Multi-hour gun fights Something I noticed when I was looking for information on Green Berets In Combat was the lack of details. _________________________ Follow our video clips about Green Beret In Combat and various other similar topics on: Facebook: https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combatstory _________________________ If you were searching for more information about living in Green Beret In Combat did this video help? Possibly you want to comment below and let me understand what else I can assist you with or Green Beret In Combat.

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Today we hear our first Combat Story from a member of our close partners in New Zealand: Joe Hotai. Joe successfully completed not only the New Zealand SAS Selection and Training Course, but then (likely because he enjoys pain) also went on to complete the Australian SAS Selection and Training course. Joe then served in combat with the Australian SAS in direct action operations. [Support us on Patreon and get exclusive content and insights at www.patreon.com/combatstory] Since leaving the service, Joe overcame a childhood fear of putting himself out there and has created two podcasts (the Epich Podcast which explores people making a positive change in the world - and which he has graciously invited me to be on - and the Move Sweat Suffer Podcast which promotes a more healthy way of life). Joe has also co-founded the Mill Gym in Australia and is the founder of Zero Alpha, which puts on ultra endurance events combining some of the experiences from his time in Special Operations, and is also a consultant. His YouTube channel is full of pragmatic workouts that remind me of Pat Mac! Joe has an incredibly humble persona with a great sense of humor. In fact, he’s described himself as ‘imperfect, annoying, and striving to improve as a husband, father, and human being on a daily basis.” I hope you enjoy this interview of highs and lows and overcoming difficult situations from someone at the forefront of the Special Operations community, as much as I did. Find Joe Online: - Instagram @joehotai - Podcast Epich Aotearoa https://www.epichpodcast.co.nz - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/joehotai1936 - Move, Sweat, Suffer YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/movesweatsuffer - Zero Alpha https://www.zeroalpha.co.nz/ - Burpee Wear https://www.burpeewear.com/ - LinkedIn article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/putting-myself-yourself-out-joe-hotai/ Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Email [email protected] - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:07 - Guest Introduction (Joe Hotai) 2:31 - Interview begins 2:55 - Growing up in New Zealand and family dynamics 19:30 - The impact of not having a dad as a child 26:00 - Desire to join the military and special forces specifically 31:15 - Lacking confidence to speak up and a moment in basic training when he found his confidence 39:15 - If not the military what would you be doing? 47:29 -Experience with both New Zealand and Australian SAS selection and qual course 1:08:56 - The type of operations that come down the Australian SAS vs. New Zealand SAS 1:21:36 - How having a Maori (indigenous Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand) background came up during his time in the military 1:24 - Crazy story of Blackhawk crashing while he and his team were in it 1:26:38 - The emotions and mindset on his first deployment to Iraq at 25 1:35:19 - Combat Story - Having to troubleshoot and fix a Mk-19 while actively being shot at 2:04:05 - What he is doing today with his 2 podcasts 2:14: 28 - What did you carry into combat? 2:15:23 - Would you do it again? 2:20:37 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today we have a more timely Combat Story where we sit down with the head of the Ukrainian Come Back Alive Foundation, Taras Chmut. Come Back Alive provides financing for purely defense initiatives and since 2014, it has provided nearly 1000 thermal imaging devices and over 250 UAVs in addition to material support, technology, and training for the forces fighting the Russians on Ukrainian soil. Before stepping up to lead this organization, Taras was a Ukrainian Marine rifleman on the front lines in 2015 and then a commander of a reconnaissance unit with UAVs and signals intercept capabilities providing a better picture of the battlefield mainly near Mariupol (which we’ve heard so much about today). This, like our interviews with Aiden Aslin and Sergey Dyadkin, help shed light on what’s actually going on in this Russian invasion and give each of us a way to do something about it, this time in terms of providing support to this important foundation, which you can do at www.comebackalive.in.ua. We’ve conducted much of this interview through a translator named Alexander and I hope you appreciate this inside look from Kiev as much as I did. Find Taras Online: -Website https://www.comebackalive.in.ua/ -Twitter https://twitter.com/BackAndAlive @comebackalive -Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TarChmut -Instagram https://www.instagram.com/taras_chmut/ Fine Ryan Online: -Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory -Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ -Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory -Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial -Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial -Email [email protected] -Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus -Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:34 - Guest Introduction (Taras Chmut) 1:54 - Interview begins 2:26 - The meaning of his name and what it was like growing up in Ukraine 6:24 - Early interest in aviation 7:59 - Where he was in 2014 when he considers the Russia -Ukrainian actually started 11:12 - Path to the military 14:31 - Time with Ukraine Marines and trying to stop Russia from invading 21:18 - Transition to UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) platoon commander 26:52 - The types of missions he was doing with UAVs 31:47 -The Come Back Alive Foundation than and now 37:48 - Opinion of Zelenksy and the future of Ukraine 39:30 - What are you most proud of from the Come Back Alive Foundation? 41:46 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today we have a Combat Story first with our first Astronaut who spent over 377 days in space and completed 10 spacewalks (where he’s actually out in space in nothing but his suit): Chris Cassidy. Before he joined NASA, Chris was a Navy SEAL and was one of the very first sent into Afghanistan in 2001 after 9/11. There’s very little Chris has not accomplished. He attended the US Naval Academy, received a Master of Science in Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has two Honorary PhD's. As a SEAL, Chris earned a Bronze Star with Valor and a Presidential Unit Citation for combat in Afghanistan. He was NASA’s 14th Chief Astronaut, which is the head of NASA’s Astronaut Corps and is the principal advisor to the NASA Administrator on astronaut training and operations. Chris is incredibly humble given his accomplishments and it’s no surprise he is now President and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, where he’s leading efforts to build out an iconic Museum for MOH recipients, a Leadership Institute, and a Monument on the National Mall. I hope you enjoy this view from Space from such a down to Earth man as much as I did. Special thanks to previous guests Darrell Utt and Mike Hayes who helped us connect with Chris. Find Chris Online: -Instagram @astro_seal -Instagram @mohmuseum -MOH Museum Donation www.mohmuseum.org/donate Find Ryan Online: -To support Combat Story and get exclusive content, head to Patreon www.patreon.com/combatstory -Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory -Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ -Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory -Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial -Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial -Email [email protected] -Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus -Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:05 - Guest Introduction (Chris Cassidy) 2:31 - Interview begins 8:10 - Childhood and interest in military 19:18 - Path to SEAL Teams 25:20 - About his first SEAL Team, an underwater vehicle team 29:30 - Where he was when 911 happened and how SEAL Team 3 reposnded 38:19 - Combat Story - First time leading troops into an engagement 42:07 - Combat Story - Aha moment while on a mission in the caves of Afghan-Pakistan border 46:56 - Team dynamics in a small unit like a SEAL Team 52:09 - Leadership and the danger of complacency and overconfidence 54:24 - Transition to NASA 1:04:53 - First flight expereince as an astronaut 1:13:15 - First spacewalk experience 1:17:56 - Story of a hairy experience during a spacewalk mission 1:30:14 - Feeling privileged to do the work and the long-term fatigue that can happen 1:31:53 - National Medal of Honor Museum 1:40:56 - Dealing with setbacks along his path 1:43:05 - What did you carry into combat/space? 1:44:21 - Would you do it again? 1:45:46 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today we have a unique Combat Story and our first ever with an Afghan Special Operator, Farida Mohammadi, and one of her American trainers Taylor Holliday. Farida was a member of the elite Female Tactical Platoons (or FTPs which numbered fewer than 35) that we heard about in episode 68 with former Ranger Battalion operator Patrick Kinsella. Farida, like all FTPs, had to pass a rigorous special operations selection process and were trained in CQB, a variety of firearms, and tactics, just like their male counterparts. She then went into battle alongside Rangers, ODAs, and Afghan Special Forces to give you an idea of the level of expertise required. We’re also fortunate to have Taylor here to share parts of her story as a Cultural Support Team member (the FTP trainers) who not only trained women like Farida but who also went on the objective with Special Operations units. Taylor is a part of Sisters of Service, a non-profit formed by fellow CSTs to help evacuate Farida and other FTPs out of Afghanistan after everything fell apart and help them resettle in the US. It’s a selfless organization and I hope by the end of this interview you’ll find a way to contribute to their cause (and help women like Farida who were taking out HVTs in Afghanistan and now need to find a better life here in the US). I hope you enjoy this very special Combat Story with two very special operators as much as I did. #military #veteran Find Farida and Taylor Online: -Politico Article on FTPs: https://www.politico.com/interactives/2022/afghan-women-soldiers-taliban-us-refugees/ -Sisters of Service Website: www.sistersofservice.org Find Ryan Online: -To support Combat Story and get exclusive insights, head to Patreon www.patreon.com/combatstory -Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory -Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ -Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory -Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial -Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial -Email [email protected] -Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus -Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:54 - Guest Introduction (Farida Mohammadi and Taylor Holliday) 2:24 - Interview begins 7:37 - Growing up in Afghanistan with school 2 hours away, working on farm, and experiencing the Taliban 12:29 - Things Americans may not know about Afghanistan 15:02 - Why Farida joined the military even though it is not expected for women 18:21 - The type of work and missions FTPs would do 24:19 - Farida’s first combat experience as an FTP 27:28 - Taylor’s first combat expereince as a CST, serving women and children, and being nervous searching people 31:17 - Combat Story (Farida) - Being shot at by both Taliban and Afghanistan National Army while not having any ammunition 34:17 - Combat Story (Taylor) - Waking up to a firefight at the compound 36:30 - The burden and pressure of training FTPs to go into very dangerous missions 38:59 - The evacuation of Afghanistan 45:05 - Sisters of Service - Why they started and the work they are doing 50:26 - What did you carry into combat? 54:40 - Would you do it again? 55:36 - Letter from Patrick Kinsella about Farida as a soldier 59:51 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today we hear a Combat Story that I’ve been looking forward to for years. As many listeners know, I closely followed the war in Afghanistan immediately following 9/11 and revered the Green Berets who rode into combat on horseback to take America’s fight to the enemy. [Call to Action: Please refer your friends to www.trustsafetyinstitute.com if they're looking for high paying jobs where they can still help people and fight bad actors.] Today we hear from one of the very few men who was there, one of the Horse Soldiers as they’ve been called: Bob Pennington. Bob spent more than 30 years in the service, much of that with Special Forces, including kinetic operations in the Gulf War to one of the first teams on the ground in Afghanistan and more. He’s a Distinguished Member of the Special Forces Regiment and in the Georgia Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame. He and his Horse Soldier teammate Mark Nutsch have just released a book about their experiences in the days after 9/11 titled “Swords of Lightning: Green Beret Horse Soldiers and America's Response to 9/11.” And if his life can’t get any better, he and Mark are also principals in the company that produces Horse Soldier Bourbon. I hope you enjoy this inside look into what happened from 9/10 (the day before the world changed) through the some of the first operations on the ground in Afghanistan (and enjoy some of Bob’s celebrity moments given his representation as a key role in the movie 12 Strong) as much as I did. #military #veteran #greenberet #horsesoldier Find Bob Online: -Instagram - Horse Soldier Bourbon @horsesoldierbourbon https://www.instagram.com/horsesoldierbourbon/ -Bob’s Favorite Charities: Tunnels to Towers https://t2t.org/ and Land of the Free Foundation https://www.landofthefreefoundation.org/ Find Ryan Online: -To support Combat Story and get exclusive insights, head to Patreon www.patreon.com/combatstory -Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory -Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ -Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory -Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial -Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial -Email [email protected] -Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus -Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:42 - Guest Introduction (Bob Pennington) 2:07 – Thank you for supporting The Trust & Safety Institute 2:45 - Interview begins 4:02 - Meeting Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon for the 12 Strong movie 7:40 - Growing up with a father in the military and early interest in Green Berets 13:32 - Starting his career in Ranger Battalion after college 24:37 - Being a Warrant Officer in SF community 34:51 - Combat Story - Experience in the Gulf War 50:10 - Where he was when 9/11 happened 59:48 - Mindset at the time of 9/11 and being one of the teams picked for the mission in Afghanistan 1:12:45 - Combat Story - First operations on the ground in Afghanistan 1:38:31 - Swords of Lightning book backstory and information 1:43:42 - Horse Soldier Bourbon 1:49:42 - What did you carry into combat? 1:52:05 - Would you do it again? 1:54:11 - Help connect those who served with meaningful and great paying jobs after service 1:56:49 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today we hear the Combat Story of long-time Special Forces veteran, Ranger, and sniper Darrell Utt, who spent 26 years in the service, most of that in special operations across 10 deployments. Call to Action: For former military, government and law enforcement, if you're looking for a high paying and meaningful job, check out our Trust & Safety Institute at www.trustsafetyinstitute.com. Darrell tracked down PIFWICs (Persons Indicted for War Crimes) in Kosovo, was part of one of the craziest infils into Iraq you’ll ever hear, used a honeypot to lure out an HVT, developed a devastatingly effective HUMINT network, and led countless kill/capture operations, taking down dozens of HVTs and detaining hundreds of extremists and their leaders. What’s great about Darrell is that he always put himself in harm's way ahead of troops, which is not always the case. His ODA unit earned the coveted Larry Thorne award which goes to the best Special Forces unit for the work they did during one deployment to Iraq. Darrell himself earned the MG Robert T. Frederick “Top Operator” Award, which goes to the top Special Forces NCO. Since leaving the service, Darrell has taken on a role helping to build the future of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, which is on a mission to deliver “education, leadership, and inspiring spaces for learning and reflection, to preserve, share, and harness the stories, lives, and impact of Medal of Honor recipients.” I couldn’t imagine anyone better to represent the stories and lives of our Medal of Honor brethren than Darrell. I hope you enjoy this interview chalked full of creative and gut-wrenching combat stories as much as I did. Find Darrell Online: - National Medal of Honor Museum https://mohmuseum.org/ Find Ryan Online: - To support Combat Story and get exclusive insights, head to Patreon www.patreon.com/combatstory - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Email [email protected] - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:47 - Guest Introduction (Darrell Utt) 2:28 – Introducing The Trust & Safety Institute 3:17 - Interview begins 7:04 – Growing up in West Virginia from humble beginnings 13:16 – The significance of Camp Dawson training center in West Virginia 17:02 – Wanting to join the Marines and what led him to the Army 24:23 – Joining in 1990 as Light Infantry and feeling like he was missing out on Gulf War 27:36 – Tracking down PIFWICs (Persons Indicted for War Crimes) in Kosovo 39:04 - The transition into Special Forces ODA 42:52 - Combat Story #1 - Operation Ugly Baby in Iraq 59:58 - Combat Story #2 - Operation Thor's Hammer 1:16:04 - Combat Story #3 - Darrell’s “Happy to Be Alive” day story 1:49:30 - Combat Story #4 - Toughest day in Adhamiya ,Iraq in 2006 1:56:09 - Combat Story #5 - Carnage and violence in Adhamiya in 2007 1:59:49 - His work today with The Medal of Honor Foundation 2:07:08 - What did you carry into combat? 2:08:37 - Would you do it again? 2:11:28 - Help connect those who served with meaningful and great paying jobs after service 2:14:08 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today we hear a rare Combat Story from a long-time Delta Force Commander and operator, Pete Blaber, who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Somalia, Colombia, and Panama. Call to Action: For former military, government and law enforcement, if you're looking for a high paying and meaningful job, check out our Trust & Safety Institute.  Pete is an understated, humble, and soft spoken warrior leader who applies a commonsense approach to all of his decisions, to include those in combat. His decision to join the military came from studying centuries of warfare and how seemingly brilliant leaders made senseless decisions and wanting to avoid making the same mistakes. He spent most of his career in the special operations side of the Army from Ranger Battalion to Delta Force and then, after retiring, took on a role as a senior leader in a multi-billion dollar tech company. He has since written two books (The Mission, The Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander, and, more recently, The Common Sense Way: A New Way to Think About Leading and Organizing) that share the lessons he learned from leading in some of the most historic and high intensity conflicts in the past 35 years. I hope you enjoy this humble, understated, and unique perspective into the life and thinking of a Tier 1 operator and officer as much as I did. Find Pete Online: The Common Sense Way: A New Way to Think About Leading and Organizing  The Mission, The Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander  Instagram @blaberpete  Find Ryan Online: Trust & Safety Institute - Jobs/Careers, News, Training, Policies Patreon Community Combat Story Merch Ryan’s Linktree Instagram @combatstory Learn more about Ryan Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:55 - Guest Introduction (Pete Blaber) 2:02 – Introducing The Trust & Safety Institute 2:54 - Interview begins 3:14 - Childhood and the origins of the common sense perspective 7:16 - Being obsessed with military history as a kid and the impact it had 22:12 - Using notes from when he was deployed or in service to write his books 28:19 - If the military wasn't an option, what would you have done? 31:50 -  Story of navigation skills at work trying to escape a wild animal in pursuit 46:37 -  Path including Ranger Battalion, Infantry Offer, and Delta 49:29 - Combat Story #1 - First time in combat in Panama as a company commander in the military five years 1:05:33 - Formative time with Rangers and how it informed tactics as Company Commander and later with the Unit 1:10:05 - Combat Story #2 - Afghanistan mission from a leadership perspective 1:28:56 - The most rewarding point along the journey 1:38:38 - What did you carry into combat? 1:40:02 - Would you do it all again? 1:43:11 - Help connect those who served with meaningful and great paying jobs after service 1:45:49 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today we hear a very different Combat Story from Sergey Dyadkin, a Ukrainian patriot, Special Forces and Territorial Defense Force soldier fighting in Ukraine against Russia today.  Help support Combat Story on Patreon. We have a special segement from this interview only available on our Patreon at www.patreon.com/combatstory Sergey fought back some of the first Russian incursions into Kiev and was in the city of Schastia in eastern Ukraine just 20 miles from the Russian border when the shelling, tanks, and invasion began. He captured some of the first Russian prisoners of the war and, you’ll note in the discussion, treated them humanely, which we’ve seen is not the case for both sides in this war. We found Sergey thanks to Ryan Hendrickson, who many will recall from two previous Combat Story episodes where Ryan described having his leg mangled by an IED only to return to combat and earn a Silver Star. In true Ryan fashion, he voluntarily left the US and his life to help the people in Ukraine. While in Kiev, Ryan met Sergey and they connected over a shared Special Forces background. Sergey’s Special Forces operational tempo was so high that he was sent to the Territorial Defense Forces to escort humanitarian aid efforts as a break! I hope you enjoy this important and unique insight into the experiences of a frontline soldier fighting against Russia who, at such a young age, can differentiate between the Russian people and a Russian tyrant, who can already forgive, and who just wishes people could go back to a peaceful co-existence. You’ll notice we’re using a translator. Sergey speaks English but I wanted him to be able to express himself more in his native language. We’ve also got Ryan Hendrickson just off-screen for most of the interview helping provide some additional context as his and Sergey’s paths are now intertwined. For those listening and who aren’t watching the video on YouTube or Spotify, Sergey is sitting at his Army base and wearing his military fatigues with his weapon slung throughout the interview, reminding us that when the interview ended and we all go back to our lives, he went back to war. This is one I’ll never forget and I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. Find Ryan Online:  Patreon Community Combat Story Merch Ryan’s Linktree Instagram @combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial Send us messages Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes:  0:00 - Intro 0:51 - Guest Introduction (Sergey Dyadkin) 3:21 - Interview begins 4:27 - The role of the Territorial Defense Forces in the war in Ukraine 6:27 - Sergey as a kid growing up in Ukraine 12:40 - Training process to become Special Forces in Ukraine 16:12 -  Combat Story #1 - First time in combat with a reconnaissance unit 20:55 -  Combat Story #2 - Capturing some of the first Russian prisoners of the war 29:47 - What Sergey you like people to know about the experiences Ukrainian people 32:14 - What he thinks of President Zelensky 33:35 - We hear from Ryan Hendrickson 38:35 – Organizations that are helping and how to get involved 41:57 – Closing and special clip available on Combat Story Patreon

Today we hear an international Combat Story from Ray Klaassens, a Dutch Special Operator in the Commando Corps (KCT) and former Dutch General Intelligence Service (or AIVD) officer who spent years in combat zones fighting our very same enemies alongside American counterparts. [Join us on Patreon and become part of the Combat Story community at www.patreon.com/combatstory] Ray comes from very humble origins and the other side of the “canal” as he likes to say, overcoming so much to reach the pinnacle of intelligence and military units. Both KCT and AIVD, if you ask any American who served alongside them (including myself), are elite units that many of us would happily go down range with. Since leaving the service, Ray overcame even greater odds to create his company, Triangular Group, that provides de-risking and intelligence services for clients globally. I hope you enjoy this international Combat Story from humble roots to true success in military, intel, and business as much as I did.  Find Ray Online: Ray's Linktree  Instragram @rayklaassens  Find Ryan Online: Patreon Community Combat Story Merch Ryan’s Linktree Instagram @combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial Send us messages Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes:  0:00 - Intro 1:22 - Guest Introduction (Ray Klaassens) 2:21 - Interview begins 5:11 Growing up poor in the Netherlands 17:47 The process for becoming an officer in the Dutch military 24:44 About the different Dutch Special Forces and the KCT 33:07 What it was like in the Netherlands on 9/11 and how his commando training changed 38:14 Leading a team down range with very little intel 54:01 Story of engaging with a drunk guy in Afghanistan in order to get some information 56:37 Leading a team to find someone placing IEDs on the full moon 1:05:45 Switching from Special Forces to Intel Services AIBD as a secret service 1:20:50 Exiting Intel Services, starting the Triangular Group, and what they are doing today 1:33:47 - What did you carry into combat? 1:35:01 - Would you do it all again? 1:36:17 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today we hear an incredible Combat Story of Mike Sarraille, former Marine Recon and a SEAL Team leader who served 20 years in the special operations community, earning a Silver Star, multiple Bronze Stars with Valor, and more. He was also part of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (or DEVGRU). NOTE: We have just launched our Patreon. Join our Combat Story community at https://www.patreon.com/combatstory Mike served in multiple leadership roles to include the Battles of Ramadi and Sadr City, to name just a few. Since retiring from service, Mike founded and is the CEO of Talent War Group, a specialized executive search firm and talent advisory; he’s co-author of ‘The Talent War: How Special Operations and Great Organizations Win on Talent’ and is the face of Men’s Journal’s ‘The Everyday Warrior.’ I stumbled across Mike when I saw posts about a recent expedition to the Himalayas where he did six free fall jumps over Mount Everest. Mike is a very, very humble but distinguished warrior leader and I hope you enjoy this insightful deep dive into the life of a Tier 1 and private sector operator and leader as much as I did. Find Mike Online: Mike’s Linktree  Mike on Instagram @mr.sarraille  ATTA Instagram @live_atta   Talent War Group Instagram @talentwargroup  Find Ryan Online: Patreon Community Combat Story Merch Ryan’s Linktree Instagram @combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial Send us messages Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:31 - Guest Introduction (Mike Sarraille) 2:34 - Interview begins 3:02 – Skydiving at Mt. Everest after retiring from the military 10:51 – Childhood in the Bay Area, joining the Marines, and what drew him to the SEALs 24:26 – How the leadership and examples set by the military motivated him and gave him direction 33:36 – Differences in BUDS and Marine Recon training 38:52 - Story of an experience with Johnny Kim and making a snap judgment while in training 45:10 - First experience in combat isolating and containing the Ramadi hospital where Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was 53:50 – Being a Marine liaison (LNO) 55:31 – The importance of preparedness in leadership 1:01:23 – A hard lesson learned after deviating from procedure 1:13:35 – What he is doing today with his different companies, his book, and talent development 1:23:40 Shared Adversity and After Action Reviews (AAR) in the corporate environment 1:34:00 - What did you carry into combat? 1:35:49 - Would you do it all again? 1:37:15 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today we hear the Combat Story of Travis Norby, who commanded a mechanized infantry company in Iraq early in the war.   [NOTE: We're launching on Patreon NEXT WEEK. Register to get notified at https://www.combatstory.com/patreon]    Travis is a long-time Combat Story listener who reached out to see if his non-special ops story would be worth our listener’s time. As many of our most dedicated listeners know, as you write to me about this, we get many requests to share the stories of conventional soldiers and officers and what life was like for them while the Tier 1 and 2 units were running raids at night.    This combat story delivers on what I believe is a very common experience for so many infantry officers in terms of how you lose soldiers and still show up, how you motivate people to keep going in the face of unending days of attacks, and how you lead with the soldier in mind and not your own career advancement.   Travis’ stories of leadership and loss give us unique insight into the world of an Infantry officer fighting in the post-9/11 era and I hope you enjoy this raw and very real Combat Story as much as we did. Find Travis Online:  Instagram @travisjnorby    Find Ryan Online: Combat Story Merch Ryan’s Linktree Instagram @combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial Send us messages Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:34 - Guest Introduction (Travis Norby) 2:33 - Interview begins 5:45 - Growing up on a farm in Montana 12:11- How the military entered the picture for Travis 22:18 - Joining and early days pre 911 32:41 - Where he was when 911 happened 37:37 - Going over to Iraq from Korea and being a staff guy on the FOB 43:38 - What changed his mind when he was ready to get out of the army but took company commander position instead 51:46 - The company structure and equipment at his disposal 54:03 - Combat Story #1 - First combat experience and having to take over for prior leadership 1:02:22 – Combat Story #2 - A goose chase 1:06:29 Combat Story #3 - Emotional story losing one of his guys 1:24:11 - The historic significance of his deployment from Korea to Iraq and the importance of conventional officers 1:28:23 - What did you carry into combat? 1:30:17 - Would you do it all again? 1:30:55 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Patrick Kinsella and his five deployments with 1st Ranger Battalion to Iraq and Afghanistan. [NOTE: We're launching on Patreon soon. Register to get notified at https://www.combatstory.com/patreon] Not only do we get to hear of Patrick’s first hand combat experience, which includes nighttime raids on HVTs and Mi-17 crashes, but he also gives us a glimpse into one of the most interesting and relatively unheard of group of special operators in the war: the Afghan Army’s Female Tactical Platoons (FTP). Patrick spent years fighting in Afghanistan but found his time training and leading the brave women of the FTPs to be the most rewarding. The FTPs were Afghan women who volunteered to go through special operations training and selection programs, from basic marksmanship to fast roping to explosives training and more, and who would go out in the darkness with US Special Operations Forces on target. Patrick continues to support the women of the FTPs who were evacuated from Afghanistan in 2021 to help them find a place in the US and share their incredible stories. We’ll share some resources to help these women who sacrificed so much for us to make a life here in the US now. I hope you enjoy this selfless Combat Story about so much more than just one man as much as I did. If you’d like to support these brave and selfless women of the FTP, you can go to www.sistersofservice.org. Find Patrick Online:  Instagram @pkins175 https://www.instagram.com/pkins175/   Sisters of Service https://sistersofservice.org/ Find Ryan online: Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:57 - Guest introduction (Patrick Kinsella) 2:17 - Interview begins 6:26 - Growing up on military bases and an early love of wildlife 9:52 - Becoming interested in joining the military and choosing the Army 20:47 - Funny story of Patrick’s first operation downrange with 1st Battalion 29:02 - What the Ready Room was like where he was located 31:08 - Combat Story #1 - An ambush at an Iraqi checkpoint and feeling like someone was watching over them 39:49 - First deployment to Afghanistan working with a Delta team and the scariest thing that happened to him in his military career 52:08 - Combat Story #2 - A gunfight and a chase with dogs employed in Afghanistan 1:02:55 - The call to get out and knowing when you are not going to re-enlist 1:04:41 - Afghan Army’s Female Tactical Platoons (FTP) - Patrick’s experience fighting alongside and then later recruiting and training the women 1:17:10 - Why this experience was so rewarding for him 1:24:08 - How people can help and make a positive impact on these women’s lives today 1:29:05 - What did you carry into combat? 1:30:33 - Would you do it all again? 1:37:07 - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today we take a historical look at the Battle of Actium, a huge naval battle off the coast of Greece that determined the future of what we know as the Roman Empire.    We welcome Cornell University’s Professor Barry Strauss back to the podcast to bring another epic battle to life (listeners will remember him from our deep dive into the life of a well known Spartan warrior named Brasidas).    Barry is a Professor of History and Classics at Cornell University, Series Editor of Princeton’s Turning Points in Ancient History, author of eight books, and a military and naval historian and consultant.  Professor Strauss is a recognized authority on the subject of leadership and the lessons that can be learned from the experiences of the greatest political and military leaders of the ancient world (Caesar, Hannibal, Alexander among many others).    This particular battle and the lead up to it involved some of the iconic names we’ve all heard from history like Cleopatra, Mark Anthony, Octavian Cesar, and Julius Cesar. We also learn about Rome’s most decorated Naval Commander, Admiral Agrippa and how he defeats a numerically superior force. Barry’s newest book “The War that Made the Roman Empire” brings this battle and the personalities to life.   Those who appreciate our combat stories will enjoy hearing about how battles were fought on the open sea at this time and some of the tactics that each side had to use. While some of the military tactics have changed, the overarching military, political, and diplomatic strategy have not, to include the use of information warfare.    I hope you enjoy this combat story from history as much as I did.   Find Barry Online: Website https://barrystrauss.com/ Author of The War that Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium  Facebook  Twitter @barrystrauss  Podcaster, ANTIQUITAS: Leaders and Legends of the Ancient World Find Ryan Online Combat Story Merch Ryan’s Linktree Instagram @combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial Send us messages Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:19 - Guest and topic introduction (Barry Strauss) 1:33 - Interview begins 2:27 -  Working at Cornell and how this book came to be 4:25 – Background on the time period, the Roman Empire, and the part of the world the battle takes place 10:51 The historical personalities – Cleopatra, Mark Antony, and Octavian 26:12 - Can we trust the history books? 27:51 - The important military figure, Admiral Agrippa 31:09 - The naval battle and strategy of Naval warfare 38:16 - Tactical decisions made by both sides 40:26 - How the battle evolved and happened in just one day 46:52 -Surprising findings while doing research 51:04  - Listener comments and shout outs

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Today we hear a special Combat Story of one of the military’s most revered leaders who many have never heard of (but should). This is the experience of retired Colonel Bill Ostlund, a beloved mentor and leader developer who served 35 years in the Army working his way up from a private and growing into combat command in some of the bloodiest fighting of any unit in the post-9/11 era. [NOTE: We're launching on Patreon soon. Register to get notified at https://www.combatstory.com/patreon] Bill’s command in Kunar Province, recounted countless times in dozens of books including Sebastian Junger’s War and the documentary Restrepo, resulted in over 400 awards for valor and three Medals of Honor (all living honorees). This episode is an embarrassment of riches for those who want to know what real leadership looks like; what the Burden of Command actually means; how you show up after losing a soldier six hours into a 15 month deployment; or leading joint SpecOps task forces with Delta, DEVGRU, 160th, and other Tier 1 elements over thousands of operations. Bill Ostlund will remind so many listeners of Todd Opalski in how he cared for and treated his soldiers and explains why, so many years later, his soldiers and officers still seek his advice as they step into greater roles of responsibility in the military and their personal lives. I’m honored to have had a chance to spend this time with what so many think of as the pinnacle of battlefield leadership and hope you enjoy this Combat Story on leadership as much as I did. Find Ryan Online Combat Story Merch Ryan’s Linktree Instagram @combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial Send us messages Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:40 - Guest introduction (Bill Ostlund) 1:31 - Interview begins 3:44 - The jump into Iraq in March 2003 with almost 1000 paratroopers 12:09 - Bill’s perspective on the current conflict in Ukraine 17:32 - Childhood and getting into the military 42:19 - Combat Story #1 - Lightning in the Storm Air Assault and leadership lessons learned 1:06:49 - Instilling expectation in his soldiers and his love of soldiers 1:26:57 - Combat Story #2 – Troops in Contact 6 hours into 15 month mission after just taking command 1:37:08 - Awards process and how combat provides a unique opportunity for leaning and growth 1:49:30 Combat Story #3 - Battle of Wanat 2:08:48 – Feeling about now having a son in the military 2:10:09 - What did you carry into combat/interrogations? 2:11:41 - Would you do it all again? 2:15:23 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Jim Horn, former Marine Corps Platoon and Company Commander and 25 year FBI Agent. [We're launching on Patreon soon. Register to get notified at https://www.combatstory.com/patreon] Jim did two tours in Vietnam surviving near death experiences on several occasions. He earned a Silver Star in a company on company-level battle on remote hilltops fighting suicide attackers, recoiless rifles, rockets, and calling in danger close rounds and air strikes. After the Marine Corps, Jim went onto a fascinating career in the field as an FBI Agent that included work with SWAT, a violent crime profiler, and leading the Bureau’s trauma program. Jim doesn’t hold back when sharing the special bonds he experienced with his fellow Marines holding the line in these profound but common battles so far from home and I hope you enjoy these down-to-earth and Oklahoman stories as much as I did. Special thanks to Combat Story listener Terry B for suggesting Jim as a guest on the show. Find Ryan Online  Combat Story Merch  Ryan’s Linktree Instagram @combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial Send us messages Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:40 - Guest introduction (Jim Horn) 1:31 - Interview begins 1:58 - How his dad’s guilt over not serving in World War II influenced his decision fight in the Vietnam War 18:57 - Shipping out to Vietnam and immediately becoming a platoon leader 35:01 - Combat Story #1- First time in combat and taking in the arm from friendly fire 38:27 - The three things that you need to lead Marines 44:42 - A tough first tour and survivor’s guilt 50:22 - The incredible leadership and Marines he fought with 1:00:57 - Combat Story #2 - Silver Star event 1:16:35 - The perceptual distortion that happens in combat 1:31:13 - Jim’s time in the FBI and what makes a great profiler 1:45:48- What did you carry into combat/interrogations? 1:48:30 - Would you do it all again? 1:55:16 - Listener comments and shout outs

Today we hear the Combat Story of James Rosone, best known as a bestselling author but who also interrogated terrorists in Iraq on the frontlines before picking up the pen.  [NOTE: We're launching on Patreon soon. Register to get notified at https://www.combatstory.com/patreon] James was “inside the booth” conducting tactical interrogations down range and feeding intel on dangerous routes, IED makers, and High Value Targets to coalition forces (up to Tier 1) on a daily basis. Like so many vets, he dealt with the deep regret of feeling like he didn’t do enough and, for years, accepting the blame when an American lost an arm breaching a target he developed or worse, losing a life on the objective. After leaving the service, James found his calling as an author, in part as a way to handle his PTSD. We talk about his experiences with psychedelics and other treatment options he used to keep his demons at bay. He’s gone on to write 26 books ranging from a memoir titled Interview with a Terrorist to his well known military and espionage thrillers like the Monroe Doctrine. He’s now sharing his writing experience with other vets to help them become successful authors. I hope you enjoy this deep dive into the world of an interrogator at the height of the surge to becoming a wildly successful author as much as I did. Find James online:  Books by James Rosone  Facebook Rosone and Watson  Find Ryan online: Ryan’s Linktree  Instagram @combatstory  Facebook @combatstoryofficial  Send us messages Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan  Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show  Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:18 - Guest introduction (James Rosone) 2:30 - Interview begins 11:20 - Early experience in the Guard and the moment after 9/11 he knew he would go active duty 23:57 - The interrogation opportunity comes and training experience 39:09 -  Traits that make a really good interrogator 41:46 - What happens after an interrogation 48:59 - What an interrogator does to prep 54:50 - First interrogation experience 1:02:55 - The responsibility felt to people outside the wire 1:17:19 - The dynamic on the FOB 1:22:23 - The biggest case he ever had and false flag interrogation 1:30:23 - His toughest case interrogating a 15 year old kid 1:44:43 - Facing demons and PTSD after coming home 1:51:43 – His first book and how pouring himself into writing helped 2:02:21 - Trying alternative treatments like psychedelics for PTSD 2:17:02 - What James is working on now 2:22:51- What did you carry into combat/interrogations? 2:25:00 - Would you do it all again? 2:34:23 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Karl Erickson, a long time Green Beret, expert sniper, and retired Sergeant Major, who deployed pre- and post-9/11, including into Afghanistan just after the Twin Towers fell to hunt Bin Laden. [NOTE: We're launching on Patreon soon. Register to get notified at https://www.combatstory.com/patreon] After the military, Karl took his decades of teaching as a Green Beret into the civilian world and has a huge online following for his Tactical Rifleman brand and I can see why. In this episode, we dive into the deep, deep details of being a sniper in combat, to include taking a sniper shot at night just before breaching a target (scopes, windage, aerodynamics, countdowns for simultaneous shots, round selection, and more), which is just a glimpse of what he shares with his followers online. Karl is a natural born storyteller and I know you’ll enjoy this hilarious and deeply technical Combat Story as much as I did. Find Karl online: Instagram @tactical_rifleman  Twitter @TacRifleman  Facebook  TacticalRifleman.com  Find Ryan online: Ryan’s Linktree  Merch  Instagram @combatstory  Facebook @combatstoryofficial  Send us messages or email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan  Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:38 - Guest introduction (Karl Erickson) 1:30 - Interview begins 6:15 – Making Sergeant Major and being an Operator at Headquarters 15:38 - Childhood as self-proclaimed “juvenile delinquent” and when he knew he wanted to be a Green Beret 30:3 - How the lack of mentor influenced his career path 40:31 - What makes a good sniper 44:15 - Feelings in Desert Storm 53:58 - Combat Story #1 - Gunfight in Afghanistan 1:07:20 - Technical description of shooting with a suppressor 1:10 - Shooting in the dark 1:14:38 - First time having somebody in a scope for real 1:20:42 - Combat Story #2 1:39:28: - About Tactical Rifleman project 1:55:11- What did you carry into combat? 1:56:24 - Would you do it all again? 2:01:14 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear a special Combat Story of Edward Fugit, my old man, who flew Hueys in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia just after the Tet Offensive. [NOTE: We're launching on Patreon soon. Register to get notified at https://www.combatstory.com/patreon] This is a special edition for me personally as long time listeners have heard me refer to my old man and his stories and our similar career paths on several occasions. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do this interview given how close it was to home and I’m so glad I did. From a very young age I remember hearing these stories of my dad in the cockpit and vividly remember looking at his Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross on the mantle, wearing his green flight suit when I played Army, and then hugging him before I shipped out to my own war as a combat aviator. His experiences in Vietnam will sound like something from Hollywood’s We Were Soldiers where green but determined young aviators flew into hot LZs time and again risking everything for their ground brethren. We also touch on what it was like flying SOG into combat zones on operations nobody would hear about for decades and what it was like to be at the negotiating table as a diplomat with Kissinger at the height of the Cold War in Moscow. I really hope you enjoy this close to home Combat Story with a real hero of mine that was then edited by his grandson. Find Ryan online: Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes  0:00 - Intro 1:06 - Guest introduction (Ed Fugit) 2:22 - Interview begins 2:59 - Growing up in NJ and early interest in political science 7:43 - A family history in the military 12:31 - When and how aviation came into the picture 20:10 - A “never quit anything” mentality 22:12 - Flight school experience 27:57 - Feelings going in to Vietnam within the units and that moment in American history 36:36 - Differences in how the Army was structured at that time vs. today 47:37 - The three kinds of missions in Vietnam 53:23 - Combat Story #1 - Silver Star operation in Vietnam 1:09:02 - Intense Special Ops missions with SOG and 1st Airmobile Division 1:31:12 - Combat Story #2 – Incident that made the front of the New York Times 1:50:08 - Combat Story #3 - DFC event 1:58:35 - Stories from time in state department 2:05:48 - Going back to Vietnam in 2017 and thoughts about sons joining the 2:13: - What did you carry into combat? 2:14:16 - Would you do it all again? 2:17:11 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Aiden Aslin, a UK citizen who deployed multiple times into conflict zones to fight ISIS in Syria and Russia in Ukraine. [NOTE: We're launching on Patreon soon. Register to get notified at https://www.combatstory.com/patreon] Aiden was not part of the British military. He simply decided the people in Syria being terrorised by ISIS needed more support and found a way to get down range to help. During his multiple deployments into Syria fighting with other westerners against ISIS and nearly dying, Aiden had been following events in Ukraine. He again decided, instead of sitting safely in the UK, to step up and fight for people who needed help. Today, Aiden is officially part of the Ukrainian military. We had to record this particular interview quickly before Aiden deployed to the frontlines again, where he is now. His Instagram account (cossackgundi) is worth a look too where’s amassed 20K followers and describes himself as a “British guy Rocking it out in the Ukrainian marines” with what he calls “Warzone Photography” and “Conflict news”. I hope you enjoy this humble and understated Combat Story of someone who left everything behind to help others in two vastly different conflicts as much as I did. Find Aiden online: Instagram @cossackgundi https://www.instagram.com/cossackgundi/ Twitter @cossackgundi https://mobile.twitter.com/cossackgundi Find Ryan online: Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:50 - Guest introduction (Aiden Aslin) 1:56 - Interview begins 2:16  - Current location and mindset getting ready for another deployment 5:04  - Childhood and working with adults with special needs 11:55 - Leaving safety and social work to go to Syria 19:46 - Deciding to go to war and getting into Syria 34:19 - Training and first time on the frontline making contact with enemy 41:03  - Combat Story #1 First real contact and feeling positive after the outcome 45:52  - Combat Story #2 A friendly fire incident that left him with panic attacks 1:05:31 - Returning to Syria despite traumatic experiences 1:11:35 - Combat Story #2 Ukraine conflict and joining Ukrainian Marines 1:25:32 - What did you carry into combat? 1:26:13 - Would you do it all again? 1:28:47 - Advice for someone considering this type of path 1:32:57 - Listener comments and shout outs 

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the remarkable Combat Story of Derek Herrera, a former Marine Special Operator who led Marines in Iraq, Haiti, the Middle East and Afghanistan. While on a MARSOC operation in Afghanistan, he was shot and paralyzed. [NOTE: We're launching on Patreon soon. Register to get notified at https://www.combatstory.com/patreon] Derek is another one of these guys that just makes you feel lazy and that he has more time in a day than you do. Rather than give up after being injured, he medically retired from the Corps and has achieved significant success while continuing to serve others. He’s the President of the Board of Directors of the Marine Raider Foundation, Chairman of the Board of MedTechVets, founder of Habit Camera and UroDev Medical (formerly Spinal Singularity), a keynote speaker, and host of the FORWARD podcast. Derek is the real deal who spends all his time putting others ahead of himself and I know you’ll enjoy his inspiring Combat Story as much as I did. Find Derek Online:    His Linktree has a ton of online links: https://linktr.ee/derekherrera Instagram @derek_herrera https://www.instagram.com/derek_herrera/?hl=en LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekherrera/ Find Ryan Online:   Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial   Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected]  Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus   Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:41 - Guest introduction (Derek Herrera) 1:37 - Interview begins 3:31  - Having an entrepreneurial spirit since childhood 9:32 – A military family and wanting to be a Navy Seal 13:28 - The Navy Seal selection process and not making it 21:08 - Mindset going into the Marine Corps 28:06 - First deployment primarily doing raids in Iraq 40:23 - A full-circle moment helping the Navy Seals as a Marine 45:11 - Deciding to go the Special Ops route in the Marines 53:52 - First and only deployment as Special Operator in Afghanistan and what his missions were like 1:04:58 Combat Story – The operation that changed his life and left him paralyzed from the chest down 1:12:58 - Reaction to learning he was paralyzed and how he found a way to stay in military 1:18:53 - Deciding to transition out of the military and finding passion and purpose in business 1:27:44 – The Marine Raider Foundation 1:35:18 - What did you carry into combat? 1:37:24 - Would you do it all again? 1:39:44 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Sean “Buck” Rogers, a former Green Beret who served multiple deployments with various units, including 10th Special Forces Group, after escaping an incredibly difficult and harsh childhood.    [NOTE: We're launching on Patreon soon. Register to get notified at https://www.combatstory.com/patreon]   Buck transitioned to 19th Special Forces Group and eventually joined the law enforcement ranks, including time with SWAT.   Since leaving the military and law enforcement, Sean has written a best selling book titled ‘Rising Above: A Green Beret's Story of Childhood Trauma and Ultimate Healing’, became an ultramarathoner, founded the FNG Academy, and now produces content and leads a community trying to help other aspiring special operations candidates succeed in selection and the Special Forces and Special Operations worlds.    Buck is working on getting his second book published and has several interesting irons in the fire that we touch on in this episode.    I hope you enjoy this real and raw Combat Story with someone who’s overcome so much and maintains an overwhelmingly positive attitude as much as I did.   Guest Online Information Instagram @seanbuckrogers YouTube  Website  Book Rising Above Ryan Online Information Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:56 - Guest introduction (Sean Buck Rogers) 1:56 - Interview begins 2:11 - Origin of his call sign, “Buck” 11:30 - Sean’s traumatic and impactful childhood 27:59 - The events that lead to him signing up and his unconventional path to Special Forces Selection 41:39 - First time in Afghanistan at base but not yet in gunfight 46:36 - First time outside the wire and a glimpse of how Green Berets operate 52:43 - Combat Story #1 – Example of challenges Green Berets face working with commandos 1:03:35 - Combat Story #2 – High-pressure negotiation in the field with the Afghan commandos 1:07:13 - Combat Story #3 - Feeling like he’s being watched and narrowly missing an IED 1:11:09 - Combat Story #4 – The high speed action he signed up for 1:16:38 - The origin and mission of FNG podcast and YouTube channel 1:24:43 - Process for making an FNG video and Sean’s favorite videos 1:31:35 - Writing the book “Rising Above” and what his new book will be about 1:37:09 - Mentors and father figures 1:40:00 - What did you carry into combat? 1:42:17 - Would you do it all again? 1:43:31 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Brad Thomas, a former Ranger and Delta Force operator who fought in multiple theaters from Somalia to Bosnia to Iraq and Afghanistan, including 12 years at the Unit in the pre- and post-9/11 era. [NOTE: We're launching on Patreon soon. Register to get notified at https://www.combatstory.com/patreon] Brad gave up a promising musical career to serve, first with Ranger Battalion and then finding his way into Delta Force. His first combat experience was in Mogadishu in what we know as Black Hawk Down as part of 3rd Ranger Battalion in a true baptism by fire. Since leaving the military, Brad returned to his passion: music. He gathered a group of veterans who now make up the band “Silence and Light” and saw far more success than they expected on their debut album and are releasing their second album in the near future. Since Brad can’t help but go all in on everything he does, he and the band donate their profits to two veteran-focused charities: Marine Raider Foundation and Warriors Heart. It’s not often you get to sit down and hear directly from someone who spent years at the Tier 1 level and survived Mogadishu so I hope you enjoy this Combat Story and brief glimpse into that world as much as I did. Find Brad Online:   Instagram @bradthomas_official  Silence and Light Website  Ryan Online Information Ryan’s Linktree  Instagram @combatstory  Facebook @combatstoryofficial  Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle #military #veteran #deltaforce #specialoperations Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:49 - Guest introduction for Brad Thomas 1:54 - Interview begins 2:09 - The prevalence of musicians and artists in the Elite Units 4:40 - What sparked Brad’s interest in music as a kid 25:18 - Joining and knowing he wanted to be elite 38:05 - The path to Ranger School 45:48 - Going outside the wire for the first time in Mogadishu 54:25 - Reaction to the Black Hawk Down movie and what it was like for Brad 1:09:04 - Going back out the gate again 1:16:18 - The days following October 3 in Mogadishu 1:23:30 - Transition after Mogadishu 1:33:59 - Going back into combat after Mogadishu 1:37:28 - Funny story about goofing around with the team 1:39:59 - What Brad is doing now with music 1:55:24 - What did you carry into combat? 1:56:40 - Would you do it all again? 1:59:05 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Kim “KC” Campbell, a retired Air Force Colonel and A-10 Fighter Pilot.  NOTE: Combat Story is launching a Patreon account later this month. Sign-up here: https://www.combatstory.com/patreon Kim racked up over 1.8K flight hours in the Warthog; 375 of those in combat across more than 100 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.  She also has one of the coolest call signs ever: Killer Chick.  For anyone who’s been on the ground and seen an A-10 on a gun run, you can understand why so many ground pounders love this platform. For Apache pilots, the A-10 is our fixed wing cousin and we feel a very close affinity with this incredible machine.  Outside the cockpit, Kim led the Air Force Academy’s Center for Character and Leadership Development and, since retiring, has carried that expertise to the private sector where she provides leadership development training and team engagement.  She’s also a keynote and motivational speaker.  Kim, like many fighter pilots, is driven, dedicated, and successful. She’s delivered rounds on target in heated battles and narrowly avoided death, including being hit with a Surface to Air Missile.  I hope you enjoy this insightful Combat Story from the cockpit of THE Killer Chick as much as I did.   Find Kim Online:   Website  LinkedIN  Twitter @kchawg987 Ryan Online Information Ryan’s Linktree  Instagram @combatstory  Facebook @combatstoryofficial  Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan  Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:01 - Guest introduction (Kim “KC” Campbell) 2:10 - Interview begins 2:46 - Origin of her fighter pilot call sign 7:30 - Early years and what enamored her with flight 12:55 - Why Air Force Academy? 18:18 - Choosing her aircraft 22:14 - Where she was on 911 and how it changed her training 24:43 - Going to Afghanistan immediately after training 27:23 - A quiet first combat mission in Afghanistan 34:48 - Firing from the A-10 for the first time 44:05 - Combat Story #1  - First kinetic operation in Iraq 50:30 - Combat Story #2 - The mission that was a defining moment 1:18:18 -  Combat Story #3 - In combat as a flight lead 1:29:47 - Leadership development, team building, and powerful leadership advice 1:40:22 - What did you carry into combat? 1:44:31 - Would you do it all again? 1:46:07 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

This is a special crossover episode where Combat Story's Ryan Fugit was interviewed on The Team House by Jack Murphy (Combat Story Episode #13 https://youtu.be/ScqnGbPSfhY) and David Parke (Combat Story Episode #53 https://youtu.be/CmmGixV06rc). So many people have asked to hear Ryan's story and he was waiting for the right interviewer. It only seemed right to have the Team House do the honors and it did not disappoint! I hope you enjoy this deep dive into Ryan's background growing up, combat in Afghanistan, and CIA ops. Find Ryan online: Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today, we hear the second part of the fascinating Combat Story of Firat Batman, a Swedish citizen from Kurdish roots who left his relatively quiet and safe life in Sweden to join the YPG and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to fight ISIS.    [Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Loansteady LLC. A small-by-design lender, Loansteady believes in bringing a much-needed dose of humanity to the mortgage process. They are waiving all lender fees for Veterans in 2021. Visit http://www.loansteady.com/combatstory to request a rate quote or start an application. Loansteady LLC, All rights reserved, NMLS# 1701910, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/), Equal Housing Lender. For more licensing information, please visit https://www.loansteady.com/licenses-and-legal]   We left off in Part 1 when Firat returns to Sweden from Syria following his first deployment just after experiencing the carnage of walking through a town that had been recently abandoned by ISIS, including the blood stains on the walls where groups were executed and rooms that reeked of dead bodies left to rot.   In Sweden, Firat, like many veterans, has difficulty assimilating back into regular life and hears of a friend who passed away fighting in Syria.    This second round is all about Firat’s subsequent journeys back to the frontlines and the experiences fighting an enemy that would rather blow themselves up then surrender. I hope you enjoy this Combat Story as much as I did. Find Firat Online: Instagram @tactikurdbruh Find Ryan Online:  Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:50 - A word from our Sponsor (LoanSteady) 2:19 - Guest introduction (Firat Batman) 3:18 - Interview begins 4:29 - Emotions after coming home from first rotation 10:21 - News of losing his friend expediting his return to the fight 16:23 - What it was like to go back to the frontlines 19:28 - Difference in mindset coming back vs the first time 32:06 -  Combat Story #1 First engagement after coming back 39:19 - Hearing guys dying or close to it via radio 49:17 - Moving between lines to bring support and treat people medically 1:00:33 - Combat Story #2 Intense engagement while bringing support to others 1:15:50 - Funny story about talking to enemy from shelter across the line 1:18:48 - A direct experience and description of ISIS armies 1:21:25 - The only 2 people captured by ISIS and survived 1:27:40 - Protecting people you love from going into combat 1:3524 - What did you carry into combat? 1:37:01 - Would you do it all again? 1:41:41 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today, we hear the Combat Story of Firat Batman, a Swedish citizen from Kurdish roots who spent years with the YPG and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting one of the most vile terrorist groups of our time: ISIS.    [Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Loansteady LLC. A small-by-design lender, Loansteady believes in bringing a much-needed dose of humanity to the mortgage process. They are waiving all lender fees for Veterans in 2021. Visit http://www.loansteady.com/combatstory to request a rate quote or start an application. Loansteady LLC, All rights reserved, NMLS# 1701910, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/), Equal Housing Lender. For more licensing information, please visit https://www.loansteady.com/licenses-and-legal.]   I found Firat when his friend, another Swede turned freedom fighter named Mike, reached out. Mike’s introductory email sums up Firat perfectly:    “I am writing you for a friend of mine who would never reach out but his story is amazing. He spent years fighting ISIS in Syria with the YPG. He is not a war tourist!! He left Sweden for Syria after ISIS murdered his cousins and uncle in Syria.”   Firat fought alongside coalition forces on the front lines liberating cities from ISIS control. He did this, however, with very few resources, training, ammunition, funding, and support. What he witnessed in terms of ISIS brutality is horrific and has left its scars.  He has an amazing story that will inspire anyone who wonders how you can change your life and do something about the evil things in this world.    I hope you enjoy this Combat Story as much as I did.  This is the first in a two part interview with Firat to make sure we spend sufficient time in his multiple deployments.   Find Firat Online:  Instagram @tactikurdbruh   Find Ryan online:   Ryan’s Linktree  Instagram @combatstory  Facebook @combatstoryofficial  Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:01 - A word from our Sponsor (LoanSteady) 2:27 - Guest introduction (Firat Batman) 4:01 - Interview begins 4:35 - Early family life living in Sweden with Kurdish background 10:03 - Being an immigrant and having family in Syria when ISIS formed 14:34 - The personal experience that draws you into the military 21:53 - A memorable ride to the airport to deploy 29:59 - Writing a letter to your mom in case you don’t come back 33:56 - Arriving in Kurdistan, the land of his people, for the first time 39:05 - Going straight to the Syrian border after just arriving in Iraq 56:34 - Initial training experiences 1:15:13 - The first time he was told to bring his weapon and be ready 1:21:18 – First time in contact and what it was like to see ISIS remains 1:27:18 – Lead up to his first major operation 1:34:14 - First conflict with ISIS 1:46:33 – The carnage ISIS left behind 1:57:39 - What it was like going back home to Sweden for the first time 2:01:40 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of David Parke, a former Army Ranger and Sniper Team Leader, Navy diver, and Paramilitary Contractor, who spent almost 10 years in Iraq and Afghanistan post-9/11.   [Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Loansteady LLC. A small-by-design lender, Loansteady believes in bringing a much-needed dose of humanity to the mortgage process. They are waiving all lender fees for Veterans in 2021. Visit http://www.loansteady.com/combatstory to request a rate quote or start an application. Loansteady LLC, All rights reserved, NMLS# 1701910, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/), Equal Housing Lender. For more licensing information, please visit https://www.loansteady.com/licenses-and-legal.] During his time down range as a contractor, he earned the ODNI’s National Intelligence Medal for Valor, which the ODNI describes as being given “in connection with an Intel Community mission to national security” and awarded on a “highly selective and rare basis.”   David now co-hosts The Team House, which livestreams interviews with special operators, intel professionals, and more. I’m a big fan of the Team House and you can check out our Combat Story interview with David’s co-host Jack Murphy (Episode 13 https://youtu.be/ScqnGbPSfhY).   David has written two books and appeared in several TV shows as an actor. I hope you enjoy this Combat Story with another battle-tested fighter as much as I did.   Find David Online: Instagram @d.parke https://www.instagram.com/d.parke/ LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveparke11b/ The Team House Podcast Find Ryan Online: Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:41 - A word from our Sponsor (LoanSteady) 2:09 - Guest introduction (David Parke) 3:02 - Interview begins 3:27 - Getting attacked on a NYC subway in 2020 13:30 - David as a kid, his natural curiosity, and life before the military 18:08 - Why the Marines? 21:04 - From Marines to Navy Diver 26:59 - Going through Army boot camp at 27 years old 34:46 - His transition into linguist role 43:06 - Being in DLI training when 9/11 happened 46:49 - Fear of Missing the War 51:18 - What interrogations  at Guantanamo were actually like 59:32 - Early mission sets in Afghanistan 1:11:23- Combat Story #1 - An unexpected (and funny) outcome in Iraq 1:15:43 - Combat Story #2 - the mission where David earned the ODNI National Intelligence Medal for Valor 1:27:54 - Combat Story #3 – The lighter side and things you can’t help but laugh at 1:28:58 – Team House origin story 1:44:54 - What did you carry into combat? 1:46:02 - Would you do it all again? 1:47:27 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the Combat Story of Travis Hall, an Army Ranger and Special Forces Green Beret who survived 18 combat deployments post-9/11 to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Niger. You heard that correctly: 18 deployments. Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Loansteady LLC. A small-by-design lender, Loansteady believes in bringing a much-needed dose of humanity to the mortgage process. They are waiving all lender fees for Veterans in 2021. Visit http://www.loansteady.com/combatstory to request a rate quote or start an application. Loansteady LLC, All rights reserved, NMLS# 1701910, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/), Equal Housing Lender. For more licensing information, please visit https://www.loansteady.com/licenses-and-legal. Travis was an 18D (Special Forces Medic) and one of the first K-9 handlers deployed with the Green Berets in combat. He’s been in day long firefights, run both high and low vis ops, trained thousands of partner forces, and survived some incredibly difficult operations. Travis founded Second Chance K9, which is a rescue organization that pairs working military dogs with special operations veterans suffering from PTSD. He also runs Second Chance Medical Consulting, where he provides private and semi-private training on firearms and medical aid. After 18 deployments over almost two decades, Travis’ positive approach to life and his focus on making people’s (and dogs’) lives better is tangible. I hope you enjoy this Combat Story of someone who spent many years deep in our wars (with and without a dog at his side) as much as I did. And if you do enjoy it, I hope you’ll subscribe and leave a positive review (it would mean a lot). Find Travis Online: Travis’ Linktree  Second Chance K9  Donate to Second Chance K9  Instagram @secondchancek9  Facebook @2CK9SD  YouTube  Ryan: Instagram @combatstory  Show Notes/Time Stamps 0:00 - Intro 0:40 - A word from our Sponsor (LoanSteady) 2:10 - Guest introduction (Travis Hall) 3:16 - Interview begins 6:40 - Travis and a childhood WITHOUT (surprisingly) animals 10:56 - A family military history and a SEAL contract 17:46 - Why Green Berets? 20:04 - Fear of Missing the War 26:20 - Combat Story #1 - Arriving in country and immediately in a fight 30:21 - What’s a Low Vis mission profile? 39:27 - Combat Story #2 - Brutal fighting in Kandahar, Afghanistan 44:15 - Combat Story #3 - Lighter/funnier side of combat and being mistaken for a local 51:37 - Combat Story #4 - Life as an 18D Special Forces Medic 56:23 - Combat Story #5 - Treating himself downrange 1:01:45 - Travis’ documentary to support veterans 1:04:29 - Being one of the first SF K9 handlers 1:11:31 - Combat Story #6 - Travis and his K9 Bear in Iraq 1:25:59 - Origin of Second Chance K9 1:33:54 - What did you carry into combat? 1:36:12 - Would you do it all again? 1:39:44 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the Combat Story of Erick Miyares, a retired Sergeant Major who spent nearly 30 years in the military in the pre- and post-9/11 era. Erick was a Marine, Marine sniper, part of 7th Special Forces Group, and then spent over 20 years in Tier 1 Special Mission Units. [Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Loansteady LLC. A small-by-design lender, Loansteady believes in bringing a much-needed dose of humanity to the mortgage process. They are waiving all lender fees for Veterans in 2021. Visit http://www.loansteady.com/combatstory to request a rate quote or start an application. Loansteady LLC, All rights reserved, NMLS# 1701910, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/), Equal Housing Lender. For more licensing information, please visit https://www.loansteady.com/licenses-and-legal.] Erick has been shot (with small arms and rockets), run singleton and low vis missions, operated in multiple theaters and countries, and cheated death (and capture and compromise) on numerous occasions. He’s only recently separated from the service and stepped “out of the shadows” to where he can discuss some of the aspects of these clandestine and secretive roles and the toll it takes on a person. Erick uses his experience and the hard lessons he learned to drive Echo9.axiom and Echo9.hopes with a specific mission to prevent the suicide of Veterans after having lost two close friends in 2019. This is a fantastic interview that dives into what’s involved in the shadowy world of intel and reconnaissance at the elite level. I hope you enjoy this vulnerable and introspective Combat Story with Erick as much as I did. Find Erick Online: LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/erick-miyares/ Instagram Echo9.axiom https://www.instagram.com/echo9.axiom/?hl=en Instagram Echo9.hopes https://www.instagram.com/echo9.hopes/?hl=en Find Ryan online: Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:55 - LoanSteady - A word from our sponsor 2:22 - Guest introduction 3:28 - Interview begins 6:30 - Growing up in Hialeah (Miami) 17:13 - The idea of the military 28:00 - Once a Marine, always a Marine 37:08 - Combat Story in South America with 7th Special Forces Group 47:39 - The buildup of PTSD 55:40 - Invited to Selection 1:05:14 - Combat Story with an RPG in Ramadi 1:17:10 - Losing two friends from the Tier 1 community to suicide 1:40:44 - Echo9 Axiom and Hopes 1:49:32 - What did you carry with you into combat? 1:51:19 - Would you do it all again?

A short tribute to the Veterans who spent years away from families to serve. In their own words. And a thank you to the families that made it possible. Thanks to our guests: @kellergamutresolutions @tipofthespearrmh @mindfulfrogman @mentalkingmindfulness @woundedbywar @mark.a.wales @kill_kapture @vansanttyrtactical @allsecurefoundation @thisis.mikehayes @danpronk @drtonybrooks @raymcpadden1 Happy Veterans Day!

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we have a special Veterans Day 50th Episode of Combat Story from Vincent Speranza, who was a paratrooper in the storied 101st Airborne Division in World War II. Vince was a machine gunner at the Battle of the Bulge where he and his fellow paratroopers held Bastogne after being encircled by the Germans. [Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Loansteady LLC. A small-by-design lender, Loansteady believes in bringing a much-needed dose of humanity to the mortgage process. With their experience, agility, and creativity at Loansteady, they offer better rates, a simpler process and a much stronger personal connection. They're here to find a mortgage that works for you, not the other way around. They are waiving all lender fees for Veterans in 2021. Visit http://www.loansteady.com/combatstory to request a rate quote or start an application. Loansteady LLC, All rights reserved, NMLS# 1701910, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/), Equal Housing Lender. For more licensing information, please visit https://www.loansteady.com/licenses-and-legal.] While fighting, Vince earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, but he’s gone down in history for being the GI who miraculously found and transported draft beer in his helmet from the last standing bar in Bastogne during the attack. This story later became the basis for Airborne beer, which can be purchased throughout Belgium and is designed to be enjoyed from a small ceramic cup shaped like a WWII helmet. Vince, in the last 10 years, has written a book, aptly titled “Nuts!: A 101st Airborne Division Machine Gunner at Bastogne,” has jumped out of airplanes again, and speaks to soldiers and organizations about his experiences. His story is nothing short of legendary and reminds us all why we refer to his as the “Greatest Generation.” I hope you enjoy this amazing combat story as much as I did. Follow Ryan on Instagram @combatstory Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:48 - A word from our Sponsor (Loansteady) 2:15 - Guest intro 3:22 - Interview begins 4:18 - Growing up an Italian immigrant 16:00 - Did you miss out on a “fun” or easy childhood? 18:20 - AWESOME Pearl Harbor story from Dec 7th,1941 22:21 - The Draft letter 23:43 - Shipping off to WWII (wait for his dad’s comment) 38:04 - Training to go to WWII 41:01 - Volunteering for Airborne 50:40 - Taking the Queen Mary over to the war 52:34 - The feeling on the boat on the way to WWII 54:28 - You’re going in! 59:29 - Battle of the Bulge - Basic numbers and the environment 1:01:41 - The importance of artillery at Bastogne 1:04:44 - Asking for our surrender 1:06:15 - Like the Colonel already said 1:07:10 - “Freedom in your heart” (you can’t help but smile when you hear this) 1:07:50 - How was I feeling at the Battle of the Bulge? 1:10:15 - The sobering moment comes after the shooting… 1:11:45 - German strategy going in 1:14:50 - Airborne Beer (INCREDIBLE story) 1:18:30 - Made myself a promise 1:33:45 - Combat Story (WWII Edition) Begins with description of digging into frozen ground and fighting from those positions 1:36:00 - “The whole world exploded” 1:38:48 - A machine gunner’s delight 1:47:16 - A once in a lifetime R&R 1:58:59 - Did you carry anything with you into combat? 1:59:57 - Would you do it all again? 2:00:09 - At the Eagle’s Nest! 2:03:26 - Not a hero… 2:05:23 - Listener comments

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Today we hear the second part of Ray McPadden’s Combat Story. Ray is a former Army Infantry Officer who survived four brutal deployments. In Part 1, we covered his time with 10th Mountain in the Korengal Valley, a notoriously violent part of Afghanistan. [You can find Part 1 at https://youtu.be/uebr9kPuPLM or https://tinyurl.com/wfcat859] In Part 2, we pick up just after Ray returns from 16 months as a Platoon Leader in Afghanistan. He immediately goes to ROP (the Ranger Officer Program) to be assessed for the Ranger Regiment. In this interview, Ray provides some incredible detail about the types of missions and decisions soldiers have to make within the JSOC community and the stark differences between the special ops and conventional military in terms of resources, equipment, aviation, personnel, and more. For those who want to know what it was like to roll out on a multiple hit night in Iraq with JSOC, this interview will make you feel like you’re inside the Stryker and on the objective. If you want more, check out Ray’s great book - We March at Midnight. I hope you enjoy this second round of Ray’s combat story as much as I did. Find Ray Online: Instagram @raymcpadden1 https://www.instagram.com/raymcpadden1/ Book We March at Midnight https://www.amazon.com/We-March-Midnight-War-Memoir-ebook/dp/B08W2NQF4H Find Ryan Online: Follow on Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Follow on Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:46 - Guest introduction 1:50 - Interview begins and returning from the Korengal Valley 8:15 - Did you get treatment for PTSD after the first deployment 13:00 - Coming straight back from combat to Ranger Officer Program 20:25 - Interesting model in the Ranger Regiment 27:57 - What’s a Ground Force Commander 30:08 - How hard is the Ranger Officer Program 33:43 - The Darby Queen 43:30 - Arriving to 2nd Ranger Battalion 46:52 - Big Boy Rules 50:57 - Combat Story #1 - Running ops Day 1 55:23 - JSOC Mission Briefs in combat 1:11:19 - Combat Story #2 - Hasty follow-on operation 1:18:45 - Couldn’t sleep post-mission 1:23:56 - Combat Story #3: Tier 1 HVTs operating in difficult spaces 1:45:28 - Combat Story #4: The reality of warfare and children on the battlefield 1:53:38 - Why choose the title “We March at Midnight”? 1:56:25 - What did you carry with you into combat? 1:59:25 - Would you do it all again? 2:01:28 - Listener shout outs and comments

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear Part I of the Combat Story of Ray McPadden, a former Army Infantry Officer who survived four deployments that included leading troops in one of the most dangerous valleys of Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division and as a Ground Force Commander in the Ranger Battalion.

Listeners really appreciate our interviews with Special Operators and it’s easy to see why. Many listeners have asked to hear a few more stores from the conventional side of the house. Today’s episode focuses entirely on the conventional side of Ray’s career and fighting that his Battalion Commander at the time promised would be harder than anything he would go on to do in the Rangers.

Ray’s experience in the Pech and Korangal Valleys will be eye opening to many who had no idea forces were fighting in this unforgiving terrain and in these isolated conditions. Many have seen Restrepo and the Hornet’s Nest and can appreciate just how difficult that fighting was. Ray and his men fought to build the positions and fortifications that would later become the backdrop of those movies and books.

We use Ray’s own fantastic book - We March at Midnight - as a guide to walk through the first half of his career and will pick up in part two with his time in the Special Ops community. I hope you enjoy this first of two Combat Stories and his fight in what was known as the “Valley of Death” as much as I did.

Find Ray Online:

Instagram @raymcpadden1 https://www.instagram.com/raymcpadden1/ Book We March at Midnight https://www.amazon.com/We-March-Midnight-War-Memoir-ebook/dp/B08W2NQF4H Find Ryan Online: Follow on Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Follow on Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:11 - Guest introduction 2:03 - Interview begins 5:10 - Reenacting Sniper (the movie) as a kid 12:54 - Texas A&M and learning from NCOs for the first time 18:50 - “Actions not words” and leading by example 21:14 - Mood in the Army in 2004-2005 starting out 24:05 - A life in the mountains 25:12 - Donkey and mule training 35:43 - The real side of a military spouse - “They go to war with you” 39:30 - Afghanistan and the Pech Valley 42:00 - First Platoon Sergeant - “The key person” for new LTs 45:22 - Reality of Mountain Warfare 47:22 - Combat Story #1: First big fight 1:21:40 - Combat Story #2: The counterattack 1:27:37 - The Korongal (Korangal aka Korengal) Valley and Restrepo and Operation Red Wings environment (Restrepo Info for those interested https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvUdruvbdmI) 1:30:01 - Combat Story #3: Initial fight in the Valley 1:44:04 - “War is Freedom” 1:50:13 - Delivering some of the hardest news possible 1:54:29 - Combat Story #4: The Last Firefight - “War is horrible” 2:02:10 - Conventions vs Special Operations 2:03:25 - Listener Comments and Shout Outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the Combat Story of Wes ‘H’ Hennessey, a retired Australian Special Forces Commando and 20 year veteran who deployed on numerous occasions to Afghanistan, Iraq, East Timor, Somalia, to name just a few.

He fought for years at the upper echelons of the Australian special operations community and was on joint operations with US-equivalents like DEVGRU in critical missions. 

He was later recognized with two US Bronze Star Medals, one with Valor, for his efforts, in addition to the coveted Australian Conspicuous Service Medal.

Since leaving the military, Wes has gone on to become a sought after brand ambassador, public speaker, and, most importantly, Veteran advocate.

He stands out from the crowd with a down to earth, honest, and truth-to-power personality and I hope you enjoy his combat story as much as I did. Find H Online: Instagram @seven.horses.co LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/wes-hennessey-860b1235/ Find Ryan online: Follow on Instagram @combat_stories https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Follow on Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:05 - Guest bio for Wes “H” Hennessey 1:55 - Interview begins 3:41- What US State is Queensland like? 6:24 - Aussie Commandos vs SAS 16:32 - Communication once in the elite units 30:14 - The Commando pipeline 32:46 - Kit check was a favorite 38:26 - Can you tell who will make it through selection? 47:28 - The weight of leadership 51:35 - First deployment: Somalia 56:59 - First mission outside the wire 1:03:29 - Left a boy. Returned a man. 1:12:57 - Sent to Kandahar 1:24:04 - Honing the American accent 1:27:56 - Surviving a helicopter crash 1:56:49 - When the near death experiences build up 2:01:06 - Seven Horses Co and H’s next mission 2:10:55 - What did you carry into combat with you? 2:11:45 - Would you do it all again? 2:13:07 - Listener comments and shout outs!

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the Combat Story of Tony Brooks, a former Army Ranger with 2nd Ranger Battalion who fought in Afghanistan early in the war and in Ramadi, Iraq.

Tony’s first mission was significant, being tasked with the recovery of downed chinook helicopter, Turbine 33 and The Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell in the mountains of Afghanistan.

His book, Leave No Man Behind, is all about this experience as the primary search and rescue element that catalogues the mission from hitting the ground, recovering bodies, and hunting for every last man to bring them home.

In this episode, we also touch on the impact of a legendary man, soldier, Ranger, and American - Pat Tillman - who had a tremendous influence on Tony (and myself for that matter).

After the military, Tony went on to become a licensed chiropractor. He married the woman he refers to in the book as ‘the Unicorn’ who he met as a private while stationed at Fort Lewis.

I hope you enjoy his Combat Story, and the mission to bring everyone home, as much as I did.

#rangers #specialoperations #operationredwings #veteran #veterans #combatstory #tonybrooks #2ndrangerbattalion #rangerbatt #rltw

Find Tony Online: Book Leave No Man Behind https://www.amazon.com/Leave-Man-Behind-Unrelenting-Afghanistan/dp/1635767350 Website https://www.drtonybrooksauthor.com/ Instagram @drtonybrooks https://www.instagram.com/drtonybrooks/ Facebook Dr Tony Brooks https://www.facebook.com/DrTonyBrooks/ Find Ryan Online: Follow on Instagram @combat_stories https://www.instagram.com/combatstory Follow on Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:53 - Guest bio 1:40 - Interview begins 2:06 - Pat Tillman - One of the greatest Americans of our generation 10:35 - Finding Purpose 13:19 - Why go to the Rangers? 17:00 - The Unicorn and the long play 20:00 - Parents played it neutral 23:50 - First time in Afghanistan 30:33 - Context for Operation Red Wings 37:15 - How did you feel going into your first mission? 40:07 - Fast roping onto target 49:25 - First objective - get to the crash site 58:20 - Recovering body parts 59:22 - Finding a wedding ring that meant so much more 1:06:27 - Next mission post-crash site recovery 1:13:50 - A screech you’ve never heard before 1:17:06 - Next mission is BDA 1:24:04 - My first experience of war was “sh*@” 1:26:28 - Finding Marcus Luttrell 1:32:13 - How close was the movie scenery (Lone Survivor) to reality 1:39:14 - Hilarious story of one of those “guys” in the unit 1:46:15 - What did you carry with you into combat? 1:47:31 - Would you go back and do it all again? 1:48:30 - How does Tony think about recent events in Afghanistan? 1:50:45 - Listener comments

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the second round of our Combat Story with Dan Pronk, a former Australian SAS officer and medical doctor who completed four tours to Afghanistan.

In round one we covered Dan’s first calling as a triathlete until he found himself in medical school, and, eventually, SAS selection. We covered some of his initial deployments.

In round two we move into the more difficult deployments Dan faced when things started getting darker, as they so often do.

We also discuss Dan’s newly released book - Resilience Shield - which takes SAS resilience lessons and applies them to everyday life to thrive, much as Dan has.

Dan went on to found a multi-million dollar company - TACMED - and has written two other books: Arterial Tourniquets and Average 70kg D**khead.

Dan is the most unassuming doctor you’ll ever find and I hope you enjoy this second round interview Down Under as much as I did.

Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:57 - Dan Pronk intro and bio 1:52 - Interview begins 4:12 - The Afghanistan pull out 10:58 - Desperately wanting to get back into combat 15:00 - Find Fix Finish for Psychological Trauma 20:43 - Third deployment “hugely kinetic” 24:43 - The Suckmeter 27:38 - The build-up of PTSD 45:36 - How to make resilience insights to bulletproof operators 55:50 - Dan’s first classic car purchase and how not to make your wife happy 1:09:00 - The Unforgiving Sixty podcast by Dan Pronk’s Resilience Shield Co-author 1:09:46 - What did you carry with you into combat every time? 1:11:57 - Would you go back and do it all again? 1:15:43 - Listener Comments and Shout Outs #combatstory #SAS #specialoperations #danpronk #deltaforce #jsoc #australianSAS #pathfinderjacket #killkapture #markwales Find Dan online: Website Resilience Shield  LinkedIN Dan Pronk  Instagram @danpronk  Book Average 70kg D**khead  Book Arterial Tourniquets  Book Resilience Shield  TacMed  Delta Automotive  Find Ryan online: Follow on Instagram @combatstory Follow on Facebook @combatstoryofficial  Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the Combat Story of Dr. Dan Pronk, a former Australian SAS doctor who completed four tours to Afghanistan. Do not be fooled by the doctor title, Dan was on the front lines conducting hundreds of operations with the elite SAS.

This is the first of two interviews with Dan.

Before the military, Dan was a triathlete and lived what he described as an average Australian upbringing. The military put him through medical school, but he wanted to be part of the elite SAS and fought for years for a chance to just get to selection, which he eventually did.

Since leaving the military, Dan has gone on to an executive role in medical management, as well as co-owning the multimillion dollar company TacMed Australia and founding several other entrepreneurial startups.

He’s written several books, including Average 70kg Dickhead: Motivational Lessons from an Ex-Army Special Forces Doctor, and Arterial Tourniquets: For Police Officers, Law Enforcement and other First-Responders. He just released a third book with two fellow former SAS operators called Resilience Shield.

Dan’s also a motorhead with a love of high performance cars, leading him to own a classic Ferrari and Lamborghini. He also created Delta Automotive that builds these limited edition classic sports cars.

Dan was referred to me by another SAS leader as “legend” in the community and I hope you enjoy this first of two Combat Story rounds with Dan as much as I did.

Find Dan Online: Website Resilience Shield www.resilienceshield.com/ LinkedIN Dan Pronk https://www.linkedin.com/in/danpronk/ Instagram @danpronk www.instagram.com/danpronk/?hl=en Show Notes 0:00 - Interview begins 1:07 - Dan Pronk bio 2:13 - Interview begins 9:00 - Tough schooling and getting beaten with a cricket bat (for both Ryan and Dan) 10:25 - Dan’s family military history and father who was an Army helicopter pilot 13:50 - Dan’s rebellious stage, triathlons, and tough cars 19:30 - Running and that release 24:50 - “Maneuvering” myself into an elite group 29:15 - Extrinsic motivation of being a triathlete rather than being an intrinsically motivated soldier 32:30 - Shifting from college and triathlons to medical school and the military 38:15 - The “lightbulb moment” to join SAS 43:50 - Why is SAS sending doctor’s through Selection? 47:10 - Motivational moment of being doubted 49:05 - Darker and harder moments of Selection 55:45 - What’s it like being a Selection-certified doctor in SAS? 59:20 - First deployment with SAS as a Task Force asset 1:02:35 - First mission outside the wire as a doctor AND the gunner on a vehicle 1:06:35 - First time I got shot at “accurately” 1:10:35 - Another mission and being in contact with snipers on quad bikes and more vehicles going against the Taliban 1:12:55 - No indication of PTSD starting to seep in 1:15:10 - Another deployment to Afghanistan in 2011 (reference to the Drug Enforcement Agency aka DEA's Drug Flow Attack Strategy Team or FAST) 1:16:44 - Difficult mission and a “turning point” for Dan. “We’re playing for keeps now” 1:26:45 - Dan’s background in the Emergency Room and working trauma

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the Combat Story of Mike Hayes, a retired Navy SEAL Team and Special Operations Task Force Commander who fought in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Bosnia over a 20 year career.

His time in uniform brought to key points in U.S. military and diplomatic history, including intersections with Operation Red Wings, the Mersk Somali pirate kidnapping, and an international treaty negotiation with Russia.

While in the Navy, Mike was one of the very few selected as a White House fellow, where he served under both Republican and Democrat administrations and as the Director for Defense Policy and Strategy at the National Security Council.

Since leaving the military, Mike has gone on to senior roles at Bridgewater Associates, Cognizant, and VM Ware.

He’s written a fantastic book, Never Enough, that we’ll discuss during this interview and for which all proceeds go to Gold Star families.

Mike is a model leader and giver and I hope you enjoy his Combat Story as much as I did.

Find Mike Online Instagram @thisis.mikehayes https://www.instagram.com/thisis.mikehayes/ Twitter @thisismikehayes https://twitter.com/thisismikehayes LinkedIN Mike Hayes https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hayes-733688/ Book Never Enough https://tinyurl.com/ybv89rdh Find Ryan Online Instagram @combat_stories https://www.instagram.com/combat_stories/ More about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:10 - Bio on Mike Hayes 2:10 - Interview begins 2:53 - Gold Star Families 4:35 - Guam and Science Fairs 9:00 - Others Before Self 16:22 - Telling a General ‘No’ 22:50 - What to do when you’re kidnapped 33:58 - Operation Red Wings 38:02 - When to pull the trigger and when to hold 46:55 - Holding people accountable 55:08 - The White House Fellow Program 1:00:20 - Working at Bridgewater Associates for Ray Dalio 1:07:50 - Building egalitarian teams in business 1:15:00 - What did you carry with you into combat? 1:16:45 - Would you do it all again? 1:20:10 - Comments from listeners (THANK YOU!)

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we have a unique History Edition of Combat Story focused on Sparta. As you know, I’m fascinated by the experiences of warriors in combat and I’ve always wanted to better understand what the combat experience would have been like for veterans from history like the Spartans, Romans, or Mongols.   

On this episode, we’ll interview Professor Barry Strauss, an accomplished scholar, historian, and expert on ancient military history. Barry brings to life a very famous Spartan warrior named Brasidas as we dive into his combat story.  

Brasidas led warriors into remarkable battles employing conventional tactics but also leveraging special operations and psychological or hybrid warfare with great success. Barry gives us a front row seat of what it was like to grow up and live in this austere, militaristic, and aggressive society we know as Sparta.  

We could not have done this without Barry, who is a Professor of History and Classics at Cornell University, Series Editor of Princeton’s Turning Points in Ancient History, author of eight books, and a military and naval historian and consultant.  

Professor Strauss is a recognized authority on the subject of leadership and the lessons that can be learned from the experiences of the greatest political and military leaders of the ancient world (Caesar, Hannibal, Alexander among many others).   

He has a new book coming out in March 2022 titled The War that Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium.   

I hope you enjoy this unique Combat Story and the dive into the world of Sparta as much as I did.  

Find Barry Online: Website Author of The War that Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium, available March 2022  Facebook  Twitter @barrystrauss  Podcast ANTIQUITAS: Leaders and Legends of the Ancient World Find Ryan Online: Follow on Instagram @combatstory  Follow on Facebook @combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan  Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Crew: Guest: Dr. Barry Strauss Host: Ryan Fugit Editor: Owen Fugit ​​Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:46 - Interview begins 3:50 - Barry’s background 7:18 - Facts and Fiction about Spartans 9:14 - The Greek and Persian Empire 11:23 - Beliefs and Views of Spartans and Athenians 12:20 - The Peloponnesian War 15:57 - Brasidas, Son of Tellis 18:47 - Life of a Spartan 22:52 - The Hoplites and the Phalanx 34:08 - The Spartan Way of War 35:48 - The Athenian’s First Encounter with Brasidas 39:11 - The Defeat of Brasidas 50:58 - Brasidas’ Greatest Coup 56:30 - Siege Warfare 1:02:09 - Psychological Warfare

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we complete the second segment of our Combat Story with Chris VanSant, a retired Army infantryman, Ranger, Green Beret, and Operator in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (1st SFOD-D). 

You can hear the first round with Chris at https://youtu.be/tdSA8O_T6mE. We left our first interview with Chris at the height of his career: in the Unit, combat rotations, and close friends. We pick up in round two where things start to get more difficult and the optempo, intensity, and constant fighting begin to take a toll.

Chris describes how he overcame some very dark days that many can relate to and found new opportunities he never would have imagined. He’s gone on to become the Chief Operating Officer of TYR Tactical and is a board member for Tom and Jenn Satterly’s All Secure Foundation, both of which continue to protect those in need.

I hope you enjoy this deep dive into combat and recovery from a very humble Tier 1 operator as much as I did.

Find Chris Online:   Instagram @vansanttyrtactical  Website TYR Tactical   Board Member at All Secure Foundation (Tom Satterly’s organization)  Instagram @allsecurefoundation  Find Ryan Online: Follow on Instagram @combatstory  Follow on Facebook @combatstoryofficial   Email [email protected]  Learn more about Ryan    Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Video Edited by: Owen Fugit Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - Guest bio 1:52 - Interview begins 2:37 - Chris’ thoughts on Afghanistan 14:18 - Where does the exhaustion come from? 17:18 - What are some other interesting fear responses? 17:24 - “Fight or flight is the first response when someone thinks they may die.” 20:11 - The next deployment 30:00 - Tactics and Procedures 32:40 - Different ways to attack a building. 36:23 – When did the trauma and stress start 43:33 – Early Indicators that will help others 48:25 – Pivotal moments during combat 57:39 - “You got to understand the individuals in your charge to get the best out of them; you got to know what motivates them, what makes them tick.” 58:48 – Starting to change 1:09:04 - Key things in your journey that you try to make sure a wider audience hears 1:10:05 - “Open up. Talk to the people that matter to you. It doesn't have to be a lot. It just has to be a few.” 1:13:13 – Getting fired from the Unit 1:18:53 – Pushing yourself 1:19:11 - “There are winners and losers. A loser is just a winner that tried one more time.” 1:22:40 – Pieces of advice 1:31:11 – Getting in touch with Chris

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we complete Part 2 of the Combat Story of Ryan Hendrickson, the former Green Beret and Special Forces Engineer (18C) who served multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan and training deployments around the world, particularly in South America, as part of 7th Special Forces Group.

For those who listened to Part 1, you’ll recall that we followed Ryan’s unique upbringing in the Northwest that included moving frequently and, at one point, living in a tent for an entire year being raised by a single father who had a tremendous impact on Ryan’s life.

Ryan first joined the Navy, where he was onboard the first ship to respond to the USS Cole attack, then served in the Air Force loading aircraft with munitions, and finally achieved his dream of earning the coveted Green Beret.

On his first deployment to Afghanistan with 7th Group, Ryan was leading a patrol clearing the path of IEDs and inadvertently stepped on an IED that changed his life. 

At the end of Part 1, we left off as Ryan was coming to after the dust settled from the blast and he looked down to see two pearl white bones (his Tibia and Fibula) sticking out of his leg.

What happens next is nothing short of remarkable. If you ever felt sorry for yourself, this next session will help give perspective and an example of someone else who overcame tremendous odds to follow his dream, saving lives and inspiring others along the way.

Find Ryan H Online: Website Tip of the Spear Instagram @tipofthespearrmh  Facebook Ryan Hendrickson(Rmh) LinkedIN Ryan Hendrickson  Book Tip of the Spear  Find Ryan F online: Instagram @combat_stories Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan  Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show notes 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - Guest Bio 1:45 - Interview begins 11:46 - Ryan is back in the moment just after the IED blast. 25:48 - The flight out of country and multiple hospital visits. 37:35 - The decision to keep your limb or go for a prosthetic. 44:18 - When Ryan started recognizing the emotional side of his injury. 49:20 - The advice the changed Ryan’s perspective and his path. 58:34 - The program to stay in the Army. 1:09:21 - Returning to Afghanistan and the unlikely welcome. 1:23:20 - Taking the opportunities given (and how to escape the TOC)! 1:39:50 - Inserting into a big fight looking like a normal unit. 1:46:54 - An F-15 500lb bomb being dropped nearby. 2:01:30 - Going back for every man, including his Afghan brothers. 2:06:45 - Didn’t have to go back, but you did. “Had to be done.” 2:12:00 - Writing the book. 2:15:00 - What did you carry with you into combat. 2:16:35 - Would you do it all again?

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

This is a special and off-cycle edition of Combat Story. With the recent attacks and chaos in Afghanistan, I wanted to sit down with someone who spent years on the front lines in that theater and who better than John “Shrek” McPhee. Regular listeners know him well but for those who have not yet heard of him, John is also known as the Sheriff of Baghdad and spent 20 years in the Army’s Special Operations community, from Ranger Battalion to Group to Delta Force.

He retired as a Sergeant Major from the most elite unit in the US Military and now owns SOB Tactical.

As usual, Shrek holds nothing back and gives an operator’s perspective of what is happening and why this outcome was always going to be the case.  Most importantly, however, is John’s message to the thousands of veterans processing these scenes, emotions, and memories.

While I had Shrek, I took the opportunity to ask some questions we’ve received from listeners, we talk whiskey, and find out what Shrek watches on Netflix.   

I hope you enjoy this third round Combat Story with Shrek as much as I did.

#shrek #combatstory #deltaforce #specialoperations

Find John Online: Instagram @sobtactical SOB Tactical SOB TV Booze N Views Find Ryan Online: Follow on Instagram @combat_stories Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus  Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp (go to https://betterhelp.com/CombatStory for 10% off your first month of professional therapy or counseling).

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the Combat Story of Chris VanSant, a retired Army infantryman and NCO who spent time as a Ranger, Green Beret, and Operator in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (1st SFOD-D), aka Delta Force aka The Unit or the Army’s Special Mission Unit (SMU), and survived 11 combat deployments and hundreds of combat operations.

As you can imagine after so many years at the tip of the spear, Chris ended up confronting and overcoming (with tremendous difficulty) traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress (PTS); he remains a committed Veteran and advocate helping others through these tough times.

Chris is now the Chief Operating Officer of TYR Tactical, which manufactures body armor and tactical equipment for the military and law enforcement.

He’s also a board member for Tom and Jenn Satterly’s All Secure Foundation, which assists special operations active-duty and combat Veterans and their families in recovery of posttraumatic stress. Listeners will recall our interview with Tom and the similar success he had and corresponding struggles he overcame.

Chris is certainly humble for all his achievements and I hope you enjoy his Combat Story as much as I did.

Find Chris Online: Instagram @vansanttyrtactical Website TYR Tactical www.tyrtactical.com Board Member at All Secure Foundation  Instagram @allsecurefoundation  Article VA Article from July 2021 Find Ryan Online:   Instagram @combat_stories Email [email protected]  Learn more about Ryan    Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle   Show Notes 0:00 – Intro 1:01 - Guest bio 3:16 - Interview begins 3:48 – Dangerous hiking experience 15:40 – A grandfather’s storytelling 20:30 – “I was a drinker at a very young age.” 23:38 – “I always felt like I could do whatever I wanted.” 27:13 – Finding your way to the military. 33:06 – “The goodness of one individual and somebody being selfless changed my life.” 33:49 – Did you plan to go into Delta from the beginning? 35:09 – Being a young Ranger and Blackhawk Down vets. 40:40 – “It was probably the first and worst thing that had ever happened to me.” 43:33 – Deployment to Kuwait: Operation Desert Thunder 58:46 – Failing Selection the first time and coming back again? 59:36 – “I felt like they were testing me. Like they’re going to send me home because I’m 23 years old, and they want to see if I’ll do it again.” 1:01:47 – 9/11 1:04:09 – Emotions after completing the selection. 1:04:58 – “I felt a sense of accomplishment and redemption like I stick with it despite all the things that happened.” 1:05:53 – First Combat Experience 1:15:23 – First Experience in Iraq 1:21:17 – Hunting the “deck of cards” 1:30:26 - Shout out to listeners.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the Combat Story (Part 1 of 2) of Ryan Hendrickson, a former Green Beret and Special Forces Engineer (18C) who served multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan as part of 7th Special Forces Group.

Before joining the Army, Ryan served in the Air Force and Navy, where he was one of the first ships on scene to support the USS Cole after it was attacked.

As a Green Beret, Ryan has a remarkable story in which he survived stepping on an IED that changed his life, but was unable to keep him out of the fight. After months of reconstructive surgery, he went back to the teams and Afghanistan, where he saved multiple lives and earned the Silver Star.

He is the author of Tip of the Spear and an adventure seeker who’s travelled most of the world. He still supports the war fighter as a contractor where he continues to save lives.

This is the first in a two part interview, covering Ryan’s life and combat up until stepping on the IED. In the second interview, we’ll touch on his recovery and several future combat operations, including the one in which he received the Silver Star.

Find Ryan H Online: Website Tip of the Spear Instagram @tipofthespearrmh LinkedIN Ryan Hendrickson Book Tip of the Spear Find Ryan F online: Instagram @combat_stories Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan  Show notes 0:00 - Intro 0:35 - Guest Bio 1:36 - Interview Begins 8:49 - “I just buried myself in wrestling and football.” 10:37 - Ryan’s Father 14:22 - The story of two old men 17:17 - “You don’t control life, and you don’t control death.” 17:48 - “The beginning and the end of the book are already there. But what you fill that book with is up to you.” 20:03 - True Happiness 21:53 - The Hero 24:18 - Joining the Military 26:45 - Joining the Navy 30:05 - Traveling the World 31:18 - The USS Cole Experience 33:03 - “I saw death in that aspect, as in the enemy was killing Americans.” 35:14 - From Navy to the Air Force 38:53 - Trying to be a Good Husband 43:02 - Becoming a Green Beret 44:02 - Following his Father’s Footsteps 45:22 - Getting Scammed 47:29 - Making new friends in Vietnam 50:34 - “I have yet to prove myself.” 53:39 - What is an 18C 1:02:15 - “I was nobody because of the fact that I had yet to prove myself when bullets are flying.” 1:02:53 - Combat Story #1: First deployment to Afghanistan 1:11:11 - “We fought all the time.” 1:11:35 - The Addictive Rush of the Battlefield 1:12:45 - Combat Story #2: The Life-changing mission 1:21:05 - “I can’t go back and change what I didn’t do.” 1:22:10 - The IED that changed Ryan’s life. 1:29:22 - “I was like, ‘I’m going to die here today.’” 1:30:19 - End of Part One...To Be Continued 1:30:35 - Shout Outs to the Combat Story Community

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the Combat Story of Mark Wales, a former Australian SAS (Special Air Service) officer who spent 16 years in the Australian Military, including six years in the elite SAS. He led special operators as a Troop Commander and completed 10 deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, East Timor, Lebanon, and the Solomon Islands.

After separating from the military, Mark battled depression and stress disorders but found a way to power through and turn his life around. Mark would go on to earn an MBA from the prestigious Wharton School of Business and then worked at McKinsey & Company.

He has since written the book Survivor: Life in the SAS, was on Australian Survivor (where he met his wife) and competed in the Bear Grylls’ World’s Toughest Race: Eco Challenge Fiji 2019, which I highly recommend watching on Amazon with your family.

And since all this isn’t enough, Mark also founded Kill Kapture, a tough-luxury ecommerce brand and is now a sought after keynote and motivational speaker.

I hope you enjoy Mark’s honest, self deprecating, and relatable Combat Story as much as I did.

Find Mark online: Website Instagram: @mark.a.wales Book - Survivor: Life in the SAS LinkedIN Kill Kapture: Website | Instagram @kill_kapture Find Ryan online: Follow on Instagram @combat_stories Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan  Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:46 - Mark Wales bio 1:42 - Interview begins 2:32 - Combat Story (in a way): Going to a brothel at 14 years old 8:19 - What is the pipeline for an officer? 16:42 - The view of 9/11 from an Aussie's perspective 18:08 - Training on how to throw a grenade 24:35 - Combat Story #1: Mark’s first patrol in East Timor 30:20 - The road to SAS and Selection 42:45 - First time being deployed to the Middle East 45:45 - For a team of six SAS guys, how do they feel about doing executive protection? 47:04 - Two more rotations to Afghanistan 49:25 - Combat Story #2: Tracking an HVT in East Timor 51:40 - Combat Story #3: SAS Troop Command in Afghanistan 1:02:36 - The language of the "unconscious body". 1:05:00 - Combat Story #4: Dangerous experiences in Helmund Province 1:16:02 - Combat (Reality Version) Story #5: Getting on Australian Survivor 1:19:20 - Combat (Reality Version) Story #6: Completing World's Toughest Race Fiji 2019 Eco-Challenge 1:23:40 - Kill Kapture 1:24:24 - What did you carry into combat? 1:26:17 - Would you do it all again?

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the Combat Story of Jason Van Camp, a former Special Forces officer (Green Beret) and Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) Commander in 10th Special Forces Group who served multiple combat deployments.

Jason played linebacker at West Point and served a two-year LDS-Mormon mission to Russia, and upon graduation won the prestigious General Loeffke Award for Excellence in Foreign Languages, before starting active duty. As a Green Beret, Jason brought the fight to AQ and led soldiers through dangerous Special Forces missions that honed his leadership and team building skills.

Since leaving the military, Jason founded and is Chairman of Mission Six Zero, a leadership development firm, and is also Executive Director and Co-Founder at Warrior Rising, which empowers veterans in business. Jason is a Wall Street Journal and 2 x #1 Amazon Best Selling Author for his book Deliberate Discomfort: How U.S. Special Operations Forces Overcome Fear and Dare to Win by Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable and was recognized as a Top Military Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020.

I hope you enjoy his humble yet impactful Combat Story as much as I did. Find Jason Online: Instagram @jasonbavancamp   Instagram @missionsixzero  Instagram @wearewarriorrising  LinkedIN  Website Mission Six Zero  Website Warrior Rising  Find Ryan online: Follow on Instagram @combat_stories Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan  Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:54 - Jason Van Camp Guest Bio 1:48 - Interview Begins 3:44 - “I inspire other people to be the best version of themself.” 5:11 - Military history of the family 10:37 - The challenging West Point experience 13:14 - The football experience 15:52 - “You have to find a new purpose.” 16:29 - “Your worth as an officer is based on your ability to run a two-mile run test.” 22:33 - The Ranger School Idea 28:08 - “I love being an army, more so than ever thought I would” 28:19 - “I want to make an impact. I want to have a meaningful life. I want to have a purpose.” 35:39 - A rollercoaster of emotions 39:01 - “We had nowhere to go and nowhere to live.” 40:53 - “’ Peshmerga’ is translated to ‘those who faced death.’” 45:31 - “You’re in combat; you got to trust your gut.” 49:23 - “I wouldn’t trade that for Rob’s life.” 50:25 - Mission Six Zero 50:29 - “I’m happiest when I’m being selfish about being selfless.” 50:40 - The vision behind Warrior Rising 51:31 - Jason’s interest in giving back 53:48 - Outro

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the Combat Story of Kevin Flike, a former Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient who served multiple deployments, including two to Afghanistan.

Kevin was shot in the abdomen during his second deployment and took years recovering from the associated physical and emotional scars and has shown that it is possible to not only fully recover from such an injury, but to thrive.

He is a graduate of the MIT Sloan School of Management and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, sits on the Board of Directors at the Green Beret Foundation, is a sought out motivational speaker, and shares his story of perseverance through a blog and outreach series called Wounded by War, which includes a documentary on his recovery.

Kevin was recommended to me by Beau Wise, a former guest on the show who lost two of his brothers to the war in Afghanistan, one of whom knew Kevin. Kevin and Beau have become like brothers. I hope you enjoy this inspiring insight from the brink of death to tremendous success as much as I did.

Find Kevin online: LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinflike/ Instagram @woundedbywar  Wounded by War www.woundedbywar.com Find Ryan online: Follow on Instagram @combat_stories   Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle #greenberetfoundation #specialforces #kevinflike #veteran #combatstory #army #specialops #specialoperations Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:04 - Guest introduction 2:38 - Person in common: Beau Wise (as viewers will recall from a previous interview who was the sole survivor of three boys in the Wise family to make it home from Afghanistan). 21:03 - Decision to enlist out of college via the 18X program. 32:52 - Kevin’s strengths and perfect fit with the Green Berets. 34:50 - Learning to manage expectations when teaching, fighting, and working with others. 39:38 - Combat Story #1: Afghanistan (Kunduz) 2010. 46:11 - Combat Story #2: First firefight. 54:27 - How to process the “addiction” to war looking back now. 59:55 - Combat Story #3: The mission that led to Kevin’s significant injury. 1:09:55 - What goes through your mind when you’re shot and think you might die. 1:15:06 - Wounded By War (www.woundedbywar.com) 1:20:05 - Motivational Speaking to companies, communities, schools and the Green Beret Foundation 1:21:50 - What did you carry with you into combat? 1:22:40 - Would you do it again?

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the Combat Story of Jon Macaskill, a retired Navy SEAL Commander turned mindfulness and meditation teacher.  He spent a career in the Navy’s Special Warfare and military Joint Special Operations communities and served in Iraq, Afghanistan, off the coast of Somalia, and in Panama.

One story that Jon shares in this episode and which shows the burdens and gut wrenching aspects of combat, was his association with Operation Red Wings, which many will recall from the book and movie Lone Survivor.

Jon is a Naval Academy graduate, holds a Master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School, and, since retiring, runs a consulting business that brings mindfulness and meditation to high performing teams to aid in dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression, all while increasing focus, creativity, and productivity.

He shares the benefits and opportunities both on the show and on his own podcast, called Men Talking Mindfulness, which, as Jon described it, is what happens when you combine a Navy SEAL and modern day Hippie!

I hope you enjoy Jon’s honest, humble, and challenging Combat Story as much as I did.

#combatstory #SEAL #NavySEAL #specialoperations #specialwarfare

Find Jon online: Website: https://macaskillconsulting.com/ LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmacaskill/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulfrogman/ Instagram Men Talking Mindfulness: https://www.instagram.com/mentalkingmindfulness/ Find Ryan online: Follow on Instagram @combat_stories (https://www.instagram.com/combat_stories/) Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:55 - Jon Macaskill’s bio and guest introduction 2:00 - Interview begins 17:30 - SEAL competition at the Naval Academy 24:55 - Something most don’t know about BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training) 33:02 - Being an Officer in the SEALs 40:07 - Combat Story #1: Deployment to Afghanistan 51:03 - Combat Story #2: Operation Red Wings and the Lone Survivor connection. LinkedIN article on this event that's well worth the read: https://thriveglobal.com/stories/this-is-why-i-meditate/ 1:00:50 - Managing trauma, guilt, depression and finding meditation and mindfulness 1:15:48 - Common difficulties for people new to meditation 1:18:13 - How to find Jon online 1:20:27 - The coolest thing Jon did as a SEAL (leaving a submarine on an SDV - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEAL_Delivery_Vehicle) 1:22:14 - What’s one thing you carried with you on missions? 1:23:45 - Would you go back and do it all again?

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the combat story of Yonel “Yogi” Dorelis, a retired and long-time helicopter pilot who served in the Marine Corps, Navy, Army, and Air Force.

While in uniform, Yogi flew a variety of aircraft and mission profiles, but spent a considerable amount of time flying Combat Search and Rescue for the Air Force in the HH-60, including early in the war in Afghanistan. In fact, during this time, Yogi earned a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with V Device for his life saving efforts in Operation Anaconda, a mission that’s near and dear to my heart because I later went on to serve with several of the Apache pilots who were there at the time.

Beyond earning the coveted DFC, Yogi also accumulated 5,500 hours of flight time, approximately 500 of that in combat. He’s credited with saving 70+ military lives and approximately 300 more in his civilian flight career as part of an EMS crew, which he does to this day.

It was a blast to sit down with another aviator and a CSAR one at that, where it remains clear that no matter what airframe you flew, all pilots experience similar mishaps, near death experiences, laughs, and red tape along the way.

I hope you enjoy this Combat Story as much as I did.

Connect with Ryan Fugit: Follow on Instagram @combat_stories (https://www.instagram.com/combat_stories/) Email [email protected] Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus If you'd like Ryan to interview you for the show or to have him interview a family member or friend in private (not for the show) just to have their story on the record for future generations, email him at [email protected]. Find Yogi Online: IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6260186/ Instagram - @yogifly60_ydorelis https://www.instagram.com/yogifly60_ydorelis/ LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/yonel-dorelis-93982919/ Acronyms and Terms used in the show: CSAR - Combat Search and Rescue. Dustoff - Another name used for Army Medical Evacuation or MEDEVAC aircraft. ETL - Effective Translational Lift. This is the point at which an aircraft basically takes flight. FLIR - Forward Looking Infrared. One method of seeing in the dark that uses differences in the temperature of objects as opposed to amplifying ambient light (which is what Night Vision Googles do). Autorotation - A fun and scary flight profile that’s practiced regularly by all pilots by which you either simulate or truly kill engine power and, which descending out of the sky, maintain a minimal amount of drag to slow your descent created by the main rotor blade and then, when very close to touching the ground, pull in a bit of collective to provide a slightly softer landing. Mustang - A term to reference an officer who was enlisted before becoming an officer. Show Notes 0:00 – Intro 4:05 – “I knew from an early age, I wanted to be a pilot and a military pilot.” 36:29 – Hovering and possible advantages as a fixed wing pilot 44:06 – Being stationed in the Philippines and trying to land on a ship at sea 1:21:24 – Operation Anaconda 1:36:57 – The importance of leadership 1:40:30 – Would you go back and do it all that again? 1:41:03 – “I missed the people, the mission, and that sense of doing something that means something.”

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Today we hear the combat story of Bob Keller, a retired Special Missions Unit (Delta Force) operator who spent his entire military career in the Special Operations community. Bob began his career as a U.S. Army Ranger and Special Forces Green Beret before transitioning to the Unit. Bob spent several years as a professional golfer before finding his calling as a soldier.

As an operator, he was in more than 400 engagements and 1,000 missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other undisclosed locations. After retiring, Bob founded Gamut Resolutions, a tactical and practical shooting program that uses the Ready-Up training methodology to help students survive any situation. He also oversees a charity that provides elite shooting courses to police, for free.

In this episode, Bob provides fascinating insight into the confidence, training, and experiences of a Tier 1 operator. I hope you enjoy this Combat Story as much as I did.

Find Bob online: Instagram - @kellergamutresolutions https://www.instagram.com/kellergamutresolutions/ Facebook - GamutResolutions https://www.facebook.com/GamutResolutions/ Website - www.gamutresolutions.com Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:02 - Guest Introduction and Bio 2:00 - Interview Begins 4:50 - Relearning how to shoot after years of advanced and elite training 7:06 - Gamut Resolutions and the training classes that Bob references throughout the interview 10:45 - Where did your competitive nature come from? 12:01 - Life as a professional golfer. 13:43 - The decision to move into the military. 18:01 - “That was my passion.” 18:26 - Why was a Guard Special Forces unit so special? 21:49 - Combat Story #1: Running to gun fire. “Getting shot at isn’t scary, it’s exciting.” 25:01 - Everyone at the Unit is like this… 25:36 - “You can’t train liking to get shot at.” 32:17 - What would other operators say was your biggest strength? 38:40 - Combat Story #2: On the Ladder. This story is fantastic. 45:30 - The first time I realized “I could actually die.” 59:12 - Combat Story #3: Complacency and grenades. 1:03:44 - Combat Story #4: Shooting between your legs. 1:08:29 - Advice to a new soldier: “Don’t ever say I quit.” 1:10:37 - Advice to those who didn’t serve but still want to give back. Special Operations Care - Fund (https://soc-f.org/) and the Gamut Initiative (this is Bob’s charity organization which will be online again shortly). 1:15:04 - Gamut Resolutions and what’s coming with more CQB and fellow Tier 1 guest coaches. Also, Range Werx is a range shooting facility in Florida (find more at https://gamutresolutions.com/ and http://rangewerx.com/). 1:17:08 - What did you carry with you into combat each time? 1:18:27 - Would you do it all again? A bit of a surprise. 1:20:22 - How important your spouse and family are to your success. 1:22:09 - Golf. Then and now. 1:23:56 - How to share your own story.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we have a unique episode where I (Ryan Fugit) share my own combat story as SOB Tactical founder and retired Delta Force Sergeant Major John “Shrek” McPhee interviews yours truly.   

Do not be fooled, however. Although John helps me tell my origin story growing up overseas, and going on to be an Apache helicopter pilot and CIA officer, we hear more amazing insights from John’s career as well.   In this episode, John and I talk about combat, losing friends, growing up, and swapping stories about our experiences as a pilot and Delta operator that many outside the profession have never heard...such as ‘flying the bag’ and the ‘Mr. Goodbar’ test. John even takes a moment to put on a sweater that used to belong to Saddam Hussein.   

I hope you enjoy this wide ranging, real, and whiskey-filled interview as much as we did.

Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:21 - Episode preview 2:12 - Let the games begin 3:29 – Talking about whiskey 6:25 – Why Combat Story? 9:46 – Ryan’s origin story 14:00 – The little guy in southern Africa 15:44 – Living in Pakistan in the middle of the Gulf War 24:30 – Ryan’s experience with Channing Tatum aka Chan Tatum aka Magic Mike 26:10 – The problem with social media 25:06 - People don’t understand the premise of the American life. 30:10 – Keeping in touch with others 34:57 – “How great you were today, tomorrow they don’t need you.” 37:17 – The unfortunate truth 37:55 – The D-Day Jump 41:56 – “I believe we’re in the longest peace this planet has ever seen post World War Two.” 49:07 – What it’s like learning to hover 57:30 – Inherently dangerous training. “Injuries and loss happen every day, no matter what your level is.” 1:12:35 – Air Medals for ground guys. 1:19:21 – Importance of flexibility. “Flexibility makes you a formidable enemy.” 1:23:05 – Flying the “Bag“ and teaching yourself how to fly with one eye. 1:27:37 - The “Mr. Goodbar” Test at Delta where “If you do what has been taught to you, people won’t fight you when you walk out.“ John and one-on-one situations. 1:34:30 – Performance-based unit and how “Nobody cares as long as you’re doing your job in combat.” 1:40:20 – Ryan’s worst near-death experience story 1:47:50 - Defining failure, “acceptable failure,” and how “Wisdom is knowing better.” 1:48:51 – “You should be making mistakes. Mistakes teach you what works, what doesn’t. You got to make mistakes.” 1:55:27 – The Saddam Sweater 2:13:50 – Near death experiences. “You’re supposed to live through this near-death experience and feel like every day is a gift, but it’s not—it doesn’t feel that way.” 2:16:43 – John’s near death experience. “Never do a shoot behind, except when you have to.” 2:24:03 – “The unit in training will always give you scenarios that can’t be solved.” Find John and Ryan Online:   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sobtactical/ Instagram @combat_stories https://www.instagram.com/combat_stories/ SOB Tactical - https://sobtactical.com/ SOB TV - https://watch.sobtactical.com/ Booze N Views - https://watch.sobtactical.com/booze-n-views

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the combat story of Jeff Morris, a former Army Infantry Officer who commanded soldiers in Iraq over two brutal deployments fighting on some of the most well-known and infamous streets of Baghdad.  

NOTE: Stay tuned after Jeff's Combat Story to hear a Combat Story from one of our listeners!  

Jeff was an Infantry Platoon Leader on Haifa Street in downtown Baghdad from 2004 to 2005 with 1st CAV where his Platoon of 34 men were awarded 27 Purple Hearts. He describes a significant battle that he was a part of on September 12th, 2004, in which two Silver Stars were awarded and he received a Bronze Star w/ V Device.  

He was then a junior but highly respected Infantry Company Commander in east Baghdad during the Surge from late 2006 to summer 2007, again with 1st CAV, where he lost eight men during fighting that saw almost every Bradley and M1 tank assigned to his unit destroyed by EFPs.  

Jeff went on to document these experiences in his book, “Legion Rising: Surviving Combat and the Scars it Left Behind” and established the Legion 8 Foundation to honor the lives of the eight men lost under his command.

The Legion 8 workout is also a Hero Workout of the Day (WOD) done at hundreds of CrossFit gyms around the country.  He has previously been featured on other podcasts, including Mike Drop with Mike Ritland. I hope you enjoy this inside look at the burden of command in Iraq and Jeff’s combat story as much as I did.  

Find Jeff online:  Instagram @jeffrmorris  Book Legion Rising  Show Notes 0:00 – Intro 4:26 – The book, “Black Hawk Down.” 7:07 – The desire to be a SEAL 11:36 – “If it doesn’t make sense, don’t do it.” 13:00 – Jeff’s childhood 16:59 – The desire to serve the country 18:46 - “After I stood up for myself and took that challenge on, I wanted more.” 19:30 – The fastest guy in school 22:22 – “Boys do what they want to do. Men do what they have to do.” 28:37 – “You can’t go and create a leader of men and women in 14 weeks.” 31:03 – The role of a Platoon Leader 35:48 – The Bradley Military Vehicle 40:40 – Battle of Haifa Street 49:24 – The beauty of war 53:00 – The breezeway grenade 54:19 - “There’s a fine line between valor and stupidity and just plain luck.” 56:25 – Communicating in Battle 58:53 – September 12, 2004 (The Haifa Street Incident) 1:00:41 – Coming back to base 1:02:01 – Jeff’s Second Deployment 1:04:46 – Quotes from other podcasts about Jeff 1:05:55 – Building Camaraderie 1:12:50 – How having a child changed Jeff’s way of thinking 1:14:05 – The difficult mission 1:16:01 - “You know in that environment that you’re probably going to lose somebody.” 1:18:24 – Losing comrades 1:21:21 – Taking the dangerous route 1:24:18 – “I’m making decisions that are putting other people’s lives at greater risk.” 1:26:26 – “I’ve never had a positive thing happen in my life that came from me sitting around, waiting for somebody else to make a decision.” 1:29:12 – The Catalyst to turn things around 1:31:54 – “There’s no background music playing in combat.” 1:33:39 – A conversation with a Vietnam War Veteran 1:36:37 – The Man in the Arena 1:38:00 – Would you go back and do all that again? 1:41:48 - NEW FEATURE: A New Listener's Combat Story from Yonel Yogi Dorelis

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear another Combat Story from Elliot Ackerman, a decorated Marine infantry officer, Special Operations operator, CIA Paramilitary Officer, Silver Star and Purple Heart recipient, and best-selling author.

As many will recall, Elliot was our first guest on Combat Story long before we ever did video interviews. That first interview remains one of my favorites and covers an incredible inside look at his role as a Platoon Leader in Fallujah II in 2004 and the true grit and determination it required. It was that battle that earned him the Silver Star.

In this second interview, we pick up where we left off from Round 1 as Elliot describes being one of the first members of Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and his subsequent deployments with this unit.

We also dive into his National Bestselling book, Places and Names: On War, Revolution, and Returning, where Elliot describes revisiting, both in mind and body, his combat experiences.

It’s a fantastic read and in the interview he shares moments from the book that include returning to the very buildings he occupied in Fallujah years earlier and another experience having an unthinkable meal with a former Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) leader as they shared their memories on the frontlines fighting against each other.

Elliot is a special Marine who survived five deployments and fought at the highest levels. I hope you enjoy this next set of combat stories with Elliot as much as I did. Instagram - @elliot.ackerman Website Books Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 1:01 - Elliot introduction 4:53 – Moving to Special Operations 6:16 – Talking your way to the military school 8:32 - Force Recon vs MARSOC 9:39 – Go to Ranger School or something else? 10:51 – Strategy session to lead the class 12:59 – “I never would have guessed how profound those relationships would be throughout my life.” 31:02 – We’re two teams 34:35 – Contribution in the military 35:44 – Being a great commander 37:41 – Going on a mission leaving your child 38:35 – “I’ve come to understand what it means to be a father to my own children.” 41:32 – Leaving the military and started writing 44:57 – First Book 46:16 – Hiring former democratic activists in Syria 47:42 – Story of Al Qaeda in Iraq 48:46 – Protesting in jail 51:08 – Out of translation 52:05 – “There will be an end-of-days battle and the Armageddon is coming.” 53:52 - "We've once chased each other around a rock and hands chasing each other around the map." 55:01 – “You can either try to see someone’s humanity, or don’t ever want to see it again.” 57:04 – “He went to Cairo on a Thursday, protested on Friday, thrown into the Egyptian prison on Saturday, and get evacuated by the State Department on Sunday.” 57:49 – “It’s an experience so large that you shrink to insignificance when you are close to that experience.” 59:05 – “Has my desire to have purpose diminished over the years?” 1:00:27 – “I am one who was able to repurpose successfully.” 1:01:27 – “What makes them more insidious is this purposelessness after having these immense purposeful experiences at a very young age.” 1:03:56 – “I want to stand on this rooftop where a friend of mine have been killed.” 1:05:08 – “I wanted to go this house where our platoon have been surrounded for a day.”

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the inspirational combat story of Eric Hollen, a former Ranger in 2/75 Ranger Regiment and Green Beret with 2nd Bn, 10th Special Forces Group.   

This is a unique episode where we filmed in person for a change while Eric and I were in Graham, Texas, courtesy of Greg Coker, who many will recognize from the podcast, for an aviation hog hunt to benefit veterans and gold star families.  

In this episode, Eric shares what was going through his head when he sustained a life-altering injury on his horse farm in Tennessee and how he persevered through dark times to reach a level of excellence very few will ever see.  

Eric was awarded USA Shooting’s Paralympic Athlete of the Year two years in a row and competed in the Olympics as a shooter for the U.S.

Hollen strives to help newly injured veterans through a program called the Care Coalition which supports injured Special Operations soldiers. I hope you enjoy his inspirational story as much as I did.  

Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a short clarification from Eric.   #specialops #rangers #teamusa #olympics  Show Notes   0:00 – Intro  0:42 - Eric’s Bio  2:34 – First time holding a Firearm  6:11 – Eric’s left turn moment  11:35 – Joining the military  13:46 - “I thought I was cold and miserable, and then a snowflake went right into my ear hole.”  14:59 – “We aren’t there to hang out. We all want that scroll on our right shoulder that follows us wherever we go.”  16:30 – “I either pass, or I die trying.”  17:53 – “We go to bed every night expecting to go to war the next day.”  23:04 – Combat Story – Operation in Haiti: The mission where everybody came home  27:21 – The Catastrophic Life-Changing Injury  28:25 - “It took probably about ten years before I can talk about this without getting emotional.”  29:06 – The “Come to Jesus” moment about Career and Family  32:21 – The Injury  35:11 – “I had kind of a looming sense of doom.”  36:16 – Could you put into words the way that you felt at that time of the injury?  38:43 – “Eric, if you try to move again, you’ll die.”  39:46 – Eric’s conversation with the Lord  42:06 – From a Good Place to a Dark Place  45:15 – Eric’s Surgery  50:34 - What was it that kept you from taking the step?  50:48 – The Balloon Message  55:14 - “It’s not necessarily fighting and dying with your boys. It’s like getting hurt so bad that you can’t function at a high level.”  55:35 – What would you tell somebody who is having a similar looming sense of doom and a catastrophic life-changing event occurs?  56:36 – “I wouldn’t trade the injury for all the good it’s done to me.”  57:35 – What drove you to become an Olympian?  1:25:24 - The Paradigm Shift  1:27:32 - Is there something that you would say to people who do not have this type of injury who just see the wheelchair?  1:30:18 – “Whatever that (injury) is, it’s a choice to allow that to define you as an individual.”  1:30:38 – “Don’t let the injury define you.”  1:31:24 - Was there something you carried with you when you were in combat or in the Olympics that had sentimental value?  1:32:14 - Would you go back and do all that again?  1:33:32 - Eric clarifies a point.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the combat story of Patrick Moltrup, a former Marine, Soldier, CIA, and Special Operator who served as a Navy Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (or SWCC). Patrick served 25 years in the military, much of it in the Special Operations community.  

Patrick is one of the very few who has been a part of the Marines, the Army National Guard, Navy, and CIA. He spent most of his time with the Marines and SWCC where he worked on all kinds of boats from RHiBs to Mark Vs. As a side note, I was once picked up on these boats and, to this day, these rides remain some of the most fun I ever had, particularly the times at night (it actually reminded me of flying a Kiowa low level with the doors off)!  

Patrick was also a Navy Corpsman (medic) and attached to various units, including Gold Squadron, one of the assault forces SEAL Team Six, which we hear about in this episode.  

After leaving the military, Patrick collaborated with Jason Lilley, another former special ops warrior, to create Savage Actual, a YouTube channel and brand where Patrick and Jason discuss games, gear, and the military. They’re now working on a video game themselves, have been sponsored by a craft brewing company, and more.   

I hope you enjoy Patrick’s combat story as much as I did.

Find Patrick online at: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuCUwc_C7IxNToDXhR39HBg Website - https://www.savageactual.com/ Instagram - @savage.actual About - https://www.savageactual.com/about Show Notes 0:00 - Into 2:57 - Growing up in upstate New York. 7:08 - Why the military and the Marines Corps? (Ryan’s note: After many interviews now, it really seems that mothers do NOT like hearing their boys are going to become Marines). 22:27 - Wanted to be an 0311. 26:26 - Deployed to Somalia just before Blackhawk Down. 28:45 - How to creatively truth tell your way into a cool job. 32:32 - Why leave the Marine Corps? 39:26 - Finding your way to the CIA. 1:02:08 - SWCC mission statement. 1:04:33 - Combat Story #1, imagine your first combat experience with SWCC was with the members of Operation Red Wings (https://www.google.com/search?q=operation+red+wings&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS852US852&oq=operation+red+wing&aqs=chrome.0.0i433j69i57j0l2j69i61j69i65l3.2148j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8), known by many from the experiences recorded by Marcus Latrell in Lone Survivor. 1:14:57 - Combat Story #2 as an augmentee with Gold Squadron in Iraq (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEAL_Team_Six). 1:21:33 - Turning down an offer from likely Special Missions Unit and how hard that can be. 1:25:25 - Combat Story #3: Having to help save an enemy combatant. 1:33:13 - Savage Actual and what Patrick’s doing now. 1:41:35 - What did you carry with you while deployed? 1:43:23 - Would you do it again?

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear the combat story of Sergeant Major (ret) John “Shrek” McPhee AKA “The Sheriff of Baghdad,” who spent 20 years in the Army’s Special Operations community, from Ranger Battalion to Group to Delta Force.   

He is one of the handful of operators to have served in multiple theaters from Bosnia and South America to Iraq and Afghanistan. John’s one of a smaller group of operators to successfully execute raids in combat by himself during hundreds of solo operations.  

After leaving the military, John created SOB Tactical that helps people, law enforcement, and special operators improve shooting skills and security. He also hosts a channel called Booze N Views that talks about current events and new whiskey!   

John brings me to tears with laughter in this episode, which is just a byproduct of John’s sense of humor and way of life. I hope that like me, your jaw hurts from laughing by the end of this interview. Enjoy.  

From the website: SOB Tactical is a word of mouth based business. As such we stand ready, willing, and passionately able to serve anybody important to you. Giving them exceptional service, products, training and treating them in a very special way.

Find John Online: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sobtactical/ SOB Tactical - https://sobtactical.com/ SOB TV - https://watch.sobtactical.com/ Booze N Views - https://watch.sobtactical.com/booze-n-views Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:49 - John McPhee’s bio. 2:46 - “Talking s&*% should be a PhD in school.” 5:16 - Growing up as the little guy. 10:46 - Military history in the family. 11:40 - “I’ve always been incredibly mechanically inclined.” 15:04 - Why the infantry? That was not the intended route. 17:59 - “You can’t follow my path ‘cause I didn’t have one.” 19:07 - “I want to win.” 23:48 - “Never seen anyone run like that.” A guy John couldn’t shake. 27:34 - Combat Story #1: Jumping into Iraq and why static line jumps are so bad. 30:29 - How not to lie to people. 39:22 - Feelings on the Q Course and the route to Delta. 41:47 - How hard was Delta selection? It’s a great response! 49:48 - Where does the nickname “Shrek” come from? 52:00 - Combat Story #2: The Battle of Tora Bora. 55:37 - “Chaos is my jam…” 1:06:23 - Combat Story #3: Solo operations with The Unit. 1:11:33 - Combat Story #4: Craziest thing I’ve ever done. 1:16:44 - How you get soldiers, including the elite, to decompress after multiple hits each night. 1:18:39 - What’s a “hall pass?” 1:25:26 - Tell us about the “Pornstache.” 1:28:04 - Sheriff of Baghdad aka SOB Tactical. Where the name came from and what type of training and work SOB does. 1:37:04 - Booze N Views. https://watch.sobtactical.com/booze-n-views 1:42:17 - What did you carry with you on missions? 1:44:09 - Would you do it all again?

Today, we hear the combat story of Terry Buckler, the youngest of 56 Green Berets on one of the most dangerous and daring missions in U.S. military history, when they went 300 miles behind enemy lines into North Vietnam to rescue American POWs at the Son Tay POW camp.  Terry is part of a rare group known today as the Son Tay Raiders.  The mission does not have the intended outcome (as you’ll hear in this interview), but changes the lives and morale for hundreds of American POWs for years to come.   This is a story of true sacrifice, amazing bravery and selflessness, and some of the most impressive planning and execution you’ll ever hear. I know this sounds like hyperbole but I promise you, it is not.    The stories you’re about to hear from Terry are detailed beautifully in the book Who Will Go: Into the Son Tay POW Camp. Terry wrote this book with Cliff Westbrook, who is also part of this interview and whose father was the Air Mission Commander for one of the aircraft involved in this incredible story.    I sincerely hope you enjoy this front row seat to one of the most impressive, selfless, and expertly planned and executed operations in our military’s storied history.    Book - Who Will Go - https://www.amazon.com/Who-Will-Go-Into-Camp/dp/164990150X Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sontayraid/ Website - https://thesontayraid.com/ #Special Forces #Son Tay #Veterans #combatstory Show Notes 0:00 Intro 1:23 - Introduction of Terry and Cliff 6:36 - Terry’s childhood 15:25 - Aviation training and resourcing for the Son Tay Raid, including the new technology that made the mission possible: aerial refueling. 17:27 - Being selected for the raid. 25:46 - The situation and plight for POWs in North Vietnam at the time and the decision for a rescue. 31:45 - The Mission Statement, which is phenomenal, and the reaction of the 56 Green Berets will make your hair stand up. 45:45 - Captain Dan Turner and the relationship with Terry on the raid. 50:45 - Combat Story Planning and Son Tay Raid task organization and resources. 55:50 - Why choose 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL) for the flight route. 57:50 - What’s it like being 20 years old going into one of the most dangerous missions you can imagine for your first combat experience. 1:02:35 - Combat Story as the plan was drawn up (but did not go as planned, like any mission). 1:07:35 - Combat Story and what actually happened. 1:18:31 - This is why this mission was a success despite not finding any POWs. 1:36:43 - How do you find purpose in your life after such a significant event in your 20s. 1:40:25 - What did they carry with them in combat? 1:43:14 - Would you do it all again?

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Robin Horsfall is a former British Special Air Service (SAS) Tier 1 operator, paratrooper in 2Paras, mercenary, entrepreneur, and author.   

During his time in service, he deployed five times to Northern Ireland in brutal “Peace Keeping” operations, was part of one of the most storied and successful hostage rescue operations in the heart of London, and was part of a “one way” or “suicide” mission during the Falklands War.   

His combat is well documented in his first book, Fighting Scared, in which we describes his evolution from victim to Tier 1 operator to Warrior Poet (the title of his most recent book).  

Robin’s lessons can be applied to soldiers, leaders, parents, and children, including how to overcome a difficult childhood of abuse and a lack of male role models to become a role model to others.   

His stories are brutally honest (being bullied for years) and lighthearted (such as SAS training with Delta Force or how he and the SAS helped Princess Diana with her hair) in a way that only Brits can manage.   

Find Robin online:   Fighting Scared  Warrior Poet  Northern Ireland Vet Campaign Facebook     Wise Old Paratrooper Speaking Engagements Show Notes   0:00 - Intro  1:00 - Robin bio and introduction.  1:51 - Robin   5:01 - Difficult childhoods and the challenge of authority later in life.  8:12 - Recognizing issues with authority in other people, particularly children, when building a Karate empire.  18:58 - Why the military at age 15?  22:37 - Who were the British military vets in the early 1970s?  26:36 - The British “Paras” and what it means within the UK military.  28:24 - First combat experience was Northern Ireland.  31:57 - What was it like to do “Peace Keeping” after paratrooper training for years?  33:09 - Combat Story #1: Northern Ireland.  35:51 - Combat Story #2: “Encounter” with an IED.  42:04 - Difference between SAS (Special Ops) and conventional military.  44:55 - Team vs. Individual in SAS and the SAS process.  47:21 - Death during SAS selection.  53:48 - Combat Story #3(A): Setting the scene for an amazing hostage rescue operation. (Jump to next time stamp if you don’t want to hear the lead up to this operation).  55:53 - Combat Story #3(B): Incredibly detailed account of an SAS high visibility hostage rescue in downtown London.  1:14:09 - Combat-lite Story #3.5: Princess Diana supporting an SAS training operation. You have to hear the bit about her hair!  1:16:04 - Combat Story #4: A ‘one way” or “suicide” mission during the Falklands War. There’s some great comedy in this and lessons about what not to do.  1:25:49 - Delta training with SAS and some of the hilarity that ensues.  1:31:06 - Why title the book “Fighting Scared”?  1:32:19 - What Robin’s doing now: Veterans campaign and the Wise Old Paratrooper trilogy, plus a new book on poetry called “Warrior Poet.” 1:36:29 - What did Robin carry with him into combat.  1:37:32 - Would you do it all again?

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we hear a heartbreaking yet inspiring set of combat stories of three brothers, told by the only one to survive the post-9/11 battlefield: former Marine Beau Wise.

While serving in Afghanistan, SEAL veteran and CIA contractor Jeremy Wise was killed in an al Qaeda suicide bombing that devastated the US intelligence community (as you’ll hear in this interview and as depicted in this scene from Zero Dark Thirty and also in the book Triple Agent). 

Less than three years later, Green Beret Ben Wise was fatally wounded after volunteering for a dangerous assignment during a firefight with the Taliban.

Ben was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, while Jeremy received the Intelligence Star AND a star on the CIA’s Memorial Wall, which I can attest to.

Our guest, Beau, is the only known American service member to be pulled from the battlefield after losing two brothers in Afghanistan. This was a challenging interview but one that I’m eternally grateful that I was allowed to do.

The account you’re about to hear is detailed in the incredible book, Three Wise Men: A Navy SEAL, a Green Beret, and How Their Marine Brother Became a War's Sole Survivor, written by Beau Wise and Tom Sileo. 

Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:47 - Beau bio. 1:50 - Interview begins. 3:05 - “My mom was a walking encyclopedia of American conflicts.” 5:25 - Introducing Ben and Jeremy as kids. 10:12 - Life shaping event for Beau and his brothers. 12:25 - How on Earth do three brothers choose three different branches of service and become a SEAL, a Green Beret, and a Marine? 18:30 - How your mom might react after signing up for the Marine Corps. 22:10 - Beau’s description as an 0331 Marine. 27:57 - The loss of the first Wise brother, Jeremy, who was one of the seven CIA personnel killed at FOB Chapman in Khost, Afghanistan on Dec 30th, 2009. 33:28 - Mindset after a devastating loss and being sent back into the breach. 35:55 - Advice on how to handle the loss of someone close in combat. 40:18 - Beau’s experience identifying an IED emplacement in Marjah. 47:25 - A phenomenal training and then combat story from Jeremy Wise in his time as a SEAL. 49:55 - A combat story from Ben Wise during his time as a Green Beret medic and sniper. 54:15 - What happens after Beau learns of Ben’s passing. 56:48 - What did Beau, Ben, and Jeremy carry into combat for good luck. 1:01:30 - Would you do it all again, after all the pain and suffering?

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Eddie Penney is an elite Tier 1 operator and entrepreneur. Eddie was a Marine, Navy SEAL (in SEAL Team 2), and member of the storied Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU).

This is an incredible inside look at the mind, perseverance, experience, and journey of those who serve at the very tip of the spear, including the moments that seemingly broke Eddie and made him who is today. Eddie shares insights that many would not, including the loss and courage that those of us who were never part of the Tier 1 community can only imagine.

Since retiring from the military, Eddie founded and runs The Contingent Group, which provides risk mitigation services and executive protection to clients. He also created the UNAFRAID mindset and has an app called The Den where people can gather to share inspirational stories and seek motivation from others.

You’ll be excited to learn that Eddie is releasing a book with Keith Wood about Eddie’s experiences that’s sure to be an incredible read. Instagram @eddie.penney  Unafraid and The Den  The Contingent Group Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:43 - Eddie Bio 1:55 - Interview begins 2:17 - Where did Eddie’s ambition come from? 5:02 - Hard to believe that Eddie ever quit anything. It’s a great lesson though. 16:52 - A key loss in Eddie’s life: his swimming coach Larry Lyons (who still has an award given out each year to the best coaches in Ohio). 19:25 - Marine Corps “boot camp was awesome.” 21:28 - A life changing event (“a switch” from boy to man) at boot camp in Parris Island, South Carolina. 30:18 - Decision to move from the Marines to the SEAL teams. 31:57 - An experience that almost pushed Eddie out of the military trying to get to Marine Sniper school. 36:34 - Another great story of how one man can leave a lasting impact on you by just believing in you. 44:18 - A scary gang attack in Chicago that could have been much worse. 52:40 - Combat Story #1 with SEAL Team 2 going into a house on an operation. 56:03 - How do you find your way to Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU)? A description of assessing into the Tier 1 world. 59:58 - Intangible quality unique to DEVGRU that operators from other SEAL teams might not have. 1:01:23 - Combat Story #2 and how combat became like “crack.” 1:06:20 - Combat Story #3 when moving to assault a building. 1:08:06 - Combat Story #4 when a mortar landed nearby in Mosul, Iraq. 1:10:33 - Combat Story #5 where Eddie is in the stack and he felt a need to move while on an operation in Iraq. This is a tremendous story for those who also battle with “survivor’s guilt.” 1:20:19 - Eddie describes “dark seasons” when he dealt with the emotional and psychological challenges that come from the Tier 1 community. 1:25:18 - “Unafraid” motivational mindset with a reference to the Skillet song “Lions,” the idea behind it and how to take on big plans beginning with Step One.  1:30:52 - Contingent Group’s origins and focus now (spoiler...it sounds awesome). 1:35:32 - What Eddie carried on missions that had significant meaning to him. 1:37:11 - Would you do it again?

John Stryker Meyer was a pioneer in the special operations community who served two tours as a MACV-SOG operator and team leader in Vietnam. John led small covert Spike Teams “across the fence” on clandestine operations into Laos and Cambodia in what many now refer to as the secret war in the Vietnam conflict.

John shares what it was like signing up for this covert world, signing a 20 year secrecy agreement, and how the aircraft that brought him to his first FOB then loaded a small special ops team that was never heard from again.

It was an ominous start, to say the least. In one unbelievable battle, John describes the enemy stacking dead bodies in an effort to get an elevated firing position on John’s team and in another, the enemy uses a tactic where they get so close to the U.S. positions that aircrews won’t be able to drop napalm rounds.

John has three books that chronicle both his stories and those of his fellow SOG operators (listed below) and he’s been featured in various interviews, including several with Jocko Willink, and is currently building his own podcast with Jocko to tell the stories of other members of the SOG community. John and Jocko are also collaborating on a video game based on SOG missions. It’s amazing John lived through the experiences he shares with us and he’s a living testament to the courage so many showed in Vietnam. Books Across the Fence On the Ground SOG Chronicles Show Notes 3:53 - “Pushing things a little bit” as a kid. The book, The Green Berets influenced John’s decision to join Special Forces. 6:21 - How an eye doctor changed John’s life trajectory and sent him from being a pilot to being a SOG operator. 9:51 - Glad he missed the Korean War because it was so hard. Referenced Pork Chop Hill. 12:45 - John’s path from enlisting straight to Special Forces. 14:57 - An “offer” to join the elite. 16:55 - “We go to the safe house that night…” (Reference to MIKE Force  and Project DELTA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_DELTA) 27:11 - Description and composition of a “Spike Team” and the “One-Zero” call sign. 44:11 - First contact in Vietnam at “Echo 4” 55:55 - First confirmed kill. 58:10 - What is a “Covey” in this war? 1:07:55 - Blacking out while attached to a rope attached to a helicopter in flight. 1:13:47 - The relationship with the indigenous forces. 1:23:44 - A Thanksgiving mission to find THREE NVA Divisions. 1:42:57 - What did John carry for good luck? 1:43:56 - Would you do it all again? 1:46:34 - Exciting news for what John is working on now, including a new podcast hosted by John to interview other SOG members that Jocko will then share on his social media. Also a video game coming out based on SOG.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Jeff Depatie is a retired Canadian Special Operations Forces JTF2 sniper and assaulter. For those who aren’t familiar, JTF2 is Canada’s Tier 1 military force.

Jeff deployed multiple times, both as an infantryman in the regular Canadian forces and again as a member of the elite JTF2.

After leaving the military, Jeff created a company called The Special Forces Experience, which is a highly tailored process designed for men who have achieved their own version of excellence but want to know how far they can really push their limits.

Jeff shared that this is such a demanding course that one of the recent courses didn’t successfully graduate any of the candidates!

In this episode, we dive into some of Jeff’s combat experiences and also spend time hearing Jeff draw on his lessons learned from the Tier 1 military community and all the research that’s gone into creating the Special Forces Experience surrounding human performance.

The Special Forces Experience Instagram @jeffdepatie_ and @specialforcesexperience Show Notes 0:00 - Intro kick-off story. 0:20 - Jeff Depatie bio and introduction. 1:31 - Welcome to the show. 4:34 - Family military background included a Scotsman from WWII fighting from North Africa through Europe. 11:11 - JTF2 (Joint Task Force 2) description which is the Canadian military Tier 1 element (https://tinyurl.com/ac48x7c5). 14:27 - Description of Canadian military basic and advanced training (like US Basic and AIT). 18:48 - True cold weather training for the Canadian military. 27:51 - Using visualization techniques to improve your capabilities. 36:42 - Combat mission #1 - Jeff’s first combat experience moving from Kandahar. 49:38 - Combat mission #2 - Jeff describes a more difficult combat experience. 56:02 - Canadian Special Operations organization and units. 1:06:15 - Ailments and injuries from years in the Tier 1 community. 1:10:04 - What Jeff carried for good luck in combat. 1:11:13 - Would you do it all again? 1:13:58 - Jeff describes the Special Forces Experience (thespecialforcesexperience.com) and his life after transitioning out of the military.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

John "Tilt" Stryker Meyer was a pioneer in the special operations community who served two tours as a MACV-SOG operator (what many might call the original Tier 1 unit) and team leader in Vietnam. John led small covert Spike Teams “across the fence” on clandestine operations into Laos and Cambodia in what many now refer to as the secret war in the Vietnam conflict.

John shares what it was like joining this covert world, signing a 20 year secrecy agreement, and how the aircraft that brought him to his first FOB then loaded a small special ops team that was never heard from again. It was an ominous start, to say the least. In one unbelievable battle, John describes the enemy stacking dead bodies in an effort to get an elevated firing position on John’s team. In another, the enemy uses a tactic where they get so close to the U.S. positions that aircrews won’t be able to drop napalm rounds.

John has three books that chronicle both his stories and those of his fellow SOG operators (listed below) and he’s been featured in various interviews, including several with Jocko Willink, and is currently building his own podcast with Jocko to tell the stories of other members of the SOG community (can't wait!). John and Jocko are also collaborating on a video game based on SOG missions.

It’s amazing John lived through the experiences he shares with us and he’s a living testament to the courage so many showed in Vietnam. Books: Across the Fence On the Ground SOG Chronicles Show Notes 3:53 - “Pushing things a little bit” as a kid. The book, The Green Beretsby Robin Moore influenced John’s decision to join Special Forces. 12:45 - John’s path from enlisting straight to Special Forces. 14:57 - An “offer” to join the elite. 16:55 - “We go to the safe house that night…” (Reference to MIKE Force and Project DELTA ) 22:55 - First “gut check” while flying in a South Vietnamese H-34 helicopter into his FOB. Spike Team Idaho gets on the helo as John gets off. 27:11 - Description and composition of a “Spike Team” and the “One-Zero” call sign. 44:11 - First contact in Vietnam at “Echo 4” that includes hours-long firefights against an enemy stacking dead bodies. 55:55 - First confirmed kill. 59:46 - Carrying a grenade as a last resort to avoid being taken prisoner. 1:20:00 - Being so close to the enemy that they “touched” John’s boot in the middle of the night. 1:23:44 - A Thanksgiving mission to find THREE NVA Divisions. 1:42:57 - What did John carry for good luck?  1:43:56 - Would you do it all again?  1:46:34 - Exciting news for what John is working on now, including a new podcast hosted by John to interview other SOG members that Jocko will then share on his social media. Also a video game coming out based on SOG.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Dale Comstock is a former Delta Force Operator, Green Beret, Paramilitary Operative, entrepreneur, mercenary, and author who has also appeared on prime time television. Dale has fought in almost all major US combat operations since Grenada through to Afghanistan, to include being one of the youngest members of 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta.

Dale has been involved in some of America’s highest visibility operations like the hostage rescue of Ambassador Kurt Muse (in Operation Acid Gambit) and dozens of missions in multiple combat theaters that will likely remain in the shadows for years to come.

He’s written three books, including American Badass (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DP619WE/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1), and is writing a fourth on his more recent experiences. He’s created several successful businesses, including Tier1 Performance Coaching (check out this awesome performance coaching trailer https://youtu.be/3CKoGy8jTco) and Strategic Outcomes.

Dale is a force of nature who truly lives by the performance coaching mantras he preaches. I hope you enjoy his energy and stories as much as I did. Enjoy. www.tier1performancecoaching.com www.strategicoutcomesindonesia.com https://daleamericanbadass.wixsite.com/mysite Show Notes 0:00 - Sound bite 0:50 - Combat Story Intro 1:10 - Dale Comstock bio. 1:57 - Show begins with Dale Comstock. 6:51 - Staying engaged to stay out of trouble. 8:10 - The two personality types in The Unit or Delta Force. 11:40 - Dale’s military family and background. 14:23 - Breaking his father’s heart when he enlisted. His father, though, later evolved a mentor. 17:21 - What’s your purpose? Dale’s two performance coaching questions. 19:15 - Six mentors in Dale’s life. 35:00 - Dale’s first experience in combat in Grenada with the 2/325th Infantry in the 82nd. 38:01 - Two combat missions that Dale remembers most. 39:21 - Dale’s journey to becoming one of the youngest members ever in The Unit. 42:31 - Dale’s role with The Unit in the raid on Modelo Prison to rescue Ambassador Kurt Muse in Operation Acid Gambit. 49:50 - The dangers of being too close to a flash bang. 55:11 - Leveraging “Autogenic Conditioning” to improve himself as a kid and then using that with Delta. 1:03:33 - A great story of motivation that changed Dale’s life during a shooting course. 1:15:16 - How to use autogenic training in an office. 1:23:59 - How to know who will succeed at Delta. 1:27:57 - How Delta selection brought even Dale to tears. 1:32:00 - Dale’s two worst moments in combat in Iraq and Yemen. 1:42:22 - Being a mercenary in Yemen. 1:52:45 - The two items that Dale carried into combat for good luck (both are great). 1:53:50 - Reference to a “beta-male.” 1:58:45 - Would you do it all again? 2:01:20 - Dale’s upcoming work, to include another book, and work in Tier1 Performance Coaching.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Greg “Gravy” Coker is a legend from the elite 160th Night Stalkers, the Army’s Special Operations Aviation Regiment (aka SOAR). He’s a long-time Tier 1 Gun Pilot who flew AH-6 Little Birds, AH-64 Apaches, and AH-1 Cobras in multiple combat theaters, providing direct support for 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta aka Delta Force, 75th Ranger Regiment, and other Special Operators.

Greg logged 7,400 hours in his career, including 1,500 hours of combat time across 11 deployments, and was in the first strike packages that went into Afghanistan and Iraq. Greg reached the pinnacle of the military aviation profession by serving as both a Flight Lead and Instructor Pilot in the most coveted and lethal rotary wing unit in the US military.

He survived a combat shootdown while laying down cover for Special Operators in Iraq during the first daylight operation for 160th since Operation Gothic Serpent in 1993 (aka Blackhawk Down).

Since leaving the military, Greg has written a memoir about these experiences and more titled “Death Waits in the Dark” and has a children’s book coming out with his daughter called “V is for Veterans.”

Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 2:25 - Watching the “Helicopter War” in Vietnam. 8:54 - A “very kind judge” changed Greg’s life (this is a story Greg’s never told publicly and well worth the listen!). 13:30 - Flight School Class 89-15 and selected guns (Cobras and then AH-64 Apaches). 15:38 - First assigned to 5/17 Cav in Korea flying Cobras and then moved to A Co, 1-101st Spectres. 20:50 - Seeing “little black helicopters” flying around Fort Campbell. 21:16 - Comparison between flying Cobras, Apaches, and Little Birds. 23:09 - The “Standard” of being on target plus or minus 30 seconds with a map, a compass, and a clock. This is an incredibly difficult standard in aviation terms. 24:56 - This section is for the aviation nerds (like myself) comparing speed, maneuverability, and build of different choppers. 27:02 - The selection process for aviation’s Tier 1 element: 160th. 36:19 - First combat experience was 2001 in Afghanistan with the first boots on the ground and in contact within four minutes. 40:43 - Greg describes a classic AH-6 Gun engagement and what “target, torque, trim” means and why a grease pencil mark is important. 50:00 - The relationship between 160th pilots and Delta Operators and Rangers. 53:00 - Description of fighting at Haditha Dam in March 2003 supporting 3/75 Rangers. This involved continuous engagements for eight hours going through 11 loads of ammo. 1:05:18 - How to handle the torque of a GAU-19 (three barrel .50 cal gatling gun) on an aircraft. 1:06:40 - Living through a shootdown in broad daylight in Iraq covering Special Operators. 1:25:18 - Dealing with Imposter Syndrome despite being a legend in the community. 1:28:10 - How a long-time elite gun pilot can also have PTSD. 1:33:50 - What did Greg carry into combat for good luck (these are some good ones!). 1:35:28 - After all the gun fights, crashes, PTSD, and time away from home, would you do it all again? 1:36:01 - Greg and his daughter are working on a new book called V for Veteran for kids using military references to teach the alphabet. Also, Death Waits in the Dark will also be available soon on Audible (with Greg’s own voice narrating it!).

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Thom Shea is a retired Navy SEAL, sniper, and Senior Chief who served with and led SEALs in multiple combat tours from Kosovo to Iraq to Afghanistan, including brutal fighting in Helmand Province for which he was awarded the Silver Star.   

During this fighting, not only was he leading other SEALs through some of the most challenging combat engagements of our time, but he also had a fascinating sniper on sniper engagement in which he went up against a very accurate and capable foreign fighter sniper.  After Afghanistan, Thom oversaw the famed SEAL Sniper course. 

Since leaving the SEALs, Thom and his wife Stacy conduct intensive leadership events for fortune 500 companies. He has written two books, including an incredible memoir (Unbreakable) that gives a firsthand account of the life of a SEAL in combat.   

His books and this interview are chalked full of lessons for leaders and soldiers alike. If you enjoyed Todd Opalski’s interview, you’re going to love Thom’s story and way of life.

Unbreakable Book & Leadership

Show Notes:  2:16 - Starting out. Unbreakable. 3:40 - Growing up hunting, trapping, and outside in one of the ‘best times to be a kid in America’ making $6K at 9 years old. 9:09 - Training SEAL Snipers. Half arrived never having touched a gun, which is good for shooting. 11:41 - Thom comes from a “horrifically military” family drawing a veteran lineage through to the beginnings of America. 14:33 - How to deal with failing out of West Point and following a dream to become a SEAL rather than following someone else’s path. 18:15 - Perseverance in fighting to become a SEAL and failing BUDS four times. 23:45 - “Oh, you failed again,” from family after failing out of BUDS. 28:42 - If you ever failed in what you believe is your dream or been told no and need some inspiration to keep going, listen to this. After having failed out four times from BUDS, Thom would sit in the Admiral’s office for his lunch break for TWO years to request authorization to return. He eventually completed Class 207. 32:20 - What is the “Internal Dialogue” and why is it important? When you do difficult things, it’s not about how hard the thing is, but how you beat yourself down in the process. 38:32 - First experience in combat is the beginning of the air war in Kosovo doing a rescue as an E-5 SEAL Team 2 Sniper to rescue Chris Hill, the U.S. Ambassador in Macedonia. Described as a ‘comical series of the dumbest things that could possibly happen.’ 42:18 - First time seeing the ‘atrocities of war.’ 45:07 - What does it mean to be a “breacher” on a SEAL team? 47:08 - First trigger pull and kill in combat was described rather ‘insignificant’ and felt like training. 51:07 - Thom’s most difficult deployment was in 2009 when he was an E-7 Chief. 1:02:27 - Six MH-47s dropped 200 Special Operations and Special Forces into a single battle in Afghanistan. 1:09:57 - In the last moments that you live, you realize needing and being needed by others when you have nothing left. 1:12:36 - The A-10 is ‘the greatest combat machine in the history of combat machines.’ 1:14:20 - How leadership can help operators after having lived through hell and killing 200+ Taliban. 1:31:50 - Sniper-on-Sniper engagement. 1:44:01 - Was there something you carried into combat that meant something to you? 1:44:41 - Would you do it all again?

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LTC (Ret.) Dan “Two Dogs” Hampton was a career fighter pilot who flew F-16s in multiple wars from the first Gulf War to Kosovo to Operation Iraqi Freedom over a 20 year career. He’s a fighter pilot to the core who earned four DFCs and eight Air Medals with Valor across 151 combat missions and is a graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School and Navy’s Top Gun.

Dan’s experience hunting SAMs and flying 500 knots below 300’ give a surreal perspective of life inside the cockpit. He describes his experience from a young, unafraid 25 year old LT flying in Iraq in 1991 when he first “saw the elephant” to the mature flight lead putting his own life on the line decades later, again in Iraq but against a more advanced enemy.

He easily balances the near death adrenaline rushes that come at Mach speed with the light-hearted post-flight activities we all expect in the elite fighter pilot community.

Since retiring from service, Dan has written a bestselling memoir (Viper Pilot) and multiple novels and other non-fiction books, including national bestsellers Lords of the Sky and The Mercenary. His most recent book, Operation Vengeance, came out in late 2020.

A frequent guest analyst on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC discussing foreign affairs, military, aviation, and intelligence issues, he has published in Aviation History, the Journal of Electronic Defense, Air Force Magazine, Vietnam magazine, and Airpower magazine, and written several classified tactical works for the USAF Weapons Review.

You can find Dan on Facebook and his books here. 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - Dan’s bio. 2:14 - Aviation inspiration? Why become a fighter pilot? 3:36 - Why the Air Force and not the Marines like your father and grandfather? 4:53 - “It never crossed my mind to fail.” 6:04 - ‘Seeing the Elephant.’ A reference to seeing combat for the first time. 7:41 - Air Force Instructor Pilots and the ‘FAR Line’ (Fighter, Attack, Reconnaissance). 9:54 - First combat experience in the first Gulf War. 11:28 - Stationed in Turkey for the Gulf War. 12:52 - The F-16 role as a SAM hunter (SA-8, SA-6, by Srđan Popović). 19:54 - Post-first combat flight and antics that take place at an O Club. 24:56 - Description of an incredible post-9/11 mission in Iraq. 35:31 - Call Sign “Two Dogs.” This one is not PG-rated. 37:41 - Dan’s good luck charm/talisman that he carried on his missions is PRICELESS. 41:04 - Would you do it again? 42:12 - If you could fly any aircraft, what would it be? The Chance Vought F4U Corsair.

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Todd Opalski is a retired Marine (NCO and Officer), Scout Sniper, Force Recon Operator, Delta Operator, Special Operations Commander, and entrepreneur. After 26 years in the military, he lived the startup experience in Silicon Valley before standing up Camp Zen Commando, a Costa Rican retreat to help people optimize their lives and be prepared for the uncertainties of tomorrow.

If you love the Marine Corps or The Citadel, you will LOVE this episode. In fact, the Marine Corps might just play this on a loop for potential recruits because Todd makes it hard not to want to sign-up.

Todd shares lessons that can be applied to young and seasoned officers, new recruits enlisting today, and civilian leaders trying to break through. He has an infectious positivity that makes you envious of his outlook on life.

He truly was part of the elite Tier 1 units, successfully completed Marine Force Recon selection TWICE, loved Ranger School so much he said he would do it again, crossed the berm into Iraq, fought in Fallujah II, and then lived in the special ops community for years in the post-9/11 era.

Todd is a true professional, leader, and inspiration. 0:00 - Intro 3:40 - “Hard work ethic. Show no emotion. Eat all weakness. That made me a perfect candidate for the US Marines.” 5:58 - “Very Tactical” fishing with dad. “First exposure to military ops.” 7:56 - “Fear of failure.” 8:20 - “Studied Combat...But I never studied Peace.” 12:00 - Marine inspiration and signing up. 13:40 - “You stupid kid.” Todd’s dad after hearing Todd was going into the Marine Corps. 19:55 - First look at Scout Snipers. 22:11 - Working for Colonel John Ripley, who promoted Todd to both Corporel and Second Lieutenant. 24:18 - “The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat.” 24:54 - What makes the Marine Corps sniper training the elite? 30:08 - Acquisition of basic skills from Infantry to Scout Sniper to Force Recon. 39:44 - Going back to school at The Citadel. 40:40 - Marine Officer Training MCDP-1 Warfighting. 50:20 - First deployment going into 2003 Iraq. 53:56 - “Leadership is all about anxiety management.” 59:00 - Led Back to Special Ops 1:03:35 - Invited to Delta 1:07:44 - Create Relationships, Not Networks 1:11:00 - Spiritual Brokenness as the biggest blocker for Transitioning Vets. 1:18:23 - Building Camp Zen Commando. 1:20:45 - Learning a New Language and Skill 1:29:02 - The Challenge of Command. Pushing back on leadership and then being second-guessed by your team. How to lead through that. 1:30:45 - Marine jokes while at Delta Force. 1:34:57 - Hiked the Appalachian Trail 1:41:07 - Always carried an American Flag and his Ranger Tab. 1:41:27 “Tough times don’t last. Tough men do.”

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Jack Murphy is an Army Special Operations veteran who served as a Sniper and Team Leader in 3rd Ranger Battalion and as a Senior Weapons Sergeant in 5th Special Forces Group, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Since leaving the military, he’s broken stories on defense and special operations topics around the world as an investigative journalist, co-founded the website SOFREP, wrote four military fiction novels (Deckard Novels) and a memoir (Murphy's Law), and now writes for Connecting Vets and hosts the podcast The Team House. 

He nearly died in uniform, has been smuggled across international borders, was detained by a foreign intelligence service, met Bashar al-Asad in Syria, and more. 

Here's where you can find him: Facebook - JackMurphyAuthor Twitter - @JackMurphyRGR Instagram - jackmcmurph Show Notes 00:00 Intro 7:47 - Patriot Games movie propaganda! 20:26 - Army Sniper School - Ghillie suits, stalking, rifle, patience, but not like Vietnam stories. 22:30 - 1st Combat in Afghanistan - Landed in Bagram AFB 2004, then moved to Khowst. As a sniper, used the SR-25. 24:24 - Direct Action Sniper in a Ranger Batt. 26:53 - 1st time outside the wire. HVT op with C Co, 3/75. 30:58- 1st Combat Trigger Pull 39:48 - Close-in Firefight. 45:30 - I Don’t Have Anything to Prove 58:53 - Ops from a Little Bird (MH-6). 1:02:25- Ranger vs. SF Mentality 1:12:46 - SF Combat Ops - Mechanical vs Explosive breaching. 1:16:40 - Transition to Journalism 1:19:19 - Smuggled into Syria 1:23:12 - “Does any of it matter?” 1:30:17 - Would You Do It Again? 1:33:09 - The Team House Podcast. Books, Show, Articles.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Cesar “Rico” Rodriguez is an Air Force Colonel (ret.) and former fighter pilot in an elite group among veterans: he is one of three pilots with three air-to-air shootdowns since Vietnam. His dog fights and experiences from the cockpit of an F-15C Eagle taking down MiGs in both Desert Storm and Kosovo provide a first-hand account of just how challenging aerial combat can be.

In this Combat Story, Rico describes his journey from a kid in Puerto Rico to the Citadel to the Air Force and, finally, to his current life at Raytheon continuing to help the Air Force win the next air war. 2:11 - Where the call sign “Rico” came from. Unsurprisingly, it was coined at a bar. 6:35 - A description of F-15C aircraft tail number 114, an image behind Rico in the interview that you can see on the YouTube interview. Rico flew this aircraft for his first two shootdowns. 10:05 - Rico’s father - an Army Air Defense Officer - also had a desire to fly but Rico’s journey to fly had a different origin. 16:50 - Flying certain aircraft and profiles felt more like a team sport than others where you had to work as a team. 21:48 - Rico’s first aircraft was the A-10 but he then worked his way back to flying the F-15. 23:13 - Being part of a small group (Latinos Unidos) from Puerto Rico as an Air Force pilot and cadet at The Citadel. 25:15 - What was it like to be a fighter pilot in the Cold War? 31:14 - A description of Red Flag intense and real-world training scenarios as Nellis AFB. 33:55 - “Master arm hot” means all weapons are hot and raises the intensity factor. 34:23 - Transition from A-10 to F-15 personally and within the Air Force fighter community. 40:38 - The experience being part of the Panama Campaign in 1989 and it was the first time to have live weapons and open an Air Tasking Order. 49:14 - First hostile contact and shootdown on January 16th with Craig “Mole” Underhill southwest of Baghdad. 53:18 - Description of a Split-S maneuver. 1:02:00 - A classic “two circle fight” and the red baron’s description of a two vs one circle fight. 1:04:58 - The only course of action is to defeat the missile when it’s coming at you. 1:10:18 - A story of how lessons learned authored by those who fought it can change as it goes up the chain of command. 1:14:30 - The lethality of the AMRAAM missile and how it revolutionized fighting. 1:17:57 - First kill of the Kosovo War was at night and at long range and a lesson learned to not look at the missile coming off the rail when at night. 1:21:31 - Rico’s last flight teaming up in training with the youngest pilot in the Squadron going up against four Gen 4 fighters. 1:24:00 - Flying with a flag and a coin. 1:25:00 - Would you do it again and the next generation of fighter pilots?

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Tom Satterly is a Command Sergeant Major (retired) who spent 20 years in the Army’s elite Delta Force (aka “The Unit”). His 25 year Army career took him from the storied Battle of Mogadishu (Operation Gothic Serpent aka “Black Hawk Down”) and the capture of Saddam Hussein in Operation Red Dawn.

He rose up through the ranks in Delta to leading troops through multiple OIF deployments executing multiple hits per night for months at a time. 

The brutal fighting and optempo took a toll on Tom as he lived and survived with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) for years. After retiring, Tom and his wife Jen created the All Secure Foundation (allsecurefoundation.org), which assists special operations active duty and combat veterans, and their families, in recovery of PTS through education, awareness, resources for healing, workshop retreats, and PTS resiliency training. 

His book All Secure: A Special Operations Soldier's Fight to Survive on the Battlefield and the Homefront chronicles his trials and experiences from combat to treatment and provides some insight into the secretive world of Delta Force. 

He and Jen and their work can be found at: Website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.

Show Notes 5:07 - The decision to join the Army on the way to a John Cougar Mellancamp concert. 15:59 - Influence of a Hungarian Platoon Sergeant and exposure to unique training with the French, Germans, and Swiss. 18:31 - The decision to become a Green Beret with an unusual twist of stolen valor (17:54). 22:56 - Finding the way to Delta Force. 27:15 - The psychologists at Delta noticed the desire to keep climbing the next mountain. 30:26 - Handling missing Panama and the Gulf War and wanting to test your mettle. 33:10 - Surviving “The Long Walk” and Delta selection. 44:01 - First combat experience was in Mogadishu felt like the movies, until October 3rd (Black Hawk Down). 49:48 - Description of Battle of Mogadishu aka Black Hawk Down. 56:31 - Thinking “this is it” and coming to peace with the idea that you might not make it out alive. 57:31 - Running the Mogadishu Mile with no cover and no ammo. 1:02:04 - A description of the physiological aspects of PTS and the tipping point. How to stop being angry all the time (1:02:48). 1:06:51 - Resiliency training to help pre-combat SF recruits prepare for what’s coming in combat. 1:10:48 - Becoming a leader responsible for other’s souls. 1:14:20 - Still judge myself everyday. Making mistakes is even worse.  1:16:41 - Starting to slow down and have the younger operators take a weight off. 1:18:32 - The reality of near death experiences and how luck plays into your life. 1:20:14 - “War is disgusting.” 1:21:41 - The future of the All Secure Foundation and moving to online content and virtual therapy. 1:24:03 - Would you do it again? 1:25:04 - Jen Satterly’s book Arsenal of Hope will be coming out in February 2021.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

This is the Combat Story of Elliot Ackerman, a former Marine who served five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as an infantry and special operations officer, for which he received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart. 

As a Marine, he led a platoon in Fallujah II during some of the most brutal fighting in the post-9/11 era. 

His story will resonate to anyone who fought in urban combat and, in particular, the leadership challenges small unit leaders face, especially newly minted officers. His platoon’s experience in Fallujah II is exactly what you think about when you hear stories of this operation and included losing half his Marines in less than 24 hours.

After his time in the Marine Corps, Elliot also served as a paramilitary officer in the CIA.

After his time in uniform, Elliot became a novelist and journalist. He has published five books and his fiction and essays have appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New Republic, The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, Ecotone and others. He is also a contributor to The Daily Beast. 

His books include: Green on Blue: A Novel, Dark at the Crossing, Waiting for Eden, Places and Names: On War, Revolution, and Returning, Red Dress in Black & White.   Show Notes: 9:39 - Never understood war until I had kids. 14:22 - Why the Marines? 20:57 - The best advice I never took. 23:47 - Discussion with Doug Zembiec, who was later killed in Iraq, for advice. 31:35 - SGT Bonatie pushing back on a young PL. 37:10 - Description of Dean Long and the GPWD (Great Patriotic War in the Desert). 42:53 - Phase Line Fran in Fallujah (battlefield map ; Marine Corps' battle).  48:35 - Sunny Risler led his mobile platoon through the battle to help MEDEVAC some of Elliot’s wounded out. 49:22 - Pushing back with leadership when your unit is exposed. 51:21 - Nearly hit by a PKM. “It’s suicide if we go out there.” 55:50 - Combat leadership sucker punch. 56:05 - Going from 46 to 21 combat effective Marines. 1:04:29 - The bravest thing I ever saw in Fallujah. 1:08:17 - One of the most challenging things: talking to a Marine who couldn’t go anymore.

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This is the Combat Story of JT Snow, a long time and quintessential AH-64 Apache gun pilot. 

JT is a Chief Warrant Officer 4 (Retired) who flew over 5,000 flight hours, including 2,000 hours in combat across four deployments: two to Iraq and two to Afghanistan. 

From the cockpit, he supported conventional and U.S. and coalition special operations forces during intense engagements, often pioneering new tactics and technologies to lethal effect.

He finished his career as a Task Force (Battalion) Standardizations Pilot (SP) during two year-long combat deployments, where he was the Task Force's senior Pilot responsible for the standardization and execution of combat operations for all assigned to the Task Force, which included OH58D, CH47F, UH60L and AH64D aircraft. 

JT's children followed in his footsteps, including fighting from inside the cockpit as the next generation of aviator. Show Notes: 3:13 - Flight school and wanted guns and got Cobras and then went into A Model Apaches the very next day. 4:16 - Why JT chose gun ships? 6:43 - Gun choice between JT and Mark Beechum. 11:17 - What was the Apache mission from the beginning? 18:28 - When JT felt he was a part of the brotherhood. 26:05 - A description of what garrison life life is like in a flight unit. 28:23 - JT’s experience on 9/11 and the fear of missing the war. 32:28 - Stanley Pebsworth and Not a Good Day to Die. 33:13 - How officers (commissioned and warrant) homestead in Aviation units. 34:07 - JT describes his deployment cycles: Iraq Oct 2003. 36:56 - JT describes being the BN SP when the unit received MTADS and advanced FLIR. 38:38 - Aviation as an inherently dangerous job. When did JT first realize that. 41:44 - JT being three steps ahead. How did you develop your ability to get ahead of the aircraft. 44:03 - By the 3rd deployment, JT was at the top of his game. 47:03 - Description of JT’s first flight in combat. Took place in Samara as JT was the Company SP. 55:35 - JT describes what’s going on in his mind after his first engagement. 56:47 - What was the toughest deployment and engagement. 58:37 - JT describes his experience in the cockpit during the worst engagement of his career. 59:43 - JT and co-pilot Adam Marik discussing what to do in the cockpit. 61:13 - “Adam, are you okay getting in between where the bad guys are and the Chinooks...” 1:01:58 - “Only time I’ve ever been scared in the cockpit.” 1:04:06 - Ground forces took an RPG to the face. 1:06:20 - F-15 popping flares without coordination at 700’. 1:09:39 - Recollection of a vehicle hit by an IED and what happened. 1:10:21 - The second deployment for JT to Afghanistan was with the Australian SAS doing a lot of deliberate operations. 1:16:52 - Any gear I had to have with me. Two good luck charms: a half broken Budweiser bottle opener; the other was a St. Michael card given to him by a Chaplain that JT’s son took to Mosul. JT also carried a folded American flag on all four deployments that his son took with him. 1:18:24 - The next chapter of JT’s life where JT steps out of the cockpit and then his son goes to the same war zone that JT fought in. 1:24 - Conversations between JT and his son before he deployed to get him prepared. 1:24:38 - Would you do it all again? 1:26:34 - JT critiquing himself over a mission in which JT and I responded to our base being under attack. 1:27:49 - Near mid-air collision. He almost lost me for a minute.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Chris Baity is a former Marine K-9 handler who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

During his career in the Marine Corps, he helped pioneer and shape dog handling tactics and training, not just for the Marines, but also joint efforts across the military. As a military working dog handler, he supported ground units throughout combat theaters, including trojan horse operations with sniper teams and door-to-door house clearings.

In one instance, Chris and his dog uncovered a weapons cache in a scene eerily similar to one depicted in the book and movie, American Sniper. Chris and his wife Amanda went on to found the hugely successful Semper K-9, a non-profit that rescues dogs from shelters and trains them to be service dogs at no cost for disabled service members.

This special initiative has been featured in multiple outlets like People Magazine and the Washington Post. For his work, Chris was named one of the Washingtonians of the Year. Find out more at semperk9.org. Show Notes: 3:57 - In Okinawa during 9/11. 5:00 - Assigned to Henderson Hall, Marine Corps HQS. Helped create the dog program at HQS Marine Corps. 12:10 - Helped create the first joint kennel between Henderson Hall and Fort Myer. 13:15 - Offered slot in first mass K-9 deployments to Iraq. 15:41 - Signed up for Iraq after two cigarettes and a red bull (and without checking with his wife). 16:40 - Trust your dog, watch your dog, train your dog. Make sure your dog knows what he’s doing and you guide him. The dog’s nose was the spear. 17:40 - The dog’s paycheck. 20:10 - The role of the “spotter” in a dog team. 21:06 - “How do I pay my dog without setting of a bomb.” 23:40 - Chris’ first mission with Adam Cann, who was the first Marine military working dog handler to die since Vietnam. 25:20 - Chris’ first combat experience. 27:38 - First female dog handlers in combat. 28:54 - Dropped off in Korean Village in western Iraq with 2nd Marines, 2nd Battalion, Fox Company. 41:32 - Pushing hard core missions in Ar-Rutbah. 42:33 - First experience on “missions” using interpreters. 44:05 - Attached to sniper teams and trojan horse missions going into enemy territory with snipers. 53:00 - Chris’ first real find. 53:56 - First “oh shit” moment. 59:40 - Mentality of you’re probably going to die but you’re going to save the whole platoon. 1:02:54 - This dog is a gun and K-9 handlers had bounties on their heads. 1:09:38 - I was there for the paycheck and the fun. 1:20:10 - Description of the work at Semper K-9.