Combat Story

Today we have our first Combat Story from a Swedish Special Operations soldier and intelligence professional, Max Lauker. Max spent 20 years in the elite Swedish forces and was a plank holder for one of the predecessor units to what later became Sweden’s Special Operations Group.

Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter.

He served multiple deployments that we cover in this episode in what I’ve coined as four missions and a funeral to dig into more of the combat experiences and lessons while also touching on loss that comes with this line of work.

Max takes us through time fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, solo and team deployments to Latin America, doing full cycle cross-border reconnaissance missions in the Balkans, to lonely and frankly frightening intel work in Eastern Europe and Russia. This is just a bit of the action that Max writes about in his upcoming book that he co-wrote with Antonio Garcia titled ‘Number 788: My experiences in Swedish Special Operations - preparing for NATO and the War on Terror.’

I think you’re really going to enjoy this chat with our first Swede on this show, Max Lauker.

Find Max Lauker Online:

https://www.amazon.com/Number-788-experiences-Operations-preparing/dp/1804514233

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction 00:36 Welcome to Combat Story 00:56 Meet Max Lauker: Swedish Special Operations 03:53 Growing Up in Sweden and Military Service 06:48 Choosing the Ranger Path 08:06 Swedish Special Operations Community 11:20 Joining the Arctic Rangers 15:34 Selection Process for Special Purpose Units 22:41 First Deployment: Latin America 29:16 Unexpected Mission in Venezuela 33:38 Team Deployment in Colombia 38:09 Official Mission in Kosovo 40:01 The Full Circle Mission in Kosovo 41:19 Reconnaissance and Surveillance Operations 44:22 Cross-Border Tensions and Discoveries 47:30 Reflections on the Kosovo Mission 49:22 Transition to Iraq: A Dangerous Deployment 52:50 Afghanistan: Intel and Direct Action 57:26 Lonely Intel Work in Eastern Europe 01:10:54 The Challenges of Counterintelligence 01:15:27 Writing the Book: A New Mission 01:20:06 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Today on Combat Story we have our second interview with 32 year veteran and retired Special Forces Sergeant Major Randy Surles, who entered the Army in 1987 and retired in 2019. In round one we covered Randy’s jump into Panama where he broke his leg and had to crawl for seven hours to safety, his transition into Special Forces from the Ranger Regiment, and attending Lancero school in Colombia, which you can think of as a more dangerous Ranger School (entirely in Spanish!).

Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter

In this episode, we dive into his time leading Green Berets in the post-9/11 era in Afghanistan where he saw mulitple combat deployments. Randy now helps veterans write their own memoirs as a ghostwriter with the aptly titled website The Military Editor. With that, please enjoy our second interview with Randy Surles.

Find Randall Surles Online:

https://militaryeditor.com/

https://thestoryninjas.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/randall-surles-military-editor-mfa-creative-writing-5bbbbb66/?trk=public_post_main-feed-card_reshare-text

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

00:00 Intro 00:34 Introduction to Combat Story 00:53 Randy Searles' Military Journey 01:49 Lancero School Challenges 02:38 Jungle Survival Training 12:10 Mission in South America 17:34 Early Deployment to Afghanistan 41:19 Adapting to New Equipment and Strategies 42:16 Unexpected Challenges and Base Management 44:56 IED Encounters and Tactical Adjustments 49:20 Leadership and Tactical Raids 54:30 Hostage Rescue in Colombia 01:10:51 Military Editor and Skill Bridge Program 01:19:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Today on Combat Story we have our first of two interviews with 32 year veteran and retired Special Forces Sergeant Major Randy Surles, who entered the Army in 1987 and retired in 2019. Randy saw combat early on in Operation Just Cause as a Ranger and then again for several rotations post-9/11. 

Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter.

In this episode, we cover Randy’s experience in Panama and attending Lancero training in Colombia which you can think of as something like Ranger school without any safety nets!

In round two, we dive into his time leading Green Berets in the post-9/11 era. Randy now helps veterans write their own memoirs as a ghostwriter with the aptly titled website the military editor. With that, please enjoy our first interview with Randy Surles. 

Find Randall Surles Online:

🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story:

Show Notes:

00:00 Intro 00:29 Introduction to Combat Story 00:48 Meet Randy Searles: Special Forces Veteran 01:21 Randy's Transition to Ghostwriting 11:36 Randy's Early Life and Military Aspirations 12:13 Evacuation from Iran 20:00 Joining the Military 25:17 Ranger Training and Sniper School 29:35 Life in the Barracks 31:01 Ranger School Challenges 35:37 Operation Just Cause 44:23 Injury and Recovery 52:32 Transition to Green Beret 01:03:44 Struggles with Weapon Assembly 01:05:14 Facing the Q Course Challenges 01:06:12 Mastering Mortars and Anti-Aircraft 01:06:52 Language Course and Deployment 01:07:11 Unexpected Armor Duties 01:10:08 Volunteering for Lancero School 01:20:38 Surviving Lancero School 01:32:04 Combat Stories and Future Plans 01:33:04 Listener Feedback and Closing Remarks

In this episode of Combat Story, we hear from Beth Sanner, a former senior CIA analyst and President's Daily Brief (PDB) briefer to President Trump. Beth previously served as the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Mission Integration, the Director of the PDB and as Vice Chair of the National Intelligence Council.  

Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter

Beth also held several senior leadership positions in the CIA’s Directorate of Analysis, including leading the analytic effort on South Asia and serving as the deputy for analysis for Russian and European affairs. In this episode, we cover her time as a briefer to Trump, her stint with the NSC, her position at CIA covering Russia and Eurasia shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, and leading the Career Analyst Program (the training program for all CIA analysts). 

The PDB Briefer is a prestigious position and not a political appointee. We also interviewed former military analyst and PDB Briefer to President Obama Michelle DiGruttolo if you’re interested in hearing her perspective as well.

With that, I hope you enjoy this fascinating inside look at the upper echelons of the analytic side of the CIA as much as I did.

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction and Host Background 00:57 Guest Introduction: Beth Sanner 02:18 Beth's Career and Analytical Process 05:49 Consultancy and Expertise 09:41 Early Life and Influences 13:51 Career Path and Key Positions 32:15 Mentorship and Leadership 38:05 Logistics and Program Growth Challenges 39:13 The Role of Note Takers in High-Stakes Calls 41:17 Experiences Aboard Air Force One 43:04 Becoming a Presidential Daily Briefer 53:36 Building Trust with the President 55:47 Handling Personal and Professional Challenges 01:00:01 The Human Side of Intelligence Work 01:11:36 Reflections and Final Thoughts

Today we have round two of our incredible Combat Story with John Dailey, the former Marine Force Recon operator who was one of the very few selected to help stand up what was known as ”Detachment One,” which would lead to the creation of the Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) that we know today. 

Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter.

If you missed Round 1, John grew up on the east coast hunting and shooting and, in the ninth grade, visited a Marine recruiter who took him under his wing until it was time to enlist. He went straight into a sniper unit and then served as a Marine Security Guard at Embassies in Hungary and Argentina before joining Force Recon. On 9/11, John was in a bar in Australia with a Marine Expeditionary Unit when he saw the towers come down. He and his Force Recon unit were sent directly to Afghanistan where they took the fight to the Taliban months after the attacks. 

This second round interview picks up after John returns from this first deployment and sets the ground for his book that will be released in August 2024, aptly titled ‘Tough Rugged Bastards: A Memoir of a Life in Marine Special Operations’ that describes both John’s experiences and the beginning of MARSOC from his perspective on the ground. I hope you enjoy this experience of combat and the weight of the Marine Corps on the shoulders of a small group of men like John, as much as I did.

Find John Dailey Online:

https://www.amazon.com/Tough-Rugged-Bastards-Special-Operations/dp/163758735X

Find Ryan Online:

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

00:00 Dramatic Baghdad Arrival 00:48 Introduction to Combat Story 01:07 Meet John Daly: Marine Force Recon Operator 01:21 John Daly's Early Career and 9/11 Experience 05:26 Training the Next Generation of Marines 07:46 Forming Detachment 1: The Birth of MARSOC 10:22 First Deployment Challenges and Intel Operations 17:27 Hunting High-Value Targets in Iraq 30:45 Guarding the Vice President 31:32 Interrogation and Intelligence Gathering 34:43 The Final Mission 38:42 Reflections on Service 41:39 Writing the Memoir 48:04 The Sniper Story 57:03 Sentimental Keepsakes and Final Thoughts 59:36 Conclusion and Listener Comments

Today we have round one of a fascinating Combat Story interview with John Dailey, a former Marine Force Recon operator who was one of the very few selected to help stand up what was known as ”Detachment One,” which would lead to the creation of the Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) that we know today. 

Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter.

The eighty-six-man “Detachment One” was formed with a two-year charter to train and deploy as a “proof-of-concept” to assess the viability of a larger Marine Special Operations contribution in support of the Global War on Terror. The Commanding Officer—Colonel Robert J. Coates, a Marine Force Recon legend—was given his pick of personnel and one of the four team leaders he selected was Gunnery Sergeant John Dailey. Their sole stipulation in finding the right recruits was that they be: “Tough, rugged bastards with strong backs and hard feet.” We know they got it right because we’ve interviewed some of those early warriors on this show, like Elliot Ackerman and Jason Lilley, to name a few.

John has written a book that will be released in August 2024, aptly titled ‘Tough Rugged Bastards: A Memoir of a Life in Marine Special Operations’ that describes both John’s experiences and the beginning of MARSOC from his perspective on the ground. I hope you enjoy this experience of combat and the weight of the Marine Corps on the shoulders of a small group of men like John, as much as I did.

Find John Dailey Online:

https://www.amazon.com/Tough-Rugged-Bastards-Special-Operations/dp/163758735X

Find Ryan Online: 🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story: 

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

00:00 Intense Combat Introduction 00:33 Meet Your Host: Ryan Fugit 00:52 Introducing John Daly: Marine Force Recon Operator 01:45 John Daly's Book: Tough Rugged Bastards 04:16 A Marine's Perspective on Writing 05:29 Colonel Robert Coates: A Marine Legend 09:32 The Formation of MARSOC 14:39 John Daly's Path to the Marine Corps 20:44 Early Days in the Marine Corps 28:45 Sniper School Challenges 35:30 Reflecting on the Simplicity of the Past 36:24 Joining the Sniper Platoon 37:30 Marine Security Guard Duty 38:34 Life at the Embassy 42:38 Meeting My Future Wife 46:41 Returning to the Infantry 47:13 First Force Recon Company 51:01 Deployment During 9/11 55:32 First Engagement in Afghanistan 01:05:11 Analyzing Combat Experiences 01:10:29 Listener Comments and Reviews

Today we have a unique Combat Story with F-16 Fighter Pilot and co-founder of the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx), Raj Shah. Raj was handpicked to stand up an organization that would strengthen our armed forces through contractual and cultural bridges between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon, to include accelerating the contracting process and getting the newest technology from Silicon Valley and tech into the hands of the warfighters faster. 

Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter.

Raj is one of these guys who seems to have more time in a day than the rest of us. He is the Managing Partner of Shield Capital, a venture capital firm focused on technologies at the nexus of the commercial and defense markets; chairman of Resilience Insurance, a start-up powering new approaches to cyber insurance; he was CEO of Morta Security, which was acquired by Palo Alto Networks; and he reported directly to the Secretary of Defense while running DIUx for two years. Raj led DIUx in its efforts to strengthen U.S. armed forces through contractual and cultural bridges between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon. He attended Princeton and got an MBA from Wharton at UPenn.

He and Christopher Kirchhoff recently published ‘Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War,’ which takes you inside AI labs, drone workshops, and battle command centers—to include Ukraine’s frontline – for a fascinating picture of what it takes to stay dominant in a fast-changing and often precarious geopolitical landscape.

With that, please enjoy this short but interesting episode with Raj Shah.

Book Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War: https://www.amazon.com/Unit-Pentagon-Silicon-Valley-Transforming/dp/1668031388

Website https://www.unitxbook.com/

https://www.unitxbook.com/?pgid=lvhhykmv-0822ea78-348c-4d11-bbad-0625206ad7dd

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

00:00 The Power of an Individual in Combat 00:30 Introduction to Combat Story and Raj Shah 01:15 Raj Shah's Background and Achievements 02:21 The Future of Warfare: Ukraine and Israel 04:56 Rapid Technological Advancements 06:55 Raj Shah's Military Journey 08:25 Joining the Air National Guard 09:49 Experiences and Challenges in Flight School 16:21 First Deployment and Technological Disparities 18:13 The Role of Software in Modern Warfare 23:24 The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) 27:11 Setting Up DIU and Overcoming Bureaucracy 31:23 Negotiating the Term Sheet 31:54 Connecting with Todd Park 32:28 Setting the Vision 33:54 Facing Budget Challenges 36:21 Overcoming Bureaucratic Hurdles 39:07 Evaluating Success and Achievements 41:20 Innovative Contracting with Startups 45:09 Technological Innovations and Wins 51:42 Strategic Cost Considerations in Warfare 53:59 Book Recommendations and Reflections 58:15 Final Thoughts and Listener Comments

A Tribute to Our Veterans | Combat Story Podcast

In this heartfelt episode of the Combat Story podcast, we pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served our country. This special video features President Reagan's iconic July 4th, 1986 address to the Nation, seamlessly blended with powerful responses from veterans about whether they would choose their military careers again.

Join us as we honor their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to protecting our freedoms. Their stories remind us of the true meaning of patriotism and the profound impact of their service on our nation's history.

🎖️ Featured Veterans (in order of appearance):

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring stories from our nation's heroes. Share this tribute to honor those who have given so much for our country.

Don't miss out! Subscribe to our Combat Story Newsletter for more compelling interviews and updates at www.combatstory.com/newsletter.

For more about Sean Hagerty, visit: https://bluehandlepublishing.com/sean-hagerty

Find Ryan Online:

#Veterans #MilitaryService #Patriotism #CombatStoryPodcast #ReaganAddress #IndependenceDay #Tribute #HeroStories

Today we have an interview with a former Ranger Regiment soldier turned US Army Special Operations Command Sergeant Major, Sean Hagerty. Sean fought in both Afghanistan and Iraq with Ranger Regiment and then spent many years in the very secretive side of the Army in places all over the world.

After retiring, Sean wrote a psychological thriller called Jones Point that has a great plot line focused on a father taking revenge after losing a daughter but in a far more creative and compelling way. Sean self-published that first book but was then picked up by Blue Handle Publishing for another set of books because the first one was so successful.

Sean is an incredibly accomplished soldier and leader and I hope you enjoy this discussion of both the Special Operations world and more secretive USASOC experience as much as I did.

Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter.

Find Sean Hagerty Online: https://bluehandlepublishing.com/sean-hagerty

Find Ryan Online: 🎙️ 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 Introduction to Combat Story 01:23 Meet Sean Haggerty: Ranger to Author 02:20 Writing Process: From Notebooks to Tablets 06:46 Jones Point: A Psychological Thriller 08:40 Early Military Fascination and Career Beginnings 16:31 Ranger Regiment Life Pre-9/11 19:32 9/11 and the Aftermath 30:28 Camaraderie and Trust in the Platoon 30:47 First Mission Outside the Wire 31:14 Ambush on Route Purple 35:05 Decompression and Team Building 36:53 Invasion of Iraq 39:20 Early Impressions of War 41:16 Advice for Aspiring Rangers 44:38 Transitioning to a New Role 00:11 Surviving a Coup 48:29 Joining a Secretive Unit 58:49 Life After the Regiment 01:01:43 The Living, Breathing Nature of Society and Selection Processes 01:02:30 Holistic Approach to Soldier Care 01:03:40 Aging Athletes and Deployment Stories 01:05:11 Mental Performance Coaching Techniques 01:07:01 Amazing Training Environment and Helicopter Adventures 01:09:04 Defense Science Board and Technological Innovations 01:16:49 Writing Journey and Inspirations 01:23:09 Sentimental Items and Reflections on Service 01:27:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🪖 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: contact@grey-zone-ethics.com

📘 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.

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🔍 Learn more about Ryan

🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

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.

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🎵 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:

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:

Professor Site:

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

Shinobi Enterprises:

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

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!

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⏰ Show Notes:

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:

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:

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

Show Notes

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 

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⏰ Show Notes:

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:

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⏰ Show Notes:

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:

⏰ Show Notes:

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:

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   🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

#veterans #operatorsyndrome #ptsd #specialoperations 

⏰ Show Notes:

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:

🎯🔥 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.

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

⏰ Show Notes: 

💬 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

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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.

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 00:59 - 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!

🔗 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 00:42 - 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/

🔗 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.

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!

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 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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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 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:

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!

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 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:

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🔗 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

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

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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:

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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:

- 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 - 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.

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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 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. 

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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 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

📲 Connect with Ryan 

======= 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!

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======= 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

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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 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. 

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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 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:

Find Scott "Intake" Kartvedt Online:

Find Randy Howell Online:

Find Kevin LaRosa Online:

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:

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:

Find Scott Kartvedt Online:

Find Randy Howell Online: 

Find Kevin LaRosa Online:

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:

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:

Find Scott Online:

Show Notes:

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:

Find Dan Online:

Dan's Reading List:

Show Notes:

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: 

Find Ryan Online:

Show Notes:

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: 

Find Ryan Online:

Show Notes:

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!

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

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

_________________________

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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:

Show Notes: 

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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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!

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:

Find Ryan Online:

Show Notes: 

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

_________________________

Have I responded to all of your questions about Sergeant Major in Delta Force, John Skrek McPhee, and Special Operator Dutch Moyer?

Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on Sergeant Major in Delta Force, John Skrek McPhee, and Special Operator Dutch Moyer.

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! We did so well with this last time around that NordVPN reupped with us and that support is going straight into some new content we're producing at Combat Story! 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 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:

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Show Notes

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: 

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: 

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: 

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: 

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 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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