Podcasts about Special Forces Group

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-second episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.' Hosted by the former Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today's guests are the command team for 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). COL Patrick “Pat” Nelson is the Commander of 7th SFG(A). CSM Adam Dunn is the Command Sergeant Major of 7th SFG(A). And CW5 Jose Villarreal is the Command Chief Warrant of 7th SFG(A).   The 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), known by its call-sign “Red Empire” and affectionately referred to as “La Familia,” is one of the most storied units within U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, 7th SFG(A) has a rich legacy of conducting Unconventional Warfare, Foreign Internal Defense, and Counterinsurgency missions—particularly in Latin America, where it has maintained deep strategic partnerships for decades. The group played a key role in Cold War-era advisory missions, post-9/11 operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and continues to remain at the forefront of global Special Operations Forces (SOF) engagements. Its motto, “Lo Que Sea, Cuando Sea, Donde Sea”—Spanish for “Anything, Anytime, Anywhere”—embodies its agile, mission-first ethos. Today, 7th SFG(A) is leading the way in integrating Special Forces capabilities into Large-Scale Combat Operations, leveraging its regional expertise, cultural fluency, and tactical excellence to shape the battlefield in support of joint force commanders.   This episode explores the evolving role of U.S. Army Special Forces—commonly known as Green Berets—in Large-Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). The conversation emphasizes how Special Forces must adapt from their traditional fast and flexible mindset to operate with greater precision, depth, and coordination within a conventional division fight. The leaders from 7th Special Forces Group discuss lessons learned from their groundbreaking Combat Training Center (CTC) rotation, which required ODAs to integrate with division-level planning and synchronize across time, space, and domains. The challenge of transitioning from unconventional warfare to supporting a Joint Forcible Entry and operating in support of division commanders is central, as Special Forces teams are often forward-deployed and must now shape the battlefield not just tactically, but operationally—anticipating information requirements and transitions before a fight begins.   Additionally, the episode identifies specific points of friction and critical learning moments. These include the challenge of synchronizing SOF timelines with conventional unit operations, the sustainment burdens in contested environments, and the complexity of operating in terrain saturated with sensors, drones, and electronic warfare. Best practices included conducting a full Leader Training Program (LTP) to understand the conventional planning process, refining staff-level battle drills and MDMP execution, and committing to humble, self-aware learning. The leaders also stress the importance of strategic relationships—both with conventional forces and international partners—as a long-term enabler of influence and access. In LSCO, they note, tactical decisions can have strategic consequences, and the margins for error are razor-thin. Success for Green Berets in future conflict will depend on their ability to master the basics, think in depth, and execute with discipline and precision, in lockstep with the broader joint force.   Part of S12 “The JIIMs of JRTC: Working with Our Unified Action Partners” series.   For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast.   Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.   Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format.   Again, we'd like to thank our guests for participating. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.   “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: JAN 29, 2014People in the world often reject Christianity simply because they can't distinguish it from mere morality. The world needs morality--oppression thrives when consciences are abandoned--but we need more than that alone. We need the gospel of grace. A gospel that has largely been lost amid the dos and don'ts and preoccupations of religious culture.  People often pit grace against moralism. And they should. Moralism circumvents heart-changed morality. We need moral men and women, but moralism damages the foundation of heart-change.  It's okay to pit grace against moralism, but let's not pit grace against morality. Grace is the source of real morality, and grace--thank God!--breaks the bars of moralism that imprison us.Is Sunday School Destroying Our Kids? by author Samuel C. Williamson, exposes moralism for its false pretensions--the sham that it is--and it moves our hearts to believe the gospel, for the first, or the hundred-and-first, time.BRUCE COLLINS is a former pro wrestling promoter, an author of three published books (one of them with Brett Wagner, the host of The Speed Channel's PASS TIME and voice of Monster Garage and another book with Ric Drasin, the middle Hulk in the 1970's Incredible Hulk tv show with Bill Bixby and the creator of the Gold's Gym logo) and the former book reviewer of Monster Radio, which was nationally syndicated in 84 radio markets. Bruce has hosted The Bruce Collins Show (and its' genesis known as The Big Finale) since January, 2006. The Bruce Collins Show graduated to AM radio in 2009 and spent two years broadcasting at WSMN 1590 AM in Nashua, New Hampshire and WWZN 1510 AM in Boston, MA. Currently, the program resides online at www.fringeradionetwork.com . Based on the AM radio exposure, he was approached by the History Channel's Decoded TV (with bestselling author Brad Meltzer) to audition for their program. After learning he would have to interview occultists and numerologists without expressing his own opinions, he turned down the invitation. Bruce's grandfather was a Pastor in various locations in the United States for over 50 years.  Bruce is the self-proclaimed Baron of Broadcasting and the ‘Clown Prince of Doom'.CHAD MILES is the co-host of The Bruce Collins Show. He is also a former contributing editor for Defense Watch Magazine and former contributor to The Michigan Journal. In 2006 Chad ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in Michigan's 14th Congressional District. He served seven years on active duty with the 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Infantry Division and the 5th Special Forces Group. His Military service as an infantryman and intelligence analyst took him around the world with service in the countries of Jordan, Egypt, South Korea and Panama.  Chad is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He was the creator and founder of the wildly popular Hearken the Watchmen website which featured articles from Chuck Missler, L.A. Marzulli, Michael Hoggard and many others. Miles appeared on Coast to Coast AM with George Noory to talk about drones over Miami, Florida. Chad is known as “The Odometer” and “Captain Doomsday.”

The AuthorSubscribe with your favorite podcast playerApple PodcastsAndroidRSS Bryan is a distinguished veteran of both the 7th Special Forces Group... The post The Mendacity Series by Bryan Clark appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.

In this episode of 10x Your Team, Camden and Otis McGregor are joined by Marc Fitzwater to explore the importance of values and grace in leadership. Marc shares his insights on how personal values shape leadership styles and the significance of allowing grace in professional relationships. The discussion delves into the challenges of aligning values within a team, the impact of diverse perspectives, and the role of open communication in fostering a collaborative environment. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out, this episode offers valuable perspectives on building a cohesive and values-driven team.More About Marc:Marc Fitzwater, a retired Green Beret with 23 years in the U.S. Army (16 in Special Forces), served in high-stakes roles across Central and South America, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Eastern Europe. He held key leadership positions, including Team Sergeant of a modern Jedburgh Team and NCOIC of FIRES for the 10th Special Forces Group, overseeing JTAC training. Marc also worked at the strategic level with SOCNORTH, coordinating Special Operations and interagency efforts. Academically, he holds a Mathematics degree and a Master's in International Relations. Today, he runs I68 Consulting Group, offering defensive shooting training and community events like the Hounds & Hollow Points competition, which supports veterans through Victory Service Dogs. Marc's post-military mission focuses on empowering individuals and fostering veteran community engagement.Chapter Titles and Times:Introduction to Marc Fitzwater [00:00 - 05:00]Overview of Marc's background and expertiseIntroduction to the episode's themesThe Importance of Values in Leadership [05:01 - 15:00]Discussion on how personal values influence leadership stylesThe challenges of aligning values within a teamAllowing Grace in Professional Relationships [15:01 - 25:00]The significance of grace in fostering collaborationExamples of grace in action within teamsDiverse Perspectives and Open Communication [25:01 - 35:00]The impact of diverse perspectives on team dynamicsStrategies for encouraging open communicationBuilding a Cohesive Team [35:01 - 45:00]Tips for creating a values-driven team environmentMarc's insights on leadership and team cohesionClosing Thoughts and Takeaways [45:01 - End]Final reflections from Marc and the hostsKey takeaways for leaders looking to enhance their team dynamics#10xYourTeam #CamAndOtis #MarcFitzwater #LeadershipWithValues #GraceInLeadership #SpecialForcesLeadership #GreenBeretWisdom #TeamAlignment #ValuesDrivenLeadership #OpenCommunication #CollaborativeLeadership #VeteranLeadership #EmpowerYourTeam #DiversePerspectives #LeadershipChallenges #BuildingStrongTeams #I68Consulting #LeadershipJourney #MissionDrivenLeadership #VeteransEmpoweringCommunitiesMarc FitzwaterWebsite: https://www.i68consulting.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i68consultinggroupFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/I68consulting/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-fitzwater-476686178/

This week, we'll connect with the 133rd Airlift Wing to discuss Sage Eagle, a joint training exercise involving the Air National Guard and 5th Special Forces Group – Airborne, plus get an update from the MN Patriot Guard. Guests include: MSgt. Tom Boyum – 133rd Airlift Wing SSgt. Mackenzie Miller – 133rd Airlift Wing MSgt. […] The post Sage Eagle – 133rd Training with Green Berets appeared first on Minnesota Military Radio.

CREEPYPASTA STORIES-►0:00 "4th Special Forces Group encountered something in west Tennessee, it was pure evil" Creepypasta►47:09 "I rented a cabin in the Appalachian mountains. I saw horrifying things" Creepypasta►1:17:31 "Don't touch the skulls when in the Appalachians" Creepypasta►1:37:20 "Don't Wear Red in the Appalachian Woods" Creepypasta►2:25:00 "The Beast of the Appalachians" CreepypastaCreepypastas are the campfire tales of the internet. Horror stories spread through Reddit r/nosleep, forums and blogs, rather than word of mouth. Whether you believe these scary stories to be true or not is left to your own discretion and imagination. LISTEN TO CREEPYPASTAS ON THE GO-SPOTIFY► https://open.spotify.com/show/7l0iRPd...iTUNES► https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...SUGGESTED CREEPYPASTA PLAYLISTS-►"Good Places to Start"-    • "I wasn't careful enough on the deep ...  ►"Personal Favourites"-    • "I sold my soul for a used dishwasher...  ►"Written by me"-    • "I've been Blind my Whole Life" Creep...  ►"Long Stories"-    • Long Stories  FOLLOW ME ON-►Twitter:   / creeps_mcpasta  ►Instagram:   / creepsmcpasta  ►Twitch:   / creepsmcpasta  ►Facebook:   / creepsmcpasta  CREEPYPASTA MUSIC/ SFX- ►http://bit.ly/Audionic ♪►http://bit.ly/Myuusic ♪►http://bit.ly/incompt ♪►http://bit.ly/EpidemicM ♪This creepypasta is for entertainment purposes only

Many frustrated by the perceived lack of understanding of our nation's maritime heritage requirements want new leaders with fresh ideas, unburdened by legacy entanglements. It is hoped that a younger cohort with military experience, preferably naval, in the House of Representatives and the Senate who bring to the job an additional background in business and industry will emerge to promote constructive change.Today's guest fits the bill perfectly: the new Senator from Montana, Senator Tim Sheehy.Tim Sheehy is a father, husband, combat veteran, patriot, and an entrepreneur. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy class of 2008 with a B.S. in History, Tim completed several deployments and hundreds of missions as a US Navy SEAL Officer and Team Leader, deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, and the Pacific region. Tim was honored to serve alongside many American heroes and was involved in dozens of engagements with enemy forces, earning him multiple combat decorations. Additionally, Tim completed a joint tour with Army Special Operations forces where he was privileged to complete US Army Ranger School and serve alongside the 5th Special Forces Group, 75th Ranger Regiment and other units within US Army Special Operations Command.Tim completed his active duty service as a mini submarine pilot and navigator specializing in sensitive undersea operations. After his active duty service, Tim fulfilled reserve duty as a recruiter and assessor for future naval officers. Tim was honorably discharged from the Naval Reserve in 2019.In 2014, Tim founded Belgrade-based Bridger Aerospace with all of his savings and an all-veteran team. Under his leadership, Bridger Aerospace and its sister company, Ascent Vision Technologies experienced rapid growth and created hundreds of Montana jobs. Ascent Vision Technologies was acquired by CACI in 2020, and Bridger Aerospace went public on the NASDAQ in 2023.Tim sits on the Senate Armed Services, Veterans' Affairs, and Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.SummaryIn this conversation, Senator Tim Sheehy discusses his journey from Naval Academy graduate to U.S. Senator, emphasizing the need for a new generation of leaders in the maritime domain. He highlights the importance of revitalizing the Navy, addressing challenges in shipbuilding, and fostering bipartisan support for maritime strength. The discussion also touches on the need for innovation in naval strategy and acquisition processes, advocating for a shift in mindset towards risk-taking and adaptability in the face of modern challenges.Show LinksOperation Red WingsSix FrigatesThe Fall of KabulTakeawaysTim shares his journey from the Naval Academy to the Senate.The importance of revitalizing the Navy is highlighted.Challenges in shipbuilding and acquisition processes are discussed.Bipartisan support for maritime strength is crucial.Innovation in naval strategy is necessary for future readiness.Quantity in naval assets is as important as quality.A new shipbuilding paradigm is needed to meet modern demands.Risk-taking should be encouraged in military leadership.The Navy's historical context is essential for understanding current challenges.Chapters00:00: Introduction to Maritime Challenges and New Perspectives12:47: Senator Tim Sheehy's Journey: From Navy to Politics18:44: Revitalizing the Navy: Challenges and Opportunities24:37: Acquisition Paradigms and the Future of Naval Strategy

John Stryker Meyer is a decorated Green Beret who served two tours in Vietnam (1968-1969 and 1969-1970) with the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group(MACV-SOG). Enlisting in 1966, he earned his Special Forces tab in 1967 and joined Spike Team Idaho, later leading Recon Team Idaho at Command and Control North (CCN) in Da Nang. Meyer's missions took him across borders into denied areas, facing intense combat—including surviving multiple gunshot wounds and leading his team through impossible odds. After Vietnam, he served with the 10th Special Forces Group, then transitioned to civilian life as a journalist and author. He hosts the podcast, SOG Cast, and preserves the legacy of special operations veterans. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://www.tryarmra.com/SRS https://www.betterhelp.com/SRS This episode is sponsored by Better Help. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self. https://www.boncharge.com/SRS https://www.meetfabric.com/SHAWN https://www.shawnlikesgold.com https://www.helixsleep.com/SRS https://www.lumen.me/SRS https://www.patriotmobile.com/SRS https://www.ziprecruiter.com/SRS John Stryker Meyer Links: X - https://x.com/SOGChronicles Website - https://www.jstrykermeyer.com Across the Fence - https://www.amazon.com/Across-Fence-John-Stryker-Meyer/dp/0983256705 On the Ground - https://www.amazon.com/Ground-Secret-War-Vietnam/dp/0983256756 SOG Chronicles: Volume I - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0983256780  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeremiah Wilber - (Ret) Army Green Beret, Mountain Man, Founder of War Party Movement, Cofounder War Party Ranch, Getto Vaquero, and Your Mom's Favorite Cowboy. Jeremiah was born in Ennis, Montana and grew up on Fort Belknep Indian Reservation. From an early age, Jeremiah was an avid outdoor enthusiast, spending much time hunting, fishing, and cowboying. Following high school, he enlisted in the US Army, attending the Military Police School (MP) at Fort Leonard Wood. As an MP, Jeremiah served two combat tours and completed the Sapper Leader Course and Army Ranger School. After graduating from Ranger School, Jeremiah attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) and was selected for the elite Green Berets. As a Green Beret, Jeremiah Served in 3rd Special Forces Group as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant and in 10th Special Forces Group as Special Forces Operations (Team) Sergeant and a Master Trainer at the Special Operations Mountaineering and Arctic Warfare Course. Following retirement from the US Army, Jeremiah has decided to channel his time and energy into raising money for veteran and human trafficking nonprofits. In 2016, he completed his first ultra-marathon, running from Denver to Breckenridge to support the Green Beret Foundation and in 2021 Jeremiah took on the most arduous ski race in North America, the Grand Traverse Backcountry Ski Race on behalf of the Heroes and Horses Foundation. Tune in as Jeremiah Wilber joins Bobby Marshall in studio to discuss the human trafficking epidemic, Native American culture, kidnapping, perdition, domestic violence, hunting, veteran life, conservation, Colorado, outdoor life, and much more. Please subscribe or like us on social media platforms for updates on shows, events, and episode drops.www.TheMountainSidePodcast.comShow Linkswww.warpartymovement.comwww.warpartyranch.orgAffiliates LinksSponsor Linkswww.BulletProof.comMountain Side listeners Use Discounts code: MOUNTAINSIDE to receive 20% off all Bulletproof products!www.Knicpouches.comMountain Side listeners Use Discounts code: MOUNTAINSIDE15 to receive 15% off all K-Nic products!www.ONNIT.comMountain Side listeners use Discount code TMS to receive 10% off ONNIT products!

Nathan's journey reflects a life of service, leadership, and transformation. After 11 years in the military, including time with the 173rd Airborne Brigade and 10th Special Forces Group, he trained forces for near-peer conflict, led senior leader courses for the U.S. Space Force, and helped shape strategy at U.S. Space Command. He later served as a Senior Consultant at Deloitte before transitioning into financial services. Now, through his company Strategic Ascent, Nathan empowers others to grow their wealth, lead with purpose, and live fulfilled lives.Chapter Times and Titles:Introduction and Military Background [00:00 - 15:00]Welcome and introductionsStory of the "Originals" (10th Special Forces Group)Military service backgroundTransition to Wealth Management [15:00 - 25:00]Career transformation storyApplying military discipline to financeBuilding credibility in a new fieldEthics in Financial Leadership [25:00 - 35:00]Importance of ethical practicesBuilding trust with clientsProfessional standardsGrowing the Pie [35:00 - 45:00]Collaborative approach to wealth managementLeadership principles in financeBuilding sustainable relationshipsKey Takeaways and Wisdom [45:00 - End]Lessons learned from military to civilian lifeEthically driven professional practicesFinal thoughts and contact information#10xYourTeam #CamAndOtis #NathanWheeler #SpecialForcesToFinance #EthicalLeadership #MilitaryDiscipline #WealthWithIntegrity #VeteranLeadership #TrustInFinance #ProfessionalTransformation #10thSpecialForces #FinancialAdvisorLife #FromServiceToSuccess #HighStandardsAlways #LeadershipInEveryField #MissionDrivenMindset #WealthManagementWisdomNathan WheelerWebsite: https://www.nathanuwheeler.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanuwheelerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanuwheelerTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nathanuwheeler

Travis Wilson is a Native of Wichita Falls, Texas and has lived in various other states to include Alaska and Oregon. In 1993 Travis Graduated from East Anchorage High. He attended Wentworth Military Academy for one year before deciding to enter the Army in 1995. In 2001 Travis left the Army to attend Boise State University and study Exercise Science. In 2003 He reentered the Army to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course. At the end of 2005 Travis Graduated the Q course and was stationed at Fort Carson's 10th Special Forces Group.

In this episode, U.S. Army Maj. Kyle Schulz, a recent graduate from NPS Defense Analysis program, joins Trident Room Podcast host U.S. Army Maj. Eric Czaja for a discussion on his path to service, career trajectory leading up to his studies at NPS, and a deep dive into his research exploring sustainable agriculture in the Philippines, and how sustainable agricultural practices support a whole of government approach to advancing the Resistance Operating Concept, strengthening resilience and resistance through food security and economic stability. Maj. Schulz completed undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his commission as a Signal Officer through Officer Candidate School, and spent the first few years of his career supporting Psychological Operations at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After successfully completing the Civil Affairs Qualification Course he has served as a Team Leader, Company Civil Military Operations Chief, and HHC Commander within the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade and the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. He completed his master's degree in Defense Analysis, as well as a certificate in Applied Cyber Operations at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in December 2024. NPS Trident Room Podcast host U.S. Army Maj. Eric Czaja commissioned from Marquette University in 2011 as an Infantry Officer. After serving in 2nd ID at Fort Lewis, Wash., Czaja attended Special Forces Assessment and selection. After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course, Czaja was an Operation Detachment Alpha Team Leader in 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Czaja graduated from NPS in 2024, and is currently assigned to NPS as a research faculty member in the NPS Department of Defense Analysis.

Tim Sheehy is a father, husband, combat veteran, patriot, and an entrepreneur. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy class of 2008 with a B.S. in History, Tim completed several deployments and hundreds of missions as a US Navy SEAL Officer and Team Leader, deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, and the Pacific region. Tim was honored to serve alongside many American heroes and was involved in dozens of engagements with enemy forces, earning him multiple combat decorations. Additionally, Tim completed a joint tour with Army Special Operations forces where he was privileged to complete US Army Ranger School and serve alongside the 5th Special Forces Group, 75th Ranger Regiment and other units within US Army Special Operations Command. Tim completed his active duty service as a mini submarine pilot and navigator specializing in sensitive undersea operations. After his active duty service, Tim fulfilled reserve duty as a recruiter and assessor for future naval officers. Tim was honorably discharged from the Naval Reserve in 2019. In 2014, Tim founded Belgrade-based Bridger Aerospace with all of his savings and an all-veteran team. Under Tim's leadership, Bridger Aerospace and its sister company, Ascent Vision Technologies experienced rapid growth and created hundreds of Montana jobs. Ascent Vision Technologies was acquired by CACI in 2020, and Bridger Aerospace went public on the NASDAQ in 2023. Today, Bridger Aerospace is a major Montana employer and one of only a few publicly traded companies in the state. In addition to founding Bridger Aerospace, Sheehy was an active firefighting pilot, completing hundreds of firefighting missions across the American West, protecting communities from devastation as a pilot of the CL415EAF Water Bomber and before that, as an Air Attack pilot in the AC690 Twin Commander. Tim remains a qualified FAA Commercial Pilot and a Certified Flight Instructor. Tim has also been the co-owner of a working cattle ranch and a cattle feeder operation, Little Belt Cattle Company and Yellowstone Cattle Feeders. Tim believes in strengthening America's food supply chain. Tim was elected to serve the people of Montana in the U.S. Senate on November 5, 2024.

When Ret. Master Sergeant Darrell Utt set his sights on joining the legendary Green Berets, he could never have anticipated the journey that would take him to the heart of Baghdad during one of the deadliest periods of the war in Iraq. Known for his tactical acumen and strategic thinking, Utt's leadership at 10th Special Forces Group was pivotal during his '06-'07 deployments. Over the course of his ten combat deployments, Utt earned five Bronze Star Medals, one with valor for heroism in Baghdad (2006), and the Larry Thorne Award for best operational detachment. In his hard-hitting memoir, 'Grit to Glory: A Green Beret's Journey from West Virginia to the Streets of Baghdad' Utt revisits his journey through the treacherous streets of Baghdad during his 2006 rotation as the team sergeant of ODA 043 - recounting eight months of brutal unconventional warfare and revealing the raw realities of combat. Subscribe to the Mike Drop Patreon Page to see Ad-Free Episodes Early + Bonus Content at https://www.patreon.com/mikedrop ---------- Support Darrell Utt - Get Your Copy of Darrell's Book 'Grit to Glory: A Green Beret's Journey from West Virginia to the Streets of Baghdad' at https://www.amazon.com/Grit-Glory-Journey-Virginia-Streets/dp/1964934125 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DUttRowdy7/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.utt/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrell-utt/ ---------- Sponsors: 120Life Go to https://www.120life.com - that's https://www.120life.com - and remember to use code, “DROP” D-R-O-P to support the show and save 15%! ---------- Lumen Head to http://lumen.me/MIKEDROP for 20% off your purchase. ---------- Beam Take advantage of Beam's biggest sale of the year and get up to 40% off for a limited time when you go to https://www.shopbeam.com/MIKEDROP and use promo code MIKEDROP at checkout! ---------- TEAM DOG FOOD, TREATS & SUPPLEMENTS Be Your Dog's Hero: Veteran-owned by a former Navy SEAL and Special Operations K9 Trainer, Team Dog provides a complete diet of science-backed premium dog food, treats, and supplements to optimize your dog's health, forged from rigorous standards and real-world expertise. https://www.teamdog.shop TEAM DOG ONLINE TRAINING Mike Ritland – a former Navy SEAL & Special Operations K9 trainer – shares his simple and effective dog training program to build trust and control with your dog. Based on Mike's bestselling book “Team Dog, Train the Navy SEAL Way”, join tens of thousands of families that successfully trained their way to a better dog. https://www.teamdog.pet SHOP ALL THE MIKE RITLAND BRANDS Get all your Mike Ritland branded gear - Mike Drop | Trikos | Team Dog https://shop.mikeritland.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I want to introduce you to our guest this time, Fred Dummar. I met Fred through Susy Flory who helped me write Thunder Dog. Fred is taking a class from Susy on writing and is well along with his first book. I look forward to hearing about its publishing sometime in 2025.   Fred hails from a VERY small town in Central Nevada. After high school Fred went to the University of Nevada in Reno. While at University, Fred joined the Nevada National Guard which helped him pay his way through school and which also set him on a path of discovery about himself and the world. After college Fred joined the U.S. army in 1990. He was accepted into the Special Forces in 1994 and served in various locations around the world and held ranks from Captain through Colonel.   Fred and I talk a fair amount about leadership and how his view of that subject grew and changed over the years. He retired from the military in 2015. He continues to be incredibly active serving in a variety of roles in both the for profit and nonprofit arenas.   I love Fred's leadership style and philosophy. I hope you will as well. Fred has lots of insights that I believe you will find helpful in whatever you are doing.       About the Guest:   Colonel (Retired) Fred Dummar was born and raised in the remote town of Gabbs, Nevada. He enlisted in the Nevada National Guard in 1986 and served as a medic while attending the University of Nevada. He was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army in April 1990.   Fred was selected for Special Forces in 1994 and went on to command at every level in Special Forces from Captain to Colonel. He trained and deployed in many countries, including Panama, Venezuela, Guyana, Nigeria, Zambia, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Most notably, Col Dummar participated in the liberation of Kurdish Northern Iraq in 2003, assisting elements of the Kurdish Peshmerga (resistance fighters) with the initial liberation of Mosul.   Colonel Dummar's last tour in uniform was as the Commander of the Advisory Group for Afghan Special Forces from May 2014 to June 2015. Immediately after retiring, he returned to Afghanistan as a defense contractor to lead the Afghan Army Special Operations Command and Special Mission Wing training programs until May 2017.   Beginning in 2007 and continuing until 2018, Fred guided his friend, who was blinded in Iraq, through 40 Marathons, several Ultra marathons, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, running with the bulls in Pamplona, and a traverse of the Sahara Desert to raise funds and awareness for Special Forces Soldiers. He personally ran numerous Ultramarathons, including 23 separate 100-mile runs and over a hundred races from 50 miles to marathon.   Fred graduated from the U.S. Army Command and Staff College and the U.S. Army War College with master's degrees in military art and science, strategy, and policy. He is currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Organizational Psychology and Leadership.   Since retiring from the Army in 2015, Fred has led in nonprofit organizations from the Board of Directors with the Special Forces Charitable Trust (2015-2022) as the Chief of Staff for Task Force Dunkirk during the evacuation of Afghan Allies in August 2021, as a leadership fellow with Mission 43 supporting Idaho's Veterans (2020-2023), and as a freshwater advocate with Waterboys with trips to East Africa in 2017 and 2019 to assist in funding wells for remote tribes.   Fred has led in the civilian sector as the Senior Vice President of Legacy Education, also known as Rich Dad Education, from 2017-2018 and as the startup CEO for Infinity Education from 2021-2022, bringing integrity and compassion to Real Estate Education. Fred continues investing in Real Estate as a partner in Slate Mountain Homes, Idaho and trains new investors to find, rehab, and flip manufactured homes with Alpine Capital Solutions.   Fred is married to Rebecca Dummar, and they reside in Idaho Falls, Idaho, with three of their children, John, Leah, and Anna. Their daughter Alana attends the University of Michigan.   Ways to connect with Fred:   Here is a link to my webpage - https://guidetohuman.com/ Here is a link to my Substack where I write - https://guidetohuman.substack.com/   About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Well, hi everyone, and welcome to another edition of unstoppable mindset where inclusion diversity and the unexpected meet, but it's more fun to talk about unexpected than inclusion or diversity, although it is relevant to talk about both of those. And our guest today is Fred Dummar. It is pronounced dummar or dumar. Dummar, dummar, see, I had to do that. So Fred is a person I met Gosh about seven or eight months ago through Susy Flory, who was my co author on thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust at ground zero. And Susy introduced us because Fred is writing a book. We're going to talk about that a bunch today, and we'll also talk about Fred's career and all sorts of other things like that. But we've had some fascinating discussions, and now we finally get to record a podcast, so I'm glad to do that. So Fred Dummar, welcome to unstoppable mindset.   Fred Dummar ** 02:22 Yeah, no. Thanks for having me. Michael, yeah, we've had some some interesting discussions about everything unstoppable mind and blindness and diversity. And yeah, it's good to be on here.   Michael Hingson ** 02:34 Yeah. And one of the things I know that you have done is ran with a blind marathoner, and I'm anxious to hear about that, as well as what an ultra marathon is. We'll get to that, however. But why don't we start by you may be talking a little bit about kind of the early freight growing up and all that you grew up in, in Nevada, in a in a kind of remote place. So I'm going to just leave it to you to talk about all   Fred Dummar ** 02:57 that. Yeah, Michael, so, and actually, that's part of my, part of my story that I'm writing about. Because, you know, obviously, where we're from forms a large basis of how we sometimes interact with the world. And I came from a very remote town in Nevada. It's dying, by the way. I'm not sure how long that town will be with us, but, yeah, being from a small town where, you know, graduating class was 13 kids, and it's an hour to the closest place that you could watch a movie or get fast food, those types of things, it's definitely a different type of childhood, and much one, much more grounded in self reliance and doing activities that you can make up yourself, right? Instead of being looking for others to entertain you.   Michael Hingson ** 03:50 Yeah, I hear you. So what was it like growing up in a small town? I grew up in Palmdale, California, so it was definitely larger than where you grew up, we had a fairly decent sized High School senior graduating class. It wasn't 13, but what was it like growing up in that kind of environment?   Fred Dummar ** 04:12 Yeah, it was. It was one where you know, not only did you know everybody, everybody else knew you, and so you could pretty much count on anyone in the town for for assistance or, or, you know, if, I guess, if you were on the house for not, not assistance, so, but no, it was. It was a great place to have many, many, many friends from there. But it was, certainly was an adjustment, because I think growing up, there are our sort of outlook on life for us, you know, certainly from the people that that ran our high school and the other adults, most people were seen as, you know, your life after high school would be going to work at one of. The mines, or going to work on one of the, you know, family cattle ranch or something like that. So making the jump from there to, you know, even a few hours away to Reno, you know, to start at the University of Nevada, that was a big it's a big jump from for me, and because the school is so small, I ended up graduating from high school when I was 16, so I barely had a driver's license, and now I am several hours away and Reno, Nevada, going to the university. And, you know, quite an adjustment for me.   Michael Hingson ** 05:32 It's interesting. A few days ago, I had the opportunity to do a podcast episode with someone who's very much involved and knows a lot about bullying and so on, and just listening to you talk, it would seem like you probably didn't have a whole lot of the bully type mentality, because everyone was so close, and everyone kind of interacted with each other, so probably that sort of stuff wasn't tolerated very well. Yeah,   Fred Dummar ** 05:59 it was, it was more so outsiders. I mean, kids that had grown up there all sort of, you know, knew where they were or weren't in the pecking order. Things and things sort of stayed kind of steady stasis, without a lot of bullying. But yeah, new kids coming in. That's where you would see for me, from my recollection of growing up to that's where, you know, I remember that type of behavior coming out when, when you know, a new kid would come into the town,   Michael Hingson ** 06:31 was it mainly from the new kids or from the kids who are already there?   Fred Dummar ** 06:34 From the kids? Sometimes it was the integration, right? Some people integrate into new environments better than others. And you know, generally, no problems for those folks. But some, you know, it takes a bit more. And in a place like that, if you're you know, if you're seen as different, so you know to your theory on or your you know the topics you cover on diversity and inclusion. Sometimes when you're the one that that looks different or acts different in an environment like that, you definitely stick out, and then you become the target of of bullying.   Michael Hingson ** 07:10 What? What happens that changes that for a kid? Then, you know, so you're you're different or in one way or another. But what happens that gets kids accepted? Or do they?   Fred Dummar ** 07:21 Yeah, I don't know. I think, I think it's learning to embrace just who you are and doing your own thing. I think if you know, if you're trying to force yourself into an environment that doesn't want to accept you, I'm not sure that that's ever an easy battle for anyone. But just being yourself and doing your own thing. I think that's, that's the way to go, and that's certainly, you know, what I learned through my life was I wasn't one of the kids that planned on staying there and working in the mind, and I wasn't, you know, my family was, you know, at that point, my mom and dad owned the, the only grocery store in town, and I certainly wasn't going back to run the family business. So, you know, look, looking for a way, you know, for something else to do outside of that small town was certainly number one on my agenda, getting out of there. So being myself and and learning to adapt, or, as you know the saying goes, right, learning to be instead of being a fish in a small pond, learning to be a fish in a much larger pond,   Michael Hingson ** 08:27 yeah, well, and there's, there's a lot of growth that has to take place for that to occur, but it's understandable. So you graduated at 16, and then what did you do after   Fred Dummar ** 08:38 my uh, freshman year at college, which I funded by, you know, sort of Miss, Miss misleading people or lying about my age so that I could get a job at 16 and working construction and as an apprentice electrician. And that funded my my freshman year of college. But, you know, as as as my freshman year was dragging on, I was wondering, you know, hey, how I was going to continue to fund my, you know, continued universe my stay at the university, because I did not want to go, you know, back back back home, sort of defeated, defeated by that. So I started looking into various military branches of military service, and that's when it happened upon the National Guard, Nevada National Guard, and so I joined the National Guard. And right after, you know, I think it was five days after I turned 17, so as soon as I could, I signed up, and that summer after my freshman year, I left for training for the National Guard. Missed first semester of my sophomore year, but then came back and continued on with my university studies using, you know, my the educational benefits that came from being in the National Guard.   Michael Hingson ** 09:55 So you're in the National Guard, but that wasn't a full time thing, so you were able to go back and. Continue education. Yeah,   Fred Dummar ** 10:01 it was, you know, it's a typical one weekend a month, one weekend a month for duty. Typically, we would go in on a Friday night, spend Saturday and Sunday for duty. So we get a, you know, small check for that. And then we were also allowed to draw, you know, the GI Bill and the state of Nevada had a program at the time where you didn't get paid upfront for your classes, but at the end of every semester, you could take your final report card and for every class, for every credit that you had a C or higher, they would reimburse you. So yeah, so they were essentially paying my tuition, and then, you know, small stipend every month from the GI Bill. And then, you know, my National Guard check, so and in the 80s, you know, when I was going to school, that that was enough to keep, you know, define my education. And where did you go to school? At the University of Nevada in   Michael Hingson ** 10:59 Reno, in Reno, okay, yeah, so, so you kind of have ended up really liking Reno, huh?   Fred Dummar ** 11:07 Yeah, I, yeah. I became sort of home city. Obviously, no one would ever really know where. You know, if I would have mentioned that I grew up in a town called gaps, most people would, you know, not, not really understand. I sometimes, if they're, you know, press and say, hey, you know, where are you really? Because, you know, often say, Hey, I went to school in Reno. If they say, where did you grow up? I'll, you know, it's a longer conversation. I'll be like, okay, so if you put your finger, like, right in the middle of Nevada, in the absolute middle of nowhere, that's where I grew up.   Michael Hingson ** 11:40 Well, you know, people need to recognize and accept people for who they are, and that doesn't always happen, which is never fun, but Yeah, gotta do what you can do, yes, well, so Reno, on the other hand, is a is a much larger town, and probably you're, a whole lot more comfortable there than you than you were in Gabs, but that's okay. So yeah, so you went to the university. You got a bachelor's, yep, and then what did you do?   Fred Dummar ** 12:11 Yeah. Well, so along the way, while I was in the National Guard, you know, being a medic, right? I was convinced by a lieutenant that met me. I was actually doing the physical, because it was one of the things our section did when I was first in, you know, we gave the medical physicals, and this lieutenant said, you know, you should come transfer our unit. The unit was an infantry unit, and I became their only medic. And so that was much better than working in a medical section for a helicopter unit where I'd been and and the lieutenants, you know, said that I should consider joining ROTC, since I was already going to the university. So I did in my junior year, started the Reserve Officer Training Corps there at the University of Nevada. And so when I graduated college in the winter of 89 I accepted a commission into the army. So then a few months later, I was, I was off on my my Grand Army adventure,   Michael Hingson ** 13:11 alright, and then what did you do?   Fred Dummar ** 13:15 So, yeah, that was, you know, because it was an infantry Lieutenant went to Fort Benning, Georgia, and I believe now the army calls it fort Moore, but yeah, I trained there for about a year, doing all of the tasks necessary to become an infantry officer. And then I went down to Panama, when the US still had forces in the country of Panama. And I spent two and a half years down there was that past mariega, yeah, right after, because I had graduated from college in December of 89 while operation just caused to get rid of Noriega was happening. So year after my infantry training, I sort of ended up in Panama, and sort of as at the time, thinking it was bad luck, you know, because if you're in the army, you know, you want to, kind of want to go where things are happening. So I'm in Panama the year after the invasion, while Saddam Hussein is invading Kuwait, and everyone else is rushing to the desert, and I'm sitting in the jungle. So, you know, as a as a young person, you start to think, you know, oh, you know, hey, I'm missing. I'm missing the big war. I should be at the war, you know. So that was an interesting take, not what I would have now, but you know, as a young man,   Michael Hingson ** 14:31 what caused you to revise that view, though? Or time,   Fred Dummar ** 14:37 yeah, yeah. Just, just time. And, you know, later in life, you know, after, uh, serving combat rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan, I realized it wasn't something one needed to rush towards,   Michael Hingson ** 14:48 really quite so bad, where you were, yeah. So,   Fred Dummar ** 14:52 yeah, I spent a couple years in Panama, then I came back to Fort Benning, uh, Fort Moore, and worked at the Army's Airborne School. So. Uh, you know, the place that teaches people how to jump out of airplanes. And I did that for for a year. So it's, it's really fun because watching, you know, watching people go through the process of of training to jump out of an aircraft, and then sort of their very first time on an aircraft might takes off, and you can see the, you know, sort of the realization that they're not going to land with the plane for the first time in their life. You know, they're they're not going to be in the plane when it lands. That's always, you know, it's always a good time. And then, of course, when you know, then there's another realization, moment when the doors pop open right, and the doors, doors on the aircraft are opened so the jump masters can start making checks, you know, and out, yeah, and they're looking, you know, their eyes get larger and larger, you know, as as preparations for the jump. You know, when they're stood up and they're hooked up inside the aircraft, and then finally, you know, told to exit. Yeah, it's interesting. And during the time when I worked there, that's when I was eligible, because I was a senior lieutenant at that time, that I could apply to become a Green Beret. I could go through special forces training if I was selected. So I left from Fort Benning, I went up to Fort Bragg, now fort liberty, and went through the selection, Special Forces Assessment, selection, and was selected to become a Special Forces soldiers that I went to Fort Bragg, you know, spent the year or so becoming qualified to be a special forces team leader, and then the next I spent the next 20 years of my Army career in various units at at Fort liberty, and third Special Forces Group, Special Forces Command, seven Special Forces Group, Special Operations recruiting, just, you know, bouncing around in different assignments and then, but obviously during that time, 911, happened, and you know, was on the initial invasion in 2003 up in, up into the north. We were flying in from Romania, you know, before the war started. And so being there during that phase of the Iraq combat in Iraq, and then going to Afghanistan and and spending multiple, multiple tours and multiple years in Afghanistan. So, so   Michael Hingson ** 17:25 did you do much jumping out of airplanes?   Fred Dummar ** 17:29 Yeah, in combat, no. But over the years, yeah, I accumulated quite a few jumps. Because what, you know, every, every unit I was ever assigned to while I was in the army was always one that was, you know, airborne, which are, you know, the designation for units that jump out of airplanes. So   Michael Hingson ** 17:47 have to, yeah, yeah. Well, you're a pretty level headed kind of guy. What was it like the first time you jumped? I mean, you described what it looked like to other people. Do you think that was basically the same for you, or did you, yeah, kind of a thicker skin,   Fred Dummar ** 18:01 yeah, no, no, I think, I think that's why I was able to, you know, in large measure, that's how a lot of us are able to have empathy, right? If we've, if we've, if we've been through it, and we are able to access the memory of, okay, what was it like when I was doing it? It allows us to be, you know, more compassionate to the people that are going through it at that moment for the first time, but yeah, I can remember being in the plane, and then you know, that realization is like, hey, you know, in the pit of your stomach, I'm not, I'm not landing with this plane. And then, you know, the doors opening up, you're like, you know, kind of hey, those, I don't know what the gates of hell look like, but right now, that's that's in my mind, what, what they would look like, you know, and then going out the first time, and and then I think the second time might have been worse, because it was the anticipation of, oh, wait a minute, we're doing that again. And by the but if you do five jumps to qualify before you're given your parachute as badge, so I think by the third one, I'd come to terms with, with, with dealing and managing. You know, you know the fear of it, of leaving an airplane. And people you know often ask, you know when, when you're older and you're past the 100 jump mark, you know it's like, still, is there still fear and like, I think, I think, if there's not, I mean, then you know, there's probably something wrong with you, but, but it's not, it's nowhere near you know how it is when you know your First learning and your first learning to trust yourself and trust the equipment and trust the process. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 19:45 what you're learning a little bit along the way is to how to control fear. And you mentioned my book earlier, the one that's coming out live like a guide dog, which is all about trying to teach people to control fear, because we have so many things happen to. Us, or we think about so many things, that we develop so many fears consciously or not, that when something does unexpectedly happen to us, especially something that isn't necessarily a positive thing, we just automatically go into a fear reaction mode. And the the reality is it doesn't need to be that way you can learn to control fear, which is what we talk about in live like a guide dog, because it's important that people recognize you can learn to control fear. I would never say, Don't be afraid. Yeah, but I think you can learn to control fear, and by doing so, then you use that fear to help guide you and give you the the the the tools to really be able to move forward and focus. But most people don't really spend much time doing that. They don't learn introspection. They don't learn how to to slow down and analyze and develop that mind muscle so that later you can analyze incredibly quickly.   Fred Dummar ** 21:06 Yeah, we in the army, we call that stress inoculation, good description, you know, it's, you know, once you're, once you're, you've learned to deal with stress, or deal with, you know, stressful, fearful things. Then, you know, the next time you're you're better equipped. And that fear and that stress can be, you know, can be continually amped up. I used to laugh when I was doing Special Forces recruiting, because the you know, it would require a special physical for candidates to go get a special physical before they could come to training. And one of the boxes we would joke about was, I have no fear of heights or enclosed spaces. No everybody has those fears, is whether you can, you can manage those fears and deal with. You know, things are very uncomfortable. Well, that's   Michael Hingson ** 22:05 really it. It's all about managing. And so I'm sure that they want you to check no, that you don't have those fears when you're when you're going through. But at the same time, what you're hopefully really saying is you can manage it. Yeah,   Fred Dummar ** 22:20 that you can manage and that's why I was saying, that's why I would always laugh, because of course, everyone has those fears and but learning to deal with them and and how you deal with them, and that that's, you know, one of the things I discuss in one of the chapters of the book I'm writing is, is, you know when fear, when fear comes to You, you know, how do you deal with it and how do you overcome it? I think people are more and more recognizing you know that there are techniques through stress inoculation, you know, things like that. They'll teach you how you can overcome fear. And you know simple breathing techniques to you know, slow down your breathing and engage your brain, not just your brain stem, right? When you breathe, it fast, your brain stem is in charge, not your brain and yeah, and think your way through things, rather than just reacting as a, you know, as a frightened animal,   Michael Hingson ** 23:19 right? And it's one of the things that that, as I discuss in the book, and I talk to people about now a lot, that although I didn't realize it for many years, after September 11, I had developed a mindset on that day that said, You know what to do, because I had spent a lot of time learning what to do, how to deal with emergencies, what the rules were, and all that, and all of that just kicked in on September 11, which is as good as it could get.   Fred Dummar ** 23:45 Yeah. Well, Michael, you have a you have a distinct advantage. You had a distinct advantage a couple of them, but, but one being, you know, because you already live in a world without light in your sight, you're not dependent on that. And so another, when other people are, you know, in, you know, when I'm reading the book, I'm nodding my head knowingly, you know, as you're talking about being in the stairwell and other people being frightened, and you're just like, this is okay. This is an average, I mean, maybe unusual circumstances, but an average day for me,   Michael Hingson ** 24:21 yeah. But they side of it is, I know lots of blind people who would be just as much in fear as anyone else. It's the fact is, of course, we didn't know what was going on. Yes, September 11, a   Fred Dummar ** 24:35 bit of ignorance is bliss, right? Yeah. And   Michael Hingson ** 24:38 that was true for everyone. I had a great imagination. I could tell you that I imagine things that could happen that were a whole lot worse than in a sense, what did, but I, but I like science fiction and horror, so I learned how to imagine well, but the fact is that it isn't so much being blind that's an advantage, really. Really was the preparation. And so the result was that I had done that. And you know, of course, the airplane hit 18 floors above us on the other side of the building. So the reality is going down the stairs. None of us knew what happened. We figured out an airplane hit the building because we started smelling the fumes from burning jet fuel. But by the same token, that was all we knew. We didn't even know that tower two had been hit until, well, much later, when we got outside, colleagues saw David Frank, my colleague saw tower two was on fire, but we still didn't know what it was from. So yeah, the the fact is that blindness may or may not really be an advantage, but preparation certainly was, yeah,   Fred Dummar ** 25:43 how you reacted, how you reacted to being blind. Because, yeah, you can just, just like anything, right? You can react in in several different ways, and how you acted, how you built your life around,   Michael Hingson ** 25:54 sure. And most people, of course, just rely on reading signs. And so they also have the fear, what if I can't read the signs. What if there's smoke and all that? And again, they they build fears rather than doing the smart thing, which is just to learn what to do in the case of an emergency when you're in a building like that. But you know, it is part of what what we do talk about, and it is, it is pretty important that people start to learn a little bit more that they can control fear. I mean, we have in our in our whole world, politicians who just do nothing but promote fear, and that's unfortunate, because we all buy into it, rather than stepping back and go, Wait a minute. It doesn't need to be that way.   Fred Dummar ** 26:37 Yeah, I think the other thing, like you talked about your your preparation and training. And I always that was one of the way ways, or one of the things that brought me to ultra marathoning, you know, after my initial training in Special Forces, was, you know, if you're, if you're going to push your capacity to see, you know what you're what you're really capable of, or build, you know, build additional reserves. So, you know, if you are counted on to do something extraordinary or in extenuating circumstances, what do you really have, you know, yeah, how far can you really push yourself? And so it really brought me into the sport of ultra running, where, you know, the distances, or those distances that exceed a marathon. So a marathon being, you know, 26 miles, yeah. So the first ultra marathon is a 50k because, you know, Marathon is 42 so eight kilometers farther. And then the next, general, you know, length is 50 miles. And then there's some other, you know, 100k which is 62 miles. And then, kind of the, although, you know, now we see, see races longer, but kind of the the longest distance being 100 mile race and so, and the gold standard in 100 mile racing being, you know, for most, most courses, every course being different, but for most courses, is to finish under 24 hours, so within one one day, but to keep moving for one, you know, one entire day while, you know, while fueling yourself and and, and some people say, Well, you Know, wow, that pace doesn't seem that fast. Troy   Michael Hingson ** 28:22 yourself then and see, yeah,   Fred Dummar ** 28:24 and, like a lot of things, it doesn't, it doesn't exactly seem fast until you're factoring in, okay, but you're still gonna have to stop at some point to you, you know, relieve yourself, and you're gonna have to, you know, walk while you eat. And, you know, there's hills to climb and all these other sorts of obstacles. So, yeah, finishing under 24 hours is, you know, sort of the, you know, the standard, I guess, for the people want to achieve. And anyway, yeah, I became, for a bit there, became addicted to it. And then, so when I met Ivan, my friend, who you were talking about, who, who was, was blinded in in Iraq in 2006 when I met him, he had already been injured, and I realized that he really wanted to run marathons. He'd run one, and had to use, like, several different guides, right? You know, there were different people jumping in and out, and it really wasn't an ideal situation for him and he and he also needed someone who who wanted to do that, who would be a reliable training partner, right? Because it's not like, okay, you know, you might be able to find people that show up on marathon day. Want to run the marathon, or a few people, but, you know, day in, day out, to be training. And so I was like, Hey, this is one of those things that ends up in your path, right, that you can, maybe you can walk around it, but, but for me, when I, you know, when I saw. I was like, Okay, this was, this was something that, you know, for whatever reason, is on my path. I meant to do it. I meant to be the guy that does this. And so, yeah, we started training together. And, you know, ended up running 40 plus marathons together, you know, from London, Chicago, you know, every, every the Marine Corps Marathon, just everywhere. And, you know, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro and running with the bulls together. And then our last race was, it's often referred to as, you know, the world's toughest foot race. It's the marathon to Saab, and it's a, it's a distance race of 150 some miles across the Sahara Desert. And they break it up into stages. So on different days, some days, you run 30 miles. Some days, you know, 26 one day is a 50. I think we were at 53 miles on one of the days. But anyway, and you start the you start that race with whatever you're going to eat and whatever you're going to need, you know, in terms of gear on your back. And the only thing that's provided to you during the race is water. So, and that was our kind of, you know, he's like, I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to run, and so I just want to do that before I stop. I stopped, right? So, but anyway, yeah, so that was how I ended up meeting my friend Ivan, and, you know, over the course of a decade and a half, we did all of these, you know, what some people think are incredibly dumb things, but, you know, sort of embracing the discomfort of training and competing to, you know, to make ourselves better, you know? Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 31:44 so while you were in the military, I know you mentioned earlier something about doing some work in as a medic. Did you do that most of your time? Were you specializing in that? Or what?   Fred Dummar ** 31:54 No, no, that was only when I early on, when I was a soldier, I was a medic, and then when I was commissioned, I was commissioned, I was commissioned as an infantry officer, and then, and then, when it became Special Forces, you know, the officer is, sort of has, has no specialty other than leading the team. The team has medics and weapons guys and engineers and communicators and all that. But, you know, the officers sort of assigned as the as the planning the planning agent, you know, the to lead the team, rather than have any of the specialties,   Michael Hingson ** 32:30 right? And you participated long enough that you rose to the rank of colonel. Yeah, yeah, my participation   Fred Dummar ** 32:38 trophy was attaining the rank of colonel. And I would often tell people the arm don't think the army doesn't have a sense of humor. I was promoted to Colonel on April 1, so April Fool's days when, when I was promoted? And yeah, and I, after almost 30 years in uniform, retired in 2015 so I don't know that I would have went that long. But you know, they're about the middle of my career, from 1986 to 2015 you know 911 happened, and for me, it wasn't, it wasn't really a choice to to leave. Then, you know, it was like, Okay, we, you know, we have to do this. These Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, my my very last, my last year in in uniform. I was in Afghanistan as an advisor to the Afghan commandos. And when I returned from that tour, you know, was told that, hey, I had to, I had to finally leave Fort Bragg after 20 years and and either go to, you know, the Pentagon or another headquarters. And that's when I decided to retire. Because it was like, okay, you know, if, if the wars don't need me anymore, then I, I can go home and do other things. Yeah, I can do other things. If the wars don't need me, you know, then I can probably hang it up. So   Michael Hingson ** 34:11 when did you get married? So   Fred Dummar ** 34:15 over the course of my Army career, I was divorced twice. Yeah, it's just not an easy No, it's not. It's just not an easy lifestyle. I'm not making any excuses for my own failings in that regard. But, you know, it is, it is, I think, easier to become emotionally detached from someone, especially, you know, as in my case, I think I often put the army, first, the army, my soldiers, the mission, you know, as the first on my mind. And you know, for someone else, you know that to be a pretty strong person, to sit in the back seat during that so. And I did not have any children and then, but after I retired, when went through my second and four. I met someone. And so, yeah, we were married in in 2020, and so I had a, I was able, you know, after not having children, my first son was born when I was 50. So I have a son who's, you know, four, four years old, four going on five. And then we decided that, you know, he should have someone to be with. So we were going to have a second child. And my wife had twins, so I have twin, three year old girls. So, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 35:37 you're going to do it. You might as well go all the way, huh?   Fred Dummar ** 35:40 Yeah, and and, and I haven't, and I adopted Rebecca's older, the child that she that she had. And so now we have four children, Alana being much older, she's already finished for freshman year at the University of Michigan, and this get ready to go back to Ann Arbor and continue her studies and and then we have, you know, the small pack of humans that are still here in their pre, pre kindergarten phase. So   Michael Hingson ** 36:10 she is a a Wolverine fan, and there will ever be an Ohio State Buckeye,   Fred Dummar ** 36:18 yeah, something like that. Yeah, that rivalry is pretty intense. And, you know, never being part of a school that was, you know, in that, in that division, you know, not really realizing, well, you know, watching college football, I kind of understand the rival, all the rivalries. But once she started going to Michigan, and, you know, attending a football game there myself. And then, unfortunately, you know, we were able to go to the Rose Bowl this year, which, you know, when Michigan played Alabama. So we were able to go to that together. So, yeah, it was, it's interesting to learn that dynamic. And like, I tell her, it's like, never, never take for granted being part of a big school like that without those sorts of traditions. Absolutely.   Michael Hingson ** 37:06 Yeah, I went to UC Irvine, so we didn't really have a lot with with football, but my wife did her graduate work at USC, and I always like to listen to USC football games. I judge a lot about sports teams by the announcers they hire, I gotta say. And so we've been always so blessed out here in California, although I think that announcing isn't quite what it used to be, but we had good announcers that announced for USC out here on I think it was originally on Kx, and then it went to other stations. But anyway, when we got married, the wedding started late because a bunch of people were sitting out in their cars waiting for the end of the USC Notre Dame game. And so the wedding was 15 minutes late starting because everybody was waiting to see who was going to win the game. And I am quite pleased to say that we won, and God was on our side, as opposed to Notre Dame. And, yeah, the marriage lasted 40 years, so until she, she passed away in 2022 but I love to tell people that, you know, God clearly was on our side, especially when I tell that to my Notre Dame friends,   Fred Dummar ** 38:15 yeah, the touch touchdown, Jesus wasn't, wasn't there for them, not   Michael Hingson ** 38:19 that day. Yeah, but, but, you know, and there's college football is, is in a lot of ways, I just think so much more fun, or it has been than professional. But, you know, now a lot more money is getting into it, which is unfortunate too. Yeah,   Fred Dummar ** 38:37 I think that's caused some of the you know, teams re evaluate what they what they do happen, how they operate. And I think it's forced some of the older coaches to leave the game, yeah, because it's not the game they recognize, so not   Michael Hingson ** 38:53 what they had well. So you've been to a variety of different places. You've been a leader. And I think it's pretty clear that you really still are, but how did all the the different experiences, the different places that you went to, and all the the experiences that you participated in, how does that affect and shape your leadership style?   Fred Dummar ** 39:19 Yeah, Michael, you know, I think one of the first things, right, if you when your surface looking, and some people never go below the surface. So when you talk about things like diversity and inclusion, the things, the things that they will think about that make people divert diverse are not generally what I think about. Because, you know, when you look below the surface, you see a lot of commonalities in the human experience. You know, from my time living, living in Panama and operating in Central and South America, some countries in the in the you know, the Caribbean when I was first in special operations, and then. Obviously, I went and did some time in in Africa, some peacekeeping operations in Nigeria, some other exercises down in the south, southern countries in Africa, and then my time in Iraq and Afghanistan. People, you know, they're they come in different colors. They they have different their path to God or the universe or the higher power that they recognize that the cultural artifacts that they use may may look different, but you know, they're generally pointing if you if you can step aside from your own preconceived notions about things, you can see that they're they're just different signposts to the same God, right to the same, to the same, power to the same, to the same things, and people want the same things, you know, for their families, you know, for for security and prosperity, and you know that that sort of thing. So it's, that's where I, kind of, you know, came to my leadership philosophy, which is pretty easy to remember. It's just lead, lead with love. And you know, if you use, and I haven't tell people, doesn't really matter what denomination you are. If you read, you know, the Gospels of the New Testament purely as a leadership guide. You know it's, it's hard to find a a better leadership example than than what, what Jesus was was doing, you know, the way he was serving others the way he was leading. It's, it's, it's pretty powerful, pretty powerful stuff. And you know, even, even at the end, right during the Last Supper, when he tells people, you know, who, who's the most important is the most important person, the person sitting at the table getting ready to eat, or the person serving, you know. And of course, you as humans, you know, is based on our, you know, the way we think about the world. We think the most important person is, you know, not only the person sitting at the table, but the person at the nicest table, or the head of the table, and not the person serving. And so that was something I tried to embrace during my time in the military, and what I try and embrace now is, you know, being the person that serves others and using your position. You know, if you if, if and when you are promoted or asked to lead that, you approach it from a position of, you know, what? What can I do from this position to help other people and and just be compassionate to their actual circumstances. And that doesn't mean, you know, when people, people hear me say that they're, you know, they think, Well, that's pretty how does that reconcile with you being a Green Beret and being around, you know, a bunch of you know, meat eating savages, you know, how do you how do you reconcile that and like, well, leading with care and compassion doesn't mean you know that I'm coddling anyone, because I'm certainly not coddling anyone you know. You know, I demand high performance for myself and from from people in those positions like that. You know, when I was a member of a special forces organization, but not everybody's supposed to be doing that. And so I think recognizing the circumstances and the people and what the organization's supposed to do or and how it can care for people, I think those are things that became really, really important to me   Michael Hingson ** 43:33 well. And I think you raised some really valid points. The reality is that September 11, for example, was not a religious war, a religious event. It was a bunch of thugs who wanted to have their way with the world. But most people who truly practice the Islamic faith are the same as the rest of us, and they and they seek God just like we do, like Jewish people do and others do, and we've got to keep that in mind, but it's, it's so hard, because we mostly don't step back and evaluate that and realize that those 19 people on those four airplanes are just a bunch of thugs, pure and simple.   Fred Dummar ** 44:15 Yeah, that, yeah, that, and, and the organizations they represent, right? You know, they're, they're, they're, and they're not the only ones, right? People from of all faiths have harnessed, you know,   Michael Hingson ** 44:30 their various back to the Crusades, yeah, you know, you know, their   Fred Dummar ** 44:33 various religions have harnessed themselves up to, you know, to sway people to to hate, or to, you know, to engage in combat or whatever. So yeah, to to lump that all in. I think our, some of our responses, and then also some of the way people think, has really led it led us to a more a more divided we're. Well, then you know that are more inclusive and and you know, thinking of ourselves as one we we think of ourselves as, you know, many and different, and sometimes things that we think would bring us together or help us make things more fair, like, you know, talking about diversity and inclusion, if we aren't really thinking about what we're trying to do and what that looks like, we can end up making the world more divided and less inclusive.   Michael Hingson ** 45:34 And unfortunately, we're seeing way too much of that, and it isn't helping to do that. And hopefully at some point we'll, we'll figure that out, or we'll realize that maybe it's a little bit better, or can be a little bit better than we think. Yeah, and I know you in 2003 did a lot to help the Kurds in northern Iraq, right?   Fred Dummar ** 45:55 Yeah, that was primarily, you know, my, my experience in Iraq was, you know, before the 2003 invasion, I was in Romania with my special forces company. And, yeah, we flew into northern Iraq and linked up with a group of Kurds and from where they were at and primarily our mission, you know, at that point, nobody really knew what Saddam might do when the main offensive of, you know, conventional army, conventional Marine Corps, British, you know, other allies, started from the south towards Baghdad. What would Saddam do? Would he, you know, send his forces in the north against the Kurds to create a destabilizing effect, you know, one both killing Kurds, but causing Kurds to flee to Syria and Iran, and, you know, probably most importantly for people that were planning to Turkey, you know, to further destabilize the region. So obviously, out of a desire to protect, help protect the Kurds and help stop or prevent something like that from happening. You know, we went in a couple weeks before the actual ground war started, we were in place with the Kurds and started organizing them to to defend themselves. And do you know, take back the land that they considered theirs, because, after, you know, Desert Storm, the you know, the 90s, the 90s war against Iraq, Saddam had pushed into Kurdish territory and established, you know, what he referred to as a, you know, his, his buffer zone. And then, you know, the US had been forcing a, you know, a no fly zone up in the Kurdish areas, but the Kurds had still never been allowed to go back to some of the cities that they considered theirs. So, you know, when we got in there with them, we were able to get, you know, move currents that have been forced out of those towns moved back into their towns and and our particular sector we we cleared down to Mosul Iraq, which, you know, people in the Bible will recognize As as the city of Nineveh. Or maybe not know that, but yeah, so we were, I was able to go drive through the, you know, the biblical, the some of the remains of the, you know, city of Nineveh as we got to Mosul. And then once we were there, that was sort of when, you know, we stole the Kurdish allies that, hey, you guys can go back to go back home, and then at that point us, we're only there a few days before us conventional forces. Now this is a couple months into the war, but us conventional forces made their way up there, and, you know, started doing stabilizing the city, and it was probably best to get the Kurdish militia out of there at that point, for things between the Kurds and the Arabs continue to deteriorate. So yeah, but it was a it was a great experience for me being with the Kurds and helping them, you know, sort of move through and retake towns that they had historically lived in. And, you know, along the way we passed and were able to clear Assyrian monastery that's on one of the mountains on the route to Mosul. So some, definitely, some history along the way, history lessons along the way. I   Michael Hingson ** 49:38 had the pleasure of going to Israel last year in August, okay? And spent a day in Jerusalem, so we got to go to the Western Wall and so on. And I really appreciated, and do appreciate, the history and just the awesomeness of of being there and touching the the temple and the wall that's been there for so long. And, you know, there is so much history over there that I really wish people would more appreciate and and on all sides, would figure out how they could become better at working with each other. One of these days, there's going to have to be peace, or it's going to really get a whole lot worse, very quickly,   Fred Dummar ** 50:21 yeah, for sure. Yeah, it was. It was interesting, though, when we were there, obviously watching the various groups of, you know, Syrians, Kurds, Arabs and others that had various claims to different parts of Mosul and different parts of the area around it. So it's fascinating, you know, to watch history try and unwind itself from some of the decisions that were made. You know, post World War Two, when lines were being drawn in the desert to create countries and and the ramifications of that? Yeah. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 51:06 you certainly have a perspective that's built on a lot of knowledge and being there, which I think is great on the other hand, well, not on the other hand. But then you left the military that that had to be a major change in terms of what you had been doing and what you were used to after almost 30 years. What's it like when you decide to make that kind of a major change and then, in your case, go back into civilian life? Yeah. So   Fred Dummar ** 51:38 my first, my first step, wasn't that far away from the military. And I started referring it. Referred to my first job as sort of an addiction clinic, because I went, I went to work as a house, yeah, I went to work as a contractor, or, you know, defense contractor. I went back to Afghanistan for about a year and a half running training programs for some of the Afghan special operations forces. So, you know, it was, it was really, you know, there was, if I, if I was a heroin addict, you know, I was in the methadone clinic, you know, trying to, trying to get off of it. And then, yeah, I realized, you know, kind of needed to go home. And my marriage, you know, dissolved, and so it's like, Hey, I probably time to, like, go home and have, you know, a different kind of life. And I moved into a civilian job with a friend, a friend at the time, who was doing investment training around the world. And he's like, Hey, we, you know, I know you're, you will travel. There's a lot of people that, when I talk to him about travel, it's involved with our business, you know, they don't, don't really want to do that. And he's like, but I know, you know, from where you're at. And he's like, hey, I'll buy, buy a ticket. Fly to Hong Kong, see what our business is about. So I went there and learned about the investment training they were doing in Hong Kong and throughout Southeast Asia. And then they had an office in Johannesburg, and, you know, one in London, Canada and the US and doing all this training. And so for about a year, little over a year, I worked in that business and and learned, you know, the various things that they were doing. You know how they were teaching people to invest in real estate and stocks and that sort of thing. Started doing it myself less, as I wish I would have known earlier in my life, but started doing that, and then when I left that company, that's a lot of what I've been doing. I've taken some smaller jobs and smaller contract projects. But by and large, that's basically what I've been doing since then, is, you know, working in real estate investing or real estate projects   Michael Hingson ** 53:50 and continuing to hone your leadership skills. Yeah,   Fred Dummar ** 53:54 yeah. Well, you know, I kept continue to work with or a couple of, you know, jobs where I was helping people start up businesses, you know, as either in CEO role or in an operations role to help help them start their businesses. So I did some of that which, which is always fun. It's great working with new talent and establishing procedures and helping people grow that way. So that was, that was really fun. And then got to be part of a couple of nonprofits, Special Forces, Charitable Trust, probably my longest stint. I did that for, you know, about seven or eight years on the board of directors, you know, running, helping to develop activities and programs to support our Special Forces veteran. So, yeah, it was, it's been, it's been fun. And then obviously having a new family and spending a lot of time in my role as a dad has been probably the most rewarding.   Michael Hingson ** 54:53 Yeah, I bet. And that is, that's always so much fun, and you get to help bring some. New people along into the world and hopefully help to make a difference that way. And on top of that, you continue to study. You're getting a PhD. You mentioned it earlier, but you're getting a PhD in organizational psychology and leadership. There we go with the leadership again.   Fred Dummar ** 55:14 Yeah, you know, it's, it's fun, because, you know, when I do get the opportunity to speak at events. I move around and speak at different events. I know you do a lot of speaking. You probably do much more than I do, but the events I do speak at, I want to make sure that sometimes being a practitioner of something doesn't always mean that you have the exact language or the academic credentials to go along with being a practitioner. And I've been a practitioner of leadership for so many years, but now studying it and applying, you know, one working towards an academic credential in this says, Hey, this, this guy knows what he's talking about. But then also having, you know, the the latest developments. And studies on leading people effectively and and how people are doing it wrong, and how you can help them. I think it's, it's been, it's been, been a great journey to be on as well, especially keeping my mind active in in all things leadership and helping organizations do it better.   Michael Hingson ** 56:21 Well, you, you have been a leader for a long time, but now you're studying it. Would you say that you're also discovering new things along the way? And you know, I guess what I'm getting at is, of course, none of us are ever so much an expert that we can't afford to learn more things. Oh   Fred Dummar ** 56:39 yeah, for sure, both, both learning new things, learning why I might have done things wrong based on, you know, studies, you know, like, okay, you know, if you if you have this type of personality, you might do this wrong, or things I was doing right, but not exactly, knowing all of, You know all of the mechanisms that were going into why I was making that decision. But you know, when you look at the psychology behind it, and you look at organizational structure structures, you look at cultural artifacts within organizations, then you can start to you start to unwind why teams do what they do, why leaders are developed, the way they're developed, and why people make certain decisions. And, yeah, it's been fascinating, you know, and then also looking back, as you said, back at things that you did, decisions that you made, and what you know, what you could have done better as you as you look that, through that, and how you can help someone else, and that's also really helped me further, you know, synthesize down this way that I look at at leading people with with love and compassion and why it's so important to be that servant type of leader, you know, not just a transformational leader that's trying to transform an organization to move that, but then, you know, how do you serve and care for the care for the people that are that are going to be part of that transformation?   Michael Hingson ** 58:10 Yeah, because if you are just looking at it from the standpoint of being a transformational leader, I'm going to change this organization that that doesn't really work. And I think that the most important aspect is being a servant leader, is being a person who serves, because that also opens you up to learning along the way and learning how to serve better.   Fred Dummar ** 58:34 Yeah. And you know, as I learned in the many organizations that I was part of over, you know, my time in Special Forces is, you know, just because, you know, alluding, you know, we were discussing roles, and I was saying, you know, this officer's role to often, to plan and to lead, but that other people are the experts. And that's something you know. The sooner you embrace that fact, the faster, the faster you become effective, and the more effective you are when you realize that understanding the people and and caring and serving them, and then getting their their best performance and understanding what they know and what they can do, and where you need to put them to maximize their potential, then those things start to become the most important thing that you're doing, how you know, how people play against each other, who works well with who? How that works, how that betters the organization. Those are all, all all things that are fascinating, you know, to me, and things that kept me up at night, trying to figure out, you know, how to how to be more efficient, how to take better care of people, while, you know, getting, not only getting the best out of them, but them, realizing they were giving their best and being happy and proud of what they. Were doing   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:01 and getting the best out of you as well.   Fred Dummar ** 1:00:03 Yeah, yeah, that, yeah, bringing the best out of them is bringing the best out of me, right?   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:08 So you've gotten work also in the nonprofit sector. You're continuing to do that, yeah,   Fred Dummar ** 1:00:13 yeah, yeah. Now, after leaving this Special Forces Charitable Trust, I realized, you know, after I'd moved out to Idaho, where I live now that I wasn't as connected to the regiment as I'd been my first retired and I was still kind of in the North Carolina area or but after moving out here, you know, just felt like that. I probably there were other guys more recently retired, knew more of the things that needed to be done. So stepping down from that organization. And then, obviously, one of the other things that happened was, you know, the the rapid withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the fall of Afghanistan, and I found myself with many other Afghan veterans, sort of, you know, both wondering, you know what it all meant, why? You know, and then, but then also what we can do. You know, not dwelling too long. I know, you know, poor me. You know what? You know. Why did I go? What did it mean? But more so, hey, you know, we had a bunch of people that we made promises to, a bunch of people that follow alongside America, some certainly, you know, in the interest of Afghanistan. But there were also many, many of the especially on the Afghan Special Operations sides, that were not always necessarily doing things at the behest of the Afghan government, but operating with US forces on things that the US wanted to do, but then, you know, we're sort of left hanging when during the withdrawal. So, you know, working alongside other veterans to try and get as many of those people out during the withdrawal and then. But so now I work with an operation or a organization called Operation recovery that is still following these families, following these cases, people that are either still in Afghanistan, some in hiding, some in other countries, illegally, but trying to help them resolve visa issues and either get to Canada or the United States or someplace in Europe, just someplace safe for them and their family, away from the from the Taliban. And so that's been it, and it's, it's hard work, you know, because the in work like that, we're trying to make government bureaucracies realize that they should be issuing visas or allowing people to move, it's not always a rapid process. So feels like, and, you know, and I'm not pointing fingers as if anyone should still, you know, be completely focused on Afghanistan. But you know, other things happen. You know, Ukraine, the war in Ukraine draws attention away. You know, the war in Israel. You know, hurricanes, storms, everything that's going on. You know, Assassination comes. You know, assassination attempts, you know, all of that stuff diverts people's you know, draws people attend. You know their attention to that. And I'm not sure many people, you know, they support the troops. And you know, you often hear them, you know, you know, thanking troops for their service. And the only response I can have to that, you know, for for for years, I struggled with how to respond to that. When someone would say, Thank you for your service, you know, just Okay, thank you. You know, I don't know, thanks for your support, but you know, I heard a good response, and I've been using it since, and it's like, America's worth it. So,   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:54 yeah, on top of everything else that you do, you've also been dabbling or going into real estate a little bit, yeah,   Fred Dummar ** 1:04:01 yeah. So that's, that's a lot of what I've been doing, you know, for because, you know, providing for your family, right? So, yeah, I started doing some investment real estate, and out here, got a partner, we did, worked on a couple of mobile home parts, larger projects. And I still, once a week, I still teach a clas

Mr. James Rushing is an accomplished songwriter.  He has written hit songs in the genres of country, bluegrass and gospel music.  His songs have been recorded by such artists as Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Ricky Scaggs, Charlie Pride, and many others.  Mr. Rushing was nominated to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in both 2017 and 2018.  Mr. Rushing is also a military veteran, having served in the 1st Special Forces Group at the very beginning stages of the Vietnam War. Today, he is here to talk about his remarkable life and the lessons he has learned along the way.  Join Tom and new co-host Fred Stallcup as they interview Mr. Rushing.

Dr. David Walton, commonly known as TF Voodoo, is a retired Green Beret officer who served an ODA Team Leader with 7th Special Forces Group.Since retiring, he's become widely known as the world's leading expert on Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS), where he's played an integral role in optimizing every aspect of it to ensure the Army Special Forces select only the most qualified candidates. Dr. Walton has spent countless hours studying and observing SFAS classes, so much so that he's considered an SFAS encyclopedia. Despite the open-source information available in today's digital world, SFAS continues to see less than favorable selection rates. In the episode, Dr. Walton reveals some of the reasons for this dilemma.Dr. Walton is also an author of 3 books, Ruck Up or Shut Up, Shut Up and Ruck, and his newest soon-to-be-released land nav book, Never Get Lost.He also hosts a monthly comprehensive day and night land navigation muster at Hoffman Land Nav site, where the SFAS star course is held. On his website, he posts the details at the beginning of each month. I've personally attended this course twice, and can vouch for it being highly valuable for aspiring candidates, especially knowing that land nav is cause for more SFAS failures than any other portion of selection.Follow Dr. Walton on instagram: tf_voo_doo Website: https://tfvoodoo.com/In this episode, we discuss the following:His upbringing and path to Special ForcesRanger School trials and tribulations (including getting bitten by a snake, and still graduating as the Honor Grad)Selection statistics and why the attrition rate has been so high as of lateIntroduction and rise to niche-fame on the Green Berets SubredditIn part 2, we answered 5 listener questions, including:1. What separates guys that get selected vs. guys that actually end up finishing the Q course? what separates guys that finish the Q course from guys that thrive on an ODA?2. What are some techniques/procedures to reduce cognitive load during Land Navigation week at SFAS? Bonus - Is there a method to handrail roads/bowling alleys at night that totally avoids being roadkill (or closer than 50m)?3. What additional traits and attributes does someone need to be a successful SF officer compared to an enlisted SF soldier?4. What are 5 habits that can be done everyday to build character and grit for SFAS?5. Given that SOPC is now only a few weeks, how should an 18Xray physically show up to OSUT if crushing SFAS is their number 1 priority? What times/numbers do you want to see prior to shipping to account for the detraining that will happen?Whether you're an aspiring Special Forces candidate or just looking to improve your character and fitness for life, you can't miss this episode!New Program:

As a mentor, leader, and inspiration to many, COL Hughes brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to this candid conversation. Join us as we explore the profound impact mentorship has on personal and professional growth, the qualities that define great leaders, and the lessons COL Hughes has learned throughout his distinguished career. Whether you're looking to grow as a leader, find ways to mentor others, or simply be inspired, this episode will provide valuable insights and actionable takeaways. Tune in for a heartfelt and empowering discussion about the transformative power of mentorship.COL Hughes is a graduate of Washington State University where he was commissioned through the ROTC in 2002. COL Hughes civilian education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science / Pre-Law from Washington State University, a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management from The University of Kansas, and Masters in National Resource Strategy from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security & Resource Strategy. His military education includes the AMEDD Officer Basic & Advanced Courses; U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; Joint Combined Warfighting School; U.S. Army War College Defense Strategy Course; Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Course; Division Transportation Officer Course; Support Operation Course; The Joint Logistics Course; U.S. Army Airborne Course; Battalion and Brigade Pre-Command Courses. His military career includes Division Support Platoon Leader and Division Medical Supply Officer, 702nd Main Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea; Det. Commander and Chief, Medical Logistics, Dunham U.S. Army Health Clinic; Brigade Medical Supply Officer and Battalion S4, 106th Forward Support Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team Karbala, Najaf, and Hit, Iraq; Deputy Brigade S4 and Property Book Officer, 62nd Medical Brigade; Commander, 551st Medical Company (Logistics); Battalion S3, 56th Medical Battalion; Group Medical Supply Officer, 10th Special Forces Group; Logistics Officer, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, and Support Operations Officer, 10th Special Forces Group; Support Operations Officer and Executive Officer, 421st Medical Battalion; Strategic Medical Plans, Office of the Joint Staff Surgeon; Commander, 10th Field Hospital; and Director, Army Medical Logistics Command Strategic Initiatives Group. He currently serves as the 70K consultant to the Surgeon General. COL Hughes Combat, Operational, and Humanitarian Deployments include OIF III; OIF 07-09; Operation United Assistance, Haiti Earthquake Relief; Operation Observant Compass, Uganda & South Sudan; multiple COVID-19 support mission across the United States. Medical Service Corps Leader Development:  https://www.facebook.com/mscleaderdevelopment  https://medium.com/experientia-et-progressusArticles by COL Hughes:https://fromthegreennotebook.com/2021/06/16/7587/https://fromthegreennotebook.com/2024/07/26/the-one-question-that-every-leader-should-ask/  Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are the guests and host's alone and do not reflect the official position of the Medical Service Corps, the Department of Defense, or the US Government. All information discussed is unclassified approved for public release and found on open cleared sources.For more episodes listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube @ Be All You Can Be MSC For more information, suggestions, or questions please contact: beallyoucanbemsc@gmail.com

Send us a textTravis Wilson is a 21-year military veteran who spent 13 years as a U.S. Army Green Beret. Travis entered the Army in 1995 as an Airborne Medic with the goal of one day becoming an 18D Green Beret Medic. After 6 years in the service, Travis left the Army to attend Boise State University, where he studied Exercise Science and played hockey for the ACHA club hockey program. After completing school, Travis returned to the Army to complete his special forces training and was chosen to be an 18E Communications Specialist. He was then assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group out of Colorado Springs where he remained until his retirement in 2017.While serving as a Green Beret Travis also started a supplement nutrition store called Caliber Nutrition. After juggling the challenges of active duty and a supplement store along with multiple deployments, Travis decided that it was time to retire and start his own product line, called Alpha Elite Performance – a brand founded upon the consummate professionalism and high physical fitness standards characteristic of the Special Forces community.Established in Colorado Springs, CO. Alpha Elite Performance reflects Travis' dedication to the provision of high-quality supplements not just for Green Berets, but for all active-duty military and civilians alike.He is also the Director of Mission and Program Delivery at the Green Beret Foundation.Connect with Passing The Torch: Facebook and IG: @torchmartin More Amazing Stories: Episode 41: Lee Ellis – Freeing You From Bond That Make You InsecureEpisode 49: Ryan Hawk – Crafting a Legacy of LeadershipEpisode 52: Riley Tejcek – Mission of Empowerment and Endurance

Send us a textOne of the issues it seems we all have to work through is the issue of pride. But it can easily sneak into life without us even realizing it. Pride can impact our marriages, our parenting, and every other aspect of our lives.My guest today is Cody Martin, a man who has been working through this issue over his years. From serving our country in the special forces to everyday life, he shares his thoughts and experiences in dealing with pride.Cody has been married for nine years only by the grace of God, with five kids ranging from 15 to 3 years old. He has gone to church since he was little but only really accepted Jesus Christ into his life during his first deployment to Afghanistan in 2009. He started military service as a Private First Class in the Minnesota Army National Guard. Next, he attended Saint John's University ROTC and after graduation, earned a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the active-duty army, where he was a field artillery officer until he tried out for special forces. In 2021 he medically retired from the 7th Special Forces Group as a Major and became a Field Skills Instructor as a contractor for the Air Force. Cody has recently created his own business called Chosen Property Management LLC.Since every man has some challenge with pride, this is an important and critical conversation that we all need to hear.  To learn about Mighty Oaks Programs:https://www.mightyoaksprograms.org/ To learn more about Significant Man Ministry:https://SignificantMan.com   Questions Answered: Why do you think there are so many warnings about pride in the Bible?How does pride lead into other sins?What are some ways that pride impacted your own walk as a man?Did your wife call out your issue with pride, or did you realize it yourself?How does pride impact our relationship with God?How can pride be a slippery slope?What are the ways pride shows up in your marriage?What are your thoughts on how humility connects into the discussion of pride?How does our culture of doing better and doing more impact our pride?What happens when the center of a man is himself instead of God?What's the danger of a man wearing masks in life?Why do the people who matter the most get hurt the most?Why does breakthrough happen so often when a man hits the breaking point?What do you think the difference is between being proud of something and being prideful?What's the importance of starting small as men deal with pride in their lives?

Curtis Fox, former Green Beret, 10th Special Forces Group member, and author of "Hybrid Warfare" returns to SOFREP Radio to give insight into the war in Ukraine and Russia's perspectives on it. Fox also talks about other key stakeholders in this conflict, emphasizing Poland, and how their goal is never to be subjugated by Russia again.   Fox then details the unbelievably sophisticated and top-secret sleeper spy programs of the Soviet Union which are now being replicated in the digital age by Russia. He also gives deep intel on how Russia destabilizes Western and African governments, the actual tactics they use, and how they weaponize oil to achieve their objectives.    Learn more about Curtis and his work: https://www.hybridwarfare.info/   Get a copy of "Hybrid Warfare": https://amzn.to/3TAYWEm   Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a Text Message.Kathleen Oswald is a Strength and Conditioning Specialist with a Master's in Exercise and Sport Science and is earning her Ph.D. in Cognition and Instruction. She works at Peterson Space Force Base and is the first human-performance professional with a cognitive performance background to work with Space Force Guardians. Before that, Kathleen worked under the Cognitive Performance Specialist at the 10th Special Forces Group. By integrating tactical professionals into the design process of her exercises and workshops, she leveraged their expertise to optimize her coaching to help Special Forces operators improve their performance in some of the most challenging aspects of their jobs, such as CQB training. Her Ph.D. work in Cognition and Instruction allows her to research optimal programming for cognitive performance, develop a cognitive performance program for the US Space Force, and improve her abilities to teach, coach, and mentor the human performance professionals who serve our nation's military. Aside from her work with the Special Forces and Space Force communities, Kathleen is also an ultramarathon runner, competing in races at 50k, 50-mile, 100k, and 100-mile distances. She is also a nationally qualified powerlifter.You can get in touch with Kathleen and learn more about her work on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katoswald/Timestamps:00:00:22 Intro to Kathleen Oswald00:01:43 NSCA Tactical Annual Training Session00:03:15 Cognitive Function and Cognitive Skills00:04:24 Ensuring Skills Training Transfers to the Real World00:06:22 Examples of Decision-Making Scenarios 00:08:06 Training for Selection Courses00:10:07 Adding Incremental Difficulties During Training00:11:39 Sponsor Note: Our Book, “Building the Elite” and Mentor Course00:12:25 Training Via Stress vs. Skill Mastery00:14:31 Assessing Technical Skills vs. Testing the Skills00:17:45 Knowing When to Display Certain Attributes00:18:52 Evaluating What Someone Is Made of00:20:47 Concocting Tests for Perseverance00:22:10 Performing with Severe Gastrointestinal Issues00:25:28 Addressing Imposter Syndrome00:28:25 Why Younger Generations May Struggle with Self-Regulation00:31:16 Training in Silence00:32:23 Being Perpetually Distracted00:34:07 Evaluation in the Shoot House00:39:35 Video Training Scenarios00:41:16 Rapidly Presenting Critical Decisions with Perceptual Learning 00:44:23 Comparing Different Levels of Skill 00:47:15 Changes in Eye Movement as Skill Progresses00:49:38 Emotional and Stress Regulation Assessments00:53:04 Does Your Fear Response Help or Hurt Your Performance?00:56:20 How Do You Determine What Foundational Training to Implement First?01:00:31 Tech Gadgets for Cognitive Skills Training01:03:49 Improving Cognitive Skills on Your Own01:06:32 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received01:09:26 Outro

In this conversation, Rick, a senior medic for the 10th Special Forces Group, shares lessons learned from a mass casualty event in Eastern Afghanistan. He discusses the different types of mass casualty situations and the challenges faced in both reactive and proactive scenarios. Rick emphasizes the importance of realistic training scenarios and the need to think critically and adapt in high-stress situations. He also highlights the significance of effective communication, pre-coordination with medevac assets, and documenting patient information. Rick concludes by stressing the need to focus on good medicine rather than striving for perfection. In this conversation, Dennis discusses the importance of managing chaos and effective communication during mass casualty situations. He emphasizes the need to step back, take a breath, and develop a plan to ensure the best possible outcomes. Dennis also highlights the significance of triaging patients and categorizing them based on urgency. He stresses the importance of cross-training medics and being familiar with each other's roles and responsibilities. Additionally, he emphasizes the need for clear and concise communication and the importance of talking about traumatic experiences to promote healing and understanding. Takeaways Differentiate between reactive and proactive mass casualty situations and adapt accordingly Create realistic training scenarios to prepare for high-stress situations Think critically and prioritize patient care in chaotic environments Communicate effectively and pre-coordinate with medevac assets Document patient information and maintain accountability Focus on good medicine rather than striving for perfection Manage chaos by stepping back, taking a breath, and developing a plan Effective communication is crucial during mass casualty situations Triage patients and categorize them based on urgency Cross-train medics to ensure they can treat each other and their patients Talk about traumatic experiences to promote healing and understanding Thank you to Delta Development Team for in part, sponsoring this podcast. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠deltadevteam.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more content go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.prolongedfieldcare.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Consider supporting us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/ProlongedFieldCareCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lobocoffeeco.com/product-page/prolonged-field-care⁠

Send us a Text Message.What happens when a seasoned warrant officer from the 10th Special Forces Group transitions to civilian life and takes up photography? Join us as our guest shares his incredible journey, starting from his enlistment in 2003 through his remarkable military career, which includes assignments at Fort Polk, recruiting duties, and rising to the ranks of Special Forces. From serving a mountain team and multiple deployments to Afghanistan. This episode gives you a front-row seat to the ups and downs of military life and the profound challenges and rewards of forging a new path after service.  Imagine documenting your life through the lens of a camera amidst the chaos of military deployments. Bryan Ray did just that, and it turned into a passion that guided his transition from military to civilian life. You'll hear about how he faced initial resistance for carrying a camera but ultimately captured cherished memories and created meaningful souvenirs. Now, as he pursues photography professionally, we explore the hurdles of standing out in a crowded field and the art of storytelling. This episode highlights the importance of preserving moments not just for personal reflection but also to share invaluable experiences with family and friends.  Building a specialized media team for high-adventure clients is no small feat. Our guest walks us through his hopes and future dreams of selecting the right  personnel for an ambitious project, managing the balance between passion and practicality, and navigating the social media landscape for business growth. From hiring independent contractors to the ultimate goal of providing salaried positions, you'll discover the intricacies of growing a small business. We also delve into the importance of humor and relatable content in engaging specific audiences, particularly the military community. This episode provides a roadmap for anyone looking to balance work and family life while transitioning from a structured military career to the entrepreneurial world. Your support means the world to us, so please remember to LIKE, FOLLOW, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE to stay updated with our latest episodes and join our growing community! Instagram: @securityhaltX: @SecurityHaltTik Tok: @security.halt.podLinkedIn: Deny Caballero Connect with Bryan!LinkedIn: Bryan RayInstagram: b.ray_dolBusiness Instagram: rayality_mediaSupport the Show.Produced by Security Halt Media

Master Sergeant Tom Spooner wants military men and law enforcement veterans to know that they are not alone. As a former Special Operations Veteran with more than two decades of military service, Tom Spooner has seen things that most humans only read about in books or see on the movie screen. Throughout his decorated military career, he spent time with the 82nd Airborne as a Green Beret in the US Army's 7th Special Forces Group and with numerous deployments with the elite 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta. Today, Tom Spooner is a retired military veteran who focuses on equipping men in healing their hearts and constructively working through their traumas from the battlefields of their vocations and the battlefield of their minds. As the co-founder of Warriors Heart, Tom's mission is to serve the most underserved member of the American population: Men. Don't miss this special episode with Master Sergeant Tom Spooner. Resources:  https://www.warriorsheart.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-spooner-b988072b/ https://www.instagram.com/warriorshearthealing/

Episode 58 – Eric Czaja – Below the Surface In this episode, U.S. Army Maj. Eric Czaja discusses his career from his time as a platoon leader leading up to experiences as an NPS student and his thesis research focusing on regenerative agriculture. This episode is hosted by U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Karl Flynn. This episode was recorded on April 12, 2024. Watch Maj. Czaja and his thesis partner, Maj. Ian McAlpine discuss their research in the NPS Student Profile video. Download a transcript of this episode. Segment 1 of 3 – Operational Experiences - [0:00] Segment 2 of 3 – Homesteading and Agricultural Thesis Research - [11:25] Segment 3 of 3 – Advice to Students - [30:20] Eric is a graduate of Marquette University and commissioned as an Infantry officer in 2011. He served as a Rifle Platoon leader, Reconnaissance Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Assistant Operations Officer in the 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA. After successfully completing the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2018, Eric served as a Special Forces Operation Detachment- Alpha Commander in 3rd Special Forces Group. Eric has successfully led Soldiers in Africa and Afghanistan and is a June 2024 graduate with an M.S. degree in Defense Analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School. [Disclaimers] The Trident Room has been brought to by the Naval Postgraduate School Alumni Association and Naval Postgraduate School Foundation. The views expressed in this interview are those of the individuals and do not reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the US Navy, or the Naval Postgraduate School. For comments, suggestions, and critiques, please email us at TridentRoomPodcastHost@nps.edu, and find us online at nps.edu/tridentroompodcast. Thank you!

Dr. Dale Comstock served 10 years in 1st SFOD-D (The Delta Force) as an assaulter, explosives, mechanical, ballistic,and manual breacher, Team Leader, 3rd Special Forces Group (Green Berets) as a light and heavy weapons expert -Team Sergeant, and in the 82nd Airborne Division 325th Infantry. He also worked 9.5 years as a paramilitary operative for USG and concurrently worked as a contract security specialist, COO, Vice President, and President for various security companies applying his skills and knowledge on a myriad of security challenges around the world.  ​ https://wealthfit.com/podcasts/get-wealthfit/dale-comstock-a-conversation-with-the-american-badass/ ​ https://youtu.be/VfROu7_UIR4 ​ https://youtu.be/0X6N3g190pY ​ https://youtu.be/FcAD5wuxOkE ​ ​ Dr. Dale A. Comstock, N.D., M.A., President,"The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason." ​ Dale Comstock has given 35 years of service to the United States combating U.S. enemies abroad. He served in every campaign from Grenada to the present conflicts that the United States is involved in as a frontline combatant directly engaging the enemy, either as a Paratrooper, Green Beret, Delta Force Operator, or Paramilitary contractor. He has been decorated twice for Valor in combat and is also the famed breacher that explosively breached the Modelo Prison in Panama during the 1989 U.S. invasion and rescue of Kurt Muse. You can read more about his life and combat experience in his book American Badass.Dale has 6th degree Black Belts in American Open Karate and Extension Fighting, with a 1st degree Black Belt in Ju Jitsu. He is a former professional boxer, kickboxer, and MMA fighter, who authored the 3rd Special Forces Group combatives manual in 1997, instructed the Delta Force combatives program and the 3rd Special Forces Group combatives program. He is a competitive Bodybuilder and actively trains and competes alongside his son. In the world of self-defense Dale has globally managed bodyguard details for high net worth businessman, celebrities, and Politicians.In addition to martial arts training and knowhow, Dale has a Doctorate Natural Health and Alternative Medicine, a Masters Degree in Business and Organizational Security Management, with a Baccalaureates degree in Education. He is fluent in German, with a working knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese.He is a certified Locksmith, Special Security and Anti-Terrorist Driving Instructor, Evasive and Defensive Off-road Driving, Professional K-9 trainer and handler, Combat Tracker, U.S. Army Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE), DOD High Risk level-2 Resistance to Interrogation trained, Delta Force firearms and Close Quarter Battle instructor, FBI Firearms instructor, Mid-South Institute firearms instructor, NRA firearms instructor, NSA Operational Security Manager, Waterborne Insertion Expert, and Advanced Urban Warfare/ Unassisted Asset Recovery trained.In September 2011 Dale was featured on Discovery Channel's “One Man Army,” and in September 2012 he was featured on NBC's “Stars Earn Stripes” alongside Terry Crews. Since that time Dale has participated in numerous Hollywood productions and has authored his book “American Badass,” which is his life story from childhood to present day that talks about his journey through virtually every ground campaign from Grenada to Afghanistan as a Delta Operator, Infantryman, and Paramilitary Operative.AWARDS/HONORS: Bronze Star with “V” device (For Valor), Joint Service Commendation Medal with “V” device (For Valor), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Army Commendation Medal (3 awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/ Spearhead device (3 awards), Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Service Star (2 awards), Kuwait Liberation Medal, Saudi Arabian-Kuwait Liberation Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Master Parachute Badge, Special Forces Tab.

Mike is a 2002 graduate of The U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he was commissioned as an officer and went on to serve three combat tours with the First Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group.  Mike continues to serve the nation as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he is an Assistant Professor. He is the co-author of LEAD YOURSELF FIRST by Bloomsbury Press (2017).  Mike and his wife Genevieve live on a 32-acre farm in North Carolina, where they raise their five young children. Mike is helping organize a project slated for May 2025, where a group of 12 veterans will run from San Diego to DC in relay style. Endurance Training Simplified Series Zach's Low Carb Endurance Approach Series SFuels: sfuelsgolonger.com code: BITTER5 (FREE SAMPLE PACK LIMITED OFFER) Janji: janji.com code: Bitter10 LMNT: drinkLMNT.com/HPO deltaG: deltagketones.com - IG: @deltag.ketones Code: BITTER20 HPO Website: zachbitter.com/hposponsors Support HPO: zachbitter.com/hpo  Zach's Coaching: zachbitter.com/coaching Zach's Newsletter: substack.com/@zachbitter Find Zach: zachbitter.com - IG: @zachbitter - X/Tw: @zbitter - Substack: zachbitter.substack.com - FB: @zbitterendurance - Strava: Zach Bitter - TikTok: @zachbitter Mike: mikeerwin.net - teamrwb.org - IG: @erwinRWB - X: @erwinRWB - Linkedin: Mike Erwin

In this special episode of the Talking Lead Podcast: Coming off the weekend of the failed assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump, Lefty gathers 4 of the best Executive Protection Agents in the business to educate us on what exactly Executive Protection is, how it's supposed to be done and Lefty gets the guys to share  some awesome  and funny on-the-job stories.  Plus we get everyone's take on how and why the Trump Rally Executive Protection was such a disastrous failure.   Jim "The Kraken" Erwin: (Slipknot) Veteran of the U.S. Special Operations Forces, including service as a 1st SFOD-D (Delta) Operator.  He was part of the 1st SFOD-D selection course – where he was ultimately one of five candidates chosen from a class of nearly 100.  Erwin was awarded the Distinguished Honor Graduate of his U.S. Army Sniper Course while serving with 2/75 Ranger Bat. He also served as the ranking NCO for a military free-fall platoon with a Long Range Surveillance Company.  After leaving active duty, Erwin provided close protection and security for high-profiled clientele across the globe including many high-threat environments. Erwin provides high level firearms training through his company Shoot Performance Institute Daniel Fielding:  (Kid Rock)  Author of The Asset Mindset: A Special Forces Perspective for Achieving Success.  Daniel is a former Green Beret with the 7th Special Forces Group.  He was with the Department Of Defense during GWOT training MARSOC and various other military groups.  Daniel has been Kid Rock's head of Executive Protection for several years and, through Kid's unique friendship with Donald Trump, has had several opportunities to work directly with Trump's security details. Bryan Seaver: (Dolly Parton) Provides full spectrum personal protection for celebrity icon headliners on multiple musical world tours. Bryan has conducted tour security, venue coordination, facility protection and estate security for seven years as the Director of Security for CTK Management, LLC and its clients.  A graduate of Executive Security International (ESI) and owner of a Nashville, Tennessee based security consulting company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services, LLC. Bryan provides dignitary protection and specialized security support to high-risk individuals, celebrities, corporations and the defense industry. Andrew Coussens:  (Technical Advisor - Terminal List: Dark Wolf)  Author of A Failed State: An International War On Terror Novel & RELAPSE: The Cost of War.  Andrew spent over eight years deployed as a contractor for the CIA in a classified program that is still active in numerous areas of the world in the War on Terror. He spent four years simultaneously training partner nations in counter-terrorism tactics for the US State Department's Global Anti-Terrorism Assistance program. Since leaving these programs, including his time with an elite federal search and rescue program, Andrew has been employed as a consultant for a field trauma medical company as well as representative for a K9 centered executive protection and hostage negotiation retrieval firm.

Tom Spooner is a Former Delta Operator and Warriors Heart Co-Founder/President whose service to our nation in the U.S. Army spanned nearly 21 years (1990-2011), primarily in Iraq and Afghanistan (including 12 deployments and 40 months in combat). His military career included time in the 82nd Airborne, as a Green Beret in the US Army's 7th Special Forces Group and, ultimately, in the U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta as an Operator. Since retiring from the military in 2011, Spooner has successfully enabled thousands of warriors to acknowledge their struggles, seek treatment, and understand that they are not alone. Spooner joined forces with successful treatment providers Josh and Lisa Lannon to open Warriors Heart in 2016. Spooner helped build the curriculum for Warriors Heart's Full Continuum of Care, which includes Detox, Inpatient, Outpatient, Sober Living and Aftercare on 500+ acre ranch locations in Texas and Virginia. Warriors Heart is the first and only private and accredited treatment center in the United States that is exclusively for warriors (military, veterans and first responders) struggling with addiction, PTSD and co-occurring issues. Spooner speaks from the heart about personally struggling with chemical dependencies, PTSD, mild TBI, a suicide attempt and more to help his fellow warriors heal. Spooner's work has been featured by the TODAY Show, A & E's Intervention, Stars and Stripes, National Defense Radio Show, Military Families Magazine, San Antonio Express-News, FOX 11 Los Angeles, WNCN CBS 17 Raleigh, KSAT ABC San Antonio, and many more media. https://www.warriorsheart.com/about-us/staff/#tom-spooner This interview highlights why both legal and illegal substances can be more deadly for warriors.  Social Media  Website Https://warriorsheart.com/connect Social Media https://www.facebook.com/warriorsheart - 190k followers https://www.instagram.com/warriorshearthealing https://twitter.com/WarriorsHeart22 https://www.linkedin.com/company/warriors-heart/ Special Offer: If you or a warrior need help with addiction, PTS or co-occurring issues, please contact Warriors Heart's 24-hour hotline (866-955-4035).

Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania campaign rally on Saturday night. Twenty-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was identified as the shooter. We talk to Green Beret, sniper, Recon Marine, and author Clay Martin about what he believes happened that day. In the busiest few days of all time, Donald Trump has also had his trial dismissed and selected his VP, JD Vance. Yesterday, Jack Black announced on social media that Tenacious D's current tour will be canceled amid blowback against band partner Kyle Gass, who made a comment related to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump during a concert over the weekend. Guests: Jimmy McCartney and Clay Martin (Martin served in the USMC and the U.S. Army. In the Corps he was in the infantry, a scout/ sniper, and a Recon Marine. In the Army he served as a Green Beret, with most of his career spent in 3rd Special Forces Group. He was also an operational detachment alpha communications SGT, intelligence SGT, and ended his career as a SFAUC instructor.) Go to trymiracle.com/NORMAL, and, if you use our promo NORMAL at checkout, you'll get three FREE TOWELS and SAVE an extra 20%!

GUEST OVERVIEW: John Frankman was a Captain in the Army who served as a Green Beret assigned to 7th Special Forces Group. On July 1st, 2023 he separated from active duty after 8 years for refusing the COVID 19 shot. Before going on active duty, he spent four years in the Catholic seminary before discerning that God had different plans for him. He entered active duty as an Infantry Officer and completed the Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course, Airborne School, and Ranger School. After serving as an Infantry Officer, he was selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course where he also completed SERE school (Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape) and completed the Military Free Fall Course. Of all of his military accomplishments, he considers refusing the immoral and illegal COVID vax his proudest moment. Since leaving the Army, he has been fighting for accountability for those responsible for the mandates and restitution for affected service members.

This is part two of our conversation with Dr. David Walton. Dr. David “Wally” Walton is a retired Army Special Forces officer with 25 years of experience in the SF community. His career spans service with the 7th Special Forces Group, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), and the Special Warfare Center and School.Dr. Walton's extensive operational experience includes deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and much of Latin America. Since retiring in 2013, he has transitioned into academia, teaching National Security Studies and Executive Leadership. His extensive research portfolio covers Security Strategy, Organizational Culture and Dynamics, and Human Performance. His deep understanding of security studies encompasses everything from tactical operations to high-level strategic policy discussions.Currently an instructor at JSOC, Dr. Walton is a subject matter expert in Special Forces Assessment and Selection. He specializes in land navigation and runs a prep program for SFAS candidates. This is how we came across one another. We had a BTE client attend one of his land nav courses, and he returned from the experience with great things to say. So, we contacted Dr. Walton and have been recommending his course to all of our SFAS prep clients.As we'll discuss in this episode, land nav is becoming an increasing issue at SFAS, with failure rates due to land nav shortfalls increasing dramatically over the past several years. If you're on your way to Special Forces Assessment and Selection, Dr. Walton's advice and in-person courses should absolutely be included in your preparation training.Contact Info:You can learn more about Dr. Walton, his courses, and his books at tfvoodoo.comHe's also on Instagram at tf_voo_doo.Timestamps:00:00:22 Leaderless Environment: How Different Personalities Stand Up00:04:11 Significance of Peer Evaluation in SFAS 00:06:38 What is "The Sandman"?00:12:43 Importance of Toughening Your Feet in SFAS Prep00:16:23 One Thing You Should Know About SFAS00:20:42 Learning Land Navigation00:27:27 In-Person Land Navigation Training for SFAS 00:29:19 Worst Advice Received00:32:52 Best Advice Received00:34:50 Outro

Dr. David “Wally” Walton is a retired Army Special Forces officer with 25 years of experience in the SF community. His career spans service with the 7th Special Forces Group, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), and the Special Warfare Center and School.Dr. Walton's extensive operational experience includes deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and much of Latin America. Since retiring in 2013, he has transitioned into academia, teaching National Security Studies and Executive Leadership. His extensive research portfolio covers Security Strategy, Organizational Culture and Dynamics, and Human Performance. His deep understanding of security studies encompasses everything from tactical operations to high-level strategic policy discussions.Currently an instructor at JSOC, Dr. Walton is a subject matter expert in Special Forces Assessment and Selection. He specializes in land navigation and runs a prep program for SFAS candidates. This is how we came across one another. We had a BTE client attend one of his land nav courses, and he returned from the experience with great things to say. So, we contacted Dr. Walton and have been recommending his course to all of our SFAS prep clients. As we'll discuss in this episode, land nav is becoming an increasing issue at SFAS, with failure rates due to land nav shortfalls increasing dramatically over the past several years. If you're on your way to Special Forces Assessment and Selection, Dr. Walton's advice and in-person courses should absolutely be included in your preparation training.Contact Info: You can learn more about Dr. Walton, his courses, and his books at tfvoodoo.comHe's also on Instagram at tf_voo_doo.Timestamps:00:00:22 Intro to Dr. David Walton00:02:01 Dr. Walton's Books: “Ruck Up or Shut Up” & “Shut Up and Ruck”00:14:38 Where to Find Dr. Walton's Books00:15:02 What Dr. Walton Studied for His Doctorate 00:23:27 How did you Improve the Special Warfare Center?00:31:05 Ratio of Injuries to Voluntarily Withdrawal From SFAS00:37:05 Telling the Story of What Selection Actually Is 00:41:50 The Power of Journaling00:45:55 Important Factors & Failure Points in Prep for SFAS00:52:22 Obesity in America & Standard American Diet00:53:43 No Shortcuts in the SFAS00:58:41 Outro 

Tom Spooner is a former Special Operations Veteran with a twenty one year career. His incredible service included time in the 82nd Airborne as a Green Beret in the US Army's 7th Special Forces Group and culminated with numerous deployments with the elite 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta. In addition to his military success, Spooner is also highly regarded for his work off of the battlefield with Warriors Heart–a comprehensive treatment program for veterans, law enforcement and first responders. As co-founder and president of the organization, Spooner's mission is to "bring our warriors home." Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://lairdsuperfood.com - USE CODE "SRS" https://babbel.com/srs https://betterhelp.com/shawn https://shopify.com/shawn https;//helixsleep.com/srs https://blackbuffalo.com https://ShawnLikesGold.com | 855-936-GOLD #goldcopartner Tom Spooner Links: IG - https://www.instagram.com/1factfinder LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-spooner-b988072b Warriors Heart - https://www.warriorsheart.com Documentary - https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08MWNGKKN/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Please leave us a review on Apple & Spotify Podcasts. Vigilance Elite/Shawn Ryan Links: Website | Patreon | TikTok | Instagram | Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kirk Lyons, Oklahoma City bombing, PATCON, Waco, FBI, Andreas, Strassmeir, Civil War Reenactment, Gettysburg, Louis Beam, Fort Smith sedition trial, how Lyons became involved with Fort Smith, Mexico, Covenant Sword & Arms of the Lord (CSA), Elohim City, James Ellison, Robert Millar, how Lyons met Strassmeir, Vincent Petruskie, the Nazi connections in Strassmeir's family, how Strassmeir arrived at Elohim City, Strassmeir's relationship with Ellison, Strassmeir's alleged links to German intelligence (i.e. BND, GSG9, etc), Strassmeir's relationship with Carol Howe, Texas Light Infantry, Civilian Material Assistance (CMA),Strassmeir's links to Texas Light Infantry, Strassmeir and the Lady Godiva incident, Timothy McVeigh's alleged call to CAUSE the day before the bombing, Dave Holloway, Strassmeir's flight from the US after the bombing, the questions surrounding Strassmeir's visas and passports, John Doe #2, 9/11, possible links to 9/11 and OKC bombing, Kirk's take on PATCON, Kirk's role in Waco siege, Branch Davidians, Kirk's role in Ruby Ridge, Kirk's role in the Montana Freemen standoff, 20th Special Forces Group, Sovereign Order of Saint John, American Pistol and Rifle Association (APRA), McVeigh and APRAMusic by: Keith Allen Dennishttps://keithallendennis.bandcamp.com/Additional Music: Waylon Jenningshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B00138F19S/ref=sr_1_1?crid=TX289HOHORDA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kiP9aVz1MNO2ndfMDSuXvyaD2HBNsKrd3ZFnTJJNrX3_cfF4DkbPtjzETXFZ_NmYOBnMwbNXv71oqvitaopjSxG1IWY8tceuZJMRdKx1m4tqKTNSpbJ0ecdbFgeXqQ-eXrELDo2I_LkluTHSj3y8JZd83dlahlGNsX9Z-ulTjxJLialKOkVHOAmqdNMoUpcaYFYi55RnGCAaKMCqnuYJZMlzwLqnNTiii3lKOAzQeaQ.tJC62qa3ISwwNA4HlM4ViGoGM5M8glCEJj5afz1Yv4U&dib_tag=se&keywords=songs+of+the+civil+war&qid=1715567064&s=dmusic&sprefix=songs+of+the+civil+war%2Cdigital-music%2C355&sr=1-1 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Dutch” has served 31 years in the United States Army, 26 of which were in Special Operations Command, with experience with the 19th Special Forces Group, 1st/75th Ranger Battalion, culminating with 14 years as a USASOC Operator. His unique perspectives and experiences make him a valuable Subject Matter Expert at Tactical Hyve.During his career he:Planned and conducted small unit tactics supporting Unconventional Warfare, Special Reconnaissance, Foreign Internal Defense, and Direct Action missions. Took part in over 1000 successful combat assaults in classified and unclassified missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Trained and participated in training Task Force partners (FBI HRT/Ranger Regiment/SAS/SASR/KSK/FSK/JTF2/U.S. Border Patrol) to include indigenous forces of Columbia, Thailand, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, and the KSATrained Domestic, Federal LE, United Kingdom, Australian, Canadian, New Zealander, German, and Norwegian K9 Forces  K9 Troop Sergeant Major/Operations Sergeant Major/Task Force Liaison Officer/Team Leader/K9 Handler/Operator Team Member/ Platoon Sergeant/Squad Leader/Team Leader/Machinegun Team Leader/Assistant Gunner/203 Gunner/SAW Gunner/RiflemanK9 Program Manager USSOCOM Proficient in Pistol/Rifle/SAW MG/M240 MG/Carl Gustav AT gun and many various makes and models of small arms (to include foreign weapons) and crew-served weapons. 

Don Edwards is a retired US Army Special Operations veteran with over two decades of service in the 75th Ranger Regiment and 20th Special Forces Group, including a combat jump into Operation Just Cause and combat operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. We discuss the critical lessons learned during his deployments in high-stakes environments like Iraq and Afghanistan, and how these experiences shaped his approach to tactical training and leadership. Don's post-military includes roles as the Use of Force training manager at the ATF National Academy and his ongoing contributions as a tactical advisor to the Department of Defense. Join us for lessons learned from the front lines, the transition from military to civilian tactical education, and how these experiences have shaped his approach at Green Line Tactical. https://www.greenlinetactical.com/ Wolf 21- Check out what they have to offer for the best sleep of your life:  https://www.thewolf21.com Use Code: "clearedhot" for 30% off of your 1st order The Speed of War Comic Series: https://www.thespeedofwar.com/ Check out the newest Cleared Hot Gear here: https://shop.clearedhotpodcast.com/  

“Dutch” Chris Moyer has served 31 years in the Unites States Army, 26 of which were Special Operations Command with experience with the 19th Special Forces Group, 1st/75th Ranger Battalion culminating with 14 years as a USASOC Operator. Dutch planned and conducted small unit tactics in support of Unconventional Warfare, Special Reconnaissance, and Foreign Internal Defense and Direct Action Missions. He took part in over 1000 of successful combat assaults in classified and unclassified missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. In this episode, we catch up with Dutch at the Sawmill Training Complex in Laurens, SC and talk about what the Sawmill facility offers. 

This week we're diving into a conversation about mountain warfare, and our guest is about as qualified as they come. Captain Paul Rogers is the commander of the Special Operations Mountain Warfare Training Center (SOMWTC). He is the the first Officer to graduate all USSOCOM Mountain Operator Courses and has tackled some extreme mountain objectives. As SOMWTC Commander, he is responsible for the development of training, operational employment of mountain warfare experts, and doctrine writing for all USSOCOM Military Mountain Operations.In this episode we also spend some time discussing a devastating mountaineering accident that Paul recently experienced. Our human performance folks will appreciate the way that 10th Special Forces Group's interdisciplinary team brought Paul back from nearly dying to a high level performance in a matter of just a few months. We also discuss the mental health ramifications of an experience like that and how he tackled that challenge too.Captain Paul Rogers is a native of Littleton, Colorado and commissioned as an Engineer Officer in 2013 from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering. Following the Engineer Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to 4th Brigade 25th Infantry Division at Fort Richardson, AK. While at 4-25 IBCT(A) he served as an Airborne Light Equipment Platoon Leader, Sapper Company Executive Officer, and BN Assistant Operations Officer. While in Alaska he was awarded the Wheeler Medal by the Society of American Military Engineers, for modernizing the deployment of Light Airfield Repair Packages.CPT Rogers attended the Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 2017 and graduated from the Q Course in 2019, after which he was assigned to 10th Special Forces Group. There he served as the Detachment Commander of SFOD-A 0223 (Mountain). As Detachment Commander he deployed twice in support in support of Operation ATLANTIC RESOLVE and the Russo-Ukrainian War before transitioning into his current role.CPT Rogers is an active member of the American Mountain Guide Association and has completed a number of certifications to become an apprenticed Ski and Alpine Guide. He lives in Castle Rock, CO with his wife Andrea and their three dogs.

Investigative Reporter Lee Williams joins me to discuss Permitless Carry and Florida's new Special Forces Group.Lock N Load is presented by; Aero Precisionhttps://aeroprecisionusa.comModern Gun Schoolhttps://mgs.edu Ace Firearmshttp://www.acefirearms.comDeSantis Holstershttps://www.desantisholster.comStaccatohttp://staccato2011.comTaran Tactical Innovationshttps://tarantacticalinnovations.comSpikes Tacticalhttps://www.spikestactical.com

-Jeremiah Wilber enlisted in U.S. Army after graduating high school in Las Vegas, NV. -After basic training, he attended the Military Police School at Fort Leonard Wood. As an MP, he served two combat tours, served as a drill sergeant, completed the Sapper Leader Course and Army Ranger Course, and subsequently attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS).-He was selected for the elite Green Berets, where he served in 3rd Special Forces Group as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant and in 10th Special Forces Group as a Special Forces Operations (Team) Sergeant with multiple combat rotations to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. -After a 20 year military career, he to cofound War Party Movement and War Party Ranch. These organizations are fiercely committed to taking action in breaking cycles of abuse and fundamentally changing the way women are treated, across the country and particularly in Native communities. Through their 501(c)3 non-profit, they provide opportunities for women and girls to create working and life skills that foster independence and self reliance in all aspects of their lives and in all future endeavors.Support War Party Movement:https://warpartymovement.com/FirstNet Built with AT&T:http://www.firstnet.com/healthandwellnessBuilding Homes for Heroes:https://www.buildinghomesforheroes.org/Download the O2X Tactical Performance App:app.o2x.comLet us know what you think:Website - http://o2x.comIG - https://instagram.com/o2xhumanperformance?igshid=1kicimx55xt4f 

This exciting and educational episode features LIVE Q&A with Medal of Honor recipient MSG Earl Plumlee from SOCOM Athlete students and listeners from across the United States. The Medal of Honor is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration, and is awarded to recognize warriors who have distinguished themselves by heroic acts of valor. On this episode, Earl answers a variety of valuable questions from our listeners about Special Operations training, leadership, and life. A Green Beret of 1st Special Forces Group and a former Reconnaissance Marine, MSG Plumlee was awarded the Medal of Honor for extreme valor and courage in combat while risking his own life to save others in Ghazni Afghanistan, 2013. It's a true honor to interview one of America's greatest heroes still alive today, MSG Earl Plumlee. Get ready for another exhilarating episode of SOCOM Athlete's podcast "Send Me!"• Website: https://www.socomathlete.com/• Become a Patreon Donor to support us & keep the podcast going: https://www.patreon.com/socomathlete• Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/socomathlete/• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:(With One Click!): http://www.youtube.com/c/SOCOMAthlete?sub_confirmation=1SOCOM Athlete is a military-partnered organization that equips individuals for success who are pursuing a career in U.S. Special Operations. SOCOM Athlete has a vast online and in-person community of individuals pursuing various careers in U.S. Special Operations. Conducting over 100 training events in 15 states since 2018, SOCOM Athlete has trained over 2,000 of America's top Special Operations candidates. We offer elite online workout programs, customized meal plans, development courses, apparel and more. Many SOCOM Athlete students have accomplished their goals and are now elite Special Operations personnel in the U.S. military. Will you be next? Contact us now to start your journey. "Send Me!"

The Medal of Honor is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration, and is awarded to recognize warriors who have distinguished themselves by heroic acts of valor. On this episode of the "Send Me" podcast by SOCOM Athlete, host Jason Sweet is joined by MSG Earl Plumlee, who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2021. A Green Beret of 1st Special Forces Group and a former Reconnaissance Marine, MSG Plumlee was awarded the Medal of Honor for extreme valor and courage in combat while risking his own life to save others in Ghazni Afghanistan, 2013. On this episode, Earl discusses his early years, time as a Reconnaissance Marine, his experience at Special Forces Assessment & Selection, his Medal of Honor mission story and more. It's a true honor to interview one of America's greatest heroes still alive today, MSG Earl Plumlee. Get ready for another exhilarating episode of SOCOM Athlete's podcast "Send Me!"• Website: https://www.socomathlete.com/• Become a Patreon Donor to support us & keep the podcast going: https://www.patreon.com/socomathlete• Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/socomathlete/• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel:(With One Click!): http://www.youtube.com/c/SOCOMAthlete?sub_confirmation=1SOCOM Athlete is a military-partnered organization that equips individuals for success who are pursuing a career in U.S. Special Operations. SOCOM Athlete has a vast online and in-person community of individuals pursuing various careers in U.S. Special Operations. Conducting over 100 training events in 15 states since 2018, SOCOM Athlete has trained over 2,000 of America's top Special Operations candidates. We offer elite online workout programs, customized meal plans, development courses, apparel and more. Many SOCOM Athlete students have accomplished their goals and are now elite Special Operations personnel in the U.S. military. Will you be next? Contact us now to start your journey. "Send Me!"

Sergeant Major of the Army, Sergeant Major Michael Weimer joins the show to discuss what he's learned from his decades of experience in the Army and how family, mentors, and self-reflection have helped him grow into the leader he is today. Joe and Weimer also talk about:Why the military can be "the family business"Weimer's biggest obstacle in his careerThe importance of being present at work and at homeManaging the tension between family and professional obligationsBalancing accountability with empathyWhy tough conversations lead to growthThe power of self-reflectionand much more!Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael R. Weimer was sworn in as the 17th Sergeant Major of the Army on Aug. 4, 2023. Weimer's most recent assignment was serving as the Command Sergeant Major for U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. Throughout his career he has served in a variety of positions from team member to Command Sergeant Major of Special Operations Joint Task Force Afghanistan, to Command Senior Enlisted Leader of U.S. Special Operations Command Central.As the Sergeant Major of the Army, Weimer is the Army chief of staff's personal adviser on matters affecting the enlisted force. He devotes the majority of his time traveling throughout the Army to observe training and interact with Soldiers and their Families. Weimer is the public face of the U.S. Army's Noncommissioned Officer Corps, representing the NCO Corps to the American people in the media and through business and community engagements. He enlisted in the Army in 1993 and successfully completed Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 1994. He graduated the Special Forces Weapons Sergeant Course and earned his Green Beret in 1996. His previous assignments include tours with 7th Special Forces Group, and nearly 20 years in Special Mission Units.Weimer's military education includes all levels of the Noncommissioned Officer Education System, Sergeants Major Course, Executive Leader Course, Summit Course, Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster Course, Static Line Jumpmaster Course, Equal Opportunity Leaders Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (HIGH RISK), and Air Assault School. Weimer is a graduate of Norwich University receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis.His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (2nd award) with Combat device (1st award), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Valor (2nd award), Bronze Star Medal (5th award), Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, Joint Service Commendation Medal with "C" device, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (8th award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3rd award), Iraq Campaign Medal (3rd award), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (5th award), NATO Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantry Badge, Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge, and Air Assault Badge.Weimer is married and has two children.Today's Sponsors:Veteran-founded Adyton. Connect Leadership With Action Across Distributed Formations With Mustr by AdytonExray a veteran-owned apparel brand elevating the custom gear experience. Exray provides free design services and creates dedicated web stores for units

Jack Murphy is an author, journalist, & co-host of @TheTeamHousePodcast. Jack is also an eight-year Army Special Operations veteran who served as a sniper and team leader in 3rd Ranger Battalion and as a senior weapons sergeant on a military free fall team in 5th Special Forces Group.Thanks to zippexMorgan and Morgan Bluechew For supporting this hangout Produced and edited by @99ovrallTimestamps 00:00 Intro01:11 Blending in03:32 Growing up upstate NY04:44 army fascination + parents07:27 Enlisting & progressing + French Foreign Legion11:35 Folly of feeling invincible 15:03 Reaching your limits + Failing + Quitting26:15 Deploying in Afghanistan28:00 Sniper + Missions + Friendly fire incident36:59 Distances snipers engage in41:45 Iraq + Urban warfare + no shots fired46:58 Black sites + insurgents fighting back52:30 Handling stress + Mission anxiety54:50 Leaving Iraq + joining Special Forces55:55 Being apolitical then + Professionalism1:03:30 War is intentional + WW1 hair-trigger mobilization1:11:39 Special Forces + Re-deploying in Iraq1:15:52 Difficulty in re-integrating1:20:49 Never feeling like a kid1:22:30 Junger + Processing & Civilian life1:28:10 War Journalism + Smuggled into Syria1:40:27 Mercenary mindset + Anarchists1:43:39 Recognizing psychopathy + Cannibalism1:50:42 Embedding w/ army v Guerrilla groups1:57:34 Seized by border guards2:01:27 Who are the Kurds?2:08:57 Interviewing Bashar Al-Assad2:15:50 Israel-Palestine2:20:02 Russia proxy conflict with the US2:22:54 Profiting from war + different perspectives2:29:10 War being made into content2:33:28 Special forces in Cyprus + Gaza deployment?2:39:10 China & Taiwan - no imminent threat2:48:14 Russia-Ukraine - stalemate2:54:31 Worldwide conflicts & recalibration3:00:21 Grifters & Frauds pushing UFO3:08:27 Furries at cons

Curtis Fox is a former Green Beret and 10th Special Forces Group member. Fox is also a Russian speaker and the author of Hybrid Warfare, which delves deep into the Russian approach to strategic competition and conventional military conflict. He gives insight into the Russian perspective on security and their basis for wanting back the former Soviet states.    Fox talks about the naval capabilities of Russia, how their submarine fleet is a force to be reckoned with while their sole aircraft carrier is useless and only maintained as a point of national pride. In Ukraine today, Russia's goal is to attack the populace, power grids, and water supply as Ukraine is the fifth largest exporter of grain while Russia is the first, thereby creating demand for Russian grain and subduing Ukraine's capacity to fight back.    Learn more about Curtis and his work: Website - https://www.hybridwarfare.info/   Get a copy of Hybrid Warfare: https://amzn.to/4aI6JHn Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-clubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Dennis speaks with former Force Green Beret and Tactical Training Director at Cloud Defensive. Casey Hildreth retired from the United States Army on November 12 th  of 2019. His last assignment was as an active duty Special Operator in the 5th Special Forces Group's Crisis Response Force (CRF) where he served as one of twenty four CRF reconnaissance cell leaders in the Defense Department. This unit was previously known as the Combatant Commander's In-extremis Force (CCIF) and the CINC's (Commander in Chief's) in-extremis Force (CIF). He began his career in the 3rd Ranger Battalion and has over nineteen years, collectively, in Special Operations. He has deployed to the Middle East twelve times since 2001, all while assigned to SpecialOperations Units. He has served in several capacities during his time in Special Forces. He has served as an Assault Cell Leader as well as a Reconnaissance Cell Leader in the CRF. He was selected to represent 5th Special Forces Group in the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) Sniper Competition on three separate occasions and consistently placed in the top of the field. He also served as an instructor at the 5th Special Forces Group Level 2 Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC). In addition to the forementioned, he was assigned to Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 5213 for five years where he served as the Senior Engineer Sergeant, and Operational Detachment Bravo (ODB) 5110 for one year in the same position. Today, Dennis and Casey betting on yourself and trusting yourself, inflation and the tough economy, not living in the past, taking control of your life, creating the life you want, taking care of yourself and your community and doing whatever it takes. Find out more about Cloud Defensive here: https://www.clouddefensive.com/ USE CODE "STREETCOP" FOR 20% OFF +FREE SHIPPING! Follow Casey here: https://www.instagram.com/hildreth.casey/?hl=en If you like what you are hearing and want to stay in the loop with the latest in Street Cop Training, please follow our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/StreetCopTraining Don't forget to subscribe and rate the podcast, it truly helps! Sign up for classes here: https://streetcoptraining.com/course-list/Follow our podcast here: https://streetcoptraining.com/street-cop-podcast/    or    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/street-cop-podcast/id1538474515

Earl D. Plumlee sits down with Evan Hafer of Black Rifle Coffee Co. and describes the events of the fateful day in Afghanistan when 200 well-armed Taliban fighters breached his base's perimeter with a huge explosion before launching a massive and extended attack. On August 28, 2013, MSG Plumlee was serving as a weapons sergeant assigned to Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group at Forward Operating Base Ghazni. For his actions on that day, Plumlee was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2021. Find out how it went down from the man himself.