Podcasts about special operations forces

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is America's most lethal and versatile projection of combat power. When our Special Operations Forces require precision insertion, extraction and fire support, the pilots of the 160th deliver. Born from the need to develop an aviation regiment capable of anything, anywhere, anytime, the 160th SOAR is the only Special Operations Unit to have been deployed continuously since inception.To discuss the critical role of the 160th SOAR, their command team of COL Steve Smith and CW5 Pete Sullivan invited Fran Racioppi for a ride on an MH-47 Chinook and demonstration of the AH-64 Little Birds in action. From the tail ramp, we discussed the mission of the 160th, their interoperability supporting Green Berets, Navy SEALs and Army Rangers; and the various aircraft in their arsenal. We also explored the recruiting, assessment and selection process for pilots, crew and maintainers; the culture of an organization that has a no fail mission; and how technology is changing aviation as they prepare to combat both near peer adversaries and terrorist organizations. Watch, listen or read our conversation from the workhorse heavy lift aircraft responsible for the delivery of personnel and equipment in the harshest environments. Highlights0:00 Introduction3:20 Mission of 160th SOAR4:23 Creating the 160th SOAR6:42 Interoperability of the 160th9:55 Assessment & Selection Process19:50 Support from Non-SOF21:50 Importance of Cross-training26:00 Preparing for the Next fight29:30 The role on unmanned aircraft31:18 Defining a “Nightstalker”34:38 Why join Army Aviation?39:35 Night Stalkers Don't QuitQuotes“Our mission is to provide precision rotary wing support and ISR support to our SOF operators.”“A plan is only something to deviate from.” “The backbone of any great organization and what makes DoD so successful is our non-rated crew members, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted team.”“Your importance has nothing to do with your proximity to the target.” “The standard is a standard. Regardless of what your job is, if you can't meet the standard, you won't be employed in the Regiment.”“You can't do precision if you do anything else.” “We can't always look at one adversary because something else might happen that we have to react to fairly quickly.”“If we can increase our range, survivability, and lethality, we have a major advantage for any adversary.”“Manned and unmanned teaming is the future.”“Don't let a speedbump become a roadblock.”“Not everything is going to go right the first time, but you can't make the same mistake three times and expect to be successful.”“Our people are critical problem solvers.”“I've had the highest of highs and lowest of lows in the regiment, but because of the people I'm around, they've made it the best of the situation that it could be.”The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by University of Health & Performance, providing our Veterans world class education and training as fitness and nutrition entrepreneurs. Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation.

Introducing Troy Daland, President of the Special Operations Memorial Foundation. Learn about how this organization supports continued recognition of our fallen Special Operations Forces operators and their families.Our library of shows can be found at www.veteranscornerradio.comJoin us on Facebook at the page Veterans Corner RadioYou can contact our host Joe Muhlberger at joseph.muhlberger@gmail.com

Send us a textWhat does it take for a Special Operations veteran to transition from battlefield leadership to becoming a future leader in medicine?In this compelling episode of Security Halt!, host Deny Caballero sits down with Ricky Ditzel Jr., a former U.S. Army Special Operations Flight Paramedic with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) and Co founder of SOF to SOM, a nonprofit organization dedicated to guiding veterans from Special Operations Forces into the world of medicine. Through powerful storytelling and real-world insight, Ricky shares his journey of military transition, navigating medical school applications, and rediscovering identity through service in healthcare.Together, they unpack:The identity crisis many veterans face after leaving elite military unitsThe academic and emotional challenges of medical school as a non-traditional studentWhy mentorship and community support are critical for career development and mental wellnessThe founding of SOF to SOM and how it's helping veterans become leaders in the healthcare systemHow military skills translate into effective healthcare leadershipThis episode is an inspiring look at resilience, lifelong learning, and the power of building new purpose after the uniform comes off.

Congress holds the power of the purse. The United States Government is the largest business in the world, but to conduct business - and national security - Congress has to approve the funds and the money. Representative Jake Ellzey is now a 3-term Congressman representing Texas's 6th District. He's a Naval Academy graduate, a helicopter and fighter pilot, and a member of the House Appropriations Committee, where his decisions determine what the government funds and what it doesn't. He's also the co-chair of the bipartisan military Veterans alliance, the For Country Caucus. With the American government changing at lightning pace, Fran Racioppi asked the Congressman how the Appropriations Committee is prioritizing funding, what that means for national defense, rooting out fraud, waste and abuse; and if there's ever a way for America to balance the budget and stop overspending. Representative Ellzey also shares why we need to clearly define America's next battlefield, funding military readiness and innovation to combat both nation-state adversaries and terror groups, and the critical role he sees our Special Operations Forces playing in the grey war the United States is now in. Plus he shares his leadership lessons from the cockpit and the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan to the halls of Congress.Watch, listen or read our conversation from Congressman Ellzey's office. Don't miss our full coverage from Capitol Hill. Special thanks to For Country Caucus for setting up this series. Highlights0:00 Introduction6:20 Veterans in Congress9:12 Why the Navy?10:50 The Appropriations Committee14:45 Funding Executive Orders17:24 DOGE's impact22:41 Funding Military Readiness25:35 Role of SOF in the next conflict27:20 The sentiment of America31:50 Shout out to Green Berets34:08 Defining the Battlefield38:18 Why Was There An Open Border Policy39:44 Can America Balance The Budget?40:42 Is America Ready?42:41 Military Lessons Taken To CongressKey Quotes:“There's a thing about veterans: it really doesn't matter which era, what your uniform, or how well you know somebody who's a veteran…Nobody else gets into that world.”“With SEALS, Green Berets, most pilots; tell me I can't do something, and then watch.”“CR's are bad. Year-long CRs are terrible. Specifically for defense.” “Once we know what the priorities of the President are, we're not going to put something on the floor that ultimately he's not going to sign.”“It's broken. So let's break it. Let's break the whole thing.”“There's not enough money to do everything we need to do to be completely ready.” “It's absolutely essential that our adversaries know that we've got the best in the world.”“The sentiment of Americans is we're strong again, we're not to be trifled with, if you attack us, we're going to hammer you.”“I'm a huge fan of Green Berets.”“I see weapons of mass destruction as the compounds that are making Fentanyl.” “Never pass up the opportunity to shut up.”Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation.The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of my guests and myself. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy, nor does Green Beret Foundation endorse any political candidate or any political party.

Combat Veteran Turned Motivational Speaker In this week's powerful episode from Team Never Quit, Marcus and Melanie meet with Evangelo “Vann” Morris—a retired Navy Lieutenant Commander, global speaker, and devoted patriot whose service spans over 30 years across the military and government sectors. From humble beginnings in Folsom, Louisiana, to elite missions across 45 countries, Vann's journey is a masterclass in resilience, leadership, and purpose. Vann began his career aboard nuclear-powered submarines, receiving intensive training in nuclear propulsion and thermonuclear weaponry before commissioning as an officer. As a Naval leader, he directed high-risk Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) missions in volatile waters, including a record-setting Colombian drug seizure of 14 metric tons of cocaine. His distinguished career includes deployments on nearly every type of Navy vessel—from aircraft carriers to submarines—and pivotal roles at the Pentagon, Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne, and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). In his final assignments, he served as Combat Systems Officer, Anti-Terrorism Officer, and Tactical Action Officer aboard the USS McCampbell. Since retiring in 2014, Vann has continued to serve by mentoring Special Operations Forces as an Information Operations Subject Matter Expert. He's also a passionate public speaker, dedicated to honoring veterans and inspiring the next generation with the enduring message of freedom. In this episode, we discuss: Life aboard a ballistic missile submarine Lessons learned from serving alongside the 82nd Airborne and SOCOM How public speaking became his next mission field Connect with the legacy. Be inspired by the leadership. Learn from the life of Evangelo “Vann” Morris. In This Episode You Will Hear: • I'm one of 16 kids on my biological mother's side, and one of 8 kids on my biological father's side. (6:09) • My mother was a sharecropper in Selma, Alabama. (11:47) • [my brother] Martin was riding on a bike with his big brother. They were crossing the street to get to a general store. As they were crossing the street, here came a car. Within a second, the car was on them. It broke both of [my big brother's] s legs. He was almost able to do it, but the car clipped his legs broke both of his legs. The car hit Martin, broke his back, snapped his neck and went up into the air, came down, bled out, and died immediately. The car kept going. Our mother was notified, and we never knew what happened. (13:28) • In my 2nd year as a seventh grader, I was chatty in class and the teacher said: “You see son this is why you're not gonna be anything in life. This is why you're gonna be a total failure. As a matter of fact, you're not gonna do any better than your dad. (15:58) • The commanding officer starts talking. I called you [twelve] here today to let you know that your grades are phenomenal, your physical fitness test – through the roof, and your attitudes are exactly what we're looking for. I want all of you to consider becoming a commissioned officer. (28:09) • I had a metamorphosis of the mind. A paradigm shift had happened in my life. And all of the sudden, what had happened to my big brother - back broken, neck snapped – forgiven; The teacher telling me to go out and bale hay – forgiven, the other teacher saying I'd never be anything and be worse than my father – forgiven. These guys were saying something very different.  Goodness overcame all the bad things that had happened. (28:53) • I'm taking trauma, and I'm channeling it to purpose. (30:27) •I really believe that when we die – if we should make it to heaven, I believe that God will take us personally, take us under his arms and say “Let me show you all the people you impacted and knew nothing about.” (32:19) • You're gonna have tough times. Don't think you'll understand why people are putting you to work in a certain kind of way. (41:39) • There's no more dangerous place than to have warfare in the mind. (41:49) • Don't give up. (42:21) • Hard work pays off. You can't give up. (53:19) • Even if the reward is not coming to you, and if you are in a position to help them, for the love of God, Help them. (55:28) • [Melanie] “A lot of times, when we're in a dark spot, we're in our own bubble, and we don't think anybody else sees the work we put in.” (57:12) • [I told my son] Listen: you can go in the Air Force, you can go to the Marines, you can go to the Army. Just remember this. That Navy paycheck is what fed you. (61:40) • I am really on a mission to be part of that wave to heal America. (68:48) • I need to honor the veterans and those who have served. (78:50) Socials:   - Bio: Evangelomorris.com   - instagram: evangelomorris Support TNQ   - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13   -  https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors:    - WARFARE IN THEATERS APRIL 11th Watch Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JER0Fkyy3tw First Look Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3DWuqiAUKg&t=3s    -   - PXGapparel.com/TNQ   - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ    - Selectquote.com/TNQ    - Groundnews.com/TNQ    - You can find Cremo's new line of antiperspirants and deodorants at Target or Target.com    - selectquote.com/TNQ    - shipsticks.com/TNQ    - Navyfederal.org           - Robinhood.com/gold    - strawberry.me/TNQ    - stopboxusa.com {TNQ}    - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ]   -  kalshi.com/TNQ   -  joinbilt.com/TNQ    - Tonal.com [TNQ]   - greenlight.com/TNQ   - PDSDebt.com/TNQ   - drinkAG1.com/TNQ   - Shadyrays.com [TNQ]   - qualialife.com/TNQ [TNQ]   - Hims.com/TNQ   - Shopify.com/TNQ   - Aura.com/TNQ   - Policygenius.com   - TAKELEAN.com [TNQ]   - usejoymode.com [TNQ]

In this episode, we explore the Special Operations Forces Global Services Delivery contract, a $1 billion Multiple Award IDIQ from U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). With up to 15 awards and a total small business set-aside, this contract presents a major opportunity for companies specializing in education and training, management support, program management, engineering, intelligence services, and more.We break down the key requirements, NAICS 541611 scope, and strategies to help your business compete effectively before the anticipated May 2025 RFP release. Whether you're a small business aiming to enter the defense sector or an experienced contractor looking to expand, this episode provides the insights you need to maximize your chances of success.

Robert J. O’Neill is one of the most highly decorated combat veterans of our time. He served at SEAL Team Two, SEAL Team Four and eight years at the legendary SEAL Team Six. Having taken part in and leading over 400 combat missions, Rob operated in Liberia, The Balkans, The Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Having been decorated 53 times, his awards include two Silver Stars for gallantry in action against the enemy, four Bronze Stars with Valor to denote heroism against the enemy, a Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor, three Presidential Unit Commendations and three Combat Action ribbons to name a few. Some of Rob’s qualifications include Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster, Tandem Tethered Bundle Master, Naval Special Warfare Scout / Sniper, Breacher, Master Naval Parachutist, Master Training Specialist, Diving Supervisor, Range Officer in Charge for Small Arms, Close Quarters Battle, Breaching, Laser System Safety Officer among many others. Rob took part in the rescue for Operation Red Wings, which extracted the Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell, he was the lead jumper for the rescue operation that saved Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates and he was a Team Leader for Operation Neptune’s Spear, the mission to kill Osama bin Laden. Rob is co-founder of Special Operators Transition Foundation, specializing in assisting Special Operations Forces veterans with the successful transition from the service into their next great career in corporate America. Rob is the author of the NY Times and London Times Best Selling Memoir THE OPERATOR: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior. Rob has been interviewed on Fox News, CNN, CBS, Newsmax and others.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

00:00:00 Hello Listeners!00:06:00 Who are the Spartans?00:23:01 Who Are The Special Operations Forces?00:24:58 How do the Special Operations Forces train?Self-Confidence: The Spartan And Special Operations Way To Overcoming Fear And Building An Elite Mindset By Ryan HuntHear it Here - https://adbl.co/3zC6sYLhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DZ1MG8BIn this episode, we explore how self-confidence is a key factor in the lives of elite warriors like the ancient Spartans and modern special operations forces such as Navy SEALS, Green Berets, British SAS, Marines Raiders & more. Discover their rigorous training methods that instill fearlessness amidst challenges to foster self-confidence. Learn key takeaways from these elite warriors' mentality in this eye-opening journey of conquering personal limitations and building an invincible mindset, inspired by the book "Self-Confidence - The Spartan And Special Operations Way."1. Understanding who these elite forces are with a focus on US Navy SEALS & British SAS (Special Air Service).2. Examining the intense training routines of Spartans and Special Operations Forces to build self-confidence, courageous mentality amidst fearlessness. 3. Discovering how these warriors harness this confidence in their professional lives for success against formidable odds; while sharing practical ways you can apply similar tactics into your personal life as well! Click the link below to hear more about our discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zC6sYLDon't let fear hold back from achieving greatness, tune in today for an empowering journey of self-confidence inspired by these exceptional individuals!

Today's guest is Lt. Col. Mark Westphal, a highly accomplished leader with an extensive and diverse background. Mark grew up in Westchester County, New York before heading to Georgia Tech, where he earned both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Mechanical and Materials Engineering.  He also earned an MBA from LaSalle University.  In his civilian career, Mark serves as the Chief Engineer for Special Operations Forces platforms and is a certified Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) with a major defense contractor.  A combat veteran, Mark recently retired from the National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel after an extraordinary career. His service spans multiple roles, including Combat Engineer, Infantry, Special Forces Green Beret, and Air Force Special Warfare Officer.

I learned from our guest this time that only about %1 of Americans serve in the military. For most of us, our understanding of the military and military life comes from what we see in the movies, watch on television and sometimes from what we read in books. Our guest today, Rob Richard, has served in the U.S. army for over 20 years and is now about to be fully retired from the life that he has come to know. Rob's upbringing was in a military family. I asked him if all that he had learned and seen growing up prepared him for a life in the military. His somewhat surprising answer was “no”. We spend much of this episode learning from Rob what his life was like. We get a glimpse into a military world that is significantly different than what we see in the movies and elsewhere. Rob offers us many great insights and helps us see a side of leadership that we all could learn from. Rob has visited 31 countries both for pleasure and work. What I like most about my time with Rob today is how he has used his military time to learn and develop an understanding of others much less himself. I think you will find Rob's observations poignant and useful in many ways. About the Guest: Rob Richard is a retired Army officer and a native of Southern Maryland. With 20 years of military leadership experience, he has served two combat tours in Iraq during the mid-2000s at the height of the war and several tours in Korea and Germany. Rob spent over six years as a Logistics officer in various Special Operations Units and 14 years in Conventional forces, gaining invaluable experience in both specialized and general military operations. His military experiences range from tragic and harrowing events to comedic tales of misadventure as he navigated his career through the bureaucracy of the American war machine. Rob's career has taken him around the globe, visiting over 31 countries for both work and leisure. He holds a Master's degree in Leadership and Management from Webster University and a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Towson University and completed the ROTC program through Loyola University of Baltimore. He is a dedicated husband and father of two. An alumnus of The Honor Foundation, Rob has successfully transitioned his elite military service to the private sector. The Honor Foundation serves as the premier career transition program for U.S. Special Operations Forces, helping to create the next generation of corporate and community leaders. Ways to connect with Rob: LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-j-richard 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. Well, hi everyone. I am Mike Hingson, your host here on unstoppable mindset, and we're going to have, I think, a lot of fun, as we usually do, and we love to anyway, I tell all of my guests who come on the podcast that the only rule that we have for unstoppable mindset, and it's a hard and fast rule is you got to have fun, so it's important to do that. Our guest today is Rob Richard. Rob has been in the military for these the last 20 years, and he is retiring, so I'm anxious to hear all about that, and any stories and other things that he wants to tell. But he's he's an intriguing individual. It's been fun chatting with him and preparing for this. So Rob, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here.   Rob Richard ** 02:08 Thanks, Michael. It's, uh, it's honor to be here. You know, last night I told my son, um, a little bit about your backstory, and then I was coming on here, and he was like, Oh, that's such an honor to talk to him. And he said, wow, they picked you, dad, really? And I was like, I was like, I guess, I guess he wants to speak with me. So it's an honor talking to you, and I appreciate your backstory. And my son, you know, learning about history in America over the past, you know, 20 years or so, being nine, he was very, you know, thought it was very honor for me to speak with you today. And I agree. I concur. So thank you very much for having   Michael Hingson ** 02:36 me. Well, I don't know, as a matter so much a matter of picking my belief is that everyone has a story to tell, and I believe that we're all more unstoppable than we think we are. And the problem is that we grow up mostly not really learning to have as much in the way of self confidence, and I mean that in a positive way, as opposed to just an ego, but self confidence and self respect as we should have, and all too often, were were encouraged not to really think as strongly about our capabilities and ourselves as we should. So my goal with unstoppable mindset has always been to give people an opportunity to come on and tell their story and help all of us realize that we're more unstoppable than we think we are. And I think that's really pretty important to do. So I Well, one of these days we we have to interview your son, and that ought to be fine. He's   Rob Richard ** 03:36 going to achieve great things. He's more kids, so it takes after his mom. So Well, there   Michael Hingson ** 03:41 you go. Well, I suspect that you have something to do with it too, sure. Well, tell us a little bit kind of about the early Rob growing up and all that sort of stuff.   Rob Richard ** 03:51 So I come from a military family. My father was in the army, and he's from New Jersey originally, but my maternal family was based out of Baltimore. My grandfather, paternal grandfather, was also in the military. I spent most of my formative years in Southern Maryland, in Charles County, Maryland, which is a distinctly unique place. It's about, you know, 45 to 50 minutes south of DC. So there's a bit of this sort of rural kind of where the south starts right the Chesapeake Bay and the lower Potomac River, a culture of nefarious characters and great fun growing up there. But I was close enough to DC to be around that that sort of government culture quite a bit. Also had a few formative years in Alabama and Alaska as well, moving around so that shaped a lot of who I was living in the South in the in the 80s and early 90s. And then, of course, you know, I went to college in Baltimore, very closely connected to that city, based on my maternal family's connection. There huge oils fan. I love the city of Baltimore. Brother was a police officer there for a while. So I'm a Maryland guy through and through. I'm from there. Very proud of it. I went to college at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland. Ah. Where I did the ROTC program through Loyola College, and that's pretty much the gist of me. I think that growing up where I did around the folks that I did, the interesting characters, the type of youth that I had a little bit wild and and sort of free for all that sort of Gen Xenu youth, of just kind of being let, let go to my own devices kind of help shape who I am and help shape my character greatly. So that's pretty much my early start in life.   Michael Hingson ** 05:26 So there was kind of no doubt that you were going to go into the military. Probably family expected it, and you grew up expecting it, I guess.   Rob Richard ** 05:36 Well, you know, I to be honest, I never thought much about the military until I was going to go away to college, right? And so my dad was like, hey, you know, the ROTC program is a great way to give yourself an opportunity right out of college, and they pay for everything. So Truth in Lending, I probably joined the army more for financial reasons out of the gate than, you know, family patriotic reasons. They're certainly part of that. And obviously, when I was in ROTC, the second year, 911 obviously happened. And so I knew that my future was kind of written for me, with a lot of strife going forward as a military guy. So I knew probably around 2021, that's kind of what I wanted to do. But it wasn't always that way. There was a lot of other things I wanted to do growing up, and it just kind of, for whatever reason, that was the shining light that kind of, you know, directed me towards, you know, serving. So I ended up doing that for 20 years, and here I am now. So   Michael Hingson ** 06:30 Well, there you go. Well, on the other hand, if there were other things that you wanted to do, did you get to do any of them in the military? Did the military give you up an environment where you were able to stretch and grow and maybe do some things that that you wanted to do, or maybe that you didn't even think you were ever going to do.   Rob Richard ** 06:48 Yes, I think, you know, one of the great things that that the military offered me was a chance to, I love getting in front of audiences, and I love to tell a story, and I love to tell and, you know, and tell a joke, and tell the things, and do these sort of things. So as a leader, you have to develop a great sense of communication, a great sense to relate to people who come from different backgrounds and and, you know, different places than yourself. And I think the military, being a leader in the military, in particular, you know, the branch of service that I served in the Army, as a logistician, I got a chance to really work with a lot of different types of folks and a lot of different groups of people. And it let me kind of see just all walks of life. And then I kind of mentioned we sent our pre question was, I've been to 31 countries for fun, you know, not just for work. I met my wife in Germany. She's was an American soldier as well. I've got a chance to see the world. The world. The military gave me that privilege. They gave me that opportunity that a lot of people just don't get, you know, I've gotten to see all kinds of things and go out and see the world. So I was very fortunate. And so I guess meeting new and interesting people, seeing the world leading young men and women in combat, is very important to me. It's something that I, you know, never really thought I would have a chance to do growing up, and there's, there's no war now, there was one. So, yeah, I got a chance to do, do these things for many years over so I'm very thankful to the military for that,   Michael Hingson ** 08:11 just the military, and this is just just popped into to my head. So it's just a curiosity, does the military overall tend to evolve as society evolves. I mean, it's not a stagnant kind of a thing. I would assume. I   Rob Richard ** 08:27 think it's a little bit ahead of the game, but I don't necessarily think they're ahead of the game, because it's necessarily the righteous thing to do, but it's almost a business decision, meaning so they desegregated units before most of America, you know, in our general populace was desegregated, but that was more of a decision because they they needed to have people work together, right? Because they had wars and to fight and and things to do. So I think the military is often ahead of the curve when it comes to, you know, desegregation, when it comes to, you know, moving people forward that don't have the backgrounds that are necessarily totally accepted by society at the time. So I think they're a little ahead of the head of the game when it comes to to those sort of things. So I think they generally keep pace with society, yes, if not a little bit ahead.   Michael Hingson ** 09:11 I'll tell you why I asked. It just was something I was thinking about as you were talking. I grew up in the Vietnam era, and for what that was worth on all sides. But during that time, they instituted and had the draft and they even developed a lottery system to decide who was going to go first. And my lottery number was fairly low, but when I turned 18, I fairly quickly got a letter saying you are classified one, a which was the classification where you could be drafted into the military. And I knew that that wasn't going to last being blind, and that they would figure that out, and they did, but I've always thought for me and. And others, they missed it. Why is it that a blind person couldn't find opportunities to serve in the military? It doesn't necessarily mean that we have to be in in the middle of a war zone. There are certainly other aspects of working in the military that a blind person could do, and yet the military kind of never really took advantage of that. Now there are a few people who were blinded in in wartime or because of one thing or another with terrorists, and so they're in the military. They started in the military and then they continued. But it still is true that you don't find real opportunities for blind people to serve in any aspect of the military. And I had a company that I formed back in 1985 and one of the main people who helped me was a retired colonel from the Marines, and he even said there is no reason why there there aren't opportunities available for people who are blind and think tanks and doing other kinds of things that are outside the regular war zone. So it's kind of fascinating, but I think it's an interesting and relevant thing to think about that clearly there are opportunities that ought to be available. Does that make sense?   Rob Richard ** 11:23 It does. I agree. I think one, the one thing about being a soldier at any level is there needs to be a commonality and a standard of that people can do a baseline thing, right? So there's physical fitness assessments, there's things that people need to do based on, you know, certain levels of training, whether it's shooting or going out and doing all these things, that there needs to be a baseline where everyone's kind of even So certain things that I worked in recruiting, uh, ironically enough, for two years, and certain things that are just qualifiers take away from the universal, uh, set that people need a universal set of skills, that people need to be a soldier in general. So there's avenues and different things that you can do with a disability or with things that are would mitigate you from serving in the front lines. But a little bit of what we'll talk about is in these previous wars, not everybody that was necessarily considered a frontline soldier, you know, was, was certainly not negated from from facing combat. And we can, we can talk about that, expound that a little bit, but I think that every person needs to have a basic set of skills. And there are certain things that, if you are blind or if you do have a disability that would, you know, take away from your your ability to do things that are a standard set of things, like, even as a senior officer or a senior non commissioned officer, you still have to take a certain physical fitness test, you still have to, you know, go out and shoot your weapon. You still have to do things that require sight, that require a certain level of hearing. Once you take away from that commonality that everyone has, now you're looking at someone who's not brought into the field and accepted as a soldier of commonality. Does that does that make sense? Or   Michael Hingson ** 12:59 you make an assumption, though, that isn't necessarily so. For example, there are a number of blind people who do shoot their hunters and so on. And so the issue is you have to separate out the skill from how you exhibit the skills. So, for example, right, shooting at a target, if there is a, if there is an auditory cue that allows me to aim at the target, can I learn to shoot at a target and and likewise, yeah, but I hear what you're saying, but I think at the same time, the reality is that that there are, there are certainly options, and what we really need to do is not leave out intelligent minds that might very well be able to contribute to what we do. And that's kind of what prompted the question,   Rob Richard ** 13:58 Oh, I agree, too. And I think that when you see the recruiting crisis that in particularly the army is facing, there needs to be avenues that bring other folks in who might not have the traditional physical skill set that other soldiers have, and allow them to serve. I agree with that, and that's something, I think, especially modern technology, that could be something to be brought into the fold in the future, to be looked at. But I do think, for like, I worked in Special Operations for, you know, for several years, you know, as paratrooper these sort of things. There are certain things that you must have this physical acumen and things that you must be able to do in order to accomplish those tasks in those schools. And, you know, the different training assessments that you have. So if there's a separate place that people can go and have those technologies available to mitigate anything that perhaps their, you know, disability might stop them from doing, I think that's certainly something to consider and something to look at going forward. So that's a great point. Like, I appreciate you bringing that up. I never looked at it that way, to be honest. So I always thought about this linear way of looking at. That you have to have these certain physical attributes to serve. But that's great. I that's a good way to look at it. So it's   Michael Hingson ** 15:06 well and I think, I think it's important to look at what attributes are are necessary to have, but But I also think that a lot of times what we can discover is that exhibiting those attributes may not be the same for one person as opposed to another, but the point is, we can still exhibit the attributes. So it's an interesting thing to, you know, to explore. Great. So tell me about the you know, and I realize that you're speaking for you and your observations and so on. But tell me a little bit about the crisis. You mentioned that, and I read it elsewhere. Tell me a little bit more about the crisis that we're really exhibiting today.   Rob Richard ** 15:46 So I worked in the Dallas, United States Army recruiting Dallas for two years. I was executive officer there, and I was also a time operations officer. And so I got to see the big picture of how the army does recruiting. And even then, in the height of the war, when the what they call the numbers was up and recruiting was was pretty good, still, they struggled to to link up the kind of bridge where they call it military civilian gap, right? So there's a couple different things I think that we need to take into consideration here. Number one, I think about only 1% of the nation serves right? And a large percentage of those folks are like myself. There they are legacy people, people who have a connection to the military. So I think the first thing to do is you have to bridge that military and civilian gap, and you have to look at why aren't people joining the military, right? And I'll be honest with you, the the army itself is terrible at branding in comparison to, say, the Marine Corps, right? Things like uniform and commonality of identity, the Marines do that way better, I think, than the army does. Right? As far as like, we have this certain set of things that we go with are always kind of changing their motto and go in different directions. But in general, there's also a population of people, because we just hit on it. Now you talk about, you know, having something that's going to stop you from serving. There are a large number of people who just don't meet the criteria. It's actually harder to get into the United States Army than it is to go to a four year university. So you're talking about physical fitness requirements. You're talking about legalities. You know, people getting in trouble with the law that disqualifies them from service, prior drug use, things like that, things that are looking at packing away and taking away for waivers. But the number one biggest thing is, I just think society societal differences on how civilian people and the military are connected. I think people just have a general misunderstanding of what the military is. They have a general misunderstanding of what it is to serve. And I just don't think that in our in our current society, that enough people are willing to step up and do it because life is too comfortable, and that's my personal opinion. That's not necessarily, you know, the Army's opinion. That's my opinion. Do you   Michael Hingson ** 17:51 think that it also has to do with how the military is portrayed, like in movies and TV shows and so on? Does that enter into it at all? Yes, I think, you know, we think so, and that's why I asked, I think   Rob Richard ** 18:04 so. And I like to get your take on what it is that when you say that, is it the is it a negative portrayal? Is a good portrayal. If you look at how certain wars are portrayed, right, you take it away. World War Two was portrayed versus, say, Vietnam, right? They're not portrayed totally different ways, right? You look at the modern war, and often veterans are painted this picture of a tragic experience, a tragic a tragedy, right? There's often this experience that is okay. This is a person that had a tragic thing happened to them. The war is something that was they went through and now they have this ailment, or whatever it is. It's often framed as that, but it's more complex than that. Yeah, a service is more complex than that. And I think that another thing is people don't understand that most military folks are middle class by the time they hit a certain age, right? So by the time you are excuse, by the time they hit a certain rank or time in service, they have middle class, you know, houses they live in a certain way of of a certain lifestyle that the army and the military in general affords to them. And I don't think people understand the financial and monetary benefit that you get for from the military. I don't think that's clearly articulated as a as a form of, hey, this is something I want my kid to do. You know, there's a lot of this, not in my backyard, type, but hey, that's great. Thank you for your service. But I don't want to serve, right? There's a lot of that that goes around in American society, I think. And I don't know if that resonates with you or if you agree, or Yeah, I   Michael Hingson ** 19:23 do understand that. I certainly don't disagree. I think that there is a lot of merit to that. What, what strikes me, though, is that there is a great misunderstanding. You know, if you watch some of the TV shows that are on when they talk about the military, it's, it's kind of a romanticized sort of thing, but the the and the the tragedy of veterans and so on, certainly there, there's a lot of that is focused on that at the same time when. We, when we go back and look at it, what, what caused that tragedy? What did? What did we not do as a society, to say, Bring a veteran home and be able to completely integrate them back into or bring them fully into society? And that's something where I think we as a as a society, do miss the point that where is much to I don't I want to use the word blame, but be responsible for integrating people back in because clearly, one of the things that I think is true about the military, and I don't think it's a bad thing, is that it is a particular kind of lifestyle. It's a very regimented lifestyle, and that's okay. But now, when you bring people, say, who have been to war and who have seen things back into society, there are, there is a lot more that we probably really ought to do to make sure that we're helping people get back into into the world that we're most of us are used to, and the fact that we don't understand what the world was that they were in, sort of contributes to us not really knowing how to bring them back into it.   Rob Richard ** 21:16 I agree. I agree. I think one of the things about special operations, where I worked for the past seven years, is they do a really good job of helping veterans, like, transition out of the military, whether they've had four or five years, or whether they've had, you know, 20 years, like myself, they have great programs. I told you. I completed the Honor Foundation, which was, you know, did a great service for me, helping me trans. Help Me transfer into civilian life and help me prepare for not in the corporate world, but just life in general. I think the military is getting better at that. I certainly think that our modern day era veterans were treated far better than, say, Vietnam veterans who came home. Yeah, you know, I really do believe that. I know my grandfather was a Vietnam vet, and I know there were times where, you know, he couldn't wear his uniform anywhere, or there's just people weren't treated with the same level of respect that I was. I always felt that when I came home, right, not necessarily the integration piece, but the fact that, you know, being a veteran, I always felt that I was thanked, or at least it's somewhat some way, even though it might seem patronizing that I was at the very least welcomed home and welcomed back and people appreciated, you know, whether they've experienced it or not, appreciate what I had been through, and we're very grateful for the most part, as to where in Vietnam, they certainly weren't. I think we've gotten better as a society about that. But where does that take you in, in the real and Reality of Things, right? Is it? Is it better veterans care, better mental health awareness, you know, things that I think they're working on? I certainly don't think we do a great job, in general, providing mental health for soldiers outside of special operations, right outside of the elite units that get elite care to access a lot of what military mental health care is is simply just getting you to go back to do your job, right? But when you leave the military, then the behavioral health, mental health care, it should be about getting you back to being a, you know, a human that is going to enjoy and live life to the fullest, right? So there's a difference, right? One's kind of make you a person who's going to go back to work and do is, you know, run the machines and run the papers as a as George Carlin would say. And the other is going to help you kind of be a normal human that fits into society, and that's the difference, you know? I think, well, the   Michael Hingson ** 23:25 other, the other aspect of it is that in the military, it is a very regimented sort of thing, and most of the time, there are people above you, and you realize they make the decisions, and we just carry out the orders. And now being back in the mainstream of society, you are more responsible for doing a lot of those things for yourself. And again, that's something that we need to teach people how to do.   Rob Richard ** 23:52 Again, sure. Well, I would, oh, go ahead, Michael, go ahead. No, go ahead. I was going to say I tend to disagree with that a little bit. I think people have a stereotype about military folks. You know, I you know most military people after, I said, as I mentioned before, after they hit a certain time and service a certain rank, their life is somewhat individualized. It's not necessarily a control that's a good point. Yeah, it really much is, I live in my own house. I don't live on post. I don't wake up every day and go to listen to listen to the bugle at five o'clock in the morning. You know, I think there's a misconception that soldiers are robots. When they are individuals with families, they are individuals, you know, that live lives outside of the military. Is it regimented? Yes. Is it a lifestyle? Yes. But I do think there's a misconception that the military is this completely controlling organization that has every facet of your life under control, and that's just not the case. You know, like I said, it's a it's just not really the case of how most military folks are. And there's so many great minds and artists and people that have all these great ideas that serve in the military, that are very bright and articulate and all these things. There's just a misconception about what a veteran is, I think. And I. Think that's another thing that when we tie in service and why people will and won't join, is the misconception. I mean, how many veterans do most people know? Do they have an uncle or a cousin or somebody that serves and that's something that we miss? You know, it's not exactly all the things that you see in the movie, you know, the guy on the street corner with the fatigue jacket and the one arm missing asking for money, that's that's not really most veterans. That's not really most of us. I think that's a misconception. Michael, that's just my take. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 25:24 and I, and I certainly didn't want to imply that it's so regimented that everybody's a robot, but, but I, but I, but I do think that until you get to that level that you were talking about, and I think that's a very valid point, it's probably more regimented than than a lot of people absolutely are used to. But by the same token, it still gets back to what level of support do we really give people when they when they come back, and the fact that there probably is a lot more that we could do. But you, you said something that prompts another question. And I think I'm well, I think I know the answer to this, but I'll be curious to see what you say, and that is, you're right back in the days of Vietnam veterans came home and they were they were spit on, they were not treated well, and so on. And it's a lot different today. Do you think that September 11 had a lot to do with that?   Rob Richard ** 26:20 I do. I think that people became, I was a young college student in the ROTC program, not quite in the military just yet, but I think that that event was the single catalyst to people realizing that, you know, we came together as a nation, more so than any other thing in my lifetime, ever after 911 so we came together. Now the wars that followed subsequently were very controversial, right? And they were something that divided the nation, but that particular event, you know, made the nation come together at writ large, more than any other event in history. So I think that that that kind of triggered people to be more understanding and appreciative of the military and the things that they would go do right, regardless of the political landscape, of what the wars would follow. People were very grateful. So I think 100% that 911 was a catalyst for people to be more patriotic, more supporting of the military. You know, enlistments were up. People were left and right, looking to join during that time frame, at least the first five to six years prior to the wars kind of going on, becoming quagmire, if you will. So I think so. I think you're right,   Michael Hingson ** 27:30 yeah, well, and I also think that the whole issue with the wars that followed, unfortunately, politics got much too much involved with it. So after September 11, should we have gone into Afghanistan to go after Osama bin Laden? That's one thing, but then, but then we decided to go into Iraq and go after Saddam Hussein, which was a totally different thing. And I still, yeah, and I still believe that that made no sense to do, but we did Sure, and we took our eye off the bin Laden ball, which is part of the problem. So unfortunately, politics gets too much into it and and that, in part, comes from the low bar that we have for politicians. So what do you do?   Rob Richard ** 28:19 I agree with that, yeah, we can agree on that. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 28:23 it's, it's a it's a challenge, you   Rob Richard ** 28:25 know, here's something I'll say on that, as far as I think when you serve in in I was, I'm a wreck veteran, so I've been to Iraq. I spent 15 months of my life there. And I will tell you that when you're there, you know, and I went there kind of a starry eyed sort of young lieutenant, just with the delusions of how things were going to go. So it's really a movie character on those sort of like character Oliver Stone movie, and what I saw was quite different than the reality of what I thought I would see. But I will tell you this at the end of the day, regardless of the political implications of the wars and the meanings behind them, when you have the American military machine together, right? And however chaotic it is, or however things are, I can hang my head on the fact that I was able to lead my soldiers, men and women, young people from you know, like The Rolling Stones of that great song, the salt of the earth, right? Say, say a prayer for the common foot soldier. Those were my guys, the common truck driver, mechanic and people that you know join the military for a certain purpose, whether it's money for patriotism, whatever, when asked to do this mission, regardless of its political implications, they did it. They did it well, and they did it to a level that's impressive and something that is beautiful to watch in action and that I'll always be proud of. Yeah. So if Aaron ever says, hey, you know, you serve these wars, and they're this, that and the other. I don't think when you're there, you think too much about it. That's the Coming Home part. That's the that's the thing you face later. When you're dealing with, you know, whether it's PTSD or these other sort of issues, that's when the philosophical question is to be answered. When you're there, when you're in the fight, that is. This, you doing your mission, you and your guys, the old adage, adage of left and right, that's what you're doing, and that I'm proud of, and that I can think our military did a great job. Right. Losing the war in the political sense is far different than losing the battles right in the actual militarily sense. So that's just something I hang my hat on. And I think that if we overlooked that as a society, and we overlooked that as a culture, that the wars are just this negative thing, and they were kind of, you know, excuse my language, or kind of, Bs, whatever. Yeah, we're overlooking the accomplishments of the actual people that were asked to do these things, right?   Michael Hingson ** 30:32 Well, and also well, and ultimately, let's, let's take Afghanistan. You know, we have we were there for a long time. Should we have been there as long as we were? I think that's a question that you can you can discuss and debate, but at the same time, the ultimate thing we were looking to do was to deal with Osama bin Laden, and we did that. But then we did continue to stay, and there were reasons for it. Should we have or should we have been smarter about withdrawing again? Those are all discussions that one could have. But I think that ultimately, it seems to me, you know, if people said, and people ask me, Well, did we lose the war in Afghanistan? I don't know that we lost the war, but I think the politicians didn't help but I think that the military did what they were supposed to do. I   Rob Richard ** 31:24 agree. But, you know, I the the general who said this escapes me, but it was not a 20 year war. It was a one year war fought 20 times. Yeah. So when you so you have these wars, you have a different general, a different you know, whatever it is, come in and they all have a different take on how we're going to accomplish this goal. But both those wars, whether it was the one I fought in Iraq or the one in Afghanistan, you know, they there were no real clear objectives for us. They were one year at a time, little hash marks of trying to accomplish these small goals. And we were never given a clear picture of what victory looked like, very similar to Vietnam. So I think that's, I don't think that's put on the that's not put on the backs of the common veteran. That's put on the backs of the politicians. Yeah, that was that, I was sure that's put on. I The generals too. I think so they, they owe their, you know, by that time you hit to that, that level, it's, it's a political level. And I think they're, they owe an answer to that. You know, my personal opinion, me as a retired Army officer, I think they owe an answer to that.   Michael Hingson ** 32:23 Well, we don't necessarily have the same kind of generals as we had with a patent or even a storm in Norman Schwarzkopf. You know the Sure, sure.   Rob Richard ** 32:31 Well, there's some very particular generals out there. Some good there are. But I there are, I think, I think those wars were never, never given clear, clearly defined objectives by any political figure, and that makes it impossible to what you would traditionally call a win, right? Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 32:48 I do. I do. I know exactly what you're saying, and it makes and it makes perfect sense well for you. So you joined the military. Did you think that you were going to be traveling the world and seeing 31 countries and doing all the things that that you did, or was any of that a surprise to you? No,   Rob Richard ** 33:05 I'll tell you. So when you're in college and you're ROTC, you you know, or West Point, or whatever you're, you know, I was an ROTC guys. So you have West Point, you have OCS, your different commissioning sources, you're, you're branched a certain whether it's infantry or armor or whatever, I was a transportation branch. So I thought I, you know, I got stationed in Germany, my first duty assignment. And, you know, I had two deployments to the Middle East during that time. It was about a six year stint. And I never thought that I would have this amazing fun, adventurous and it's a family show here, adventurous show. Adventurous life that I had, that that that I was given. I thought I would just end up at some base somewhere in Texas, and barbecue on Sundays, drink more lights, watch football like everybody else. I never thought I'd have this great life. I never thought I'd travel the world in Gallivan so I'm very fortunate in that way. And I just, I don't think most people picture that, but when you get your first what they call assignment, your duty station, and it's Germany, and my second one being Korea, traveling all around Asia. You know, with my, my awesome wife, I I'll tell you, I never thought I would have that, to be honest with you, that's never something that crossed my mind. That level of adventure and fun, it almost kind of mitigates some of the things that you had to go through in war. It almost makes it like they kind of balance each other out, I think, well,   Michael Hingson ** 34:19 and traveling to and traveling to Germany, of course, got you your wife.   Rob Richard ** 34:24 Yes, true, yeah. So we met. You were both soldiers, and just, you know, we, we met by by sheer chance, and that's something that I look back on, and I'm always very thankful to Uncle Sam for that. So,   Michael Hingson ** 34:34 yeah, there's, there is that. Did she stay in the military?   Rob Richard ** 34:38 No, she got out. So we, we were in Korea, and then I got stationed to go work in recruiting in Dallas. And she made the decision that, you know, I was a little bit further along, a little bit older. And she made, we made the decision that, hey, the dual military thing is very difficult. That is one of the, I think, most difficult career choices you could make, is to have two service members in especially once you hit the senior levels. And so we decided, hey, you know. I'm going to stay in, she's going to get out, and she's a very successful entrepreneur, doing very well with with some things that she's got going on. So I think we made the right choice, and she gets to be mom and be this amazing mother. So I think that's something, I think collectively, was the right decision. Well, that that worked. How old? How old are the kids? I got a nine year old, my son, Alex, and then he's about to be 10, and then my daughter, Evie, named Evangeline, after a song by the the band the Great, the band Yvonne Hill, she is six. So they're, they're still pretty young. A lot of give me, give me a handful here. Well, that's,   Michael Hingson ** 35:34 that's fine, you know. And we'll see who, who does better and who handles who better? The kids handle you guys, or you handle the kids better. We   Rob Richard ** 35:43 were on a pretty tight ship here, Michael, so at least my wife does. I'm going to push over, yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 35:49 Well, there you go. Well, but it, but it's, but it is interesting to to be able to see a lot of the world. And I, you know, I've, I've had the never been to Germany. I've been to Korea and spend some time there. And that was a lot of fun. I've been to Japan and to some places. I've been to the Netherlands, but not to Germany, when actually, in about a month and a half, no, actually about a month, I'll take my first trip to London to speak. Oh, wow. I've been to Ireland, but never to London. And then it's fun to go through the logistics of being able to take a guide dog to London and doing all the things to to clear the dog. I think it's a lot more work to get him ready to go than me, but we'll cope. Yeah, but it's, but it's, but it is fun. And I, I think there is so much value in seeing so many different places around the world and all that we can learn. I think that we take way too much for granted, and we we think that we're so much better, sometimes than than other places. And in some right, some ways, our country and our society works better, and some ways it doesn't necessarily do that, but I don't think it's my place to judge, but rather to go and learn and bring back knowledge and put it to use.   Rob Richard ** 37:04 I agree, it certainly makes you a better person as as a collective right to understand. You know, America's a great place, and I love this country dearly, but there are many things that that we can learn from other cultures. You know, we work so hard here in Germany, and I tell you about three o'clock, they take off and go have a beer and relax a little bit. You know, there's, and they still, they managed to run a very efficient society without the hustle culture that we have. And I, I am a stern capitalist. I love to work hard. But there's something to take away from that. You know, there's also, on the other side of the spectrum, in Korea and Asia, they work even harder than we do, right? So there's, there's a level of where to meet in the middle, and looking at these different cultural things. And, you know, it's just, I just very fortunate to have seen all that, and take a little bit from each one and kind of develop my own life, and these are gonna teach my children and stuff. So that's, that's great. I think I love London, too. The   Michael Hingson ** 37:54 founder of the National Federation of the Blind was a blind constitutional law scholar, Jacobus tembrick, who was at UC Berkeley, and one of the things that his wife told me, I never did get to know chick 10 Brook, but I knew his wife, and she said that he could go for long periods of time, because he would take what we now call a power nap for 20 minutes, and then he could get up and work for hours. And we don't encourage any of that, and I think it's truly unfortunate, because there's a lot of value in having a little bit of downtime that then keeps you able to keep moving a lot more than you think you might.   Rob Richard ** 38:33 No, no, I agree. I think that's something in the military they focused a few years, the past couple of years, on, which is, I don't know it's, maybe it's all for not but focusing on on sleep, you know, wellness and overall spiritual you know, thing that's going on here, trying to get everybody together in this sort of triad approach of wellness, sleep and physical fitness and stuff. And sleep is so important to being a successful leader. You know, one hour of sleep versus four makes all the difference in your decision making. Makes all the difference in your ability to lead, your ability to persevere through problems. So slaves huge, you know, even it's only four hours, yeah, well,   Michael Hingson ** 39:12 and but again, even during the day, taking a half hour and resting your eyes and then coming back gives you energy to continue, and we don't. We don't do enough of that. So I'm, I'm all in favor of exploring and and doing more to to deal with sleep and wellness and looking at other ways to help us move more effectively and more efficiently during the day. I agree. Yeah, so it makes sense well, now your career as a logistician and so on, as you said, is pretty unique. What what made it so unique, and why do you feel that that really helped shape you into what you are, and where do you think this is going to take you going forward?   Rob Richard ** 39:58 So I think a lot of times. When you are again, we talk about conditioning source. So when you go into the military, a lot of guys, they say, Okay, I want to be an infantry person. I want to be an armor guy. I want to be special forces, whatever. There's many different avenues that you can enter the military. And I think coming in initially as a transportation officer. You know, I went to Iraq, and I had these sort of experiences that, I think, again, we talk about movies, they're often overlooked, right? So I was in Iraq for 12 months. My first deployment, I was a platoon leader. I had 60 soldiers. I went on well over 60 plus missions that are, what are called convoys. So I was putting in these dangerous, arduous situations and these things that that could result in grave violence, and these sort of things that I experienced, and that my soldiers experienced, that gave me a unique out outlook on life, right? And I think that because of our underdog persona in nature, as logistics guys, you know, it's all a big wheel, and there's all these folks that make it work, right? And so as an underdog type character, and having these sort of salt of the earth type soldiers, it's given me a unique perspective on people, a unique empathy. I think a lot of military guys are kind of seen, seen as cold and stern, these sort of square jaw type characters. I don't really think I'm like that at all. It's giving me a unique perspective to grow and to be more loving and empathetic, to be a better dad. I think just serving that type of field and that type of profession is very different. It's also a little more diverse than, like, say, your standard, like Special Operations Unit, which is a lot of square jawed white guys from the Midwest, you know, as to where logistics, there's a much more diverse profile of people from all over, you know, from Jamaica or Puerto Rico, from every different state, from these, these different types of folks. And I really had a chance to just work with people who are different, who built my level of love and empathy overall. And I think being in the branch and the field that I was in really helped shape that for me. And then just, I don't think I would have had the experiences say I had been, you know, I mean, I went to airborne school when I was 38 so I did the paratrooper thing. I served in Special Operations units, airborne units, this sort of thing. And I'm honored to have been with those. But I think if I hadn't started in these sort of, like working class type units, you know, out of Germany, you know, under equipment, under trained, I really learned to persevere through things without the best of everything, right, without the best training, without the best you know, given the best tools to go accomplish, you had to accomplish more with less, right? And I think that really is a lesson that you can't really get necessarily in other fields and other branches of the military. I really think what I got assigned to do really helped me persevere through things and become a better person overall. And I don't know if that answers the question. But I think that's kind of, you know, the uniqueness of it that makes it different. And most people, again, haven't had the opportunity to travel and see the things I have. And I just think that, you know, I'm very fortunate in that realm. So I just think overall, holistically, my life has been better because of the job that I got. And to be honest with you, I mean, it's great to be an infantry guy, but a supply chain manager, professional supply chain manager, really does prepare you a little better for the corporate world. So in the end, it kind of helps you transition to the civilian thing that you can do and gain monetary advantage. So I think it all worked out. I   Michael Hingson ** 43:16 think it does probably just with the little that I know about it and understand about I think it does probably better prepare you, because the jobs are fairly similar to what you'll find in certain aspects of the corporate world, which is kind of important. And I like your idea on your analogy of doing things with less. I think a lot of us, especially for those of us who are blind, for example, and people with disabilities in general, oftentimes we have to deal with less, just because society hasn't emphasized making sure that we have alternatives that give us the same chances and opportunities as others do. So we have to deal with less like I work for accessibe. And so accessibe is a company that, among other things, helps makes websites more inclusive for for people with disabilities. Well, the bottom line is that people creating websites don't do things that they could do to make websites more usable and accessible right off the bat. And so the result is that we have to get creative in figuring out how, if it at all possible, we can use a website, and some we can't, because there's just no way, no way to have information that works. But there are also any number of websites that are accessible enough or have enough information that is a friend of mine once said, we can muddle through and make it work, but we do have to deal with those challenges, and I think it makes us better, because we face the challenges and we work through them.   Rob Richard ** 44:54 That makes perfect sense. That does Yeah. And   Michael Hingson ** 44:56 so you having to do that same sort of thing. Sometimes it it makes you a better person. It makes you probably more of a resilient person, but at least it makes you a more inventive person, because you don't take some things for granted.   Rob Richard ** 45:11 Yes, and you know, I think people when they have an idea of a soldier or a leader, I think emotional intelligence and empathy are something that people don't associate with the military. But when you're when you're a young, 24 year old lieutenant, all the way up through, you know, being a more senior officer or senior leader, you have so much of your life that is assigned and tasked to helping others and taking care of people. Their problems are your problems, right? You learn so much about the human condition through serving in the military that I don't think it can even compare in any other walk of life, you know, say, maybe being a first responder or something along those lines. But when you're with somebody in this this situation is arduous and dangerous for 12 months, you know, going on all the way through a 20 year career, you can't put a price or a value on how much experience you get of developing an emotionally intelligent approach to things, right? Some people, I think anybody who doesn't struggle with decisions as a human right, it goes through the experience of war and serving in the military. I think very rarely do you not come out of that with a real profound understanding of the human condition, right? And I don't think anything else could give you that, as far as a profession. And I think understanding people becoming more loving, it might not seem like something from a military guy to say, but loving empathy, you know, understanding the these, these folks and different types of people. I think it's a beautiful thing to be honest, you know, and I feel very cherished that I've had to have that opportunity to become a better human. Again, things aren't necessarily associated with like a military man who's straightforward and, you know, talks in a certain way. And again, some people aren't like that. Some people kind of go through, you know, self absorbed, like any profession, just about themselves. But I think a good military leader. You know, the army a leader, and particularly officers, we always eat last, right? So when I went to Airborne School at 38 years old, as an old, older guy, I was the second oldest guy in my class, the highest ranking person in my class, and so I ate after 200 soldiers, I let 200 people go in front of me, right? And that's not to be hubris or to brag about something, but that's just what you're supposed to do as a leader, to get to show that, hey, I'm here for you guys. You guys eat first, right? You always leaders, always eat last. There's that old adage. And I just think the regular world is not necessarily, the regular civilian world isn't necessarily that way, you know? And I think that's something that really made me grow as a human and to be a better person. So Well, I've always   Michael Hingson ** 47:40 felt, having worked in the corporate world, that a good boss is a boss who doesn't boss people around, who recognizes that leadership means sometimes you give up leadership to somebody else when there's a specific thing that you figure out they can do better. But also I believe that my role is to add value to each and every person who works for me, and I have to figure out with them how to add that value, but for the people who get it, it makes everyone a lot more powerful. And I mean that in a positive sense, it makes them a lot more productive and a lot more efficient. I think that that good leaders figure out how to do that, and that's important to do. Well, I wholeheartedly agree. So I'm curious about something. I keep coming back to it in my brain. So I'm going to ask in places like Israel, where everyone, at some point needs to go into the military, and goes into the military. And I understand why that happened. We don't do that here. How do you contrast, or what do you think about the contrast in those two methods of dealing with the military? Because then I asked that because you talked about the crisis, I'm not convinced that everyone should necessarily have to go in the military, but it's an interesting discussion to have.   Rob Richard ** 49:01 I kind of, I, you know, I like the way Korea does it. Korea has a societal conscription sort of program, right? So you can either join the military, you can be a paramedic, you can be a policeman. I don't necessarily think we need to go to that level, but I think there should be some general level of civic service, right? You have to have some level of commitment. And I think that not everyone, especially in our current society, is cut out to be in the army, to be in, you know, to be in the armed services, but there should be some level of civic conscription where people have to serve for maybe a year or two in somewhere. I really do believe in that. It might sound a little bit draconian libertarian, but I think it's something to look at. I think it would make people better humans. Because nowadays, like, there wasn't World War Two, there was a general understanding that we have a universal effort, that we're going forward as a nation. There was such a connection to the military service, and everyone chipped in, you know, everyone chipped in and all the time, and I don't think that really is the case. Everyone is going in their own direction. Shouldn't we're not going in a general direction. It's good for the country as a society, and without some sort of civic inscription, I don't know if that's possible people to truly understand what others go through, right? And so I agree. I think that we should have some sort of level of of civil civic service, not necessarily level of the draft, but right, not quite like how Israel does it, but   Michael Hingson ** 50:20 yeah, so, and I think that makes a lot of sense, and I think that also it's a great learning experience, yes, which is a part of what I think you're also suggesting, and I think that that makes a lot of sense, that that brings you into being a more well rounded individual as you go forward. And I think that it's important to do that, and we need to figure out some way to do that.   Rob Richard ** 50:46 No, I agree. I think that, you know, when you're in Israel, is a homogenous society, very similar. People have similar religions, similar takes. Our society, when you look at as a whole, is completely different than any other society in the world, as how different we are in the many cultures that we have in a collective approach to civil service, I think could help, I really do think could help something to unify us. Again, not quite to the 911 unification type, right, but somewhere where we can come together as society and say, Hey, we got a common purpose here. Let's go forward with it. You know, so   Michael Hingson ** 51:18 Well we, we were so unified after September 11, and I can point to specific political things that damaged that and took away from the unification and so unfortunate that that kind of thing occurred. And we have, there are other aspects. I mean, we also now have this technology where everyone has so much instantaneous access to so much information, some of which is real and some of which is false, but still the the fact is, we have access to things that we didn't before. And you mentioned World War Two, I collect old radio shows as a hobby, and I listen to many of the shows in the World War Two era, and listen to how all the actors, all the people on those shows, were part of the story that helped pull the country together, and everyone was committed. Yeah, there were challenges. Yeah, there were problems, but people really did come together for the most part, and worked because we knew it's what we needed to do, and that's the operative part. We knew what we needed to do. We needed to be unified, and if we weren't, that was a problem.   Rob Richard ** 52:36 Oh no, I agree. I think, though, there's a fine balance between unification and then a controlled narrative that takes people away from a independent free thought, right? One of the things we've gotten away from is independent free thought. There are two sides to everything. There's my side, your side, and a good collective would be great, but that you still have to have that, that approach to independent thought, right? And I also think something's missed about the military, if I could expound a little bit, is that many people in the military here are some of the world class cynics. You know, they're not necessarily these, hook, line and sinker, follow suit, type of folks. They're just the they're very aware of their situation and sort of what's going on. And they're very like, okay, is this really the deal here? You know, people are very skeptical. They're very they have a lot of free thought, a lot of independent thought. They're very politically engaged in what they think, and very go after things and have articulate points that that they clearly think of, as opposed to just like, Oh, we're all we all think the same. You know, that's a misconception about the military. We don't there are people of all different facets and walks of life and and think completely different on every issue under the sun, and that's important. So I think having a collective civic response and duty to things is great, but we start to keep our independent thought as a nation in a society.   Michael Hingson ** 53:53 I think the other part of that, though, is that we need to learn again, to be understanding of people who have a different position than we do, and we need to stop saying, Well, you're wrong, and because they think we're wrong, whoever they and we and you are. And the reality is it's it's more than just having the independent thinking ability and opportunity, but it's being able to talk about it and people who truly can, again, learn so much because you you learn to understand why people think the way they do sometimes or a lot of times. And that's important too.   Rob Richard ** 54:36 Yes, absolutely, I agree 100% so   Michael Hingson ** 54:40 logisticians are generally not part of when you watch movies and so on, they're not typically what's featured. What? Why is that? Or how do we get the logistics world a little bit more understood? And I know that that goes beyond the military, but you know, nevertheless, yeah.   Rob Richard ** 54:59 Yeah, well, so again, I think you're looking at what in this. This is to take nothing away from anyone. So when you look at most of the majority of TV shows and books, and rightfully so, I'll say rightfully so, so much of it is about special operations, yeah, frontline soldiers, what you would call, you know, in World War Two, there was a linear Battlefield, so there were two entities facing each other, face to face in a situation, but over the past 20 years, and even all going all the way back to Vietnam, they weren't linear battlefields. They were battlefields where all these support type soldiers, whether it's communicators or truck drivers, mechanics, even cooks and these other people, are combat veterans. They are facing combat. They have dangerous and arduous tales of heroics that need to be told often. You know, especially in particular in convoy operations throughout Afghanistan and Iraq. I think it's overlooked because it's well, it's not sexy, it's not what people want to see. It's not the conditioned thing of what people are supposed to see. But I think it can often be talked about in a humorous way, like we, I think you and I, we talked a little bit about mash, right? And that's about doctors, Army doctors who are support personnel and enablers. And there's a comedic approach to it. It's not all just serious, stoic, you know, movie sort of nonsense. It is a, it is a comedic approach to a real topic, and it covered it gracefully. You know, Hogan's Heroes, these sort of comedic shows that we all had, that we were elected, who understood, and that we love McHale's Navy again, another one. I think that logisticians and support folks are often overlooked because it's just not what is considered to be cool. But there are stories about war, about these brave and courageous things that people have done, and I've witnessed with my own eyes that I think is an interesting and fun story, not fun, but an interesting story that needs to be told so that legacy doesn't drift off into the wind, like the gun trucks in Vietnam, right? There was these things that were developed. A great documentary on Smithsonian about

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Brian Hamel discusses his 2023 Army Command and General Staff Theses entitled: Reframing the Special Operations Forces-cyber-space triad: Special Operations' contributions to space warfare. Brian delves into the complex and evolving landscape of modern warfare, focusing on the intersection of Special Operations Forces (SOF), cyberspace, and space. The "Triad" emphasizes the synergistic relationship between these domains to achieve strategic objectives. Those interested in military strategy, national security, and the future of warfare will enjoy this one.  Recording Date: 16 Dec 2024 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #124 Dean Cheng on China, Space, and Information Operations #130 Teasel Muir-Harmony on Spaceflight, Foreign Policy, and Soft Power Command and General Staff Thesis: Reframing the Special Operations Forces-cyber-space triad: Special Operations' contributions to space warfare by Brian Hamel Army University Press Article: Reframing the Special Operations Forces-Cyber-Space Triad by Brian Hamel Supporting Warfare in the Indo-Pacific Through Space-Based Sustainment by Maj. Brian E. Hamel Bowen, Bleddyn E. War in Space: Strategy, Spacepower, Geopolitics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2020. Carlson, Joshua P. Spacepower Ascendant: Space Development Theory and a New Space Strategy. Independently Published, 2020. Drew, Jerry: The Battle Beyond Gallegos, Frank. “After the Gulf War: Balancing Space Power's Development.” In Beyond the Paths of Heaven: The Emergence of Space Power Thought, edited by Bruce M. DeBlois, 63–102. Maxwell AFB, AL: Air University Press, 1999. Klein, John J. War in Space: Strategy, Spacepower, Geopolitics. New York: Routledge, 2006. Klein, John J. Understanding Space Strategy: The Art of War in Space. London: Routledge, 2019. Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space by Namrata Goswami and Peter A. Garretson Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Maj. Brian E. Hamel is a space operations officer assigned to the United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the School of Advanced Military Studies, the Information Advantage Scholars Program, and the Red Team Leader course. Brian has multiple rotations to the Middle East and South America with special operations units. He has a Master of Art from Northeastern University, and recently wrote a thesis detailing special operations' contributions to space warfare as part of the Information Advantage Scholars Program at the Command and General Staff College, Kansas. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Show SummaryOn today's episode, we're featuring a conversation with Navy Spouse Angie DeJarnette. The Founder and Executive Director of the STEPS Foundation: Spouse Transition Enrichment Program and Supports. The STEPS Foundation services the Special Operations Forces community with support and guidance for SOF spouses across the nation.  Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the show in this short feedback survey. By doing so, you will be entered to receive a signed copy of one of our host's three books on military and veteran mental health.  About Today's GuestAngela DeJarnette, Founder & Executive Director, The STEPS FoundationAngela DeJarnette brings her unwavering commitment and personal experience to empower the spouses of Special Operations service members during their transition from military to civilian life. Having been married to Captain Tom DeJarnette for two decades, Angela intimately understands the unique challenges faced by military spouses throughout their journey. Her family's story includes enduring six deployments, ten relocations, and two overseas tours, residing in places such as Okinawa and Belgium.Angela's dedication to supporting and mentoring transitioning military spouses remains at the heart of The STEPS Foundation's mission, ensuring that every spouse finds the strength, resources, and community they need to thrive in their civilian life.Links Mentioned in this Episode The STEPS Foundation WebsitePsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week's resource of the week is the PsychArmor course, What You Should Know about Transition. Transitioning from military service can be difficult. It is more than just hanging up your uniform and putting on civilian clothes. In this course, you will receive a brief overview of resources and tools to consider during your transition. You can find the resource here:  https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/What-you-Should-Know-about-Transition   Episode Partner: This week's episode is brought to you by J.B. Hunt, an industry leading transportation and logistics company offering hiring, training and resources for military veterans, active-duty service members, and military spouses. For more information, check out their military culture at jbhunt.jobs. Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

Perhaps the most respected and feared soldiers in the world are those who belong to Special Forces.  Special Forces are considered to be the elite of the elite. Most nations have some sort of Special Forces units in their military.  Some of the best-known Special Forces units are household names and others are, how shall we say, more secret.  While Special Forces seem rather modern, the tradition of creating units of elite soldiers actually goes back to antiquity. Learn more about Special Operations Forces and their history on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Mint Mobile Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Stitch Fix Go to stitchfix.com/everywhere to have a stylist help you look your best Tourist Office of Spain Plan your next adventure at Spain.info  Stash Go to get.stash.com/EVERYTHING to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase and to view important disclosures. Subscribe to the podcast!  https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Austin Oetken & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textIn this eye-opening episode of Security Halt!, host Deny Caballero sits down with Dr. Christopher Ostrander, a mental health professional dedicated to supporting the Special Operations Forces (SOF) community. Dr. Ostrander shares his journey into the field and dives deep into the unique mental health challenges faced by SOF personnel and their families.The conversation uncovers the cultural barriers to emotional expression in military settings, the importance of vulnerability in the healing process, and the evolving dynamics of therapy for service members and their spouses. Dr. Ostrander emphasizes the role of culturally competent clinicians in building trust and providing effective treatment, especially through innovative solutions like couples therapy, stellate ganglion blocks, and online therapy platforms.This episode also introduces the Soft Network, a groundbreaking initiative connecting veterans with therapists who understand their unique cultural and emotional needs. Whether you're a veteran seeking help or someone looking to understand the complexities of military mental health, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable advice.

Fly fishing has always been more than a hobby for me—it's a way to connect with nature, find clarity, and build community. That's why sitting down with Eric Camfield and the Altar Fly Fishing team was rewarding. Eric shared how Altar hosts retreats that combine faith, fishing, and reflection to help people find direction in life. Whether supporting Navy SEALs, pastors, or individuals seeking renewal, Altar's mission is about catching a bigger vision for life. Also, hearing Jim and Janine's personal stories of healing through fly fishing reminded me how transformative this pursuit can be. Episode Highlights [01:04] Overview of Altar Fly Fishing [04:35] Retreat Structure and Locations[06:07] Collaborations and Upcoming Events [14:39] Impact and Follow-Up[18:03] Special Operations Forces and Chaplains [24:08] Alter Fly Fishing at the Show Circuit Connect with Altar Fly Fishing Team Website: altarflyfishing.org Thanks to our incredible sponsors:www.naturesspiritflytying.netwww.nor-vise.comcrosscurrentinsurance.comflyfishingshow.com

During the Iraq War in 2003, U.S. Special Operations Forces rescued Pfc. Jessica Lynch from a hospital in Baghdad. It was the first successful rescue of an American prisoner of war since World War II, and the first-ever rescue of a woman. In this episode, you'll learn how a DIA team hid a camera in a gym bag to record video of the hospital's interior, which was used for the rescue mission. You'll also hear from former NBC News correspondent Kerry Sanders, whose camera crew was embedded with a Marine unit during the war and had exclusive access to stories, including knowledge of when the rescue attempt for Lynch would take place.

For review:1. Lebanon Army conducts probe concerning Israeli Navy's Shayetet 13 commando unit raid.A Lebanese judicial official said that the probe had found that operatives from the Israeli Navy's Shayetet 13 commando unit entered Lebanese waters in a speedboat equipped with radar-jamming devices that evaded detection by Lebanon's and UNIFIL's naval radars during the raid in Batroun, south of Tripoli, some 140 kilometers (87 miles) north of Israel's maritime border with Lebanon.2. Israel PM Netanyahu Fires Defense Minister Gallant.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday evening, citing a lack of mutual trust during a time of war as his reason for doing so. He (PM Netanyahu) said that the two disagreed on the management of the war, and that Gallant had made statements and taken actions that contradicted cabinet decisions.3. AP Report: N. Korean Troops in Combat with Ukraine Forces.Ukrainian and North Korean troops engaged in “small-scale” fighting, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov told South Korea's public broadcaster KBS in an interview.4. France to field unmanned naval surface vessel.The drone, dubbed Seaquest (needs better name) and measuring approximately 30 feet long and 10 feet wide, and can be equipped with payloads focusing on intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting. 5. France to Send Loitering Munitions to Ukraine.The OSKAR (Opportunity Strike Kinetics Aircraft Ruggedized) platform integrates a 2.3 kilogram (5 pound) warhead and can fly for up to 45 minutes. The system is back-packable and is designed to strike fixed targets, light vehicles and personnel. 6. Netherlands to procure 12 x H225M Caracal helicopters for Special Operations Forces.The Dutch Ministry of Defence announced that a new unit, (300 Special Operations Squadron) based in the southern Netherlands, had been formally stood up to support the future rotary fleet.7. Possible US Foreign Military Sale to S. Korea for 4 x Boeing E-7 Wedgetail surveillance and early warning aircraft.

Day 972.Today, as another Russian oligarch dies in mysterious circumstances after falling from a window, we analyse quite how good the North Korean soldiers apparently on their way to Ukraine actually are.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.With thanks to Kateryna Shenheliia-Hanapolska (Freelance journalist). @eshenheliia on X.Students can subscribe to our coverage for free:We're giving university students worldwide unlimited access to The Telegraph completely free of charge. Just enter your student email address at telegraph.co.uk/studentsub to enjoy 12 months' free access to our website and app. Better still, you'll get another 12 months each time you re-validate your email address.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.ukHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode we sit down with third time guest Chuck Pressburg from Presscheck Consulting. During our conversation we talk with Chuck about Sons Of Liberty Gun Works 6 max rifle, rifle set up, performance shooting, training issues, OIS, Force on Force Training and Team Culture.https://presscheckconsulting.com/2024-coursesSGM(R) Pressburg retired from the US Army on January 1, 2017 after 26 years of active service, mostly in Special Operations and Special Missions Units. After Infantry and Airborne Training in 1990, Chuck completed the Ranger Indoctrination Program and was assigned to the 1st Bn, 75th Ranger Regiment. Chuck's experience includes:10 years in the 75th Ranger Regiment including Platoon Sergeant of a 65-man strike force that was deployed to Afghanistan two times in 2001/2002. Chuck's platoon was highly decorated for combat action receiving 10 Silver Stars and 11 Bronze stars with “V” during their first deployment.24 months Rifle and Sniper Squad Leader - 82nd Airborne Division.2 years Asymmetric Warfare Group (AWG) (Founding member, 1st active Army unit member deployed to combat, Selection Class #1, Operational Training Course (OTC) Class #1).20 months in Operation Iraqi Freedom conducting Small Kill Team (SKT) operations and Direct Action raids in support of conventional and Special Operations Forces.12 years, HQ USASOC performing various operational and staff tasks including a two-year assignment to the G8 section where Chuck performed Science and Technology R&D. While assigned to USASOC, Chuck graduated from the Defense Acquisitions University's Combat Developer's Course and The Human Factors Engineering (MANPRINT) Course. Chuck spent several years assisting in material acquisition programs for SOF.  

There's a difference between the elite and everyone else. Elite by definition means superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society. Elite is not good. It is not great. It certainly is not above average. To be elite means you're among the best.The Stars and Stripes Classic pitted America's two most elite Special Operations Forces against each other on the lacrosse field. To talk about what it means to be elite, not just in sports but in anything you do, Fran Racioppi sat down with Paul Rabil. Paul is the co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League and undoubtedly one of the most elite lacrosse players to ever play the game. Paul is multiple time NCAA champion, a four year All American, he holds NCAA records for the most goals, assists and points. He is a multiple time Player of the Year and two time champion. He holds the most points in professional lacrosse. He is what every young lacrosse player ascribes to be. Paul is also an elite visionary and businessman. He developed the PLL out of the gaps he saw as a player. Now he's changing professional sports and how athletes are treated by owners. Check out our conversation from the endzone of Gillette Stadium to learn how anyone can be elite if you're ready to put in the work and relentlessly execute. Head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform to catch all the action from the Stars and Stripes Classic. Don't forget to go to Green Beret Foundation to join our 18 Series Match Challenge to support our team as the Snakeeaters took on the Frogmen. Highlights0:00 Introduction2:33 Stars and Stripes Classic4:18 The level of play5:57 Toughness & extra work8:31 Earn it every day12:49 Building an elite sports league18:15 How does it feel?22:08 How to process the hard times Quotes“Lacrosse is sloppy. That's also the beauty of it.” “Those that choose to be elite, it's a lifestyle.” “Earn the right to stay here and be here.” “You just don't really fake integrity. Someone will suss it out.” “If you don't go all in, you'll never reach your potential.” “Attempting to become a subject matter expert is so important in entrepreneurship.” The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation. Learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. Watch the full video version on YouTube.Special thanks to the Premier Lacrosse League and Kraft Sports and Entertainment for hosting the Stars and Stripes Classic.

In this episode, Dennis interviews Justin, a second-year medical student and co-founder of Special Operations Forces to School of Medicine (SOFTSOM), a nonprofit organization that helps Special Operations Forces service members and veterans in their journey to become physicians. Justin explains that SOFTSOM provides mentorship, guidance, and support to individuals from the SOF community who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine. The organization helps with the application process, offers scholarships for MCAT prep, conducts research on veterans in medicine, and partners with universities to increase soft representation in medical school classes. Justin also emphasizes the importance of tailoring application essays and preparing for interviews to highlight the unique experiences and skills of SOF applicants. Takeaways SOFTSOM is a nonprofit organization that helps Special Operations Forces service members and veterans in their journey to become physicians. The organization provides mentorship, guidance, and support throughout the application process for medical school. SOFTSOM offers scholarships for MCAT prep and conducts research on veterans in medicine. The organization partners with universities to increase soft representation in medical school classes. Applicants from the SOF community should tailor their application essays and prepare for interviews to highlight their unique experiences and skills. 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

In a recent episode of the Tactical Leader Podcast, Zack Knight had an engaging conversation with Jodi Burns, discussing the impact local organizations and veterans' families have in creating strong communities. One of the key points was how smaller, less known initiatives can drive powerful change, even if their contributions are often underappreciated. This episode highlighted the importance of collaboration and partnerships in supporting veterans and their families.Veterans and Their Families: The Unsung HeroesOne of the standout moments of the conversation was Jodi's recognition of the pivotal role families play in the lives of service members, particularly Special Operations Forces. As the wife of a Navy SEAL, she shared her perspective on the struggles families face, often handling the emotional and logistical burdens of long deployments. These families wear many hats and form the backbone of support for service members, yet their contributions are often overlooked. Jodi and Zack both emphasized the importance of organizations that focus not just on the service members but also on their families. These organizations aim to alleviate the stress that comes with military life by creating supportive communities where families can lean on each other. This effort is crucial in ensuring the well-being of both the service members and those who hold the home front together.Mental Health Support: Breaking the StigmaA significant part of the discussion revolved around mental health and the importance of accessible, confidential support for veterans. Jodi shared her passion for a program called *Beyond the Battlefield*, which offers anonymous therapy sessions to service members dealing with trauma. This approach allows veterans to seek help without the fear of career repercussions, addressing the stigma that often surrounds mental health in the military.Zack and Jodi talked about how mental health resources are essential but can be difficult to navigate within the traditional military structure. The anonymous aspect of this program provides a lifeline for veterans, encouraging them to take that first step toward healing.Tailored Programs for Unique NeedsThroughout the conversation, the focus remained on the idea that every veteran's needs are different. Jodi mentioned how their programs are designed with flexibility in mind, giving veterans the chance to choose how they seek support. Whether it's through small group therapy sessions or one-on-one counseling, the goal is to provide options that best suit the individual.The Beyond the Battlefield program's success lies in its ability to offer not just therapy but a sense of camaraderie. Veterans often find comfort in opening up to those who have walked in their shoes, creating a space where they can feel understood and supported.The Road Aheadrapped up, both Zack and Jodi reflected on the importance of continuing to raise awareness about these issues. The need for mental health resources and family support is ongoing, and organizations like Special Forces Charitable Trust are stepping up to meet the demand. By forging partnerships with local and national organizations, they hope to expand their reach and help even more veterans and their families.This episode of the The Tactical Leader Podcast serves as a reminder of the strength that comes from community. Veterans and their families are not just survivors of war; they are resilient, powerful members of society who deserve recognition and support.If you'd like to learn more about the programs discussed or get involved, check out the Special Forces Charitable Trust and consider supporting initiatives that make a difference in the lives of those who have served.

U.S. Special Forces Command Small Business Innovation Research Program; it's unique among efforts around the government. Congress gave SOCOM a special authority back in 2021 to do business to business transitions through the Softworks organization. For more about how SOCOM is using this authority to meet service member needs more quickly, Federal News Network's Executive Editor Jason Miller spoke with Director of Science and Technology for Special Operations Forces, Lisa Sanders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. Special Forces Command Small Business Innovation Research Program; it's unique among efforts around the government. Congress gave SOCOM a special authority back in 2021 to do business to business transitions through the Softworks organization. For more about how SOCOM is using this authority to meet service member needs more quickly, Federal News Network's Executive Editor Jason Miller spoke with Director of Science and Technology for Special Operations Forces, Lisa Sanders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're honored to have Joe Malone, CEO of Southern Cross, join us on the show. After an incredible 13 years with the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC Raiders), including 7 overseas deployments in some of the most challenging environments, Joe transitioned from the battlefield to focus on keeping American citizens safe. From working with Tier 1 Special Missions Units and collaborating with the CIA, DIA, and international Special Operations Forces, to his current mission of training thousands of police officers, detectives, and foreign government officials, Joe's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Tune in to hear Joe's insights on leadership, preparedness, and how we can all contribute to a safer America. Don't miss this powerful conversation! Listen now and learn more about Joe and Southern Cross at southerncross.company

In this bonus Q&A with Case, he shares:His proudest moment and biggest failure in his career so farA trend that he is following in Talent Development right nowThe biggest challenge he sees in Talent Development todayBooks that have made a big impact on his lifeOne piece of career advice he has for youCase is humbled to lead an amazing crew that empowers the 30,000 strong Seagate team of worldwide industry-leading heavy-lifters.Over the last 27+ years, Case has had the honor of building high-performing, diverse, well-adjusted large and small teams that thrive in ambiguous, high-tempo environments, worldwide.He is gutturally driven to have meaningful impact and draws great satisfaction from making organizations genuinely tick. His passion is people.Casey was the #2 leadership gradate at West Point and had the distinct honor of serving as President of his class for 13 years. He was also the #1 academic graduate of the year-long Command & General Staff college with 1,000 students.He jumped from planes as an Airborne Ranger, served in combat with Special Operations Forces, and was awarded the Bronze Star.In addition to leading many teams over the decades, Case also had the pleasure of helping create and execute deeply impactful, values-based, custom education and development programs executed worldwide for hundreds of partner clients including numerous global multinational corporations—all driven by passion and purpose to create leaders that can lead thru complexity, inspire, and grow the business.Also a lawyer, Case advised senior leaders and others in the most complicated of circumstances for years. He also teaches at the University of Texas at Austin a course that deep-dives into the art of giving advice and counsel, assessing risk, and leadership.Connect with Andy Storch:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Join us at the Talent Development Think Tank ConferenceConnect with Case Thomas:LinkedIn

In today's episode, Andy Storch and Case Thomas discuss the nuances of leadership and talent development during challenging times. Case Thomas, Vice President of Global Learning, Development, and Performance at Seagate Technology, shares invaluable insights from his extensive career, encompassing roles in the military, law, and education.Listen in as Andy and Case discuss:The critical importance of honesty and transparency with employees amid a company's downturnThe shift from external partners to internal learning experiences due to budget constraintsHow Seagate's transition to Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) has streamlined business priorities and engaged employees with a clear sense of purposeThe balance of "heart" and "mind" in leadership, especially during crisesThe indispensable role of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) in fostering a sense of belonging. Tune in for an honest conversation about career development, the invaluable power of networking, and the vitality of continuous learning and development.Case is humbled to lead an amazing crew that empowers the 30,000 strong Seagate team of worldwide industry-leading heavy-lifters.Over the last 27+ years, Case has had the honor of building high-performing, diverse, well-adjusted large and small teams that thrive in ambiguous, high-tempo environments, worldwide.He is gutturally driven to have meaningful impact and draws great satisfaction from making organizations genuinely tick. His passion is people.Casey was the #2 leadership gradate at West Point and had the distinct honor of serving as President of his class for 13 years. He was also the #1 academic graduate of the year-long Command & General Staff college with 1,000 students.He jumped from planes as an Airborne Ranger, served in combat with Special Operations Forces, and was awarded the Bronze Star.In addition to leading many teams over the decades, Case also had the pleasure of helping create and execute deeply impactful, values-based, custom education and development programs executed worldwide for hundreds of partner clients including numerous global multinational corporations—all driven by passion and purpose to create leaders that can lead thru complexity, inspire, and grow the business.Also a lawyer, Case advised senior leaders and others in the most complicated of circumstances for years. He also teaches at the University of Texas at Austin a course that deep-dives into the art of giving advice and counsel, assessing risk, and leadership.Connect with Andy Storch:WebsiteLinkedInJoin us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!Join us at the Talent Development Think Tank ConferenceConnect with Case Thomas:LinkedIn

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.

This week we have Roy Hill of SOWW or the Special Operations Wounded Warriors. At SOWW, people like our guest Roy, specialize in providing cost-free assistance to those of the special operations community who need a bit of extra help reacclimating back into civilian life. SOWW (Special Operations Wounded Warriors), a 501(c)(3) Charity, was established in August 2012 to provide outdoor experiences and therapeutic retreats for active duty and veteran U.S. Military Special Operations Forces who have been wounded in battle or significant training accidents. Many of these individuals have been awarded the Purple Heart Medal. Founded by five U.S. Military Special Forces Veterans, local businessmen, and avid outdoorsmen, SOWW aims to offer thanks and fellowship to the brave men and women of our Special Operations Forces who have sacrificed so much for our freedom and safety. These events can range from things like fishing trips, camping trips, hikes, shooting events, and exciting aerial hog hunts as well as a special annual event that Roy is a huge fan of. As you'll see today, Roy and SOWW believe that by supporting these service members, who risk their lives to defend our freedoms and often suffer personal injury, we can all make a meaningful difference in their lives. Please welcome Roy Hill of SOWW to the show!  Support SOWW And Learn More

The Hunt has evolved into something very unusual. Analog Jones continues its review of the Predator franchise as we examine Predators and The Predator! Quick Facts for Predators (2010) Directed by Nimrod Antal (Directed two episodes of Stranger Things in season 4) Produced by Robert Rodriguez (Eel Mariachi, Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, Spy Kids), John Davis and Elizabeth Avellan Based on Characters by Jim Thomas and John Thomas Distributed by 20th Century Fox Released on July 9, 2010 in the United States Budget of $40 million Box Office of $127.2 million Rotten Tomatoes: 65% Tomatometer / 52% Audience Score Starring Adrien Brody as Royce, a former U.S. Special Operations Forces veteran turned mercenary Topher Grace as Edwin, a doctor who does not seem to belong amongst the group of hardened killers Alice Braga as Isabelle, a sniper from the Israel Defense Forces Walton Goggins as Stans, a death row inmate from San Quentin State Prison Oleg Taktarov as Nikolai, a Russian commando from the Spetsnaz Alpha Group who was fighting in Chechnya Laurence Fishburne as Noland, a United States Army Air Cavalry soldier who has survived on the alien planet for multiple hunting cycles Danny Trejo as 'Cuchillo', a ruthless enforcer for the feared Los Zetas Mexican drug cartel who carries twin submachine guns Louis Ozawa Changchien as Hanzo, a Yakuza Inagawa-kai enforcer who rarely speaks Mahershala Ali as Mombasa, a Revolutionary United Front death squad soldier from Sierra Leone Quick Facts for The Predator (2018) Directed by Shane Black (Directed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Iron Man 3 and The Nice Guys) Written by Fred Dekker (Wrote and Directed Night of the Creeps and The Monster Squad) and Shane Black (Wrote Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and Last Action Hero) Based on Characters by Jim Thomas and John Thomas Distributed by 20th Century Fox Released on September 14, 2018 in the United States Budget of $88 million Box Office $160.5 million Rotten Tomatoes: 34% Tomatometer / 32% Audience Score Starring Boyd Holbrook as Quentin "Quinn" McKenna Trevante Rhodes as "Nebraska" Williams Olivia Munn as Casey Brackett (The former host of “Attack of the Show”) Jacob Tremblay as Rory McKenna Keegan-Michael Key as Coyle (Key and Peele) Sterling K. Brown as Will Traeger (The People vs OJ Simpson) Thomas Jane as Baxley (The Punisher) Alfie Allen as Lynch (Theon Greyjoy) Augusto Aguilera as 'Nettles Jake Busey as Sean Keyes Yvonne Strahovski as Emily McKenna (Dexter) How to listen and reach Analog Jones and the Temple of Film Discuss these movies and more on our Facebook page. You can also listen to us on iTunes, iHeartRADIO, Podbean, Spotify, and Youtube! Please email us at analogjonestof@gmail.com with any comments or questions!

Retired U.S. Navy Diver John Barklow spent more than two decades teaching U.S. Special Operations Forces. He's also trained professional rescue groups and first responders. Currently, John develops clothing and equipment systems at Sitka Gear for the hunting industry. To learn more about John, follow him on Instagram at @jbarklow and check out knowledgefromstorms.com

In this dynamic episode, Robert and Kyle, along with other veteran hosts, discuss the often overlooked topic of conventional forces versus special operations forces (SOF). They offer an internal perspective, sharing their unique experiences and the critical role SOF plays in global events. They challenge preconceptions, affirming that anyone can aspire to join the SOF with sufficient determination and guidance. They also underscore the importance of fluidity of roles within the military and the potential organizational consequences of leadership unwilling to yield talent. The discourse then shifts to the importance of internal cohesion and communication. The intriguing discussion probes the diverse cultures within the military and why both are essential to maintain a balanced force. Intertwining expert opinions, veteran experiences, and actionable advice, this episode promises a deeper understanding of the military world through first-hand accounts. We proceed to examine the relationship and communication between conventional army and SOF. We stress the importance of regular dialogues, breaking down barriers, and creating mutual understanding. We question the inherent power bias favoring special operations and emphasize recognizing the journey and contributions of conventional army members. Delving deeper, we scrutinize the competitiveness within these forces, the effect of transitions on a team, and the contrasting dynamic of the corporate-like conventional army against the closely-knit SOF. The episode concludes with a challenging query on the potential parity of conventional forces with SOF given the same resources. Lastly, we explore the selection and training processes, highlighting the 75th Ranger Regiment. Through the lens of former Regiment member, we reveal the grit and determination needed to join this elite organization. We then shift to examine the interplay and mutual relevance of both conventional and special operation units, emphasizing the importance of unity amidst competition. This episode does not only appeal to military enthusiasts but to anyone interested in personal growth, unity, and purposeful rivalry. _____________ Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-for-military-podcast/id1072421783 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl #mentors4mil  #mentorsformilitary Mentors4mil Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mentors4mil Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil  Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission. Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/

#FEDGOVTODAY: What is SOF Week in Florida (hint: Special Operations Forces) & What is to be done? Francis Rose, Fedgovtoday.com https://fedgovtoday.com/tv-show/international-defense-rd-cyber-resilience-in-special-ops-small-business-integration 1942

   Join us as we welcome Army 2LT Ryan Leone, a dedicated Columbia medical student and WarDocs Ambassador. Ryan shares a fascinating look into his path to military medicine, a journey that began outside the traditional military family sphere. His experiences, from the Boy Scouts to the American Legion, and his discovery of the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), illustrate a unique route that has fueled his passion for the intersection of service and healthcare. Listen in as Ryan recounts his pre-med experiences at the US Army Institute for Surgical Research and the Defense Health Agency, and the profound impact of mentorship on his career trajectory.    In our engaging discussion, we explore the myriad of opportunities for those interested in federal and military healthcare. We shed light on how to bolster medical school applications and gain valuable experience through various institutes and programs. Ryan offers up invaluable advice for leveraging positions and resources, like the Geneva Foundation and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, to pave the way for a successful career in military medicine. Hear about the importance of reaching out and staying current on military healthcare and disaster medicine topics, as well as ways to actively seek out experiences that align with personal interests in the field.    Lastly, we delve into the different avenues for involvement in military medicine, whether you're a student or a seasoned professional. From national organizations to annual conferences, there are countless ways to deepen your knowledge and connections. We emphasize the importance of mentorship, the value of staying open to new opportunities, and the significance of paying it forward. Ryan also shares his aspirations in emergency medicine and supporting Special Operations Forces, reminding us of the broad spectrum of roles that intersect with medicine, national security, and management. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will leave you optimistic about the future of military medicine and the people dedicated to advancing it.   Chapters: (00:04) Military Medicine Opportunities and Experiences (10:07) Exploring Government Health Opportunities (16:38) Connecting to Military Medicine Opportunities (25:13) Opportunities for Involvement in Military Medicine (35:20) Military Medicine Career Path Planning   Chapter Summaries: (00:04) Military Medicine Opportunities and Experiences Army 2LT Ryan Leone shares his journey into military medicine, from non-military background to HPSP and mentorship from military healthcare professionals.   (10:07) Exploring Government Health Opportunities Individual's journey from Presidential Management Fellowship to the DHA, a State Department rotation, and acceptance to Columbia University for medical school.   (16:38) Connecting to Military Medicine Opportunities Enhance medical school applications by gaining experience in military and federal healthcare through research institutes, government agencies, and programs like Geneva and Henry M. Jackson Foundation.   (25:13) Opportunities for Involvement in Military Medicine Join national organizations, attend conferences, seek mentorship, and showcase diverse opportunities in military medicine.   (35:20) Military Medicine Career Path Planning Ryan's journey to specialize in emergency medicine and join the operational medicine community, emphasizing mentorship and optimism for the future of military medicine.   Take Home Messages: Exploring Federal Healthcare Opportunities: The importance of gaining diverse experiences in federal healthcare before attending medical school is stressed. Internships and fellowships at institutions like the US Army Institute for Surgical Research and the Defense Health Agency provide a wide-ranging view of healthcare, policy, and military readiness. Navigating Military Medicine Pathways: Unconventional routes often lead to a career in military healthcare. Diverse experiences through programs like the Presidential Management Fellowship can enhance skills and offer insights into the intricate relationship between healthcare and military operations. Mentorship and Networking: Building connections with mentors and networking within the military medicine community is crucial. Actively participating in organizations, attending conferences, and reaching out to experienced professionals can provide guidance, support, and open up new opportunities. Accessing Resources and Research Opportunities: Numerous resources and research opportunities exist for those interested in military medicine. Leveraging positions in government agencies, consulting firms, and programs like the Geneva Foundation and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation can strengthen applications and expertise. Pursuing Passion with Openness to Opportunities: Being dedicated to a dream while being open to new experiences is vital. The aspiration to support Special Operations Forces with emergency medicine expertise should be paired with continuous learning and service. Commitment to improving care for military service members and their families serves as a model for future military healthcare professionals. Episode Keywords: Military Medicine, Health Professions Scholarship Program, Federal Healthcare, Medical School, Military Service, Government Health Opportunities, Military Healthcare, Military Readiness, Healthcare Policy, Military Medicine Opportunities, Military Family, Boy Scouts, American Legion, US Army Institute for Surgical Research, Defense Health Agency, Scientific Research, Healthcare Management, Mentorship, Special Operations Forces, Emergency Medicine, Operational Medicine, National Security, Management, Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation, Military Chapters, Annual Conferences, MHSRS, Mentorship, Outreach, Military Service Members, Military Families Hashtags: #wardocs #military #medicine #podcast #MilMed #MedEd #MilitaryMedicine #HPSP #MilitaryHealthcare #EmergencyMedicine #MilitaryService #SpecialOperations #MedicalScholarship #DefenseHealthAgency #OperationalMedicine #MedicalLeadership   Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. We foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation.   Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guest episodes at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/our-guests Subscribe and Like our Videos on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast   Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible and go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in Military Medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Docs" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield, demonstrating dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.     Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast  

Following the success of his #1 New York Times bestseller 'Make Your Bed', Admiral William H. McRaven is back with amazing stories of bravery and heroism during his career as a Navy SEAL and commander of America's Special Operations Forces. He talks to Michael about his book "Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations." Original air date 21 May 2019. The book was published on 21 May 2019.

Joining me today is Army MAJ (Ret) Ruslan Emelyanov. Ruslan was born and raised in the former Soviet Union.  When he turned 18, he was conscripted into the Soviet Army in 1989 and chose to be a Paratrooper.  Over the next couple years, he accepted an invitation to attend the newly formed Russian Military Academy.  He graduated in 1995 and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Russian Army.  He had also earned his Jumpmaster status at that time.  His first assignment was to join his new unit already fighting in the First Chechen War.  At the conclusion of the war, his unit redeployed in December 1996.  Ruslan was then reassigned to Moscow and transferred to the Military Police.  In 1998 as a Captain, he resigned his Commission and left the Russian Army. Family relatives who lived in California applied for a Green Card for Ruslan, and in 2000, he joined his relatives in Carmel, CA.  When the Sep 11th attacks occurred in 2001, he contacted an Army recruiter about the possibility of joining the U.S. Army.  The recruiter said he could enlist with a Green Card and signed him up as an 11B Infantry MOS.  At 28, he attended Basic Training at Ft. Benning, GA.  After graduating Basic, he attended Jump School and earned his U.S. Parachute Badge.  His first assignment was to B Co., 2/35th Infantry at Schofield Barracks, HI.  In 2003, he renounced his Russian citizenship and was sworn in as a U.S. citizen.  In April 2004, his unit deployed to Afghanistan for a year tour.  Upon returning, he was promoted to SGT.  He also earned Jumpmaster in the U.S. Army.  A few years later, he was recommended for OCS at Ft. Benning, and in 2007 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry.  In 2009, Ruslan changed branches to Civil Affairs and spent the next 12 years working with Special Operations Forces out of Ft. Bragg, NC.  He retired from the Army in 2023.

Episode 102 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast examines how special operations forces can disrupt the strategic designs of Washington's adversaries. Our guests begin with an in-depth discussion on civil-military relations, examining the relationship between SOL/IC and SOCOM. They then discuss the unique capabilities that special operations forces bring to the table, both during peacetime competition and large scale combat operations. Finally, they address the complexities of interagency cooperation, and how irregular warfare units can leverage their skills to deter adversaries, impose outsized costs, and create relative positions of advantage.

Episode notes The emerging anti-fragile forces of indigenous irregular warfare forces in concert or independent of near-peer and peer competitors challenging US and western global hegemony are on the march and will in the end succeed. My Substack Email at cgpodcast@pm.me.

Episode Notes In this episode, I will be a heretic to the current military establishment in America and the west. They can't do unconventional warfare and I must be very specific in the conditional problem I propose: the western military has no capability to conduct long term partisan warfare in concert with indigenous forces fighting an insurgency in a non-permissive environment. It doesn't have the language skills, cultural IQ, sophisticated intelligence/communications infrastructure to support stay-behind missions, isolated stand-in force capability (nor does the USMC for FD2030 fantasies) comprehensive bushcraft and primitive skills for long loiter missions nor a fighting force that is capable of living in third world conditions for years (rotational longevity) at a time. This is Part One of a two part series in which we will discuss the converse capabilities conundrum in counter UW for the west in Part Two published o/a 26 December 2023. My Substack Email at cgpodcast@pm.me.

Episode notes Here we do a deep dive in US Army Special Forces (SF) and why a complete overhaul is needed to resurrect the original charter to save SF from itself. Over two decades of fighting neo-colonial conflicts throughout the Middle East and Africa has decimated the original construct and mission of what made SF so special. References: Douglas Porch Counterinsurgency: Exposing the Myths of the New Way of War Ann Scott Tyson American Spartan: The Promise, the Mission, and the Betrayal of Special Forces Major Jim Grant H. John Poole The Last Hundred Yards: The NCO's Contribution to Warfare Mark Bowden Blackhawk Down: A Story of Modern War Bob Scales Scales on War: The Future of America's Military at Risk Aaron B. O'Connell Our Latest Longest War: Losing Hearts and Minds in Hollywood Hy S. Rothstein Afghanistan and the Troubled Future of Unconventional Warfare Robert Asprey War In The Shadows: The Guerrilla In History Special Forces Detachment Mission Planning Guide HQDA January 2020 My Substack Email at cgpodcast@pm.me.

Episode Notes Today, I'll do a deep dive into the US Army vanilla SOF organizations and get acquainted with the capabilities and opportunities for US Army special operations. References: Douglas Porch Counterinsurgency: Exposing the Myths of the New Way of War Ann Scott Tyson American Spartan: The Promise, the Mission, and the Betrayal of Special Forces Major Jim Grant H. John Poole The Last Hundred Yards: The NCO's Contribution to Warfare Mark Bowden Blackhawk Down: A Story of Modern War Bob Scales Scales on War: The Future of America's Military at Risk Aaron B. O'Connell Our Latest Longest War: Losing Hearts and Minds in Hollywood Hy S. Rothstein Afghanistan and the Troubled Future of Unconventional Warfare Robert Asprey War In The Shadows: The Guerrilla In History Special Forces Detachment Mission Planning Guide HQDA January 2020 My Substack Write me at cgpodcast@pm.me

Episode Notes A brief introduction to the Department of Defense activities in special operations. I will not be discussing the dark organizations and specifically address the "vanilla" SOF in all the services. References: Douglas Porch Counterinsurgency: Exposing the Myths of the New Way of War Ann Scott Tyson American Spartan: The Promise, the Mission, and the Betrayal of Special Forces Major Jim Grant H. John Poole The Last Hundred Yards: The NCO's Contribution to Warfare Mark Bowden Blackhawk Down: A Story of Modern War Bob Scales Scales on War: The Future of America's Military at Risk Aaron B. O'Connell Our Latest Longest War: Losing Hearts and Minds in Hollywood Hy S. Rothstein Afghanistan and the Troubled Future of Unconventional Warfare Robert Asprey War In The Shadows: The Guerrilla In History Special Forces Detachment Mission Planning Guide HQDA January 2020 My Substack Write me at cgpodcast@pm.me

Many thanks to Commander BJ Farrell for your service, ongoing support and leadership to your sailors and to everyone you meet here in Boston. Best of luck back at the Naval Academy, mentoring the many lucky students ahead.Special thanks to the USS Constitution Public Affairs Officer, First Class Ray Minami, for all your help and support of Home Base. Thanks to the great crew at the MGH Photography lab too and please note you can find this conversation on Home Base's YouTube channel soon.Home Base Nation will be sharing episodes over two weeks up through the Run To Home Base this coming July 27th. Please sign up to join us there to support all veteran, servicemember and family care, and as we celebrate women in the military this year. If this is your first time joining us, welcome -Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veteran and Family Care, in Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, MA. Every two weeks we share conversations and stories about service, mental health, and recovery with great military and civilian guests. We are over 100 episodes since the start, a few months prior to the pandemic on Veterans Day 2019.Home Base continues to grow in terms of care, awareness and research, working with veterans and active duty servicemembers across the US and from several other countries. Our programs are continuing to expand right here in Boston, in Florida, Arizona and more news to come.Here are a few 2024 highlights around Home Base since January. Many great things happening, but here are just a few…-Arizona State University hosted a successful launch party in Phoenix to announce our partnership to deliver Warrior Health and Fitness on the university's Downtown Phoenix campus beginning this month.-Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona, received the NFL's prestigious Salute to Service Award, to those supporting the Military community. Joe is a lieutenant in the Navy Reserves and came by Home Base to take a tour and talk about the needs of servicemembers and veterans. -Home Base Florida's Air Force Veteran Angie De Lima and Marine Veteran Jaime Fernandez participated in workshops in Puerto Rico for veterans and families, and Jaime delivered content from our Resilient Warrior program in Spanish!-Just last month, Senator Elizabeth Warren invited Spaulding Rehabilitation President and Home Base Chief of TBI Dr. Ross Zafonte to testify to the Senate Armed Forces Committee about the impacts of TBI and blast exposure on active-duty Special Operations Forces.We wanted to highlight just a few of the many women who have served and have made history along the way…General Ann E. Dunwoody: In 1992, General Dunwoody was the first female battalion commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, and the first female in US Military history to be promoted to four-star general .Navy Flight Nurse Jane Kendeigh (Ken-dee): At Iwo Jima in 1945, Jane Louise ‘Candy' Kendeigh, was one of 122 women with specialized training, not only caring for battlefield wounds, but direct hand-to-hand combat.Army soldier Cathay Williams: Was the first African American female soldier to enlist in the Army – in 1866 and the only documented black woman to serve in the 19th century, serving with the 38th infantry regiment, or the Buffalo the soldiers – joining under her pseudonym, William Cathay.---Home Base Nation is the official podcast for Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families – Our team sees veterans, servicemembers and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation – And if you want to learn more on how you can help, visit us at www.homebase.org, or if you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.Theme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the Tree" by The Butler FrogsFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.Producer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergAssistant Producer, Editor: Chuck CloughChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythThe views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

How can facing life's gravest challenges with a positive mindset not only help us survive but also thrive and transform adversity into an unparalleled strength?   Dive deep into the extraordinary life of Marv McGuire, a three-time brain cancer survivor, Navy veteran, and a beacon of resilience and positivity. Marv shares his riveting journey from diagnosis to recovery, detailing how his mindset, supported by humor, faith, and a strong support system, played a pivotal role in navigating through his health battles. His story is not just about surviving; it's about thriving amidst adversity, cherishing every moment, and the profound impact of staying positive on our physical and mental health.   Marv McGuire (Commander, U.S. Navy, ret.) retired after 25 years of service in 2013 and worked as a Senior Director of Business Development for multiple federal defense contractors until 2023. Immediately before entering the commercial real estate market, Mr. McGuire worked for IBM where he was responsible for the complete lifecycle of customer engagement, sales, and support to corporate strategic pursuits in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Operations Forces. Like many military veterans, Marv and his wife, Victoria, moved multiple times over this period and bought, invested and occasionally became “unexpected landlords” for a variety of reasons; the lessons learned while managing these assets accelerated their interest in and transition to commercial real estate.   [00:00:00 - 00:03:00] The Power of Positivity: Marv discusses his initial diagnosis and the critical role of maintaining a positive outlook during his treatment journey.     Facing fear with a positive mindset can significantly alter your journey. The importance of humor and light-heartedness in coping with illness. Support from loved ones is invaluable in the healing process.   [00:03:00 - 00:06:00] A Family's Fortitude: The impact of Marv's cancer battle on his family dynamics and how they navigated the challenges together.     Shielding loved ones from pain while also drawing strength from them. The crucial role of a supportive partner in overcoming life's hurdles. Relying on a network of friends and family for emotional support.   [00:06:00 - 00:09:00] Confronting Fear Head-On: Marv elaborates on his unique approach to confronting fears, including humor and faith.     Leveraging humor as a coping mechanism to lighten the mood and face fears. The role of faith and spirituality in providing comfort and strength. The importance of transparency and communication with loved ones. [00:09:00 - 00:12:00] Living Presently, Building for the Future: Balancing the act of living in the moment with planning for the future, particularly in uncertain times.     The delicate balance between enjoying the present and preparing for the future. How adversity can lead to a more present and fulfilling life. Building generational wealth while enjoying life's journey.   [00:12:00 - 00:15:00] Gratitude and Growth: Marv reflects on how his experiences have led to personal growth and the importance of gratitude.     Trials and challenges can foster personal development and resilience. The transformative power of maintaining a gratitude journal. How gratitude can shift your perspective and open up possibilities.   Quotes: "You're just as sick as you think you are, and you're just as stuck as you think you are." - Marv McGuire   "What doesn't kill you makes you better... if you survive a challenge, it doesn't just destroy you. We control how we perceive them and react to them." - Marv McGuire   Connect with Marv:   Website: www.heartsillcapitalpartners.com   WANT TO LEARN MORE? Connect with me through LinkedIn. Or send me an email at sujata@luxe-cap.com Visit my website, www.luxe-cap.com, or my YouTube channel. Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!  

Episode #305 is here! Navy Seal and Founder of Born Primitive Bear Handlon joins Evan Hafer in the BRCC Podcast studio! Listen as Bear and Evan discuss the challenges of running a business while still being a Navy Seal, how to maintain a good work life balance, and what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur from the Special Operations Forces.  Find more out about Bear and Born Primitive in the links below! On Instagram @bearhandlon @bornprimitive @bornprimitivetactical & @bornprimitiveoutdoor www.bornprimitive.com  www.bornprimitivetactical.com www.bornprimitiveoutdoor.com    

Can transitioning from single-family to multifamily real estate investments truly amplify your wealth and change the game for your portfolio?    Discover how one Navy commander turned real estate investor did just that.   In this enlightening episode, we dive into the remarkable journey of Marv McGuire, a retired Navy commander who transformed his real estate investment strategy from single-family homes to a burgeoning multifamily portfolio. With a candid recount of the challenges faced as a long-distance landlord and the strategic shift towards multifamily investments, Marv shares invaluable insights into building generational wealth, the importance of mentorship, and the dynamics of the current real estate market. This episode is a treasure trove for both seasoned investors and those just starting their journey in real estate.   Marv McGuire (Commander, U.S. Navy, ret.) retired after 25 years of service in 2013 and worked as a Senior Director of Business Development for multiple federal defense contractors until 2023. Immediately before entering the commercial real estate market, Mr. McGuire worked for IBM where he was responsible for the complete lifecycle of customer engagement, sales, and support to corporate strategic pursuits in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Operations Forces. Like many military veterans, Marv and his wife, Victoria, moved multiple times over this period and bought, invested and occasionally became “unexpected landlords” for a variety of reasons; the lessons learned while managing these assets accelerated their interest in and transition to commercial real estate. [00:00:00 - 00:05:00] From Navy Commander to Real Estate Mogul The transition from a military career to real estate investing. Challenges of managing single-family homes as long-distance rentals. The strategic decision to pivot to multifamily investments.   [00:05:00 - 00:10:00] The Leap into Multifamily Investments The advantages of multifamily properties over single-family homes. The role of mentorship and education in transitioning to multifamily investing. Building a network and finding the right mentorship program.   [00:10:00 - 00:15:00] Achieving Scale and Efficiency The importance of complementary skill sets in a partnership. The first successes in multifamily investments and the growth of portfolio. Overcoming the challenges of being unknown in the industry.   [00:15:00 - 00:20:00] Navigating the Multifamily Market Identifying and assessing potential deals in a fluctuating market. The critical role of understanding market assessments and deal underwriting. Strategies for vetting operators and investment opportunities.   [00:20:00 - 00:24:00] Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Challenges Anticipating trends in the multifamily market for 2024. The potential impact of interest rates and market softening on investments. The strategy behind choosing distressed assets and conservative underwriting.   Quotes:   "One or two bad decisions from your tenants can really cost you thousands." - Marv McGuire   "We don't particularly target distressed deals, but when we see one that's just an exceptionally good deal, we'll take a look." - Marv McGuire   Connect with Marv:   Website: www.heartsillcapitalpartners.com   WANT TO LEARN MORE? Connect with me through LinkedIn. Or send me an email at sujata@luxe-cap.com Visit my website, www.luxe-cap.com, or my YouTube channel. Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Hear an inspiring journey from elite special operations flight paramedic to medical school. Our guest, Ricky Ditzel, a 160th flight paramedic, shares his unique pathway from an unstable home life to becoming a medical student. Ricky speaks about his time as a young Ranger, his path to becoming a flight paramedic, and his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also discusses the responsibility that comes with his role and the importance of precision and care for pilots, crew chiefs, and special operators. Turning challenges into opportunities, Ricky recounts his experience of building a field hospital in response to the pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of understanding anatomy for pre-hospital traumatic brain injury management and shares the difficulties of transitioning from military to medical school. Listen as Ricky discusses his nonprofit that provides support and resources for people making a similar transition and his belief in the power of networking and mentorship in reaching one's goals. Get ready to be inspired by an incredible testament to resilience and dedication. Ricky shares his journey, struggles, and contribution to military healthcare. His message echoes the significant impact of military personnel in the healthcare industry. This episode is not just about Ricky's journey but is an inspiring story of determination, resilience, and the will to make a difference. Tune in and get ready to be inspired!     Chapters: (0:00:00) - Pathway to Special Operations Medicine (0:07:42) - Military Medicine and Redemption in Early Career (0:14:57) - Aviation and Paramedic Roles and Responsibilities (0:26:24) - Flight Medic Procedures and Challenges (0:33:44) - Military to Medical School (0:45:05) - Medical School and Brain Injury Management (0:55:53) - Supporting Special Operators in Medical School (1:00:13) - Medical School Challenges and Military Legacy     Chapter Summaries: (0:00:00) - Pathway to Special Operations Medicine Ricky shares his journey from JROTC to military medicine, offering advice for similar transitions. (0:07:42) - Military Medicine and Redemption in Early Career Ricky recounts his journey from Ranger to flight paramedic, taking control of his career and finding success. (0:14:57) - Aviation and Paramedic Roles and Responsibilities Ricky shares his journey from military to flight paramedic, SOCCM, Green Platoon selection, special operations aviation medical indoctrination, survival training, and the 160th's mission of serving special operators. (0:26:24) - Flight Medic Procedures and Challenges Ricky shares stories of responding to urgent calls, preparing for flight, providing medical treatments, and the importance of quick decisions. (0:33:44) - Military to Medical School and COVID Ricky transitioned from military to medical school during the COVID-19 pandemic, building a 216-bed field hospital named after Navy Seal Ryan Larkin. (0:45:05) - Medical School and Brain Injury Management Ricky reflects on transitioning from military to medical school, the importance of anatomy for TBI management, networking, and the Pat Tillman Foundation's aid. (0:55:53) - Supporting Special Operators in Medical School Ricky is helping military personnel transition to medical school with resources, cognitive assessments, MCAT support, and publication assistance. (1:00:13) - Medical School Challenges and Military Legacy Ricky emphasizes teamwork, leadership, integrity, and values, encouraging listeners to find a balance and new passion.   Take Home Messages: Resilience and perseverance are key to overcoming challenges. Military personnel play an impactful role in the healthcare industry. Understanding anatomy is crucial for pre-hospital traumatic brain injury management. Transitions from the military to medical school can be complicated but are achievable. Precision and care are vital in positions such as a flight paramedic. Building a field hospital during a pandemic presents unique challenges and lessons. Networking and mentorship can significantly aid in transitions from military service to medical school. Military medicine provides a unique perspective and skill set in medical school. Nonprofits can provide crucial support for those transitioning from military to medical school. Balance and clear thinking are important when dealing with high-stress environments.     Episode Keywords: Military Medicine, Flight Paramedic, JROTC, Cerebral Palsy, Special Operations, Aviation, Pre-Hospital Traumatic Brain Injury, Medical School, COVID-19 Field Hospital, Networking, Mentorship, Anatomy, MCAT, Leadership Gap, Nonprofit, Military Transition   Hashtags: #MilitaryToMedicine #Resilience #HealthcareHeroes #InspiringJourneys #FromWarzoneToMedSchool #SpecialOperations #FlightParamedic #MedicalSchool #TransitionStories #HealthcareLeadership   Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. We foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation.   Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guest episodes at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/episodes Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible and go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in Military Medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Docs" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield, demonstrating dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.     Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast

In this episode, Tudor welcomes Nikki Haley as a guest. They discuss various topics including border control, the influence of cartels, and Haley's proposals to address the border crisis. They also delve into Haley's experience as ambassador to the United Nations, focusing on promoting America's interests and values. The conversation then shifts to the threat posed by China, including their infiltration into the US and military buildup. Haley also addresses the issue of members of Congress signing non-disclosure agreements with Chinese companies and emphasizes the need to protect national security. Other topics discussed include government spending, education reform, and healthcare transparency. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network - new episodes debut every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday. For more info visit TudorDixonPodcast.comFollow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Tudor welcomes Nikki Haley as a guest. They discuss various topics including border control, the influence of cartels, and Haley's proposals to address the border crisis. They also delve into Haley's experience as ambassador to the United Nations, focusing on promoting America's interests and values. The conversation then shifts to the threat posed by China, including their infiltration into the US and military buildup. Haley also addresses the issue of members of Congress signing non-disclosure agreements with Chinese companies and emphasizes the need to protect national security. Other topics discussed include government spending, education reform, and healthcare transparency. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network - new episodes debut every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday. For more info visit TudorDixonPodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.