Seeking Support and Dealing with Suicides

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

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

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

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

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

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