151: Kris "Tanto" Paronto - 13 Hours: A Secret Soldier Of Benghazi
The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk
Living with PTSD and the Cost of Service
Paronto discusses his PTSD diagnosis, framing it as a scar of service and describing the emotional toll of repeated deployments.
Episode 151: Kris "Tanto" Paronto - 13 Hours: A Secret Soldier Of Benghazi
Kris Paronto - “Tanto” as he is affectionately known in security contracting circles - is a former Army Ranger from 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment and private security contractor who has deployed throughout South America, Central America, the Middle East and North Africa. He also worked with the US Government’s Global Response Staff conducting low profile security in high threat environments throughout the world.
Mr. Paronto was part of the CIA annex security team that responded to the terrorist attack on the US Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya, September 11th, 2012, helping to save over 20 lives while fighting off terrorists from the CIA Annex for over 13 hours. Mr. Paronto’s story is told in the book “13 Hours” written by Mitchell Zuckoff and his five surviving annex security team members. Michael Bay directed the movie (based on the book) titled "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi"
Episode 151: Kris "Tanto" Paronto - 13 Hours: A Secret Soldier Of Benghazi
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The Learning Leader Show
“I Will Never Ask You To Do Something I wouldn't Do Myself"
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- Being selfless, of service to others, and sacrificing will help you sustain excellence
- Humility, strength, and faith have led to Tanto's success and his ability to stay alive
- "The best leaders continually learn"
- All of the death he saw in Iraq and other war zones helped prepare him for the Benghazi attacks
- How accurate the movie "13 Hours" was to what happened in real life
- How often he still speaks with the other soldiers from that night
- Did he really wear shorts (like the movie portrays) that night? If so, why?
- "Rangers are experts at belt fed weapons"
- Why they were forced to wait 25 minutes at the annex prior to leaving
- What it was like hearing on the radio, "GRS (his group), where are you? We are going to F'n die"
- Tanto's thoughts Hillary Clinton's leadership (not good)
- Why there were forced to sign 2 non-disclosures -- including one at the memorials
- The amount of money you can make in 9 months as a security contractor
- What happens when you come home from a job over seas and how it negatively impacts your life
- How PTSD has impacted him
- The CIA fired him for telling his story publicly -- telling the truth
- Tanto and his teammates voted... They all chose to tell the truth -- And it got them fired
- What it's like to be in the audience for one of Tanto's speeches
“Hillary Clinton is a failed leader. This is not a political statement. She is a sociopath." - Kris "Tanto" Paronto
Continue Learning:
- Read: 13 Hours
- Watch: 13 Hours - The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
- Follow Tanto on Twitter: @KrisParonto
- To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12
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Episode 047: David Marquet - "Turn The Ship Around"
Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why
Did you enjoy the podcast?
If you enjoyed hearing Kris "Tanto" Paronto on the show, please don’t hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me.
Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell
Bio From kristantoparonto.com
Kris Paronto - “Tanto” as he is affectionately known in security contracting circles - is a former Army Ranger from 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment and private security contractor who has deployed throughout South America, Central America, the Middle East and North Africa. He also worked with the US Government’s Global Response Staff conducting low profile security in high threat environments throughout the world.
Mr. Paronto was part of the CIA annex security team that responded to the terrorist attack on the US Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya, September 11th, 2012, helping to save over 20 lives while fighting off terrorists from the CIA Annex for over 13 hours. Mr. Paronto’s story is told in the book “13 Hours” written by Mitchell Zuckoff and his five surviving annex security team members. Michael Bay directed the movie (based on the book) titled "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi"
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