Cadre DS, aka Dan Skidmore, joins Jason and Rich for Part One of their conversation for Episode 017. Part Two will focus on training, while this part focuses on DS’s history: his progression from paintball battles in the fields of Ohio, to attachment to teams in the mountains of Afghanistan as an Air Force Combat Controller, to now GORUCK Director of Training and a fitness entrepreneur in Morocco.

In their conversation about mindset and maturity, DS discusses how he used his physical fitness and readiness as a baseline but Special Operations requires so much more to be a valuable member - and leader - on a team. He talks candidly about his development as a person and professional, his triumphs and the setbacks which he turned into opportunities for learning. And the 3 veterans have a hard conversation about remembering and honoring those lost on the battlefield, helping those struggling at home, and dealing with deaths by suicide. Throughout, Cadre DS speaks about the importance of learning the “when” in addition to knowing the “how.”

Links:

017 - Cadre Dan Skidmore (DS), GORUCK’s Director of Training and former Air Force Combat Controller