#173 Jared Hudson - The War Against Evil: A Navy SEAL’s Fight to Save Children in America
Feb 19, 2025
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Jared Hudson is a former Navy SEAL and sniper, and the founder of Covenant Rescue Group, focusing on combatting human trafficking and child exploitation. He shares harrowing insights into the hidden realities of trafficking and the psychological barriers faced by victims. Hudson emphasizes the importance of faith and community engagement in tackling these issues. The discussion dives into law enforcement strategies against online exploitation and legal complexities in prosecuting child crimes, shedding light on the urgent need for awareness and proactive measures.
Jared Hudson's military background as a Navy SEAL equips him with unique skills that enhance his humanitarian efforts against child exploitation.
The Covenant Rescue Group combines tactical training for law enforcement with community engagement to effectively address human trafficking issues.
Hudson's Christian faith serves as a guiding force for his moral decisions, underpinning his commitment to rescuing vulnerable children from exploitation.
Insights into human trafficking reveal that many victims may not recognize their exploitation due to manipulation and fear of their abusers.
Collaboration with local law enforcement is crucial in combatting human trafficking, empowering agencies to conduct effective operations within their communities.
Deep dives
Introduction to Identity Theft Awareness
The episode begins by discussing the importance of safeguarding personal information during tax season. Identity thieves often target sensitive data such as W-2 forms, making monitoring essential. LifeLock is highlighted for its continuous data point monitoring, which provides protection against identity theft. Their services include a guarantee to rectify stolen identities or provide a refund if they fail.
Jared Hudson's Mission
Jared Hudson, a former Navy SEAL and law enforcement officer, is introduced as someone dedicated to combating human trafficking and child exploitation. His efforts, along with his organization Covenant Rescue Group, focus on helping victims and raising awareness about the dangers of human trafficking. Hudson’s personal background, military experience, and unwavering faith play a crucial role in motivating his work. The importance of tackling these heavy subjects is emphasized, as they often remain overlooked.
Career Path and Military Background
Hudson’s successful military career is detailed, including his time in the Navy SEALs and multiple deployments to combat zones. He served in critical missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, where he honed skills that would later aid his humanitarian efforts. Alongside his wife, Hudson founded Covenant Rescue Group, a nonprofit aimed at addressing the issue of human trafficking worldwide. His transition from military to law enforcement reflects a desire to continue serving and making a difference in his community.
The Impact of Faith
Hudson emphasizes the significance of his Christian faith in guiding his actions and decisions throughout his life and career. He passionately articulates his belief that faith provides a foundation for moral decision-making and purpose. Drawing inspiration from scripture, Hudson reflects on how his relationship with God shapes his understanding of right and wrong. His faith not only informs his work combating human trafficking but also deepens his commitment to protecting the vulnerable.
Understanding Human Trafficking
Hudson shares insights into the dynamics of human trafficking, highlighting that a significant percentage of cases involve victims who know their abusers. He explains that victims may be unaware of their exploitation due to their circumstances, often feeling that their situation is normal. This lack of awareness complicates rescue efforts, as many victims do not recognize their need for help until they are much older. The episode underscores the importance of educating the community about human trafficking and supporting victims who may not come forward.
Community Engagement and Awareness
Covenant Rescue Group works to raise awareness about human trafficking and offers resources to law enforcement agencies for conducting successful operations. Hudson explains the process of engaging law enforcement, where they provide free tactical training as a means to facilitate discussions around tackling human trafficking. By building partnerships with local agencies, they create opportunities for effective operations. This grassroots approach helps combat the misconception that human trafficking is only an urban issue.
Decoy Operations Strategy
The episode delves into the tactical strategies the organization employs in decoy operations. By placing ads on various platforms that target potential predators, they establish contacts to apprehend individuals intending to exploit minors. Hudson describes the statistical likelihood of interactions, emphasizing that while many contacts occur, only a small percentage leads to actual offenders showing up. Each successful apprehension provides an opportunity to uncover a web of exploitation, often revealing multiple victims.
The Realities of Child Exploitation
Hudson shares the harsh reality that many victims of child exploitation are often coerced into silence due to fear of their abuser. These victims are sometimes manipulated into staying with their perpetrator, believing they have nowhere else to go. He explains how the complexity of these situations makes it difficult to rescue and rehabilitate victims, as many do not see their situation as exploitative. This highlights the necessity of sensitivity and understanding when approaching these cases.
The Importance of Local Law Enforcement
The discussion emphasizes the vital role of local law enforcement in addressing and combating human trafficking. Hudson explains how every community harbors potential victims and predators, necessitating proactive measures. The partnership between Covenant Rescue Group and local agencies is designed to empower them to conduct their operations effectively. This collaboration seeks to foster trust and understanding among community members regarding the seriousness of human trafficking.
Challenges Facing Human Trafficking Cases
Hudson reflects on the obstacles they face when pursuing human trafficking cases, especially regarding legal challenges involving prosecutorial discretion. He points out that despite having strong cases, varying attitudes toward prosecution can hinder efforts. Many individuals in law enforcement are committed to addressing these issues, but funding and bureaucratic hurdles often complicate matters. This conversation underscores the need for continued advocacy and support for law enforcement efforts to combat human trafficking.
Jared Hudson served as a SEAL Operator and sniper with Naval Special Warfare, with deployments in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He founded The Shooting Institute (TSI), providing tactical training to law enforcement, military, and civilians, and Covenant Rescue Group (CRG), a nonprofit combating human trafficking and child exploitation through operations, training, and advocacy. Hudson is also a Reserve SWAT Deputy in Alabama and an advocate for constitutional rights.
Hudson is an author of "Waging War in the High Places - The Armor of God through the Eyes of a Navy SEAL" and speaks nationwide on faith-based topics. He is a devoted Christian, husband, father of three, and he emphasizes family values and community engagement. He currently leads CRG's efforts to rescue trafficking victims globally while raising awareness about exploitation networks through public speaking and media appearances.
