SSS and Genghis Cohen - Dark Desert Defense, Machine Guns, Helicopters, and Strippers
Dec 9, 2024
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Stephen Sanders, a retired Navy SEAL with 24 years of service and several commendations, and Genghis Cohen, a former Royal New Zealand Army veteran turned entrepreneur, delve into their diverse experiences. They discuss the relaunch of Clear Hot Coffee, the intriguing world of provocative branding, and humorous tales from sniper school. Genghis shares his wild journey through the Las Vegas nightlife and strip club industry, while their conversation about aviation and firearms training provides insights into safety and the challenges of transitioning to civilian life.
Stephen's extensive military background as a Navy SEAL informs his current civilian endeavors in firearms training and safety.
Genghis emphasizes the importance of personal investment in training, fostering an environment of tailored, high-quality instruction for clients.
The podcast highlights a growing interest among women in firearms training for self-defense, focusing on safety and confidence-building.
The guests advocate for adapting military training techniques to meet the practical needs of civilian shooters, ensuring safety and effectiveness.
Their entrepreneurial journey reflects resilience and adaptability, inspiring veterans to translate military skills into successful civilian businesses.
Deep dives
Holiday Shopping with Kroger
Kroger brand products are highlighted as ideal holiday shopping choices due to their popularity and quality. The products, including sweet treats and holiday meals, come with a money-back quality guarantee to ensure customer satisfaction. Whether shopping online for delivery or select items in-store, Kroger aims to meet all customer needs during the holiday season. This emphasis on selection and affordability enhances the shopping experience for families preparing for festivities.
Black Rifle Coffee Promotion
The episode features a promotion for Black Rifle Coffee, underscoring its appeal as a thoughtful gift during the holiday season. The speaker discusses the versatility of coffee as a present, citing its long shelf life and universal appeal. In addition to coffee, Black Rifle's merchandise, including apparel and accessories, is also mentioned as worth exploring for unique gift ideas. The playful banter highlights the brand's connection to the podcast, engaging listeners while promoting a favored product.
Introduction of Guests Triple S and Genghis
The guests for this episode are introduced, starting with Triple S, a retired Navy SEAL with an impressive service record and technical skills. Accompanying him is Genghis, an entrepreneur and veteran with diverse business ventures, from nightclubs to gold trading. Their relaxed camaraderie sets the tone for a conversation that intertwines military experience with civilian entrepreneurship. Both guests shed light on their backgrounds and shared plans, making for a dynamic discussion on resilience and reinvention.
Dark Desert Defense Overview
Dark Desert Defense, the venture co-owned by the guests, specializes in firearms training that stresses safety and personal investment in the learning process. They describe a focus on small group classes that foster tailored, high-quality instruction rather than mass training experiences. This approach aims to ensure that students fully comprehend the seriousness of firearm training as a life-or-death skill. As the conversation unfolds, they emphasize responsible instruction and the integrity of their training methods.
Varying Experiences in Firearms Training
The guests discuss the different backgrounds of individuals seeking firearms training, noting a large number of females interested in learning self-defense. They underscore that many clients come with a basic desire to feel safer in current societal conditions, rather than pursuing firearms as an aggressive hobby. Their training is designed not only to teach how to handle firearms but also to build confidence in using them safely and responsibly. Addressing individual fears and addressing training myths becomes a central theme in their approach.
Challenges of Military-Centric Training
They explore the challenges surrounding the prevalence of military-based firearms training and whether it meets civilian needs. Both guests express a belief that the unique demands of the civilian shooter should steer the training focus away from military techniques not suited for everyday use. The emphasis shifts to addressing current safety concerns and the practical skills necessary for personal defense. This ensures their courses not only teach firearm use but also foster an understanding of a civilian's real-life situational needs.
Entrepreneurship and Veterans
The conversation shifts to entrepreneurship within the military and veteran communities, with a focus on supporting veterans to translate their skills into civilian careers. They discuss their desire to create pathways for veterans to establish training businesses that are built on structured, tested methods. This programming not only helps veterans reintegrate but also builds a community eager to cultivate safety and skills among civilians. This support system reflects an understanding of the unique challenges veterans face as they transition to civil life.
Personal Experiences in Business
Personal anecdotes from the guests provide insights into the entrepreneurial journey, illustrating both successes and setbacks. They touch on experiences that shaped their business philosophies, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges. The guests share moments of humility, growth, and the transformative power of learning from tough experiences. Their willingness to embrace failure as part of the journey serves as an encouragement for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Lessons Learned in Training Program Development
They discuss their evolving training programs, highlighting the integration of various instructional methods tailored to audience needs. The benefits of adapting traditional military training techniques for civilian application are examined in detail. The guests express enthusiasm for continuous improvement in their programs, ensuring they reflect both industry standards and student feedback. This commitment to refining curricula fosters a strong foundation for building a successful training operation.
Vision for Future Course Expansion
Looking ahead, the guests express a desire to broaden their offerings by including specialized training courses that cater to various skill levels. They envision creating a comprehensive training environment that addresses a range of needs from beginners to advanced shooters. Plans to host courses in new locations, particularly Montana, are discussed to capitalize on scenic and safer training environments. This strategic move reflects their goal of enhancing accessibility and attracting a broader clientele.
Stephen is a recently retired Navy SEAL with 24 years of active duty service. Immediately upon graduating from high school he enlisted in the Navy and went to Basic Underwater Demolition School BUD/S. Stephen was assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team TWO where he specialized as a SDV Pilot, small arms marksmanship instructor, and scout/sniper. In 1999 Stephen successfully screened and went to Naval Special Warfare Development Group (SEAL Team 6). During his 11 years at the command, Steve successfully completed 10 combat deployments to both OIF (Iraq) and OEF (Afghanistan). During his combat tours as an assault team sniper and team leader, he was awarded the Silver Star and five Bronze Star medals for heroic actions while engaged in National level HVT combat missions, among other medals and awards.
Before retiring he started his own consulting business, (TIER ONE Global Consulting LLC) specializing in soldiering skills, combat shooting, austere high altitude jump training, and lead climbing rock courses to private clients and government agencies. In 2012 he was the Today, Stephen is the owner-operator of Dark Desert Defense. Stephen also owns Six Shooters LLC. This company works specifically in the entertainment industry, film, TV, and video games.
Genghis was born and raised in New Zealand (NZ). At the age of 17 he was accepted for Officer Training with the Royal New Zealand Army. After serving 7 years with the military Genghis moved to the US where he studied at San Francisco State University(SSU).
Genghis grew up around firearms. From an early age he was shooting and hunting with his father. His time in the military led to a greater understanding or firearms specifically in a combat environment. In 2008 Genghis moved to Ghana, Africa where he owned Gold and Diamond mining operations, he also worked as a consultant at this time in security and aviation.
In 2010 Genghis returned to the US and decided to teach part time as a firearms instructor, after a couple of bad experiences with the facilities and training offered in Las Vegas, Genghis and his partners decided to open their own range offering training and firearms experiences. Genghis went on to train more and more clients offering a bespoke approach to defensive firearms training.
Genghis now owns and operates multiple tourism attractions as well as being one of the principles for Dark Desert Defense. As a veteran himself Genghis also founded and is the chairman of the Veterans Training Fund, a 501(c) 3 that assists veterans in assimilating back into society.
