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The Raid, The Record, and The Lawsuit | Rob O'Neill | EP 429

Jan 26, 2026
Rob O'Neill, retired Navy SEAL from SEAL Team Six known for high-profile special operations, shares candid recollections. The conversation covers the Abbottabad raid, differences between official after-action records and his memories, and the fallout of going public. They also dig into his $25M defamation lawsuit and the personal costs to family and team bonds.
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ANECDOTE

Parachute Malfunctions Are Brutal And Personal

  • Rob and Andy trade tandem and bundle skydiving stories, including a violent bottom-skin opening that injured a passenger.
  • They show how risky equipment transitions and packing errors can produce near-fatal openings.
ADVICE

Delay Complex Evolutions Until Qualified

  • If you're in the military pipeline, delay complex evolutions until you reach advised jump counts and skill levels.
  • Experienced instructors should lead high-risk tandem or technical jumps to reduce catastrophic errors.
ADVICE

Master Core Skills Before Advanced Roles

  • Train tangible technical skills (swimming, parachute control, navigation) early; these save lives in milestone evolutions.
  • Andy Stumpf and Rob emphasize fixing basic proficiencies before advanced roles.
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