Combat Story

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! This is the true and frightening Combat Story of Aiden Aslin, a British citizen fighting for the Ukrainian military who was taken as a POW in February 2022 and then beaten and stabbed by his Russian captors for over five months.  Listeners will recall our first interview with Aiden from Feb 5th, 2022 (https://youtu.be/IbHSQ1xzpRc), just weeks before the Russian invasion where he predicted what would come after two deployments to the frontlines in Ukraine and significant fighting in Syria. Aiden was fighting on the front lines in the Donbas region of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, when Russia, completely unprovoked, invaded Ukraine. His unit fell back to the steel factory Mariupol where it was surrounded by Russian and Donetsk People’s Republic (or DPR, which is Russia’s foot soldiers and lackeys in Donetsk). Out of food and ammunition, Aiden’s unit would eventually surrender to the Russian military which promptly handed Aiden over to the DPR for regular beatings and violations of the Geneva Convention which surprised nobody. In our interview, Aiden recounts the harrowing experience of being on the frontlines when Russia invaded and how he survived captivity, without any of the advanced training that people like myself received regularly while in service to survive and escape these situations to return with dignity.  I’m sure you will be amazed at Aiden’s spirit and strength that pulled him through this difficult time and it will be a stark reminder for each of us that our day-to-day problems are not as hard as we might think when compared with what he endured.  As you can imagine, I was elated to hear of Aiden’s release in September and was nearly brought to tears after seeing his face again as we started this interview. Please enjoy this rare glimpse of hope and optimism from someone who survived a history-altering invasion and months in captivity as a modern-day POW as much as I did. Definitions: You’ll hear a reference to “GRADS” which is a mobile artillery vehicle used by the Russians that fire 122mm rounds (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BM-21_Grad). You'll hear DPR, which is the Donetsk People’s Republic. Find Aiden Online:  - Conflict Dispatch https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y-SiuIRHPpnUpcWgZRLgw - Instagram @CossackGundi https://www.instagram.com/cossackgundi/?hl=en Find Ryan Online:  - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Email ryan@combatstory.com - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro  1:05 - Guest Introduction (Aiden Aslin)  2:59 - Interview begins  8:19 - Fighting on the front lines February 24, 2022 when Russia invades Ukraine   37:47 - Knowing they were encircled  50:33 - Being on the receiving end of an air strike  56:52 - Choosing to surrender and live  1:01:20 - Steps taken while preparing for surrender  1:09:09 - Being processed by Russion military after surrender  1:22:33 - Interrogations and beatings and getting stabbed  1:30:28 - Keeping spirits up in the cell  and making propaganda videos  1:38:30 - False charges and getting sentanced to death  1:41:50 - What kept you going?  1:48:14 - Returning with dignity  and being POW in the era of technology  1:56:04 - What did you want to do when you had your freedom?  2:02:43 - Are you going do anything differently now?  2:06:52 - Listener comments and shout outs  This video covers the following subjects: - Prisoner of War - Ukraine Marines - Tortured in Captivity by Russia - Ukraine Military - Ukraine War - POW - Modern POW Aiden Aslin is a British-born dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Ukraine who was captured by Russian forces in April 2022 while fighting as a Ukrainian Marine in Mariupol. He was sentenced to death on 9 June by authorities of the Russian-backed breakaway unrecognized puppet state. Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) for "mercenary activities and committing actions aimed at seizing power and overthrowing the constitutional order of the DPR. He was released from Russian captivity in a prisoner exchange in September 2022. If you would like to learn more about Prisoner of War, Aiden Aslin I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about Prisoner of War, Aiden Aslin? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on Prisoner of War, Aiden Aslin.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the second round of our Combat Story with Jason Lilley, a former Marine, MARSOC operator, Global Response Staff (GRS) with the CIA, and co-host of Savage Actual with co-host Patrick Moltrup having been a guest on our show on Episode 26 (https://youtu.be/YmOkCKtpvGk). You can find Savage Actual at https://www.youtube.com/c/savageactual.  We left off our first interview (which you can find at https://youtu.be/jYzw5zGR5SE) hearing about Jason’s first deployments with Marine Recon in OIF I going into Iraq, in which his unit was featured in the HBO show Generation Kill, and a subsequent deployment when Jason earned a Silver Star. At that point, Jason got out of the service, seemingly to find another path, got a lip ring as he said, and started surfing. He still had years of service ahead of him, and that’s exactly what we touch on in this episode.  We get into some interesting aspects of combat this time around but we also dive pretty deep into the psychological aspects of war and the insight that time and age bring. Listeners really connected with Jason the first time around, noting how genuine and down to earth he is, with one person saying that he comes across as both deadly and chill at the same time, which is absolutely the case. There were so many calls for us to do round two from our listeners and it was worth waiting for. As you all know, you can catch Jason on Savage Actual with his co-host Patrick Moltrup, both of whom I consider great people, Americans, and friends.  With that, please enjoy this insightful, selfless, and yet somehow equally hilarious discussion with Jason Lilley. Find Jason Online:  YouTube Savage Actual https://www.youtube.com/c/savageactual Website Savage Actual www.savageactual.com Facebook Savage Actual https://www.facebook.com/SavageActual  Twitter Savage Actual @SavageActual3 https://twitter.com/SavageActual3  Instagram @jason_lizzle @savage.actual https://www.instagram.com/savage.actual/  TikTok Savage Actual https://www.tiktok.com/@savageactual Find Ryan Online:   Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory  Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/  Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory  Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial  Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial  Email ryan@combatstory.com  Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus  Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro  0:56 - Guest Introduction (Jason Lilley)  2:18 - Interview begins  2:38 - Experiencing Hurricane Ian  11:02 - Anniversaries of significant events  16:46 - Religion, buddhism, and dealing with anger 21:56 - Getting out of the Marine Corps after Silver Star event.   28:44 - Still feeling his calling was to serve.  31:26 - Adrenaline fueled desire for extremes 37:24 - The early days of MARSOC  41:16 - Scout Sniper school and shooting so much he had cuts on his fingers   47:07 -  How fighting Taliban was different  51:!0 - Recon in Iraq compared to MARSOC ops  54:04 - Story of hinting down Taliban at night  1:02:43 - Feeling guilty for not going on a deployment  1:06:07 - MARSOC Advanced Sniper Course  1:12:28 - Time with Global Response Staff (GRS) with the CIA  1:22:33 - Story of being in Iraq with GRS  1:30:41 - ISIS and Ziti Hil incident  1:36:21 - GRS culture and the darker  effects of experiences  1:44:01 - What's new at Savage Actual?  1:51:13 - Listener comments and shout outs  This video covers the following subjects: Marine Special Operator (MARSOC) CIA Global Response Staff (GRS) Silver Star Recipient  Savage Actual Jason Lilley's platoon was one of the most-decorated platoons for heroism in a single action in the War on Terrorism. On this date, his Platoon Leader Captain Brent Morel earned the Navy Cross (posthumously) and Team Leader Sergeant Willie Copeland also received the Navy Cross. Jason Lilley and four of his comrades were awarded Silver Stars for this combat operation. It is a record unmatched by any Marine Corps Company, much less by any platoon, in the Global War on Terrorism. If you would like to learn more about Marine Special Operator, Jason Lilley I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about Marine Special Operator, Jason Lilley? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on Marine Special Operator, Jason Lilley.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of Derek Nadalini, who spent decades in the Army with both Ranger Battalion and 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta, better known as The Unit. This is one of the most interesting interviews we’ve ever done. Derek deployed countless times beginning in Afghanistan in 2002 and conducted HVT operations, hostage rescue (including the rescue of Roy Hallums), ran low visibility and sniper operations, and eventually volunteered to execute singleton missions. After leaving the service, Derek went through a painful and long process to manage traumatic brain injury (TBI). Despite those challenges, he would go on to help sell the company Spatial Networks (earning what he aptly refers to as his “Business Ranger tab”), became a certified life and wellness coach providing pro bono support to Veterans, and is now the Director of Outreach and Development at MusiCorps, which is a music rehabilitation program that helps wounded warriors play music and recover their lives. Derek is easily one of the most accomplished people we’ve had on the podcast and I hope you enjoy this funny but also very personal experience and highs and lows of the elite as much as I did. Find Derek Online:  MusiCorps http://www.musicorps.net/Home.html LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-nadalini-0964141b6/ The Warhorse https://thewarhorse.org/ Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle   Show Notes:  0:00 - Intro  0:31 - Guest Introduction (Derek Nadalini)  2:07 - Interview begins  6:41 - Growing up with a father  who is a Vietnam combat veteran.  13:38 - Early musical influences 21:17 - How music and creativity are useful in the service  23:28 - Choosing to join the military and why the Army 31:06 - Where were you on 9/11? 35;57 - Leaving The Battalion and becoming a  member of General Dell Dailey's staff in Afghanistan   41:10 - Experiences while in a coveted General Staff position  and story of leadership lessons learned  49:46 - Balancing OTC with having a family  54:16 - Roy Hallums rescue mission 1:02:00 - Combat Story - a weapon malfunction  1:09:26 - funny story of launching first grenade in combat  1:14:43 - Why selection is so tough and how the training show up later  1:16:21 - Most dangerous ops doing low visibility work as a singleton   1:22:32 - Discovering a traumatic brain injury. (TBI)   1:38:32 -  Life in the private sector and missing the mission  1:42:53 - Going to Berkelee and starting MusicCorps 1:55:46 - Tattoos  1:57:31 - What did you carry into combat? 1:59:02  - Would you do it again?  2:01:23 - Listener comments and shout outs  This video covers the following subjects: - 1st SFOD-D Operator -  Delta Force  - Sniper Ranger Battalion  - MusiCorps - Traumatic Brain Injury - Derek Nadalini  If you would like to learn more about 1st SFOD-D Operator, Derek Nadalini I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about 1st SFOD-D Operator, Derek Nadalini? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on 1st SFOD-D Operator, Derek Nadalini.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear our first Combat Story from a former Marine Corps Infantry Officer turned Civil Affairs Officer Frank “Gus” Biggio. Gus has a very unusual history in that he served his initial five years in the Marine Corps pre-9/11 and then got out to begin a very promising and successful career as an attorney.   Join our Patreon community for additional content at https://www.patreon.com/combatstory   In the years following 9/11, however, Gus felt the need to return to service and support the war effort. So rather than hold onto a profitable and cushy corporate career, Gus did what many of dream of doing and went back in.    He deployed in 2009 as a Civil Affairs officer which you can think of as a local mayor or governor of a particular area - in his case Nawa - where he settled local disputes, funded development efforts, compensated families for losses as a result of the war and far more. This required significant time outside the wire and in harm's way.    Do not be fooled into thinking that this is an administrative role. I spoke to now Sergeant Major David Wilson who led the patrols that protected Gus as he moved around the battlespace and he confirmed that it was anything but quiet and that Gus shifted the balance of power locally, driving significant counterinsurgency wins.   Gus chronicled his experience and the service of his fellow Marines in the book ‘The Wolves of Helmand: A View from Inside the Den of Modern War’ (which is a great read) and is now directing proceeds to a charitable cause supporting efforts in Ukraine.   This is a wide-ranging discussion with the laughs, heartache and nostalgia of someone who gave up everything (including missing the birth of his second child) to be downrange with his fellow Marines and I hope you enjoy his Combat Story as much as I did.   #marines #veteran #helmand #army    Find Gus Online:  The Wolves of Helmand website https://wolvesofhelmand.com/   Show Notes:  0:00 - Intro  0:34 - Guest Introduction (Frank “Gus” Biggio)  2:43 - Interview begins  5:31 - Growing up, military family, and being a hell raiser  7:04 - Why Marines and the influential  people at that time  15:04 - Feeling like he's missing his big war, about Marines, and choosing to walk away   17:45 - Successful career as a civilian and the impact of 9/11  21:30 - Choosing to go back into the Marines in Civil Affairs unit  30:56 - What Civil Affairs is and the mission set  33:22 - Context for  Operation Khanjar a.k.a. Operation Strike of the Sword  39:25 - Combat Story -  first kinetic engagement in Afghanistan as a passenger in a helicopter  43:35 -  Combat Story - first outside the wire engagement on the ground getting shot at including with RPG  52:18 - The conversations leaving law firm to go to Afghanistan   55:23 - Why he kept a journal  57:03 -Civil Affairs operations and how he sees his role supporting the Battalion  1:02:09 - Story of settling a land dispute local farmers  1:05:53 - Using a Polaroid camera as an icebreaker in Afghanistan  1:09:04 - Funny and surreal story of getting paid in watermelons  1:14:09 - Story of a moral failure and how it changed his approach to future engagements  1:23:52 - Still wanting to do more after leaving a second time  1:34:56 - Story of where the name of the book ‘The Wolves of Helmand” comes from  1:38:46 - What did you carry into combat? 1:42:20  - Would you do it again?  1:46:48 - Listener comments and shout outs    This video covers the following subjects:   - US Marine Corps - Marine Corps Infantry & Civil Affairs  - The Wolves of Helmand  - Frank “Gus” Biggio   Frank (“Gus”) Biggio served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from mid-1993 until December 1997 after graduating from Denison University. He then returned to his native Ohio where he earned a law degree from Case Western Reserve University, then worked in jobs in finance and law in New York City and Washington, DC, picking up a degree from Georgetown University along the way. Nearly ten years after first leaving the service, he rejoined the Marine Corps in October 2007. With his country at war, the same itch that drove him to volunteer in the 1990s drove his desire to serve again. His writing about the military and politics has appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Washington Post, Weekly Standard, and the online journal, War on the Rocks. The Wolves of Helmand is his first book. Through his work, he spends his time between Switzerland and Washington, DC, but has always called Ohio home.    If you would like to learn more about Civil Affairs Officer, Frank “Gus” Biggio I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about Civil Affairs Officer, Frank “Gus” Biggio? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on Civil Affairs Officer, Frank “Gus” Biggio.

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼  https://nordvpn.com/combatstory  Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! I use NordVPN myself so you're in good company (and I know security). If you sign up, it will also help the show so thank you in advance! Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of Zack Harrison, a former Green Beret (18B) and 1st Special Forces Detachment - Delta (aka The Unit) operator.  [If you want more about our guests and some behind the scenes insights, join our Patreon community at https://www.patreon.com/combatstory]  Unlike many of our guests, Zack never planned to join the military. Like many people, however, 9/11 changed that. He used the 18X program to get his foot in the door and was in combat with the 3rd Special Forces Group in 2005 and 2006, which include being part of Operation Medusa, one of, if not the, largest NATO coalition operations in Afghanistan.  He then transitioned to Delta Force where he honed his shooting, CQB, and tactical skills that he now uses to teach military, law enforcement, and civilians through his company, Hades Consulting, which he co-owns with another former Delta Operator. I hope you enjoy this wide-ranging discussion with a very humble and thoughtful warrior as much as I did. Find Zack Online: - Zack Instagram @chambered1_ziggy https://www.instagram.com/chambered1_ziggy/  - HADES Consulting Instagram @Hades.consulting https://www.instagram.com/Hades.consulting/  - HADES Consulting https://www.hadesunleashed.com/ Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro  0:44 - Guest Introduction (Zack Harrison)  1:40 - Interview begins  5:41 - A background in education  16:39 - A story and thoughts about bullies  20:03 - Wanting to join after 9/11 and why The Army  26:50 - From a short MOS training phase to The 3rd Special Forces Group  32:34 - First time in outside the wire in Kandahar, Afghanistan and being the new guy  38:11 - Emotions coming back after first combat experience 42:17 - Combat Story - Operation Medusa fighting Taliban in Afghanistan  46:16 - Types of missions with 3rd Group   and how they tend to operate  52:35 - Combat Story: An  engagement during Operation Medusa  1:01:57 - Combat Story - Losing fellow Green Beret, Bill Brown   1:04:28 - Difficult anniversaries 1:11:58 - Time with the unit and going back to selection the second time  1:22:02 - Combat Story - Being part of a direct action unit with DF and why you adhere to the three principles of CQB  1:32:23 - HADES Consulting 1:35:27 - What did you carry into combat? 1:37:51  - Would you do it again?  1:40:50 - Listener comments and shout outs  This video covers the following subjects: - Delta Force Operator - Special Forces 18BGreen Beret - Hades Consulting  - Purple Heart  - Delta Force soldier Zack Harrison Zack is a former Green Beret and member of SFOD-D (Delta Force) and was a member of Rusty Bradley’s ODA 331 During Operation Medusa in 2006. After joining the military in 2003 and deploying overseas as a member of Delta Force, Harrison left the military and joined Potynsky at Northern Red in 2014. Harrison appears in several Northern Red social media posts, including Instagram posts and YouTube videos, touting the training that he and Potynsky offered. Harrison left Northern Red in 2020 to form his own company, Hades Consulting LLC, which, like Northern Red, caters to police departments and military personnel. If you would like to learn more about Delta Force Operator, Zack Harrison I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about Delta Force Operator, Zack Harrison? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on  Delta Force Operator, Zack Harrison.

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼  https://nordvpn.com/combatstory  Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! I use NordVPN myself so you're in good company (and I know security). If you sign up, it will also help the show so thank you in advance! Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear an incredible Combat Story from across the pond from a legendary UK SAS operator Billy Billingham who served over 30 years with deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, Africa, and many other places we can’t discuss. Billy came from an extremely challenging childhood drinking and fighting on the streets of Birmingham to being appointed a Member of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen for his efforts on select hostage rescues and serving as the SAS Ground Commander on what is known as 7/7 or the deadly coordinated attacks in London on July 7th, 2005.  Billy went from being the absolute elite leader, working alongside our own Delta and DEVGRU operators for years in the post-9/11 world, to hanging up his uniform and finding a new path. He has know written an autobiography aptly titled ‘The Hard Way’ and two fiction novels based on his own exploits titled ‘Call to Kill’ and ‘Survive to Fight’ (think SAS meets 007).  He is also a lead on two incredibly successful programs in the UK and Australia titled “SAS: Who Dares Wins” where he and other special operators take civilians and celebrities through punishing special ops training; he shared that the show is coming to the US soon! He and his wife run a charity organization and he does public speaking engagements across the UK. I hope you enjoy this incredibly humble story that takes us inside the “Interest Room” (which I learned is the term for the SAS Team Room) and the highs and lows of a life well-lived at the tip of the spear from our UK brothers and sisters as much as I did.  #military #veteran  Find Billy Online:  - Instagram @billingham22b https://www.instagram.com/billingham22b/  - Twitter @billingham229b https://twitter.com/billingham229b - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MarkBillinghamSAS/  - Deux Mains Academy @rebuildglobally https://www.instagram.com/rebuildglobally/ - Billy’s Website https://www.markbillybillingham.com/about   Find Ryan Online:  - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro  0:41 - Guest Introduction (Billy Billingham)  2:36 - Interview begins  5:11 - Rough childhood in Peaky Blinders neighborhood in Birmingham, England 17:26 -Cadet School experience 22:12  - Overcoming getting burned by caustic soda at 15 yrs old and almost dying in a gang fight to still join the military   28:30 - Joining The Second Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2 PARA)  30:03 - Lessons from the PARAs and first jump in the jungle of Belize  42:48 - First time in a combat zone in Cypress  44:23 -  Fighting terrorists in Ireland  48:15 - Why SAS route and the brutal training and selection process 57:50 - Path after SAS selection into Mountain Troupe  1:01:25 - Excitement of first op in first week as SAS 1:04:17 - Squad "Interest rooms"  1:05:45 - The squadron dynamic and respect for those who came before  1:09:21 - Why the B Squadron are characterized as the "rogues"  1:11:12 - Combat Story - A hostage rescue during a bloody time in Bosnia  1:19:36 - The sixth sense that comes with experience  1:2102 - Emotions after a mission and after getting out  1:24:25 -  Where were you on 7/7  during London bombings?  1:27:56 - TV show "SAS: Who Dares Wins" and what is coming to the US  1:30:40 - "The Hard Way" autobiography and "Call to Kill" novel  1:35:46 - What did you carry into combat? 1:39:40  - Would you do it again?  1:42:55 - Listener comments and shout outs    This video covers the following subjects:   - SAS Sergeant Major  - 7/7 SAS Ground CDR  - SAS Ground Commander  - UK SAS operator Billy Billingham   Billy is a certified SF and Counter Terrorist Sniper Instructor, Advanced Evasive Driving Instructor, Tracking/Jungle Warfare/Navigation Instructor, Demolition/Sabotage Instructor, Ski Mountaineering/Rock Climbing/Abseiling/Ice climbing Instructor, Combat Survival/RTI Instructor, Counter Terrorist Instructor (all options) and has worked as a Patrol Medic/Trauma Life Support agent for 5 hospital attachments.   If you would like to learn more about SAS Sergeant Major, Billy Billingham I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________   Have I responded to all of your questions about SAS Sergeant Major, Billy Billingham?

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/combatstory Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! I use NordVPN myself so you're in good company (and I know security). Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear a unique Combat Story from Ranger-qualified and former Engineer in combat Lisa Jaster who was the first female reservist to complete Ranger School…at the age of 37 with two kids! Lisa is still in the reserves and recently rotated out of Battalion Command where she led Combat Engineers as she did early in the post-9/11 era as a young active-duty lieutenant, including in 2002 in Afghanistan, 2003 in Iraq, and back to Iraq 15 years later. Her story is remarkable and highlights how much harder she worked to reach levels many others take for granted. She’s a West Point grad and stood on the shoulders of the brave women who came before her in breaking the barrier of women at the Academy only to break a similar barrier herself. Beyond being a sought-after public speaker, accomplished entrepreneur, and part of retired DEVGRU Mike Sarraille’s Talent War Group, Lisa is also a competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter and CrossFit athlete and is getting ready to release her first book that describes her journey. This is a phenomenal and wide-ranging interview with an accomplished, tough-as-nails Ranger and I hope you enjoy her story of perseverance as much as I did. #army #military #veteran #rangers Find Lisa Online: - Instagram @lisaajaster https://www.instagram.com/lisaajaster/ Twitter @lisa_jaster https://twitter.com/lisa_jaster Book Page for “Delete the Adjective” and contact https://deletetheadjective.com/ Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro  0:56 - Guest Introduction (Lisa Jaster)  2:29 - Interview begins  2:42 - A passion for Brazilian jujitsu  6:06 - Being an unconventional Military couple and making sure her son can fight  10:06 - Childhood as a naturally driven person and where the military comes in  14:55 - Funny story of Army interview  17:16 - Going to West Point and and choosing Engineer Branch after graduating 27:37 - What is Engineers and their role in Afghanistan 2002  33:24 - Where were you on 9/11?  41:06 - Story about combat patches  45:01 - How an engineer prepares for deployment  47:48 - Family and feelings before and during a dangerous deployment 53:47 - "There's no book for this" and funny story of trying to communicate with Pakistani man  55:27 - Building the airfield in Afghanistan and funny story about constructing the sewage pond  58:27 - From Afghanistan to Iraq  and being an SME as a First Lieutenant  1:06:42 - Processing difficult experiences and how jujiostu helped  1:09:33 - Ranger school   1:21:17 - Advice for someone wanting to go to BUD/S or Ranger School  1:29:04 - Hell Week at Ranger School   and being in the first ever class with women  1:43:57 -Mixed emotions on graduating Ranger School   1:47:48 - Full circle moment meeting author Carol Barkalow  1:51:36 - What's the first thing you ate coming out of Ranger School?   1:52:46 - What did you carry into combat? 1:55:08  - Would you do it again?  1:57:11 - Listener comments and shout outs This video covers the following subjects: - First Female Reservist Ranger School Graduate - Ranger School - Combat Leader - Combat Engineer Lisa Jaster Maj. Lisa Jaster, an Army Reserve soldier, performs a fireman's carry-on on a simulated casualty during the Ranger Course at Ft. Benning, GA. The 37-year-old engineer and mother of two children, aged 7 and 3, is the first female Army Reserve officer to graduate from Ranger School. When Maj. Lisa Jaster walks across Victory Pond Friday at Fort Benning, she will secure her role in history as the first female Army Reserve officer to earn the distinctive black-and-gold shoulder tab. However, the 37-year-old engineer and mother of two children, aged 7 and 3, is the third female to graduate from the grueling combat leadership course, joining the ranks of fellow West Point graduates and Active Duty officers Capt. Kristen Griest, 26, and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, 25. If you would like to learn more about First Female Reservist Ranger School Graduate, Lisa Jaster I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about First Female Reservist Ranger School Graduate, Lisa Jaster? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on First Female Reservist Ranger School Graduate, Lisa Jaster.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear a Combat Story from the very tip of the spear from “Dutch” Chris Moyer, a long-time special operator who spent 14 years in Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in addition to years at 1/75 Ranger Battalion, and CIA’s Global Response Staff (GRS). Dutch walks us through a very open and honest approach to what it’s like operating in the elite ranks for so long, including the pressure, brotherhood, and chaos. He doesn’t shy away from sharing where he felt he fell short, and how, even after decades of service he still felt like he had more to give. He saw combat in multiple theaters in the pre-and post-9/11 era, fighting at the same time as and friends with many of the former Tier 1 operators we’ve heard on this show. Be sure to stick through to the end where we hear Dutch describe his own “Mr. Goodbar” story (if you don’t know about Mr. Goodbar, check out Episode 30) where Dutch ends up in a room one on one having to fight none other than John “Shrek” McPhee (from Episode 25 https://youtu.be/6hvQj06fQUQ). It’s hilarious. Dutch now runs DCM Consulting where he teaches military, government, and civilians how to apply the skills he learned in the Tier 1 community from shooting to CQB to leadership. In fact, when I reached out to Dutch I had to leave him a message and his voicemail was one of the best I’ve ever heard and said something like “You’ve reached Dutch, I can’t take your call because I’m out on the range shooting, teaching CQB, or doing some other cool shit right now…” I hope you enjoy this incredible peak behind the curtain of what it’s like in one of the most elite units in our military. The video is all about Delta Force Sergeant Major, Dutch Moyer. If you want to learn more about Combat Story, you can click: https://www.combatstory.com/ Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:38 - Guest Introduction (Dutch Moyer) 2:15 - Interview begins 11:09 - Not being a naturally gifted shooter 18:55 - Important characteristics someone should have on a team 26:33 - Earning another nickname, Simon, after "blowing himself up" with a Simon device prepping for a mission in Bosnia (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un-ApklIvj4) 41:10 - “Coolest thing I’ve ever done…” The difference coming back and what it is like at the different operational levels from Ranger to Tier 1 JSOC elements 50:51 - Getting through selection 58:13 - Imposter syndrome and how he handled shooting a paint round into the wall in the team room. 1:03:21 - Combat Story - Longest air assault raid in history 1:09:53 - The role of a Breacher 1:16:29 - Stories of hard landings and crashes including a rooftop helicopter crash 1:21:31 - Combat Story - Things go sideways during an ambush in Fallujah 1:26:04 - Transitioning out of the elite level and wishing he had done more 1:43:54 - DCM consulting for leadership through the evolutionary gun fighter process 1:45:55 - What did you carry into combat? 1:46:35 - Would you do it again? 1:49:17 - Story of fighting John “Shrek” McPhee in hand to hand combat at the end of training 1:52:50 - Listener comments and shout outs This video covers the following subjects: - Delta Force Sergeant Major - Ranger Battalion - CIA GRS - DCM Consulting Dutch Moyer DCM Consulting Founder Christopher “Dutch” Moyer served 31 years in the Army – 26 of those in Special Operations. He has taken part in over 1,000 successful combat assaults in classified & unclassified missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. He found that the Army in the 1980s was not what he had hoped. After a five-year break, he returned. This time he “Wanted to be in the worst possible places with the best possible people.” He became an Army Ranger and spent the last 14 years of his career with the elite Joint Special Operations Command. JSOC was created after the disastrous “Desert One” mission. If you would like to learn more about Delta Force Sergeant Major, Dutch Moyer, I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about Delta Force Sergeant Major, Dutch Moyer? 

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Today we hear the Combat Story of Joe McNamara, a former Marine Corps officer who experienced a unique kind of violence from his time on campus at Virginia Tech during the horrific 2007 shooting to leading Marines in combat in Afghanistan. After leaving the service, Joe founded a leadership development company called Impact USA that trained both elite athletes and private sector leaders. Impact was recently acquired by Mike Sarraille’s Talent War Group, where Joe is now a partner and Chief Revenue Officer. Many will recall a fantastic interview with Mike (episode 70 https://youtu.be/v4TPJtkZrek), the former enlisted Marine who went on to Force Recon then served as an officer in SEALs and, eventually, Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). The fact that someone like Mike who went through that crucible of leadership experiences went on to acquire Impact says a lot about what Joe does to develop leaders. This episode dives between combat experiences and the leadership lessons we can apply to our lives, from the foxhole to athletics to the office. In fact, Joe answers two questions I’ve always had: how do you create a sense of shared adversity in a corporate setting and how do you find time to train corporate leaders without taking them off operations for a full six to 12 months the way the military does it. I hope you enjoy this Combat Story with a battle hardened Marine Corps officer and some of the tangible leadership lessons we can all apply from his experiences as much as I did. Find Joe Online: - LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcnamara1/ - Instagram @joe_mcnamara_ https://www.instagram.com/joe_mcnamara_ - Impact Leadership https://www.impactthepace.com/ Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 0:35 - About our sponsor, Let's Get Checked 1:57 - Guest Introduction (Joe McNamara) 3:46 - Interview begins 5:13 - Childhood and path to the military 10:04 - Support for Combat Story brought to you by Manscaped 11:24 - Somber stories of courage and leadership from the school shooting at Virginia Tech 22:08 - When certain experiences harden you emotionally 25:10 - The most impactful leadership advice from Marine Corps mentors 30:40 - Training and what it was like in Afghanistan with insane amount of IEDs 40:31 - Being in a leadership role at 20-21 years old and the most important attribute in leadership 44:12 - Combat Story - What it is like as infantry men when your vehicle gets hit by massive IED 53:47 - Combat Story - First time someone in his platoon was hit while on foot 1:00:24 - What an "XO" is in the military and what the role entails 1:04:24 - Combat Story - How leadership planning and drills show up after a mass casualty event 1:14:29 - Formative Company Command time at Paris Island 1:24:55 - Where the idea for Impact Leadership came from 1:28:10 - Replicating shared adversity and military training in corporate sector 1:36:03 - The biggest challenges seen in corporate leadership 1:39:55 - What did you carry into combat? 1:40:39 - Would you do it again? 1:43:26 - Listener comments and shout outs

This video is sponsored by Aura. Get a 14 day free trial at http://aura.com/combatstory to secure yourself online and support Combat Story! Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! Get extra Combat Story content like Ryan's personal thoughts on this episode on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/combatstory Today we hear the Combat Story of Jake Wood, a former University of Wisconsin football player who enlisted in the Marine Corps and fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a Marine Rifleman and Sniper. One of the key moments that led him to the Marine Corps was the death of Pat Tillman, the legendary NFL Safety who walked away from the League and joined the Army after 9/11, eventually being killed while serving as a Ranger in Afghanistan. Jake found himself leading Marines at the very front end of the “Surge” in Iraq and the bloodiest year of the wars, stepping into a kinetic environment only weeks after arriving in the theater. He was then in Helmand Province in Afghanistan as a sniper. Only two months after leaving the Marine Corps, Jake went on to found the humanitarian support organization Team Rubicon after hastily organizing what he describes as a “Motley Crew” of veterans and doctors to help the people of Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake. He recently created another charitable giving business called Groundswell which seeks to democratize philanthropic giving. In 2018, Jake was awarded the Pat Tillman ESPY for service (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Xef8StXi8), bringing his story full circle from Tillman’s death that propelled Jake into this life of service. I hope you enjoy this unique and insightful interview with someone who played football at the highest level and then selflessly decided to put on a different uniform to help others as much as I did. Find Jake Online: - Instagram @jakewoodtr https://www.instagram.com/jakewoodtr/?hl=en - Twitter @JakeWoodTR https://twitter.com/JakeWoodTR - Team Rubicon https://teamrubiconusa.org/ - Groundswell.io https://groundswell.io/ - ESPY Pat Tillman Award https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Xef8StXi8 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:27 - About our sponsor, Aura 2:28 - Guest Introduction (Jake Wood) 4:22 - Interview begins 5:00 - Football's influence in life and position played 13:23 - Family history and a perspective on a college campus protest in March 2003 17:30 - The significant events and people like Pat Tillman which lead to joining 23:36 - Funny recruitment stories and why Marine Corps Infantry 28:22 - Training with Pugil sticks in bootcamp as an elite football player 31:16 - Getting out of the training pipeline and into a Marine Rifle Platoon 37:58 - First "boots on the ground" moment in Iraq and first time taking mortar fire 40:27 - Combat Story - Driving into IEDs while in Humvees 49:59 - The bloody realities of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 53:25 - Combat Story - Injuries and booby traps during the bloodiest year of the Iraq war 1:00:14 - What do you tell your family? 1:01:23 - Marine Sniper School experience 1:03:13 - Combat Story - The tough operating environment in Afghanistan 1:08:54 - How snipers desensitize themselves 1:10:52 - Combat Story - Taliban attack and tending to injured civilian children 1:12:36 - Transitioning out and how Team Rubicon Disaster Response started 1:21:34 - Groundswell 1:25:48 - What did you carry into combat? 1:27:33 - Would you do it again? 1:29:04 - Accepting the Pat Tillman award 1:30:24 - Listener comments and shout outs The video is all about Marine Sniper from D1 College Football, Jake Wood. If you want to learn more about Combat Story, you can click: https://www.combatstory.com/ This video covers the following subjects: - Marine Sniper from D1 College Football - Marine Sniper - Marine Scout Snipers - Team Rubicon and Groundswell Founder January 12, 2010. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shakes Port-au-Prince. In moments, hundreds of thousands were injured, infrastructure and buildings were destroyed, and countless were made homeless. In the days following, many traditional aid organizations were slow to establish relief efforts, citing dangerous and unstable working conditions. Troubled by the scenes in Port-au-Prince and the lack of proper aid, two Marines, Jake Wood and William McNulty, decided to act. Gathering supplies and volunteers, the small group of veterans, first responders, and medical professionals deployed to Haiti in the days following the earthquake. If you would like to learn more about Marine Sniper from D1 College Football, Jake Wood I suggest you look into our various other video clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCyApoJr-mNmdMNwdk22xEQ _________________________ Have I responded to all of your questions about Marine Sniper from D1 College Football, Jake Wood? If you were searching for more info about Marine Sniper from D1 College Football, Jake Wood did this video help? Possibly you wish to comment below and let me understand what I can help you with or information on Marine Snipers like Jake Wood.