Combat Story

On today’s Combat Story we dive into stories of a handful of the brave men who were at Pearl Harbor during the tragic December 7th, 1941 attack that changed the course of history. These are stories of action, selflessness, and courage that few of us can imagine, but sound right at home with the stories we often hear on Combat Story and should not be forgotten. [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.]  This episode includes Joe George, who was locked in the brig of a ship when the attack started and was released to save himself and then became a hero when he disobeyed orders to save the lives of other sailors. We also hear about a long term friendship between a US sailor (Richard Fiske) who was attacked and a Japanese service member on the other side. Then we hear about a family member of a longtime Combat Story listener who was there at Pearl Harbor during the attack. In this episode, we start by setting the context for the events of Dec 7th and the lead up to the war so we can better appreciate the very unique stories of service members who step up when the attack starts. To help bring these stories to life, we went to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii and sat down the National Park Service’s David Kilton, who is the Chief of Interpretation at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial (his job is to bring these stories to life). Prior to the Pearl Harbor Memorial, David worked at Rocky Mountain National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Golden Spike National Historic Site, and Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site (which memorializes the desegregation of that school). Please enjoy these intimate stories of service and sacrifice in one of the most momentous days in American history. Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - 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 Learn More About Pearl Harbor Online: - Joe George and Don Stratton https://www.nps.gov/perl/learn/historyculture/joe-george.htm - Pearl Harbor Background https://www.nps.gov/perl/index.htm Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:49 - Guest Introduction (David Kilton) 01:53 - Interview begins  02:15 - WWII Political background  05:22 - Japanese Preparation for Pearl Harbor attack 11:10 - Sunday morning on Oahu 16:00 - Pearl Harbor Geography 17:29 - Security before Pearl Harbor 21:26 - Pearl Harbor Attack 27:12 - The Joe George Story 31:41 - The Richard Fisk Story 43:14 - The Walter Sealock Story 49:50 - Closing Thoughts 51:23 -  Listener comments and shout outs

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's Combat Story: Navy SEAL, SDV Team One, and DEVGRU  🎙️ Today’s Combat Story focuses on both Navy SEAL, SDV Team One, and DEVGRU member Rodney Brown and his connection to an upcoming guest, Mike Edwards. I asked Mike, in preparation for a future interview, who I could talk to about Mike’s time downrange. Surprisingly, Mike, an Army Ranger, referred me to Rodney, a Navy SEAL. After talking to Rodney, however, it’s easy to see why and how this brotherhood was created. Rodney spent years with SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One and then several years providing intel support and advanced special operations techniques with Naval Special Warfare Development Group (or DEVGRU and what the press will often refer to as SEAL Team Six). During his time downrange, Rodney fought side by side with Mike and a host of other international and national forces, and other government agencies (or OGAs). He would go on to handle sources and provide tactical HUMINT for coalition forces, at times rolling outside the wire with just an interpreter!  Rodney was one of those who went to BUD/S multiple times, persevering to earn his Trident on the fourth attempt. He would support DEVGRU, work with the elite in the special operations community, create his own company, provide security for Tom Cruise and other celebrities, and give his personal time to help fight human trafficking.  Be sure to stay tuned until the end for a few rapid fire questions and outtakes with Rodney and, of course, listen in for his stories about Mike Edwards ahead of our upcoming interviews with Mike where we’ll ask Mike about the same events to see how two operators remember these events. 📸 Visual Aids Thumbnail is Navy Divers and Navy SEALs Conduct PRODEV Training [Image 19 of 19], by PO1 Trey Hutcheson. 👇 Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Guest Profile: Rodney Brown 02:49 - Start of Interview 05:16 - Childhood 05:59 - First time with a weapon 12:10 - Time in Alaska 16:53 - Path to the SEAL Team  29:16 - Responsibilities During SEAL Training 31:02 - Lessons learned in Training 32:55 - BUDS Reputations 40:10 - Meeting Mike Edwards 42:47 - SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 48:25 - First Deployment With SDVT1 51:22 - Advanced Special Operations Techniques 56:12 - First Time Outside The Wire 01:02:18 - Time in Green Platoon Course 01:07:16 - A Challenging Operations 01:12:55 - Taking Life 01:17:57 - Experiences With Mike Edwards 01:19:49 - Clearing A Room With Mike Edwards 01:31:04 - Questions for Mike Edwards  01:38:38 - Relationship to Mike Edwards 01:40:10 - Most Courageous Act 01:42:00 - 53-26 Consultants 01:44:30 - Security Tom Cruise 01:48:15 - Kingsman 01:51:26 - Retiring Young 01:53:25 - Sentimental Item 01:56:36 - Would You Do It All Again? 01:57:27 - Closing Thoughts 01:57:45- Listener Feedback 02:01:23 - Bonus Content 🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - 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 🔗 Find Rodney Online: - 5326 Consultants https://www.5326consultants.com/

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's Combat Story: Training Dogs for SEAL Teams and Founding the Warrior Dog Foundation🎙️ Today we have the second portion of a two-part crossover Combat Story with former Navy SEAL, NY Times Best-Selling Author, Trikos Founder, and founder of the Warrior Dog Foundation: Mike Ritland. Many will, of course, know Mike as the host of the long-running Mike Drop podcast. I traveled out to Texas to interview Mike in-person and then he returned the favor.  For those who missed part one, Mike described growing up in Iowa and, while still undersized, was bullied at school and had to sit in the same class as his attackers. He vowed to never let that happen again and immersed himself in a Karate Kid-like experience in the martial arts studying under an old school sensei who helped send him on his path to the Teams. In the Teams, Mike would largest operation in the history of Naval Special Warfare when SEAL Team 3 Mike would contract an illness that would take him out of the door-kicking side of the teams but also allowed him to follow a passion training dogs for west coast SEAL teams. He followed this path to build a successful business in Trikos training working dogs for clients and creating the Warrior Dog Foundation, among other ventures. Mike has done so much to find purpose and continue serving after hanging up the uniform in a way that will, undoubtedly, be motivating to people seeking their own purpose and next chapter. With that, please enjoy this episode with Mike Ritland. 👇 Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 01:04 - Guest Profile: Mike Ritland 02:09 - Interview Begins 02:14 - Background of Navy Seal Dogs book 3:55 - Aftermath of Oil Rig Operation 13:36 - New Mission Cycles 15:52 - Gulf War Veterans for Iraq War 20:36 - First Leave and Becoming a K-9 Trainer 25:54 - Contracting Fungal Lung Infection  30:36 - Interest in K-9 Handling 32:51 - Mentors and Experience in K-9 Training 43:19 - Human and Dog Psycology 50:03 - Proudest Accomplishment 53:53 - Biases Against Former Warrior Dogs 57:16 - Sentimental Items 58:11 - Would You Do It All Again? 01:01:04 - Downtime 01:08:05 -  Listener comments and shout outs 🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - 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 🔗 Find Mike Online: - Warrior Dog Foundation https://warriordogfoundation.org/about-us/ - Navy SEAL Dogs: My Tale of Training Canines for Combat https://www.amazon.com/Navy-SEAL-Dogs-Training-Canines/dp/1250049695 - Mike Drop Podcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNZR15cy3w1fzGXgI5oy5aA

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's Combat Story: Training Dogs for SEAL Teams and Founding the Warrior Dog Foundation🎙️ Today we have a cross over Combat Story with former Navy SEAL, NY Times Best-Selling Author, and Trikos Founder Mike Ritland who many will also know as the host of the Mike Drop podcast. I traveled out to Texas to interview Mike and then he returned the favor.  For those who don’t know Mike, he earned his Trident pre-9/11 and found himself on the largest operation in the history of Naval Special Warfare when SEAL Team 3 simultaneously took control of two oil terminals and a control facility on sea and land as the Iraq war kicked off. Mike would contract an illness that would take him out of the door-kicking side of the teams but also allowed him to follow a passion training dogs for west coast SEAL teams. He followed this path to build a successful business in Trikos training working dogs for clients and founding the Warrior Dog Foundation, among other ventures. Mike has done so much to find purpose and continue serving after hanging up the uniform in a way that will, undoubtedly, be motivating to people seeking their own purpose and next chapter. With that, please enjoy this episode with Mike Ritland.   👇 Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 01:04 - Guest Profile: Mike Ritland 02:05 - Start of Interview 03:05 - Settling in Texas 07:45 - Leaving the SEALs 11:20 - Transition to Dog Training 12:57 - Confidence and Success 23:25 - Siblings and Military Path 25:49 - Fighting During Youth 36:11 - Martial Arts Training 43:53 - Path to joining the Teams 47:00 - Ultra Competitive Nature 54:13 - Almost Quitting 59:26 - Largest Naval Special Warfare Op. 01:11:19 - Kicking off the Iraq War 01:19:37 - Listener Feedback 🔗 Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - 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 🔗 Find Mike Online: - Warrior Dog Foundation https://warriordogfoundation.org/about-us/ - Navy SEAL Dogs: My Tale of Training Canines for Combat https://www.amazon.com/Navy-SEAL-Dogs-Training-Canines/dp/1250049695

This episode is brought to you by Nutrisense. Visit nutrisense.com/combat and get $30 off your first month and one month of board certified nutritionist support.  When they ask how you learned about Nutrisense make sure to tell them it was the Combat Story podcast. ======= 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 second round of our two part Combat Story with former Force Recon, Scout Sniper, and Marine Rifleman AJ Pasciuti who recently retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Gunner) and passed on more lucrative careers in the defense industry to keep a promise he and his fellow Marines made after losing some of their closest friends in combat to lead a purpose- and service-driven life as he runs for public office in his hometown of San Jose, California. AJ was an unlikely candidate to be the Marine Corps sniper who, as part of a team, was responsible for killing the most lethal sniper in Iraq (known as Juba) who took the lives of, potentially, 140+ Americans using a US sniper rifle taken off the bodies of a fallen Marine Corps sniper team. AJ is credited with ultimately pulling the trigger on Juba but, in true Marine Corps fashion and very much in line with AJ’s character, he has forever eschewed the spotlight and attributed the work to the team of Marines that stopped Juba (who was personified in the movie American Sniper) from terrorizing other US forces. In a very sad and emotional but inspiring turn of events, AJ would lose a coin flip in which his closest friend’s team would take the decisive position on a particular operation in Afghanistan while AJ’s team served a supporting role. During the fight, AJ would lose this Marine and confidant during a multi-hour gunfight. When you hear his story of loss and sacrifice, it’s no surprise that AJ chose to continue serving in his post-military career, running for office in northern California. He’s a great reminder of the type of people we all want in office, even when these office’s tend to undervalue the integrity and dedication to others that he embodies. With that, please enjoy a story that was made for the big screen from the son of an immigrant to one of the Marine Corps’ most lethal shooters: AJ Pasciuti. ======= Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - 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 Find AJ Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/posts/angelo-pasciuti_the-pathway-to-public-representation-continues-activity-7044775065183272960-wyMZ/ - Washington Post aricle on Juba https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/01/22/iraqi-sniper-the-legendary-insurgent-who-claimed-to-have-killed-scores-of-american-soldiers/ ======= Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 01:00 - Guest Introduction (AJ Pasciuti) 02:39 - Interview begins 02:55 - Nickname  05:02 - Thespian 09:35 - What goes into a hunt 13:50 - The Juba Sniper hunt 35:06 - Nutrisense Ad 36:21 - The Juba Sniper hunt cont. 01:02:43 - Aftermath of Juba 01:06:30 - Matthew Ingham and Award Qualifications 02:05:40 - Sentimental items 02:09:22 - Would you do it all again? 02:09:42 - Closing thoughts 02:10:07 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Check out this week's sponsor AUSA's podcast Army Matters. Amplifying the voices of the Total Army: https://www.ausa.org/podcast This episode is brought to you by Nutrisense. Visit nutrisense.com/combat and get $30 off your first month and one month of board certified nutritionist support.  When they ask how you learned about Nutrisense make sure to tell them it was the Combat Story podcast. ======= 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 part one of one of our best Combat Story’s with former Force Recon, Scout Sniper, and Marine Rifleman AJ Pasciuti. He recently retired from active duty and decided to pass on lucrative post-career defense contracting roles to, instead, continue serving in the name of several fallen Marines by running for public office in his hometown of San Jose, California. AJ left northern California as an 18 year old in response to 9/11 with little military family background and an immigrant’s mentality having never touched a weapon and would go on to be a lethal sniper and Force Recon Marine, eventually instructing at the Scout Sniper school and helping to evolve the Marine Corps’ fundamental education system when he retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Gunner). He would go from city life to Iraq in OIF I crossing the berm with Third Battalion, Fifth Marines Regiment, of the First Marine Division; then, as a sniper in Fallujah, he would find himself in a building providing overwatch for Marines when a SEAL named Chris Kyle happened to occupy the same building as AJ and Chris’ sniper teams competed to keep the Marines safe as they cleared the battlefield. He would later find himself fighting in Ramadi in 2005/2006 with another team of snipers.  This is a two-part interview with AJ. Stay tuned for our part two with AJ and his story of hunting, trapping, and killing Iraq’s most lethal sniper: Juba (personified in the film American Sniper); and AJ’s story of losing his best friend in combat as a result of a coin toss. AJ’s reputation speaks for itself and his perspective on service and overcoming odds is simply inspiring. His take on what “Service” truly means will have you looking for ways to do more in your own community and lives. With that, please enjoy part one of one of our best Combat Story episodes with Force Recon Marine AJ Pasciuti.  ======= Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - 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 Find AJ Online: - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/posts/angelo-pasciuti_the-pathway-to-public-representation-continues-activity-7044775065183272960-wyMZ/ -  - Washington Post article on Juba https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/01/22/iraqi-sniper-the-legendary-insurgent-who-claimed-to-have-killed-scores-of-american-soldiers/ ======= Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 01:03 - Guest Introduction (AJ Pasciuti) 02:56 - Interview begins 03:40 - Military connections and Childhood 10:25 - Boyscouts 14:45 - 9/11 18:20 - First Deployment and Choosing the Marine Corps. 21:15 - Life if not the Military 24:04 - AUSA Ad 25:59 - First time outside the wire 33:25 - First time in contact 41:57 - Calling home 44:48 - Second Deployment and Sniper Indoc 53:50 - Nutrisense Ad 55:05 - Ricky Jackson 01:00:00 - Fallujah Pt.1 01:14:50 - Sniper Instructor 01:17:32 - Fallujah Pt. 2 01:26:47 - 3rd deployment  01:31:18 - A difficult situation 01:35:17 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Go to www.joindeleteme.com/combat and use the code COMBAT to get 20% off your plan and keep your personal information online secure. ======= 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 have an inspiring and vulnerable Combat Story from Trevor Beaman, an active duty Special Forces 18Z (former 18E). He went from Army cook to long range surveillance to Green Beret while overcoming significant challenges along the way. In an interesting twist, he would even be an instructor at the Army’s dive school where he oversaw Nick Lavery’s successful completion of the course. As a warning, there are moments in this episode in which we get into some difficult content about abuse from Trevor’s childhood that may be hard for people to hear. We also, however, discuss how Trevor overcame that abuse and adversity and would go on to lead fellow Green Berets in combat. Trevor’s path is anything but straight as he dealt with recruiting slight of hand that brought him in as a cook but eventually found his tribe with 3rd Special Forces Group. After multiple deployments, he voluntarily sought out mental health support and, in a positive turn of events, was granted the time to get healthy again.  He has 18 months of active duty service remaining, still supporting Special Operations and is writing a book about his experiences in a way that will help others help themselves. He has an inspiring Ted Talk about overcoming some of the traumatic experiences of his life that provides more context about him and his career and, with that, I hope you enjoy this important story from Trevor Beaman.  ======= Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - 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 Find Trevor Online: - Instagram @Trevor_a_Beaman https://www.instagram.com/trevor_a_beaman/ - Website https://trevorbeaman.com/ - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQKfGw2SZ2wFv-DRv0DHGg?app=desktop - Ted Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9KsEMaT78E ======= Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:37 - Guest Introduction (Trevor Beaman) 01:54 - Interview begins 02:25- Breaking Rules 04:40 - Childhood and abuse 07:35 - Abuse and leadership 09:45 - Ted Talk 19:50 - Deciding on the Military 25:05 - DeleteMe Ad 26:32 - Time in the National Gaurd 32:28 - First encounter with the Green Berets 37:37 - Perspective on younger self 46:11 - Kevin Flick and Alive Day 48:00 - Dealing with loss of old teammates 56:34 - First shot at O.D.A. 01:07:19 - Performance after trauma 01:10:27 - Hardest deployment 01:21:46 - Deception training 01:25:40 - Mental Health while deployed 01:34:00 - Dive school 01:48:15 - Would you do it all again 01:51:42 - Sentimental Items 01:52:52 - The next 10 years 01:56:17 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by Nutrisense. Visit nutrisense.com/combat and get $30 off your first month and one month of board certified nutritionist support.  When they ask how you learned about Nutrisense make sure to tell them it was the Combat Story podcast. ======= 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 a fantastic Combat Story unlike those we’ve hosted before as we welcome Niloofar Rahmani, Afghanistan’s first female aviator and someone who has overcome tremendous adversity to simply serve her country. This episode is a great reminder about how great we have it in America, what our involvement in Afghanistan meant to so many people like her, and what perseverance and sacrifice really look like for an individual and a family. We’ve hosted so many guests who had challenges growing up with homelessness and absent parents yet somehow, despite the odds, found their way to the military. This story is likely the most challenging we’ve heard in terms of getting into uniform from exile and defying societal norms and is absolutely the most challenging we’ve ever heard when it comes to how difficult and dangerous it was to just wear a uniform and serve every day. Niloofar would be the first many times as one of the first women recruited into the Afghan military, in flight school, to graduate, and event fly the C-130. She was awarded the US’ International Women of Courage of Award, met the first lady, flew with the Blue Angels and, eventually, was granted asylum in the United States. She’s written a fantastic book about her experiences titled Open Skies: My Life as Afghanistan's First Female Pilot and she and her husband (an American veteran) opened a company called the Afghanistan Tribal Rug Trading Company where you can get rugs from Afghanistan while helping support the women who make them.  Despite the tragic fall of Afghanistan in 2021, Niloofar’s story has a happy ending and, as she’ll be the first to point out, is not finished being written. Although she didn’t say it, I suspect we’ll see her flying one day in an American uniform. Many thanks to former guest Ryan “Stinger” Fishel who got us in contact to make this interview happen and, with that, please enjoy this inspiring story from somebody who was truly a groundbreaker in her field. ======= Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - 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 Find Niloofar Online: - Open Skies My Life As Afghanistans First Female Pilot https://www.amazon.com/Open-Skies-Afghanistans-First-Female/dp/1641603348 - Afghanistan Tribal Rug Trading Co. https://www.afghanistantribalrugs.com/ - Learn more about Niloofar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niloofar_Rahmani ======= Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:55 - Guest Introduction (Niloofar Rahmani ) 02:56 - Interview begins 03:20 - Mutual friend Ryan 'Stinger' Fishel 05:43 - First time in a Fighter Jet 08:18 - Favorite Movie 09:25 - Childhood 16:24 - Parents and struggle with War 21:29 - First aspiration to become a Pilot 25:21 - Family Cultural background 27:08 - Challenges growing up around the Taliban 32:10 - Nutrisense Ad 33:26 - Girl's School and Education 35:57 - What Niloofar would have done not being a Pilot 37:10 - Path to Aviation 44:26 - Qualifying to be a Pilot 01:00:05 - Training to be a Pilot 01:07:20 - First time solo flying 01:11:49 - Discrimination for being a Woman 01:29:05 - A difficult mission 01:32:29 - Sgrt. Mohammad  01:40:17 - International Woman of Courage Award 01:44:48 - Seeking asylum in the U.S. 02:08:30 - Sentimental items 02:09:48 - Afghanistan Tribal Rug Trading Co. 02:12:06 - Closing thoughts 02:13:00 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Go to www.joindeleteme.com/combat and use the code COMBAT to get 20% off your plan and keep your personal information online secure. This episode is brought to you by Nutrisense. Visit nutrisense.com/combat and get $30 off your first month and one month of board certified nutritionist support.  When they ask how you learned about Nutrisense make sure to tell them it was the Combat Story podcast. ======= 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 have an in-depth Combat Story with 20 year veteran and Green Beret Jay Dorleus. Jay spent the initial portion of his career in the regular Army as a Combat Engineer, including two rotations to Iraq where he conducted route clearing and base patrol operations that included losing some of his best friends to IEDs in a very reactive environment. Jay would eventually transition to the Special Forces where he was in a more proactive posture, taking the fight to the enemy this time around. He fought in some of the more challenging areas of Afghanistan with 3rd Special Forces Group and nearly died on multiple occasions, including a bullet narrowly missing his head. His childhood is anything but ordinary as he moved to the US from Haiti with his family and maintained that New York immigrant mindset to help him succeed in the military. He created a YouTube channel now that he’s retirement to teach aspiring special operators how to successfully pass selection and learn from his mistakes. I hope you enjoy this very real and wide ranging interview with a long time Green Beret as much as I did. ======= Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - 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 Find Jay Online: - Instagram @Green_Beret_Chronicals: https://www.instagram.com/green_beret_chronicles/ - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreenBeretChronicles - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-dorleus-93a568142/ - Website: https://green-beret-chronicles.webflow.io/ ======= Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro  00:50 - Guest Introduction (Jay Dorleus) 01:55 - Interview begins 02:08 - Green Beret Chronicals 03:52 - Childhood 07:36 - Reaction to going into the Military 10:00 - American Oppurtunity 12:24 - Recruiter story 14:41 - 12 Bravo 15:21 - Reception at first Unit 17:40 - Initial missionset  22:00 - Memorable Ops. 26:56 - Dealing with death 32:46 - Nutrisense Ad 34:02 - Seeking help 39:58 - Enjoying the work 41:45 - Being a leader with experience 44:18 - The Special Forces path 45:44 - Preparation for Special Forces 47:05 - Weaknesses of new recruits 49:22 - Language selection 50:07 - Path to 3rd Group 51:50 - First Unit with 3rd Group 53:15 - Big Army vs. Special Ops. 56:34 - Race effecting enlistment 59:13 - DeleteMe Ad 01:00:42 - Tough missiion as Special Ops. 01:06:30 - Priority as Charlie on F.O.B. 01:08:26 - Team stability 01:09:28 - Firefights 01:10:55 - Close call engagements  01:12:15 - Joksters on the team 01:17:30 - A tougher mission 01:38:00 - Alive Day 01:46:38 - Green Beret Chronicals future 01:50:20 - Recommended literature 01:50:50 - Sentimental items 01:52:54 - Would you do it all again? 01:54:28 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by Nutrisense. Visit nutrisense.com/combat and get $30 off your first month and one month of board certified nutritionist support.  When they ask how you learned about Nutrisense make sure to tell them it was the Combat Story podcast.  ======= 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 both a veteran Cav soldier and active duty Green Beret, Kenny Stone and Ben Raymond. Kenny and Ben did not serve together but have found community, purpose, and challenge as part of Kenny’s non-profit, Soldiers on Singletrack, which brings veterans and active duty soldiers together through mountain bike and racing. Kenny served as a Cav soldier with 1-5 Cav in Iraq across two tough deployments during the surge where, during an IED event, he ended up with TBI. He found a rekindled love for mountain biking and realized it helped address some of the cognitive issues he’d experienced after leaving the service and wanted other vets to experience the same. Ben met Kenny at a Soldiers on Singletrack event where they struck up a friendship. Ben is still in service with 3rd Special Forces Group and started his SF career as an 18D medic but then transitioned to the 18C route. He found mountain biking to be the hobby he needed to disconnect and clear his head when he’s out of uniform. I hope you enjoy this story about finding a new path after service to help deal with the challenges faced after years of a traumatic and trying job like those in the military, law enforcement, or first responders and please check out Soldiers on Singletrack if this is something that you feel could help you or someone you know.  ======= Find Ryan Online: - Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - 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 Find Kenny and Ben Online: - Website: https://soldiersonsingletrack.org/ - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/soldiersonsingletrackmtb/ ======= Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro  00:37 - Guest Introduction (Kenny Stone & Ben Raymond) 01:54 - Interview begins 02:24 - Soliders On Singletrack 05:48 - Childhood and Mountain Biking 11:37 - Ben Joining the Army 15:47 - Kenny Joining the Army 18:37 - Recruiter experience 21:20 - Life in a CAV unit 26:02 - Nutrisense Ad 27:39 - Kenny's first time outside the wire 30:01 - Kenny's challenging moments 34:03 - Ben's path through the Army 44:20 - Kenny's deployment mid-rotation 46:51 - The right approach to loss in combat 49:22 - Coming back after combat deployments 55:33 - A mission that went wrong 01:00:05 - Shooting pistols and Mentors 01:04:49 - Marines and Army banter 01:05:47 - Most courageous action 01:10:28 - Commaderie while serving 01:12:50 - Transitioning out and S.O.S. 01:21:31  -  Listener comments and shout outs