Click the buttons below to access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify, and Anchor (Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you.

Episode Summary

My guest for this week's podcast is Command Master Chief Bill Clark. CMC Clark served for four years in the Marine Corps and twenty years with the Navy. He enlisted in the Navy after the September 11th attacks as a Master At Arms to become a Dog Handler. The Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) recruited him. He was among the first group of trainers at the command.

Over the next 20 years, CMC Clark would deploy 11 times into combat as a Dog Handler. DEVGRU is the Navy's Tier 1 Special Missions Unit.

Main Episode Takeaways

Becoming a Dog Handler
Getting recruited into a Tier 1 Unit
Integrating K9's with an Assault Force
Afghanistan
Iraq
Spikes K9 Fund
Benny Olsen

This Episode is Brought to you by:

Wondery-Against The Odds: In this immersive series from Wondery, host-adventurers Mike Corey and Cassie De Pecol will share thrilling stories of survival.

Against The Odds

Connect With a Retired Navy SEAL's K9 Organization

Spikes K9 Fund

Connect With A Retired Special Missions Dog Handler's Dog Training Company

Patriot Dog Training

Connect With John Hendricks

www.globalrecon.net

www.instagram.com/igrecon

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspian.band

Comment

Click the buttons below to access the full episode on iTunes(Apple users), or Soundcloud(Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you.

GRP 100- For the 100th episode of the Global Recon Podcast we have an extremely special episode. On with us is retired Special Missions Operator Dave Nielsen. Dave served first with the 75th Ranger Regiment and then went into a Special Missions unit as an assaulter, dog handler, and sniper. His story was featured in the HBO documentary released on the 13th of this month called "War Dogs" executive produced by actor Channing Tatum.

This documentary shows the story of three dog handlers and their canine counterparts from the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). It's a raw, realistic view of what it's like going into combat with these warrior dogs and what its like post-military. Dave talked about his combat jump into Panama in 1989 as a young Ranger. He shared stories of his dog "Pepper" who was killed while rooting out an enemy from a sewer hole in Iraq on the banks of the Tigris River. They searched for her all night but had to leave once the sun was coming up as they were in enemy-held territory. We talked about the mindset required to pass selection for special operations, and the mindset required to surmount any obstacle in life. Enjoy. RIP Pepper.

0:00-Episode overview

3:48-Episode introduction with Chantel Taylor

17:33- Introduction to Dave's career in the Army. Combat jumped into Panama with the 75th Ranger Regiment in 1989.

22:12-Military Working Dog Pepper

55:54-Mindset and passing selection. Fear of success

1:03:00-SOF K-9 Memorial

Here is the link to the SOF K-9 memorial page ran by Dave's wife Laura, and a former unit operator:

www.sofk9memorial.com

Here is the link to the full documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojVq2Sa-PD0

Follow my co-host and my pages on social media. Links below.

Global Recon: