GRP 52-Combat Flip Flops, Election Day

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GRP 52- On for this episode is Donald Lee, and Griff Griffin from Combat Flip Flops. Both are former Army Rangers with multiple combat rotations.  Co-hosting is British Army Combat Medic Chantel Taylor. Combat Flip Flops is a very interesting company that makes Flip Flops in Afghanistan, and other products in places like Lao's in southeast Asia. From now till the end of the month you can get a 20 percent discount upon check out just enter the coupon code "Global Recon".  They are also having a veteran’s day sale from Wednesday till Friday. 20 percent off site wide coupon code “WELOVEVETS”.

Today being election day we get into politics, some of the causes and effects of war and what is viewed as the best way to combat poverty which is really a big reason for a lot of the people fighting over in the middle east. Not each enemy fighter is a fanatical jihadi in a lot of cases fighting is the only way they can earn money. We talk about contracting, the transition out of the military and most importantly the consequences of wearing socks with Combat Flip Flops!

Griff talks about a time that while on a rotation into Iraq a coordinated attack was launched on a checkpoint and using drone footage they were able to follow the perpetrators of the attack back to their safe houses. An operation was immediately launched in which they captured those responsible for the attack. When asked why they did what they did one of the men stated simply it's a way to earn money.

Combat Flip Flops:

www.combatflipflops.com

Facebook/Instagram: CombatFlipFlops

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspianmusic.net

GRP 51-Tyler Grey, The Realities of War, Recovery and Transition.

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GRP 51-This is the longest episode we've done. Just under three hours of madness is the best way to describe it. Co-hosting is British Army Combat Medic and author of "Battleworn" Chantel Taylor. Along with Tim Kolczak from the Veterans Project, and Tyler Grey. Tyler served for several years within Army Special Operations before he was wounded while on an operation that nearly cost him his arm. We talk about his injury, the recovery process, PTSD, Flame Throwers, MACV-SOG, suicide bombers and much more. Below is an excerpt from the episode:

Chantel: At that time, you had all of this going on around you. Obviously, people needed to carry on with the mission. We all learn self-aid then buddy aid and care under fire. Were you the only one injured?

Tyler Grey: As soon as it happened I had extreme pain in my arm. I had a feeling it wasn't there. I couldn't see anything. I was on my knees feeling around for my arm but I couldn't find it. There was a massive fight going on around me. There had been 3, or 4 people shot outside of the house. We went in and a guy got shot to the left of me. I got blown up and a guy to the right of me got blown up with me. Another guy came in the room then got blown out of it. It's so cliché to say. I hate to say it but it's like everything's in slow motion, well motherfucker yeah it was in slow motion (laughs). 

John: If you're going to build a bridge to connect the veteran community with society you would need people to build the bridge on both ends, and meet in the middle. It could really make things work. We have a huge community of people who support the military.  Talented driven people who can bring a lot to the table. With the podcast, and social media, articles, what Tim's doing with the Veterans Project, through veterans telling stories with movies, or books. It can help bring the right people together and build this bridge the right way. We spoke about the differences between the way warriors were treated in the past and now with what can be perceived as a negative aspect of it. At the same time, we have made progress and can utilize these tools that are at our disposal.

Chantel Taylor:

Link here for her book “Battleworn” https://www.amazon.com/Battleworn-Memoir-Combat-Medic-Afghanistan/dp/149172529X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Facebook: Battleworn

Instagram:Mission_Critical

The Veterans Project:

www.thevetsproject.com

Instagram: Theveteransproject

Facebook: The Veterans Project

Tyler Grey’s Documentary: “That which I love Destroys Me”

Facebook: Tyler Grey

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspianmusic.net

The Veterans Project, RIP Major Dalton Fury, Bert Kuntz

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GRP 50- Army Major Dalton Fury lost his battle with cancer a few days ago. It's a tremendous loss for his family and for the country. Maj Fury was a commander for a Special Missions unit and is the author of "Kill Bin Laden". You will be missed, sir.

Co-hosting for Today's podcast is Army veteran Tim Kuzack who created The Veterans Project. The Veterans Project is a comprehensive photographic essay detailing the lives of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom combat veterans and their return to civilian life. The project focuses on the many challenges surrounding their reentry into "polite society" and realistically depicts their lives profiled in both photographic and interview formats. On with Tim is Bert Kuntz an Army Special Forces veteran with multiple combat rotations. Below is an excerpt from the episode.

John: Bert you're a veteran of the Army Special Forces. How long were you with the Army? and was all of that with Special Forces?

Bert Kuntz: I joined in 2002 and separated from the Army in 2011. Just about 10 years. I came in on the 18 x-ray program which is designed to bring guys in off the street. I originally wanted to join the Airforce, but then I met some Special Forces guys and decided I wanted to become an 18 Delta (Special Forces Medic).

John: If any guys struggling to make the transition or anyone out there imagine if you're putting 40 plus hours per week into your business, or idea there's no limit to what you can achieve. If you attempted to climb a mountain and took it one step at a time. One day at time. There's no limit to what you can achieve.

Bert: John you just said my favorite line of my entire life. I say to myself what you just said. The only thing you can control today is the amount of effort you put into the person you want to be and the work you want to do. Transition into the civilian life is not easy.  The amount of effort you put into it whether it's taking out the trash at McDonalds or being a Neurosurgeon vets are doing all of that and everything in between.

The Veterans Project:

www.thevetsproject.com

Instagram: Theveteransproject

Facebook: The Veterans Project

Bert Kuntz:

www.peacemakertrading.com

Instagram: PeaceMakerTrading

The History Channel’s "The Warfighter's"

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GRP 49- We have a very special episode for you guys today. Co-hosting this episode with me is Chantel Taylor. Chantel is a British Army veteran where she served for 12 years as a Combat Medic with multiple deployments and was involved in some heavy fighting in southern Afghanistan.

Our special guest for this episode is Navy SEAL veteran Ray Mendoza, and Army Ranger Mike Baumgarten. Ray served for over 16 years 13 of those were as a SEAL, and Mike served for 10 years all with Ranger Regiment and has 10 combat deployments. Ray and Mike are producers for a show airing this veteran’s day on the History channel called "The Warfighters". Since 2001, the Army Rangers, the Navy Seals and the Green Berets have been fighting the War on Terror. It remains the longest war in American history. For the past 15 years, they have been at the tip of the spear, honorably risking their lives for their country and one another. “The Warfighters” is a harrowing and impactful portrayal of the triumphs and sacrifices the United States Special Operations Forces have endured on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq.

We talk their careers in the Army and Navy respectively, as well as PTSD and issues facing veterans. Below is an excerpt.

John: One interesting aspect of veteran suicide and PTS is this isn't something new. There's evidence of this existing throughout almost every conflict in the history of the world. In WW2 they called it shell shock, in Vietnam, they had a different term for it. With this age of connectivity and with so many guys coming home from such a prolonged period of warfighting. The reality of it is going to seep into everyday life for civilians.  As a society, we ask these questions of ourselves. How can we approach this? I think now with the culmination of everything that's happened we are closer to cracking this nut than ever before.

Mike: There are more resources devoted to it. The understanding has been expanded. In the Civil War, they called it Lonely heart syndrome. Understanding that it's not just a feeling. It's a physical change to that person's brain. When you go to war you need to understanding the effects. If there was a greater understanding of the price I feel like there would be more deliberation into putting America's sons and daughters into harm's way without realizing that you need to have the infrastructure to take care of them when they get back.

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspianmusic.net

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Combat Flags, Combat Stories, USMC Veteran, Green Beret 18 Charlie, RIP SSG Adam Thomas

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GRP 48- Rest in Peace to Army Special Forces Staff Sgt. Adam S. Thomas, 31, was killed by an improvised explosive device while on foot during an operation against the Islamic State in eastern Afghanistan, defense officials said. I'd like to have everyone send prayers and positive energy to retired Special Missions Unit Major, and author of "Kill Bin Laden" Dalton Fury. The Major is battling through a tough situation and we want him and his family to know that we support him.

Back on the podcast is Dan, the owner of Combat Flags. James a Marine Corps Combat Veteran of Iraq, and Mike a Special Forces Green Beret and veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq. We discuss Combat Flags, the careers of James, and Mike during and post-military. Mike works for an organization that fights child sexual exploitation, and James is a full-time Firefighter. We talk combat, PTSD, military specialties, and helping war fighters when they come home. Below is an excerpt from the episode.

John: James can you talk about your experiences in the United States Marine Corps?

James: My friend John and myself joined the Infantry. My friend Alex joined the Combat Engineers. Josh joined Intel. We all got deployed to different units. While I was in training down at 29 Palms I got a Red Cross message and my friend John was killed in action in January 2005 in Iraq. He was in the battle of Fallujah. I was able to get home for his funeral. We deployed to Iraq. Our op tempo was through the roof. Running patrols in and around Haditha Dam. We Ran patrols near the Syrian border. 

We got called for a High-Value Target. Hit the house and didn't find a thing. The Mosque gave a call for prayer. The hair stood on the back of our necks. Something wasn't right. A round hit right between me and my buddy. We were on the outer cordon team. Headed back to our trucks. Saw a flash to my right and an RPG landed about a foot from where I was standing. I finally came to. I see tracers flying everywhere. I ran behind this pile of rocks. I realized that things didn't feel right. Had a hot piece of metal in my mouth, and I couldn't talk. Tried calling for help. I put my gun up scanning for targets. Our Corpsman ran 100 yards over open grounds to get to me. I tried to get up and when I got up they shot me right in my knee.

Combat Flags:

www.combatflags.com

Instagram:Combat_Flags

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspianmusic.net

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