GRP 54-Dave Maynard, Navy SEAL, Global Response Staff, Warfighter Academy

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GRP 54- We have a special guest on for today's podcast. Dave Maynard is a lead instructor at Warfighter Academy, and a retired U.S Navy SEAL who made it into the Teams in 1972 just missing the Vietnam war. Dave left the Navy after a couple of years as the SEALs were downsizing after the war. During this time, he worked repairing Navy ships as a contractor, as well as working in different capacities in the realm of tactical development for Fleet Training Center.  Once the Global War on Terror kicked off Dave became a contractor for the U.S Government's Global Response Staff. Below is an excerpt from our conversation.

John: You joined the SEAL Teams just as the Vietnam war was winding down, worked as a ship repairing contractor, developed tactics with the Fleet Training Center, then became a GRS Contractor working for the Government.

Dave Maynard: In 2006 in Iraq we got into a major gun battle. I took a round in my helmet. We had to rescue three guys that were trapped in a vehicle. Surrounded by a lot of enemy fighters just pounding these guys. We got into a big firefight but got these guys out. We were having some contract issues. Black Water lost the contracts and they wanted us to switch over to a different company. Now they’re trying to pay us $400 a day during a time that more contractors were getting killed then during any other time of the war. I told them they’re going to lose all of the talent, and fast.  So we had the GRS heads come in and they said you know what screw all the contractors we’ll just direct hire these guys.

Now I can go to Amman Jordan, Uzbekistan, or wherever they want to send me so we go wherever they want us to go. The guys in Benghazi were typical GRS guys. Outnumbered, outgunned, but they fought like lions. 

Dave Maynard:

www.warfighteracademy.com

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspianmusic.net

GRP-53 VetTV, Donny O’ Malley, USMC

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 Here is the link where you can make your pledge and help hit the fundraising goal for VetTV: www.Launchveterantv.com

GRP 53- Co-hosting for today's podcast is British Army Combat Medic Chantel Taylor. On for this podcast is retired USMC veteran Donny O'Malley. Donny is a combat veteran and has created VetTV. "VET Tv will be a streaming television network that functions exactly like Hulu or Netflix. It will be filled with all the shows that you’ve joked about with your buddies since the day you joined.

We make shows that accurately recreate the post 9/11 veteran experience and we do it in the most realistic, offensive, and hilarious way possible. To fill up this network with shows that you want to see, we need your support and your vote, because if we don't fund this network, no one will." The deadline for the Kickstarter campaign to make you pledge will end tomorrow night Wednesday, Nov 16th.

This is the first time ever a platform like this has been created so I highly encourage all of the shows listeners, and my followers on social media to contribute to this campaign. The link to do so will be accessible by clicking the post link below. Here is an excerpt from the episode.

John: Donny you've recently retired from the Marine Corps, but you've got a lot going on with jumping into starting this company. Can you talk about your time in?

Donny O' Malley: I joined on January 09 and got out in 2015. I joined when I was 25. It made for a very different experience for me as a Marine and as an Officer. I was coming into a very battle-hardened, salty, seasoned Marine Corps. All of the way down to the fucking Supply Clerks who were in convoys getting into firefights and blown up. Everybody had been to war. Coming into that was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I respected everybody. I was honored to walk into such a battle hardened Marine Corps. I wouldn't say I'm all hardcore battle hardened. I will say that I was never phased by my combat experiences. I was meant to do that job. Meant to go to war.

I felt the happiest and content that I've ever felt in my life was in the midst of combat. Till this day I feel like I would never have that feeling again.

VetTV’s Social Media:

Facebook-Instagram: VetTV

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