GRP 97- “Thank You for Your Service” with Adam Schumann

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 97- “Thank You for Your Service” written and directed by “American Sniper” screenwriter Jason Hall depicts Adam Schumann (played by Miles Teller) and other, real-life soldiers with the 1st Infantry Division. The movie, opening Friday, portrays their struggles with traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and suicidal thoughts following their return from Iraq to Fort Riley, Kansas. We have Schumann on for this episode to discuss his career in the Army as well as some of the challenges he’s faced over his 34 months on the ground in Iraq.

 

We talked about PTSD and brain injuries. This is an incredible movie that I had the opportunity to attend an early screening back in August. I was literally gripping the edge of my seat. It’s very emotional. Enjoy.

0:00-Episode overview

1:08-Retired four-star general and former Secretary of State Colin Powell on Leadership

5:18-Introduction to Adam Schumann. Three combat deployments into Iraq for a total of 34 months of time on the ground.

13:19-How we deal with brain damage as a society.

23:44-Blast wave injuries, explosively formed penetrator’s (EFP). “Separate your arms and legs so you weren’t sitting parallel. A lot of times you sit with your arms on your knees guys were getting hit by EFP’s and losing all four in one shot”- Adam Schumann

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

Global Recon:

www.Globalrecon.net

 

https://www.instagram.com/igrecon

 

https://www.instagram.com/blackopsmatter

 

 

www.twitter.com/igrecon

 

https://www.facebook.com/GlobalReconPodcast/

 

HP Lefler:

https://www.instagram.com/4runner.freyja

 

 

 

Chantel Taylor:

https://www.instagram.com/mission_critical

 

https://www.instagram.com/altern8rv

 

 

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspianmusic.net

 

GRP 96- The Commando: The life and death of Cameron Baird.

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

GRP 96-Corporal Cameron Baird is one of Australia’s most highly decorated warriors. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in leading a team of Australian Commando’s assaulting an enemy strong hold on June 22, 2013 in Afghanistan.  Author Ben Mckelvey just published the book “The Commando: The life and death of Cameron Baird”.

I have Ben on for this podcast alongside former Australian Special Forces operator Eddie Robinson. Cam and Eddie were best friends having grown up in Special Forces together. We talked about the process of writing the book, and Ben sitting down with Cameron’s wonderful parents Doug, and Kaye Baird. Ben and Eddie shared some details from the book and it really gives some insight into a man like Cam who not only was a remarkable warrior, but was also a deep thinker with interest in philosophy and history.

Eddie shares a story of a time when they were on patrol in Afghanistan and the children of this particular village were running alongside the vehicle’s probably hoping to get some candy or water. They had nothing left to give them so Eddie decided to hand them bottles of hot sauce. Cam proceeds to tell Eddie this will likely get them into a fight. A few minutes later they got ambushed. LOL  

0:00-Episode overview

6:58-History and insight into the Victoria Cross

31:06-Shaping the book “The Commando”. Utilizing the 2nd Commando Regiment in Afghanistan.

35:00-Eddie Robinson’s background in Special Forces and how he met Cam. Ben Mckelvey’s background.

1:08-A story of a time when Cam and Eddie were on patrol in Afghanistan eventually getting ambushed because Eddie gave out hot sauce to kids in the village LOL

1:27:00-” If there’s anyway he could have gone out this is how he would of went. With a hot weapon in his hand”- Eddie Robinson  

You can get a copy of the book here https://www.hachette.com.au/ben-mckelvey/the-commando

Below is the official website of Australia’s 2nd Commando Regiment:

http://2commando.gov.au

Follow Eddie on Instagram here:

https://www.instagram.com/fast_eddie_079/

Follow Ben McKelvey here:

https://www.instagram.com/bennymck/

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

Global Recon:

www.Globalrecon.net

https://www.instagram.com/igrecon

https://www.instagram.com/blackopsmatter

www.twitter.com/igrecon

https://www.facebook.com/GlobalReconPodcast/

HP Lefler:

https://www.instagram.com/4runner.freyja

Chantel Taylor:

https://www.instagram.com/mission_critical

https://www.instagram.com/altern8rv

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspianmusic.net

GRP 95- The Reality of War: Perspective of SAS Trooper and Victoria Cross recipient Mark Donaldson

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

GRP 95- We know you’ve all been anticipating part two of the conversation we had with Mark Donaldson. Mark is a veteran of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment and recipient of the Victoria Cross. The VC is Australia’s highest award given for valor in combat. In this segment Mark talks about running operations with U.S Army Special Forces Green Berets in Afghanistan. It was on one of these operations in which the battle took place where Mark went above and beyond the call of duty.
    
Mark walks us through that operation in vivid detail. The most important piece of this conversation is when Mark gives us the reality of it all when saying yes, he’s been celebrated for his actions that day, but for many it was the worst day of their lives. There are second and third effects for the family and friends of the warriors who were wounded, or killed during the chaos and confusion of that battle. It wasn’t said to dampen our moods, but to add perspective to what is generally looked at as something glamorous.

0:00-Episode overview
1:43- 2008 SAS deployment to Afghanistan, running operations with U.S Army Special Forces Green Berets.

6:20-Battle in which Mark was awarded the Victoria Cross

52:15- The realities of war, and remembering the Victoria Cross from the perspective of the men on the ground. 

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

Global Recon:
www.Globalrecon.net

https://www.instagram.com/igrecon

https://www.instagram.com/blackopsmatter

www.twitter.com/igrecon

https://www.facebook.com/GlobalReconPodcast/

HP Lefler:
https://www.instagram.com/4runner.freyja

Chantel Taylor:
https://www.instagram.com/mission_critical

https://www.instagram.com/altern8rv

Music provided by Caspian:
www.caspianmusic.net

GRP 94 Echo in Ramadi: Marine Corps Major Scott Huesing

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

GRP 94-It’s a great honor to have the United States Marine Corps Major Scott Huesing on the podcast. Major Huesing served for 24 years with 10 deployments conducting operations in over 60 countries worldwide. He’s the author of the upcoming book “Echo in Ramadi”.

Now Major Scott A. Huesing, the commander who led Echo Company through Ramadi, takes readers back to the streets of Ramadi in a visceral, gripping portrayal of modern urban combat. Bound together by brotherhood, honor, and the horror they faced, Echo's Marines battled day-to-day on the frontline of a totally different kind of war, without rules, built on chaos. In Echo in Ramadi, Huesing brings these resilient, resolute young men to life and shows how the savagery of urban combat left indelible scars on their bodies, psyches, and souls.

We discussed Transnational terrorism, Ramadi, Leadership in combat and Gold Star families.

0:00-Episode overview

2:17-Conflict in Africa, transnational terrorism

11:29-Ramadi, Iraq

18:07-Leading Marines in combat, Gold Star families

32:46-The less than 1 percent of Americans serving in combat, PTSD

47:49- Save The Brave Foundation

Major Huesing:

www.echoinramadi.com

https://www.facebook.com/EchoinRamadi/

https://twitter.com/EchoinRamadi

http://www.savethebrave.org/

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

Global Recon:

www.Globalrecon.net

https://www.instagram.com/igrecon

https://www.instagram.com/blackopsmatter

www.twitter.com/igrecon

https://www.facebook.com/GlobalReconPodcast/

HP Lefler:

https://www.instagram.com/4runner.freyja

Chantel Taylor:

https://www.instagram.com/mission_critical

https://www.instagram.com/altern8rv

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspianmusic.net

GRP 93-Victoria Cross: The story of Mark Donaldson an SAS Trooper

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

GRP 93- It’s with great reverence that I introduce our guest for this week’s podcast. Mark Donaldson is a retired Australian Special Air Service Regiment trooper and recipient of the Victoria Cross. The Victoria Cross is Australia’s highest award for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valor or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy. It’s the Australian equivalent to our Medal of Honor. 

We discussed Mark’s early life and motivation for joining the Army as he experienced a traumatic event with the loss of his mother at the age of 19. We discussed how one can turn a tragic event into a motivating force. We discussed the mindset required to train for and get selected into a Special Operations unit like the SAS, and how that same mindset can help surmount obstacles in life. We discussed leadership, the bottom-up approach, and the changing strategy and role for western forces in Afghanistan. This is part one of the interview. The second part will be released within the coming days. 

Three U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets have been killed in action this week while on patrol through western Mali, in Niger. We’d like to send our deepest condolences to the friends, teammates, and family of these fallen warriors.

0:00- Episode Overview

6:36:00- Motivation to join the Army, and later the SAS. Using the loss of a loved one to drive you forward in life.

15:51:00- “The best way to honor my mates is to come back and live a good life”-Australian WW1 veteran

28:19:00-The mindset required to make it into Special Operations and surmount obstacles in life. Training for selection. 

57:06:00- The bottom-up approach. Leadership and team building. “I’m the guy on the ground I decide what I drop”-British Special Boat Service JTAC to brigade command over the radio
1:09:00- The evolution of the strategy in Afghanistan and the changing role of the special operations units. 

This episode is sponsored by Abes Baumann a law firm that provides legal services and fights for the rights of disabled veterans. To learn about what they can offer you visit http://www.abesbaumann.com/vets

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

Global Recon:
www.Globalrecon.net

https://www.instagram.com/igrecon
https://www.instagram.com/blackopsmatter

www.twitter.com/igrecon

https://www.facebook.com/GlobalReconPodcast/

Chantel Taylor:
https://www.instagram.com/mission_critical

https://www.instagram.com/altern8rv

Music provided by Caspian:
www.caspianmusic.net