Life Changing Moment in Combat | Leads to Life of Service | Force Recon | Non-Profit Founder | Jake Harriman
Today we have a fascinating Combat Story with Jake Harriman who is one of those guys who makes you feel incredibly lazy for not helping hungry people in Africa (seriously) and helping to heal the divide in America, one person at a time. It’s no surprise that Jake served alongside Todd Opalski (who long time fans of the show will know as the enlisted Marine Sniper who became a Marine officer, Force Recon leader, and was then invited to serve in the most elite unit in the US Military). You can’t help but do great things if you worked with Todd! Jake is truly an incredibly humble but accomplished combat veteran. He’s a Marine officer who led a platoon during OIF I in Iraq where he had a life changing moment that altered the course of his life. It’s a sad but very powerful moment that anyone can relate to. He would finally be admitted into the storied ranks of the Force Recon community where he conducted a mix of recon and surveillance and direct action missions downrange, including one that I’m sorry to say involves helicopter pilots that made one particular DA really hard for Jake, but also taught him a profound lesson. Despite many of Jake’s successes, he takes us through several moments of his life when he’s truly humbled from getting turned down at a chance to be a SEAL to being turned away from his audacious attempt to join the Force Recon community to being punched in the face by his team sergeant on an LZ. After leaving service, Jake continued to serve in a different way. He completed an MBA at Stanford and then started a non-profit that has helped over 300K people in remote areas of Africa and, at the same time, helped fight off extremism in these areas. More recently, he created the non-profit called a More Perfect Union that’s mobilized 35K members across the US to heal deep divides in this country, looking to service members of all kinds to step in and lead, just from a different foxhole. You can find more and help at mpu.us (mike papa uniform dot us). With that, I’m so excited for you all to hear this funny but powerful discussion with Jake Harriman. Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/combatstoryTry it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Find Jake Harriman Online : mpu.us Find Ryan Online: 🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story: 🔗 Ryan’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/combatstory 🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats 📸 Instagram: @combatstory / combatstory 📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial 📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus 🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle 00:00 Introduction 00:52 Introduction to Combat Story 01:11 Meet Jake Harriman 01:45 Jake's Military Journey Begins 02:33 Life After Service 03:39 Jake's Treasured Recon Paddle 05:39 Reconnecting with Todd Osky 07:38 Jake's Path to the Naval Academy 27:21 First Taste of Combat 48:37 Maintaining Calm Under Fire 50:28 A Life-Changing Encounter 55:18 The Aftermath and Reflections 01:00:01 Transitioning Out of the Military 01:03:26 Building a New Path in Africa 01:23:18 Struck by Lightning and Other Challenges 01:25:26 More Perfect Union: A New Mission 01:31:39 Final Thoughts and Reflections
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SEAL Troop Commander | Tech Founder | Josh Thurman
Our Combat Story today is former Navy SEAL officer Josh Thurman, who spent over 12 years serving in the SEAL Teams, including at the elite level. Over the course of 11 deployments in the post-9/11 era, Josh led high-stakes special operations missions and nearly lost his own life on countless occasions. Join the AngelQ Waitlist to get a special offer and be one of the first to get access to this amazing product that keeps kids safe online: https://bitli.pro/2pvxr_9464bab7 Josh almost never joined the military and, instead, thought of becoming a religious leader, which we talk about in this episode. Instead, he would go on to lead some of the most lethal and intelligent veterans on the planet on successful counterterrorism and hostage rescue missions. After his military service, Josh transitioned to the tech industry in 2023, co-founding AngelQ, an AI company to protect and prioritize the wellbeing of children in the digital age. With that, please enjoy this discussion with Josh Thurman. Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/combatstory Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Find Ryan Online: 🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story: 🔗 Ryan’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/combatstory 🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... 📸 Instagram: @combatstory / combatstory 📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial 📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus 🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle 00:30 Introduction 00:49 Meet Josh Thurman: Navy SEAL Officer 03:20 From Potential Religious Leader to SEAL 05:54 Josh's Upbringing and Early Influences 10:27 Choosing the SEALs Over Other Paths 12:08 Mentorship and Inspiration 16:11 Angel Q: Protecting Kids in the Digital Age 18:45 BUD/S Training: Coldest Moments 30:31 Memorable Interactions with an Instructor 31:38 Challenges of OCS and Early Military Career 33:40 Humbling Experiences and First Deployment 36:56 First Combat Experience in Iraq 40:51 The Harrowing Vehicle Incident 47:12 Transitioning to Civilian Life and Entrepreneurship 50:04 The Mission and Vision of Angel Q 57:14 Challenges and Rewards of Starting a Company 59:25 Final Thoughts and Reflections 01:02:14 Sponsor Message: Delete Me
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Europe’s New Perspectives on Russia, China, Energy, and Economic Security from Italian Veteran Roberto Toncig
Today we sit down with Roberto Toncig, a retired Italian Army and former Government Executive with 40+ years of experience in the field of Defence and Security. He spent over two decades in steeped in International Relations and Security, most of them spent in challenging positions at various Italian Embassies abroad. In addition to Italian and fantastic English, Roberto speaks German, French, Serbo-Croatian, and Russian. In his post-government work, Roberto is an advisor at Leonardo focused on Regional Security for this global defense, security, and aerospace giant. We connected with Roberto thanks to friend of the show and longtime senior intelligence officer Glenn Corn. In this episode, we dive into Italy’s security organizations and get Roberto’s expert perspectives on Italy and Europe’s positioning in light of conflict in Russia and Ukraine, energy security, China, the Mediterranean, and regional stability. With that, please enjoy this deep dive into all things security-related in Europe. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/combatstory Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter Find Ryan Online: 🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story: 🔗 Ryan’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/combatstory 🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ 📸 Instagram: @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory 📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial 📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus 🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 00:00 Introduction 00:46 Meet Roberto Tonseg: A Veteran in Defense and Security 03:19 Italy's National Security Framework 05:59 Europe's Response to the Russia-Ukraine Conflict 08:31 Challenges and Strategies for European Security 12:05 Energy Security and Immigration in Europe 18:19 China's Global Influence and Strategic Concerns 25:39 Personal Reflections and Final Thoughts 28:18 Sponsor Message and Conclusion
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Wargames for Peace and How to Not be Part of Watergate with Ambassador David Miller
In this episode, we sit down with statesman and Ambassador David Miller, who shares his expansive and storied career, starting from his early days surveying economic impacts in Vietnam to his intricate experiences with the National Security Council and various international postings. We’re joined by Glenn Corn, who spent a career, much like Amb Miller, in service to the United States, but on the CIA side of the house and you get to hear what it’s like when Chiefs of Station and Ambassadors truly work together. Ambassador Miller recounts tales of working closely with influential figures such as Nelson Mandela and Brent Scowcroft, and discusses his involvement in developing the Diplomatic Studies Foundation, which is a fascinating approach that brings wargames to Country Teams with a different outcome: Peace. Miller reflects on the challenges of delivering unvarnished intelligence and narrowly avoiding any involvement in what he could sense was a scandal that was later Watergate! Ambassador Miller also helped start the Special Operations Fund which directly supports some of America’s most important families, those of fallen Tier 1 Special Operators, which I know people who listen to this show will appreciate. With that, please enjoy this wide ranging and interesting discussion with two very storied leaders and patriots. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/combatstory Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter Find Ryan Online: 🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story: 🔗 Ryan’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/combatstory 🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ 📸 Instagram: @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory 📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial 📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus 🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 00:29 Introduction 00:48 Meet Ambassador David Miller 02:20 Early Career and Vietnam Experience 05:22 Insights on Military Intelligence 07:26 Navigating Bureaucratic Challenges 12:16 Watergate and Its Aftermath 15:48 Diplomatic Studies Foundation and Peace Games 21:53 Understanding the Country Team 24:29 Spec Ops Recruiting and Ambassador's Role 26:43 Embassy Dynamics and Teamwork 27:23 Current Affairs: Ukraine and Diplomatic Security 30:10 Special Operations Fund and Personal Stories 33:28 USAID and Development Programs 39:45 Memorable Meetings and Reflections 42:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 42:26 Sponsor Message: Delete Me
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Ukraine, Russia and Military Weapons and Ammo with Arms Expert Tamerlan Vahabov | Drones, Arms Deals, Ukraine’s Future
Today’s Combat Story is a Frontline Perspective with Tamerlan Vahabov on Ukraine's Defense, Challenges, and Future. In this interview, Tamerlan tells us about his work as a former advisor to the Director of Defense Procurement and the Minister of Interior in Ukraine. He shares his compelling journey from Azerbaijan to Ukraine, highlighting his roles in government, law enforcement, and his direct experiences with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We dig deep into drone warfare and the intricacies of defense procurement, the challenges faced by the Ukrainian defense industry, and his ongoing efforts to aid Ukraine's war effort. This episode offers a rare glimpse into the life of a man who has been at the forefront of Ukraine's struggle, providing valuable insights and personal stories that underscore the complexities of the conflict Tamerlan Vahabov was the advisor to the Director of the Defense Procurement Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, 2024, Head of the Reform Office and Advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, 2021-2022, has held government defense industry, economy, and law enforcement positions in Kyiv, Ukraine, Lyon France and Baku, Azerbaijan. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/combatstory Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Check out our Combat Story Newsletter at www.combatstory.com/newsletter Find Ryan Online: 🎙️ Connect with Ryan & Combat Story: 🔗 Ryan’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/combatstory 🛒 Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatstory/ 📸 Instagram: @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory 📘 Facebook: @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial 📖 Learn more about Ryan: https://www.combatstory.com/aboutus 🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes: 00:00 Intro 00:33 Tamerlan's Background and Early Career 01:20 Experiences During the Russian Invasion 04:23 Law Enforcement and Military Career 11:41 Challenges in Ukrainian Defense 22:35 Addressing Defense Procurement Issues 23:19 Strategic Forecast for Ukraine and Russia 24:21 Exploring the US-Ukraine Rare Earth Deal 26:59 Personal Security Concerns in High-Profile Roles 28:29 Navigating International Military Deals 34:52 Commitment to Ukraine's Future 36:22 Early Conflicts with Russia 40:09 A Message to the US Audience
Real combat stories from the military's elite. This podcast highlights the courageous, outrageous, crazy, and surreal experiences veterans recall from their toughest days in the foxhole, cockpit, and front lines. We interview JTACs, Special Operators (Delta), Special Forces, Jet Pilots, Combat Aviators, Infrantrymen, Marines, and vets from over 50 years of combat experience.Interviews touch on the toughest missions these vets faced, how they handled them, their first combat experiences, how they found their way to the military, and how they managed after leaving the combat behind.
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