GRP 102-United and Undaunted:The Story of Paul De Gelder

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GRP 102- On for this week’s podcast is Australian Navy Clearance Diver Paul De Gelder. Paul served in the Australian Army as a Paratrooper before transferring into the Navy to serve in the elite Navy Clearance Diver teams. While working on a counter-terrorism exercise in Australia Paul was attacked by a Bull shark. The shark nearly killed him ripping off his wrist and tearing through a large portion of his right leg which was eventually amputated.

Being in a really dark space Paul was struggling with a basic task and overwhelming pain as a result of his injuries. We talked about what this recovery process was like and the value of the human spirit. He was able to become an instructor at the Clearance Diver school but wasn’t allowed back into the teams. Paul now does documentary film work and television shows with Discovery. We talked about mindset and how to overcome adversity. Powerful.

0:00-Intro

7:00- Paul’s life pre-military. Australian Army Paratrooper.

11:07-East Timor. An eye-opening experience.

16:41- Australian Navy Clearance Diver

29:10-The shark attack that was nearly fatal. Paul lost his wrist and right leg after a Bullshark bit him during a counter-terrorism exercise. Recovery, phantom pains, mindset, dealing with adversity.

You can find Paul on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/PaulDeGelder

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 Carson Aune: "A soldier's Best Friend"

http://www.carsonaune.com

GRP 98-Benito Olson:The Story of a Dog Handler Supporting SEAL Team Six in Combat

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 98-On for this week's podcast is retired Master at Arm's Benito Olson. Benny began his career in the Navy working in Bahrain where he developed an interest in dog handling. He eventually became a dog handler and was stationed back in the states. Benny was then recruited as a dog handler into the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) to support the SEALs as their dog handler. We talked what it's like working with military dogs and then working with Special Operations dogs in the SEAL teams. 

Benny deployed 5 times with the Tier 1 SEALs. He was paired up with SEAL dog "Digo". He shared stories of his first deployment where they conducted direct action raids in Iraq. Two of the DEVGRU assaulters were killed on this rotation. Navy Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Nathan H. Hardy and Navy Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Michael E. Koch. 

Benny shares the story of when he was severely wounded conducting a raid where they got into a brief gunfight killing two enemy fighters. Benny moved in with two assaulters to enter the building. Unbeknownst to them, it was rigged to explode. The blast seriously wounded Benny, Digo, and killed Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class Luis A. Souffront. Benny's last trip was to Afghanistan during the Extortion 17 incident in which 30 Americans were killed when their helicopter was shot down. 17 were SEALs with 15 of them from DEVGRU. Many of them close friends. This was Benny's last trip before he was medically retired out of the Navy. He now runs a company called Patriot Dog Training.

0:00-Episode overview

3:50-Benito's Navy career, Master at Arms, Dog Handler

16:15-Benny's recruitment into the Naval Special Warfare's Development Group (DEVGRU) in a support role as a Dog Handler.  

30:14-SEAL dog "Digo" whom Benny became his handler upon his entry into the squadron. 

35:41: First combat deployment into Iraq conducting direct action missions. Two DEVGRU assaulters were killed on this rotation prior to Benny getting blown up. Rest in Peace Navy Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Nathan H. Hardy and Navy Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Michael E. Koch

1:02:25-The operation in which they assaulted a building that was rigged with explosives seriously wounding Benny, Digo, and killing Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class Luis A. Souffront. Benny was told he wouldn't be able to deploy again. 9 months later he was back in Afghanistan and went on to complete 5 total trips. 

1:21:20-Digo passed away after retiring from the Navy and being adopted by a family. Benny's last deployment was to Afghanistan during the "Extortion 17" incident which the 31 American deaths represent the greatest loss of U.S. military lives in a single incident in the, by then, decade-long war in Afghanistan that began in 2001.
15 of the SEALs on board were from DEVGRU and many were close friends of Benito's. 

1:26:00- Patriot Dog Training. Benito's dog training company.

Check out Benito Olsen's website:
www.patriotdogtraining.com

Social Media: Patriot Dog Training

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 60-Wes Kennedy, CSOR, Special Operations Selection, Fitness, Mindset

Click the buttons below to access the episode on ITunes, or Soundcloud. Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you.

GRP 60-Episode 60 of the Global Recon Podcast I thought it would be a great way to kick off the new year by having Wes Kennedy back on the show. Wes is a former Canadian Special Operations Regiment(CSOR) operator. Wes is a combat veteran and since leaving the military has become an expert in fitness, nutrition, and mindset. Wes owns and operates a successful company whose main focus is to help people from the Five Eyes(FVEY) community pass special operations selection. FVEY consist of the Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. We often received emails and messages on social media asking for any resources that can help someone pass a selection. Well, there is no better place than the services provided by Wes and his company. Below is an excerpt from the podcast.

John: You spent your time serving first as an engineer, then special operations, and now you've left the military. When you first started your company you were focused on a few different avenues of fitness and health. Now you guys focus more on special operations selection. You have the physical aspect, but you also have the mental aspect. I know this is something you specialize in. Can we talk about that?

Wes Kennedy: What I've learned over the past several years with hundreds of guys training for various special ops selections around the world is the programming. Spent a lot of time learning how to do nutrition. It's almost the fluff of the training. It's fairly easy to deliver good individualized program design, good individualized nutrition. There are few guys that take it on and do it without question. Hit it day in and day out. What happens with most of us being the human beings that we are is eventually guys hit a crossroad. They said they're going to do something and they don't do it. I've begun to create a series of modules and training for that mindset piece to understand where they're behavioral patterns come from. The first module we cover in the mindset piece we cover is a purpose. A man without purpose is lost in the wind. Purpose to me is essentially what do I need to do before I die? and what do I need to do right now?

Wes Kennedy:

Main Site: www.brotherhoodlife.com

Warrior Mentor Project: www.warriormentorproject.com

Team Room Training:

www.teamroomtraining.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OfficialWesKennedy

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/WesKennedyETP

GRP 58-Assassination, Terror in Germany, Navy EOD Tech

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GRP 58-A lot has been going on in the past 24 hours with Russia's ambassador to Turkey being assassinated in Turkey, as well as a terrorist attack in Berlin. We are proud to announce that we've revamped the article section for the website and have put together a solid team of writers to release content very soon.

 On with me for this week's podcast is active duty Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician (EOD) Damian. We discuss what led him to join the Navy and talk about his career throughout. Damian gives you guys a combat story from his first rotation, and most importantly we talk about those Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice. We discuss what it's like to lose someone you love, and how it can motivate you to work extremely hard as it has done for both of us. Below is an excerpt.

John: Spending the amount of time you've spent in EOD you've had some guys who've lost limbs, as well as having lost some of your brothers in combat. Is there anyone you'd like to pay a tribute to?

Damian: There's a lot. We just Jason Finan in October from my unit Mobile Unit 3. That hit us hard. He was, in my opinion, EOD Tech I've ever been around. I can't think of anyone more highly regarded than him in my field. He was a good man. I remember telling the guys in my division before he came through with his platoon when he finished you'll say that's the best EOD Tech that ever came through and they all agreed. It was a huge loss. They're all huge. I remember getting the phone call and I just could not.....we're still reeling from that. Jan 2nd, 2012 we lost Chad Regelin. We went to Afghanistan together in Aug 2010. We'd come home from that one and he'd volunteered to go right back. He was with an ODA from 5th Group in Helmand when he was killed. That's still very hard.......you know.... he was such a good kid. It's really hard because to me he was so young.

He was extremely humble; they were aggressive without being reckless. We lost Shawn Carson. We lost Christian Pike he was a CCT (Combat Control Technician). Killed in a firefight that we were in. We always lose the best people. Mark Forester was a CCT that I worked with. My first IED strike was the one he ran over. Calvin Harrison the same day Mark was killed. He was an 18 Delta. Pat Feeks was a SEAL that I worked with. You cross paths with some many people.

John: It's crazy because you go right through the door with the IED, you move and the guys behind you set it off. You're standing in one spot a second later the next guy standing in that same spot gets shot. I use the personal loss as my motivation to honor the memory of the people I lost. You almost feel like they're watching you.

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspianmusic.net

GRP 55-SAS Major DR. Dan Pronk, TacMed Australia, RIP Scott Cooper Dayton

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GRP 55-First and foremost I want to send my condolences to the family of Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott Cooper Dayton, 42. Dayton is the first American service member to die to fight the Islamic State in Syria was a decorated and highly experienced Navy explosive ordnance disposal specialist.

On with me for this podcast is Australian SAS Major Dr. Dan Pronk. Dan did multiple deployments and was the regimental medical officer for both 2 commandos and SASR (Special Air Service Regiment). Dr. Dan completed his medical schooling on an Army scholarship and served the majority of his military career with Special Operations Units, including four tours of Afghanistan and over 100 combat missions. Dr. Dan was awarded the Commendation for Distinguished Service for his conduct in action on his second tour of Afghanistan. We discuss bleeding control, how to treat internal bleeding, and prolonged field care. Major Pronk is the Medical Director for Tac Med Australia which provides training for civilians, military, and police tactical units in Australia. Below is an excerpt from the podcast:

John: One good thing to come out of this Global War on Terror is the advancement of medical treatment.  There are various methods and procedures that have been effective at saving lives on the battlefield. One thing you said that interested me was a way to slow down internal bleeding. Can we talk about that a little bit?

SAS Major DR. Pronk: Medical literature goes back and forth on how useful this drug is. The name of the drug is Tranexamic acid or referred to as TXA. It's not a new drug, but its only in the last decade or so that people have been looking at it in a new light. The biggest cause of preventable death on the battlefield was people bleeding out so hence the use of arterial tourniquets.  The Soldiers might have stepped on an IED and got horrendous bilateral lower leg amputations if you can put a tourniquet high above that wound and cut off the blood flow to that leg you can prevent him from bleeding out.

If it's a little bit higher maybe in the groin or the armpit, it's what we call junctional bleeds. It's too high on a limb to a tourniquet. So that's where your quick clot and hemostatic dressing come in. You can cram that into the wounds and the chemicals in those dressings can speed up the clotting process and stem the bleeding.  Once you get bleeds inside the body, the chest, the abdomen, the pelvis areas where you can drop a huge amount of blood but can't get a tourniquet or quick clot on is difficult to control. The key there is to get that person to a surgical facility quickly.

TXA or Tranexamic Acid the concept of it is when your body starts bleeding chemicals in your body will identify it and try to stop that bleeding. It's an evolutionary process that stops us from bleeding out. As soon as your body starts forming clot chemicals will break down the clots. TXA inhibits the system that breaks down clots. TXA stops the system of breaking down the clot.

Dan Pronk:

http://www.tacmedaustralia.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/TacmedAustralia/

Music provided by Caspian:

www.caspianmusic.net