GRP 139-What we think we become: The Andrew Coussens Story

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Joining me for this week's podcast is Andrew Coussens. Andrew is an author and has written two books. His first is "A failed State," and his second is "Relapse." Andrew served in the U.S. government security services for 21 years. He began his career working with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, where he worked his way up to an Aerial Interdiction Unit Leader. He later spent time working with the agency's BORSTAR unit, conducting search and rescue operations all along the border. The 2002 winter Olympics was the first major event held inside the U.S. post 9/11. Andrew worked security with the Department of Interiors National Helicopter Rescue units. 

A few later, he would be recruited to work security and counterterrorism for OGA (Other Government Agency), where he would deploy 21 times, including spending years in hostile environments where he and a small team were the only Americans in country. Upon leaving government service, Andrew worked as a consultant for The Activity Group. A company started by former Delta Force medic's, which provided medical training and equipment for various organizations. He's also deployed with my good friends over at the Global Surgical Medical Support Group, who send teams of doctors, surgeons, and military medics to Iraq to support communities affected by ISIS. We discussed Andrew's career, his novels, the untimely passing of his wife, and much more. Enjoy.

0:00-Intro

6:50- Aerial Interdiction teams at the Border, BORTAC

12:14- Running security for the 2002 winter Olympics

14:56- Counterterrorism for with OGA

You can purchase your copies of Andrews novels here: 

https://andrewcoussens.com/store

www.Globalrecon.net

https://www.instagram.com/igrecon

https://www.instagram.com/globalreconpodcast

www.twitter.com/igrecon

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

Chantel Taylor:

https://www.instagram.com/mission_critical

https://www.instagram.com/altern8rv

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

Click the buttons below to access the Sound cloud, or ITunes version of the episode. Please like, share, subscribe, and download the episode. Thank you.

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