GRP 174-Big results Require Big Ambitions-A Conversation with HRT Operator Greg Shaffer

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GRP 173-First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11 With Toby Harnden

March 1, 2023

You can access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify, and Anchor (Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you.

Joining me for this week's podcast is a veteran foreign correspondent and author of First Casualty: The Untold Story Of the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11 Toby Harnden. Harnden is a Royal Navy Veteran from the United Kingdom and has spent years covering wars in conflict zones worldwide. We discussed his journalism career, and he cut his teeth in Northern Ireland, covering the conflict there. He's also spent time in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The initial American response to the 9/11 attacks was a secret eight-man CIA squad called Team Alpha. Team Alpha rode into battle on horseback alongside the Afghan warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum. Mike Spann, an ex-Marine and member of Team Alpha, was the first American killed in combat in Afghanistan. We discussed his book in detail, including the role of Delta Force, The British Special Boat Service, and Army Green Berets in routing Al Queda during the early days of the war. Plus many more topics. Tune in.

Main Takeaways

Early Naval career
Working with the Norweigan Navy
Covering the conflict in Northern Ireland
Imprisoned in Zimbabwe
Alpha Team
Mike Spann

This episode is sponsored by Ten Thousand, a men’s training brand.

Visit www.tenthousand.cc and enter code Global Recon for 15 % off

Connect with Toby Harnden

www.tobyharnden.com

Connect With John Hendricks

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GRP 172- Nothing endures but change: The story of Australian SASR Trooper Andrew White

February 8, 2023

You can access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify, and Anchor (Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you.

Joining me for this week's podcast is recently retired Australian SASR Operator Andrew White. White served for nearly 30 years in two different armies. He began his career in the British infantry with deployments to various areas of the world. White was part of the initial invasion of Iraq and would deploy there three times. Due to an issue with his command after his third deployment to Iraq, he transferred to the Australian Army.

He passed selection into the Australian Special Air Service Regiment, where he spent the remainder of his career with multiple combat deployments. White was on the operation where SASR Trooper Jason Brown was tragically killed in Afghanistan. He illuminates the skill and courage under fire displayed by his troop to recover Brown. A few members of the Australian Special Forces are accused of committing war crimes in Afghanistan. The situation has been very controversial, and we discussed this in detail. We talked about his experiences in Afghanistan, and Iraq, working as a dog handler, and his advocacy for those SASR Operators accused of war crimes. Plus more. Tune in.

Main Takeaways

Early life and entry into the British Army
Deploying into Northern Ireland
Deploying into Iraq three times
Attempting Special Forces Selection and transferring out of the British Army into the Australian Army
The history of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment and selection
Deploying into Afghanistan
Firefight in which SASR Operator Jason Brown was killed.
Dogs of War
SASR Troopers accused of war crimes

This episode is sponsored by 4 Patriots, a survival food company. You can visit www.4patriots.com and use the code RECON for 10% off

Connect with Andrew White: www.instagram.com/dirtybeardedpilgrims

Connect With John Hendricks

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GRP 171-Death Waits in the Dark: Six Guns Don't Miss: My Conversation With an MH-6 Little Bird Pilot

February 1, 2023

You can access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify, and Anchor (Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you.

Joining me for this week's podcast is retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Gregory Coker. Coker wrote the book "Death Waits in the Dark: Six Guns Don't Miss!" and has donated 100% of the profits to organizations that support veterans. He flew helicopters in the Army for over 20 years and spent 15 of those years in the world's most elite helicopter unit, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. He flew the MH-6 Little Bird, an attack helicopter with thousands of hours spent flying in and out of combat.

Coker was shot down in Iraq, supporting an assault force during a daytime operation. He remained with the assault force after he and his co-pilot made it out of the downed aircraft, where they were engaged in a six-hour gun battle. We discussed this operation in detail and some of the aerodynamics of controlling a helicopter as its crashes. Blades for Brothers is partnered with Shied 91, a 501c3 non-profit started by Greg, to craft blades and help veterans learn how to bladesmith. Greg had experienced a traumatic brain injury from combat, and we discussed this, plus veteran's mental health issues and much more. Tune in.

Main Takeaways

Blades for brothers
Early Army career
Flying Apaches in Korea
Joining the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment as an MH-6 Little Bird Pilot
Deploying into Afghanistan in 2001
Getting shot down in Iraq

This episode is sponsored by 4 Patriots, a survival food company. You can visit www.4patriots.com and use the code RECON for 10% off

Get a copy of Greg Coker's book: Death Waits in the Dark

Follow Greg on social media: www.instagram.com/bladesforbrothers

Connect With John Hendricks

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www.instagram.com/erick.miyares

GRP 170-Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change: The Story of Army Special Missions Sergeant Major Erick Miyares

January 25, 2023

You can access the full episode on Apple Podcast (Apple users), or Spotify, and Anchor (Android users). Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and download the episodes. Thank you.

GRP 170-Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change: The Story of Army Special Missions Sergeant Major Erick Miyares

Retired Army Special Missions Sergeant Major Erick Miyares is joining me for this week's podcast. SGM Miyares's family immigrated from Cuba to Florida, where he lived until joining the Marine Corps and served for six years. He transitioned into the Army, serving as a Signals expert in the 7th Special Forces Group. He was shot during a deployment to Ecuador in the late 90s. After recovering, Sergeant Major Miyares tried for and got selected to serve in the Army's Special Missions Unit, where he stayed for 20 years. We discussed working with the SEALs, counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and veterans' mental health. Tune in

Main Takeaways

Joining the Marine Corps
Entering the 7th Special Forces Group in the Army to work as a Signals Electronic Warfare Specialist
Getting shot in Ecuador supporting a Special Forces team
Joining the Army's Special Missions Unit
Working with the SEAL Special Mission Unit
Working Hostage Rescue Operations
SIGINT and HUMINT Intelligence
Veterans mental health

This episode is sponsored by Ten Thousand, a men’s training brand.

Visit www.tenthousand.cc and enter code Global Recon for 15 % off

Connect with Erick Miyares

Connect With John Hendricks

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