Former Action Guys Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 186 | Cody Anderson & Aren Brandfass | MARSOC Plank Holders May 16, 2023

Show notes

Cody Anderson & Aren Brandfass are MARSOC plank holders and each did multiple deployments with the Marine Raiders. After leaving the military, both men supported Special Operations Command as contractors.
Support the show
patreon.com/formeractionguys
jcramergraphics.com
ANGLICOshop.com
Cody and Aren's Podcast
instagram.com/stranger_pod/
00:00:00 Intro | MARSOC Farming Network
00:01:57 Fratricide in Afghanistan
00:06:57 EOD Enablers
00:10:14 Marine Raiders and Recon Cultural Differences
00:14:57 Selections are Becoming Less Physical
00:16:59 MARSOC and Ranger Deployments Compared
00:20:03 Lance Corporal's are the Badasses
00:23:44 Targeting | Collateral Damage Estimates
00:27:22 Military Drone Deep Dive
00:32:51 Changes in Conflicts
00:39:47 Two Systems
00:45:56 Phones are Tracking Devices | Digital Marketing
00:53:06 Is the Daily Wire Propaganda?
01:00:22 Problems in the System
01:07:54 Politics
01:19:33 Calling Out Corruption
01:37:56 Bad Leaders

Ep. 185 | Ed Ford & Alan Chaisson | Private Military Contractors May 09, 2023

Show notes

Ed Ford is a Marine Recon veteran and Alan Chaisson is a veteran Navy Corpsman. Both men decided to try private military contracting during the Global War on Terror. Now, they join us to discuss their careers and their new book Pony Express about logistics runs in some of the most dangerous parts of the world.
Support the show
patreon.com/formeractionguys
jcramergraphics.com
ANGLICOshop.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:54 Ed's Recon Background
00:05:08 Al's Navy Corpsman / Paramedic Background
00:08:38 Post-Vietnam Military
00:12:56 Infantry in the 80s
00:16:04 The Marines Took His Left Nut
00:20:20 Beirut Bombing
00:23:20 Peacetime Military / Zero Defect Mentality
00:27:12 Recon Indoc
00:35:30 Recon Missions in Iraq
00:39:45 Alan Leaves the Navy for the Fire Service
00:43:38 Immigrating to the US
00:49:02 Become a Fire Fighter
00:52:37 Becoming a Private Military Contractor
01:04:01 Contractor Training
01:05:36 Weapons Carried by Contractors
01:10:18 The Most Dangerous Areas
01:16:35 Careful What You Wish For
01:20:59 Taliban Punish Their Own

Ep. 184 | Jeff Depatie | Canadian Special Operations | JTF-2 Sniper May 02, 2023

Show notes

Jeff Depatie is a retired Canadian soldier that served with their equivalent of Delta Force, Joint Task Force 2 (JTF 2). As a special operations sniper, Jeff was used to stressful events that cause PTSD and has become an advocate for PTSD recovery techniques.
Support the show
patreon.com/formeractionguys
jcramergraphics.com
ANGLICOshop.com
Jeff's sites
thespecialforcesexperience.com/
posttraumaticgrowth.film
00:00:00 Intro | Canadian Quirks
00:03:56 Can Canadians Join the British Military?
00:05:07 Politics is Polarizing
00:08:52 Closed Node Thinking
00:14:37 Breaking Bad Patterns
00:20:39 Understanding Stress
00:30:15 Finding Your Passion After Service
00:38:05 Using GI Bill Education Benefits
00:43:01 Finding Joy
00:47:06 AI is Here
00:52:27 Social Control Using Technology
00:57:50 How Tech Changes Sniping
01:05:42 Conscious of Your Surroundings
01:12:11 Mandatory Service
01:16:54 Culture Shock Going to Afghanistan
01:22:46 The USA is a Melting Pot
01:27:31 Joint Task Force 2 (JTF-2)
01:35:02 Taking the Cool Stuff For Granted
01:38:41 Fake Motivation

Ep. 183 | Ryan Stevens | MARSOC and DEVGRU JTAC, ANGLICO Marine, Author Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

Ryan Stevens is a former Marine Corps Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) that completed 3 deployments with ANGLICO, 3 with MARSOC, and 4 with Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU).
Support the show
patreon.com/formeractionguys
jcramergraphics.com
ANGLICOshop.com
Ryan's Site
fullarmorfarm.com
00:00:00 Intro | Post-Service Care
00:08:57 Growing a Community
00:15:23 Going to MARSOC
00:17:37 Deploying with MSOT 8212
00:20:45 MARSOC Commando Mission
00:22:42 Working with Green Berets and DEA
00:24:50 Operation Lexington | Helo Crash Recovery
00:29:56 Surreal Moment | Downed Aircraft
00:35:06 MSOT 8212 Listed as Missing in Action
00:42:08 Operation Red Thunder
00:44:14 Last Mission | JTAC Gear
00:47:44 Fratricide | A-10s Hit Friendlies
00:58:10 Close Calls
01:00:43 Medevac From Afghanistan | Investigation
01:05:55 Jump School
01:13:47 MARSOC JTAC or CCT?
01:18:11 Second MARSOC Deployment
01:21:31 The Violent Village
01:27:13 Ambush
01:29:30 Suicide Investigation
01:33:36 Are You Allowed to Take a Break?
01:37:05 Attaching to Special Operations
01:40:53 Pathfinder School

Ep. 182 | Scott Campbell | 2nd Force Recon and 2d ANGLICO Commanding Officer Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

Scott Campbell is a retired Marine infantry officer that served in the Reconnaissance, Special Operations, and ANGLICO communities in different capacities. Scott served with both 2nd and 4th Recon Battalions. He also helped stand-up 2nd ANGLICO following their reactivation in order to support the Global War on Terror.
00:00:00 Intro | CO of 2d ANGLICO
00:07:39 Building JTACs
00:09:50 Keyhole CAS
00:13:08 Bringing Technology to the Fight
00:22:26 4th Recon | Anchorage, AK
00:28:24 Placing Limpet Mines in Arctic Water
00:31:17 Arctic Warfare Experts
00:36:47 Arctic Airborne
00:43:38 Marines Do Stupid Things
00:44:27 XO of 2nd Recon
00:47:43 15th MEU CO
00:52:40 Everyone's Watching
00:58:01 Combat Readiness
01:05:23 Never Getting Off Ship
01:09:06 Appropriate Punishments
01:17:37 He Cut His Finger Off On Purpose
01:25:27 Millennials in Combat
01:34:30 Factory of Sadness
01:41:43 Scammers
01:50:59 Overcoming Adversity

Ep. 181 | Yonel Dorelis | Helicopter Pilot That Served in 4 Branches Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

Yonel Dorelis is a search and rescue pilot that retired from the military after serving with four branches. He started as a Marine officer and transferred to the Navy as a CH-46 pilot. After leaving the Navy, he joined the Army National Guard as a Huey pilot before finally joining active duty Air Force as an HH-60 Combat Search and Rescue pilot. Join us for this wild ride.
Support the show
patreon.com/formeractionguys
jcramergraphics.com
ANGLICOshop.com
00:00:00 Intro / Military Influences
00:06:52 Traveling to Normandy and Bellau Wood
00:14:43 Becoming a Marine Officer
00:23:03 Switching to the Navy
00:28:07 Midrats
00:32:49 Lead By Example
00:37:24 Flight School
00:41:05 Switching to the Army National Guard
00:43:42 Switching to the Air Force
00:45:31 9/11 Happens
00:48:05 Favorite Aircraft
00:49:31 CH-53 vs Chinook
00:53:07 ANGLICO
00:56:26 Marine Corps Axes Snipers
01:04:19 Operation Anaconda
01:11:51 Wild Medevac
01:20:21 Different GWOT Medevac Platforms
01:26:56 Coming into a Hot LZ
01:34:50 Medevac Makes You Cold
01:39:44 Acting
01:45:23 Military Culture
01:59:41 JTACs

Ep. 180 | Matthew Klein | Army Infantry | NYPD Sketch Artist | Purple Heart Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Matt Klein is an Army infantryman and veteran of two deployments to Iraq with 3rd Infantry Division. Matt left the service and began working as a patrol officer for the NYPD before moving to the NYPD Detective Bureau as a sketch artist.
Support the podcast
patreon.com/formeractionguys jcramergraphics.com
ANGLICOshop.com
Matt's Links https://www.instagram.com/mattrendar/
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BattleTribe
00:00:00 Intro / Military Family
00:05:35 Army Infantry Training
00:09:57 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
00:12:05 First IED
00:19:30 3d Infantry Division | Iraq 2005
00:22:31 First Day in Iraq
00:29:23 Specialist Brangman is KIA
00:33:39 Taming a City
00:40:34 Time for Claymores
00:45:48 12-Month Deployments
00:50:31 Two Different Wars
00:55:10 Stepping on an IED
01:01:11 Meeting the IED Trigger Man
01:07:26 Different Types of IEDs
01:15:20 From Army Infantry to NYPD Patrol Officer
01:20:08 Life as an NYPD Police Officer
01:28:03 Becoming an NYPD Sketch Artist
01:31:32 Sitting Down With Victims
01:34:50 Being in NYC on 9/11

Clip 019 | Blackhawk Down: A Ranger's Perspective | Retired Delta Operator Brad Thomas Feb 26, 2023

Show notes

Brad Thomas is a retired Delta Force operator who also served with 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment during the Battle of Mogadishu that was depicted in the film Blackhawk Down. Brad's full interview is Ep. 178 and is available now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more!
00:00:00 Intro / First Missions in Mogadishu
00:02:18 First Contact
00:10:59 First American KIA
00:13:01 Kill Switch Engaged
00:19:48 Help Shot Down
00:21:33 Lost My Sh*t
00:28:36 Coolest Thing I've Seen in Combat
00:34:02 If I Die....

Ep. 179 | Clay Nygard | ANGLICO Marine, Artillery Officer, JTAC Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

Clay Nygard is a United States Marine Corps artillery officer that served with 1st ANGLICO and 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment in Afghanistan. Nygard's ANGLICO team was attacked on two separate occasions by SVIBIEDs during their deployment with the Georgian military.
Support the show
patreon.com/formeractionguys
jcramergraphics.com
ANGLICOshop.com
Clay's website
knockitoffdesigns.com
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:14 OCS 3 Times
00:12:44 Manual Gunnery vs Digital
00:16:27 Using M198, M777, and M119 Artillery
00:19:12 M777s in Ukraine | Capabilities
00:28:04 1/5 in Sangin 2011
00:34:12 Casualties in Sangin
00:38:21 Last Advisor Team in Sangin
00:41:29 Playing Chess with the Enemy
00:43:08 An Artillery Officer in Afghanistan
00:45:32 Strike Approval
00:52:15 Those Guys Were Definitely Dead
00:58:20 0861 Shot Himself in the Foot
01:01:30 Civilian Casualty
01:09:58 Post Deployment Jitters
01:12:27 Orders to 1st ANGLICO
01:16:56 First Live CAS Shoot as a JTAC
01:21:23 Georgian Military Advisor Deployment
01:23:30 Booby-Trapped Radio
01:26:10 First Car Bomb Attack
01:32:15 Second Car Bomb Attack
01:36:53 Priorities
01:42:00 Shooting Down Balloons

Ep. 178 | Brad Thomas| Delta Operator, Ranger, and Musician Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Brad Thomas is a retired Delta Force Operator and Army Ranger who served in multiple war zones. In this episode, we discuss his role in the Battle of Mogadishu with 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. Following his service, Brad started the band Silence and Light with fellow Army Ranger Jason Everman.
Support the podcast
patreon.com/formeractionguys
jcramergraphics.com
ANGLICOshop.com
Brad's Links
https://linktr.ee/silenceandlight
00:00:00 Intro / Musician
00:18:05 Joining the Army
00:32:01 Gulf War Era
00:45:23 Military Appearance
01:05:01 Justify our Wars
01:11:28 The Luster Wears Off
01:19:32 Mogadishu Warning Order
01:25:19 Arriving in Mogadishu
01:33:17 First Missions
01:42:13 Battle of Mogadishu
01:54:59 First American Casualty
02:03:49 Blackhawk Down
02:14:26 Back Into The Fight
02:21:35 Mogadishu Mile
02:28:06 Feelings After the Battle
02:33:36 Was the Movie Realistic
02:45:59 Starting a Band with Jason Everman

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