Former Action Guys Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 237 | Mike Francis | Marine Assaultman | 3rd Battalion 6th Marines Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

Mike Francis is a former Marine Assaultman who deployed three times with 3rd Battalion 6th Marines to Afghanistan and Iraq. Mike is also a host of the Tales of the Corps podcast and founder of the Shakker professional networking app.
Support the show
https://www.jcramergraphics.com
https://www.ANGLICOshop.com
https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguys
Mike's links
https://Shakker.co
https://youtube.com/@talesfromthecorpspodcast?si=7BlL697sedAPpb_K
https://open.spotify.com/show/00VJzfAINq7Lofbd8LBw8g?si=1MKPoY5wS0ekW93APxGOOA
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-corps/id1702224913

Ep. 236 | Lee Deckelman | Army Ranger, Green Beret, Air Marshal, Triple Canopy Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

Lee Deckelman served as an infantryman in the Army before going to the 20th Special Forces Group in the National Guard. He eventually moved back to active duty and went to the Ranger battalions before heading to 3rd Special Forces Group. Following the military, he served as an Air Marshal and was part of the first group of Triple Canopy contractors.
Support the show
https://www.jcramergraphics.com
https://www.ANGLICOshop.com
https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguys
Lee's book
https://www.amazon.com/INTERNAL-Where-Monster-Mindfulness-Become/dp/B09251YC1K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8W43QET0IIG3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6ODR0pT1WmAUZR9HuZuZTw.GbQoSzHLQhFIoFaVNxz35DLUTJ5krAqVzee_LE48XH8&dib_tag=se&keywords=lee+deckelman&qid=1763515157&sprefix=lee+deck%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1#

Ep. 235 | Michael Pack | Last 600 Meters Director and Producer Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

Michael Pack is an award-winning filmmaker and the producer/director of The Last 600 Meters, a documentary covering the 2004 battles of Najaf and Fallujah. He’s also known for Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words, which premiered in theaters and on PBS. Over his career, Michael has led major media organizations, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media and the Claremont Institute, and produced dozens of acclaimed documentaries through his company, Manifold Productions.
Michael's Sites:
https://manifoldproductions.com/
https://palladiumpictures.com/
Support the show
https://patreon.com/formeractionguys
https://jcramergraphics.com
https://ANGLICOshop.com
00:00:00 Last 600 Meters Trailer
00:02:12 Intro | Becoming a Documentarian
00:07:55 Apprenticeship Resurgence
00:16:10 In His Own Words | Clarence Thomas Documentary
00:25:49 The Last 600 Meters | Battles of Fallujah and Najaf
00:32:44 Battle of Najaf | Mahdi Army
00:41:02 General Mattis
00:49:53 Adm Rickover | Nuclear Navy
00:55:17 Military Innovation
01:03:24 War in 4k
01:13:48 US Agency for Global Media | Voice of America

Ep. 234 | Dave James | Force Recon Marine Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Dave James is a former Force Recon Marine who served with 1st and 3rd Reconnaissance Battalions. Check out our other interviews on Eps. 063 and 065.
Support the page
https://jcramergraphics.com
https://ANGLICOshop.com
https://patreon.com/formeractionguys
00:00:00 J Cramer Graphics Ad
00:00:21 Texas Floods
00:04:19 Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer
00:08:00 Tim Kennedy Drama
00:21:29 Ranger School
00:24:36 3rd Recon Battalion
00:26:35 SFARTAETC
00:31:39 Force Recon Weapons | Teams
00:36:23 From Army Engineer to Marine Recon
00:44:45 Filming of Heartbreak Ridge
01:07:57 Insights from the Qualification Course

Ep. 233 | Brandon & Chris | I Came With Fire Podcast May 12, 2025

Show notes

Brandon is a veteran of the Air Force Security Forces Chris is an Army Special Forces soldier. They are both part of the I Came With Fire Podcast and we get into artificial intelligence, foreign conflicts, and debate the alleged decline of America.
Support the show
https://www.jcramergraphics.com
https://www.ANGLICOshop.com
https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguys
I Came With Fire link
https://rumble.com/user/I_Came_With_Fire_Podcast

Ep. 232 | Blayne Smith | Special Forces, West Point, Armor Officer May 06, 2025

Show notes

Blayne Smith is a former Special Forces soldier that started his career off as an Armor Officer after graduating from West Point. Blayne deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan before leaving the service and writing Perseverance Is Greater than Endurance.
Support the show
https://patreon.com/formeractionguys
https://jcramergraphics.com
https://ANGLICOshop.com
Blayne's links
Company: https://www.appliedleadershippartners.com/
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Endurance-Resilience-Adversity-Together/dp/163774627X
00:00:00 J Cramer Graphics Ad
00:00:30 Journey to West Point
00:06:08 The History and Heritage of West Point
00:11:59 Transitioning to the Army and Armor Branch
00:14:47 Pre-9/11 Military Training and Mindset
00:20:56 Iraq Combat Ops and Recon Missions
00:35:27 Surveillance and EOD Escort Missions
00:42:32 Combined Arms
00:46:54 Special Forces Selection Process
00:52:50 Moral Ambiguity in Special Operations
00:59:15 Insights from the Qualification Course
01:10:23 Building Team Cohesion | Team Dynamics and Training
01:14:48 Deployment Decisions and Responsibilities
01:19:09 Mission Objectives and Local Forces
01:24:53 Engagements and Tactical Challenges
01:32:22 Ambush Experiences and Lessons Learned
01:38:18 Leadership Under Pressure
01:43:09 Reflections on Loss and Moving Forward

Extra Episode | Bart Womack | US Army Old Guard, 101st Airborne, Invasion of Iraq Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

Retired Army Command Sergeant Major Bart Womack shares his journey from basic training in 1977 to deployments in Korea, Turkey, and Germany. He recounts a firefight in the Korean DMZ, his service at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and his experiences during the September 11th attacks and an insider attack in Iraq.
Support the show
https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguys
https://www.jcramergraphics.com
https://www.ANGLICOshop.com

Ep. 231 | Brandon Young | 75th Ranger Regiment Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

Brandon Young joined the Army and immediately tried out for a spot in the 75th Ranger Regiment when the opportunity presented itself at the Basic Airborne Course. Brandon's unit was one of the first to respond to the 9/11 attacks and he deployed to Afghanistan 3 more times.
Support the show
https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguys
https://www.jcramergraphics.com
https://www.ANGLICOshop.com
Brandon's links
Book: https://www.perseverancebook.com
Website: https://www.applieleadershippartners.com
00:00:00 J Cramer Graphics Ad | Military Gear Discussion
00:03:11 Volunteering for the Army Rangers
00:06:08 Ranger Indoctrination Program
00:09:11 Evolution of Ranger Training and Readiness
00:12:01 Deployment Experiences: The Reality of Combat
00:18:01 75th Ranger Regiment Structure
00:20:48 Life Events During Military Service
00:26:56 Connecting Veterans with Civilian Communities
00:44:28 Navigating Military Responsibilities and Personal Life
00:47:06 Understanding Moral Injury in Combat
00:49:41 The Complexity of Combat Decisions
00:56:01 Reflections on the Afghanistan Withdrawal
01:04:19 The Struggles of Mental Health in Veterans
01:10:00 The Value of Journaling and Reflection
01:26:15 Understanding the Battlefield
01:27:57 First Deployment to Afghanistan
01:32:21 Chasing Ghosts: The Reality of Combat
01:36:46 The Evolution of Combat Experience
01:39:44 The Impact of Casualties
01:52:58 The Weight of Loss and Reality

Clip 047 | Will Drones Steal Pilot Jobs? | F16 and F35 Pilot | "Hasard" Lee Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

Justin "Hasard" Lee is a F35 and F16 test pilot who makes social media content that focuses on the life of a fighter pilot. We discuss the future of fighter pilots as drones become more advanced in this clip taken from Ep. 170.
Support the show
https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguys
https://www.jcramergraphics.com
https://www.ANGLICOshop.com

Clip 046 | IED Attack on April 9th | US Army Infantry and NYPD Detective Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

On April 9th, 2005, Matt Klein, a retired NYPD detective and US Army infantryman, was struck by an IED while patrolling a cemetery in Samarra, Iraq. After the strike, the other members of his unit located and captured the triggerman.
In this clip taken from Ep. 180, Klein shares his incredible story of survival and resilience. He talks about the moment of the attack and the aftermath.
Support the show
https://patreon.com/formeractionguys
https://jcramergraphics.com
https://ANGLICOshop.com

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