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Ones Ready — Government
Ones Ready

A team of active duty Combat Control (CCT), Pararescue (PJ), and Special Reconnaissance (SR) leveraging our 69 years of special operations experience to make the next generation of operators smarter, faster and stronger than we ever were. We are the PREMIERE resource for all things Air Force Special Warfare. The Ones Ready Podcast is honest talk about what it is like to go from a know-nothing high school graduate to an elite Special Operator. We will cover important practices for success including physical training, nutrition, recovery, and mindset traits essential to any team. Join us in The Team Room to get all your questions answered!! With battle-tested operators from across USAF SPECWAR and far-reaching web of recruiters, subject matter experts, and friends, there are no questions we can’t answer- and if we can’t, we know exactly where to look. See you in The Team Room!Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the OnesReady team are those of the team and do not reflect the official policy or position of the DoD. Any content provided by our Podcast guests, bloggers, sponsors, or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign the DoD, any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone.

Copyright: © 2026 Ones Ready

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 203: Mental Health Awareness with PJ Steve Nisbet from Shields and Stripes Mar 25, 2023

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The mental health stigma in the military has been worn away in recent years- but there is still a lot left to accomplish.
In this episode, we are joined by Steve Nisbet, a Pararescueman and President/Co-founder of Shields and Stripes, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving first responders' and veterans' mental and physical health.
Steve shares his journey as a PJ and his mental health struggles after serving in combat. We dive deep into PTSD and its impact on individuals and their families- and this one gets very real.
Aaron and Steve discuss the stigma surrounding mental health in the first responder and military communities and how Steve and his team are working to break down those barriers through Shields and Stripes. This episode is an inspiring and informative conversation about the challenges of PTSD and the hope that can be found through support and advocacy.
Make sure to go check out Shields and Stripes at shieldsandstripes.org, and if you can donate to this fantastic organization, please do so.
#onesready #mentalhealth #firstresponders
00:00 Peach calls his shot and kills the Ad Reads - 18A Fitness and Hoist Codes Below
02:15 Aaron says "ya boi" unironically for whatever reason and Steve's background
20:10 The Worst Spin Up Ever and Getting Shot at the first time
45:56 Another deployment and starting to show cracks in the foundation
1:17:00 Getting Ready for Selection Again
1:25:00 The foundation starts to crumble and recognizing serious problems
1:32:00 The final loss
1:51:00 The birth of Shields and Stripes
Don't forget to subscribe to the Podcast on your favorite player! http://bit.ly/2OG2Olf
Have a question? Email us at info@onesready.com
Follow us on Instagram http://bit.ly/2OeNoFI
As always, THANK YOU for your support, we truly appreciate it.
#shieldsandstripes #onesready #mentalhealth

Support the show

Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE
Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE

Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com

Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com
Collabs:
Ones Ready - OnesReady.com
18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY
ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete
Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY
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Ep 202: Pararescue Team Leader: Doug Dicken And The Crash Of PEDRO 66 Mar 22, 2023

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Retired Pararescueman Doug Dicken has given his adult life in service to the Air Force and PJ community. Doug's life was forever changed on June 9th 2010, when he witnessed the crash of Pedro 66, in the Helmand area of Aghanistan.
Doug talks us through all the lessons he learned while responding to one of the deadliest crashes the Pararescue and CRO community had seen.
Thanks to Doug for having the courage to be open and honest about his struggles with mental health and for sharing his story with us.
If you could, please take a moment and remember those we lost in the crash of Pedro 66:
Capt. David Wisniewski - 66th Rescue Squadron
Staff Sgt. David Smith - 66th Rescue Squadron
1st Lt. Joel Gentz - 58th Rescue Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Michael Flores - 48th Rescue Squadron
Senior Airman Benjamin White - 48th Rescue Squadron
00:00 The pre-roll of the intro that you need
04:00 Doug's Indoc experiences and pipeline and getting to team
13:50 Doug gets his first deployment
30:00 Bad feelings in Afghanistan and Tactical Momentum
32:30 The Story of Pedro 66
42:30 Doug gets on the ground
51:00 The fog of war
58:00 Patients were alive- time to go to work
01:03:00 The aftermath
01:09:00 Stories about our friends
01:13:00 Mental Health and struggling with PTSD
Don't forget to subscribe to the Podcast on your favorite player! http://bit.ly/2OG2Olf
Have a question? Email us at info@onesready.com
Follow us on Instagram http://bit.ly/2OeNoFI
As always, THANK YOU for your support, we truly appreciate it.
#pararescue #onesready #mentalhealth

Support the show

Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE
Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE

Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com

Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com
Collabs:
Ones Ready - OnesReady.com
18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY
ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete
Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY
DFND Apparel...

Ep 201: Nick Koumalatsos- MARSOC Marine, Author, Coach- in the Team Room! Mar 18, 2023

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Nick Koumalatsos is a veteran of SOF, a published author, a consultant, and a serial entrepreneur. As a Marine raider, Nick spent 12 years in the USMC with multiple deployments to Afghanistan and all over the world.
After his departure from the SOF and USMC communities, Nick has focused on finding ways to continue to be of service in any way that he can- whether it's through veteran outreach programs, speaking about his own struggles with mental health, or training young men to be good men in today's uncertain times, which he is very passionate about.
Make sure to check out Nick's youtube channel and his website, where you can find links to all the things that Nick cares about, at https://www.nickkoumalatsos.com
Thank you to Nick for coming on, and we appreciate all you continue to do for us and our communities!
00:00 - Aaron tries to say the guest's name correctly, and you know how this goes
00:30 - Nick's backstory
10:30 - The Benefit of age and leadership
12:30 - Recon and MARSOC Selections
30:50 - The mental struggles of deployments
40:00 - The Beach
47:20 - The Start of Coaching and empathy
51:30 - Make Men Great Again
Don't forget to subscribe to the Podcast on your favorite player! http://bit.ly/2OG2Olf
Have a question? Email us at info@onesready.com
Follow us on Instagram http://bit.ly/2OeNoFI
As always, THANK YOU for your support, we truly appreciate it.
#nickkoumalatsos #onesready #podcast

Support the show

Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE
Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE

Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com

Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com
Collabs:
Ones Ready - OnesReady.com
18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY
ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete
Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY
DFND Apparel...

Ep. 200- Leaving Afghanistan: Lessons from HKIA feat. PJs Sean & Chris Mar 17, 2023

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Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai International Airport, or HKIA, was the center of the world's attention following the announcement of America's retrograde from Afghanistan over the course of 2021. The images we saw- desperate civilians throwing children over the wall into the arms of Marines and Airmen. The terrifying images of the aftermath of the attack at Abbey Gate. Videos of desperate Afghanis falling from aircraft in their last ditch attempt to escape the Taliban for anywhere other than Afghanistan. It is a time that has been burned into the brains of all American Service Members.
Recently, Congress started hearing some accounts of what happened over the course of those 4 months. From the breakdown in the chain of command to the lack of support, to the tragedy of losing 13 Americans in a mass casualty event- even 2 years later, this event has captivated the hearts, minds and attention of of the American Public.
Finally, the Pararescue Team Senior Enlisted Leader, Sean, and Team Sergeant, Chris, are here to tell their story of exactly what happened in the lead up to the event, exactly what happened in the most unsure time in all of the Global War on Terror, and the days and weeks that followed.
In the end, 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses were awarded to the pilots, crew chiefs, loadmasters maintaners and support personnel for their support to Operation ALLIES REFUGE. However, the ground team- who were credited with the rescue and movement of tens of thousands of cvilians- recieved far less recognition.
At the time of this writing, the highest medal bestowed on the ground team is a Bronze Star with Valor, and only two of them. The struggle continues at the highest levels to recognize their sacrifices appropriately.
Thank you doesn't begin to encapsulate how appreciative the Ones Ready team is for Sean and Chris taking this time to highlight just how capable, relevant, valiant and professional the Air Force's Rescue Community is- but thank you is the best we can do, and we mean it sincerely.
What was your favorite part of the podcast? Drop them in the comments!
00:00 Greymangear.com and Eberlestock.com
04:40 Intros and Welcome
08:07 Lead up to HKIA from Chris
15:30 Kunduz, Helmand and Impending doom
18:30 Who do you call when no one is there?
23:45 July JTE
29:30 Getting the HKIA mission and Relationships matter
38:45 After the JTE
51:20 Start of NEO and Buying Local Bikes
1:04:00 The start of Alamo Planning
1:10:00 The first PR incident
1:20:00 Kabul has fallen and August 13th on
1:27:30 HKIA is Breached
1:37:00 See work, do work- outside the wire
1:46:00 Aaron ruins the best story with short jokes and makes Sean mad
1:53:00 Saving lives from texts and non-standard PR
2:03:00 Trust and intimacy on the teams
2:09:00 Rescue of Aria, relationships, and Abbey Gare
2:17:30 Abbey gate, cracks in the foundation, and losing Max
2:31:30 Moving on and finding the exit
2:43:00 Fighting for Recognition
2:45:00 62 AW shoutout
#Afghanistan #HKIA #podcast
The views and opinions expressed by the OnesReady team and Sean and Chris are those of the team and themselves. and do not reflect the official policy or position of the DoD. Any content provided by our Podcast guests, bloggers, sponsors, or authors is their opinion and is not intended to malign the DoD, any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone.

Support the show

Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE
Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE

Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com

Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com
Collabs:
Ones Ready - OnesReady.com
18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY
ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete
Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY
DFND Apparel...

Ep 199: Ones Ready and That L- Word In The Team Room Mar 15, 2023

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That L Word with Jody Fletcher and Coach Morgan is one of the absolute bests podcasts you haven't listened to yet. These guys absolutely love helping and coaching- and they drop some absolute knowledge bombs.
Aaron and Trent are equal part students and hosts in this one- thanks to Jody and Morgan for coming on and make sure to follow them on their socials and wherever you get your podcasts! You can find them on IG at that_lword!
Huge thanks to Jody and Morgan for coming on and sharing their considerable knowledge, it was an absolute pleasure.
00:00 The best intro that Trent has Ever Done
00:40 How the L Word started
05:10 Coach Morgan Gets Black Hole Grenaded by Trent
15:21 Growing in Leadership in the Military
40:40 What you bring matters
46:45 Get Rid of the Word Flexibility- use Fluidity
Don't forget to subscribe to the Podcast on your favorite player! http://bit.ly/2OG2Olf
Have a question? Email us at info@onesready.com
Follow us on Instagram http://bit.ly/2OeNoFI
As always, THANK YOU for your support, we truly appreciate it.
#podcast #thatlword #military

Support the show

Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE
Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE

Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com

Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com
Collabs:
Ones Ready - OnesReady.com
18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY
ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete
Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY
DFND Apparel...

Ep 198: Connor "The Controller" Matthews - MMA Fighter UFC Hopeful Mar 11, 2023

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Connor "The Controller" Matthews has been on before, but he is here after preparing for his next fight, scheduled for 15 March!
Connor is a former Combat Controller that followed his dream of eventually getting into the UFC and becoming a pro fighter. It has been a long road, but he is now ready to crush it like only AFSPECWAR can. We are happy to support Connor and everything he is doing to constantly look for the next thing, grow, and become a leader of his small and growing tribe.
Aaron and Trent walk through everything new with Connor and what's up next with him. Don't forget about his fight on the 15th of March!
Make sure to follow Connor on Instagram at thecontrollermma and here on his YouTube for awesome content and BJJ coaching!
Thanks to Connor and we can't wait to have you on to talk about your win!
00:00 18A Fitness code 1READY and trenchcoffeeco.com and ATACLETE.com codes- ONESREADY
02:11 Connor The Controller Matthews intro and welcome
08:47 What Connor learned from Losing
16:05 Getting a Strong Team and interpersonal relationships
24:15 Starting to Coach and moving to Mom's basement
42:40 Fixing your own problems, succeeding, and doin what you love
47:10 Training for the unknown
Don't forget to subscribe to the Podcast on your favorite player! http://bit.ly/2OG2Olf
Have a question? Email us at info@onesready.com
Follow us on Instagram http://bit.ly/2OeNoFI
As always, THANK YOU for your support; we truly appreciate it.
#onesready #thecontrollermma #podcast

Support the show

Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE
Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE

Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com

Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com
Collabs:
Ones Ready - OnesReady.com
18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY
ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete
Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY
DFND Apparel...

Ep 197: Pararescueman and Guardian Fitness Owner Tyler Mace Mar 07, 2023

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Tyler Mace, the Pararescueman behind Guardian Fitness, had a ten-year career and multiple combat deployments behind him when he decided to answer another calling.
Tyler's desire to guide, coach, mentor, and give his experience to the next generation led him to start Guardian Fitness. At Guardian Fitness, Tyler's only goal is to find the next generation and give them the tools they need before that need arises. From psychological support to nutrition, to physical preparation, to individualized coaching, Tyler is doing his best to ensure the future special operators of today live up to the history that's made them so famous.
Most importantly, Guardian Fitness and Shields and Stripes are teaming up in March to go the extra mile, raise awareness, and provide world-class support to first responders and military personnel suffering from the invisible wounds of their lifetime of service.
Follow Guardian Fitness on Instagram and check them out at www.guardianfitness.us. Head over to Sheilds and Stripes on IG, at Sheilds_and_Stripes, and at https://shieldsandstripes.org/ to ensure you track the massive March push/project- and please, this month, go the extra mile for these great organizations.
00:00 Ataclete and CardoMax Use Code ONESREADY
02:00 Tyler's intro
09:30 Getting to your first unit
15:10 Know your Mission, deployments, and staying motivated
29:30 Tyler's instructor duty and impression of the students
33:30 The Start of Guardian Fitness
41:26 Shields and Stripes/Guardian Fitness "The Extra Mile"
Don't forget to subscribe to the Podcast on your favorite player! http://bit.ly/2OG2Olf
Have a question? Email us at info@onesready.com
Follow us on Instagram http://bit.ly/2OeNoFI
As always, THANK YOU for your support; we truly appreciate it.
#onesready #guardianfitness #podcast

Support the show

Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE
Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE

Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com

Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com
Collabs:
Ones Ready - OnesReady.com
18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY
ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete
Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY
DFND Apparel...

Ep 196: Vietnam CCT and STO (ret) John "JK" Koren- Living Controller Legend! Mar 04, 2023

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Major John Koren was a Combat Controller, then a Special Tactics Officer and is the definition of the word "legend". From Vietnam to the Philippines, to the highest freefall jump of the time, to BrandX- his career is absolutely unbelievable.
John was gracious enough to share his time and story with all of us, so we can honor exactly what these legends of our career fields have done.
Huge thanks to John Koren, we truly appreciate his impact on Combat Control and Air Force Special Tactics as a whole! Hopefully, we can get him back on for round 2 ASAP!
00:00 Hit up Ataclete.com for all your training needs
04:10 John's path to the Air Force and then Combat Control
14:50 Peaches first bag
17:10 John's deployments to Viet Nam and Laos
29:00 Viet Nam Pararescuemen and Combat Rescue and bombing in Laos
37:30 Closing down Viet Nam, evac of Saigon, the Philippines
46:30 Deciding to become a Special Tactics Officer
54:19 Operation Eagle Claw
1:00:30 The invite for round 2!!
Don't forget to subscribe to the Podcast on your favorite player! http://bit.ly/2OG2Olf
Have a question? Email us at info@onesready.com
Follow us on Instagram http://bit.ly/2OeNoFI
As always, THANK YOU for your support, we truly appreciate it.
#vietnam #combatcontrol #USSOCOM

Support the show

Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE
Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE

Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com

Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com
Collabs:
Ones Ready - OnesReady.com
18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY
ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete
Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY
DFND Apparel...

Ep 195: Pararescueman, CMSgt (ret) Ivan Ruiz Part - Navigating Change Mar 01, 2023

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We have had Pararescue Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) Ivan Ruiz on a couple times before- he's a close friend to all of us here at Ones Ready, and has always been an example of "how to do it the right way." Now, as Ivan is making his way into the next phase of his life, he sits down and reflects mid-stream about what all that means.
You heard his awesome advice in part one- but we had to split this one up into a special two-part series so Ivan could dig into some real talk for the next generation.
Huge thanks to Ivan for coming on and being real, he has an open invite and can come on whenever he wants. Let us know if you have questions for Ivan in the comments!
00:00 Hit up Eberlestock for every bag and piece of tech gear you could need
01:55 Have the career fields changed that much?
04:30 Aaron traps Ivan and makes him King for a Day and the Enabler Mission
15:40 Pararescue and the future
22:20 Ivan's advice for Pipeline students
35:10 Aaron and Trent talk about lessons learned from the pod
Don't forget to subscribe to the Podcast on your favorite player! http://bit.ly/2OG2Olf
Have a question? Email us at info@onesready.com
Follow us on Instagram http://bit.ly/2OeNoFI
As always, THANK YOU for your support, we truly appreciate it.
#pararescue #onesready #military

Support the show

Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE
Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE

Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com

Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com
Collabs:
Ones Ready - OnesReady.com
18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY
ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete
Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY
DFND Apparel...

Ep 194: Pararescueman, CMSgt (ret) Ivan Ruiz - Leaving the Military Feb 25, 2023

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We have had Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) Ivan Ruiz on a couple times before- he's a close friend to all of us here at Ones Ready, and has always been an example of "how do to it the right way." Now, as Ivan is making his way into the next phase of his life, he sits down and reflects mid-stream about what all that means.
This is part of a much larger conversation that we had to break up, it was so good. We got Ivan to talk about the "next generation" of PJ and what he is gonna miss most about the career field in a Part 2, coming out soon.
Huge thanks to Ivan for coming on and being real, he has an open invite and can come on whenever he wants. Let us know if you have questions for Ivan in the comments!
00:00 Hit up Eberlestock for every bag and piece of tech gear you could need
01:40 The intro no one wanted but we got a Deliliah after dark reference
02:55 Ivan calls Peaches out for setting him up
03:47 Tranisitioning out of the Military with Ivan's nuggets
05:28 How important is a network and when should you start
20:45 One Deep Mentality
32:45 Who you are vs what you do and time management
35:20 The Truth About Staff Meetings and what that means at that level
39:00 What's happening currently in the world?
Don't forget to subscribe to the Podcast on your favorite player! http://bit.ly/2OG2Olf
Have a question? Email us at info@onesready.com
Follow us on Instagram http://bit.ly/2OeNoFI
As always, THANK YOU for your support, we truly appreciate it.
#pararescue #onesready #military

Support the show

Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE
Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE

Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com

Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com
Collabs:
Ones Ready - OnesReady.com
18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY
ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete
Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY
DFND Apparel...

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