Combat Story – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Today on Combat Story, we hear the story of Joshua "Josh" Shores — Marine infantry combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, former Marine Raider, retired firefighter, entrepreneur, and author of Counting on Death: A Marine Infantryman's Journey from the Front Lines of Combat to the Fight for Peace.

Josh served with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines during some of the hardest fighting in Ramadi before later deploying to Afghanistan with Marine Special Operations. In this conversation, he takes us through the reality of combat as a 19-year-old Marine, the burden of surviving when others did not, and the long fight to make peace with the memories that followed him home.

Although AJ and Josh never served together, this episode becomes a deeply relatable conversation between two Marines who carried similar experiences through different units, deployments, and years of war. There are moments where the interview gives way to recognition, where both men are able to sit inside the same memories, ask harder questions, and give language to parts of combat that are rarely spoken about clearly.

This episode goes far beyond firefights and deployments.

Josh speaks candidly about the culture inside the infantry during the height of the Iraq War, the emotional toll of losing friends to IEDs, the confusion of counterinsurgency warfare, survivor's guilt, shame, identity, suicide, and the struggle many veterans face trying to reconnect with life after combat.

This is a conversation about consequence.
About brotherhood.
About grief.
And about trying to find peace after war.

🎙️ Guest — Joshua "Josh" Shores
Marine infantry combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, former Marine Raider, retired firefighter, entrepreneur, and author of Counting on Death. He served with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in Ramadi before later deploying to Afghanistan with Marine Special Operations.

🔗 Find Joshua Online:

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CountingOnDeath/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuashoresofficial/
🔗 Website: https://www.countingondeath.com
📕 Book (Counting on Death):
https://www.amazon.com/Counting-Death-Marine-Infantrymans-Journey/dp/1636245706/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1#detailBullets_feature_div
🎧 Audiobook:
https://www.audible.com/pd/Counting-on-Death-Audiobook/B0F1Z1HJSG?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

🎙️ Host AJ Pasciuti

AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat.

🔗 Find AJ Online:

📕 Book (Darkhorse): https://www.ajpasciuti.com/book

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/

📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/

🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/

🎧 Featured Combat Story Episodes with AJ

👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 1 (USMC Sniper & Force Recon) - Battle of Fallujah | Shooting w/ Chris Kyle | American Sniper | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4QI-5sNeCs

👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 2 (Sniper vs Sniper Battle) - Killing the Enemy's Most Lethal Sniper | Force Recon | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Ggly1TGAU

Before Vietnam became the war America remembers, James Lyle Steele was already in it. In Episode 1 of Reconnaissance Man, "Good Morning, Vietnam," Steele takes us into the earliest days of America's involvement in the war, when the mission was still forming, the battlefield was still being understood, and the cost was already very real.

A retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and one of the original generation of Marine reconnaissance men, Steele describes a brutal and fast-changing fight shaped by booby traps, poisoned bamboo, hidden tunnels, ambushes, helicopter assaults, and constant adaptation. This is not a distant retelling. It is a firsthand account from a man who was there before most Americans even understood the war had begun.

Created by investigative journalist Ashly McGlone in collaboration with the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation, and brought to life by Combat Story, Reconnaissance Man is a nine-part limited series following Steele's extraordinary 30-year military career through Vietnam, the Cold War, and beyond.

🎙️ Guest — James Lyle Steele
James Lyle Steele is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel whose 30-year career carried him through Vietnam, the Cold War, and beyond. A member of the original generation of Marine reconnaissance men, Steele's story offers a rare firsthand look at war, survival, and service across decades of American military history.

Ashly McGlone is an investigative journalist and the creator of Reconnaissance Man. As Steele's granddaughter, she pairs reporting, narration, and historical context with family connection to bring his extraordinary story to life with depth and care.

🔗 Find Reconnaissance Man and Ashly McGlone Online:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reconnaissanceman/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashlyreports/
🔗 X: https://x.com/ReconManPod
🔗 X: https://x.com/AshlyReports

🎙️ Host — AJ Pasciuti
AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat.

🔗 Find AJ Online:
📕 Book (Darkhorse): https://www.amazon.com/Darkhorse-Harnessing-Hidden-Potential-Life/dp/1400254973
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/
📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/
🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/

🎧 Featured Combat Story Episodes with AJ
👉 Combat Story Podcast — Part 1 (USMC Sniper & Force Recon)
Battle of Fallujah | Shooting w/ Chris Kyle | American Sniper | AJ Pasciuti
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4QI-5sNeCs

👉 Combat Story Podcast — Part 2 (Sniper vs. Sniper Battle)
Killing the Enemy's Most Lethal Sniper | Force Recon | AJ Pasciuti
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Ggly1TGAU

Chapters:

00:00 Reconnaissance Man Intro
01:42 The Cost of Fighting in Vietnam
02:46 Before Vietnam Became America's War
04:47 Meet James Lyle Steele
06:27 Good Morning, Vietnam
07:37 Learning How the War Was Really Fought
10:56 Tigers, Vipers, and the Terrain
14:41 Poisoned Bamboo and Booby Traps
16:27 The Ho Chi Minh Trail and Tunnel Warfare
21:16 Why the Enemy Was So Hard to Fight
22:03 Hidden Weapons, Firefights, and Guides
23:58 The South Vietnamese Forces He Respected
26:06 Why He Wanted to Stay
26:32 The Train Ambush That Should Have Killed Him
28:26 The First Helicopter Assault of the War
30:21 "General Taylor, Go Home"
31:43 The Helicopter Crash
34:00 What Americans Weren't Being Told
34:40 Next Episode: Cuba
35:37 Credits

In this episode of Combat Story, we sit down with Michael D'Angelo — a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who turned a turbulent childhood, military service, and hard-earned life lessons into a career built on laughter and connection. Raised in a rough environment where stability was never guaranteed, Michael found in the Marine Corps something he didn't have growing up: structure, purpose, and a way out. Serving as a Marine machine gunner, the Corps gave him direction — and later, perspective — on both pain and resilience. After leaving the military, Michael found a new mission through comedy, using humor as a tool for healing, truth-telling, and connection. He went on to found the Rapid Fire Comedy Tour, bringing stand-up comedy directly to troops, veterans, and first responders across the country — meeting people where they are and reminding them they're not alone. On this episode, we explore how the Marine Corps reshaped a young man searching for escape, how comedy became a second form of service, and why laughter might be one of the most underrated survival skills in the veteran community. While this episode doesn't focus on combat experiences, it stays true to our core mission of uplifting veteran voices and exploring the many paths of service after the uniform comes off. And fair warning — this one is absolutely hilarious. You won't want to miss it. 🎙️

Guest Information — Michael D'Angelo | Rapid Fire Comedy Tour Michael D'Angelo is a veteran comedian and creator behind the Rapid Fire Comedy Tour, a mission-driven comedy experience supporting military morale, connection, and veteran communities through humor.

🔗 Find Michael D'Angelo Online:

🎤 Rapid Fire Comedy Tour: https://www.rapidfirecomedytour.org

📸 Instagram (Tour): @rapidfirecomedytour

🎭 Character Monologues / Skits: @skitmos

👤 Personal Instagram: @michaeltheangelo 

🎙️ Host Information — AJ Pasciuti | Combat Story AJ Pasciuti is a retired Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner), author of Darkhorse: Harnessing Hidden Potential in War and Life, and host of the Combat Story Podcast, where veterans share honest, unfiltered stories of service, leadership, and life after combat. 

🔗 Find AJ Online:

📕 Book (Darkhorse): https://www.amazon.com/Darkhorse-Harnessing-Hidden-Potential-Life/dp/1400254973

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajpasciuti/

📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelo-pasciuti/

🔗 Website: https://www.ajpasciuti.com/

🎧 Featured Combat Story Episodes with AJ 👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 1 (USMC Sniper & Force Recon) - Battle of Fallujah | Shooting w/ Chris Kyle | American Sniper | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4QI-5sNeCs

👉 Combat Story Podcast – Part 2 (Sniper vs Sniper Battle) - Killing the Enemy's Most Lethal Sniper | Force Recon | AJ Pasciuti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Ggly1TGAU

📺 Additional Features & Media 👉 Urban Valor Podcast Feature: https://urbanvalor.com/episode/marine-snipers-eliminate-enemy-sniper-reclaim-stolen-us-sniper-rifle/

👉 DVIDS – Infantry Marine Course Feature: https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/Comptroller/Innovation/?dvpTag=imc&videoid=790758

Go to www.HelloFresh.com/50combatstory and use code 50combatstory for 50% off plus free shipping to get delicious and healthy meals that you can make at home with your family in no time and add some variety to what you serve! Our family has used Hello Fresh for years!

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

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Today we have a unique Combat Story from a long time aviator Sean Borland. Sean flew Cobras, Apaches, MH-53 Pave Lows, and CV-22 Ospreys providing direct support to war fighters pre and post-9/11.

Notably, Sean was in the first set of aircraft to go into Afghanistan immediately after 9/11 as part of Air Force Special Operations flying the MH-53 in both combat search and rescue and multi-purpose infil and exfil operations for special ops units of varying flavors from white SOF to OGA.
This is a deep dive into some of the technical aspects of aviation, particularly rotary wing, and some of the differences between the Air Force Special Operations aviation elements and 160th. 

I hope you enjoy this wide ranging discussion and insight into the rotary wing side of operations as much as I did. 

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Find Ryan Online:
- Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
- Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
- Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
- Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
- Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
- Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Find Sean Online:
- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-borland-2b0b2045/

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Show Notes:
00:00 - Intro 
00:47 - Guest Introduction (Sean Borland)
01:37 - Interview begins
02:05 - Background in Aviation
07:07 - Media and influences
10:47 - Deciding to go Marines
17:10 - Flying guns
20:30 - HelloFresh
21:45 - Differences between Cobra and Apache
24:27 - Apache mentality in the 90's
30:32 - Going to FLERE??
32:38 - Path to the Air Force
40:33 - Mision set of MH53
47:35 - Crew Configuration of MH53
50:42 - 9/11 and deployment
01:05:00 - First time outside the wire
01:28:18 - Fighter weapons school
01:32:48 - Challenging Operations
01:52:24 - Change to Osprey
01:58:44 - Close call Operation
02:07:13 - Sentimental items
02:08:44 - Would you do it again
02:09:28 - Vietnam History Flight
02:11:59 - Closing thoughts
02:12:39 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we go for our second Combat Story with a member of the Air Force's aerial special operations community: Mike LaFeve, an MC-130 Navigator in the Air Force's 8th Special Operations Squadron (8th SOS).

Mike was deployed consistently from 2001 to 2006 with the 8th SOS as the most deployed Air Force special operations squadron at the time. This included trips to both Afghanistan and Iraq as both the aircraft technology improved and bases in theater become more fortified. 

In the MC-130, Mike was responsible for a variety of mission sets supporting, primarily, the special operations community, including DEVGRU as we hear in this episode. The MC-130 is designed to support the special operations community with airdrops, delivery and extraction of special operators, refueling, combat search and rescue and so much more. 

In this episode, we pick up where we left off as Mike goes from the first deployment post-9/11 into the next and more established operational tempo going from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan to Kuwait to Iraq and back again and I hope you enjoy this set of combat stories in the versatile MC-130 as much as I did.
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Find Ryan Online:
- Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
- Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
- Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
- Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
- Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
- Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Find Mike LaFeve Online:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelafeve/
- Stronghold Freedom Foundation https://strongholdfreedomfoundation.org/
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Show Notes:
00:00 - Intro 
00:53 - Guest Introduction (Mike LaFeve)
02:02 - Interview begins
02:45 - K-2
11:30 - Coming back from first deployment and OIF
26:18 - Night the war kicked off
30:00 - OIF stories
36:50 - GPS guided DZ drops
42:30 - Kuwait deployment
46:22 - Big mission
50:28 - What makes a good crew in the cockpit
59:37 - Funny story from '05
01:05:39 - Keeping it light during missions
01:12:58 - Last deployment to Bagram 
01:44:40 - Military persona into the civilian world
01:54:06 - Strong Hold Freedom Foundation
01:57:17 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by RocketMoney. Go to www.RocketMoney.com/combatstory and get help finding and canceling your unwanted subscriptions, monitor your spending, and help lower your bills—all in one place.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

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Today we hear the Combat Story of a long time Marine and Special Operator Andy Milburn who, after retiring from 31 years of service, decided to then go to Ukraine to support their fight against the Russians through what he aptly named the Mozart Group. 

Andy has a knack for getting close to the action that started long before he became a Marine. Growing up in the UK, Andy found himself detained momentarily in Iran before meeting a group of Marine Security Guards in Pakistan that changed his career path from lawyer to Marine. He was part of operations in Somalia, Iraq (from the invasion to counter-ISIS operations), Afghanistan, and Libya.

He commanded at multiple levels, including the first ever O-6 level Special Operations Task Force while battling ISIS in Iraq. He's battled some of the darkest moments of the trauma and grief that come from combat and loss but continues to give back, to include the time he spent in Ukraine with the Mozart Group.

Andy's written a book about his time in service, When The Tempest Gathers, that helps clearly explain how he might end up in Ukraine after retiring and has been published in multiple journals, including The Atlantic and Task and Purpose. He and his Mozart Group have been featured in the New York Times and countless other news outlets.

We need to say a special thanks to our brothers at the Team House for making this interview happen and  I hope you enjoy this story of sacrifice and selflessness from a lifelong Marine as much as I did.

Find Ryan Online:
- Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
- Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
- Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
- Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
- Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
- Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Find Andy Online:
- When The Tempest Gathers: https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations/dp/1526750554
- Learn more about Andy https://www.mei.edu/profile/andy-milburn
- Twitter @andymilburn8 https://twitter.com/andymilburn8?lang=en
- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023/
- Instagram @milburnar https://www.instagram.com/milburnar/?hl=en
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Show Notes:
00:00 - Intro 
00:47 - Guest Introduction (Andy Milburn)
02:15 - Interview begins
03:00 - Marine House in Islamabad
11:26 - From Islamabad to Australia
16:30 - Family's reaction to dangerous trip
20:15 - Rocket Money
24:54 - Isolation of command 
27:22 - Starting as a Private at Paris Island
32:23 - Hollywood Marines
34:23 - Path to Mogadishu
40:41 - First time in combat
52:41 - Being in Command
55:30 - Challenging battles
01:07:57 - Loss during Command
01:15:20 - Time in Libya
01:35:44 - Counter-ISIS
01:47:04 - Perseverance in traumatic times
01:56:05 - Similar role in the future
01:57:30 - Mental health experiences
02:02:12 - Sentimental Items
02:07:52 - Would you do it again
02:10:09 -  Listener comments and shout outs

Go to www.HelloFresh.com/combatstory50 and use code combatstory50 for 50% off plus free shipping to get delicious and healthy meals that you can make at home with your family in no time and add some variety to what you serve! Our family has used Hello Fresh for years!

This episode is brought to you by RocketMoney. Go to www.RocketMoney.com/combatstory and get help finding and canceling your unwanted subscriptions, monitor your spending, and help lower your bills—all in one place. 

This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Go to www.joindeleteme.com/combat and use the code COMBAT to get 20% off your plan and keep your personal information online secure.

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

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Today we have an amazing Combat Story from a 28 year F-16 fighter pilot, Jet Jernigan. Jet's story is remarkable from how he stumbled into aviation to eventually lead the first 20 F-16s into Kuwait in the Gulf War to take out 10 Surface-to-Air (SAM) Missile sites and clear the way for Air Force bombers.

Jet and his 19 wingmen evaded over 40 SAM launches in just a 9 minute period in what can only be described as organized chaos. He would go head-to-head with SA-2s, SA-6s, and SA-9s in a span of just a few months.

As a member of the South Carolina Air National Guard, it seems unlikely that Jet's unit was chosen ahead of other Active Duty Air Force squadrons to be the first F-16s into Kuwait. Fortunately, Jet and his team had just won Gunsmoke, the Air Force's preeminent international aviation air-to-ground combat training exercise despite flying older F-16s against the Active Duty Air Force's modernized variants, proving they were equally capable aviators.

Jet had many firsts in his career, including being the first Air National Guard pilot to attend the Air Force's elite Fighter Weapons School where, with his high school degree and Air National Guard pedigree, finished as the honor graduate or Top Gun. Jet is an incredibly humble, accomplished, and god fearing veteran who continues to live out a Hollywood-like story. Stay tuned to the end of this episode to hear Colin Powell's very own description of when Jet was interviewed by a reporter just after landing from his first mission in the Gulf War…it says it all. #f16 #fighterpilot #airforce #veteran =======

Find Ryan Online: - Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory - Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats... - Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory - Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial - Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial - Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Jet Jernigan Online: - Instagram @Jetf16 https://www.instagram.com/jetf16/

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Show Notes: 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Guest Introduction (Jet Jernigan) 02:40 - Interview begins 22:14 - What's an A-7D aircraft? 28:45 - What's it like flying the F-16? 33:53 - What's it like to hit a bird (bird strike) at 450mph? 39:11 - What is Fighter Weapons School? 50:40 - What is Gunsmoke? 52:11 - Greatest answer to a media question in history…what's it like to fly an F-16? 01:01:53 - Why did we have Desert Storm? 01:15:16 - Preparing for the Gulf War 01:23:43 - Taking off for the first F-16 flight of the Gulf War 01:39:31 - How to evade a Surface to Air Missile (the science behind it from a fighter pilot) 01:41:08 - An intense mission in Basra meeting an SA-9 and sinking a ship! 01:46:59 - Sinking a Navy ship with an F-16 01:56:04 - When Colin Powell talks about Jet Jernigan after the Gulf War 02:00:15 - What Jet carried on combat missions 02:03:19 - Sentimental Items 02:04:19 - Would you do it again? 02:07:30 - Listener comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Today we have a unique and very interesting Combat Story with former Green Beret and later Command Chaplain at Special Operations Command, George Youstra. Do not be fooled by the Chaplain title, George's stories are powerful and show a side of the military very few who have not served will ever see.

George accumulated over 400 flight hours, primarily in the F-16, at the urging of his boss at the time, General Breedlove, so he could better connect with and serve the pilots and airmen he was assigned to. After building his reputation as a Chaplain within the Air Force fighter community, he was given a call sign, "Saul," which is perfectly suited given his role and stature. 

In his career, George was a personal advisor to eight Four Star Generals and helped drive religious efforts at both tactical and strategic levels in multiple combat theaters, particularly within the Special Operations community. I had no idea how critical the Chaplain's role would be for combatant commands at the strategic level, which is something we dive into in this episode, in addition to the tactical experience just being present for soldiers and airmen about to go into harm's way, on the verge of taking their own lives, supporting brothers-in-arms who just lost a best friend, and wrestling with their spirituality in the heat of combat.

At SOCOM, George served as the principal and personal staff advisor to the Commander, Directors, and headquarters staff in areas related to morale, ethics and spirituality, to include advising on the role and impact of religion in the strategic environment. 

With that, I hope you enjoy this incredibly insightful and moving conversation with one of the few Chaplains to have seen combat himself as a Special Forces officer, as much as I did.

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Find Ryan Online:
- Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
- Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
- Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
- Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
- Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
- Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Find George Online:
- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-youstra-92865746/
- Instagram @chaplainustra https://www.instagram.com/chaplainustra/?hl=en
Suicide Prevention Hotlines:
Call: 988
Text: 838255
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Show Notes:
00:00 - Intro 
00:44 - Guest Introduction (George Youstra)
02:12 - Interview begins
02:45 - Childhood
04:45 - George's Marine Father
06:18 - Religion and the Military
08:48 - Path to the Chapalain Core
12:24 - Time in the Army
13:08 - Strom Thurmond
22:30 - Time in Special Forces
24:27 - Time in South America
29:30 - Challenging Operations as a Green Beret
34:30 - Going down the Chaplain path
37:16 - Training as a Chaplain
39:34 - Differences between Army and Air Force
42:21 - What makes a good Chaplain
50:04 - Day in the life of a Chaplain downrange
54:59 - Goals of a Chaplain
01:02:28 - Assistance with Mental Health
01:08:31 - "Saul" callsign
01:10:10 - Working with Fighter Pilots
01:18:47 - Perspective of leadership
01:22:40 - Leadership lessons
01:26:04 - Different religions in combat
01:37:58 - Most courageous act
01:41:37 - Sentimental items
01:43:03 - Do it all again
01:44:35 - Administering last rights
01:45:18 - Closing thoughts
01:46:19 -  Listener comments and shout outs

This episode is brought to you by DeleteMe. Go to www.joindeleteme.com/combat and use the code COMBAT to get 20% off your plan and keep your personal information online secure.
This episode is brought to you by RocketMoney. Go to www.RocketMoney.com/combatstory and get help finding and canceling your unwanted subscriptions, monitor your spending, and help lower your bills—all in one place. 
Go to www.HelloFresh.com/combatstory50 and use code combatstory50 for 50% off plus free shipping to get delicious and healthy meals that you can make at home with your family in no time and add some variety to what you serve! Our family has used Hello Fresh for years!

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

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Today we hear the Combat Story of former Navy SEAL and Naval Special Warfare Development Group (or DEVGRU) operator Chris White. Chris spent two decades in the Teams pre-9/11 and was in the first wave of contractors fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq with Blackwater and similar companies early in the war.

Chris hasn't shared his story previously and did so, in part, to set the record straight on the experience of contractors in the post-9/11 era who had often been painted in a particularly negative way by the media. 

Chris now operates Tier One Tactical where he delivers expert training to people, particularly those in law enforcement, in shooting and tactical engagements. 

I hope you enjoy this wide ranging and insightful look at Chris' experiences in both the elite levels of the Navy's Special Operations community and his experience as a contractor in some incredibly challenging fighting, as much as I did.

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Find Ryan Online:
- Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
- Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
- Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
- Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
- Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
- Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Find Chris White Online:
- Learn more about Chris https://aegisacademy.com/pages/instructors

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Show Notes:
00:00 - Intro 
00:52 - Guest Introduction (Chris White)
01:45 - Interview begins
02:14 - Learnings from battles
10:00 - Fight, Flight, or Freeze
15:37 - UDT days
18:13 - Childhood and path to the Military
21:24 - DeleteME
22:29 - Deliniation between  Navy and Teams
26:53 - Deciding to join the Military
29:43 - Being molded by the Military
32:03 - Friends at BUDS
36:29 - Route to DEVGRU
41:23 - Callsign White Boy
43:15 - Rocket Money
44:08 - Chris's strengths
47:43 - Chris's weaknesses
49:27 - Army Navy game
55:29 - Honor of the Fu-manchu
53:34 - Future after 20 years
01:03:53 - Hello Fresh
 01:05:11 - Being in Bahrain during 9/11
01:07:08 - First mission after 9/11
01:15:29 - A hairy situation
01:30:28 - Transition to Blackwater
01:45:08 - Upside of being a Contractor
02:24:13 - Sentimental Items
 02:25:33 - Do it all again
02:26:13 - Final comments
02:27:41 - Listeners comments and shout outs

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more! 

Will a former Army Aviator and CIA officer pass out or throw-up for his first flight in a jet?! This episode is best viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/RbyWbRWXky4 because it's all flying and exploring the L-39 jet and Patriots Jet Team hangar.

Strap in for a high-octane adventure with the Patriots Jet Team, the ONLY civilian-owned aerobatic jet team in the United States! 

Ryan is taking Combat Story on a thrilling journey in an L-39 Soviet Jet with the legendary pilot, Scott "Intake" Kartvedt. They're gearing up and rehearsing for a heart-pounding performance at the Sonoma NASCAR race, and you've got a front-row seat (well...it's a the backseat of the L-39 actually)! Before we take off, we get some insider tips from Ryan "Stinger" Fishel, Active Duty F-15 fighter pilot and former guest on the podcast (https://youtu.be/4jP3U2nHFUw - 400K views), on how to handle the intense G-forces during the flight and what to eat before getting in the cockpit.

Will Ryan keep his cool (and his lunch) as they pull 7-8 G's for 45 minutes? Fasten your seatbelts and find out!

We also hear from Kevin "K2" LaRosa Jr, a sought after Hollywood aerial coordinator and stunt pilot who was handpicked by Tom Cruise to choreograph Top Gun:Maverick (he was also behind the scenes and/or in the cockpit for Avengers, Iron Man, and over 100 other movies and TV shows)!

Next, we whisk you away on an exclusive tour of the Patriots Jet Team Hangar, a veritable Aladdin's cave of aviation wonders and also the world's greatest man cave! From sleek jets to Hollywood stunt aircraft, this hangar is a treasure trove. And the pièce de résistance? A bar made from a Russian Mig Wing or the "Help Me" sign used by Tom Cruise and James Corden when they go flying in Randy's aircraft (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1iZtBM23bY)?!

Enter Randy "Howler" Howell, the owner of the Patriots Jet Team. With decades of flying experience, Randy is more than a pilot; he's an aviation legend who taught his son to fly solo at the tender age of eight! When Tom Cruise need a stunt pilot for Top Gun:Maverick, he chose Randy Howell. Safety is paramount when you're flying with the Patriots Jet Team! We go through an awesome emergency procedure for a heart-stopping ejection process (I call it the turn and dump).

Then, it's time to take to the skies. Experience the adrenaline rush of formation flying, high-speed maneuvers, and the thrill of going inverted (many times!). Ryan even gets a chance to take the controls which is not unlike his days flying the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter!

Despite a bout of nausea (an occupational hazard!), Ryan revels in the exhilarating experience of getting back in the cockpit again. As we touch down from this wild ride, we invite you to become part of the Patriots Jet Team legacy through sponsorship opportunities. Plus, don't miss out on Combat Story's previous interviews with these legends (Randy, Kevin, Intake, and Stinger). So, are you ready to defy gravity with us? Tune in, hold tight, and enjoy the ride!

Special thanks to Joey Amtman for incredible editing and Four Winds Creative (filming). Find

Ryan Online:

• Ryan's Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
• Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combatsory
• Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
• Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
• Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial

Find Scott "Intake" Kartvedt Online:

• Scott's website https://scottkartvedt.com/
• Full Throttle Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7F91JCB
• Instagram @scottkartvedt https://www.instagram.com/scottkartvedt/

Find Randy Howell Online:

• Learn More about Randy https://www.patriotsjetteam.com/Media%20Package/Pilot%20Bios.pdf
• Patriots Jet Team Instagram https://www.instagram.com/patriotsjetteam/ @PatriotsJetTeam
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-howell-35347540/

Find Kevin LaRosa Online:

• Kevin's website https://www.k2larosa.com/
• Instagram @K2Larosa https://www.instagram.com/k2larosa
• LinkedIn: Kevin LaRosa II
• YouTube: TOP GUN: MAVERICK: Aerial Coordinator Kevin LaRosa Jr. Interview -

Patriots Jet Team Instagram:  @rhowlerhowell, @scottKartvedt, @deanwright15, @epic_flying, @patriotsjetuprt, @lovell.cory, @mtemby, @rings_patriotsjet, @mamainiero, @aviatrixemmy, @minijetmojoh2o, @stellantsystems, @dragonfly.films, @flygoodyear, @concordebatterycorp, @pjt_foundation

Timeline:

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:25 - G-force management tips from Ryan "Stinger" Fishel, F-15 fighter pilot
• 2:25 - Exclusive tour of the Patriots Jet Team Hangar
• 3:24 - James Corden and Tom Cruise Help Me sign!
• 4:00 - Blue Angel Action Figure/Doll!
• 4:35 - Kevin LaRosa describes Cinejet and Top Gun and Devotion filming
• 6:50 - How to EJECT from an L-39!!
• 8:19 - Scott Intake Kartvedt going Full Throttle
• 9:35 - Taking Off!!
• 11:23 - 7Gs on a left break!
• 17:00 - RTB (Return to Base) and landing
• 18:38 - Get your name on the L-39!
• 19:15 - Outtake