Ryan Gury, CEO of Performance Drone Works & Guinness World Record Holder

This week on SOFREP Radio we're excited to welcome our guest, Col. Michael Leonard (ret.), US Air Force pilot and author of the new book An American Combat Bird Dog Pilot: From the Battlefield of Vietnam and Beyond.In this exclusive interview with Leonard, we get a first hand account of his adventures, from his days before the military right on through to his years as an executive working for companies like the Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation and Lockheed-Martin.Of note is Leonard's recounting of close calls as a O-1 Bird Dog pilot in Vietnam. As a Forward Air Control, or FAC, Leonard was often the only link between ground forces and friendly artillery fire. In his little fixed-wing plane, Leonard had to circle over hot battlezones, dodging enemy anti-air and small arms fire while calling in coordinates on enemy locations.Don't miss this glimpse into the world of the Bird Dog pilots of Vietnam; a job that consisted of “long hours of sheer boredom, interspersed by moments of stark terror.”About Col. Michael Leonard (Ret.)Leonard is a retired Air Force officer and highly experienced global business executive. He was a USAF Command Pilot with a military career spanning 20 years, including 2 combat tours to Vietnam in 1965-1966, and 1969-1970. Mike spent 4 years flying the VC-140B Special Air Mission aircraft during his time with the 89th Military Airlift Wing, the “Home of Air Force One”. His combat decorations include 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 9 Air Medals, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.  About the BookAn American Combat Bird Dog Pilot is a compelling look at the life and times of a member of the Silent Generation. In it, Michael Leonard recounts flying a small, unarmed USAF spotter plane — called an O-1 Bird dog — near ground level risking life and limb just feet above the jungle canopy. Leonard and his Bird dog were the turkey in the proverbial turkey shoot.The recollection of the life and death struggle on Thanksgiving Day in 1969 with North Vietnamese forces hell bent on capturing or killing the crew of a downed chopper near the Cambodian border is about as hairy as it gets. Then the final straw — and the catalyst for the book — which took place more than 40 years later; Leonard made contact with one of the crewmembers from that chopper.Surviving combat instilled a chameleon-like sense of innovation in Leonard and a kind of ‘challenge accepted’ attitude you might expect from someone used to taking risks and operating on a wing and a prayer.An American Combat Bird Dog Pilot is now available in ebook and paperback versions. Don't miss this thrilling tale of an untold side of the war in Vietnam and hair-raising stories from a life just feet above the treetops. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5 Helmi 20211h 1min

In this exclusive interview, Alec and Mark — alongside Michael Marks, who captured their story — pull back the cloak on the origins of the operation to build, test and field the first Predator drone and recall what it was like to view, for the first time, a live feed of a target area through the eyes of a UAV.Not only did the pair lead the clandestine mission, they actually put eyes on Usama bin Laden in Afghanistan — through the Predator — before the 9/11 attacks. After 39 months of back and forth with the CIA and DoD Publication Review Boards, their manuscript has finally been fully cleared for release.Their tale is chronicled in their new book, Never Mind, We'll Do it Ourselves.With commentary from Charlie Allen former Assistant Director of Central Intelligence, Lieutenant General John Campbell, USAF (Ret) and USAF Lieutenant Colonel Gabe Brown, survivor of the Battle of Robert’s Ridge, this book will introduce you to the unlikely team of patriots, innovators and rule-breakers who defied the odds to relentlessly prosecute America’s most pivotal mission. A testament to the accuracy of this book is that the CIA fought for almost four years to prevent it from ever being published.Don't miss this first hand account of the early days of the CIA's mission to track Usama bin Laden, the start of the War in Afghanistan and the legacy of the Predator Drone in modern warfare.Want to get SOFREP on your phone? Download our free mobile app for Apple and Android devices. Subscribe to get access to our podcast, SOFREP Radio, our library of veteran-authored books, and our exclusive Team Room Forum.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

29 Tammi 20211h 8min

This week on SOFREP it is our esteemed honor to host Sergeant Major of the Army Michael A. Grinston.For the uninitiated, the sergeant major of the Army is the most senior enlisted member in the United States Army and reports directly to the Army Chief of Staff.As the sergeant major of the Army, Grinston is the Army chief of staff's personal adviser on matters affecting the enlisted force. He devotes the majority of his time traveling throughout the Army to observe training and interact with Soldiers and their Families. He sits on a variety of councils and boards that make decisions affecting enlisted Soldiers and their Families and routinely invited to testify before Congress. SMA Grinston is the public face of the U.S. Army's Noncommissioned Officer Corps, representing the NCO Corps to the American people in the media and through business and community engagements.While SMA Grinston holds a lofty office, he is no stranger to life as a grunt; Grinston has held every enlisted leadership position in artillery, ranging from cannon crewmember to command sergeant major.In this episode of SOFREP Radio, SMA Grinston pulls back the veil on the modern army, lending his decades of insight to everything from army-wide readiness to preparing the force for the future of war.But make no mistake, this is no discussion of policy or theory. SMA Grinston answers questions about the deaths at Fort Hood, military suicide and mental health, and even the controversial basic training 'Shark Attack' technique.Don't miss this exclusive interview with the U.S. Army's most senior enlisted member, SMA Michael Grinston. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

22 Tammi 202148min

Jacob is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan in the early 2000's as part of a Civil Affairs team. After his service, which included a stint at the Presidio of Monterey Defense Language Institute where he studied Arabic, Jacob relocated to New York City. In New York he worked for the New York Times and several other companies before joining forces with SOFREP as Editor in Chief.In this sit down with Jacob, we hear some stories from OEF and how he came to lead the team at SOFREP. Moreover, we get a glimpse at where SOFREP is headed and how the publication will refresh itself in the new year.Be sure to tune in as we put Jacob on the hot seat!Editor's Note: This episode was recorded the morning of January 6th.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15 Tammi 202149min

This week on SOFREP Radio we decided to shake things up a bit. While we had a standard-issue podcast lined up for you, we thought we would take a moment to discuss the events that unfolded in Washington D.C. on January 6th — and the aftermath — in a segment we're calling Editor's Round Table.SOFREP contributor Sean Spoonts, Senior Editor Steve Balestrieri and Editor in Chief Jacob Sotak dive into the protest-turned-insurrection and try to answer some of the questions banging around the internal channels at SOFREP. What actually happened?Is what we witnessed sedition, or the impassioned outcry of American patriots? Who is responsible for the actions of the mob that entered the Capitol building? And what does this moment mean for our national security? Like so many Americans who are struggling to wrap their heads around the events that unfolded, our editorial team has more questions than answers. But, despite our differences in opinion, we believe the only way to approach clarity is through discussion and the sharing of differing perspectives.We hope this first foray into the Editor's Round Table helps start a conversation among our listeners and, if we're lucky, sheds a little light on what we believe hangs in the balance.And, in the name of discussion, we extend to you an invitation: Send us your thoughts at sofrep.official@protonmail.com. What did we miss? What do you think about the events of January 6th?Editor's Note: This conversation was recorded on January 7th. At the time of recording, President Trump had not released his video statement acknowledging the event and committing to a peaceful transfer of power on January 20th. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Tammi 20211h 7min

We are honored to host Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Tom Satterly and his wife Jen in this very special episode of SOFREP Radio, and the first of the new year.Tom served in the United States Army for twenty five years. Not long after joining the Army in 1986, he passed the Special Forces Q Course and became a Green Beret. By 1991, Tom had moved to Delta Force where he served for the next 20 years deploying on countless missions across the globe.Most notably, Tom served in Somalia and fought in the Battle of Mogadishu — the longest sustained firefight in military history since the Vietnam War — which was depicted in the oscar-winning 2001 film Black Hawk Down.But for all Satterly's combat missions, his struggle with depression, pain and PTSD was the battle that nearly broke him. It was Jen who spotted something wrong and saved Tom from a suicide attempt. Tom's battle with PTSD took on a new light, and together, Tom and Jen started the All Secure Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to support struggling servicemembers and families and equip them with the tools and skills to emerge from their individual battles stronger and more resilient.In this episode, Tom and Jen discuss his deployments, his struggle with PTSD and their ongoing mission to end veteran suicide.This episode is not only the story of the Satterlys, but also a reminder to the families and friends of servicemembers and veterans; our fighting men and women need our support and resources like the All Secure Foundation — among many others — are out there to help, as Tom and Jen so poignantly remind us.We at SOFREP hope this episode encourages you to reach out to veteran or servicemember in your life and remind them they are not alone. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 Tammi 202155min

It's Christmas Day and we are honored and humbled to bring you an exclusive interview with veteran Joe Kent. Kent is a former Army Ranger who went on to join Special Forces Fifth Group where he logged eleven combat tours in Iraq and elsewhere. Kent rose to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer before leaving the SOF community.In addition to his decades of service in U.S. Army Special Operations, Kent is also a Gold Star husband. His wife, Shannon Kent, was a U.S. Navy intelligence operative who was killed while serving in Syria in 2019.In this very special episode of SOFREP Radio, we talk with Kent about his service in Iraq and Yemen, hear his thoughts on the missteps the U.S. has taken in the wars in the Middle East, and share in remembering the heroic service of his wife.Here is a recent video about Kent's experience and his stance on the 'Endless Wars.'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfCHddpPEyUWe're honored to have Joe Kent on this special Christmas episode; his story and his service is emblematic of the kind of selfless service carried out by so many in our armed forces and Special Operations units. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 Joulu 202052min

This week on SOFREP Radio we were joined by Bing West, Marine Force Recon veteran, former Assistant Secretary of Defense to the Reagan administration and prolific author. In this episode, West walks us through his latest book, The Last Platoon, and talks about the Corps, the war in Afghanistan and much much more.Read our full review of West's latest book on SOFREP.About Bing WestDuring the Vietnam War, he was a platoon leader in Force Recon leading over 100 combat patrols. When his tour (66-68) was completed, the Corps asked him to write a guide for Marines coming into the country. The guide was titled Small Unit Action in Vietnam and the military published over 100,000 copies of it.Bing West spent time in Afghanistan with Marines on the ground when he was 70 years old.Afterward, Bing served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in the Reagan administration. His son, Owen West, was also a Marine officer in Force Recon. Owen later became the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict under General Jim Mattis with whom Bing has co-authored a book.Bing has authored 10 books centering on the Marine Corps. Many of them are about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan where he made about 40 trips and spend time on the battlefields and with Marines in the field. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18 Joulu 202043min