SSgt. Mikael Cook, US-Afghan War Veteran and Author of 'Life and Death at Abbey Gates'
Mikael was on the ground during the catastrophic US evacuation from Afghanistan in August 2021. He made it his mission to save as many Aghan allies as possible and is personally responsible for the safe exit of 20 allies. While some made it out, Mikael talks about the deep moral injury this abandonment has caused. When it became apparent that it was impossible to evacuate everyone in Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA), Digital Dunkirk was born—an ad hoc, public-private, digital-based effort involving thousands of people around the world that came together to save as many people from the carnage of the Taliban. Get your copy of Life and Death at Abbey Gate: https://amzn.to/42Sehnx Learn more about Mikael Cook and Digital Dunkirk: Website - https://www.mikaelcook.com/ Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24 Feb 202450min
Master Chief Rick Kaiser, Navy SEAL and Author of 'Frogman Stories'
Rick is a Silver Star recipient for his leadership during the Battle of Mogadishu, popularized in the Hollywood hit Black Hawk Down, and was a prominent member of SEAL Team TWO and SEAL Team Six. He continues to serve the SEALs as Chief Operating Officer of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum. Frogman Stories is a collection of events in and around SEAL Teams over the course of 45 years. It shows an authentic portrayal of how things get done in SEAL Teams and the silent trials that forge these extraordinary men into fearsome warriors. Rick captures the memorable lessons on life and leadership that only a true SEAL who has seen it all can share. Get your copy of Frogman Stories: https://amzn.to/49jquUL Learn more about Navy Seal Museum: Website - https://www.navysealmuseum.org/ Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17 Feb 202456min
Roland Tiso, Col. U.S. Army (Retired) and Author of 'In Strange Company'
Initially enlisted in 1969 to play football for the army, Col. Tiso ended up on a bus to the Virginia Military Institute to ultimately get commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1973. He served decades as a soldier and, after mandatory retirement, still chose to serve 11 more years as an intelligence planner and analyst for a defense contractor. He deployed five more times to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. Col. Tiso explains that the Iraqi army was envisioned to be a bulwark against Iran. But its failures in the Battle of Najaf, as well as a pivot in strategy, ended up costing American lives in a war that could have been over by 2005. Get your copy of In Strange Company: https://amzn.to/3uwbiVa Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10 Feb 202454min
Joe Muccia, Retired US Marine and Co-author of 'Cry Havoc!'
Joe Muccia is a former US Marine and co-author of Cry Havoc! He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 where he was awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, the Combat Action Ribbon, and a Presidential Unit Citation. He shares his friendship with the late Thomas Greer, a former special operations commander who wrote under the pen name "Dalton Fury," and how he finished Greer's manuscript after his fight with cancer. Muccia is proud to share the fighting spirit of the individual rangers who parachuted into Grenada in ‘83 and how they lived up to the legacy of their brothers who served in WWII and the Korean War. Get your copy of Cry Havoc!: https://amzn.to/3SK7glm Learn more about Joe and his books: Website - https://ssgtmooch.wixsite.com/joe-muccia Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-clubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
3 Feb 202451min
Abbi D., OSINT Practitioner and Tradecraft Advisor of Fivecast
Abbi D. is the US Tradecraft Advisor of Fivecast, a global provider of open-source intelligence solutions, provides intelligence, investigative, and collections teams access and analysis of unprecedented amounts of digital data. Rad and Abbigail talk about the advancements in AI and how catching illicit activities and weapons capabilities are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to OSINT’s effectiveness. In this episode, Abbigail explains how Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) utilizes publicly available knowledge and how the current conflicts in Ukraine and Israel have spotlighted its importance. For instance, getting the order of battle in these warzones can be gleaned from real-time data, leading to better decision-making and other lifesaving intelligence. Learn more about Fivecast: Website - https://www.fivecast.com/ Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-clubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27 Jan 20241h 3min
Curtis Fox, Former Green Beret and Author of 'Hybrid Warfare'
Curtis Fox is a former Green Beret and 10th Special Forces Group member. Fox is also a Russian speaker and the author of Hybrid Warfare, which delves deep into the Russian approach to strategic competition and conventional military conflict. He gives insight into the Russian perspective on security and their basis for wanting back the former Soviet states. Fox talks about the naval capabilities of Russia, how their submarine fleet is a force to be reckoned with while their sole aircraft carrier is useless and only maintained as a point of national pride. In Ukraine today, Russia's goal is to attack the populace, power grids, and water supply as Ukraine is the fifth largest exporter of grain while Russia is the first, thereby creating demand for Russian grain and subduing Ukraine's capacity to fight back. Learn more about Curtis and his work: Website - https://www.hybridwarfare.info/ Get a copy of Hybrid Warfare: https://amzn.to/4aI6JHn Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-clubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
6 Jan 202456min
Ret. Col. Greg Gadson and Terese Schlachter, Authors of 'Finding Waypoints'
This episode's guests are Ret. Col. Greg Gadson and Terese Schlachter, authors of Finding Waypoints. Col. Gadson's story is both humbling and inspiring as a hero from one of our nation's military families. During his service in Iraq, he lost both of his legs and has since embarked on a spiritual journey, becoming an assistant coach to the NY Giants that helped propel them from last place to NFC East champions in ‘08. Terese Schlachter, a three-time Emmy Award-winning television producer and writer, quickly became friends with Col. Gadson during his painful recovery and rehabilitation. By interviewing Col. Gadson's doctors and squad, she pieced together the events that led to his fateful injury, forever immortalizing Col. Gadson's journey of finding peace and purpose in Finding Waypoints. Get your copy of Finding Waypoints: https://amzn.to/3vlkkUX Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-clubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30 Des 202349min
Ben Williams, Former Navy Surface Warfare Officer and COO of Exyn Technologies
Ben Williams is a former US Navy Surface Warfare Officer and current CEO of Exyn Technologies. Drones serve a vital function in search and rescue missions, like in Acapulco recently, providing valuable information to rescuers on the best routes and plans that mean the difference between life and death. Williams shares dicey situations back in the Navy when he led small boat boarding teams and encountered a caricature of the quintessential Russian captain—a half-finished bottle of vodka in one hand and pistol in the other. He also talks about how he transitioned from the military to civilian life and how combat-specific duties comprise just 10% of a serviceman or woman's skill set. Learn more about Ben: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bentropy/ Website - https://www.exyn.com/ Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16 Des 202352min
