CS#61: Fighting ISIS in Syria and Russia in Ukraine Freedom Fighter | Fought ISIS in Syria | Fought in Ukraine | Ukraine Military

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 hear the Combat Story of Aiden Aslin, a UK citizen who deployed multiple times into conflict zones to fight ISIS in Syria and Russia in Ukraine.
[NOTE: We're launching on Patreon soon. Register to get notified at https://www.combatstory.com/patreon]
Aiden was not part of the British military. He simply decided the people in Syria being terrorised by ISIS needed more support and found a way to get down range to help.
During his multiple deployments into Syria fighting with other westerners against ISIS and nearly dying, Aiden had been following events in Ukraine. He again decided, instead of sitting safely in the UK, to step up and fight for people who needed help.
Today, Aiden is officially part of the Ukrainian military. We had to record this particular interview quickly before Aiden deployed to the frontlines again, where he is now.
His Instagram account (cossackgundi) is worth a look too where's amassed 20K followers and describes himself as a "British guy Rocking it out in the Ukrainian marines" with what he calls "Warzone Photography" and "Conflict news".
I hope you enjoy this humble and understated Combat Story of someone who left everything behind to help others in two vastly different conflicts as much as I did.
Find Aiden online:

Instagram @cossackgundi https://www.instagram.com/cossackgundi/
Twitter @cossackgundi https://mobile.twitter.com/cossackgundi

Find Ryan online:

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

Show Notes

0:00 - Intro
0:50 - Guest introduction (Aiden Aslin)
1:56 - Interview begins
2:16 - Current location and mindset getting ready for another deployment
5:04 - Childhood and working with adults with special needs
11:55 - Leaving safety and social work to go to Syria
19:46 - Deciding to go to war and getting into Syria
34:19 - Training and first time on the frontline making contact with enemy
41:03 - Combat Story #1 First real contact and feeling positive after the outcome
45:52 - Combat Story #2 A friendly fire incident that left him with panic attacks
1:05:31 - Returning to Syria despite traumatic experiences
1:11:35 - Combat Story #2 Ukraine conflict and joining Ukrainian Marines
1:25:32 - What did you carry into combat?
1:26:13 - Would you do it all again?
1:28:47 - Advice for someone considering this type of path
1:32:57 - Listener comments and shout outs