Ep. 456 - Helping transitioning veterans

Sgt Maj (Ret.) Randall Surles, U.S. Army, is a former Green Beret with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He served almost 30 years, deploying over twenty times to South America, the Middle East, and Africa, with notable service in Panama. After retiring from the military, Surles transitioned his expertise and leadership skills to the literary world, becoming a freelance military editor and ghostwriter.   Surles shares his journey of how to self-publish books (and e-books) and the many landmines you may encounter. From profit sharing with Amazon, overcoming negative comments on social media, and having your intellectual property stolen, Surles dives into what aspiring writers can expect to encounter in the pursuit of making writing a career and what they can do about it.    Learn more about Sgt Maj (Ret.) Randall Surles:   Website: https://militaryeditor.com/   Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-clubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Juni 20241h 5min

Chief Master Sergeant Jason David, USAF (Retired), is a 22-year veteran who first joined the Air Force as a radio and television broadcaster. His unique position within the military, interfacing with a wide variety of personalities, provided him with a wealth of experience that he now intends to share with the world.   Veterans often find purpose in the military and lose it upon coming home. David advocates for greater awareness of veteran suicide and shares the many resources available to veterans, both within and outside of the VA. He also recounts the story of how he earned his Purple Heart—a tragic event that has since shaped his life and galvanized his decision to fight for veterans' rights to live normal lives in the US.   If you are a veteran contemplating self-harm, seek help from these resources:    https://stopsoldiersuicide.org/ Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838255 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-david-72791966/   Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 Juni 202457min

Col. Keith Nightingale, USA (Ret.) served for 25 years with notable roles in commanding airborne units and especially in operating with special operations forces. He was involved in some of the most significant military operations of his time, including actions during the Vietnam War, the Iran Hostage Rescue Mission (Operation Eagle Claw), and the invasion of Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury).   Colonel Nightingale shares behind-the-scenes insights into his operations in Latin America, from having the host nation join the AWACS to target illegal drug labs to battling drug cartels in countries like Nicaragua, Colombia, and Panama. He also talks about snippets of his book 'Phoenix Rising' and how the US failure in Iran led to the continuation and development of special forces into what it is today.   Get a copy of Keith's latest book 'Phoenix Rising': https://amzn.to/3ysAsp6 Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 Maj 202454min

Corey Feldman is a former IDF special forces combatant and active reservist who answered the call to fight Hamas. As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, propaganda and lies drive a wedge between both sides of the conflict. Corey addresses some of the most controversial accusations against the IDF, with the most grave being genocide and encroachment.   While mainstream media vilifies IDF actions in Gaza, Corey sets the record straight on the actual measures taken on the ground to reduce civilian casualties, a reality completely absent in other warzones. Feldman also takes a look at historical precedence, like the Hamas charter to erase Israel from the map, and the fact that the only language the Middle East has ever known is violence.   Learn Krav Maga to defend against anti-semitism: https://www.legionalpha.com/   Get your copy of 'A Line in the Sand': https://amzn.to/3UAj8pO   Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11 Maj 202457min

Susan Tate Ankeny is a nonfiction World War 2 history book author whose works include 'The Girl and the Bombardier' and her newest book, 'American Flygirl'. 'American Flygirl' recounts the inspiring story of Hazel Ying Lee, the first Asian American woman to earn a pilot’s license and fly with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) despite the widespread anti-Asian sentiment back then.   Hazel refused to be deterred by discrimination due to her gender and her status as the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Just one year after sitting in on a friend's flight lesson, she earned her pilot's license and was on the way to the front against the Japanese. She would posthumously receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for her extraordinary service and patriotism.   Learn more about Susan: https://susantateankeny.com/   Get a copy of 'American Flygirl': https://amzn.to/3UuX67N   Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 Maj 202450min

Don Mann is a decorated former Navy SEAL Special Operations Technician and the author of 22 books including the New York Times Best Selling autobiography Inside SEAL Team SIX. As a former Training Officer, Mann was directly responsible for shaping the bodies and minds of the SEALs who assassinated Osama bin Laden.   He talks about the genesis of the name of SEAL Team SIX and how it was a tactic to throw off the Russians since there were only 3 SEAL teams then. He shares the mission of SEAL Team SIX in operating anywhere around the world, making them the President's foremost "break glass in case of emergency" solution.    Learn more about Don: https://www.usfrogmann.com/   Get a copy of Inside SEAL Team SIX: https://amzn.to/3xRuVs7 Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-clubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

27 Apr 202459min

Kevin Wilson is the author of Sully's Squad, a coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of World War II. The book follows fifteen-year-old Arty, who lies about his age to enlist, as he gets thrown into the horrors of the Sicilian campaign. Amidst the madness, he meets Angelina, a young nun-in-training, and forges a deep brotherhood with his squadmates.   Wilson also draws inspiration from real life for his characters, such as Sully the sergeant, who is based on his uncle killed in action during the Great War. The story sensitively portrays the realities of battlefield deaths, shellshock, and the emotional journey of veterans returning home.   Get a copy of Sully's Squad: https://amzn.to/49NDx01   Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 Apr 202453min

Stayton Bonner is a former Rolling Stone and GQ Magazine editor and the author of Bare Knuckle: Inside the World of Underground Boxing. This gripping narrative talks about the rise of Bobby Gunn in the lucrative blood sport, as well as intimate details into the gritty criminal underworld that drew in immigrants and mobsters in search of fame and fortune.   Bobby was a skinny but tough kid born into the world of boxing. At a young age, his father taught him dirty street fighting and bare-knuckle boxing. While lesser known, Bobby’s Marine Corps background further honed his toughness and resilience, forging him into a lethal weapon whose name would eventually be etched in bare-knuckle boxing history.    Get a copy of Bare Knuckle: https://amzn.to/3vNlLfx   Join the SOFREP Book Club here: https://sofrep.com/book-club See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13 Apr 202448min