afsoc Archives -

Ep 094 | Ish Villegas – 2-time Silver Star Recipient

September 19, 2022 By Thad Forester

Ish Villegas is one of three people who have received the Silver Star twice, since 9/11.

Today he walks us thru the battle in 2009 where he got his first Silver Star. It was a 16 hour fight that resulted in at least 32 enemy insurgents killed. During this fight, Ish ran 200 feet across an open, uncleared IED minefield to more effective position and returned fire with his M-4 and then directed aircraft (rotary and fixed wing) onto the enemy locations in a surgical and lethal manner. It’s an incredible story; one that he completed with two broken arms.

He also trained my brother, Mark Forester, at FOB Cobra/Tinsley and we are forever grateful for his friendship to Mark and for showing him the ropes in one of the most active areas in all of Afghanistan.

Ish is a great American and we’re lucky to have men like him on our side. You can listen to details of his 2nd Silver Star here on Black Rifle Coffee.

*PTC is on Patreon. If you like what you’re hearing please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content and keep on keeping on!

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Ep 084 | Zach Asmus and Cress Clippard on Afghanistan and SIV’s

September 6, 2021 By Thad Forester

Afghanistan. What can I say? Well, I have a lot to say, but I’m not unloading my feelings here–much. We lost 13 American lives. At least 18 are injured, last I read (trying to get correct #). My heart goes out to their families. These heroes haven’t gotten the attention they deserve.

Now that our President has declared the war over, what is happening with the thousands of Afghans who are coming to the USA? How are they being vetted? How can we trust them? Why did we leave so many trusted Afghan partners behind? What will happen to them? The questions go on and on for so many of us.

Zach Asmus, former Air Force combat controller, and Cress Clippard, former Marine, have been taking action for several years not only by helping veterans transition from the service, but by helping with the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) process to get Afghans and Iraqi’s to the US to live better lives. These are people who have proven themselves as trusted by their US teammates as terrorists hunters and who have been vetted.

I’ve had a ton of anger recently, but that’s not going to solve one of the big problems at hand–what do we do with the SIV’s who are here, and who are coming? Zach and Cress are experts on the SIV process and explain it all. And what were the documents the Afghans were showing to our Marines at the airport and at Taliban checkpoints; and why many of those Afghans who are left have been instructed to burn anything that connects them to the US.

You can learn how Zach and Cress are making Americans by visiting:

Combined Arms

Thank you for listening. Please rate my podcast and consider writing a review on whatever player you use–Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, Google Podcasts, etc.

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Ep 083 | Mark Lauren – Move Better, Feel Better

August 23, 2021 By Thad Forester

Mark Lauren (@mark_lauren_training) started as a USAF Combat Controller. After his active duty service, he went on to use his experience as an operator and instructor to write the bestselling book You Are Your Own Gym; the Bible of Bodyweight Exercises, which has sold 1.5 million copies worldwide.

Mark now uses his 30+ years of training experience to develop and stream continuously evolving online bodyweight workouts to a loyal international following. His newest book Strong and Lean; 9-Minute Daily Workouts to Build Your Best Body releases October 2021.

For you current followers, we talk specifics like middle-aged fitness; and then the benefits of some specific workouts such as: A-frames with Elbow Drops, Streamline RDL’s, Windshield Wipers with legs straight and how to stretch your achilles/improve ankle flexion.

Also, the impact that living in Thailand and Thai boxing had on his exercise and mindset, knowing when to stop, why efficiency is so important, and what a beginner in any physical shape should do with his programs to make gains. You’ll find out if Mark still needs to take ibuprofen too.

This is Mark’s 3rd time on PTC. You can listen to his previous interviews here:

Ep 40 – You Are Your Own Gym

Ep 58 – Bodyweight Master

Mark has offered our listeners a discount on his bodyweight program membership. Go to https://marklauren.com/ and sign up. Use promo code PATRIOT for a 20% discount on an annual subscription. No expiration date.

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Ep 068 – Nic McKinley | Unleashing the Warriors on Child Trafficking

October 14, 2019 By Thad Forester

Nic is a former Air Force Pararescueman (PJ) and Country Chief for a special unit within the CIA. During his career he witnessed the epidemic of child trafficking within illegal markets and recognized the opportunity to apply his training to influence this global crisis.

How do he and his organization, DeliverFund, do this? By equipping, training and advising law enforcement officers to track down and arrest these worthless scums of the earth. They focus on getting the source by unleashing the warriors.

In some instances, they’ve reduced the time to find and arrest traffickers down to days and hours.

To say Nic McKinley has a firm understanding about these illicit, illegal markets and has the highest levels of training to effectively combat them is an understatement.

Click here to learn more about Nic and DeliverFund. This non-profit could always use any donation to help fight this evil.

And in case you wondered if Nic is the real Jack Ryan… he is. Here’s proof.

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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Ep 058 – Mark Lauren | Bodyweight Master

July 9, 2018 By Thad Forester

Mark Lauren-starfish twist

Back on the show is former Air Force combat controller (CCT) Mark Lauren. In episode 40, we discussed his early life, time in military and how he implemented his workouts in the CCT pipeline. Now, we’re talking a little more about how he observed that the fitness industry at large was backward, ineffective, and unsustainable in it’s approach. So, he created fitness programming that improves performance outside of the gym.

His mantra is “you only get good at what you do”, which guides the development of his programs. Lauren’s understanding of athletic fundamentals allows him to create exercise programs for all ability groups that improve performance and physical condition in record time, injury free, by mastering the fundamentals.

Bodyweight training is Mark’s calling in life. I’ve been following his programs since January 2018 and feel great. I’m a big believer in his philosophy and movements.

Today we talk about those programs and the success of his app at MarkLauren.com.

Sign up for Mark’s community and get 20% by using coupon code PATRIOT, by going here: https://bodyweight.marklauren.com

Follow Mark on Instagram

Rock Tune by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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