Jack Fanning was a combat controller training for a new team when a night time HAHO training jump went terribly wrong.
When he jumped from the aircraft, he was at the pinnacle of physical shape, with hundreds of jumps under his belt. However, Fanning ended up hitting the ground at 35 knots (~40 mph) which caused his C3 to overlap his C4. While on the ground, he had a very hard time breathing and said “I knew I was dying.” Somehow, his IR strobe got turned on and his teammates found him.
After some miracles, much determination, and remaining positive, Jack is now an active quadriplegic who skydives, skis, hunts, scuba dives, and other activities.
He’s also a founding member of “Brother’s Keepers“, which is a non-profit that provides retreats and support for our wounded warriors, their families, and others in our community who are in need. He’s found immense healing by serving others.
This warrior is determined to walk again. Therapy kicks his butt 3-days/week and he’s flexed one bicep and walked with robot legs.
Fanning gave some advice for those considering spec ops:
- you’ve got to be in shape
- It’s about 80% mental. When the body wants to quit, you’ve got to override that feeling with mental toughness.
And if you’re struggling from seen or unseen wounds, ask for help. It’s also beneficial to talk about your injury/problem. Keep a positive attitude and get up and do it (whatever ‘it’ is). You’ll be uplifted when you hear Jack talk about his recovery and feel his fighting spirit.
Learn more about Jack Fanning below and other organizations mentioned in this episode:
*Also, we’re now on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause so I can provide quality content.
Copyright 2017 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | RSS | More
If you want to hear from someone who is a great example of the American Dream, this is it. Ronnie Rains grew up poor, was drafted to serve in Vietnam, and later in life started businesses that have allowed him to be very generous to many people today – specifically our military and their families.