ptsd Archives -

Ep 111 | Don Stevens – Security Forces, Combat Control, Burn the Ships, PTSD

November 6, 2023 By Thad Forester

Don Stevens is one of those rare operators who retrained into the Air Force combat control (CCT) pipeline at the age of 32, after being in security forces. This required uncommon humility since leadership said, “What are we gonna do with a MSgt. who doesn’t know squat (many different strong words could be inserted here)?”

Even though I’ve had several CCT’s on this show, we haven’t talked much about their humanitarian roles. Don tells us how he got a team ready to deploy to Haiti in less than 4 hours, when the earthquake in 2010 happened.

Stevens provides advice to new guys entering the CCT pipeline, why PTSD doesn’t have to be a big deal, and shared the scariest thing he’s ever done. Hint, it wasn’t in Afghanistan or Africa.

You can also learn more about Don as the co-founder of FoxTrot 3.

Mentioned in this episode:

Thai Soccer Team Rescue

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Ep 110 | Special: Kenny Alicea & Mark Forester – Beautiful Symphony of Death and Destruction

September 29, 2023 By Thad Forester

On this 13th anniversary of the death of my brother, SrA Mark Forester, I have the opportunity to talk with Kenny Alicea who was the Senior Weapons Sergeant for his Army Special Forces team (ODA 7212) where Mark was attached.

Kenny contacted me a few weeks ago and told me he was on that final mission when Mark and Calvin were killed. He was a few hundred meters away with the mounted element, but he heard the radio calls and helped clear the area after their deaths. He helps piece together a few more details about Mark’s final moments.

In addition, Alicea told me about some initial disagreements and arguments he and Mark had and how they resolved those and worked together to bring destruction to terrorists and protect their teams. Hint: both of them said they own the airspace. Once they started working together, he said Mark was phenomenal at his job.

You can connect with Kenny on his YouTube Channel that helps vets in the private security contracting field: https://www.youtube.com/@VetsToPSC

For those watching the YouTube version, I hope you enjoy the slideshow at the very end of the interview.

Mentioned in this episode:

Ep 60: Captain Wes Wilson – Ken’s team captain gives lots of detail on that battle too

Ep 38: Bobby Bonello – Mark’s good friend escorting him home to Dover AFB – Angel Flight

Copyright 2023 Thad Forester
https://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com
Watch this interview on YouTube

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Ep 066 – Lauren Sisler | Firsthand Effects of Addiction and Overcoming Tragedy

August 5, 2019 By Thad Forester

When Lauren Sisler’s phone rang at 3 am, she never expected her father to say that her mother had died. When her plane landed in Virginia that same day, all she wanted was a big hug from her dad, only he wasn’t there. In those few hours, he had died too.

Today, this ESPN and AL.com sports broadcaster tells how she was ashamed for far too long about how her parents died. When she finally was transparent–that they had overdosed on prescription painkillers, she felt freedom and healing.

This Navy daughter has an inspirational message about overcoming grief and despair and finding success. After all, she was only 18 when she lost both parents. Thank goodness for her older brother, Aunt and Uncle, and coaches at Rutgers who didn’t cut her any slack.

I look forward to seeing her on the sidelines more this year in the college football season.

You can also watch this interview on YouTube.

Thank you Sheepdog Firearms for letting us record another show in your fine facility.

Mentioned in this episode:

Paralyzed UAB Football Player Tim Alexander keeps promise

Follow Lauren on Instagram

Follow Lauren on Twitter

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 053 – Chaplain Justin Roberts – Director of No Greater Love movie

March 26, 2018 By Thad Forester

justin roberts

Justin Roberts is our first Chaplain on the show. I thought we were going to mainly talk about his new movie, “No Greater Love“, but I also got educated on the emotional roller coaster roles of an Army Chaplain.

Roberts, the director and producer of No Greater Love, has experienced the reality of war and its aftermath first hand. While deployed in Afghanistan with the legendary “No Slack” Battalion, he witnessed brave men and women sacrifice themselves to protect others. Justin also witnessed suicide, the first occurring just two days after arriving at his new battalion. Then, at Brooks Army Medical Center he witnessed the physical and emotional struggle veterans experience even after returning home, including their intense sense of isolation.

This award-winning documentary shares the experiences of Chaplain Roberts and other soldiers through combat footage and emotional interviews.

It was released in theaters in Nov 2017, and will be available on DVD March 27, 2018.

You can order the movie here.

If you’re not sure of a trustworthy organization to support, Justin has provided a solution here where you can select a non-profit he has listed or search for one near you.

Nogreaterlovemovie.com/give

*My podcast is on Patreon. Please check out how you can help the cause and get insider access!

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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Episode 034 – “Bring it on”, with Jack Fanning, CCT, Quadriplegic

August 7, 2017 By Thad Forester

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:

Jack Fanning – My Story

Brother’s Keepers

National Ability Center

Jackrabbit documentary