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Episode 032 – Lt. Col. Dave Grossman: Killology 101

July 10, 2017 By Thad Forester

Grossman Academy home page

“Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes.  Maybe I could have made a difference.” (spoken by the sheepdogs; the warriors).

What do you ask the expert in the study of the psychology of killing?

Dave Grossman is the country’s #1 trainer of military and law enforcement who helps those who have to kill overcome the natural resistance to killing.

There is no safety in denial

Among the many things we discuss today are the difference between sheep, wolves and sheepdogs.  Which one are you?  Well he’s going to describe each one and how they respond to threatening situations.  There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds.

Grossman’s books are required reading for DEA, military and police units.  He travels 250+ days/year as one of our nation’s leading trainers for military, law enforcement, mental health providers, and school safety organizations.  He helped train mental health professionals after the Jonesboro school massacre, and he was also involved in counseling or court cases in the aftermath of the Paducah, Springfield, Littleton and Nickel Mines Amish school massacres.

Our kids have been taught to blow brains out and get points

Yes, we even talk about the effects of violence on TV and in video games, especially in very young children.  Feed our youngsters virtuous info and images, then once they are more mature, it’s okay to see some violence.  Don’t take a 5-year-old to see “Saving Private Ryan” for heaven’s sake.

Sleep deprivation

He also gives staggering statistics regarding the effects of sleep deprivation in everyone – young and old.  Don’t let your kids go to bed with their phones/devices.  And we adults shouldn’t either.  He will explain a few reasons why.

Veteran’s health

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is also very passionate about our veteran’s health and the anti-war smear of our veterans by the media.  PTSD is treatable!  And survival guilt is normal.  It’s not PTSD.  For those with PTSD, don’t let it stop you from getting better.  Grossman provides an example from a very well-known veteran.

Every day carry (EDC)

We even talk about being prepared with tools to protect us, our families, and others.  He said, “I’d rather walk out the door naked and alone than to be with my loved ones without the tools to protect us.”

My conversation with this Army Ranger, paratrooper and former West Point Psychology Professor blew me away.  He’s a dynamic speaker who uses facts, passion, and common sense.

Learn more about Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, his books and academy here:

www.killology.com

Grossman Academy

On Combat

On Killing (perennial bestseller)

Stop Teaching our Kids to Kill

Warrior Mindset: Mental Toughness Skills for our Nation’s Peacekeepers

Sheepdogs – Meet our Nation’s Warriors (children’s book)

Why Mommy Carries a Gun, American Sheepdogs (children’s book)

 

Copyright 2017 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

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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Filed Under: Patriot to the Core Tagged With: aggression, edc, fake news, military history, on combat, on killing, pavlov's dog, psychology, ptsd, sheep, sheepdog, sleep deprivation, suicide, teen suicide, veterans health, violence, west point, why mommy carries a gun, wolf

Episode 030 – Iraq veteran and financial planner Benjamin Brandt

June 12, 2017 By Thad Forester

benjamin brandt financial planner

I asked Benjamin Brandt how deploying to a war zone prepared him to be a financial planner.  He said in the military they learned to act without thinking.  In his profession now, it’s important to think without acting.

He was a member of Task Force Trailblazer where he was a combat engineer.  Their mission was to identify IED’s so US and coalition forces are assured mobility.  While deployed in 2003-2005 for 15 months, he saw IED’s get more and more sophisticated.

Now 12 years later he has a successful business teaching people how to retire.  He also gives us solid advice how to plan a vacation on a limited budget by:

  1. have 30 daily (not monthly) budget meeting with spouse
  2. do not round numbers, be specific.  You can save a few dollars here and there that will add up each month
  3. Press pause on what you can – cable, Netflix, lawn maintenance, etc

We have a great talk about actionable steps we can take to put ourselves in better financial positions.  And Benjamin is open about his PTSD and how he has no side effects now.

Retirement Starts Today

You can watch him on his weekly show “Money Monday” in a Gorilla suit here:

http://www.myndnow.com/news/bismarck-news/money-monday-trick-or-treat/603482833

He’s an interesting guy with no secrets.  He even hired a private investigator to find out everything about him and he published on his blog.

Learn more about Brandt here, including listening to his podcast:

http://retirementstartstoday.com/

Blog

Subscribe to his podcast

Benjamin created this link for our listeners:

http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/patriot/

Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe.
Copyright 2017 Thad Forester
http://www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

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Filed Under: Patriot to the Core Tagged With: financial planner, iraq, national guard, oif, ptsd, recon by fire, retirement income planner, task force trailblazer

Episode 022 – Dan Sheehan, Marine, Cobra Pilot, author of After Action

February 20, 2017 By Thad Forester

Dan Sheehan authorDan Sheehan was fully prepared for combat.  He’d been an officer in the Marines for six years.  His father was a Navy pilot; his brother was a Marine.  This is what he was meant to do.  When it came to killing the enemy; no problem.  If they pose a threat, kill them.  If they try to kill him or his team, kill them.  It was that simple…. or so he thought.

He learned it wasn’t that cut and dry during his first deployment to Iraq in 2003.  When teammates eliminated terrorists, he had no problem with it–it was necessary.  But for some reason when Dan killed, it impacted him like he never imagined.  His attitude became worse and his emails home turned more negative.

He not only struggled with actually killing, but how could he be 100% certain those he was firing at were legit enemy combatants?  There was no way to be completely certain.  He also learned the results of inaction could cause death to him and his teammates.

Welcome Home

Dan returned home in 2002 to a welcoming nation.  Strangers bought him drinks and shook his hand.  But when things quieted down, he was a wreck.  He couldn’t sit still.  Even surfing wasn’t the therapy he thought it’d be.  How was he supposed to immediately adapt from an active battlefield to home life?  He turned to alcohol, which allowed him to calm down some.

Fortunately, he had an understanding and patient wife, plus he began spearfishing.  His wife helped him in a way that no one else could.  The spearfishing provided a rush and “high” that he needed to feel normal.

His journey has been long, but he told me he’s in a really good place now.  He’s a stay-at-home dad who vowed to not screw up his kids.  Writing provided therapeutic healing in a way nothing else did.  Now, his books help veterans and those close to them understand they aren’t alone.

To learn more about Dan, his books, and to see pics and videos from his deployments, check out his web site below:

www.dansheehanauthor.com

You can purchase his awarding winning books here:

After Action

Continuing Actions

 

Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe.
Copyright 2017 Thad Forester
www.patriottothecore.com
email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

 

 

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Filed Under: Patriot to the Core Tagged With: after action, cobra, continuing actions, forward air controller, good people don't kill, iraq, mark forester, ptsd, sheehan, spearfishing, va

Episode 015 – Ronnie Rains, owner of Granite Ranch, host of numerous Wounded Warrior Retreats

November 14, 2016 By Thad Forester

Ronnie RainsIf 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.

Regularly, Ronnie hosts wounded warriors at his ranch from all branches of our military.  He wants them to have a place to relax, hunt, fish, kayak, eat good food, and be away from cameras and photo ops.  He says putting those injured with someone in worse conditions than their own lifts their spirits.  I’ve been there and know first-hand the care he takes of our heroes.

This humble man helps our warriors in ways doctors and medicine can’t.  He shows us how to walk the talk by serving quietly, while impacting many.

Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe.

Copyright 2016 Thad Forester

www.patriottothecore.com

email questions to thad@patriottothecore.com

 

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Filed Under: Patriot to the Core Tagged With: brothers keepers, draft, granite ranch, outdoor healing, ptsd, wounded warrior retreat

Episode 005 – Melanie Davis, author, founder of Triumph Press and Love Your Veterans

July 11, 2016 By Thad Forester

Melanie Davis
Melanie Davis

Melanie got into the publishing business after sharing copies of her journal to help people deal with grief and hardship.  This was because she documented her trial of losing her seven-month old baby girl Brynn to SIDS.  Seeing the hope it gave so many, she turned these writings into a book called “The Triumph Book”, which is real stories of people overcoming tremendous trials and finding purpose in life.

Later, she wrote and published “The Triumph Book: HEROES” which consist of real life stories from our veterans.  She learned and shares the struggles many of our veterans endure and fight each day.

Her stories are real and powerful.  Listen and feel her passion for serving our guardians of freedom.  She encourages us to serve others to overcome tragedy.

Learn more at:

www.triumphpress.com

www.loveyourveterans.org

http://media.blubrry.com/podcast_patriot_to_the_core/feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/274320874-user-645944549-episode-005-melanie-davis-author-founder-of-triumph-press-and-love-your-veterans.mp3

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Filed Under: Patriot to the Core Tagged With: american heroes, green zone housing, grief, melanie davis, my brother in arms, one million rounds, ptsd, sids, triumph book, triumph press

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