Hazard Ground

Jim Reese spent a good part of his military career in 1st SFOD-Delta, and has been called "one of the finest special operators in the modern military” by the Commander of Coalition Forces of Iraq and Afghanistan. He played a pivotal role in the first stages of the Global War on Terror, right after September 11, 2001. His initial role was to bridge the gap between the Department of Defense and the CIA leading up to and through the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. And from there he was instrumental in leading the hunt for Osama bin Laden in the early days after the invasion. From these efforts and his time working in Special Operations, Jim Reese understands leadership in combat...leadership in times when it matters most! Hear his unique story, and what it's like to lead at the highest levels, on this follow-up to Veterans Day episode of HAZARD GROUND!

If you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating the proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!

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In this special Veterans Day edition of HAZARD GROUND, Mark talks with United War Veterans Council (UWVC) Executive Director, producer of the NYC Veterans Day Parade, and Marine veteran of the Panama Invasion and Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Mark Otto. Otto only spent four years in the Marine Corps, but he packed a lot into those four years, playing a key role in two large military operations, among other special work. Following his time in the Marine Corps, he went on to become a regular trader on the floor of the NY Stock Exchange. Today, Otto continues to support veterans by leading multiple veterans' advocacy volunteer events and programs through the UWVC. He even shares with us an incredible story of his connection with the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, and how the circumstances surrounding that event came back to visit him decades later after his involvement in Desert Storm!

www.uwvc.org

This episode is once again brought to you by our latest sponsor, Cabela's - the world's foremost outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear! Cabela's provides everyone, from the expert hunter and angler to the family looking to get away on a weekend camping trip with the right gear at the best prices! So if you're looking to outfit your next big adventure, or just looking for some great gear to use around the house or cabin, go to our Sponsors page, hazardground.com/sponsors, and click on the Cabela's banner. You have to go through our Sponsors page if you want to help out the show...And make the most of your next outdoor adventure!

We are still running our Amazon promotion, so if you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating the proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!

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Sometimes it’s the invisible wounds from war that are the most difficult to diagnose and treat. The indicators are subtle, if ever apparent. There’s more mystery than science, and the wounded are left with the burden of proof and most often hopeless for a cure. That’s exactly what happened to Carolyn Furdek. A former NCAA Division 1 swimmer, graduate of West Point, four-time Ironman athlete, and a seasoned combat veteran and leader with multiple combat deployments between Afghanistan and Iraq, Furdek began suffering from severe mental health issues during one of those deployments. She effectively “shut down” and for several years, doctors were baffled by her illness. Eventually Carolyn found the path that led to an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, taking her life and career back from the invisible wounds. Hear how she did it in this very inspiring episode of HAZARD GROUND!

“Locked-in: A Soldier and Civilian’s Struggle with Invisible Wounds”

This episode is once again brought to you by our latest sponsor, Cabela’s – the world’s foremost outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear! Cabela’s provides everyone, from the expert hunter and angler to the family looking to get away on a weekend camping trip with the right gear at the best prices! So if you’re looking to outfit your next big adventure, or just looking for some great gear to use around the house or cabin, go to our Sponsors page, hazardground.com/sponsors, and click on the Cabela’s banner. You have to go through our Sponsors page if you want to help out the show…And make the most of your next outdoor adventure!

We are still running our Amazon promotion, so if you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we’ll be donating the proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!

And Knife Country USA continues to support us with amazing deals and the largest selection of knives, cutlery and accessories on the Internet. With over 30,000 models from 500+ manufacturers, Knife Country USA is CONFIDENT they have the perfect item for you. In addition to a tremendous selection, no other company can beat Knife Country USA’s commitment to exceptional customer service – their owner personally guarantees it! Go to our website, hazardground.com, and click on the Knife Country USA banner on our Sponsors page. Then enter coupon code: “HAZARD1” at checkout to get 15% off your entire order!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for listening…Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!

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Following in the footsteps of family members who had served before him, Zach Iscol earned his commission after graduating from Cornell University in 2001. He actually passed up a flight contract and joined the infantry so he could get to combat sooner, fearing he might miss the war while working his way through a lengthy flight school. In 2004, he eagerly volunteered to re-deploy to Iraq and fight in Fallujah shortly after returning from his initial combat deployment there. All of these actions speak volumes about the person Zach Iscol is to his very core. It doesn't take long to understand that he's a man of fortitude and a critical thinker who understands the necessity of selfless service. He has carried those attributes beyond his time in the Marine Corps, founding such organizations as Hire Purpose - a company that helps veterans find meaningful employment - and co-founding Task and Purpose, a news site for veterans, by veterans. Hear his inspirational story of combat, survival, and service in this episode of HAZARD GROUND!

www.taskandpurpose.com | www.hirepurpose.com | "The Western Front"

We have a new sponsor this week!  Cabela's - the world's foremost outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear!  Cabela's provides everyone, from the expert hunter and angler to the family looking to get away on a weekend camping trip with the right gear at the best prices!  So if you're looking to outfit your next big adventure, or just looking for some great gear to use around the house or cabin, go to our Sponsors page, hazardground.com/sponsors, and click on the Cabela's banner.  You have to go through our Sponsors page if you want to help out the show...And make the most of your next outdoor adventure!

We are still running our Amazon promotion, so if you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating the proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!

This episode is also brought to you once again by our incredible sponsor, Knife Country USA.  Knife Country USA has the largest selection of knives, cutlery and accessories on the Internet. With over 30,000 models from 500+ manufacturers, Knife Country USA is CONFIDENT they have the perfect item for you. In addition to a tremendous selection, no other company can beat Knife Country USA's commitment to exceptional customer service - their owner personally guarantees it! Go to our website, hazardground.com, and click on the Knife Country USA banner on our Sponsors page. Then enter coupon code: "HAZARD1" at checkout to get 15% off your entire order!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for listening...Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!

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What an absolutely insane story we have for you this week! On April 21st, 2007, Joshua Mantz was shot and killed by a sniper in Iraq. The exceptionally large bullet that killed Josh initially passed through a senior NCO standing next to him, and then severed Josh's femoral artery. After losing a significant amount of blood, Josh was dead for a full 15 minutes before a military trauma team resuscitated him, bringing him back to life. Mantz’s journey from graduating West Point as an Infantry Platoon Leader to ultimately surviving a sniper’s deadly shot in combat, and recovering through the mental highs and lows of such an uncommon ordeal is absolutely incredible. Hear about it all in this very introspective episode of HAZARD GROUND!

www.asymmetricmind.com | "The Beauty of a Darker Soul"

We are still running our Amazon promotion, so if you shop at Amazon, go to www.hazardground.com, click on the Amazon banner on the home page, and do your Amazon shopping from there. IT COSTS YOU NOTHING, and it helps the show out tremendously! THE BEST PART IS we'll be donating the proceeds from this partnership to the vet organizations featured on this podcast. So help us out, help out these great organizations, and head over to hazardground.com and click on the Amazon banner today, and shop away!

The podcast is brought to you once again by our latest sponsor, Knife Country USA.  Knife Country USA has the largest selection of knives, cutlery and accessories on the Internet. With over 30,000 models from 500+ manufacturers, Knife Country USA is CONFIDENT they have the perfect item for you. In addition to a tremendous selection, no other company can beat Knife Country USA's commitment to exceptional customer service - their owner personally guarantees it! Go to our website, hazardground.com, and click on the Knife Country USA banner on our Sponsors page. Then enter coupon code: "HAZARD1" at checkout to get 15% off your entire order!

Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!

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Steve Kiernan joined the Marine Corps when he was 17. He attended his high school graduation as a Marine fresh out of boot camp. The discipline and drive that the Marine Corps instilled in Steve are what ultimately got him through some of his darkest days – the by-product of becoming a Marine and heading off to war. Just a few weeks into his first tour in Iraq in 2008, Steve was walking point on a security patrol heading back to base in Fallujah when he was hit by an IED. The blast ended up taking both of his legs. The recovery process for Steve was long, grueling at times, and something he almost didn’t make it out of. A desire to forge a new path in life significantly different from the one he knew before his injury, gave Steve new hope and a reason to keep living. He’s now a short story and essay writer, pursuing an MFA at the University of Oregon. This is another inspirational story of combat and survival you don’t want to miss!

www.steven-kiernan.com

This episode is also brought to you by our latest sponsor, Knife Country USA.  Knife Country USA has the largest selection of knives, cutlery and accessories on the Internet. With over 30,000 models from 500+ manufacturers, Knife Country USA is CONFIDENT they have the perfect item for you. In addition to a tremendous selection, no other company can beat Knife Country USA’s commitment to exceptional customer service – their owner personally guarantees it. Go to our website, hazardground.com, and click on the Knife Country USA banner on our Sponsors page. Then enter coupon code: “HAZARD1” at checkout to get 15% off your entire order!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for listening…Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!

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Despite the darkness of combat, there always seems to be moments of levity that surface from time to time. Paul Szoldra, whether he believes it or not, is a master at finding those moments. Whether it was Marine boot camp, or the unforgiving landscape of Afghanistan, Szoldra found humor to get him through the boredom, frustration, and nervous anticipation of combat. A near miss from an IED blast that most certainly would have taken his life, was all that was needed to make Szoldra all-too aware of the horrific realities of combat. But none of the darkness, including life-altering and life-ending IEDs, would have been overcome without humor. And so Paul Szoldra eventually left the Marine Corps and started the “Duffel Blog,” an online military satire publication that has seen over one million unique readers each month. The Duffel Blog has been praised by everyone from Defense Secretary Mattis, to former Pentagon spokesman George Little, and The Onion’s founding editor Scott Dikkers! Check it out on this rather lighthearted episode of HAZARD GROUND!

www.paulszoldra.com | www.duffelblog.com | www.taskandpurpose.com/author/paulszoldra2/

This episode is also brought to you by our latest sponsor, Knife Country USA.  Knife Country USA has the largest selection of knives, cutlery and accessories on the Internet. With over 30,000 models from 500+ manufacturers, Knife Country USA is CONFIDENT they have the perfect item for you. In addition to a tremendous selection, no other company can beat Knife Country USA’s commitment to exceptional customer service – their owner personally guarantees it. Go to our website, hazardground.com, and click on the Knife Country USA banner on our Sponsors page. Then enter coupon code: “HAZARD1” at checkout to get 15% off your entire order.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for listening…Spread the word, tell a friend!!

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Retired Marine Staff Sgt. John Jones loved being a Marine. So much so that after the vehicle he was riding in was blown up by an IED in Iraq on January 3, 2005, one of his primary concerns was if he would be able to continue to serve in the Marine Corps. A twist of fate had put him in the target vehicle: he had made a last minute decision to switch into the vehicle that was hit, just prior to rolling out in his convoy. The blast from the anti-tank mine IED eventually took both of his legs. So his concern was real. But now, over a decade later, John Jones has found a different way to serve his country – through a non-profit called Workshops for Warriors, which trains, certifies, and helps place Veterans, Wounded Warriors, and Transitioning Service Members into advanced manufacturing careers. Hear all about this incredible journey on this incredibly inspiring episode of HAZARD GROUND!

www.wfw.org

This episode is also brought to you by our latest sponsor, Knife Country USA. Knife Country USA has the largest selection of knives, cutlery and accessories on the Internet. With over 30,000 models from 500+ manufacturers, Knife Country USA is CONFIDENT they have the perfect item for you. In addition to a tremendous selection, no other company can beat Knife Country USA’s commitment to exceptional customer service – their owner personally guarantees it. Go to our website, hazardground.com, and click on the Knife Country USA banner on our Sponsors page. Then enter coupon code: “HAZARD1” at checkout to get 15% off your entire order!

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! 

Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!

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This week…Marine and bestselling author of “Echo in Ramadi,” Scott Huesing returns! Scott was first on the show before “Echo in Ramadi” was released (Ep. 50), and now he returns to pick up where he left off. This episode focuses on the human condition and the idea of human connection through war and the bonds of the military. It’s really what the book “Echo in Ramadi” is all about – the immeasurable strength of the human spirit! Check it out!

www.echoinramadi.com | www.savethebrave.org | “Echo in Ramadi: The Firsthand Story of US Marines in Iraq’s Deadliest City”

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!

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What lengths would you go to, to change the world…to inspire others to change the world? Alex Evans, along with three other military veterans, is rowing a boat across the Atlantic Ocean to do just that. He’s part of the 1st all-American Military veteran team – aptly titled “Fight Oar Die” – that will race across the Atlantic Ocean in December 2018, in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge – a race that has challenged individuals and teams from around the world for years. Their goal is to increase “awareness of and support for the cognitive, behavioral, and physical health of U.S. Military/Veteran personnel” and inspire them and others to live their best life. In this episode, we sit down with Team Skipper Alex Evans and team psychologist and Iraq veteran, Dr. Jacob Hyde, who will be monitoring the team throughout the race to better understand the effects of mental trauma and extreme duress on the human body. Hear firsthand how this seemingly crazy idea came to fruition, and where it will take the Fight Oar Die Team by year’s end…and beyond!

www.usvetrow.org

Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors!

Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes!

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