This is one of the wildest military redemption stories I’ve ever heard.

Shawn Vance was a former college athlete who spiraled hard—stealing for the thrill, smoking weed daily, and eventually overdosing on meth he found while picking up trash on the freeway. The overdose wrecked his heart. He could’ve died. Should’ve, honestly.

But instead… he enlisted in the Army through the 18X program and clawed his way into Special Forces.

In this Urban Valor episode, Shawn walks us through the full ride—from near-death overdose and felony arrest, to surviving Green Beret selection, passing the Q-Course, and becoming a Special Forces Medic (18D).

We break down:
– How Special Forces Selection (SFAS) really works
– Why so many 18X candidates fail out
– What actually happens during the Q-Course and SERE
– How the Army gave him the structure to turn it all around

If you’re into real stories about resilience, transformation, and the ugly truth behind “elite” military training—this one’s gonna hit.

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