#39: Sons of the Flag - Ryan "Birdman" Parrott

Ryan “Birdman” Parrott, Author, Public Speaker, and Founder of two non-profits benefitting Veterans and First-Responders is originally from Detroit, Michigan. Ryan enlisted in the Navy after watching the Twin Towers fall on 9/11, and Parrott served eight years as a U.S. Navy SEAL attached to Team SEVEN, completing three combat tours to Iraq before being assigned to Advanced Training Command as an Instructor. In 2005, while serving in Iraq, Ryan was riding atop a Humvee manning the gun turret in enemy territory, when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED), causing a flash fire and throwing him from the Humvee. Ryan regained composure with his face and arms burned, and witnessed his fellow team members suffer devastating burn and blast injuries. While Ryan’s burns were only first and second degree, his teammates suffered lifelong injuries. After completing his service, Ryan moved to Dallas, and in April of 2011, Ryan had the privilege of meeting a retired Army Ranger officer who suffered significant burn injuries, and Ryan was inspired and humbled by his display of strength and courage, despite his debilitating scarring. Ryan was discouraged that this Ranger, and others like him, were not benefitting from the progressive treatment of burns in the same way that amputees benefit from incredible advancements in prosthetics. Searching for better answers, Ryan sought out physicians, medical professionals, civilian burn survivors as well as fire-fighters and paramedics, seeking to understand how burn treatment could be improved. In 2012, Ryan established Sons of the Flag to help burn survivors and their families find the help and medical attention that they deserve. He is also the founder of the Bird’s Eye View Project, addressing the extreme needs of Veterans and First Responders through extreme sports. And, he is the author of Sons of the Flag: Real Accounts from the last 100 years of American Service. ------------------------------------------------ This episode is brought to you by StrikeForce Energy. An energy drink packet that goes with water or your favorite beverage. This was designed by Navy SEALs for their brothers on the battlefield so do we really need to say anything more? Go buy some. Put in the code “WARRIOR” and save 20% on your order. Warrior Mindset Podcast is also brought to you by Trutankless. Trutankless is a water heater for the modern world. Your 55-gallon tank water heater is old technology. It’s time to get an update. This will save you ~25% on your water bill. I have one in my house, and we have saved around 35% on our total water bill. No kidding. This unit sits on the wall, and you can control the temperature and many other things from an app on your phone. Click on the hyperlink and get yourself a FREE quote. We are proud to announce our new sponsor in the cool kids club- Canine Tactical! Canine Tactical offers the first Premier Clone Working Canines in the USA - Premier Working Canine Clones for the Police Working Canine, Active Shooter Canine, and Personal Protection Canine fields.  Joshua Morton developed the ‘Morton/Method’ of training from his experiences as the first Navy SEAL K9 Operator for GRP 2.   The 3, 5, and 10-week training courses are designed to enhance the handler and canine’s individual and team qualities.  No course is the same.   All custom tailored ballistic and non-ballistic canine vests and handler kits are made in-house.