In this episode I’m welcoming back a guest from Episode 8. After an 8-year enlistment in the Marine Corps with 3 deployments to Iraq, John was a Deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department from 2007 to 2019. He spent the last nine years as assistant team leader on their SWAT team but was medically retired after two neck injuries. Today he is a director of security for a private company (a company that he is not allowed to divulge their name). He manages the armed security guards assigned to the company’s locations, investigates internal theft, and writes standard operating procedures relevant for the safety and security of employees and company assets. In Episode 8, John talked about his having to deal with PTSD and survivors’ guilt. In this episode we talk a little more of how he addressed his mental health. John has also ventured into the world of knife making, which we touched on briefly in our first conversation but go into much more depth this time.

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From Machine Gun to Sewing Machine…Trinidad Garcia was already an accomplished clothing business entrepreneur, but he had always wanted to be a U.S. Marine. In 2008, at age 31 he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He deployed twice with 2/7, serving aboard Marine Expeditionary Units in the Pacific. Through two enlistments his dream of becoming a denim designer started burning inside of him again. While at his final assignment, a reserve unit in the Los Angeles area, he secretly applied to the prestigious Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) and was accepted. He balanced his schedule while not missing any of the exercises required, as well as not missing his classes at night. He joined forces with the local VA administrator for FIDM and founded the FIDM-SVA (Student Veterans of America) Chapter; to give those who followed him a better chance at navigating the rigors of student life. As he neared graduation in 2018, Trinidad founded his namesake brand – Trinidad3 Jeans. He experienced local success and wanted to expand his mission to support veterans with every pair of jeans, developing the catchphrase Powering Vets with Every Pair!  In addition to operating his own clothing company, Trinidad works for Conflict Kinetics, a civilian company that trains military members through their Synthetic Marksmanship Training Systems (SMTS) - scenario based shooting situations. Through his own struggles with trauma, and loss of identity through his transition from the military, Trinidad got involved with Merging Vets & Players to create an environment where these warriors can share each other's strength and experience and can support each other in building fulfilling lives of service and strength.

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http://conflictkinetics.com/

https://vetsandplayers.org/

Ashton Packe served 23 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, retiring in 2021 as a Detective Sergeant. He was a team leader during the Route 91 Concert mass shooting on October 1, 2017. During his tenure, he worked and supervised assignments including uniformed patrol, field training, criminal investigations, undercover operations, dignitary protection and counter-terrorism operations with an emphasis on human intelligence operations. He spent 3 years as a Task Force Officer on the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, investigating international and domestic terrorism cases, and was assigned with the Department of Homeland Security at the National Operations Center in Washington DC. Ashton has trained law enforcement officers across the United States, as well as internationally on behalf of the U.S. State Department on the topics of countering terrorism, violent extremism, community engagement and outreach, human intelligence operations and leadership principles. Today he serves as the National Director of Law Enforcement Engagement for the non-profit Hope for Prisoners, a nationally recognized prison re-entry program dedicated to fixing the lives of formerly incarcerated.

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Please forgive the sound quality in the first half of this eposide - there were techinical difficulties.

Raul Ramos grew up in South Central Los Angeles and was immersed in the gang culture right outside his door. By the fourth grade Raul was dressing and acting like a gang member. He was jumped in and started getting gang tattoos at the age of 11. By 20 he had a few instances that could have landed him in jail or worse and he now had a baby daughter. Knowing nothing about the military and needing a waver because of his gang tattoos, including the ones on his face, Raul enlisted in the Navy in 1998. Raul served 24 years and achieved the rank of Master Chief, retiring in 2022. Today, Raul is the author of Ese to Master Jefe, a book chronicling his life from LA gang member to his time in the Navy. Going forward, Raul wants to give back by working with those who are in the same place he was heading down the wrong path, making the wrong decisions, and maybe on the road towards jail or worse. Through his life experience and mentorship, he hopes to help others turn their lives around.

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Chuck Rylant was a cop for 15 years. In that time, he was a detective, a member of SWAT, and firearms and arrest and control trainer. An on-duty injury forced his retirement in 2012. Today he has earned a doctorate degree, he is a court-recognized expert in use-of-force and self-defense, he is a bestselling author of 5 books, including Shots Fired: The Psychology Behind Officer-Involved Shootings. Chuck also remains connected to the law enforcement community by continuing to teach at the police academy. Chuck is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Two of his books Success and Motivation are based on his interviews with Jiu Jitsu practitioners of the highest level.

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Guy Smith, former Navy SWCC, in Episode 45 of the Transition Drill Podcast, shares what it really looks like for transition and identity shift for veterans and first responders navigating the cliff-edge moment when the uniform comes off, and the wheels don’t stop spinning. You’ll hear Guy on what it feels like to hit that wall, and what it takes to rebuild discipline, purpose, and trust in yourself without losing your family.

Guy grew up in Watts in the middle of crack-era violence, the Rodney King riots, and nightly chaos, but he credits his mom and grandmother for pushing exposure, education, and standards when his environment offered none. When his family fled to Corona, he found wrestling, structure, and a new identity, even while dealing with asthma and the mental weight that came with it.

In San Diego, training fighters and coaching, he ran into special operations guys who didn’t just talk about the lifestyle, they lived it. That lit the fuse. He walks through the recruiting reality check, failing his first PST, learning what “passing” really means when you’re competing in a packed pipeline, and showing up week after week until the call finally came: “Ship out on Monday,” literally.

He talks about getting through the Special Operations pipeline and becoming a SWCC. However, Guy also doesn’t dodge the hard part. Injuries, migraines, mood changes, heavy drinking, no sleep, and the slow build of anxiety that made him dangerous to himself and unfair to the people closest to him. He sought treatment while still in, admits suicidal ideation got real near transition, and gives his wife full credit for seeing it before he could.

He got out of active duty in 2016, and the conversation focused on what came next when you’re “out,” but your nervous system still thinks you’re on mission. Today, he’s focused on reconnecting with his family, he’s a bodybuilder and he’s pushing himself to advance a pro, and he’s always considering other professional projects.

The best podcast for military veterans, police officers, firefighters, and first responders preparing for veteran transition and life after service. Helping you plan and implement strategies to prepare for your transition into civilian life. Follow the show and share it with another veteran or first responder who would enjoy this.

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Marshall Spring joined the Marine Corps after the attacks on 9/11. He served 4 years as an explosive detection dog handler. After returning from Iraq, Marshall continued working with dogs as a contractor for the National Nuclear Security Administration. In 2010 Marshall became a police officer in Colorado but gave up the profession a year later after the suicide of his training officer, who he was in a dating relationship. In 2019 a Marine veteran who Marshall previously worked with killed himself, this was one of many veterans Marshall knew that lost the struggle. Marshall began reflecting on his own experiences with PTS, TBI, and survivors’ guilt. Marshall decided that it was incumbent upon him to leverage his experiences to help prevent further tragedy. Marshall was hired by Alliance for Suicide Prevention to develop their Peer Support and outreach programs beginning with adult age males, then military veterans and first responders. In 2022 Marshall co-founded Phoenix Resilience, to help veterans and first responders address trauma and building resilience. As a certified QPR instructor Marshall also educates First Responders on having open conversations around suicide and mental health to help increase the likelihood of early intervention and foster a community of whole health minded community leaders.

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https://phoenixresilience.org/

https://allianceforsuicideprevention.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshall-spring-796756231/

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https://rangercortes.com/

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https://www.instagram.com/the_og_pumpkin/

Jim Clemente is a retired FBI profiler internationally recognized as an expert in Child Sexual Victimization, Sexual Homicide, and Child Abduction. He’s the basis of Jason Gideon’s character on the TV show Criminal Minds, played by Mandy Patinkin. Jim grew up in New York City and initially entered college, studying chemistry. He changed his major, went to law school, and eventually became a prosecutor in NYC. Wanting to do more to put criminals in jail, he diverted again and joined the FBI. Jim retired in 2009 as a Supervisory Special Agent after 22 years with the FBI; the last 12 years with the Critical Incident Response Group (which includes the FBI’s criminal profilers) out of Quantico. On 9/11, Jim was teaching classes in Quantico. He drove home to NYC and helped with searching and body recovery at Ground Zero. As a result of his time at Ground Zero and the Pentagon, Jim developed Lymphoma and almost died. While he was recovering and still active with the FBI, Jim became a tech advisor on the TV show Criminal Minds. He had a long interest in Hollywood; he wrote his first screenplay in 1994. From starting as a tech advisor, after retiring from the FBI, today Jim is now the executive producer of the show. Additionally, in 2008 Jim and his brother Tim started XG Productions, a media production and management company. If that isn’t enough, Jim is a published author and also the creator of the Locked Up Abroad, Best Case Worst Case, and Real Crime Profile podcasts.

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https://www.xgproductions.com/

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Jason Goyanko came to the military later in life. Several friends had joined the Navy and were SEALs. Jason was invited to Lt. Michael Murphy’s MOH ceremony in 2007, then in 2008, at 31 and needing an age waver, he enlisted in the Navy on a SEAL contract. Jason ultimately rang the bell, but went on to serve 11 years, eventually working in the Special Operations Community in their drone program. After discharging Jason went back to college and got his MBA. Jason currently works as a talent acquisition recruiter, is a co-founder in a tech startup, and a real estate investor/aspiring developer. Additionally, he is the Director of The Swim for SOF, a veteran fundraiser benefitting The Honor Foundation along with giving back to veteran nonprofits. He has raised over $160K for veteran nonprofits and volunteers time to help with Gold Star Families.

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https://www.honor.org

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasongoyanko/

https://www.instagram.com/jason_rivers281/

https://twitter.com/JasonG556