Meet Billey Dooley — Army veteran, former foster kid, survivor of toxic leadership, fire missions labeled “danger close,” and a system that failed those who needed it most.

In this episode of Urban Valor, Billey opens up about nearly being killed by incoming fire, surviving chaos both at war and at home, and the pain of losing a soldier to suicide just hours after a life-altering conversation. From a chaotic childhood in Riverside to jumping out of planes and calling fire missions in Afghanistan, Billey’s story is as gritty as it gets.

But this episode isn’t about just survival. It’s about truth. Leadership. And the weight we carry when we make it out, but others don’t.

We get into:
- A near-death moment during a morning run.
- His experience with abusive training environments.
- Fire missions that almost killed friendly forces.
- How leadership missteps led to a tragic suicide.

And what he believes MUST change in military culture.

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His friend took his spot. The convoy was hit. Only one came home.

In this Urban Valor episode, Marine Veteran Travis Pinn shares a devastating Iraq War story that changed his life forever. As an 0311 Infantry Rifleman with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Travis endured some of the war’s most brutal moments—multiple IED attacks, deadly ambushes, and the psychological trauma that followed him home.

But the moment that haunts him most? The day a fellow Marine took his place in a convoy... and didn’t make it back.

From surviving deadly routes in Iraq to battling PTSD and rebuilding after the war, Travis lays bare the truth of what it means to carry survivor’s guilt and live with invisible wounds.

This episode is more than just a war story—it’s an honest look at what thousands of veterans face once the shooting stops.

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#military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines  #warstories

He quit during Hell Week. Most don’t come back. Jovon Quarles did — and became a Navy SEAL Honor Graduate.

Born into chaos in Washington D.C., Jovon grew up with a mom addicted to crack, no father, and violence all around. He became a dad before he graduated high school. Then he joined the Navy — not because he wanted to, but because he had no choice.

He found the SEAL Teams by accident. But what followed wasn’t luck — it was pain, failure, and redemption.

In this Urban Valor interview, Jovon walks us through:
- Quitting his first Hell Week and what it did to his soul
- Fighting to go back and earn the Trident
- The mindset it takes to finish BUD/S
- Real SEAL Team deployments in combat zones
- Why he says pain is the path
- And how he turned his lowest moment into a mission

This isn’t just a Navy SEAL story. This is what it looks like to lose everything… and choose to fight anyway.

 If you’re struggling, stuck, or feel like it’s too late — this one’s for you.

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Video chapters: 
00:00 – Hell Week: the rumor and initiation  
01:14 – Jovon Quarles: early life & family background  
02:45 – Growing up in DC → move to North Carolina  
08:40 – Adolescence, school & teenage fatherhood  
10:59 – Football ambition & first drive to join the Navy  
13:26 – Family doubts, recruiter pitch, decision to enlist  
18:47 – Navy Boot Camp: first impressions  
20:36 – Meeting recruits from across the country  
30:12 – Qualification test: swim, run, push‑ups — getting in  
31:52 – Start of BUD/S: physical & mental grind begins  
36:14 – The challenge of Hell Week prep & pressure intensifies  
38:28 – Drown‑proofing: confronting fear underwater  
40:19 – Mental toughness talk: “pain is the path” mindset  
48:58 – Hell Week begins: day one with boats, cold water & chaos  
53:36 – Quitting and ringing the bell — admitting defeat  
56:52 – Decision to return — commitment to finish what he started  
58:14 – Leadership role in second attempt at BUD/S  
1:05:09 – Hospitalization & physical collapse — risk of quitting again  
1:08:04 – Recovery, walk‑week and finishing BUD/S  
1:10:10 – Graduation: Honor Graduate speech & recognition  
1:12:13 – Moving onto SQT: real SEAL training begins  
1:13:25 – Personal loss: grandmother passes — resolve tested  
1:18:25 – Making history: first Black SEAL to graduate BUD/S & SQT as Honor Man  
1:19:59 – First SEAL assignment: submarine‑based SEAL delivery team  
1:20:22 – Deployments: Special missions & combat in Iraq  
1:31:39 – Transition to instructor & recruiting duty — giving back  
1:33:26 – Life after SEALs: depression, recovery & new path  
1:39:27 – Why Not Me?: book vision & final message  

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #navyseal  #warstories

This episode took the air out of the room.

Jessica sits down with Urban Valor and walks us through the life most people never see behind the uniform. From a childhood surrounded by chaos and addiction… to stepping into a Marine Corps environment that felt more like danger than brotherhood… to losing herself inside a bottle just trying to cope with the weight of everything she’d carried since childhood.

She gets real about the DUI that nearly ended her career, the harassment she endured, the blackmail that pushed her to the edge, and the moment she realized the system that was supposed to protect her was ready to burn her instead.

And then — she takes us into the deep end.

Her ibogaine journey.
The pain.
The hallucinations.
The emotional rebirth.
The moment she met the child version of herself and finally understood why she drank, why she ran, and why she hurt.

This might be one of the most important conversations we’ve had with a veteran. Not because it’s dramatic — but because it’s honest.

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Video chapters: 
00:00 – Entering the Marine Corps & First Warning Signs
02:00 – Childhood Trauma: Abuse, Neglect & Survival
06:30 – Alcohol in the Marine Corps & Isolation Overseas
11:00 – The DUI That Changed Everything
15:45 – Harassment, Blackmail & a Broken System
22:50 – Getting Demoted & Hitting Rock Bottom Again
28:40 – Traveling to Colombia & Rediscovering Life
34:00 – MSG Dreams Crushed & Another Setback
38:30 – Testing Positive & Preparing for Discharge
44:50 – Living in a Bus & Rebuilding Purpose
49:00 – Starting Liberisk & Helping Veterans Heal
53:00 – Entering Psychedelic Treatment (Ibogaine)
55:15 – The Ibogaine Trip: Pain, Darkness & Revelation
1:05:00 – Emotional Breakthrough & Rebirth
1:12:00 – What She Learned & How It Changed Everything
1:18:00 – The Bigger Message for Veterans & Humanity

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines  #warstories

This is the stuff they don’t put in documentaries.

Seth Ryan’s first combat mission as an Army Ranger wasn’t just historic — it was horrifying. We’re talking chemical suits, pitch-black raids, gunships in the sky, and digging up decomposed soldiers with their bare hands. This is the real story behind the rescue of POW Jessica Lynch — told by the guy who lived it.

And trust me... you’ve never heard it like this like you will on today's Urban Valor Episode!

In this episode, Seth walks us through:
- Growing up surrounded by drugs, prison-bound relatives, and trauma most kids never see.
- The fire that burned down his home — and the weird, defining aftermath.
- Getting mentally obliterated in Marine Corps boot camp... and reshaped into something tougher.
- Switching to the Army Rangers and becoming a punching bag for hazing because of it.
- Living in barracks filled with black mold, spitting blood from pneumonia — and not backing down.
- Watching new guys break bones falling off rappel towers, or worse.
- His first mission ever — a rescue op no one expected to survive.
- Digging into a soccer field by hand to recover the rotting remains of American soldiers.

The unspoken toll that moments like that leave behind… and why Rangers carry it alone.

If you’re here for real special operations history, raw emotional storytelling, and a side of war that doesn’t make it into the headlines… you’re exactly where you need to be.

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Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.

Video chapters: 
00:00 – Growing Up in Chaos
04:20 – Watching His Home Burn Down
07:45 – Becoming a Marine
13:05 – Marine Corps Boot Camp: Mental Breaking Point
20:10 – 9/11 Changes Everything
26:55 – Switching to the Army Rangers
33:20 – Hazing, Black Mold, and Ranger Regiment Reality
40:00 – Training Accidents and Broken Bodies
48:00 – Jessica Lynch Rescue Mission Begins
55:30 – Breaking Through the Hospital Wall
58:00 – Rangers Dig for the Fallen
01:03:45 – The Emotional Weight of Recovery
01:10:00 – Reflections on Combat and Sacrifice

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

They said he’d fail. His best friend was shot and killed. Now he’s a White House officer.

Lieutenant Commander Alvaro Ramos didn’t take the easy path. He grew up with a tin roof over his head, sleeping on floors in Guam. He joined the Navy to escape poverty — and then watched his best friend, a fellow corpsman, get killed by a negligent Marine on deployment.

That moment could have broken him. Instead, it built him.

Alvaro went on to serve 23 years in the United States Navy, earned his commission, became a Physician Assistant, and rose to serve inside the White House Medical Unit under Presidents Trump and Biden.

In this episode of Urban Valor, Alvaro opens up about:
- The fatal moment that changed his life forever
- Getting told “I hope you fail” by a senior chief
- Why he almost quit the Navy
- The identity crisis of becoming an officer
- And how Special Boat Team 22 finally made him feel like he mattered

If you’ve ever been underestimated, doubted, or knocked down — this is your reminder to get back up.

👉 Watch the full story of Alvaro Ramos now.

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Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.

Video chapters: 
0:00 – “I Hope You Fail” — The Moment That Changed Everything
1:10 – From the Philippines to Guam: Childhood in Poverty
3:50 – Why He Joined the Navy Instead of College
6:10 – Boot Camp Culture Shock
9:00 – 9/11: The Day Everything Changed
11:45 – Deployment Confusion and a Heartbreaking Mistake
15:00 – The Day Moreno Died
17:30 – The Words That Haunted Him in College
20:00 – From Corpsman to Officer: Fighting Imposter Syndrome
24:00 – Special Boat Team 22: Finally Feeling Valued
27:00 – The Jeep. The Seal. The CEO.
30:00 – That Random Course at Walter Reed
31:30 – The Call From the White House
33:00 – What It Really Means to Lead

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usnavy  #warstories

Decorated Army officer turned warrior‑advocate Rudy De La Rosa opens up like never before: marked for death by the Mexican Mafia as a teenager, pulled into gang violence, homeless, and staring down his own destruction—before trading bullets for a uniform and fighting for something bigger than himself. 

In this Urban Valor Podcast episode, we dig into generational trauma, gang warfare in East LA & the 605 freeway corridor, the “green‑light” hit list, then military service in the U.S. Army, combat in Afghanistan, lifting the weight off his family’s legacy, and rewriting his story.

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✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday!

Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.

Video chapters: 
00:00 – 00:19 | Knife from the Kitchen: Childhood Horror  
00:19 – 00:53 | “We’re Going to War”: Realizing Violence at Home  
00:53 – 01:28 | Origins: Santa Monica to Whittier, Early Life  
01:28 – 03:08 | Generational Trauma: Grandfather in WWII, Father in Vietnam  
03:08 – 06:52 | War‑Scars Passed Down: Navy, PTSD & Family Violence  
06:52 – 09:13 | A Father’s Advice: “If You Don’t Go to War You’re Not a Man”  
09:13 – 12:49 | Teenage Years: Gang Culture, Identity Crisis & Survival  
12:49 – 16:17 | The Neighborhood, Vultures of Divorce & Facing Harsh Reality  
16:17 – 19:36 | High School Years: Gang Affiliation, “Green Light” Hit List  
19:36 – 24:16 | Targeted, Stalked, Almost Killed: The Green Light Turns Real  
24:16 – 27:15 | Homelessness, Dropping Out & the Turning Point  
27:15 – 30:23 | Joining the Army: From Gang Life to Uniform  
30:23 – 36:04 | Military Career Begins: MP to Officer Candidate School  
36:04 – 43:12 | Combat Tour & Afghanistan: Facing War on a Global Stage  
43:12 – 47:42 | Leadership, Family Sacrifice & Choosing What Matters  
47:42 – 54:06 | 9/11 Moment: From Barracks to Battle  
54:06 – 58:59 | Deployment Realities & Mission Focus  
58:59 – 1:04:30 | The Policy Fight: Military Kids, Mental Health & Advocacy  
1:04:30 – 1:10:52 | Homecoming, Reflection & The Afghan Exit  
1:10:52 – 1:16:06 | Career End, Civilian Life & Legacy  
1:16:06 – 1:24:26 | From Soldier to Advocate: Changing the System  
1:24:26 – End | Final Thoughts: Purpose, Service & True North  

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

This might be one of the wildest Marine Corps stories we’ve ever had on the show. Retired Marine First Sergeant Randall Parkes sat down with Urban Valor to share some of the funniest, most unbelievable, and downright fcked up* moments from his 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. From barracks inspections gone wrong, to combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, to a real-life rescue that helped spark the Abraham Accords — this episode has everything.

Randall gets brutally honest about what it’s like to lead Marines, deal with chaos as a First Sergeant, and balance discipline with dark military humor. He shares raw, hilarious, and emotional moments from his time in recon, MARSOC, boot camp, and even his post-military life — from real estate success to landing a job at Anduril.

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Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.

Video chapters: 
0:00 – Flashlight Incident & Barracks Inspection Chaos
2:00 – Marine Corps Wartime Service Overview
3:50 – First Deployment & Recon Battalion Life
6:00 – Becoming a First Sergeant: The Good, Bad & Absurd
10:00 – DUI Drama & Naked Room Inspections
16:00 – Life on Ship & Wild Company Commanders
20:45 – Djibouti Jump Missions & Mission Cancellations
23:50 – Corpsman Save Emirati Prince's Life
27:00 – Condom Bowl Fiasco
30:00 – Transition to Drill Instructor Life in San Diego
34:30 – Depot Life & Suicide Watch Recruit
37:00 – Thumbtack Inspection & Culture Shift in Training
41:00 – Screwing With Recruits (In Good Fun)
44:15 – First Transgender Recruit Experience
50:00 – Honest Reflection on Inclusive Boot Camp
55:00 – Career Climax & Transition Plans
1:03:00 – Battles with Retirement Orders
1:10:00 – Hating Corporate Life After Service
1:15:00 – Finding New Purpose at Anduril
1:17:00 – Final Reflections: From First Sergeant to Civilian

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usmarines  #warstories

What drives a decorated Special Operations pilot to unload his weapon - not in fear of the enemy, but of himself?

In this Urban Valor Podcast interview, Army veteran and Night Stalker pilot Nick O’Kelly reveals the mental battle he faced during deployment in Afghanistan. A former Green Beret turned elite helicopter pilot, Nick opens up about the hidden war inside his head — a war with depression, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts that nearly claimed his life.

While flying missions in an active combat zone, Nick reached a breaking point. Fearing he might harm himself, he made the chilling decision to empty his pistol and carry it unloaded for the remainder of the deployment. This episode dives deep into the culture of military mental health, the silent suffering many combat veterans endure, and what it means to survive not just physically, but emotionally!

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Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.

Video chapters: 
00:00 – Meet Nick O’Kelly
02:45 – Special Forces Beginnings
07:30 – Transition to Aviation
11:05 – Deployment to Afghanistan
14:10 – The Toxic Command & Losing Purpose
18:30 – The Day He Unloaded His Pistol
25:15 – Living in Fear of His Own Thoughts
30:00 – Hiding Depression in the Ranks
38:20 – Finding Help and Climbing Back
44:10 – Life After the Military & Lessons Learned

Check out https://thenickokelly.com/stigma to follow Nick’s work. 

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy  #warstories

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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Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories.

Video chapters: 

#military #warstories #urbanvalor #marines #warstories