Mentors for Military Podcast

EP-315 | Alan C. Mack - 160th SOAR

The call to adventure was persuasive, drawing Alan into the special operations community as an MH-47 pilot with the prestigious 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). Hard work and relentless training vaulted him to the top of his peer group as a Flight Lead and standardization instructor pilot. His experience and leadership traits put him at the forefront of several clandestine special operations, some still too classified to discuss in an open forum. The attacks of September 11, 2001, prompted the creation of a robust and deadly special operations force: Task Force Dagger. Alan C. Mack, Callsign Razor 03, led a team of MH-47E helicopters and armed MH-60s. We touch on this mission about the Horse Soldiers of 5th Special Forces Group Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA) 595 where he provided aviation support, and a few other operations. Support the show on patreon and follow Alan at alancmack.com. Taped at 15 Perry Street

EP-314 | John Szoka

John Szoka is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Infantry officer with twenty years of active service who went on to be a successful business owner and political leader. Ranger and Airborne qualified, Szoka served in a variety of command and staff positions during his career. In this episode, he and Robert cover a number of topics, including: 1) leadership Cold War and Today; 2) Russia and China Threats - Past and Today; 3) Making Change in our Country Using our Political System; 4) America, Social Media, and Military Leadership; 5) Leadership and Driving Results.Taped at 15 Perry Street.

EP-313 | Special Operations Medics

Special Operations Medics attend some of the hardest military training and work tirelessly on their craft, often times selflessly sacrificing personal and professional goals to bring our heroes home. Brian G. is an active duty special operations medic who sat down with Robert to not only talk about his journey to where he's at in his career today, but to also discuss how the Special Operations Medic Coalition (SOM+C) is out there serving as a resource to the special ops medic community. This episode was taped at 15 Perry Street. Learn more about SOM+C at https://www.som-c.org.

EP-312 | Larry Freeland - Chariots in the Sky

Larry Freehand joined the U.S. Army and served one tour in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division as an Infantry Officer and a CH-47 helicopter pilot.  He is the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star, and various other military service medals.

EP-311 | Cardia Summers - A DUI Launched a Company

Cardia Summers joined the U.S. Army under an option 40 contract (Ranger), but experienced a setback. He didn't let that setback stop his goals and instead finally passed the Ranger assessment to join 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment as a paralegal. After transitioning to a unit in Vicenza Italy, he was partying with buddies a little too hard and received a DUI. After separation from the Army, he took his experiences to create a company that he hopes will help others from obtaining a DUI. 

EP-310 | Ron O’Ferrall

Ron O'Ferrall is one of the most laid back guys you'll ever meet. Until you strike up a conversation about his past, you'd never know that he grew up in a rough neighborhood while in his youth, where family members and friends were joining gangs and death and fear were always close by. His father was a Vietnam Vet who served in a long range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP) and he was typically inserted well behind enemy lines. Ron's situation at that time could have taken several turns, and he knew that he needed to find a better future or else he would share the same fate as those around him. He shares his story of joining the U.S. Army, with time in 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, as well as his successes and failures in and out of service. 

EP-309 | Kelsie Sheren - Canadian Artillery/CST

Kelsie Sheren served four years in the Canadian Forces as an Artillery Gunner and in a role similar to the U.S. Cultural Support Team (CST). During her deployment she began struggling with PTSD and was discharged. We discuss her time in service and the rTMS (Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) treatments that she's recently undergone to help her traumatic brain injury.

EP-308 | Marshall Plumlee - From the NBA to Ranger Regiment

Marshall Plumlee stands out in a crowd at 7-ft. tall, but he also stands out because not many players from professional sports decide to put that aside to join the U.S. military. Marshall is an active-duty U.S. Army Ranger-Qualified infantry officer serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment. He joins Robert, Jason, and Dave Elder in studio for this episode. Taped at 15 Perry Street.

EP-307 | Brian Marx - Age Doesn’t Matter

Never let anyone say that your age should stop you from fulfilling your dreams. Brian Marx joined the U.S. Army at forty years old and completed the U.S. Army's Ranger Assessment and Selection Program at forty-one. He's been in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment over 10 years and is still going strong. You'll want to tune in and hear his amazing story.
Support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/mentors4milTaped at 15 Perry Street

EP-306 | Dave Elder - Service Dog Saves A Life

A special story of how Dave Elder felt the need to provide Jason, an active duty Army Ranger, a service dog to help him with his post traumatic stress. That event changed Jason's life and we talk about how it all came about. This story will tug at your heart strings and something you don't want to miss. 

EP-305 | Felipe ”Pete” Peters - Ranger Regiment Recon

Felipe first sat with us on EP-298 and we wanted him to come back to share more of his story.
Felipe Peters spent over 11 years in the U.S. Army's elite 75th Ranger Regiment at both 2nd Battalion and with the Advanced Force Reconnaissance Team, aka Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment (RRD) or today as the Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC). In this episode, Felipe joins Robert and Jason as we touch on a number of topics.

EP-304 | Ray McPadden - We March at Midnight

Ray McPadden is a former Army Ranger and ground force commander in 2nd Ranger Battalion / 75th Ranger Regiment. He began his military service as an infantry officer in 10th Mountain Division. He sits down with Robert and Jason in studio.His book: raymcpadden.com
Taped at 15 Perry Street