Thursday Sep 16, 2021
Ep. 45 ”No Quit Gene”-Navy SEAL Jason Redman‘s American Story
Jason grew up in a patriotic family. He listened to stories of family members who served in the military. Jason's father was an army paratrooper; his grandfather on this father's side was a highly decorated B-24 pilot who flew over Europe; his grandfather on his mother's side fought for France during World War 2.
This legacy was planted within Jason. Joining the military was the only thing he ever wanted to do. At age 14, Jason's father told him about a highly elite, highly secret unit with the toughest training in the military who went to airborne school with him. They were called the Navy SEALS. It intrigued Jason.
Jason did everything within his power to build his physical strength in order to one day become a SEAL. Although small in size, he played football and wrestled to help him achieve the goal.
Jason enlisted at age 17. By the time Jason turned 19, he was headed for Navy SEAL training. BUDS has an attrition rate of 75-80%. There are approximately 2,400 active SEALS today, and only 12,000 total in American history. It is a prestigious brotherhood.
Jason was eager to prove himself. That eagerness turned to confidence, which turned to arrogance.
Jason was sent to school to become an officer. While enrolled, September 11, 2001 rocked the nation.
After completing school, Jason came back to the SEALs. What he found was very different. When Jason began school the U.S. was operating with a peace time military, and he arrived to a war time military.
Tactics were different. Jason had very little combat experience, and yet he was a leader. Jason did not handle criticism well.
The perfect storm erupted in Afghanistan. Jason went against a commanding officer by going into a valley to help in a fire fight. Jason was sent to army ranger school to cool his jets.
Jason's attitude in ranger school was less than stellar. He found the training harder than anticipated, but found his footing and a change of attitude.
It took a long time for Jason to earn the trust and respect of his brothers, but he did it with patience and hard work.
On September 13, 2007 Jason and three others walked into a well planned ambush in Iraq. Jason was traumatically injured: two rounds in his left elbow nearly took his arm; a round went through his face and exited the right side of his nose; blew out his right cheek bone; blew out his orbital floor; broke all bones above his eye; and shattered his jaw down to his chin.
Jason spent considerable time at Walter Reed hospital, but he did not want people feeling sorry for him. Jason created a proclamation that now hangs permanently at the wounded ward in Walter Reed. His proclamation went viral, gaining him a visit with George Bush.
Jason is a highly sought after author and motivational speaker. Most recently you might have heard his name associated with Task Force Pineapple, an operation airlifting people out of Afghanistan.
And plus, Jason is really cool...
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