Hazard Ground

Command Chief Master Sergeant William Markham had a 30 year career in the Air Force starting in 1986. During that time he directed several airstrikes and in 2001, he was the first Airman in Afghanistan as a Combat Controller attached to "Triple Nickel" which he later received a silver star for actions of gallantry. After his retirement, Markham continued to serve his community first with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and then later co-founded Project OVAT (One Vet @ a Time) that consists of a nationwide network of representatives that help Veterans with anything their needs. https://projectovat.org Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

Ryan Robicheaux grew up in Arkansas where he earned his Pilot's license in high school. After witnessing the tragedy of 9/11, Robicheaux enlisted in the Army National Guard and after college became Army active duty where he attended Warrant Officer Candidate School. He was awarded a slot to fly the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. Robicheaux deployed twice to Afghanistan and has translated his experiences into "Scouts Out!", his memoir. https://www.scoutsoutbook.com/ Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: https://www.ScoutsOutBook.com

Gregg F. Martin, PhD, Major General, US Army (Retired), served on active duty for 36 years, until May 2015. He is a combat veteran, Bipolar Survivor, Airborne-Ranger-Engineer qualified soldier, and Army Strategist. He commanded an engineer company, battalion, the 130th Engineer Brigade in combat during the first year of the Iraq War in 2003-04, including the attack from Kuwait, up the Euphrates River Valley, to Baghdad and beyond. Martin is a strong advocate for destigmatizing seeking help for mental illness, and supporting more scientific research around bi-polar disorder and other mental illnesses. Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: U.S. Army

Kevin Haley joined the Army at 21-years-old as Military Police. His position quickly escalated to Protective Services Detachment (PSD). His work included guarding USAREUR HQ and the USAREUR 4 Star General's house. In addition, Haley was asked by General David McKiernan to deploy to Afghanistan as his PSD mission leader from 2008 to 2009.  Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) #veterans #army #afghanistan #inspiration #militarypolice #PTSD #history #service #hazardground #podcast

Timothy Grovenburg is a U.S. Army Veteran who joined the Army in 2017 and became part of the 101st Airborne Division. He relatively quickly deployed to Erbil, Iraq for a 9-month tour where he experienced moments of uncertainty. All of that time encouraged him to start Easy Company Outfitters, a boutique apparel brand delivering premium vintage Hawaiian shirts and beach lifestyle apparel. The company is known for producing 100% American made products that help support surf therapy programs for Veterans with PTSD.  https://easycompanyoutfitters.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: Easy Company Outfitters #veterans #army #iraq #inspiration #entrepreneur #PTSD #his

Mike Lamonica served 24 years in the Air Force as a Combat Controller (CCT). It was more than just a job for him - it was what he was built for. The passion he had for the job is something you still hear in his voice today. Over the course of his career - which spanned from the first Gulf War up to 2011 - he executed multiple combat jumps and played key roles in pivotal operations throughout the Global War on Terror. It's a career that not only carries a rich history with it, but would easily inspire the next generation of CCT operators preparing for the next moment their nation calls. Lamonica is one of the most respected operators in the CCT community, and it's clear why, when you hear his story on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.combatcontrol.team Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, r

Partly inspired by his grandfather’s stories of combat and survival from WWII, David Bellavia decided to enlist as an Army Infantryman. It was pre-9/11, and the world was relatively quiet. Fast forward to the early days of OIF, and Bellavia is now in the thick of it, experiencing combat like his grandfather had. One of those battles - taking place in Fallujah on November 10, 2004 - would ultimately lead to Bellavia receiving the Medal of Honor, for his actions wiping out an enemy squad element. It’s an incredible story, and one Bellavia tells with humility and reverence. Hear it now on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.duty1st.com | "House to House: A Soldier's Memoir" Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Ligh

Laura Nicholson is a British Army Air Corps aviator who has flown multiple combat tours in Afghanistan. Her bravery under fire while flying Chinooks during one of those deployments earned her the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). During the operation for which she was awarded the DFC, she not only braved Taliban rockets to save a U.S. Marine, but she also rescued a wounded Afghan mother caught in the cross-fire. She entered the firefight twice to make the rescues. Laura's story is amazing, and inspiring - not for just her actions in combat, but also for how she got there. Hear her powerful story of combat and survival on our latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlig

Ray McPadden is a former Army Ranger, serving with 2nd Battalion/75th Ranger Regiment. Inspired to serve after 9/11, he began his time in the Army as an Infantry Officer with the 10th Mountain Division. Between Iraq and Afghanistan, he served four combat deployments, spending nearly two years fighting along the Afghan-Pakistan border during one of those tours. In fact, his unit established the first American foothold in the notorious Korengal Valley. In his relatively short time in the Army, Ray experienced the essence of combat and survival in the Infantry and in Special Operations. He's even reflected on it in two books he's written - one a memoir and the other, a war novel. Hear his powerful story of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.raymcpadden.com | "And the Whole Mountain Burned" | "We March at Midnight" Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The De

Sara Wilkinson is the wife of Navy SEAL, Chad Wilkinson. After 21 years of service, Chad took his own life - the result of the compounding effects of blast wave injury, TBI, and PTSD. He left behind Sara and their two teenage children. Sara's story is one of triumph, heartbreak, resilience, and strength - the strength that Sara not only displayed as the spouse of a Navy SEAL who was deployed constantly, but also the strength she displays to this day, sharing her and Chad's story. We can't thank Sara enough for sharing it with us, on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND. www.chad1000x.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

Dick Thompson is a Vietnam combat veteran and Green Beret. When he started his military career, he volunteered for the most dangerous path he could take, ending up in Vietnam with MACV-SOG, where he served as a Team Leader. With MACV-SOG he conducted covert unconventional warfare operations, never knowing if he and/or his entire team would return to base once they left the wire. It was a process that would galvanize him into a military leader who served across multiple high-profile organizations for 21 years before retiring. Thompson took those leadership lessons and subsequent skills to the private sector, where he continues to run High Performing Systems, Inc., an international management, consulting, and training firm with a focus on maximizing leadership potential. Hear his inspiring story of combat, survival, and beyond on our latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.hpsys.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From

It's not often that we get someone from the AC-130 community on the podcast, but this time we were lucky enough to get someone who is a bit of an establishment in the community. Bill Walter is a retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant and former AC-130 Gunner. He has played key roles in the AC-130 world for decades. In this episode he talks about his impact on that world from the early days and Operation EAGLE CLAW to the Global War on Terror. Bill is a member of the Air Commando Hall of Fame and SOCOM Hall of Fame. He is also currently writing the definitive history of the AC-130. Hear his complete story on our latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

This episode is all about leadership - leadership in combat, in government, and in business. Tommy Sowers is a former Green Beret who is also a multi-sector leader in the political, military, government, academia, and entrepreneurial worlds. He and Mark also worked together during Mark's first deployment to Iraq. Following multiple Iraq combat deployments as a Green Beret, Tommy went on to become the youngest Senate-confirmed Asst. Secretary at the VA as well as serve as the senior advisor to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and much more! If you're looking for some motivation, this is an episode you don't want to miss! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "Silence & Light" (www.silenceandlightmusic.com)

Growing up on a farm in Kentucky, Luke Coffey had an urge from a young age to join the Infantry, turning the agrarian landscape into a makeshift battlefield whenever he could. After high school and a short attempt at college, he made joining the Infantry a reality. He would see two combat deployments in one relatively short enlistment - one to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. His Afghanistan deployment, the most dangerous of the two, would take him to the Panjwai District of Afghanistan, a Taliban stronghold, where everyday life was most certainly about combat and survival. It was there he would form a strong bond with Curtis Grace (Episode 233), who he would eventually start the "The Panjwai Podcast" with after leaving the Army and pursuing a Masters degree in Chinese Literature. Hear his powerful story of combat, survival, and more on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.thepanjwaipodcast.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Assoc

From an early age, it was Tyler Mendelson's dream to become a United States Marine. His father was a Marine, and he wanted to serve his country after 9/11. He also grew up about an hour and a half from NYC, and his father had helped with the World Trade Center recovery effort, so the attacks hit extra close to home. His second dream was to become a filmmaker, partly so he could tell other veterans' stories, and just make great films in the process. His first major short film, "The Hun" - a drama set in the trenches of WWI - has won several awards. He most recently won the Victory The Podcast's 3-Minute Film Festival, having been chosen by "Entourage" creator, screenwriter, and film and TV director, Doug Ellin as the winner for Best Drama. Hear Tyler's inspiring story of combat, survival, and more on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.tylermendelsonfilm.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purc

Our thoughts on the current situation in Afghanistan...

Rick Dickson's initial combat deployment was to Diyala Province, Iraq in 2006. He spent 15 months there with his unit, when violence in the country was reaching an all-time high. It was combat and survival in the truest sense. Following that deployment he would go on to become an Armor Officer through the Army's Green to Gold program, and eventually transition to Public Affairs, where he still serves today on Active Duty. Rick shares his experiences from that long deployment in 2006, as well as his experience working in the PAO world and all that comes with the military's existence in social and mass media. Hear his story of combat, survival, and more on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: "Prelude" by "

If ever there was a warning shot for the detrimental effects of long-term, sustained combat operations on soldiers in modern warfare, Curtis Grace's deployment to Afghanistan in 2012 fits the bill pretty well. In this episode, Grace talks about that greuling deployment to the Panjwai District of Afghanistan, a Taliban stronghold. A deployment that dovetails with the Panjwai Massacre, orchestrated by U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales in March of 2012. Grace also discusses his transition from grunt to Apache pilot, and eventually flying attack helicopters in Afghanistan, supporting missions he once executed as an Infantryman. Curtis is now working to chronicle the time spent by U.S. forces fighting in Panjwai with a friend and fellow combat vet, through their podcast, "The Panjwai Podcast". Hear his powerful story of combat and survival on this latest episode of HAZARD GROUND! www.thepanjwaipodcast.com Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Ama

Kim "Rooster" Rossiter is a retired Marine Corps Major and combat veteran of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. His story is tightly interwoven with his daughter Ainsley's, who was born with a terminal illness in 2003. Instead of shirking from the difficult task of facing Ainsley's inevitable fate, Rooster and his wife embraced it to ensure Ainsley lived every moment of her time on earth. The Rossiter's eventually started Ainsley’s Angels in honor of Ainsley. Ainsley's Angels builds awareness about America’s special needs community, and aims to ensure everyone can experience endurance events, something that always put a smile on Ainsley's face. Hear this powerful story of combat and survival, both on the battlefield and at home, on our latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.ainsleysangels.org Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a

This week we explore the lighter side of combat in the War on Terror, with former Cavalry officer and aspiring writer, Brett Allen. Inspired by the events of September 11, 2001, Brett went into the Army as an officer a fews years later. His quest to serve in combat took him to Afghanistan in 2009, and while not immune to the effects of a well placed IED, his experience in combat fell short of what he had expected, catalyzing his desire to portray it in his recently published novel, “Kilroy Was Here”. The book takes a humorous look at some of the more ridiculous moments of warfare in the modern world. Hear about some of the lighter moments of combat and survival on this latest edition of HAZARD GROUND! www.hogwashwriting.com | "Kilroy Was Here" Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors! Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review o