Navy SEAL & DEVGRU Squadron Commander | Afghanistan Post-9/11 | The Honor Foundation | Matt Stevens

This episode is brought to you by 4Patriots Survival Food Kits.
Go to 4Patriots.com and use code COMBAT to get 10% off. That's 4Patriots.com/COMBAT
Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!
=======
Today we have a fascinating Combat Story from Matt Stevens, a Troop and Squadron Commander in Naval Special Warfare Development Group or DEVGRU, the unit many know from the Bin Laden raid and the Captain Phillips rescue.
After tours with SEAL Teams 4 and 8 and one rotation with a SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) unit, Matt successfully assessed for and was accepted into DEVGRU. He and his Troop deployed to Afghanistan immediately following 9/11 and supported efforts in the south of the country, on the “giving end” of things as Matt so aptly describes it.
Matt was, unfortunately, intimately involved in the aftermath of Operation Red Wings in 2005 while serving as a DEVGRU Squadron Commander that included all the tactical and political challenges that come with that leadership role.
Today, Matt is the CEO of The Honor Foundation, a non-profit that helps elite warriors like himself successfully transition out of the military and into a civilian career. Part of the process for veterans in the program is how to manage your identity post-military, which so many of us struggle with, and Matt shares some of the tactics the Honor Foundation uses to help in this effort.
I hope you enjoy this front row seat to stories from a leader in one of the elite Tier 1 elements of our military as much as I did.
Find Ryan Online:
- Ryan’s Linktree linktr.ee/combatstory
- Merch www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
- Instagram @combatstory / combatstory
- Facebook @combatstoryofficial combatstoryofficial
- Send us messages at m.me/combatstoryofficial
- Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Find Matt Stevens Online:
- LinkedIn / matthewpstevens
- Learn more about Matt www.honor.org/people/matt-ste...
- The Honor Foundation www.honor.org/
- Instagram @honorfoundation / honorfoundation
Show Notes:
00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Guest Introduction (Matt Stevens)
02:00 - Interview begins
02:07 - Missions after 9/11
09:20 - Lobbying to get mission sets
12:03 - The Honor Foundation
18:49 - 4Patriots
20:07 - Childhood
23:59 - Deciding to join the Military
29:12 - Playing the clarinet
31:30 - Deciding to go the SEALs route
34:29 - Working alongside older Veterans
36:09 - Welcoming as a Junior Officer to SEAL team
38:51 - Jump to DEVGRU
46:22 - Measuring up to the competition
47:39 - Family reaction to going DEVGRU
48:44 - First mission set in Afghanistan
55:07 - Difference between training and live Ops at night
58:30 - Operation Red Wings
01:16:39 - Moral during Operation Red Wings
01:25:44 - Leadership position complications
01:29:32 - Experience with high ranking officials
01:31:24 - Advice for identity after service
01:44:39 - Sentimental Items
01:45:21 - Would you do it all again
01:47:01 - Final thoughts
01:47:12 - Listener comments and shout outs

Пікірлер: 54

  • @AlanMack-bg3if
    @AlanMack-bg3if Жыл бұрын

    Ryan, great interview as always.

  • @destro5311
    @destro5311 Жыл бұрын

    When I want to complain about mundane shit, I just fire up Combat Story. 🙏 League of extraordinary ladies and gentleman!

  • @user-rt8ik1ow4i

    @user-rt8ik1ow4i

    3 ай бұрын

    Why,it's here too,more than anywhere, good soldiers, bad bosses

  • @TedArchbold-ih3tc
    @TedArchbold-ih3tc Жыл бұрын

    Hats off to the Honor Foundation! It sounds like a fantastic approach to help veterans integrate back to civilian life.

  • @e.tphone9039
    @e.tphone9039 Жыл бұрын

    Amazing podcast guy's. 👏

  • @WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot290
    @WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot290 Жыл бұрын

    This channel has grown sooooo fast! Awesome work Ryan!!! This is one of the 3 channels I'll pay attention to anymore. Notification bell is definitely on👍

  • @CombatStory

    @CombatStory

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for being here! That means a lot

  • @Starsdad12345
    @Starsdad12345 Жыл бұрын

    One of the best yet

  • @e.tphone9039
    @e.tphone9039 Жыл бұрын

    Great video ryan

  • @jamescopeland9147
    @jamescopeland9147 Жыл бұрын

    I retired in 1996 and I wish I had something available to me life the honor foundation. It took me 4 years to find a full time job and then it was nothing comparable to what I did in the Navy. I would go to an interview and bever get the second interview. It was so frustrating!! I Retired as a Navy Master Chief and the only jobs I could find were entry level Retail positions.

  • @briancooper2112
    @briancooper2112 Жыл бұрын

    Awesome channel.

  • @dragonpundit.6443
    @dragonpundit.644311 ай бұрын

    Phenomenal interview. That must be the definitive telling of Red Wing.

  • @davidhernandez9985
    @davidhernandez9985 Жыл бұрын

    Happy 4th Of July & thanks for your service, salute!

  • @earlhernandez1395
    @earlhernandez1395 Жыл бұрын

    Ooorah! Matt and his XO Tom Donovan were great shipmates!

  • @chastings3550
    @chastings35506 ай бұрын

    this is one of the most underrated podcasts!!!

  • @shawnp6653
    @shawnp6653 Жыл бұрын

    Greay interview~ Rat Patrol - heck ya! Thanks you for your service Mr. Stevens.

  • @edwardb7811
    @edwardb781125 күн бұрын

    The Honor Foundation seems to be doing great work. The point was made that the services do mediocre work in helping people transition to civilian life. I’d like more information on how to get the military to improve its transition program and learn from the Honor example.

  • @pennybrooks9038
    @pennybrooks9038 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for sharing your story and for your service, Matt. Thank you Ryan. 🇺🇸

  • @drmarkintexas-400
    @drmarkintexas-400 Жыл бұрын

    🏆🤗🙏🇺🇲🎖️ Thank you for sharing

  • @georgecoull1883
    @georgecoull1883 Жыл бұрын

    What a sqaured away stud through and through 💯 never stopped thinking about his brothers 🙏🫡

  • @yavin99
    @yavin9911 ай бұрын

    I went through basic training when shaving lines into your eyebrow was a thing and one dude did it during the first couple weeks of basic and the DS made him go shave off both eyebrows and he looked goofy af but the rest of the time at basic the DSs nicknamed him Grasshopper.

  • @philby8
    @philby8 Жыл бұрын

    Hello, The sound quality of the guests' mics is often quiet weak, which has a rather big impact on the listening experience (sound is just as important as image for any content on this platform). How about identiyfing a cheap but efficient microphone that you would send to the guest before the interview takes place ?

  • @Nanaof3.
    @Nanaof3. Жыл бұрын

    Smallworld my husband and I were stationed in Panama during just cause

  • @terrenceb.9860
    @terrenceb.9860 Жыл бұрын

    It just keeps getting better! How do you find these people and convince them to share their story?

  • @c-v-n3322

    @c-v-n3322

    Жыл бұрын

    I think these men/women have something to give others and this is why he finds people willing to do these stories, each an everyone of these people all have made some type of business outside of the military that help so many ex-military members.

  • @ericgibson2079

    @ericgibson2079

    Жыл бұрын

    Made them feel less worthy, here at home. That's how.

  • @ericgibson2079

    @ericgibson2079

    Жыл бұрын

    Wawawawashed Up!

  • @dailygiftsforever
    @dailygiftsforever Жыл бұрын

    Unfortunately the world has idiots for leaders in office that put the lives of the innocent at risk. From a family that fought in the Revolutionary War, Civil War and countless others... I salute soldiers with real heart. My relatives had no special weapons, hospitals.... just heart and determination. Family... Lt. Joseph Allison, U.S. Revolutionary War; Colonel Robert Allison C.S.A. Please pray for peace, war is hell.

  • @joegagznos2312
    @joegagznos2312 Жыл бұрын

    Ya should look into talking with Craig Morgan he was 5th group in Panama and all

  • @chanang453
    @chanang453 Жыл бұрын

    GULAB was the afghan man that found Latrell and brought him back to his village.another elder village member took Latrells note to the American base. I would have thought this guy would know who Gulab was. Good podcast with this man

  • @DGillian6406

    @DGillian6406

    10 ай бұрын

    He mentioned Gulab a few times

  • @StatesideHeathen
    @StatesideHeathen10 ай бұрын

    Robert O'Neill was under his command on June 2005 (Redwings), he talks about it in his book! Great work on this chanel Ryan! This is QUALITY entertainment from the most elite! I love it. Cheers from Seattle Washington!

  • @matthewseibold8076
    @matthewseibold8076 Жыл бұрын

    What squadron where you commander?

  • @dioncrown5966
    @dioncrown5966 Жыл бұрын

    Ahh, in school suspension (IS) Sigh, The good old days... or not so good.

  • @erickiyoshiphillips2323

    @erickiyoshiphillips2323

    Жыл бұрын

    Lol I remember having to be in school suspension. And it was in a gym with desk it was so boring. Literally had go do homework and u couldn't talk and had to sit there quietly all damn day. Smh

  • @jasonrogers8754
    @jasonrogers8754 Жыл бұрын

    I've never heard of Rangers having to turn around and go back because of weather.

  • @ericgibson2079

    @ericgibson2079

    Жыл бұрын

    Good. Maybe it was because they were not prepared for the weather? To that I say, thank God. Great, no frostbite, or thermias, no suffering that puts us on HOLD, SLOW MODE. We don't get to puff our chests out tho as tough guys? Look at just how valuable that is still... Wow. There is more for us here than the ole, Titan thing. Well learn. No mistakes that cost, great, turn around. FIX THESE PROBLEMS. One day we will be able to walk into the eye of the storm, and conquer the sun.

  • @F3PIZZA
    @F3PIZZA Жыл бұрын

    Guests Recommendation: Jim Semivan

  • @davewylie654
    @davewylie654 Жыл бұрын

    Anyone who questions how difficult driving at night can be stay awake for 48 hrs then get behind the wheel of a Hummer in a convoy, drive with blackout drive lights keeping distance to the lead vehicle for hours and hours!!! It is truly brutal. And this was just training. Officer letting the pig go from the TC seat is awesome!!!

  • @erickiyoshiphillips2323

    @erickiyoshiphillips2323

    Жыл бұрын

    Mike Ritland talked bout the same thing in the invasion of Iraq

  • @ericgibson2079

    @ericgibson2079

    Жыл бұрын

    Cmon dude, the body goes into go mode, second, third wind like after it's forced awake. Same as hunger. Did you complain about that too? I'm hungry....

  • @jackglockstar
    @jackglockstar Жыл бұрын

    Why arent you asking about the first combat story anymoee? It used to be a regular thing now its not even a thing. We want to hear the emotions of first battles and first kills.

  • @josiahtitus
    @josiahtitus Жыл бұрын

    did he talk about neil roberts

  • @JoeL-ji7uw
    @JoeL-ji7uw Жыл бұрын

    All fluff until 58:30

  • @indy500tabasco8
    @indy500tabasco811 ай бұрын

    I grewup in Muscat Oman and it sucked in 80' 90'.

  • @fishngiggles5272
    @fishngiggles5272 Жыл бұрын

    Can you get George hodgin

  • @ericgibson2079
    @ericgibson2079 Жыл бұрын

    Do we reflect on Robocop differently today? As a lesson in survivability? Whats the connections here? The full intentions of those films, then and how far behind do our guys feel now because of it?

  • @ericgibson2079
    @ericgibson2079 Жыл бұрын

    Sounds very safe around the fuel dump part. Makes me want to confiscate it instead. I hope we have this abilities in the future, soon. Trucks, full? Gas and Trucks, available??? That much freedom of movement. I hope we can improve to make our capabilities much more valuble and profitable. It seems like we sure could.

  • @user-rt8ik1ow4i
    @user-rt8ik1ow4i3 ай бұрын

    He wont say anything that we cant know abiut dev

  • @bradalan7188
    @bradalan7188 Жыл бұрын

  • @hectorvalencia6812
    @hectorvalencia681210 ай бұрын

    Has anyone ever charted how many of the operators are Christians?

  • @thiemtranthi7760
    @thiemtranthi776010 ай бұрын

    Woman thanhk 😂

  • @ericgibson2079
    @ericgibson2079 Жыл бұрын

    Its just so disapointing to hear these stories, from whats supposed to be our best ok. Were all trained out and deployed. Millions and Billions. Then we just undermine and choke, time and time again! H2O! Freezing Out! And our whole posture is regulated by these lame conditions that some how we cannot be ALWYS prepared for. Please tell me at least that there are demotions for failing to operate Most affectivly? Please tell me that we have Lessons Learned for next time? Something has to change folks... Civilians could have done all that, smoke jumpers! We waste ours and others money and more big time. Our human assets are invaluble, how dare we...STOP. K.I.S.S. Make the time, assets, energy, etc. Make being fully prepared part of every mission. No matter what. Or else Be Able To Support Properly. If you cant do it right, dont do it at all, untill we learn. Suffer the consequenses of not being 100percent capable untill we get it right. Obviously we have a planning and mind set, mission set, goal setting, etc. PROBLEM. Why send a millon dollar SEAL to suffer thirst and being frozen? When anyone can do it? Whats our problem? Why cant we get it right? America stop playing superman, etc. Stop with your over ideologies. Let men lead men where they truly can purely.

  • @thiemtranthi7760
    @thiemtranthi776010 ай бұрын

    Woman thanhk 😂

Келесі