Hosted by Jack Murphy
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
In this throwback episode of The Team House, hosts Jack Murphy and Dave Park are joined in studio by Mike Edwards, a veteran of the 75th Ranger Regiment, the Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC), and JSOC's Omega program. Edwards details his journey from rural Alabama through conventional and mechanized infantry, selection for the elite RRC, and leading operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He discusses the intense combat of the Mosul and Tal Afar deployments, the development and deployment of proxy forces like the Afghan Reconnaissance Unit (ARU), and his post-military advocacy work with Project Exodus Relief to support abandoned Afghan allies. In the final portion, Edwards speaks openly about his struggles with post-service anger, substance abuse, and finding personal redemption through deep biblical study.
Jack and Dave introduce the episode and welcome listeners.
A dramatized emergency call and response scenario featuring Nashville police and homicide detectives.
Mike recounts growing up in rural Alabama and his family’s military ties.
Mike explains his decision to join the National Guard and initial training path.
Mike describes his desire for Special Forces and the events that redirected him to Rangers.
Hosts introduce the episode and run a series of commercial spots.
The episode opens with hosts and guests discussing various topics while interspersed with multiple ad reads.
Speaker 05 discusses moving from mechanized infantry to Ranger Battalion and then to RRC, highlighting the eye-opening experience.
Speaker 04 describes training Afghan ARU operatives, coordinating covert operations, and the challenges of working with local proxies.
Speaker 04 explains the extensive funding, autonomy, and breadth of missions undertaken by the RRC, including covert operations.
Speaker 04 recounts how Project Exodus Relief was created to support Afghan special operators and the obstacles faced in advocacy.
The conversation covers where Afghan operatives are now, their safety, and the difficulties in relocating them to the U.S.
Speaker 04 and 05 discuss the frustration of limited governmental support, moral injury among veterans, and the struggle to help Afghan allies.
Speaker 04 explores potential external support, including the Wagner Group, and the broader geopolitical implications for Afghan operatives.
The hosts wrap up the episode, encouraging listeners to engage with the discussed causes and share feedback.
The hosts reveal a shocking encounter with a billionaire recruiter for the Wagner Group and the implications for U.S. security agencies.
Discussion of using ambulance companies for covert transport and smuggling operations behind Taliban lines.
Mike recounts his transition from military to civilian roles, including Project Exodus and executive protection work.
Exploration of PTSD, substance abuse, and the role of faith and Bible study in healing and resilience.
The hosts discuss how psychedelic experiences can catalyze spiritual growth and complement traditional faith practices.
Life in a Bradleystory
Edwards describes the grueling reality of mechanized infantry service, spending over twenty hours straight packed inside a Bradley Fighting Vehicle and using legacy drain plugs as makeshift facilities.
The Smoke Grenade Shakedownstory
Following a strict ammunition shakedown after an accident, Edwards is caught with an overlooked smoke grenade as a brand new corporal, resulting in an embarrassing three-mile individual movement technique punishment.
Mortar Platoon Force Multipliersstrategy
As a mortar platoon sergeant, Edwards took initiative to upskill his soldiers by sending them to sniper school, tactical explosives courses, and interrogation training to maximize their utility overseas.
Tal Afar House Clearing Firefightstory
Edwards details a brutal room-clearing operation in Tal Afar where his assault element encountered point-blank grenade blasts, intense enemy machine gun fire, and rooftop ambushes.
RRC Reconnaissance Training Coursedata
Edwards outlines the grueling demands of the RRC selection and the year-long OTC pipeline, including multi-day mountainous movements carrying over 100-pound rucksacks.
Clandestine Dead Drops with Proxiesstrategy
To gather critical intelligence without blowing cover, Edwards coordinated complex dead-drop operations where Afghan proxy assets secretly swapped SD cards in public trash.
Finding Meaning After Military Serviceinsight
Edwards shares his personal battle with severe post-service anger and suicidal ideation, explaining how intensive independent Bible study completely transformed his life and restored his marriage.
“If you love this, you need to be a Ranger.”
“We walked 40 miles on infill on that one.”
“I used to dip. So it probably had something to do with me dipping. Um, I used to dip Copenhagen back in”
“It was the greatest thing in the world. Like going through OTC, it was the best time ever physically demanding and always under the gun.”
“We had just the best funding in the world. Anything like any training that we wanted to do, we could do.”
“I was told that he's, uh, he spoke at CPAC. Somebody sent me like a Twitter clip of him, um, speaking there.”
“I just stuck with it and stuck with it. It's like God just took it from me, man.”
“The Bible predicted that in the end times, the entire church, the entire church would be apostate.”
“We were talking about different things. We're briefing them on all operations we had going on.”
“I have studied the Bible, um, for the last four years now. And at first like I was telling you, I'd chuck that thing across the room. I'd get pissed off. I'm like, this book is stupid.”
original airdate: 10/20/23 Mike Edwards recounts his journey from the conventional Army to the 75th Ranger Regiment and the Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC), sharing stories from combat in Iraq, clandestine reconnaissance missions, and years spent leading and training some of the military's most elite units. He also reflects on Project Exodus Relief, the challenges of transitioning out of the military, and how faith helped him overcome the personal struggles that followed his service help support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouse 00:00 - Start 01:27 - Growing Up in Alabama 03:24 - Mechanized Infantry and Plans for Special Forces 06:00 - Korea and the Impact of 9/11 08:36 - Choosing the Ranger Regiment 09:50 - Almost Getting Dropped from RIP 11:26 - Arriving at Ranger Battalion 13:41 - The Smoke Grenade Incident 16:03 - Life in the Ranger Mortar Platoon 19:59 - Leading Raids in Iraq 21:33 - The Tal Afar Firefight 29:36 - Sponsor Break 32:29 - Discovering Regimental Reconnaissance Company 34:18 - The Omega Program 35:59 - RRC Selection and Training 37:05 - 40-Mile Infiltrations with 100-Pound Rucks 41:08 - Life Inside RRC 43:19 - What RRC Actually Does 45:04 - RRC Becomes a National-Level Asset 46:02 - Training the Afghan Reconnaissance Unit 47:17 - Dead Drops and Tradecraft in Afghanistan 50:04 - How the Afghan Reconnaissance Program Worked 55:45 - Working Through Afghan Proxies 56:22 - Low-Visibility Missions and Nighttime Raids 58:19 - Learning Dari for Battlefield Interrogations 1:01:04 - Creating Project Exodus Relief 1:03:47 - The Afghans Left Behind 1:06:51 - Escaping Afghanistan and Human Trafficking 1:10:14 - Afghan Commandos at the Southern Border 1:13:31 - Moral Injury After the Afghanistan Withdrawal 1:16:07 - Life for Former Afghan Special Operators 1:18:18 - Afghan Commandos Joining the Taliban or Resistance 1:20:44 - Wagner Group Recruiting Afghan Commandos 1:21:35 - The American Allegedly Recruiting for Wagner 1:24:12 - A Missed Opportunity for Covert Afghan Units 1:26:07 - Life After Military Service 1:27:20 - Protecting Madonna 1:28:29 - Finding Missing and Trafficked People 1:31:29 - Finding Purpose After the Military 1:33:26 - Anger, Addiction, and Nearly Taking His Own Life 1:35:04 - How Studying the Bible Changed Him 1:38:52 - PTSD, TBI, and Veteran Suicide 1:42:06 - Why Veterans Need Buddy Checks 1:44:04 - The Turning Point in His Recovery 1:46:02 - Psychedelic Therapy and Faith 1:52:08 - The Difficult Transition Out of Special Operations 1:56:55 - Audience Questions 1:58:52 - RRC Selection Compared to Delta Force 2:01:03 - Shooting and Training Inside RRC 2:03:19 - RRC vs. Other Reconnaissance Units 2:07:02 - A Possible Hypersonic Aircraft Encounter 2:11:29 - How the Omega Program Worked 2:18:44 - Military Freefall from 35,000 Feet 2:22:19 - The MP7 and Special Operations Weapons 2:24:31 - Closing Remarks Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss.
36,833 words · 7 speakers
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