Fear & Courage

Matt was one of my students at The Citadel, one of the six United States senior military colleges, and he graduated in 2015. He was commissioned as an Army Infantry Officer and has completed Ranger, Airborne, and Long Range Surveillance qualifications among others. He has served as a Platoon leader in the 4th Infantry Division and served on deployment to Afghanistan in 2018 and 2019. It is always a treat for me to have a former cadet on the podcast who I knew in those formative years.

Earl Granville served in the US Army as an Infantryman for 9 years and is a retired Staff Sergeant. He lost part of his leg when am IED struck his vehicle in Afghanistan in 2008. He is a Team Member for the non-profit Operation Enduring Warrior, is pursuing his bachelors in counseling, and speaks publicly about the importance of finding help in battling mental adversity after the passing of his twin brother, Staff Sergeant Joseph Granville, who took his own life December of 2010 while still on Active Duty.

Jason “Jake” Jean is an Air Force Veteran who enlisted as part of the Security Forces. He was medically discharged from the Air Force and has since started and run several successful companies. His current effort, Tattered Beans is a veteran focused coffee retailer that gives $4 of every bag sold to military veterans and veteran related causes.

Col Jack Jacobs is a retired Colonel in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions during the Vietnam War. He currently serves as a military analyst for NBC News and MSNBC and previously worked as an investment manager.

CPT Maggie Smith is a US Army Cyber Officer with 14 years of experience as an enlisted Soldier and commissioned Officer. She is currently on ACS orders to George Washington University. She commissioned as a 2LT and earned her MPP Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy through the Army's Green to Gold Program. Maggie dealt with the challenge of a positive BRCA2 genetic test while serving on active duty. Maggie is also an ultra runner, mom, and wife to Patrick, also a US Army Veteran.

Ian Turner is a Sheriff's Deputy and Detention Officer. He is a former US Army Infantry Noncommissioned Officer with deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. 

COL (ret) John Spiszer is the Chief of Staff for US Army Japan at Camp Zama, Japan. COL Spiszer retired in 2014 with 30 years of service to the United States Army. Mr. Spiszer’s key Army command assignments were Commander of Task Force Duke, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, and Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan; and Commander of the Polar Bears, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, Fort Drum, New York, with deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.

COL (ret) John Spiszer is the Chief of Staff for US Army Japan at Camp Zama, Japan. COL Spiszer retired in 2014 with 30 years of service to the United States Army and is a 1984 graduate of West Point completing numerous military training and education courses during his service. COL Spiszer’s key command assignments are Commander of JMRC, Hohenfels, Germany; Commander of 3rd BCT, 1st ID, Ft Hood, Texas/Afghanistan; and Commander of the Polar Bears, 4th BN, 31st IN Reg, Ft Drum, New York/Iraq/Afgha

CPT Bobbie Ragsdale is an armor officer in the US Army and served in the 10th Mountain Division, deploying to Baghdad, Iraq as a Scout Platoon Leader. He then served as a Troop XO and Asst Operations Officer before deploying again to Wardak, Afghanistan in 2010. CPT Ragsdale was then assigned to JRTC as a Platoon OCT and Troop Commander. He completed his Master in Public Administration degree at Harvard’s Kennedy School in May, 2016. He is currently assigned to Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

CPT Bobbie Ragsdale is an armor officer in the US Army and served in the 10th Mountain Division, deploying to Baghdad, Iraq as a Scout Platoon Leader. He then served as a Troop XO and Asst Operations Officer before deploying again to Wardak, Afghanistan in 2010. CPT Ragsdale was then assigned to JRTC as a Platoon OCT and Troop Commander. He completed his Master in Public Administration degree at Harvard’s Kennedy School in May, 2016. He is currently assigned to Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

This episode is the second half of my talk with Colin Daniels. If you missed the first half, check out episode 11 where we talked about his experience as a Cadet at The Citadel, Field Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course, and the start of Ranger School. We pick up as Colin continues to describe his Ranger School experiences and his return to his unit prior to deployment to Afghanistan.

1LT Colin Daniels graduated from The Citadel in 2015 and received a commission in the Field Artillery branch. He completed the Field Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, OK with a follow-on assignment as a Company Fire Support Officer in 1st Brigade 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. He graduated from the US Army Ranger School in early 2017 and deployed to Kandahar Afghanistan shortly after. Colin recently returned from that nine month deployment.

Benjamin Bunn served as a US Army Special Forces Noncommissioned Officer and then, following his commission as an Airborne Infantry Officer. Ben served in a variety of Special Operations and conventional leadership roles on multiple tours to both Iraq and Afghanistan. After leaving the military, Ben founded Cigar City Crossfit, a successful gym he currently runs in Tampa, FL.

Benjamin Bunn served as a US Army Special Forces Noncommissioned Officer and then, following his commission as an Airborne Infantry Officer. Ben served in a variety of Special Operations and conventional leadership roles on multiple tours to both Iraq and Afghanistan. After leaving the military, Ben founded Cigar City Crossfit, a successful gym he currently runs in Tampa, FL.

Tim Crockett is a veteran of the British Royal Marines and Special Boat Service with service in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, and various other international assignments. He then worked as a security consultant for various clients including Turner Broadcasting, Al Jazeera America, VICE, and CNN International. He currently works in travel risk management, and international medical, security, and travel assistance.