Breaking a Leg on a Combat Jump w/ Ranger Regiment | Special Forces SGM Randall Surles Round 1
About This Episode
Today on Combat Story we have our first of two interviews with 32 year veteran and retired Special Forces Sergeant Major Randy Surles, who entered the Army in 1987 and retired in 2019. Randy saw combat early on in Operation Just Cause as a Ranger and then again for several rotations post-9/11.
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In this episode, we cover Randy’s experience in Panama and attending Lancero training in Colombia which you can think of as something like Ranger school without any safety nets!
In round two, we dive into his time leading Green Berets in the post-9/11 era. Randy now helps veterans write their own memoirs as a ghostwriter with the aptly titled website the military editor. With that, please enjoy our first interview with Randy Surles.
Show Notes:
Special Forces SGM Randall Surles Round 1
Chapters
- 00:00Intro
- 00:29Introduction to Combat Story
- 00:48Meet Randy Searles: Special Forces Veteran
- 01:21Randy's Transition to Ghostwriting
- 11:36Randy's Early Life and Military Aspirations
- 12:13Evacuation from Iran
- 20:00Joining the Military
- 25:17Ranger Training and Sniper School
- 29:35Life in the Barracks
- 31:01Ranger School Challenges
- 35:37Operation Just Cause
- 44:23Injury and Recovery
- 52:32Transition to Green Beret
- 01:03:44Struggles with Weapon Assembly
- 01:05:14Facing the Q Course Challenges
- 01:06:12Mastering Mortars and Anti-Aircraft
- 01:06:52Language Course and Deployment
- 01:07:11Unexpected Armor Duties
- 01:10:08Volunteering for Lancero School
- 01:20:38Surviving Lancero School
- 01:32:04Combat Stories and Future Plans
- 01:33:04Listener Feedback and Closing Remarks
