Combat Controller in Black Hawk Down | Air Force Special Ops | World Record | Author | Dan Schilling
About This Episode
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Today we hear the Combat Story of Dan Schilling, who spent over 30 years in the military, primarily as a Combat Controller and Special Tactics Officer in the Air Force’s Special Operations community. He was on the ground calling in air strikes during Operation Gothic Serpent (better known as Black Hawk Down).
He holds the Guinness World Record for most BASE jumps in 24 hours (201), and is a professional-rated demonstration skydiver, mountain speedwing pilot and volunteer ski instructor with Wasatch Adaptive Sports. He’s a best selling author, helping produce a movie, and recently wrote a song with his band: Spent Brass.
After years of combat, Dan found his way to Buddhism and shares some readings and learnings that you can apply if you are dealing with trauma and challenges in your life.
I hope you enjoy this hair on fire account of living life to its extremes - both in and out of uniform - as much as I did.
Dan's Reading List: Book called the Power of Now https://shop.eckharttolle.com/collections/books/products/the-power-of-now?variant=7433430499358 Book called the Power of Awareness Book called Battle of Mogadishu Book called Alone at Dawn Book called What the Buddha Taught
Video Credit: Parkcity.tv. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ClC6kQXtNA
Show Notes:
Dan Schilling
Chapters
- 0:00Intro
- 0:57Guest Introduction (Dan Schilling)
- 1:47Interview Begins
- 2:33World Record Base Jumping in 24 hours
- 6:44Speed flying in the mountains
- 9:14Did you choose the dangerous life or did it chose you?
- 12:19Joining the Army
- 16:02Transition from the Army to the Air Force
- 20:15Media and Hollywood portrayals of the military
- 25:29JTAC and Combat Controllers
- 34:06Special Tactics Officer
- 38:48Culture differences between Seal Team 6 and Delta Force
- 42:09First experience in ground combat
- 48:00Combat Story - The Battle of Mogadishu
- 1:03:18Therapy through Extreme Sports
- 1:13:37How Dan found Buddhism
- 1:27:47Dan's Band: Spent Brass
- 1:22:19Dan's post military careers and book recommendations
- 1:31:35What did you carry into combat?
- 1:32:24Would you go back and do it all again?
- 1:35:27Listener comments and shout outs
