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  2. Combat Controller in Black Hawk Down | Air Force Special Ops | World Record | Author | Dan Schilling

Combat Controller in Black Hawk Down | Air Force Special Ops | World Record | Author | Dan Schilling

Dec 31, 2022

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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. 

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  • - Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find Dan Online:

  • - Website https://www.danschillingbooks.com/
  • - Dan's Books https://www.danschillingbooks.com/books
  • - Instagram @danobooks  https://www.instagram.com/danobooks/
  • - Special Operations Warrior Foundation https://specialops.org/
  • - Spent Brass on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/3K3t1GNUdaPYmvEgCAslZg?si=NgQc3ywRRtmMiVSun8yFMw

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
  • https://www.thepowerofawareness.org/
  • Book called Battle of Mogadishu
  • https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Battle-Mogadishu/Matthew-Eversmann/9780345459664
  • Book called Alone at Dawn
  • https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/dan-schilling/alone-at-dawn/9781538729670/
  • Book called What the Buddha Taught
  • http://www.ahandfulofleaves.org/documents/what%20the%20buddha%20taught_rahula.pdf

Show Notes:

  • 0:00 - Intro 
  • 0:57 - Guest Introduction (Dan Schilling)
  • 1:47 - Interview Begins 
  • 2:33 - World Record Base Jumping in 24 hours
  • 6:44 - Speed flying in the mountains
  • 9:14 - Did you choose the dangerous life or did it chose you?
  • 12:19 - Joining the Army
  • 16:02 - Transition from the Army to the Air Force
  • 20:15 - Media and Hollywood portrayals of the military  
  • 25:29 - JTAC and Combat Controllers
  • 34:06 - Special Tactics Officer 
  • 38:48 - Culture differences between Seal Team 6 and Delta Force
  • 42:09 - First experience in ground combat
  • 48:00 - Combat Story - The Battle of Mogadishu
  • 1:03:18 - Therapy through Extreme Sports
  • 1:13:37 - How Dan found Buddhism
  • 1:27:47 - Dan's Band: Spent Brass
  • 1:22:19 - Dan's post military careers and book recommendations
  • 1:31:35 - What did you carry into combat?
  • 1:32:24 - Would you go back and do it all again?
  • 1:35:27 -  Listener comments and shout outs