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Ruben Ayala on Black Ops, Special Operations History, and Preserving the Legacy of America's Quiet Professionals | Security Halt! Podcast Ep. 447
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In Episode 447 of the Security Halt! Podcast, Deny Caballero sits down with Ruben Ayala, founder of Black Ops, to discuss a mission far bigger than a documentary. Together, they explore the importance of preserving the untold stories of minority Special Operations veterans, ensuring their sacrifices, leadership, and contributions become part of America's permanent historical record.
Ruben shares the incredible journey of building Black Ops—from an idea sparked by one powerful moment into a national movement that includes a documentary series, an upcoming book, youth mentorship initiatives, and advocacy for greater recognition of overlooked heroes.
This conversation is about more than military history. It's about leadership, representation, legacy, and inspiring future generations to understand that excellence knows no race, ethnicity, or background.
Listen now. Follow the show. Share this with the veteran or entrepreneur who needs to hear it.
Chapters:
00:00 The Impact of Connection and Teamwork
03:11 The Birth of Black Ops: A Vision Realized
06:00 Amplifying Untold Stories
08:53 Mentorship and Youth Empowerment
12:03 The Journey of Writing a Book
14:57 Leadership Lessons from the Shadows
17:57 Breaking Stereotypes and Myths
21:04 The Importance of Representation
23:59 Creating a Legacy Through Service
37:10 Guiding the Next Generation
38:39 Staying True to Your Mission
40:56 The Thrill of Free Fall
43:11 Bittersweet Memories and Life Lessons
52:25 Inspiring Stories of Transformation
01:00:51 The Importance of Legacy and Mentorship
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Oral History And Why Stories Matter
SPEAKER_02We're oral history. We're people that are bound through oral history. Forget that. That's why podcasts are so uh important, man. There's something to hearing it from the person as they lived it. You have the naysayers out there, you got people saying, Oh, you know, we don't need more war stories from veterans, but no. Like, if you can hear these stories, it'll inspire the next generation, man. Because those are the stories that we don't hear. There was one about the early days of being a brag, the early days of going through where we tend to think that, you know, America had moved past racial tensions and it was great, but there were billboards out around the area saying, like, hey, you're not really part of this community.
SPEAKER_00I think that billboard you're talking about was taking down, it was in the 90s. I just got an email from a buddy of mine. He sent me the actual billboard, and it was uh from the the Knights of the Klu Klux Klan there in Cumberland County and coming in on uh, I forget what back road, but it was there. And sure enough, man, it was there till the 90s, man, and that's not too long ago.
SPEAKER_02Not at all. And to hear the stories of individuals that served at the highest echelons, the highest calling, and they still chose to say, you know what, you're not gonna force me out of my career, of my town, or where I live. I'm gonna serve and I'm gonna continue doing it.
Reuniting With Ruben And The Mission
SPEAKER_02Ruben, welcome back, Security Hall. How's it going, man? It's great, Danny. Good to be back. Dude, it's uh it's a pleasure, like I said, man. Like one of the greatest moments, and I don't care how many times you guys have heard this story, one of the most impactful moments was meeting you and meeting your team at MIC. And I think it was like 2022 or 21 when it was in Vegas.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, one of those, probably um yeah, probably 22 or 23, I think.
SPEAKER_02And man, it was it set the it set the bar super high. And uh, I've been chasing everything. I I mean, I sitting down with you guys and hearing your story and understanding that like, hey man, it's a marathon, but when you're surrounded by the right people with the right team, like it makes it so much more enjoyable. It makes it so it's a real unified effort. And uh I always tell people, it's like, man, it might be a solo endeavor right now, but someday, someday I'm gonna have that team. And I just love seeing your guys' stuff. I love seeing uh what you've been able to do. And now, you guys have a book, man. And I feel so proud to be able to have you guys come back on and uh tell the story of how this came to fruition, man. Yeah, well, I appreciate you answering your email and uh saying yes. Dude, it's a no-brainer, man. Whatever it is, whatever it is, I'm always gonna be available. I'm always gonna be down uh to hang out with you and talk about what you're doing because, man, like there's nobody else moving like you guys in this space. There isn't. There absolutely isn't. And telling these stories, like it deserves to be told. What you're doing with black ops, what you're doing with these one-man shows, going around and and telling these stories, like these these are powerful stories that will soon be forgotten if we don't amplify it, man. 100%. Yeah. So, dude, before we dive into the book, I want to dive into the origin and the why. And there's one specific story that still sticks with me is uh when you and Chris were walking at night over that bridge and that inception moment came through. Take us to, you know, for the audience that's just listening and maybe don't know the background to uh triple nickel and black ops, dive into that story for us.
Pitching Black Ops On A Frozen Bridge
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so this was uh, I want to say 2024. Uh Chris and I, we were invited to the National Veterans Memorial Museum, which is in Columbus, Ohio. And this was in February, uh, maybe January. Uh it was in the winter, which is the bottom line. And it if you've never been to Columbus, Ohio, it's it gets cold, like we're real cold. And the director of operations for the museum at the time, Jen Balou, she asked us the question, just take, hey, you know, if you guys were able to curate your own museum exhibit, what would you do? And at the time, you know, we had no, we had no idea that we would be starting a nonprofit. We had no idea that we would be doing a documentary, no thoughts on writing a book. But as Chris and I were walking back to our hotel, you got across the river there in Columbus, downtown, and it was cold as hell, man. Uh, wind was blowing, snowing. And, you know, Chris just looks at me. He's like, hey, bro, what if we did an exhibit called Black Ops and we just highlighted black operators, you know, just took a bunch of guys that we know, uh, or Vietnam guys that we know, and we we photographed them and we did that. And I thought he was joking. I was like, man, that's not gonna work, man. I don't think I've ever seen an exhibit like that. And uh and then to call it black ops, you know, we'll probably get laughed out of the room. But, you know, in uh in typical SF fashion, we just say, well, fuck it, man. Let's see what uh let's see what the general says. So we went back the next day and we pitched the museum. And at the time, General Farreter, a retired three-star man, phenomenal guy, been a great mentor to us, uh, briefed them the idea and they loved it. And what they challenged us with was hey, what about expanding this to all minority groups uh within special operations? And that's how Black Ops was born. Uh just quick conversation on the on the bridge, the willingness to to do something out of the box, and and and here we are.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. And it's it's been amazing watching the reception across the not just the veteran community, but the the larger audience, man. These are stories that people have wanted to hear and individuals they wanted to hear from uh what seems like for for decades. And they're getting their they're they're getting these stories from
Hidden History And A KKK Billboard
SPEAKER_02the individuals, not from a third-hand source or a book that you know gets lost through the Amazon noise. Like you're bringing them to the stage, you're bringing them out, and people are sitting there hearing it firsthand. You know, we we forget that we're oral history. We're people that are bound through oral history. We forget that. Like, that's why podcasts are so uh important, man. It's uh it it there's something to hearing it from the person as they lived it. And you have the you have the naysayers out there, you got people saying, Oh, you know, you know, we don't need more war stories from veterans. I'm like, no, like if you can hear these stories, it'll inspire the next generation, man. That's what we need. The uh the brovet stories are great, they're they're fun. They're you hear the dudes come to you, I came in through and I button hooked, and I shot the guy right in the face. I'm like, all right, cool, awesome. Let's hear about some historical stuff that really matters because those are the stories that we don't hear. There was one about, you know, the early days of being a brag, the early days of going through where we tend to think that you know America had moved past racial tensions and it was great. But there was billboards out around the area saying, like, hey, you're not really part of this community. And that instantly hits a nerve to anybody that served in the area, and they're like, Holy shit, that wasn't too far long ago.
SPEAKER_00No. And and uh I I think that billboard you're talking about um was taking down, it was in the 90s. Um, I just got an email from from a buddy of mine. He sent me the actual billboard, and it was uh from the the knights of the Klu Klux Klan uh there in Cumberland County, and coming in on uh I forget what back road, but it was there. And sure enough, man, it was it was there till the till the 90s, man, and that's not too long ago.
SPEAKER_02No, not at all. And to hear the stories of individuals that served at the highest echelons, the the highest calling, and they still chose to say, you know what, you're not gonna you're not gonna force me out of my career, of my town, of where I live. I'm gonna serve and I'm gonna continue doing it. Like, and and if it wasn't for you guys, that story would be lost. That story wouldn't be out there in the mainstream. We wouldn't have it to share and be like, hey man, like we gotta continue going. We gotta continue sharing this and and putting a spotlight in the service.
SPEAKER_00No, I I appreciate it. It's been really satisfying, you know, from a conversation on a bridge that was a joke, tongue-in-cheek, I won't say joke, but to today, you know, we have a a whole series on Amazon Prime, which is no small feat. We have a book that's coming out on June 1st, distributed through Barnes and Nobles on Amazon. We we have been successful in getting legislation passed to have one of our teammates receive the Medal of Honor almost 60 years after the fact, um, which is happening next month. And I we've toured the we've toured the country from coast to coast, and uh we've hell man, the met thousands of people along the way, man. It's been crazy to just when you sit down and start to quantify it, um, all the things we've been able to do just from a small conversation.
SPEAKER_02Bro, and and I I have to ask, have you taken time to reflect on this, to look back at the kid that learned English from watching chips? Like to look back on your life and what where where you came from. You know, it's we often talk about people that, you know, hey, you came from humble beginnings, but Ruben, I mean, like, you know, you by all this episode
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Mentoring At-Risk Teens Through Black Ops
SPEAKER_02to sit here in this moment and realize like you've platformed people and championed them and been able to give their voice the amplification it deserves and demands. And then to bring out a TV show on Amazon Prime in today's world where everybody just wants to watch a Marvel movie or watch the latest, you know, um, the Taylor Sheridan Western drama on TV, you guys created something that's counter to all that and said, no, this is what we want you to watch and have it out there. And then on top of that, be able to create a book. Have you been able to take that that moment of like reflection and say, holy cow, like I've done it. Like I've been I've been grinding all this time, and here we are.
SPEAKER_00There's been a couple moments, I would say. Um probably the biggest one was this past February, we did our first our first engagement with with high school kids. So our foundation that we started, the Black Ops Foundation, has a mission to to mentor youth. And and and we we we really don't care where the kids are coming from. You know, this isn't a black or white or a brown thing. It's it's uh, you know, we're here to provide youth mentorship. There's so many veterans that star nonprofits to help other veterans. There's so many. We figured it's a saturated space. There's not much really that we can offer that other organizations already do. But for us, we we saw all of our upbringings and we wish that we had people that could just give us that little bit of guidance. So we have a relationship with the Jacksonville Independent School District, and they are the eighth largest school district in the nation. It's huge because it covers a big area in Florida. And we have a nine-week mentorship program. It's called the Follow Me Uh Mentorship Program that will begin in August of 2026, and it's 10th graders. That's that's our target market, 10th graders. After doing some studies, we figured 10th graders, they're ripe for that mentorship. It's uh it's it's a it's a tight target for us. And uh when it comes to education and curriculum, what we were offering fell in line with what they're learning. So we ran this initial pilot program in February. We did it with five high schools. And once we the kids came in, these are at-risk youth that we were working with, and it's hundreds of kids. And you got kids coming in with face tattoos, neck tattoos, um, just, you know, a lot of them don't have two parents in the home. Some of them have been to juvenile detention, and to have them just be quiet and just listen to the stories that we're telling, being interested in what it is that we're pitching, that was a reflection point for me to say we're doing the right thing. Um, nobody was talking about how many grenades they threw to kill the enemy. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. That's fire. I you know, I wasn't putting anybody in an arm bar, and it was just a regular conversation and showing these kids that we cared, and I knew that we had something at that point. The superintendent came in. He wasn't even supposed to be there. He spent about an hour with us, and next year we're gonna go back and do this, and we're doing it with every high school, and it's gonna be a two-day event. So we're now we're impacting thousands of kids. So now the conversation is how can we scale this program and make it bigger? You know, starting with Florida and then moving it nationally. Um, and it's and it again, it goes back, man, to just one conversation. It's it's been it's been really cool. So that's a moment of reflection for me.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. I think that's uh one of the greatest things we can do for our nation is give back to the youth. And not a lot of people have the the that mindset. It's it's a you know, when we look at that demographic, specifically that that high school kid in tenth grade, like you're 100% correct, man. Like that's you're either going to become a product of that environment or you're gonna by grace of God meet somebody that can help you and give you insight and show you like there's an alternative way. And we further create more of a problem when we look at that demographic, specifically in in in urban neighborhoods, and say, well, you know, they just gotta pull themselves up by the bootstrap. They just gotta figure it out. Yeah. And the reality is a lot of us are here or in a better place because somebody poured into us. And maybe we just needed one interaction. Maybe we were blessed enough, we just needed one coach. But for a lot of kids, they need an ODA. They need a team of 12 dudes or more that can show them, like, hey, nah, like this looks like it can be appealing, but let me tell you, go this route. Try this. And we have to get out of this mindset that like our days of service are behind us when we get out. We still have decades, decades of giving back. We're people of purpose, we're men and women of purpose. And we've our entire careers have proven that. You become an NCO, and what do you do? You immediately focus on taking care of the guys coming behind you, of your lower enlisted. We have to remember that. And that's something that's in in every aspect of your mission with Triple Nickel, you can see that. You're it's not just a brand or just a group of individuals that are out there hustling to make a dollar. It's it's got a purpose behind it. And that's one of the things where I've always been, and since I met you guys, uh, I've always been absolutely behind the mission because I can see the different spokes and wheels of what where the movement is going. And that's something to be proud of, man. That's something to champion. I appreciate that. Go ahead.
SPEAKER_00No, I I just want to say I appreciate that uh we were we were just having that conversation and I reflect on that a
Choosing Purpose Over Profit
SPEAKER_00lot. You know, some some it can you can take our case to an MBA, any MBA program and say, you know, Ruben Ayala as a CEO is probably not a very good CEO because we we've taken all of our profits and we've invested it in the community. Yeah. And there's, you know, it's it's could could we have taken all of our profits, and we've done some amazing things, but and increased marketing to become a bigger, bigger company and focus on the bottom line, sure. Um, you know, and and be a household name, sure. But instead we've taken that and we've created, you know, this nonprofit. We've invested it back into legislation for helping one guy. And, you know, to us, you know, we're happy with that. I can look at myself in the mirror and be happy with it. And um, so no, I appreciate that. You know, on the business side, some would call what we do crazy, but you know, to us it's not really about that. It's it's about the the legacy we want to leave behind.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. And I feel that I'm right there with you, uh, especially when my bookkeeper and financial advisor, aka my wife, looks at the amount of giveaways I do. It's like at some point, you have to turn a profit. I'm like, or, or I could do another giveaway and help somebody get a new concept brower. Because it's something about helping the community that that it pours back into you. And and you're right, you could, you know, by by all, you know, by all measures, if if you talk to somebody at Rice University, shameless plug to those guys, great people over there, any MBA program, they're gonna be like, oh, you should really be doing this, this, and this. But I think we need more people that are leading with their hearts. I think that you have enough common sense to say, like, hey, we got to put a little bit of money over here, but we can't take it with us. We can only get so big. And and I'm not gonna fool myself and think I'm gonna be the next Jeff Bezos. But if what I do, putting a positive voice, amplifying right people and helping give back to a community and a veteran space, like if that's gonna make a difference, if and for you guys, if one kid, if one kid changes her trajectory and says, no, no, I I think I can do something else, like that's a win, man. That's a win that none of us got to see or feel in our time in the military. None of us are gonna are gonna ever walk away and have that gratitude of saying, we won Afghanistan and Iraq, look at what we did. No, we gotta find our wins within our country, within our community, man. And that's something you guys are leading from the front and still showing us. This episode is brought to you by Pure Liberty Labs. Quality supplements designed to elevate your health and performance. Check out their full line of quality supplements, whether you're looking for whey protein, pre-workout, creatine, or a super greens drink, Pure Liberty Labs has you covered. Use my code SecurityHall10 at checkout today.
The Two-Year Fight To Write Follow Me
SPEAKER_02But I have to ask, like with so much on the plate and so much on the docket, how did you guys carve out time for a book?
SPEAKER_00That was stupid to it was a dumb, it was a dumb dumb idea, man. I was just gonna be honest, you know, again, it's it's uh it's Green Beret logic, bro. Yeah, we we we think that we can handle anything. And you probably you're in all the same communities and groups that I'm in, bro. And anything that's going on in the world, there's a Green Beret who's a subject matter expert on it, even though he's not. It's like, oh, this legislation's passing. Well, you know, I would have done it differently. Okay. And that's just the way we are too. Um, literally, yeah, I was cutting the grass, and and uh I was talking with Chris while I was cutting the grass, and it usually stems from Chris and I just being very overzealous, and we were just oh no, no, no, no, no. This is exact I'm gonna tell you exactly how it happened. This is a really good story. So true story, I'm gonna I'm gonna leave names out of it so nobody gets really upset with me. So the the the documentary, uh the word gets out that we're doing a documentary and we're going to Fayeville to do the do a marketing event for the docuseries for episode one. I get an email from
SPEAKER_01A guy who I will not name who.
SPEAKER_00He is the first blank operator in secretive unit everybody knows the name of, and says, Hey, why am I not in this documentary? And uh I respond, I say respectfully, I don't even know who you are. But, you know, let's let's set up a meeting and talk. Let's meet in Fayetteville. So throughout the course of our conversations, it becomes evident like we don't know everybody who who's who. And, you know, we don't, I never claim to. I mean, hell, you know, being being an SF, you may not know the dude, dude's in your company because you're always gone. So it was from that moment that Chris and I said, hey, you know, what if we did a book? And it's an extension of the docuseries, and we're able to capture other people's stories that we didn't capture in the docuseries, and how hard it is, how hard can it be to write a book? So that was almost two years ago. Just to show you how dumb of an idea that was, because that's how long it took us to put this thing together. So getting people to believe in us as filmmakers was one thing. And that was tough. It's like you guys aren't on any movie that I've ever heard of. So, no, I'm not gonna let you do my story. Now I'm trying to convince such and such, and we're trying to get people from all services Navy, Air Force, Marines, Army. And we had a specific criteria for an avatar. We weren't just looking for operators, we were looking for direct support and indirect support to show the reader that, hey, not everybody's kicking doors. You may have a guy who's flying an airplane, you may have a guy who is in the 160th or a girl who was whatever. And getting people to buy in that Chris and I could be authors, that was another tough sell. So it took two years, almost two years to the day to convince the people that are in the book to let us write a book about their story, let letting them know that giving them the confidence that we can do it and and see it through to fruition and do it in a respectful way. So when I say it was a dumb idea, that's why. Because we had no idea what we were doing, bro. It was, it was so how do we find the time? It was one of those things where we just, you know, you're we're every so often we'll get to work on the book, um, going back and forth with each subject, having them proof it, making sure we got it right, got the right theme, the right tone. Very difficult. Very difficult to do.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and I gotta tell you, man, um, follow me, such a strong title and and leading, you know, leadership lessons from the shadows, because that's exactly what you know you guys have been doing through the TV series, through the speaking events, showing those stories that aren't often highlighted when they're they're being, you know, everything that we've been taught in modern day culture that is an SF or soft operator is this loud, boisterous individual, big mouthful of dip. And I did it too. I mean, it was cool. I where do you think I got it from? These were the dudes I showed up in the team room, giant dudes, dip in the mouth, and it's like, oh, that's what it is. And and and it's how quickly we write that into a myth. You look at Navy SEAL's TV show. The only or I will say this, the only show that got it kind of right was The Unit with Snake Doctor being at the forefront, and you know, a little they they the the like it was a big thing for us. I don't know if you remember that show, but we're like, holy shit, they finally got it. Jonas, they finally got it. Yeah. Hey man, he the teen daddy, man, he yeah. But like even our own horse soldier movie didn't get it right and and they didn't understand, like you never saw like the depiction of what a team really is. And going into this book, how did you guys formulate the theme and what you were gonna cover behind it?
Turning Real Lives Into Leadership Lessons
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so it's good question. It took a few iterations to get to where we are. So I'll start where we are, and then I'll tell you how we started so you can see how big of an evolution the book took. So the book as it is today, follow me. This book is a leadership book, but it is a leadership book that we intended for a younger version of you or I. And what it's saying is if you are a grown responsible person who's seen it all, done it all, maybe this book isn't for you, but you maybe want to learn more about different stories you haven't heard from. But if you are looking for guidance in your life, then that's what this book is written for. And it's a companion to our nine-week mentorship program that we have with uh with the high schools. So each high schooler will get a copy of the book, and each week there is a chapter that coincides with the lesson that's being taught by that particular instructor for that week. So they're getting some takeaways, and at the end of the book, there is a journal where they're asked to reflect on the different topics that they learn from. So that is the book in itself. All proceeds from the book, which is another reason why I'm not a good CEO, we're not getting paid. All the proceeds from this book goes to the Black Ops Foundation. So we invested, and the people who are part of this book invested in the book to make it happen. But we're giving all the money away to the Black Ops Foundation. So Chris and I, as authors, don't make a dime. So that's the in state. How we started was that conversation that I had with Blank Operator. And what we wanted to do was create an extension of the docuseries and tell these stories that are seldom heard from. But as we started getting the stories in from everybody, the guidance that we gave everybody was like, look, we are not telling war stories. So if you're if you're called, if you want to talk about all the dudes that you killed downrange, like we're not interested in that. Because it's boring. You know, it's we everybody has a story, and I guarantee you that we're just gonna end up one upping each other. It's it it everybody does it. But what we want to know is your journey into soft, what motivated you going into the military, into soft, and then what are you doing afterwards? Because, you know, to us, that's just like we discussed, you know, that's just that's what's important. And as we started to read everybody's evolution, we saw that there was a theme. And the theme was there was some type of mentorship that happened to get them in there, and they extended that to somebody else. And we said, oh shit, we have a leadership book. And that's where we ended. So we started with one thing, and then we ended with another once we got everybody's stories. And then Chris and I, we were able to make the bookends of the book and encapsulate it and make it into the product that it is. So that's the uh that's the way we came about with it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And and uh man, that's uh that's something that I've been fortunate enough to have a lot of guys and gals come here that have written a book. And it's never an easy thing when it comes to the entire process, the editing, everything that goes into it in uh two years seems about right. Yeah. So is that the uh average you're seeing amongst everybody? That's what I'm seeing. Unless you're fortunate enough to be able to have um, you know, somebody that can help you pull the story out. There are individuals, not necessarily ghostwriters, but individuals that have a format that sit down, interview you, pull the story out of you, and then build that outline and say, hey, here's how we're gonna craft it. Um and some of those individuals uh are very successful, but they cost a good amount. But it's it's yeah, it costs because it works. It gets your story out because, like I said earlier, we're we're creatures that develop an oral history first. You know, we sat around a fire and talked and shared stories, and we've forgotten that. We've really forgotten that. That we, especially like in it, not to go on off on a tangent, but specifically when it comes to healing, when it comes to overcoming some of the things that we've experienced in our journey in the military, and just through life. Just think about how good it feels to sit down with a friend and uh get something off your chest. That's part of who we are. And uh I think you know, we we've gotten to a point where we've forgotten that. And every story that I read that's not not like this, but based around, you know, the GWAT and where it's just like, you know, 0600, I woke up, we got the mission brief, and I knew we were gonna get on. It's like, oh my god, dude. I've been there, I know how mundane it is. You're not gonna try to sell me on this, like, yeah, we got our mission brief, we're ready to go. That's not how it works. 90% of the time, the guys are bullshitting, doing memes, the captain's on a computer watching it's always sunny. Fucking Team Sartre is still typing up the manifests right before you get on the friggin' bird. And the entire thing is just it becomes a mundane function. And and I get it, there's for there's an audience for it. But what I would rather have out there for for young adults are history lessons from people that actually lived things, actually went through something. Yes, and that can can foster the discussion and the dialogue that we need with young people. What does this make you think? Like critical thinking.
SPEAKER_00I I agree, man. And um, you know, a story that comes to mind is uh one of the subjects in the book, his name's Charlie Simmons, um, but affectionately he's known in the community as Black Frog. And and Charlie, he is the first, he's the first African-American combat diver and also warrant officer, you know. So I shared a story, you know, because you're a former warrant. And he was a sergeant major when he went to the I I don't know if he went to the first warrant course, but it was one of the I would say top three. Um so you got a guy who's uh who's a B team sergeant major, volunteers to go warrant, and he's already been a scuba and Halo team sergeant and becomes a warrant. But you back all that up, he's born in 1940s, Brooklyn, in an all-segregated area, becomes homeless, there's no pools available or accessible to black people at the time, and has to learn how to swim, and is not allowed to even think about going to scuba because black people can't swim, gets sent to Vietnam, and you know, everything is a struggle for this guy, and he becomes a legend. And this guy's 80, I want to say he's 87 now, and he's a master class swimmer, uh, still competes. And, you know, these are these are my hope is, you know, a kid who's going through something in their life is able to read that and say, you know what, I thought I had a bad. Yeah. And if this guy can do it, then, you know, maybe I can do it.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. And I I I have heard that. My good shout out to my my good buddy Damone Brown, who just talking to him today with his book, um uh freaking Black Man Can't Swim. Yep. Great book, by the way. Dude, um one of the greatest human beings you can meet. Um, one of the warmest, you know, most genuine people you will ever meet in this world. An absolute killer, too. Like absolute, like absolute savage, where it's like people, people don't understand the the you can have both. You can have the be the absolute warmest compassionate individual and and look back on his career and be like, yeah, man, this is the dude that you'd want right next to you in a firefight in the worst case scenario. And his story is just that, just being being able to share everything that the people before him had gone through that gave him the courage to be like, no, I can be a diver. Yeah, I can be and not just be a diver, be a great diver, be on a dive team. Um in this story is like that, that we need to be able to, because that's a myth too, man. That's that's a that's a thing that kills me. It's still a big thing that people joke about. Uh black guys can't swim. It's like, yeah, if you continue pushing that myth, you continue pushing that idea, it'll keep people from wanting to achieve it. You're just putting it out there.
SPEAKER_00100%, man. It it yeah, that's it, bro. It and you hit the nail on the head. Um we have to continue to shattering stereotypes. And you know, Panamanians can become warrant officers, you know. And you know, dude, absolutely. You you you you can speak good English.
SPEAKER_02Dude, it it's it's funny. We we forget that um like people need to hear these stories. And like you gotta do it for the kid that that that kid that you were, the the kid that never saw the representation, like not meeting another Panamanian until you got to Fort Bragg. It's like, holy shit. Like, if you're out there and you're listening and and you are from these communities, you you can look back on your service, Dominican, Puerto Rican, whatever it is, like understand you have a story that's more powerful than you think. Even if you think your life is mundane, trust me, there is a kid out there, there is a young man out there that wants to connect or at least see that your service, your life is a possibility. That there's there's a way out of a of a difficult environment, that there's an alternative path. And and when we live, you know, you you're going through your daily life and you think, well, it's not, I'm not that remarkable. I'm like, I lived it. I've been there my entire life. I thought my story isn't that remarkable. And then I realized, I'm like, oh, holy cow, wait a second. There's not that many Panamanians that made it through just cause as a kid through conflict, come to the United States, decide to serve, make it into SF. Like, maybe, maybe that's a story to tell. At least talk to somebody from the same type of background, be willing to say, hey kid, like you deserve to have a spot here on this on this team. You can make it here. And that's something everybody should have. The awareness of your life, your lived experience can have a huge impact on the kid that just wants to see something similar, someone similar to their themselves that has achieved something. Because that tab, that beret, and I always say you got to kill the myth, because that thing is giant. It casts a big shadow. People look at that, and they tend to think only one type of person can be in there. And and you and I have both seen that green berets, soft operators come in a in a very in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. That they do. It's yeah.
SPEAKER_00Sometimes, man, you just gotta see it to believe it. And um, it's unfortunate that some people can't understand that concept. And it really takes it takes guys from the community, um, like Damon, yourself, you know, our team, to just get out there and have the have the courage to do so, because you know, you can be that one guy and you can easily get drowned out by the the the group think. But you know, it's a it's a you know, clicking up and and um and and and selling positivity is a is a good thing. Yeah, I think so.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely, man. I I don't want to be part of the negativity brigade, and there's no shade to how you're getting your views or making your money through sponsorships. I just think that there's an alternative, and you guys are crushing it. You guys are doing your own thing, throwing, you know, douchebags underneath the buzz as they should. Do it, continue doing it. But I'm gonna be on this side. I don't think I think it does more harm to continue talking about somebody that's already getting their just desserts. Like, I don't I don't need to do another reaction video to it. I can focus on sharing a resource, sharing a positive message because we need more of that. Like this the last few years has shown us that we need more of it.
SPEAKER_00Oh, 100%, man.
SPEAKER_02And um, you know, I'll I will um you know, another positive aspect of this is um just through when you have when you have young story-shaped culture, they build trust. And when they're told the right way, they move people to action. That's what we do at Security Hall Media. We don't just produce content, we create authentic, impactful, and purpose-driven storytelling for podcasters, nonprofits, brands, and leaders who are on a mission. From people who've lived real experiences and want their message to actually matter, from podcast production and video to strategic storytelling and distribution. We help you clarify your voice, elevate your brand, and connect with the audience you're trying to serve. You have a story worth telling and a purpose behind it. Security Hall Media is here to help you tell it the right way. Click the link in the episode description to learn more today.
SPEAKER_00Folks reaching out to you and wanting to just do something better. And that doesn't necessarily mean they want to join the military, as that's something we're careful not to position ourselves as recruiters. You know, um, but what we do position ourselves as is as subject matter experts in just life, right? So when you have these young kids reaching out to you for guidance and questioning what would what should be their next steps, or you have these organizations like school districts wanting to be a part of your organization, you know, to me that's a uh, you know, that's a validation to to what it is that we're doing. Um and and it's it's super gratifying, man, to just be here in this part of life and and know that I don't have to result or fall back on, I don't know, man, just bullshit, you know, to to to to sell views, you know.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's um it's a weird world that you have to navigate. You have to do something to drive an audience, but you have to stick true to your mission. And I I will sacrifice views and clicks to stay true to what I do. Uh it's I started this with freaking nobody, no followers, uh no sponsors, and you know, slowly continue to grow. And I'm gonna stick to what works for me. Humor and positivity. Like, it and that's that's it, man. No matter what uh what comes into the meme space or what comes into the military culture, like I know what, you know, at the end of the day, I always say it like if I can go to bed at night and lay my head on my pillow and say, hey, I'm I'm being a good, genuine person, I'm putting my true positive face out there, then uh I'm doing something right. If I have to lie myself to feel better, then I'm in the wrong business and I need to exit quick because this is it. Like, there's no like who I am in front of the camera is the same person that's gonna go hang out with my wife, my kid. And I think there's something to that. I think some people have to put on a facade and put on a a persona, but I don't think that works, man. Eventually, that switching back and forth, it's gonna catch up to you, it's gonna lead to you. And it does nothing. Like you can make a lot of money, but what good are you doing? What good are you doing?
SPEAKER_00100%, man. You get you gotta keep it real, you know. And um you guys, you know, I've been watching you since you started. You got it, you have been doing a phenomenal job. And, you know, talking to people, so many people has got to be gratifying. And, you know, part of the other part of writing a book with so many people involved is getting to learn their story. And even though you may know somebody at a surface level, getting to interview them and getting to understand what makes them tick has been really, really cool. And you know, you being a former Halo guy and uh being able to, you know, get to see cool pictures like this from you know, our different subjects, man, that was to me, that was really neat. And just like tell me what possessed you to want to do that, you know.
Freefall, Normandy, And Pride In Service
SPEAKER_00Why?
SPEAKER_02You know? Dude, that's a it's um It's funny, man. I w I was just, you know, reflecting the other day on like the things I do miss. And at the top of the list is free fall. That is the the single greatest, like being a sniper was cool. Like got to do so many great things. And I'm I'm internally, eternally grateful to everybody that played a impactful role in my career to help me achieve those accomplishments. But the greatest feeling I've ever had was free fall, man. And being able to not just be a guy on a free fall team, but to be entrusted to go to JM, to be entrusted to go to AIDC, to be able to put guys out of a plane, have those core memories where like it's on you to execute and get your guys out safely, like those are gifts. I look at look at that time period when, you know, in specific jumps where you think it's a none of it's important, none of it's life or death, but it's like we gotta stay, we gotta maintain our currency so we can stay the number one free fall team for the battalion. We gotta make this jump happen. And it's like in the moment, you're like, oh my God, like this is the most important thing. But having that moment of like your team sergeant being proud of you, that you made it, made the made the jump happen, you found a spot, you got everybody out of the bird. Or those moments where you link up with your teammate in the sky. Like everybody watches point break and you know, Patrick Swayze and friggin' uh Keanu Reeves make it look so cool. But I'm like, it is cool, but it's a million times cooler than that to link up with somebody in in flight and be able to lock in and be like, man, like this. And then when on the outside, you know, there's you can re-y can duplicate so many of those experiences. You can go shooting with your friends, you can go out and do land nav and go hiking and camping. But even if I resert and get get current on my A license, um uh it's not the same. It's not the same as jumping with your own A. It'll never be like jumping with Angel. It'll never be like jumping with Bill and having those moments of like, dude, I'm like with my the guys I look up to and being that young man in that space. And uh when I when I think back to that, it's like, man, like life is meant to be bittersweet. You're not supposed to have everything you want. You're in order to experience life in its fullness, there has to be some bittersweet. There has to be some sadness. You have to you have to mourn those great moments in life and be able to say, like, ah, yes, at what moment in life I was a human meat missile going, you know, 100 miles an hour, grossly exaggerated. It feels, it feels like 100 miles an hour. You're not going that fast, but like going and you know, getting that high lift track and just tracking through the sky is one of those great, great moments. But like, you know, it's even better is being able to meet a young person that's thinking about serving and describing those experiences. And I think that's the same thing with your book. Like telling those stories, there's lessons learned, there's there's critical thinking involved, but there is a moment, there is an element of like, oh man, this is badass. Like I'm talking or I'm reading stories of legends, that's inspirational. So even though I don't get to do it and I have that bittersweet moment, uh, I don't get it twisted. Every every any chance I get to talk to anybody in the DMs of like, oh, I think I want to go to special forces, what's it like? I'm like, let me tell you what being in a free fall team is like, kid. Let me tell you what you could potentially experience someday. And uh, and I I say that, and and life has a way of giving you those moments that that uh you're really looking forward to. I really believe it because I get to jump in Normandy here in a in a couple days. Uh, not free fall, but a static lance. I'll be in the sky again. And uh if that's not divine intervention, if that's not God talking through the universe and connecting you with something you miss, I don't know what is.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and you know, you you're gonna be there with one of our teammates, actually. So Shirley, she's uh part of uh the Black Ops uh foundation team. She will be jumping with uh with Fox Force, the office. That's what I'm jumping with. Oh, you're jumping with Fox Force? Yeah, yeah. Oh shit, man.
SPEAKER_02I wonder if you guys will be on the same chalk. Um I think they're jumping on my birthday June 2nd, and then I'm following on the fourth, but I'm documenting. I'll be um so uh let her know the connect with Denny on the ground.
SPEAKER_00Uh are you doing the uh all of the uh the the uh documentation for uh Fox Force?
SPEAKER_02Did they have it for Warrior Rising? So I'm I'm going there with Warrior Rising who sponsor or help support the initiative. Yes. Um so I'm like, dude, I've I spent so much more money uh out of my my business budget to get more more cameras, more stuff, because I'm like, dude, I'm I have to capture these interviews. One of my one of my dear friends, Ingrid, uh Ingrid Pierce, another Warn Ops from Severus Group, uh, we knew each other while we served. And when I saw her name pop up, I was like, bro, I cannot miss this opportunity to be there. And then their uh the Warrior Rising team's like, yeah, um, we're gonna get you jumping too. I was like, I'm in, done.
SPEAKER_00Nice. Yeah, I I I thought about it. I said, eh.
SPEAKER_02I figure I got one good jump left in me, and uh, I don't have to do any like jump master duties. Um, so it's just round canopy and just, you know, just go, just relax, just relax. Hopefully you'd be able to, but I do have travel insurance. So if something goes horribly wrong, good. And we'll be taken care of.
SPEAKER_00Good. Well, I I'll let I'll let Shirley know to uh to connect with you and uh yeah, that's that's great, man. We got we got man, so yeah, we'll be we'll be there with you in spirit.
SPEAKER_02Heck yeah, man. Uh I I think that um we gotta figure out a way to do do a black ops jump for the next Normandy, man. That'd be incredible.
SPEAKER_00We yeah, we're talking about it. Um yeah, I think it it goes back to convincing people, man. It's uh most of our team is like, man, as soon as they got out, the the pistol belt went that way and the civilian went that way, bro. It's like I'm not jumping, I'm not jumping out of shit.
SPEAKER_02There was that that little part of me, because um I will I will say and and uh I talk about this a lot, man. Like being at Green Beret was amazing. It was it was a remarkable chapter in my in my life, but the greatest thing that ever gave me a connection to this country was serving in 82nd. It was truly um just an incredible thing to look back and and it it was just the the fact that I serve in such an iconic unit that like I could watch movies and then I identify and like because you you know, and you know this too, being being somebody that's not born in the United States, not having that connective tissue with like a grandparent that served or or or somebody that was in D-Day, my connective tissue to that that history is like, well, I serve in 82nd. You know, I was I was part of that unit. I I know the importance of those names, the stadium names, like I understand that. And going back to getting invited and getting the opportunity to jump in, everybody was like, oh, you can get the uh the first special uh services bat uh patch and get in there for you know the lineage of SF. And I'm like, that's great. And there's tons of guys doing that, but it's the 82nd anniversary. Like, if you think for one moment I'm not gonna jump in with those, that 82nd patch, you're freaking dead wrong, dog. Like that, like that is the I never got to do that that, you know, you know, when I went to SF when I when I you know came back and checked out high five, then saw everybody. Like, that was the end of my time the 82nd. There wasn't any, uh, there wasn't any formal, like, hey, you know, you know, Tar Caballero's leaving, like, hey, past election, signed out, and I went straight into Q course. This for me seems like a nice closing of that chapter of finally being able to get one last static line jump and wearing that patch, like being proud of that, because you know it you don't have to serve in a soft unit to be proud of your service. You don't. No doubt. You don't, you have to just look at life and look at what you're passionate about. And if what you're passionate about was being an 88 mic, being an administrative clerk in S1, being a kid at the combo shop, you deserve to be proud of your service. And like, dude, like that's the greatest thing that I can do is show people that, like, yeah, man, like being a Green Beret was awesome, but being an 82nd was just as impactful, if not more, because they're the ones that taught me how to be a good soldier. Like, that that's like before you get to being a Green Beret, like you have to understand and have like that part of your life locked, squared away. And that's honestly what the the main reason I was successful is because I knew how to just keep my mouth shut, be at the right place, in the right uniform, and it all came from the 82nd. There's so many things that I can look at my career and be like, what dude didn't show up on time. I got a school slot. Hell yeah. That's freaking awesome.
SPEAKER_00It's like basic soldiering skills. And I and I'll tell you, man, as when I was in, when I was in the deuce, uh had a good fortune of of uh of going to Bastone. Um no way. And man, it we jumped into uh Nine Megan. I don't know. You know, they they do different uh, you know, Normandy's probably the biggest one. I never jumped into Normandy, but we did do it was maybe it was St. Mary Glee's, I can't recall. It doesn't matter. But when you go, when you go to these towns, they have so many monuments that are dedicated to the 82nd, to the 101st. Um you have also uh uh um General Patton's unit. Um so but and when you show up with with your SF patch, you're like, what is that? So you know, to your point, man, the 82nd is such a story, you know, story unit that um you know it there's that gravitas when you show up with that that all-American patch, people recognize that there's a standard of excellence that that that goes with that. And uh, you know, for those who've never been to 82nd, I know you don't get it, but you know, you know, that being in, you know, I was a white Falcon myself. But yeah, it's uh yeah, man, being in 82nd, that's uh it's no place like it, man. I wouldn't go back.
SPEAKER_02Just to be clear, yeah, neither of us want to go back unless something drastic happens. That shit is hard. That's a something drastic happens in life, and and then there's a state of emergency around the world, and I will be immediately promoted to CW4 at a minimum and be in charge of uh at least a battalion. And uh I I nobody can question what I didn't put into practice, then maybe.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, man, if the uh if the draft comes and uh they need bodies, uh yeah, the 82nd is where I do not want to go. I will pass out basketballs at the at the makeshift gym downrange. I'm good for that.
Standout Stories, Foreword, And Where To Buy
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_02But man, like having to sit down and interview, interview so many individuals with remarkable stories, are there ones that didn't make the cut? And if there are, like, what what is one of the stories that like really stays and sticks with you from the authors?
SPEAKER_00I would say it's a couple, but um, but one that I really enjoy, um, and when you see Shirley in in Normandy, you can tell her about this. So you she grew up, she's Dominican, immigrated to the United States, grew up in New York City, and she's a high school dropout. And I'm not putting her business out there because it's in the book. So she reminds me a lot of myself, you know. I failed the ninth grade, and um, but she dropped out of high school just because, you know, just things weren't aligning for her. And then 9-11 happens, and she was on her way. Um, she grew up in Manhattan and uh in the heights. So uh the same play that Le Manuel Miranda made about. So 9-11 happens, and she's there and is able to see the aftermath of everything that's going on. And I can't imagine myself, um I'm a high school dropout, I don't know what I'm gonna do with life. Now we're under attack, and I'm afraid. And what does she do logically? She joins the army because at that point everybody's so patriotic, you know, it's giving some direction to her life, and she doesn't owe anybody anything, but it's given her everything. And it's a it's a it's a giant contradiction that a lot of people probably wouldn't understand, especially young people. Like, oh, fuck that. I'm not joining the army. That's the last thing I'm gonna do, especially if we're being attacked, and especially if you're not from here, you know, with given the environment of today. So, you know, her story reading that and her her evolution, and then later on retiring as a first sergeant, civil affairs, it's a fantastic evolution in life, man. And now she's a real estate entrepreneur, she's a leader in her field. She's come a long way. And it and and that to me is one of the highlights of the book. And um, and another one that I'll leave you with is uh Arthur Cooley grew up in segreg in the segregated south, and to uh listen to his story of living around the corner from the from the headquarters of the Ku Klux Klan in Southern Florida, and how they would be they would be threatened for once their schools were integrated, he was in elementary school, and how they would be intimidated by the Ku Klux Klan going to school, kids touching his hair, asking if it's real, rubbing on his skin to see if the color would wear off because they've never seen a black person before. And this guy grows up to become the J6 sergeant major in SOCOM. And nowadays, he's like the mayor of Tampa. This guy, you if you go to Soft Week, everybody knows AC Cooley. This guy is he's the man. And just to see that evolution to me was really cool. Um, and I can't imagine, you know, if I'm a young kid and I'm seeking that guidance, being able to see myself in a Shirley, if I'm a female, uh, or if I'm a I'm a young kid dealing with issues, like wow, I can't imagine somebody coming up to my skin and seeing if that's gonna rub off or why my hair is a certain texture. Yeah. So that was those are two of the stories that that really stick out to me from the book.
SPEAKER_02Man, that is powerful. That that's uh that's a one that's one that will stick with you, man. That's um that sort of hate so baked in and uh that somebody can go through all that, not be resentful and say, you know what, I'm gonna live my life and I'm gonna achieve the greatness. Um that that's uh that's a part of the human spirit that doesn't get talked about and doesn't get highlighted enough these days.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, man. And and you know, one one part of the book that I haven't told you about is the forward. And you know, we got rich Rick Lamb, retired Star Major. Oh, no way. Yeah, so Rick Lamb wrote our forward. And we the way we modeled the book, we said, man, we need we need like a Joe Rogan-esque figure from the soft community to write our forward. Like we don't know Joe Rogan, and but everybody knows Rick Lamb. Yet and Rick wrote us the best. Rick is Rick is like part of our team. He's like, he's a he's a fellow teammate in Black Ops, uh, big supporter of what we do. And his forward is so phenomenal. Uh reading it, I get goosebumps, and I I'm so uh humbled to just read the words of affirmation that he wrote for the book. And and I'm hoping, and that's why we put him on the cover, because it's it's such a strong support of what it is that we're doing, and and um I'm very thankful for Rick for what he did for us.
SPEAKER_02He didn't have to, he's an incredible, incredible human being. That um, you know, it's funny we um when somebody gets as big and as you know, legendary, I would say, as Rick, he becomes you know a mentor through words, through books. I mean, I'm there's so many Green Berets out there and operators that I've talked to, like, oh man, Rick Lamb's amazing. And and but none of us know him. None of us, a lot of those that individuals that have read his books or have heard stories that are like, yeah, man, I've I got this from Rick Lamb and it's stuck with me. And I that's why I that's how I operate, man. That's how I lead my team. And it's like, but nobody knows, no one's met him. That's how impactful his words have become throughout the the years. And I think it's the same can be said about individuals such as yourself and Chris. Like, I I I and please don't take it lightly. I mean, that this is a big thing. I think you guys have gotten and will continue to grow to the point where individuals are gonna be like, yeah, man, I I served or I went for soft because I I saw black ops and met Ruben. And uh man, that's that set me on my course. And I think that's uh that's the sort of like influence you guys have now. Individuals will be coming into the regiment or in the military or or just look to be professionals in a space because a story they heard or saw through what you guys are doing. And that's like one of the greatest things we can we can ever uh aspire to achieve. Mentorship through our media, through our books, through the the podcasts that we do, that's huge, brother. That is a huge thing, and it's in a positive light.
SPEAKER_00Well, I I appreciate those words. Um I can I can only hope that that we can leave a good legacy behind. You know, and I and I appreciate that. I really do.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think it's out there, man. Um and it's it's wonderful to see you know the growth and the the movement continue. Like uh it's not just t-shirts, it's not just frivolous TV shows like Marvel movies and stuff like that, which I enjoy. I enjoy a good comic book movie, but I mean, at some point we got to talk about something else, something real, substance, inspirational, positivity, and good. And to continue, you know, from from my perspective and where I'm at in my business, in my growth, in my journey, to still see you guys continue, man, like that's motivation. Because at any moment, and I know it, at any moment, it can, it it's it gets taxi, it gets to be overwhelming. But the when you see others in the space continue to move forward, it's like being in a firefight or being in back in combat. Hey, they're still pushing, they're still going. That gives me hope, that gives me inspiration, it fuels me. They're not out of the fight, neither am I. So eternally grateful for everything you're building, brother. But I have to ask, man, like, where can we get this book? Where can we pre-order it?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So right now, um the pre-orders are through Kindle. So uh, and probably by the time you edit this and put it out, the book will be out June 1st. Amazon. Uh we'll put we'll start pushing out the links. Um, I'll send you the link so you can uh you can share that with it. Um also will be available in Barnes and Nobles. Uh I'll send you the link for that. And and that's where we're gonna keep it for now. Just those two mediums, just keep it simple. And again, all proceeds from the book sales go to the Black Ops Foundation. So, you know, Chris isn't driving a Bugatti, neither am I. Still living the hood, you know, whatever. The next TV show, the next movie. I will say though, man, for the next trick we have up our sleeves, I won't, I will not let the cat out of the bag yet. But uh for Mick this year in 2026 is coming to Tampa. Hopefully, uh hopefully you'll be coming out there and uh we'll we'll be able to hang out. We have three activations um that are going to be amazing. Let me just put it that way.
SPEAKER_02Oh man.
SPEAKER_00It's gonna be it's gonna be a little something for everybody, you know. Heck yeah. It's gonna be dope. That's all I will say.
SPEAKER_02Man, I can't wait. Yeah, I'll be there covering for one of one of my clients, uh doing content for them. But uh the next MIC after that, I I made a promise. Next MIC. I gotta get I'm I'm going back for myself, for my show, but I gotta figure out a way to get a speaking gig. I've got I've got a master's degree now. I've got a project uh that you know, like my capstone was impactful enough to have the my my instructors, teachers, and everybody like give me glaring reviews. So I'm like, okay, I know what I'm talking about. I serve in the nonprofit space, I'm saving lives, I'm gonna get a speaking gig. I gotta figure out how to do that because I'm tired of seeing the same people. Push the same ideas when it comes to mental health. And it it's it's veteran suicide isn't going to end on itself. And we need to start talking about connection and resilience, not mental health from the standpoint of weakness. It's a normal thing that everybody goes through, and we have to champion the idea that we can recover and we have more control than people want to think. So uh that's my pitch to anybody listening that has any say in MIC for a speaking gig. Because I'm coming in hot, folks. 2027. Do it, man. Bringing the show.
SPEAKER_00I uh I support you, man. And um I I I encourage you to just get your packet together and submit it once the uh speaker application. That's a that's a big that's a big talking point for a lot of uh speakers when they submit that stuff. But um I'm I'm hesitant to choose my words carefully, but you know, it's I've seen a lot of people talking about this subject, and they probably have no business talking about it because they don't have the experience.
SPEAKER_02That's what I'm saying, man. And I've been very careful. I know it's MIC. I know that's a platform I want to go on because there's a lot of charlatans in the space. A lot of them. And I've been working, I've been busy, I've been grinding. I've been grinding. I'm in advisory boards now, I'm on a board for a nonprofit. I work for the SFF. I'm building that resume. I'm building it out. And it's uh it, you know, uh I think the biggest influence was seeing how you guys moved, individuals like Iron Mike Steadman. Uh, he's been in my ear because now I'm fortunate to work in a in a in the in the same you know, in similar capacity for for another one of the clients I work for. I'm just like rubbing shoulders amongst giants, man. I'm like, okay, like noticing the pacing, noticing the work, and I'm like, okay, move in silence. Move in silence, build it up, and build the the resume that people can't you know turn their nose up to and say, okay, this dude knows what he's talking about. Yep. So I think I'm finally there. I'm gonna be sliding that that request for 2027 because 2026, I'm gonna be there supporting another organization, uh, which is still near and dear to my heart. I'm gonna be able to link up with you guys, be able to see everybody. Which uh which organization? Warrior Rising. So I'll be there for Warrior Rising this year.
SPEAKER_00Okay, cool.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, a lot of good, a lot of good coming out of that nonprofit. And uh stoked to be able to highlight more wins, more veteran entrepreneurs, because you know, hey, you don't have to do it by yourself. And shameless plug right now, Warrior Rising. Scan the QR code right here. My editor's gonna hate me, but he's a great guy. He'll forgive me. Sign up today. You don't have to do this on your own. Get some help. Have somebody get underneath the wing of Warrior Rise and get some support. You don't have to be a dog shit entrepreneur like me. I am not a great example. Follow Ruben, follow triple nickel. He might say they're not doing it right, but I'm gonna tell you right now the best dudes in this space with the greatest heart and the capacity to just be great human beings, Ruben and his team. I don't say that lightly, I don't say that to everybody, but they made such an impact in my life and my career choice that uh it it it keeps giving me the influence and then the uh the inspiration to continue going, man. When you meet somebody that is so committed to their dream, to their movement, to their to their ideology, yeah, it's it's absolutely it spreads, it permeates. If you see individuals moving like that near you in your community, get in there, get involved, be part of that because it's infectious. Uh good positive movements can also spread virally. Yeah, it doesn't just have to be the toxic stuff. So, Ruben, I can't thank you enough for being here, for being a friend, for being a brother, and for putting these stories out there and giving them the platform they deserve. Because when we can see it, when we can hear these stories, we can have a counter to what's you know, platform on other similar uh, you know, podcasts and shows, we can see the reality and the truth, that the human element, that the human factor is the most important thing at the end of the day, is not some cool dude uh rolling around with dip in his jaw that's gonna win the fight. Oftentimes it's uh a short Puerto Rican dude that uh doesn't look like he's gonna be the tip of the spear, but in fact he really friggin' is. So that's fine.
SPEAKER_00No, I I I really appreciate it, man. And and I would also like to shout out uh Warrior Rising. If it wasn't for them, they we would not be an aphies. Uh they were a big uh big No way. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So um I I I give a lot of uh preference to them and and always shout out to them, and they they were very helpful. Without question, they helped us out.
SPEAKER_02Heck yeah, man. That's what I love hearing. Man, that's that's all I needed to know. We're gonna clip that right there. That's a viral moment. Support Warrior Rising. There you go.
SPEAKER_00Everybody who asks, I'm very supportive of what they do. Um I we couldn't have we couldn't have done it without them. That was that's one of those moments, man. It was a a quick phone call uh in between SF guys, and they made it happen.
SPEAKER_01Dude.
SPEAKER_02Hell yeah, man. Look at that. Prove to you right there, folks. Um, reach out today. Don't wait anymore. QR code right here. Again, sorry to my editor. Scan that bad boy, go to the episode description and click that link. You already know the spiel, the episode's over. Support Ruben, support Black Ops, get this book today. Follow me. Leadership lessons from the shadows that shape extraordinary leaders. It's a time to support things that actually matter, and this is one of them, folks. Don't buy the latest romance novel. Get this. I'm no shame, no shame on you, but read something with depth, something that's gonna give you inspiration. Start right there. Go to episode description, click the link. Ruben, thank you so much for your brother. Thank you for what you're doing. And everybody listening, thank you for rallying around the show. Thank you for continuing to support. Support my sponsors, they're paying the bills, so go on and get you some more pre-workout from Pure Liberty Labs, or uh check out Precision Wellness Group and uh get your hormone health back up and up. Uh or Transcend Health, check them out. Same thing, same mission, different approach. Um, appreciate you guys. Thank you all for tuning in. We'll see y'all next time. Till then, take care.
