There I was with “Brad Thomas”
Description
In this episode of The Afterburn Podcast, he reflects on his time in 3rd Ranger Battalion, the intense urban warfare of Black Hawk Down. Recently, Brad was featured in Netflix’s Surviving Black Hawk Down. #blackhawkdown Brad takes us inside the realities of special operations, how gear and tactics evolved, and the raw, unfiltered truth about Mogadishu that Hollywood didn’t tell.
Brad Thomas has lived multiple lives—Army Ranger assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment and combat veteran of the Battle of Mogadishu. Brad later went on to serve as a Delta Force Operator. Following a career in the Army Brad tapped into his passion for music and went on to found the band Silence and Light with fellow veterans.
Beyond the battlefield, we explore his passion for music, leadership, and veterans’ mental health, as well as the upcoming projects with his band. If you’re interested in military history, elite training, and how combat experiences shape veterans’ lives, this episode is a must-listen.
Chapters
00:00 The Raid: A Personal Account of October 3rd, 1993
12:03 From Music to Military: A Journey to Becoming a Ranger
24:39 The Evolution of Military Gear: Then and Now
33:02 Documenting History: The Netflix Perspective on Mogadishu
41:35 Camaraderie and Communication in the Military
44:02 The Build-Up to Mogadishu
49:58 Life as a Ranger in Somalia
01:05:01 Lessons Learned from Mogadishu
01:07:46 Planning for Contingencies in Life
01:11:01 Reflections on History and Narrative