During this episode we talk with Jared Prewitt, the author of "It'll Buff Out. In his book he talks about a myriad of different struggles. Starting in high school Jared became called an pulled into the war. He would watch as the Marines cleared the city of Fallujah in just a few days and wanted to learn about the long lived brotherhood his grandfather told him about. Jared would fight for Cold Steele in 1/6 as a DM in Ramadi in 2006 as well as Garmsir, Afghanistan in 2008. If that wasn't enough, Jared also suffered from a stroke after his active service time ended, setting him again on a path of struggle and perseverance. He has since published his war memoir, and took employment helping other Vets become aware and introduced to Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy. For all of the bad reviews he says there are twice as many people who found it helpful. If you have tried other things and still need migraines and TBI/PTSD relief, give it a try.

Brent Downing is a Sergeants Major in the United States Marine Corps. He has done many things in his career, starting as an 0331 Machine Gunner in 1st battalion 4th Marines. Shortly after checking into the Battalion, Lance Corporal Downing was deployed to Kuwait and In March of 2003, crossed the line of departure into Iraq during the initial invasion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lance Corporal Downing would take part in several combat engagements fighting against the Iraqi army as well as their elite Republican Guard and Fedayeen forces from Al-Nasiriyah to Baghdad. In 2004 Lance Corporal Downing returned to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), serving as a machine gun squad leader. In August 2004, Lance Corporal Downing led a squad of machine gunners in an intense three day long battle against Muqtada Al-Sadr’s Mahdi army in the Najaf cemetery. For his actions, Lance Corporal Downing was subsequently awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device and would later be promoted to the rank of Corporal. Following the return from a second combat tour in Iraq, Corporal Downing checked into Headquarters Battery, 11th Marines and served as the Substance Abuse Control Officer (SACO) for approximately one year. Before leaving active duty in June 2006, Corporal Downing would be promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In January 2007, then Sergeant Downing checked into Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 23d Marines serving as the machine gun section leader. In April of 2008, Sergeant Downing was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. In 2011, Staff Sergeant Downing deployed with the battalion to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Platoon Sergeant of 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 23d Marines. While conducting combat operations in Afghanistan, 2nd Platoon was responsible for seizing over two tons of illegal narcotics from the Taliban during aerial interdiction missions and participated in several multi-battalion operations during the course of the deployment. Since that time he has Been in various leadership roles and training Marines. In June of 2022, after being selected to the rank of Sergeant Major, SgtMaj Downing was assigned as the Battalion Sergeant Major of 2d Battalion, 14th Marines, a HIMARS rocket Battalion located in Grand Prairie, Texas.

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This week’s guest is retired Army Captain Joshua Hearns. He has had a multitude of different experiences in life and in service. I first met Josh in San Antonio, TX during a stay in an in-patient therapy facility called Laurel Ridge. During the 30 days I was in therapy, Josh and I talked a good bit and jammed out with guitars in the evenings. In this episode, we talk about his childhood, and his experiences in Iraq as the XO for Alpha Company 177. We discuss leadership, combat in Iraq., and transition back to society. This was a special episode for me because it was the first conversation between Josh and me in a long time. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.