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Some dudes show up shredded with swagger. Others show up ready to grind. Rylan Tanner showed up both — and still had to bleed for it. In this brutally honest episode, Aaron and Jared break down the rise, stall, and redemption of one of the most talked-about Special Warfare candidates to come through the prep pipeline.

You’ll hear about what it’s like to crush PSTs and still struggle, the lessons of humility when leadership doesn’t think you’re ready, and why “doing everything right” sometimes still ends with you getting dropped. But guess what? That doesn’t mean you’re done.

This episode’s about embracing failure, owning the pain, and building back with twice the fight. If you’re preparing for A&S and think heart alone will get you through, press play. You’re gonna need more.

🔥 Key Takeaways:

• 💀 You can crush PSTs and still get dropped
• 🧠 Special Warfare selection doesn’t care about potential—it demands performance
• 🛑 Rylan got told “No.” Then “You’re not ready.” Then “Still no.”
• 💡 The difference between being trainable vs. being ready right now
• 🔁 Second chances come—but only if you’re humble enough to deserve them
• 💬 Real mentorship requires honesty, not just motivation
• 🥵 A&S is about pressure, not perfection
• 🧭 You are not entitled to success—earn it every damn day
• ⚔️ Leaders don’t pick the best—they pick who can survive with the team
• 🔁 Ego kills. Grit saves. Know the difference.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro and why Rylan Tanner’s story matters
01:30 – The early potential: PST domination
04:00 – What instructors really look for
06:15 – Getting dropped: not personal, but always painful
09:00 – Feedback vs. feelings: the harsh truth
12:00 – What humility sounds like in uniform
15:30 – Rebuilding from failure the right way
18:00 – Second attempt mindset
21:00 – Why ego is the ultimate liability
24:00 – Lessons for every A&S candidate
27:30 – How mentorship can suck but still save your life
30:00 – Final thoughts and Rylan’s message to others

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Welcome back to the Ones Ready Podcast, where sarcasm is a love language and tough love is free. In this episode, Aaron, Trent, and Peaches go full scorched earth on the real MVPs of military recruiting… overbearing parents. You know the type—rolling into recruiter offices like it’s a job interview at Deloitte, trying to “negotiate” their precious child’s dream career in the Air Force.

If you think your 18-year-old can’t speak to another adult without backup, this one’s for you. We’re talking about enabling, entitlement, and how the “helicopter generation” is raising drones that can’t function without WiFi, Starbucks orders, or their mom in the waiting room.

Also covered: fighting pro MMA fighters at bars, roasting fake gangsters, and figuring out if Tupac was actually a theater kid. Yes, really.

💥 Recruiters aren’t lying to you – Your ASVAB score just sucks.
💥 Your kid isn’t special – If he needs you to talk to the recruiter for him, maybe basic training isn’t the move.
💥 Parents are the Problem – The real generational curse? Moms negotiating AFSCs like it’s a mortgage.
💥 Prepare the Kid, Not the Road – Life is hard. That’s the point.
💥 Recruiting ≠ Head Hunting – You’re not getting drafted into the NFL. Chill.
💥 Stop Blaming the Military – Maybe your kid just isn’t cut out for it.
💥 British Ninja Sword Bans? – We go global with this one. Seriously.
💥 Tim Kennedy Would Destroy You – And he wouldn’t even spill his coffee.

✅ Like if you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a Facebook parenting group.
💬 Comment if your mom still makes your appointments (you coward).
⭐ Leave a review so the algorithm knows we’re better than that other mil-podcast.
🛒 Grab some merch and check out our membership at OnesReady.com
📬 Send this episode to a parent who needs to hear it—but only if you’re ready for Thanksgiving to get awkward.

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Let’s get one thing straight—Charlie Faint isn’t just an intel officer. He’s the intel officer that made it through JSOC, the 160th, and now West Point without once becoming a PowerPoint nerd with security clearance delusions. In this episode, we dig into his warrior-scholar journey—from nearly drowning in a flight suit during selection to launching the Havoc Journal and mentoring cadets who think Platoon is a recruiting video.

We cover everything: JSOC mythos, combat intel screw-ups, the Rangers' OPSEC paranoia, mentoring Gen Z cadets with TikTok attention spans, and what happens when your daughter accidentally drops a no-strike target’s name over a monitored call. You’ll laugh. You’ll learn. You’ll probably get flagged by the NSA.

🔥 Key Takeaways:

• How Charlie nearly failed selection because of a buoyant flight helmet—and why he refused to quit.
• What it's really like to work intel inside JSOC and the 160th.
• Why the Rangers are more scared of OPSEC violations than combat.
• The origin story of Havoc Journal and how it became the literate grunt’s favorite blog.
• How West Point cadets are smarter than we were—but still need a “bull elephant” mentor to stay on track.
• What Call of Duty and Predator drone feeds have in common (hint: team bonding).
• Why trust is everything, and how an imagery guy named Smitty saved an entire air mission with a gut call.

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro and “we swear he’s the smart intel guy”
01:30 – Charlie’s military lineage and why he joined
05:00 – JSOC family tree and childhood revelations
08:30 – West Point cadet trends and “the military caste system”
13:00 – Getting humbled in Green Platoon
18:00 – Intel guy vs. underwater harness test (spoiler: fail)
22:00 – Why 160th included him in real ops
28:00 – Trust, Smitty, and a 75% landing risk
33:00 – Havoc Journal origin story
38:00 – OPSEC horror stories: Ranger edition
43:00 – Mentorship and why Gen Z is gonna be just fine
50:00 – Advice for future leaders: “Get in the damn box first.”
59:00 – Final thoughts and where to find Charlie’s work

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Kill Cliff - Pro...