Today we have a fantastic Combat Story with former Navy SEAL Officer Rob Sarver. Rob had more fun than most on his path to becoming a SEAL, originally with a detour as a surface warfare officer that he very skillfully managed to curtail, and leveraged a really interesting network to get a shot at the Teams.
This episode is chalked full of both great stories from down range but also really practical explanations for getting ahead and succeeding, much of which has made it into his book, Warrior to Civilian: The Field Manual for the Hero’s Journey.
In this episode, Rob covers some amazing stories of ingenuity in combat like using innertubes to float quietly on an assault to using copper wire to make two different radio sets compatible for field use. And despite Rob’s obvious successes from attending the Naval Academy to his time in the Teams and then graduating from Wharton and working in Private Equity, he also hits on the tougher moments, covering tough topics of loss, fear, and desperation, including losing someone on day one of a deployment. Don’t worry, though, there are plenty of laughs and hilarious anecdotes like the story behind the phrase ‘moderation is for cowards’.
With that, please enjoy this Combat Story with Rob Sarver.
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Find Rob Sarver Online:
Warrior to Civilian: The Field Manual for the Hero’s Journey (Link: Hachette Books: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/robert-sarver/warrior-to-civilian/9781538769966/
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Civilian-Field-Manual-Journey/dp/1538769964)
Author Site - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/contributor/robert-sarver/
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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Show Notes:
00:00 Intro00:44 Introduction to Combat Story01:03 Meet Rob Sarver: Navy SEAL Officer01:37 Rob's Journey to Becoming a SEAL02:19 The Book: Warrior to Civilian03:54 Rob's Military Background and Early Life09:31 High School Adventures and Military Aspirations14:06 Academy Life and Challenges15:25 Path to the SEAL Teams22:49 First Deployment Experiences29:18 BUD/S Training and Beyond35:16 Reflecting on Early Military Experiences36:22 First Mission and Initial Challenges36:56 Language School and Unexpected Adventures38:41 Deployment Stories and Combat Encounters41:19 Leadership and Team Dynamics42:33 Loss and Resilience44:43 Bronze Star with Valor: The Story Behind the Honor48:53 Creative Tactics and Overcoming Obstacles01:01:14 Transitioning to Civilian Life01:01:42 Writing the Book: Purpose and Process01:09:19 Seeking Help and Finding Balance01:12:57 Memories and Reflections01:14:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
