CS#58: Delta Force Operator | Ranger | Black Hawk Down | Musician | Silence and Light

Combat Story

Join our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan for people who love and support our veterans, service members, and their families. It has info on a significant event in military and/or intel history, a funny military joke, an update on a current event I'm following, something I'm doing that week in my life, a book I'm reading, a look at an upcoming interview, a reflection on a past episode and more!

Today we hear the Combat Story of Brad Thomas, a former Ranger and Delta Force operator who fought in multiple theaters from Somalia to Bosnia to Iraq and Afghanistan, including 12 years at the Unit in the pre- and post-9/11 era. [NOTE: We're launching on Patreon soon. Register to get notified at https://www.combatstory.com/patreon] Brad gave up a promising musical career to serve, first with Ranger Battalion and then finding his way into Delta Force. His first combat experience was in Mogadishu in what we know as Black Hawk Down as part of 3rd Ranger Battalion in a true baptism by fire. Since leaving the military, Brad returned to his passion: music. He gathered a group of veterans who now make up the band “Silence and Light” and saw far more success than they expected on their debut album and are releasing their second album in the near future. Since Brad can’t help but go all in on everything he does, he and the band donate their profits to two veteran-focused charities: Marine Raider Foundation and Warriors Heart. It’s not often you get to sit down and hear directly from someone who spent years at the Tier 1 level and survived Mogadishu so I hope you enjoy this Combat Story and brief glimpse into that world as much as I did. Find Brad Online: Instagram @bradthomas_official Silence and Light Website Ryan Online Information Ryan’s Linktree Instagram @combatstory Facebook @combatstoryofficial Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial Email [e-mail] Learn more about Ryan Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle #military #veteran #deltaforce #specialoperations Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:49 - Guest introduction for Brad Thomas 1:54 - Interview begins 2:09 - The prevalence of musicians and artists in the Elite Units 4:40 - What sparked Brad’s interest in music as a kid 25:18 - Joining and knowing he wanted to be elite 38:05 - The path to Ranger School 45:48 - Going outside the wire for the first time in Mogadishu 54:25 - Reaction to the Black Hawk Down movie and what it was like for Brad 1:09:04 - Going back out the gate again 1:16:18 - The days following October 3 in Mogadishu 1:23:30 - Transition after Mogadishu 1:33:59 - Going back into combat after Mogadishu 1:37:28 - Funny story about goofing around with the team 1:39:59 - What Brad is doing now with music 1:55:24 - What did you carry into combat? 1:56:40 - Would you do it all again? 1:59:05 - Listener comments and shout outs