#033: SOAA - Daniel Elkins, Founder

The Jedburgh Podcast

Special Operations Forces volunteer to answer the call to protect our nation and its people in every corner of the world. They look out for us so we can live our lives in freedom and liberty. Daniel Elkins founded Special Operations Association of America to give a voice to our Special Operators in policy and legislative affairs.

This episode is our lead up to the first Veterans Day in two decades in which our nation is not in a declared war. However, brave men and women stand ready to serve - and take action - each and every day. Daniel joins host Fran Racioppi to discuss the founding of SOAA and their work supporting Special Operators, displaced Afghan refugees, those affected by burnout and Operator Syndrome, as well as to share his personal story of service as a Green Beret.

Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.

Highlights:

-The history of SOAA and its goal to provide policy advocacy as the voice of Special Operations Forces on legislative affairs.

-Daniel shares how his early career in anti-human and sex trafficking shaped his views on injustice in the world instilling in him the Special Forces motto of “De Oppresso Liber” - free the oppressed.

-Fran and Daniel have an in-depth conversation about violence in the world, how it affects our Special Operators, how different cultures in the world view violence as a part of life, and why military action is the final step of diplomacy.

-A breakdown of current SOAA initiatives to include advocating for changes in policy that currently restrict Special Operators from decision-making on the ground, the rise of Operator Syndrome among high-level performers, and the application of VA benefits.

-SOAA’s efforts to relocate and resettle Afghan refugees displaced by the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, as well as their assistance to continue to assist and evacuate many still there.

-Daniel shares his emotional personal story of supporting friends with Operator Syndrome and how quickly it has debilitated high performers around him.

Quotes:

-”The idea was formed around being a voice for the SOF community.”

-”The goal is to get operators who have recently transitioned and people with the ground truth that have dirt under their fingernails into the highest levels of policy makers and decision makers to help them make informed decisions.”

-”I was confronted with the reality of the world we live in.”

-”If you engage in violence in war should you be happy about that, or should you be ashamed?”

-”I realized that...there was a vast disconnect between the ground truth and what policy-makers and decision-makers were considering and why.”

-”Many people who we have resettled are from the Afghan National Army or the Commando Force.”

-”Walking someone through that process galvanized me...if no one does this, who will?”

-“Suicide is 30% higher in the SOF community than it is in the rest of the military...these people are not coming into this program and these pipelines broken.”

Daniel’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:

-Wake up before the sun and conduct physical activity

-Do the most important task of the day first

-Learn continuously

(And do all this before breakfast!)

This episode is brought to you by 18A Fitness and Analytix Solutions.