The Moment Shawn Ryan Knew He Was Done with the SEAL Teams

Summary

The transcript details an individual’s journey from a SEAL team to military contracting and eventually a CIA assignment. After leaving the SEALs due to limited combat exposure, they attempted a failed real estate venture and later considered becoming a firefighter. Seeking financial stability, they turned to overseas contracting to fund a business, landing a position with Blackwater. The tough selection process led to a CIA contract, where they faced challenging training scenarios to prove their skills. The narrative highlights their personal growth, career shifts, and the intense demands of special operations.

Takeaways

• 😀 The individual was highly independent, always committed to reaching their own conclusions and remaining unaffected by outside influences.
• 😀 They left the SEAL teams because they felt there wasn’t enough combat, despite being in the midst of two wars.
• 😀 After leaving the SEAL teams, they attempted a business venture in real estate in St. Louis, Missouri, which ended in failure.
• 😀 They initially planned to start a Jimmy John's franchise with their father but decided to take an overseas contracting job to raise the necessary funds.
• 😀 The individual didn’t fully understand the contracting game initially, but learned about the different types of contracts, including those with the DEA, NSA, and CIA.
• 😀 Their first experience in contracting was with Armor Group in Afghanistan, where they were placed at the front gate of the embassy, but they soon realized it wasn’t the right fit and left.
• 😀 They briefly considered becoming a firefighter before a friend from Afghanistan encouraged them to pursue a contract with Blackwater.
• 😀 They underwent tough vetting for the Blackwater CIA contract, which included a high-stakes training course focused on shooting, driving, and close quarters combat.
• 😀 The 'hooded box drill' at Blackwater was one of the most intense exercises, simulating real-world combat stress where individuals had to make split-second decisions in chaotic, high-pressure environments.
• 😀 After successfully completing the Blackwater course, they discovered that the contract was with the CIA, specifically a classified 'Other Government Agency' (OGA) contract.
• 😀 Throughout their journey, they reflected on their desire for challenge and high-stress environments, which they found fulfilling in their military and contracting work.

Q & A

Why did the speaker leave the SEAL teams despite being in the middle of two wars?

The speaker felt there was not enough combat in the SEAL teams, and despite being in a war zone, he did not experience as much combat as he expected. This led to his disillusionment and decision to leave.

What business venture did the speaker attempt after leaving the SEAL teams?

After leaving the SEAL teams, the speaker tried his hand at real estate in St. Louis, Missouri, but the business failed miserably.

Why did the speaker consider contracting work overseas?

The speaker considered contracting work overseas to earn money to fund a Jimmy John’s franchise with his father. At the time, they did not have the funds for the franchise, so he decided to pursue contracting as a way to secure the necessary capital.

What was the speaker’s first experience with military contracting?

The speaker’s first experience with military contracting was with a company called Armor Group in Afghanistan. He was assigned to work at the front gate of the U.S. Embassy but left after just a week, feeling the job was not suitable for him.

What was the motivation behind joining Blackwater?

The speaker was motivated to join Blackwater after a friend, who he served with in Afghanistan, encouraged him to apply for a CIA contract. He had initially hesitated after a negative experience in another contracting job but was convinced after learning the contract was for special ops personnel only.

What kind of training did the speaker undergo at Blackwater?

The speaker underwent a rigorous vetting and training process at Blackwater, which included shooting skills, driving, close-quarters combat, and teamwork. He also faced highly stressful situations to assess how well he could perform under pressure.

How did the speaker describe the shooting qualifications at Blackwater?

The speaker described the shooting qualifications at Blackwater as very tough, emphasizing the need for precision and the ability to handle high-stress situations.

What was the 'hooded box drill' that the speaker mentioned during his Blackwater training?

The 'hooded box drill' was an exercise in which participants wore a hood that restricted their vision while being placed in a stressful, simulated combat situation. The goal was to assess how well individuals could process threats and make split-second decisions in a chaotic environment.

What kind of individuals were present at the Blackwater training facility?

The Blackwater training facility had individuals from various elite special operations backgrounds, including SEALs, Special Forces (SF), Delta Force, DEVGRU (SEAL Team 6), Rangers, Marine Special Operations (Mars), and Air Force personnel like Combat Control Teams (CCT) and Pararescue (PJs).

What did 'OGA' stand for, and why is it significant in the context of the speaker’s contract?

OGA stands for 'Other Government Agency,' a euphemism for the CIA. The speaker’s contract with Blackwater was a CIA contract, which required high-level clearance and involvement in covert operations.