JSOC (Regimental Reconnaissance Company) OMEGA (JSOC-CIA Hunter Killer Teams) Expert Breacher and Free Fall Mike Edwards Round 2
Description
Today we have the second round of our two part Combat Story with Mike Edwards, a former Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC) operator and longtime Ranger with 18 combat deployments.
Mike was one of the few to serve in the Omega Program, which the Washington Post described as “units comprising CIA personnel and troops with JSOC…using co-mingled bases in Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen” and “mostly designed against specific high-value targets.” Effectively, Omega was some of the best and most elite operators and intelligence officers paired up downrange to bring the full weight of both JSOC and the Agency.
Mike served alongside former Combat Story guest Rodney Brown, a former Navy SEAL and member of the Navy’s Special Warfare Development Group (or DEVGRU which is often referred to in the press as SEAL Team Six). In this episode, Mike describes an operation taking on an entire Taliban camp with Rodney that Rodney also described in his interview. Be sure to go back and listen to Rodney’s and Mike’s account of this same operation to get a more complete picture of the event from two vantage points!
If you missed round one I would highly recommend listening to hear about Mike’s start as an 11M and transition into Ranger Regiment, his combat jump into Iraq, and how he earned a Purple Heart and Silver Star.
Once again, special thanks to our brothers Jack, Dave, and Dee at the Team House for introducing us to Mike! And with that, please enjoy this second interview with Mike Edwards.
For more information on the Omega program, check out the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/06/06/seal-team-6-the-cia-and-the-secret-history-of-u-s-kill-missions/) or Wired Magazine (https://www.wired.com/2011/09/cia-killing-machine/).
👇 Show Notes:
00:00 - Introduction
00:57 - Guest Profile: Mike Edwards Round 2
02:33 - Start of Interview
02:41 - Route to Regimental Reconnaissance Company
06:43 - Tough Ops. in Rangers
07:51 - Training and Selection for (RRC)
12:30 - Difficulties During Selection
20:14 - Skydiving and Freefalling
23:31 - Human Tracking
28:23 - Relationship with Rodney Brown
37:30 - Mike's MI-47 Helicopter Crash
41:54 - Interrogations
44:08 - Difference Deploying With A Child
46:39 - Mike's MP7 Op.
58:06 - Challenges With Mental Health and Religion
01:04:40 - A Tough Op.
01:12:15 - Battlefield Interogations
01:17:20 - Most Courageous Act
01:20:58 - Post Service Recovery
01:23:46 - Religious Community
01:26:54 - Exedous Relief
01:30:01 - Plans for the Future
01:34:18 - Sentimental Items
01:36:00 - Would You Do It All Again?
01:36:38 - Listener Comments and Feedback
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- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
🔗 Find Mike Online:
Project Exodus Relief Afghanistan https://www.proexodusrelief.com/
On today’s episode we sit down for round two with Darrell Utt in an episode that is chalked full of combat experiences from his time in 2006 in Iraq and then some stories from his time in 2007 which, one day, will hopefully be a sequel to his book that’s coming out shortly: Grit to Glory.
If...
Published 11/16/24
Today we have round one of a fantastic two-part Combat Story with a former guest: Darrell Utt, a long time Green Beret and retired Master Sergeant.
Darrell just finished writing a book (Grit to Glory) going into great detail about one deployment when he was a Team Sergeant with ODA 043 in 2006...
Published 11/09/24