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Today we hear the Combat Story of Travis Hall, an Army Ranger and Special Forces Green Beret who survived 18 combat deployments post-9/11 to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Niger. You heard that correctly: 18 deployments.
Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Loansteady LLC. A small-by-design lender, Loansteady believes in bringing a much-needed dose of humanity to the mortgage process. They are waiving all lender fees for Veterans in 2021. Visit http://www.loansteady.com/combatstory to request a rate quote or start an application. Loansteady LLC, All rights reserved, NMLS# 1701910, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/), Equal Housing Lender. For more licensing information, please visit https://www.loansteady.com/licenses-and-legal.
Travis was an 18D (Special Forces Medic) and one of the first K-9 handlers deployed with the Green Berets in combat. He's been in day long firefights, run both high and low vis ops, trained thousands of partner forces, and survived some incredibly difficult operations.
Travis founded Second Chance K9, which is a rescue organization that pairs working military dogs with special operations veterans suffering from PTSD. He also runs Second Chance Medical Consulting, where he provides private and semi-private training on firearms and medical aid.
After 18 deployments over almost two decades, Travis' positive approach to life and his focus on making people's (and dogs') lives better is tangible.
I hope you enjoy this Combat Story of someone who spent many years deep in our wars (with and without a dog at his side) as much as I did. And if you do enjoy it, I hope you'll subscribe and leave a positive review (it would mean a lot).
Find Travis Online:

Travis' Linktree 
Second Chance K9 
Donate to Second Chance K9 
Instagram @secondchancek9 
Facebook @2CK9SD 
YouTube 

Ryan: Instagram @combatstory 
Show Notes/Time Stamps

0:00 - Intro
0:40 - A word from our Sponsor (LoanSteady)
2:10 - Guest introduction (Travis Hall)
3:16 - Interview begins
6:40 - Travis and a childhood WITHOUT (surprisingly) animals
10:56 - A family military history and a SEAL contract
17:46 - Why Green Berets?
20:04 - Fear of Missing the War
26:20 - Combat Story #1 - Arriving in country and immediately in a fight
30:21 - What's a Low Vis mission profile?
39:27 - Combat Story #2 - Brutal fighting in Kandahar, Afghanistan
44:15 - Combat Story #3 - Lighter/funnier side of combat and being mistaken for a local
51:37 - Combat Story #4 - Life as an 18D Special Forces Medic
56:23 - Combat Story #5 - Treating himself downrange
1:01:45 - Travis' documentary to support veterans
1:04:29 - Being one of the first SF K9 handlers
1:11:31 - Combat Story #6 - Travis and his K9 Bear in Iraq
1:25:59 - Origin of Second Chance K9
1:33:54 - What did you carry into combat?
1:36:12 - Would you do it all again?
1:39:44 - Listener comments and shout outs