Ones Ready
A team of active duty Combat Control (CCT), Pararescue (PJ), and Special Reconnaissance (SR) leveraging our 69 years of special operations experience to make the next generation of operators smarter, faster and stronger than we ever were. We are the PREMIERE resource for all things Air Force Special Warfare. The Ones Ready Podcast is honest talk about what it is like to go from a know-nothing high school graduate to an elite Special Operator. We will cover important practices for success including physical training, nutrition, recovery, and mindset traits essential to any team. Join us in The Team Room to get all your questions answered!! With battle-tested operators from across USAF SPECWAR and far-reaching web of recruiters, subject matter experts, and friends, there are no questions we can’t answer- and if we can’t, we know exactly where to look. See you in The Team Room!Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the OnesReady team are those of the team and do not reflect the official policy or position of the DoD. Any content provided by our Podcast guests, bloggers, sponsors, or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign the DoD, any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone.
Ones Ready
Ep 562: Veteran Suicide Is Beating Combat Deaths
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This one isn’t hype. It isn’t fun. It matters.
Aaron goes solo to talk about something we’ve hit since day one: veteran suicide. Since 2001, more veterans have died by suicide than were killed in combat during GWOT. Let that sink in.
He breaks down the rising numbers, the mental toll of Air Force Special Warfare and special operations, and why “mental armor” has to be built before you ever step into the fight. You train your body for the pipeline. You better train your mind for what comes after.
Aaron shares his own story as a suicide survivor, talks about sobriety, therapy, and why being intrusive with your friends might save their life. This is about insulating, not isolating. It’s about asking the uncomfortable question. It’s about realizing the job doesn’t end when you hang up the uniform.
If you’re chasing the pipeline, this is required listening. If you’ve already worn the beret, this one’s for you too.
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 Tasty Gains and why this episode matters
02:00 Veteran suicide statistics that hit hard
04:30 26x more lost to suicide than combat
07:00 Mental armor and preparing before the fight
10:30 The hidden toll of special operations
13:30 Aaron’s story and surviving the darkness
16:00 Alcohol, coping, and raising your floor
18:30 Be intrusive — ask the hard question
21:00 Insulate vs isolate your teammates
24:00 Building tribes and real accountability
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