SGM Mike Vining is a man who has been there, done that, and lived to tell about it.  From attending OTC Class #1 (the first ever Operators Training Course for Army Delta Force) to being a part of the failed Iran hostage rescue mission, Operation Eagle Claw, Desert One which resulted in the death of eight Air Force and Marine Corps crewmen, Vining has some very rich history that operators of today have benefited from tremendously.  We also get into Vining’s job as a bomb disposal technician during Vietnam, and the story of him watching the demise of his teammate Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Foster in his heroic attempt to defuse a bomb during a rally featuring then Vice Presidential candidate Bob Dole, at a rally taking place at an Illinois high school.  These stories may be heartbreaking, but it’s great to see that Vining is in great condition himself and in good spirits.  He currently does work for the National EOD Association as well as the EOD Warrior Foundation, and enjoys traveling across the country with his wife.

On this episode we also check your emails sent to sofrep.radio@sofrep.com, and answer an interesting question from an Australian listener about secrecy (or lack thereof) in the SOF community.  We also Throat Punch an idiot by the name of Gregory Salcido, as he used the platform he holds as a high school teacher as his soapbox to disgrace the U.S. military.  You’ll also hear Jack’s recap of SHOT Show, as well as the Women’s March, and you won’t want to miss that.