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Ones Ready

Aaron Love, Trent Seegmiller, and Jared "Peaches" Pietras

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.

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48 episodes
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July 17 · 57 min
Ep 605: Mind of a Soldier | Taamir Ransome
Send us Fan Mail Peaches sits down with retired Sergeant Major Taamir Ransome, an Army EOD veteran and author of Mind of a Soldier, to talk about EOD, transition, veteran suicide, purpose after service, and what happens when the war is over but the fight is not. Taamir walks through growing up in New Jersey, joining the Army with a GED, starting out in radar repair, attempting SFAS, and eventually finding his way into Explosive Ordnance Disposal. He explains the differences between Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force EOD, what makes the career field so small, and why EOD school is one of the hardest technical schools in the military. The conversation also gets into deployments, working around Special Operations Forces, wild stories from Iraq, and the reality that the military creates people who are calibrated differently than the rest of society. Then the episode turns toward Taamir’s book, Mind of a Soldier: 34 Laws for the War After the War. He talks about veteran suicide, transition, moral injury, finding purpose, nonprofits, service dogs, mentorship, and why veterans need to find a new pack and a new mission after leaving the uniform behind. This one is about more than war stories. It is about what comes next. Check out Mind of a Soldier: Available on Amazon Find Taamir: Mind of a Shadow Soldier on YouTube Check out Tasty Gains: TastyGains.com Train with us: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Chapters: 00:00 - Intro, Tasty Gains, Ones Ready, and Operator Training Summit 04:05 - Meet Retired SGM Taamir Ransome 05:07 - Growing Up in New Jersey 05:40 - Family Military History and Crazy Uncle Jerry 07:39 - Joining the Army With a GED 09:39 - The Cheat Code for Getting Mom On Board 10:23 - GEDs, Recruiting, and the Military 12:05 - From Radar Repair to EOD 12:23 - SFAS, the 82nd, and Finding EOD 13:27 - Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force EOD Differences 16:32 - Why Navy EOD Supports SOF 18:07 - Taamir’s EOD Career 19:23 - How Small the EOD Community Is 21:01 - EOD School and Joint Service Training 21:42 - Deployment Stories and EOD Reality 24:26 - Iraq, Targeting, and Wild Stories 27:19 - Mind of a Soldier 28:00 - Why Veterans Are Killing Themselves 29:16 - Being Calibrated Differently After War 30:10 - Suicide, Policy, and Personal Responsibility 31:37 - Purpose, Pack, and Fighting the Noise 34:44 - Finding a New Mission 35:25 - Moral Injury and Mentoring the Next Generation 40:48 - STEM, AI, and Teaching Kids 42:05 - Training Service Dogs for Veterans 43:05 - Conventional Veterans and SOF Access 44:28 - Veteran Nonprofits and Finding Help 47:51 - VFW, DAV, and the Next Generation 49:11 - Podcasts, Trust, and Reaching Veterans 53:09 - Quiet Professional vs. Silent Professional 54:34 - The Price of Service 55:21 - Where to Find Taamir Support the show Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com Collabs: Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY DFND Apparel...
#604
July 14 · 31 min
Ep 604: Rucking Woes
Send us Fan Mail Trent jumps on solo to clear the air on the Zulu course ruck controversy, the role of Ones Ready, and why accountability matters when training risk crosses the line. This episode breaks down who Aaron, Peaches, and Trent are, what their backgrounds are, and why they are not just random people throwing rocks from the internet. Trent explains his time in Air Education and Training Command, how curriculum actually gets built, what active duty instructors do and do not control, and why people need to understand the difference between writing content, developing training, and owning a formal course. Then he gets into the real issue: the reported 117-pound ruck, heat injuries, hospitalized students, operational risk management, instructor responsibility, and why a large number of failures or casualties on one event usually points back to instruction, planning, risk management, or leadership decisions. Trent makes it clear that this is not about attacking TACP, Special Warfare Training Wing, or any one career field. It is about protecting candidates, holding the process accountable, and making sure the training meets the intent without unnecessarily putting students’ lives at risk. Check out our partners: OnesReady.com Check out Hoist: DrinkHoist.com Chapters: 00:00 - Intro and Sponsors 01:00 - Trent Solo and Why This Episode Matters 01:56 - Who Aaron, Peaches, and Trent Actually Are 03:19 - Aaron’s AETC and Pararescue Schoolhouse Background 04:00 - Trent’s AETC and Pipeline Experience 05:34 - How Air Force Curriculum Actually Works 08:00 - Lessons From Trent’s First Instructor Tour 10:20 - Why Ones Ready Uses Reels and Spicy Clips 12:43 - Accountability, Mistakes, and Community Standards 16:21 - Why the Zulu Ruck Had to Be Addressed 17:26 - Candidate Safety and Appropriate Training Risk 19:52 - Heat Injuries, San Antonio, and Life-Threatening Risk 22:21 - Leadership, Communication, and Operational Risk Management 24:48 - Instructor Responsibility During Dangerous Events 27:15 - This Is Not About Burning Down TACP 28:37 - Fix the Problem and Own the Mistake 29:42 - Final Message: Feelings Aren’t Accountability Support the show Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com Collabs: Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY DFND Apparel...
#603
July 13 · 50 min
Ep 603: The Zulu Ruck Problem Is Bigger Than One Event
Send us Fan Mail Aaron, Trent, and Peaches sit down to talk through the ongoing concerns around the Zulu course ruck, heat casualties, instructor accountability, and whether TACP-specific standards should have ever been applied across the entire Air Force Special Warfare pipeline. The team breaks down why the ruck event has become such a major issue, what makes the progression questionable, how the Zulu course ended up with a ruck standard pulled from TACP requirements, and why the problem is bigger than one bad day in San Antonio heat. They also address the difference between hard training and bad programming, the role of instructional drift, why students may not feel safe giving honest feedback, and why parents, candidates, instructors, and leadership all deserve transparency when multiple students end up hospitalized. This episode is not about lowering standards. It is about applying the right standards at the right time, protecting students from preventable injury, and fixing a system before it breaks more people. Check out Tasty Gains: TastyGains.com Get AFSPECWAR prep gear through ATACLETE: OnesReady.com Chapters: 00:00 - Intro, Tasty Gains, and ATACLETE 03:16 - Why the Team Is Talking About the Zulu Ruck 04:21 - Message to Training Wing Leadership 05:26 - Where the Ruck Standard Came From 06:17 - Should This Ruck Be in Zulu? 06:40 - Trent on Zulu Course Purpose and Overtraining 08:14 - Apprentice Course vs. Zulu Course Standards 08:28 - The 65-Pound Dry Weight Argument 10:51 - Zulu Foot March Standards 12:56 - Applying TACP Requirements Across AFSPECWAR 15:08 - Why the Ruck Progression Does Not Make Sense 17:37 - Proper Ruck Progression and TF Voodoo Lessons 20:03 - Development, BMT, SWAS, and No Real Ruck Build-Up 21:53 - Why Water Training Was Added to SWAS 24:59 - Feedback From Former TACP 26:06 - TACP Requirements vs. PJ, CCT, and SR Requirements 27:47 - Operational Requirements and Bad Logic 28:39 - Heat Casualties Were the Warning Sign 29:46 - Lower-Leg Injuries and Long-Term Damage 30:24 - Comparing Zulu Heat Casualties to Indoc 32:48 - Instructor Judgment and Training Intent 34:46 - Toxic Comments and Public Accountability 36:01 - Blaming Students for Heat Casualties 38:27 - Plate Carriers, Plates, and Student Safety 40:52 - Toxic Culture and When to Amputate the Problem 42:35 - New Leadership and Fixing the Course 43:20 - Giving Leadership Room to Fix It 44:17 - The Thunderbirds Example 47:06 - Asking Leadership for Help 48:30 - Final Thoughts and Members-Only Preview Support the show Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com Collabs: Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY DFND Apparel...
#602
July 10 · 1 hr 6 min
Ep 602: SOF-TACP Lessons From Clint “Dragon”
Send us Fan Mail Peaches sits down with retired SOF-TACP Clint “Dragon” to talk TACP, Special Tactics, mission planning, leadership, problem solving, and what separates a good operator from someone who just looks good on paper. Dragon walks through growing up around Fort Bragg, joining the Air Force in 2006, originally looking at CCT, choosing TACP, starting at the 15th ASOS, assessing for the 17th STS, and spending the majority of his career in the Special Operations side of the TACP world. The conversation gets into the difference between conventional and SOF-TACP life, the mindset shift in the career field, entitlement, grit, the danger of over-reliance on technology, and why the next generation is more capable than people give them credit for — but still needs to be led. Dragon also breaks down mission planning, danger close strikes, JTAC creativity, command presence, briefing under pressure, training younger guys, taking a knee when family life is burning down, and why the best operators are complex problem solvers who can still win a fight. The episode also covers retirement, fatherhood, false accusations, private sector friction, writing a book, TBI and PTSD treatment options, and why passing lessons to the next generation still matters. Check out Tasty Gains: TastyGains.com Register for Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Train with Modern Athlete Strength Systems: OnesReady.com Chapters: 00:00 - Intro, Tasty Gains, Operator Training Summit, and Modern Athlete 03:24 - Meet Clint “Dragon” 03:39 - Growing Up Around Fort Bragg 04:06 - Choosing TACP Over CCT 06:36 - How the TACP Pipeline Has Changed 07:32 - 15th ASOS, Deployments, and Assessing for SOF-TACP 08:14 - Conventional TACP vs SOF-TACP 09:05 - Mindset Changes in the TACP Career Field 12:06 - PhDs Who Can Win Bar Fights 13:00 - Grit, Diva Mentality, and Human Performance Support 14:14 - You Are Never Fully Ready 15:20 - Building Problem Solving Skills 16:49 - Briefing, Command Presence, and Pressure 18:21 - Training and Equipping the Team 19:03 - Team Sergeant Challenges 21:25 - Knowing When to Take a Knee 23:21 - Death, Mission Focus, and Moving Forward 25:24 - TCCC, Emotions, and Critical Thinking 27:35 - Mission Planning and JTAC Expertise 29:39 - Danger Close and When Things Go Wrong 32:26 - Quiet Professional vs Silent Professional 33:45 - Lessons Learned From Mistakes 35:20 - Attention to Detail in Training 37:58 - Translating SOF Lessons to Real Life 40:33 - The Next Generation of Warfighters 42:26 - Technology as a Tool, Not a Crutch 43:57 - Training, Leadership, and Knowing Your People 46:02 - Keep It Simple and Master the Basics 47:16 - Stress Inoculation and Staying Calm 48:59 - Managing the Stack and Target Area Chaos 49:40 - Retirement, Family, and Recovery 51:30 - Where to Find Dragon 52:37 - Private Sector, Business, and Protecting Ideas 54:27 - Writing a Book and Giving People Their Flowers 56:23 - False Accusations and Career Damage 59:24 - Reconnecting After Retirement 01:00:29 - MERT, TMS, PTSD, and TBI Treatment 01:02:44 - Outreach Project and Veteran Support 01:04:10 - Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up Support the show Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com Collabs: Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY DFND Apparel...
July 8 · 17 min
***Sneak Peek***MBRS 92: They Wanted Washington Gone—So He Crossed the Delaware
Send us Fan Mail This episode is a reminder that history—and your life—can turn on one brutal decision. Peaches breaks down George Washington’s darkest hour, when he was losing battles, losing men, and nearly losing the war. Then came one audacious move: crossing the Delaware in a snowstorm when everyone thought the fight was over. This isn’t a history lesson—it’s a mindset check. When momentum is gone, excuses are easy, and quitting feels justified, bold action is the only thing that changes outcomes. If you’re waiting for perfect conditions, you’re already behind. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Ones Ready intro and reset 01:50 The butterfly effect and small decisions 03:05 America’s 1776 situation was collapsing 06:45 Washington’s failures and near replacement 08:40 The gamble: crossing the Delaware 11:35 The impossible attack at Trenton 13:25 One decision changes everything 15:50 What this means for your life today 🎯 Call-to-Actions: 👍 Like the episode 🔔 Subscribe 💬 Comment your takeaway 🌟 Leave a review 🪖 Join the Ones Ready Membership 👕 Check out the merch store Support the show Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com Collabs: Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY DFND Apparel...
July 4 · 37 min
Ep 601: America 250: Patriotism Is Back
Send us Fan Mail Trent and Peaches jump into the Ones Ready team room for a quick-turn America 250 / Fourth of July episode covering patriotism, World Cup energy, Hoover Dam, UFC America 250 vibes, Air Force One, Special Warfare rescue work, and why it is still okay to love America out loud. The crew starts with Tasty Gains, ATACLETE, Operator Training Summit, San Diego, Pennsylvania, and why the right gear and the right instruction matter if you are preparing for the pipeline. Then they get into America’s 250th birthday, the giant American flag at the Hoover Dam, foreign visitors discovering that America is actually pretty awesome, and the recent wave of national pride around sports, culture, and military events. They also break down the U.S. men’s soccer team, the controversial red card, World Cup matchups, FIFA corruption, and why the current American team finally looks like it believes it belongs with the best in the world. Peaches also talks about the new Air Force One rollout, F-22s, formation requirements, and the wild fact that a British exchange pilot ended up leading the F-22 formation because he was the qualified pilot available. The episode closes with U.S. military rescue support after the Venezuela earthquake, Air Force Special Warfare doing real-world work, and a reminder that criticism of the community comes from caring about the community. Check out Tasty Gains: TastyGains.com Gear from ATACLETE: OnesReady.com Register for Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Chapters: 00:00 - Intro, Tasty Gains, ATACLETE, and Operator Training Summit 05:32 - America 250 and Fourth of July Energy 06:34 - Hoover Dam, American Flags, and Patriotism 08:10 - Foreigners Discover America Is Awesome 09:00 - Military Hype Videos and America’s Birthday 11:05 - World Cup, U.S. Soccer, and National Pride 12:32 - The Controversial Red Card 15:22 - America’s Mentality Shift 18:04 - World Cup Hype and Expensive Tickets 19:47 - FIFA Corruption and Match Drama 23:29 - America’s Coach and French Support 25:16 - Mexico City, Elevation, and Fan Chaos 27:40 - New Air Force One and F-22 Escort Story 31:07 - Venezuela Earthquake and U.S. Rescue Support 33:19 - Why Ones Ready Still Cares About AFSPECWAR 34:59 - Criticism, Accountability, and Making the Community Better 35:53 - Happy Birthday, America Support the show Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com Collabs: Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY DFND Apparel...
#600
July 3 · 1 hr 20 min
Ep 600: Air Force Basic Training: What Recruits Need to Know
Send us Fan Mail Aaron and Peaches sit down with Amanda Doerr, an Air Force Military Training Instructor, to talk about what Basic Military Training looks like now and what future Airmen need to know before they ship. Amanda walks through her own path into the Air Force, how her MTIs inspired her to become one, what BMT looks like today, how training has changed, why Pacer Forge matters, and why the Air Force is putting more emphasis on small team movements, critical thinking, mission readiness, and operational exposure. This episode covers what recruits should do before leaving for basic training, what recruiters can do better, how much fitness matters, what the PT program looks like, why time on feet is a bigger deal than people realize, how phone calls work, what trainees should bring, what mistakes get people in trouble, and why ego is one of the fastest ways to become a problem. Amanda also breaks down what it takes to become an MTI, what a blue rope is, how MTIs manage flights, what daily life looks like, and why being exceptional is not something future Airmen should hide from. Check out Tasty Gains: TastyGains.com Train with 18 Alpha Fitness: OnesReady.com Register for Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Chapters: 00:00 - Intro, Tasty Gains, 18 Alpha Fitness, and Operator Training Summit 06:06 - Meet Amanda Doerr 07:18 - Why Amanda Joined the Air Force 08:40 - How BMT Inspired Her to Become an MTI 12:24 - Turning Civilians Into Airmen 16:03 - What Air Force Basic Training Looks Like Now 18:16 - Pacer Forge and Small Team Movements 22:15 - Special Warfare Candidates at BMT 25:20 - The Current BMT PT Program 28:31 - Time on Feet, Marching, Heat, and Boots 31:01 - What Recruiters Should Teach Before BMT 34:14 - Hygiene, Bills, Cash, and Packing Basics 37:29 - Phone Rules and Family Communication 39:41 - The Biggest Mistakes Recruits Make 42:14 - Daily Schedule at Basic Training 45:15 - What to Study Before Shipping 49:53 - How BMT Is Changing 55:47 - How to Become an MTI 01:00:26 - Blue Rope MTIs 01:01:00 - MTI Schedule, Fitness, and Personal Time 01:06:11 - Amanda’s BMT Experience vs. Today 01:12:11 - Religious Items, Finances, and Being Exceptional 01:16:19 - Amanda’s Best MTI Memory 01:17:25 - Final Advice and Where to Find Amanda Support the show Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com Collabs: Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY DFND Apparel...
June 29 · 1 hr 5 min
Ep 599: VO2 Max, Zone 2, and Smarter Tactical Fitness | KORR Medical Technologies
Send us Fan Mail Peaches sits down with Marc Humbert and Cameron Garber from KORR Medical Technologies to talk VO2 max, metabolic testing, heart rate zones, fueling, recovery, and how warfighters can train smarter instead of just getting crushed. This episode breaks down what VO2 max actually measures, why oxygen consumption matters, how carbon dioxide output helps determine fat and carbohydrate burn, and why heart rate zones are only useful when they are actually individualized. Marc and Cameron explain how metabolic testing can help athletes, warfighters, pilots, and tactical professionals understand workload, caloric burn, fatigue resistance, recovery needs, and performance limitations. The crew also gets into Zone 2 cardio, why easy days need to actually be easy, how hard days should be hard enough to drive adaptation, and why constantly redlining every workout is a fast track to burnout, fatigue, and injury. They also discuss military readiness, human performance, pilot endurance, long-duration missions, rucking, carbohydrate replacement, fat adaptation, and how testing can help protect the investment the military makes in its people. Find KORR Medical Technologies: KORR.com Check out Tasty Gains: TastyGains.com Gear from ATACLETE: OnesReady.com Train with us: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Chapters: 00:00 - Intro, Tasty Gains, ATACLETE, and Operator Training Summit 03:17 - Meet Marc and Cameron from KORR Medical Technologies 04:00 - Health, Longevity, and Staying Ready for Life 07:18 - Why Metabolic Testing Matters Before People Break 10:23 - Protecting the Military’s Investment in People 13:25 - Readiness During Service and Life After Service 17:43 - What the Cardio Coach Measures 19:19 - VO2 Max, Workload, and Caloric Burn 21:37 - Fat vs. Carbohydrate Burn 23:58 - Fueling, Recovery, and Heart Rate Zones 25:12 - Individualizing Training Instead of Guessing 27:03 - Why Harder Every Day Does Not Work 28:52 - Zone 2, Taylor Starch, and Smarter Programming 30:53 - Training You Can Actually Recover From 32:00 - Why Easy Days Need to Stay Easy 35:40 - Different Athletes Need Different Fueling Strategies 37:28 - Pilot Endurance and Long-Duration Missions 43:05 - Fatigue Resistance Testing 46:12 - Honoring Heart Rate Zones and Recovery Signals 48:04 - The 80/20 Training Model 51:28 - Rucking, Heavy Loads, and Calorie Replacement 56:35 - Who Should Use the Cardio Coach? 59:47 - Military Use Cases for VO2 Testing 01:02:15 - How to Find KORR Medical Technologies 01:03:40 - Cutting Through Fitness Misinformation 01:04:14 - Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up Support the show Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com Collabs: Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY DFND Apparel...

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