The 'mind-blowing' story of the ex-Green Beret who tried to oust Venezuela's Maduro

Comments by his former associates on RP?

The older (and hopefully wiser) I get, the more I think I "understand" something very, very few veterans want to talk about... the "Calling" of military service. We all skirt around the issue, either to protect the sentiments of some, or avoid conflicts with others. However, the truth is pretty blatantly clear: not all of us leave it at door on the way out. For the vast majority of us, that's probably less actionable than others. No matter what we tell ourselves or each other; instinctively, we know that most of us are a far cry from "warriors", "Spartans", what-have-you. We take pride in our contributions, put things on the walls... and get on with life. Others of us, for a myriad of reasons, never come to terms with this reality, and perhaps turn inwardly... even self-destructively. A very few, mostly belonging to the equally few who actually HAVE become professional warfighters at the expense and behest of their nation... choose to continue under a different guise. Maybe some find their way into the profitable world of the "tactical industry"; selling skills and new-fangled widgets developed from real experiences. Some possibly become celebrities, doing "military-themed" reality shows. Others may go to the "dark side"; recognizing that the line between war and crime is somewhat blurry in the first place. It's even possible that some decide the crusade is just... it's personal... and if their Uncle won't send them; maybe they'll send themselves. I can't help but admire such men... but as the article insinuates; if you're going to "go it alone"... it's probably best to choose your battles wisely.

SSG Robert Mark Odom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXRi28W-ENY