03XX Series

In this episode, Tyler and Jose continue their discourse involving the events taking place in Afghanistan. This forum had Veterans and active-duty members spanning from the '70s to the present. We want to thank all the participants for joining and sharing their wisdom involving this historical moment. We would also like to thank Chase Smoak for taking the initiative in pulling Americans and interp...

In this episode, Tyler and Jose host an open forum on Afghanistan. A special report called The Gray Zone from USSOCOM (United States Special Operations Command) briefed across agencies characterized the last 100 years of conflict. USSOCOM reported nine losses, 43 ties, and only 12 wins. Increasingly the U.S. finds itself containing conflicts rather than resolving, and enemies adapt in novel ways,...

In this episode, Tyler and Jose reunite with Sergio Navarette, a fellow 2/8 Brother. Sergio takes us back to pre-OP Khanjar through a series of events that shaped the outcome of his deployment. Sergio also discusses the burden of operations and the toll on the physical body nearly a decade later.

In this episode, Tyler and Jose sit down with Doug Sterner, a decorated former Army Combat Engineer who served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Doug is the Curator of the "Hall of Valor," the largest and most complete unofficial database of U.S. Military award recipients in the world. Doug is also the most published military historian, with more than 85 books published. In this episode, we also get a...

In this episode, Tyler and Jose sit down with Senior Marine William Anthony Rodriguez and traverse various topics ranging from a time before 9/11, the old Corps, Bootcamp, V 3/3, Security Force Regiment, and V 2/8 Echo Co. Themes explored in this episode with William focused on gratitude, resilience, the surrealness of war, God (Dios) and the state of affairs with digital technologies. We honor ou...

In this episode, Tyler and Jose sit down with their fellow 2/8 Brother Dan Spaulding and traverse his journey from Bootcamp, Iraq, Afghanistan to his current position with 6th Regiment as their Regimental Athletic Trainer. Special Thank you to Dan for sharing with us his time, and imparting words of wisdom.

In this episode Tyler and Jose sit down with Mike Dalgliesh father of Rory Dalgliesh a fellow 2/8 Marine who served with the unit during OEF (2011) and OEF (2013). Mike shares his experience with losing his son Rory with the (War at Home). Mike also shares his mission to eradicate the "22 a Day" by carrying an American Flag and trekking along the road remembering the fallen, especially those lost...

In this Episode, Co-Founder and Host Tyler Pawlak sits with Jose Herrera (Co-Founder of the 03XX Series) and traverses OP Khanjar 2009 and Kariz-E Saydi (Crazy City) 2011. Jose Herrera shares the raw story about why he extended for a 3rd Combat Tour with 2/8 after the death of PFC Donald W. Vincent and the events of 2009. In January of 2011, 2/8 was deployed to Helmand, Province, Afghanistan. In t...

Both Mark and Phil have extensive backgrounds in special operations. Mark served in various MOS's and billets throughout his 30 years of time and service to the Corps from Infantry to Force Reconnaissance. Phil served in the U.S Army as an 18C Special Forces Engineer Sergeant. Mark and Phil have served as quiet professionals over the decades, never forgetting the common thread of brotherhood. Tyle...

In this episode, Tyler and Jose sit down with Chase Smoak (3rd Battalion 2nd Marines) and traverse his experiences as a bomb dog handler during operations in Musa Qala, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2011. Chase also discusses his reunion with Luke, his bomb dog, and his passion for plant science. Chase emphasized that he wanted to pay homage to the Marines of 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines and the...

In this episode, Tyler and I sit down with our Brother Chris Murray (Senior Marine 2/8) and traverse the landscape of today's cultural, political, and technological climate. In this PT I episode, Chris also takes us back to the early days of 2/8, where Chris pays homage to OIF I Marines who fought in the battle of (Al Nasiriyah). Tyler and I want to thank Chris for coming forward and sharing with...

Dominic Davila (U.S. Marine Corps. Ret.) On November 27, 2006, Dominic joined the Marine Corps and went through boot camp. After graduation, Dominic went to School of Infantry West (SOI West), where he became an 0331. Upon graduating, SOI West Dominic was sent to Camp Lejeune, NC, and assigned to 2/8 Echo and Weapons Co. On October 31, 2007, Dominic deployed to Ramadi, Iraq, where he was a gunner...

Tyler and I sit with our Brother Ray Grabau (Senior) and discuss the philosophical dilemmas facing the veteran community, his journey fighting cancer after 5 combat tours, and his passion for serving his fellow brothers and sisters. About Ray Grabau

In this episode, Tyler and I sit down with General Spalding to discuss narrative and memetic warfare, 5G, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and efforts to create encrypted and EMP resistance infrastructure. General Spalding was the Chief architect of the Trump Administration’s widely praised National Security Strategy (NSS) and the Senior Director for Strategy to the President. General Spalding i...

Join Co-Host Tyler Pawlak and me as we discuss 2nd Lt. Blye's journey into becoming a commissioned officer in the U.S Marine Corps, the operational trajectory in preparing for a near-peer adversary conflict, and maintaining esprit de corps. We are proud to know that 2/8 Marines like 2nd Lt. Blye are still in the fight.

This week with Co-Host Tyler Pawlak and Special Guest Phil "Doc" Gigstad, we continue to discuss life after service, mental health, and the perspective of Greenside Corpsmen, during operations.

Special Guest Julian P. Seddon traverses his time and service from 2008 through the present. Julian takes us from Afghanistan 2008 (The Lost Year) to the pinnacle moments that shaped his life. Julian is a writer, and just recently some of his pieces have been awarded and published. We're proud of Julian for coming forward and sharing the context of OEF (2008). As Julian has told us the undertone o...

Lt. Col. Daniel E. Harris shares his experiences on Leadership and Mental Health from the scope of a 30-year career in the U.S. Army National Guard. Tyler and I are very grateful for the opportunity to break bread with Lt. Col. Harris. We are more than confident the audience will gain a transparent, honest depiction of the challenges and wisdom Lt. Col. Harris brings to the table.

This past Wednesday, Tyler and I were allowed to sit down and exchange dialogue with John L. Gronski, Major General (U.S. Army Retired). Throughout our near two hour discussion, we discussed General Gronski’s time in Al Anbar Province, Ramadi, Iraq, during one of the most kinetic times of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). General Gronski paid homage to Soldiers, Marines, and Sailors, whose sacrifice...

Elijah served proudly in the U.S.Marine Corps from 06/20/2004-08/20/2008. He completed 3 combat tours with 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Fox Co. Today Elijah continues to serve by educating and promoting physical fitness and wellbeing to include firearms training. In this episode, Tyler and I cover Elijah's experience with 2/8 Fox Co. and his deployments. From periods 2007-2008, Tyler and I met Elijah...

In this episode, Tyler and I sit down with Michael Ramos (Invasion Guy). Michael shares his experiences leading up to the Invasion of Iraq in 2003, the standby, push, and inevitable return home. Michael also shares his experiences in pursuing a BA and MFA from the Creative Department at UNC Wilmington. Michael has written some of the most beautiful, raw, relevant literature for the veteran and ope...

November 2020 marks 11 years since 2/8 Fox came home from Afghanistan. In 2009 2/8 was part of Operation Khanjar (Strike of the Sword) the largest helicopter insertion since Vietnam. In the early morning of July 2, 2009, 2/8 Fox inserted into Garmsir District. Join me and Tyler as we discuss the paradox of war, meaning, joy, love, and brotherhood. Friedrich Nietzsche said “to live is to suffer; to...

In this episode, Tyler and I sit down with our Brother Eamon LeBlanc-Shoemaker, a fellow 2/8 Marine. We traverse time before our paths crossed and culminated in 2009 during OP Khanjar (Strike of the Sword). Shoe shares his experiences about the early days in the fleet, his choice to extend for a third combat tour, and finally, the burden of command, as he assumed the billet of Squad Leader after a...