Everyday Carry with a Former SEAL Team 6 Operator

Dom, I'm really excited to have you here, man, so we like to do a warm-up with certain individuals right before we get into the heavy stuff that we're going to talk about with your military career. Faith, everything is fine. things that are going to come up, this is like a quick warm up that we like to do, everyone wants to know what you have on you, so let's do a dirty dirty pocket dump every day, okay, then a pocket dump comes out, yeah. if you wanted to, yeah, where do you want me to put it, put it right on that table, right next to, okay, but just present, yeah, show each of us in an absolutely obvious way, one of my favorite topics every day , wears well, um, I think first.

And the most important thing is that one of the main things that I think has been important to us and I have seen it work in so many different ways is the rosary and why I

carry

it every day. It's important to me, so you know I'm not going. to start with anything other than this because we know there is spiritual warfare in this world and I'm sure we'll get into this, but it really started with the Dominicans

carry

ing this on their left side also because of the Knights that's why They actually carried their sword on the left, so yes, they carry it on the left.

I didn't know I carry one. I always keep it in my right hand because they used to take it from the left, so this is our spiritual. weapon, you know, us and having that connection that transcends time, that realistically you know in battle, whether it's physical or spiritual, it's just that connection also a trigger, you know, I talk about triggers a lot in my programs and in my training. of mindset, and if you need guidance. This when you hold on to this and look and of course there is so much history and depth here that will push you to start being whatever it is that you are trying to improve in your life, especially when it comes to the spiritual, it allows you to remind yourself for what am I doing this what's my why that's number one um and then my sword.

I carry a sword every day pretty much no matter where I go, unless there's something I have to go through. I'm having a blade examined. It's one of those weapons too throughout history, you know, warriors have always used a sword. I mean, we can trace it as far as we can, even look at, you know, guys have used a sword, uh, for hunting, crafts, skills, uh. for defense, so there's a lot of history behind why we carry a sword, so to me it's a non-negotiable and you know, when you have a b for Brothers, like we do, it's one of those elements where it's like if they didn't catch you.

Without your sword there's a penalty for that kind of thing, so it's not just an item you could use, but it's also a way of life, you know, so it's thinking about this a little bit deeper and respecting it for what it is. . You know, in Filipino martial arts with KH they talk about how you know if they pull out their weapon, they have to use it. You know, I don't know if you've ever heard that before, but if they draw their sword, they have to do it. put it to use so it's one of those connections where okay, this is if I take this thing out, you know what I'm doing with it, so this is the Razer backsheet that we do, uh, I named it Razer Adam Brown's honor, the red and black handle, was because the Razer backs have the red and black logo and, you know, a little tribute to him, just CU Adam had a big impact on my life.

There was a lot of talk about what we could talk about. full day about Adam um but just a beautiful tribute to him is how compact we carry um I like to travel with that it's a little more adaptable depending on what I'm wearing and then it's in our iwb holster and of course this is What I do for You know my life and you know that I am very passionate about the

team

, so I don't want to be too geeky. Can I see that yes, you absolutely have to go through it the right way? Ah, there you have it, thank you.

Yeah, you know, I bought one of these a long time ago and I love this blade. I do not use it. It's sentimental for me because we know each other and it will be framed hanging here, but there. Is this is amazing man, yeah I'm curious, when did you regret it? When did you start carrying a sword? um, I mean, they were important to me even when I was younger. You know, carry a sword. You know, I always recognize what's important. You say it was in my time as a Boy Scout or you know the progression through my reading of things like Tom Brown and survival, you realize very quickly that it's an important tool and I think for me it started to become part of my lifestyle from a fixed sword perspective when I really started fighting, you know, in commando and I started to realize that oh this is something I should have every day, I know how to use it now, let me live this style of life and I think that grows in you. when you start to realize that, oh, I really know how to apply this, so it's a real weapon, someone who doesn't know its application may feel a little uncomfortable with the relationship of a sword, like in some cases, it's scarier. them of what's useful, you know, so I think there was a transition between my military career and owning that as part of my life, I mean, when you really start to learn how to use a fixed blade is when you're in a development group or yeah, obviously there were some brief overviews in the

team

s and I took it and understood it, but not from a hidden perspective of actually implementing it like we did when we started working with seak and those guys. like my eyes have been opened in the sense of oh, I know how to be violent and I know how to be effective, but now you put the sword in my hand and now I can understand both sides of the offensive and the defensive and it's kind.

To take it to another level, there are a lot of guys in that organization that I always pay tribute to for how well they do their craft and how seriously they take it, that came to us, you know, so what. We do it, we are always going to look for the best in the world and you know whether you look for them or end up there, it's like a magnet, because everyone who is really good at what they do ends up in that core, in that place where you end up. up there because you are excellent at what you do and I think that was the moment that opened my eyes to work with those guys and see how they move and I think that is also what came across in our courses, is that people like me never they realized.

You had to move like that when they watch us or see us do the demos or know that we do something live. They start to realize that oh, that's what it takes to stand up for yourself. It's like, even if it's just a permit. in your mind to do that, so yes, yes, I never had the opportunity when I was there to learn how to use a sword properly, so please excuse my ignorance in returning it to you, but it's all good, there's a there's a deep part of that right, like it's just a warrior way of passing it, it's like, you know, if you ever look at someone who doesn't know how to handle a sword, there's always something awkward like, how do I pass it? when you start to develop those skills and that trity, I mean, you can pass a sword like that without even looking, so it becomes very, very effective for not only showing someone a sword, but also for access at night, like do it in a dynamic situation and uh, the good thing is that I do that with my entire family, like each of my children, even Joseph Joseph, at two years old, already knows that this is how a sword is passed, so it's ingrained on him, yeah, if you say come in, he'll just say he's calling. big Sharps likes it, he loves big Sharps, he's got the big Sharp factory there, but he's been helping me and I'll pass it like it's okay, pass it and he'll put his hand out, boom, pass it and he'll pass it back to you in the same way, so it's like recording that motor memory.

Now you know, do it right. So when do you start? That is incredible. 2 years, yeah, when do you start? When did you start teaching your kids about firearms? and swords, that is a very good question and obviously firearms are something extremely important to our lifestyle and they are abundant in the world, right, it is something that we must recognize and confront as a reality, it is not something that we would wish It may be that way, but in reality this is where they exist and you will probably encounter them at some point in your life, so take responsibility for that, so when I really look at the development of understanding and respect for firearms to me, It has to be an intuitive process because it's not as simple as, oh, right when they're two, it's just black and white that they'll be able to learn about them, so it's non-negotiable to learn about them because I remember.

Some of the situations I went through as a kid, but my trigger for my kids at every different stage they're in is identifying if they know the difference between a real gun and a toy gun and really auditing that process as they do. In fact, you know if that Nerf gun feels, looks and acts like the real gun I'm showing you and what the difference is. They need to be able to articulate it. They need to be able to understand it. They need to be able to say that weapons. They are a tool that can kill, take and save lives, so the seriousness of that must be understood, so they automatically begin to know methodologies such as the five rules of safety, be aware, always, have a weapon that is loaded, never point your gun at something you don't want to kill or destroy, never put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot and always know your target what is behind and around him so that is ingrained in him, everyone knows that I think Aurora is probably working on the last couple, but Leo has mastered it, so recognizing that they understand them now is identifying what consciousness means to you, friend, you know, how are you really understanding what that means?

I know I have to pay attention I know I have to look around my surroundings I know I have to think about who is in the next room and who is downstairs right now Is there someone above us? It's not okay, we have a clear roof, so if you can articulate that now awareness is starting to be a thing and also from a very young age I say, don't put your finger on the trigger when you're running around aimlessly if you're not picking up the gun. don't sweep your little brother, they are always the youngest because there is an intentionality in it, as if you wanted to protect your brother, right, yes, that's Joseph, there are two of them, you don't sweep your brother, you understood now, everyone doesn't They are sweeping each other away, so there is already this methodology and mentality that is already ingrained in them, so how old is it?

How young do you touch a firearm in your family? Is it different for everyone? Leo has already started shooting. How old is Leo? So Leo 7, even I would say where is a real firearm. and again you know we can also play with that as far as calibers and all that, but I think at the point where the youngest has actually held a real firearm it's probably okay around four or five because at least they have the understanding that that can hurt you, m, that's the difference, like there's a differentiator there so they can contrast that now, when I go to shoot, you know what you're choosing.

I'm not going to just put a 12 gauge in my 5 year old. -old man's hand, you know we'll probably start with a 22, but you also have to understand what the benefit of that is. Am I gaining anything by taking my 5 year old son to shoot a 5.56 or 9mm round and I'm going to tell you no, you're actually not gaining much at all. I think starting them earlier to make sure they're competent is dialed in airsoft BB pellets paintball, pick one, pick one that you can use in a safer environment and get them to really understand and then everyone needs to be that coach and that judge to say, " "Okay, this is my son." I know you understand it.

They are actually digesting this knowledge and can apply it. The most important part we can safely now move to a higher caliber. You know, I think that's an intuition you should have as a firearms instructor or even as a parent. You know it's the parents' responsibility to really take that seriously too. Yeah, you know, I get it, you know, I have a two-year-old and a newborn and I never thought about it. Oh thank you, I never really thought about knowing, until very recently, how I'm going to present firearms. I get into my kids and it's complicated, you know, in today's world it's becoming more and more dangerous.

There are more and more burglaries in homes. I didn't use to have a gun in every room, now I do and um and and uh, so one thing. I've done it, I just have even in my daughter's daycare there will be a firearm hanging. I'll probably get it, it'll probably be one of those little Tiffany blue guns and in my son's room I have an old, uh, antique one. Winchester 357 lever action and they can't reach but I just want them to get used to seeing it and now when my 2 year old son sees a gun I don't think he knows what it means but He will point at the gun He will say gun and then he will say very, very dangerous And and I just want him to do it.

I want him to get used to being around her so he won't be so big the first time he sees one. he watches me shoot in our backyard and yeah, but I'm always curious, you know with gentlemen like you how they introduce it to their family because I think it's extremely important and I and I know exactly where you're talking about. I seebeautiful, wow, this is, uh, this will definitely be used, it's uh, it's inspiring to have guys who are doing things like working at Sig and who care so much about what we're doing. and um, you know, Sig has a good group of people there, they always have Steve Mat, I don't know if you know who he is, yeah, yeah, he worked there for the old CMC, that's what we do.

We're talking about yeah, he really respected him, he's a tough guy, um, but I have guys, this is very humbling, thank you. I'll, uh, I'll put this to work, I'm sure it's my pleasure, yeah, this is awesome, but hey, Dom, I appreciate it. And man, that's super innovative stuff and I can't wait to get this out, so thanks to me too. I appreciate that I also fell a little in love with everything, the gift bag for you, is this an appropriate time to give it to her? For you guys, let's do it on the show, but we'll link everything below so anyone who wants to get some of that will be linked below.

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