Military

Public Speaking

What do you most want readers to know about law enforcement?

Bravery and Risk: Stories from Law Enforcement

Walk the Blue Line, Jim Patterson and I are very, very proud of this book. Fantastic accounts from men, women who serve our local state and federal law enforcement agencies from big to small, east to west, city to rural, it doesn't matter, we captured them all. And I think what I hope readers most of all will understand is that these men and women, the moment they leave safety of their home to go to work until they get back, whether day or night, it doesn't matter, they are at risk of death at any moment. It's not hyperbole, it's not a grandiose statement coming from central casting of some movie set. No, these men and women protect us from evil that is out there and my gosh, there's a lot of it. There are just, there are dozens of stories of these men and women that make split second life and death decisions, shoot, don't shoot, in positions, predicaments that most of us would crumble in a second. So before anybody comes up with an opinion that's negative about these men and women, I would suggest you read this book and do it with your eyes wide open and understand we are thankful that they're there.

We are proud of this book which captures the stories of men and women who serve in law enforcement and make split-second life or death decisions. It is important to read this book with an open mind and be thankful for the people who protect us from evil.

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I want readers to know that law enforcement officers put their lives at risk every day. In the book Walk the Blue Line, Jim Patterson and I have captured fantastic accounts from men and women serving in local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across various settings. Whether in big cities or rural areas, these individuals face danger from the moment they leave their homes until they return, regardless of the time of day.

It's important to understand that the risks they face are not exaggerated or fictional. These men and women protect us from the very real evil that exists in the world. The book shares numerous stories of law enforcement officers making split-second life and death decisions, facing situations that would cause most of us to crumble. Before forming negative opinions about these individuals, I urge readers to approach the book with an open mind and truly comprehend the gratitude we should have for their presence and service.

What made you choose to join the Rangers?

Ranger School Documentary Inspired My Journey to Join the Elite

You know, I decided to join the Rangers, I think because of a very clever marketing scheme that the Army did. I'm not quite sure that's true, but I remember in high school, you know, this is back in the early 80s, there was a documentary or a piece on 60 Minutes, one of the two, but it was about Army Ranger school. And they showed these, these Ranger students, you know, walking through the swamps, you know, chest deep in water, neck deep in water, and they looked pretty, pretty, pretty rough and tough. And I thought like, that's about the coolest thing. Didn't think anything about combat or anything about what the real military did other than that looked really cool, what these guys were doing, jumping out of planes and all that stuff. And fast forward, you know, I did enlist into the Army and, you know, some rascally recruiter sent me, wound up getting me into the regular infantry instead of the Rangers. But that was probably worked out well, because I learned what the Ranger Regiment actually did for our Army, which just whet my appetite even more to, to focus on, on making that, that that leap, that journey from the conventional forces to the Special Operations Forces. And, you know, I sound like an infomercial, I think when it comes to talking about the Ranger Regiment, but it was worth every minute, every, every bit of blood, sweat and tears to get there. I mean, this great unit with a great history and highest standards in the Army. I loved it.

I wanted to join the Rangers after watching a documentary in high school. After enlisting in the Army, I discovered more about what the Ranger regiment did and was inspired to make the journey from conventional forces to Special Operations forces. It was worth every minute and I loved it.

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I chose to join the Rangers because of a clever marketing scheme by the Army, or at least that's how I remember it. In high school, I saw a documentary or a segment on 60 Minutes about Army Ranger school. They showed these tough Ranger students trudging through swamps, chest-deep or even neck-deep in water. It looked incredibly cool and exciting, with all the jumping out of planes and everything.

When I enlisted in the Army, a recruiter ended up placing me in the regular infantry instead of the Rangers. However, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It allowed me to learn more about what the Ranger Regiment actually did for our Army. This only fueled my desire to make the leap from conventional forces to Special Operations Forces.

I can't help but sound like an infomercial when talking about the Ranger Regiment, but it was truly worth every moment, every drop of blood, sweat, and tears to get there. It's an exceptional unit with a rich history and the highest standards in the Army. I absolutely loved it.

How did you feel about retiring from the military after 20 years of service?

Magical 20-year military journey: Retiring and ready for a new chapter

I enlisted thinking I would spend four years and bat my eyes and 20 years, three months, and a couple extra days later, I'm retiring. It was a magical experience. I absolutely wouldn't change one thing about it, but I got to tell you, 20 is plenty. I was excited to start the new chapter of my life. I retired in 2008 and again, 20 years and a couple extra months because of the surge, but I look back often and I've told a lot of people, anybody that's willing to listen, the military, the army was very, very good to me and I enjoyed the time in service. I hope I left it a little bit better, but it definitely lived up to its end of the bargain and it did for me far more than I could have imagined. But I was ready for a new chapter and it's one of those, I've always been one of the, once this chapter over, look forward, keep moving forward and look to the future. But when I think about the army, I do look back with great fondness and I'm glad they let me in.

I enlisted in the Army and after serving for 20 years 3 months, I retired in 2008. I enjoyed my time in service and it gave me far more than I could have imagined. I look back fondly on my time in the military and am grateful for the opportunity.

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Retiring from the military after 20 years of service was a remarkable experience for me. Initially, I enlisted with the intention of serving for only four years, but time flew by, and before I knew it, I had spent over two decades in the military. I wouldn't change a thing about my journey; it was truly magical.

However, I must say that after 20 years, I felt that it was enough. I was excited to embark on a new chapter in my life. My retirement took place in 2008, a few months longer than the standard 20 years due to the surge. Looking back, I often reflect on my time in service and express to anyone who will listen that the military, specifically the army, was incredibly good to me. It exceeded my expectations and provided me with more than I could have imagined.

While I was ready for a fresh start, I do hold great fondness for my time in the army. I hope that I made a positive impact during my service, and I am grateful for the opportunity they gave me. As someone who always looks forward and keeps moving, I cherish the memories and experiences from my military career while eagerly embracing the future.

What was the reaction of US troops to the events of Black Hawk Down?

US troops reflect on bittersweet legacy of Black Hawk Down

I think the word that best describes my reaction to October 3rd 1993 everyone calls Blackhawk down is bittersweet. I remember as a young Ranger with my first experience in combat I had nothing to relate it to and I thought wow this dish was incredible. I mean the reality of combat is that good men well-trained well-led well-disciplined are going to die on the battlefield was a hard lesson to learn and yet we made it through that day that 18 hours we accomplished that mission and that is amazing as I look back on it. On the other hand it's it's so sad and frustrating not only that we lost soldiers on the battlefield but that our foreign policy changed overnight literally our foreign policy the United States lacked a resolve to continue with that mission to capture or kill Mohammed Adid and that's unconscionable to me you mean that makes it difficult that you've got to come home and explain to a 23 year old widow why her husband died who performed and fought so valiantly on that battlefield and to look her in the eye and tell her for what and to this day I can't explain it in fact I look at the news right now and you think you know Somalia may be worse off now than it was before we started

The word that best describes my reaction to October 3rd, 1993, also known as Black Hawk Down is bittersweet. I remember it from the point of view of a young Ranger and I am amazed that we accomplished the mission, but sad and frustrated that we lost soldiers on the battlefield and our foreign policy changed overnight. It is difficult to explain why her husband died, valiantly on the battlefield, and to this day, I cannot explain it.

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The reaction of US troops to the events of Black Hawk Down can be described as bittersweet. As a young Ranger experiencing combat for the first time, it was an incredible and intense experience. However, the reality of losing well-trained and well-led soldiers on the battlefield was a difficult lesson to learn.

Looking back, it is amazing that we were able to accomplish the mission during those 18 hours. However, it is also deeply saddening and frustrating that not only did we lose soldiers, but our foreign policy changed overnight. The United States lacked the resolve to continue pursuing the capture or elimination of Mohammed Adid, which is something I find unconscionable.

Returning home and having to explain to a young widow why her husband died, despite his valiant efforts on the battlefield, is a heart-wrenching experience. It is difficult to justify the loss when the purpose behind it remains unclear. Even today, I struggle to find an explanation.

In fact, when I look at the news and see the current state of Somalia, it makes me question if the situation is worse now than it was before we intervened.

How do you believe your experiences in the military have prepared you for the challenges of the "urban battlefield" of business?

Military Lessons for Business Success: Winning Mindset, Adaptability, and Rehearsals

I absolutely do believe that my experiences in the military helped prepare me to fight on this urban battlefield called business. And first and foremost, I think it's because it is just that. Business is battle. And by that, I mean, we've got to win. Victory is number one. Coming in second is unacceptable. I mean, you think back of all the wars that's ever been fought in the history of the world, you know, the people that come in second, you know, didn't get spoils of war. So shaping people's mindset that we got to win, it's all or nothing is tremendously valuable. And you learn that, I think, or I learned that certainly in the military. Second thing I think directly applicable is this thing called Murphy's Law. And knowing that Murphy rides shotgun with us every day and no plan ever survives the first bullet on the battlefield, getting used to that and thinking on your feet and understanding that it's going to go sideways. Something is not going to go as planned. Makes you comfortable in an uncomfortable environment. And that's an advantage than a lot of people I found out here that weren't in the military don't possess. And third, I think the understanding that we make money with rehearsals. We rehearse everything we're going to do, all of our actions before we leave the wire in combat. We rehearse before we go out the door here to do any presentation, make a pitch, whatever it is we're doing, we want to be excellent. Excellence is what wins. Excellent is top of the heap, tip of the spear, the main effort on the battlefield. So there's a lot of things. If you do some history, you'll see that I think the leaders of the teams that were successful in battle have very similar traits to the leaders and teams that are successful in business.

My experiences in the military have prepared me to fight on the urban battlefield of business. I learned that victory is paramount and coming in second is unacceptable. I also learned to expect Murphy's Law, think on my feet and be comfortable in uncomfortable situations. Finally, I understand that preparation and excellence are key to success in both battle and business.

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My experiences in the military have undoubtedly prepared me for the challenges of the urban battlefield of business. Firstly, I believe that business is akin to a battle, where winning is paramount and coming in second is unacceptable. This mindset of striving for victory and understanding the importance of winning is something I learned in the military.

Another valuable lesson from my military experience is the concept of Murphy's Law. I've come to understand that things often go awry and plans rarely survive intact. Being comfortable in an unpredictable and ever-changing environment is an advantage that many non-military individuals may not possess.

Additionally, the military taught me the significance of rehearsals. Before any combat mission, we would meticulously rehearse our actions. This emphasis on preparation and striving for excellence translates directly to the business world. Rehearsing presentations, pitches, and other important tasks allows us to perform at our best and achieve success.

If you delve into history, you'll notice that successful leaders and teams in battle often share similar traits with those who thrive in the business world. These experiences in the military have equipped me with valuable skills and perspectives that have proven beneficial in navigating the challenges of the business battlefield.

What was the process of collecting and recording the stories in "Walk in My Combat Boots"?

Capturing Combat Stories: The Simple Process Behind Walk in My Combat Boots

The process for writing this book, Walking My Combat Boots, our first project together with Jim Patterson, was really pretty simple. We kept it very basic. Jim gave me the task to get 100 stories, 125 stories, something like that, and I would do these telephonic interviews with these soldiers and then transcribe them to a Word document, and then I'd print it out, look for the pieces that I thought were of interest, and I'd take it over to Jim and let him do his magic, which again turns out to be the final book that you see in the stores. But honestly, I started just writing to a couple of buddies of mine whose combat stories I did not know personally, talked to them, heard their stories, asked them for recommendations, and it just grew from there. And pretty soon we had 125 in no time. It was a great experience.

I started by writing to a couple of buddies of mine and asking them for their stories. I then did telephonic interviews with those who agreed to share their stories, transcribed them and printed them out. Then I looked for the most interesting stories and gave them to Jim Patterson to turn into the final book.

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The process of collecting and recording the stories for Walk in My Combat Boots was quite straightforward. Jim Patterson and I embarked on our first project together, and he tasked me with gathering around 100 to 125 stories. I conducted telephonic interviews with soldiers and transcribed their accounts into Word documents. After printing them out, I would identify the most compelling parts and bring them to Jim, who worked his magic to create the final book you see in stores. 

To begin, I reached out to a few friends who had combat stories I wasn't familiar with and had conversations with them. I also asked for recommendations, and from there, the collection of stories grew rapidly. It was a truly rewarding experience.

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First Sergeant Matt Eversmann is an American hero who embodies the importance of duty, courage, and selfless service in extraordinary circumstances. In 1993, Matt led a raid against an enemy militia in Mogadishu, Somalia. His inspiring story of survival was depicted in the film Black Hawk Down. For his actions, he was awarded the Bronze Star. After his service, Matt drew from his military experience to teach the next generation of warriors. He worked at the Army War College, taught at Johns Hopkins University, and deployed to Iraq during The Surge. Matt has since used his experiences to show organizations how to build resilient teams. He has consulted in healthcare, non-profit, and data management. Matt recently returned from Afghanistan where he filmed a documentary for PBS. He has co-authored The Battle of Mogadishu and two New York Times bestsellers with James Patterson. Matt and his wife, Tori, run a consulting company and co-host a weekly podcast, The Veterans Nation.