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Today we hear Round 1 of a two part Combat Story with former F-15E Strike Eagle Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) Mike “Pako” Benitez. In this episode, we follow Mike’s very unlikely path to the cockpit that begins with a career in the Marine Corps as a helicopter mechanic and aircrew member in the very first push into Afghanistan to fighting in Iraq during Fallujah II.
Mike’s path is anything but direct as he found his way to becoming an expert tactician and aviator in the F-15E. Since retiring, Mike has gone on to create The Merge (themerge.co) newsletter - which has 20K subscribers - and podcast - which has 40 episodes as of this airing. The Merge brings defense and tech news and insights in a more lighthearted and interesting approach that I’m confident most listeners of Combat Story will appreciate!
We only found Pako thanks to former guest Ryan “Stinger” Fishel who was a beneficiary of the tough love and tutelage of Pako (Stinger mentions a crusty older Weapons Officer during his interview who made Stinger look info up as opposed to handing it to him - that was Pako). Stay tuned for a follow-on episode after Rounds 1 and 2 with Pako to hear both Pako and Tom “Gunny” Moser be interviewed together about their experiences in Afghanistan and Syria leading units together.
Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.
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🔗 Find Mike Online:
- The Merge https://themerge.co/
- The Merge Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@TheMergeMedia
🔗 Find Ryan Online:
- Ryan’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/combatstory
- Merch https://www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
- Instagram @combatstory https://www.instagram.com/combatstory
- Facebook @combatstoryofficial https://fb.me/combatstoryofficial
- Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
- Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Join hundreds of others with our weekly Combat Check-In Newsletter (www.combatstory.com/newsletter) to get a short email from Ryan each week about the show, life, and the military.
👇 Show Notes:
00:00 - Introduction
00:52 - Guest Profile: Mike Benitez
02:13 - Start of Interview
02:37 - PAKO Callsign
07:45 - Finding Aviation
10:03 - Family Military Background
11:17 - Recruitment
13:43 - Bootcamp
21:29 - Time in Marines
23:43 - 9/11
33:23 - Hello Fresh Ad
34:37 - Time As A Mechanic
40:15 - First Raid Outside the Wire
50:25 - Reenlistment to Weapons Officer
01:06:30 - Mint Mobile Ad
01:07:51 - Transition From Marines to Air Force
01:11:12 - Path to Strike Eagle
10:18:24 - Welcome to First Air Force Unit
01:20:00 - First Operational Squadrant
01:39:07 - First Danger Close
01:42:02 - First Fatality
01:42:03 - Listener Feedback
Purple Heart in the Korean War from 7th Infantry Division Infantryman Joseph Mills Wise
Signal Interceptor in Combat | Special Forces Linguist | 82nd Airborne | 7th Special Forces | Clay Jensen
Navy SEAL & 160th Aviator (MH-47 Pilot) | 17 Combat Deployments | Mike Rutledge
CIA Legend | Former Director of the Directorate of Operations | Case Officer | Jose Rodriguez
Navy SEAL | SEAL Delivery Vehicle Unit | Entrepreneur | Comedian | Jonathan Cleck
Fighter Pilot with Air to Air Drone Shootdown | Homeless to the Cockpit | Distinguished Flying Cross | Ryan “Stinger” Fishel
Special Operations Ranger in Iraq and Afghanistan | Ranger Movie on Amazon Prime | Operation Red Wings | David Waterhouse
Top Gun Maverick Stunt Pilot to F/A-18 Combat Aviator to Blue Angel to F-35 Squadron Commander | Scott “Intake” Kartvedt
AH-64 Apache & Air Force Combat Search and Rescue Pilot Cleared Hot Author | Trauma to Triumph Brian Slade
Navy SEAL | Seal Team Four | Co-Founder of ZeroEyes | Rob Huberty
Top Gun Pilot and Combat Aviator | Founder of Top Gun Foundation and Top Gun Options | Matthew “Whiz” Buckley
Marines in The Battle of Marjah | USMC NCO | Author | Choices Not Chances Podcast | Ryan Rogers
Combat With USASOC Operator Rick Hogg | K-9 Handler | 7th SFG | 82nd Airborne | War Hogg Tactical | On the Range Podcast
Green Beret | Operation Pineapple Express | Evacuated Afghan Allies from Kabul | Last Man Out Writer | Scott Mann
Combat Controller in Black Hawk Down | Air Force Special Ops | World Record | Author | Dan Schilling
Green Beret Silver Star Destroying Enemy Tanks with a Javelin | 3rd Special Forces Group | Changing Hearts and Minds Podcast | Jeff Adamec
Aircraft Crash on Robert's Ridge | 160th Night Stalker | MH-47 Chinook Combat Aviator | Alan Mack
UK SBS (Special Boat Service) | World Record Holder | Security Expert “Relentless” | Prince Harry Close Friend | Dean Stott
Four Star General George Casey | Army Chief of Staff | Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq
160th Night Stalker | AH-6 & MH-6 Pilot | DFC | Silver Star | CW5 Steve Lapping
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