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Today we hear the Combat Story of Mark Wales, a former Australian SAS (Special Air Service) officer who spent 16 years in the Australian Military, including six years in the elite SAS. He led special operators as a Troop Commander and completed 10 deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, East Timor, Lebanon, and the Solomon Islands.

After separating from the military, Mark battled depression and stress disorders but found a way to power through and turn his life around. Mark would go on to earn an MBA from the prestigious Wharton School of Business and then worked at McKinsey & Company.

He has since written the book Survivor: Life in the SAS, was on Australian Survivor (where he met his wife) and competed in the Bear Grylls’ World’s Toughest Race: Eco Challenge Fiji 2019, which I highly recommend watching on Amazon with your family.

And since all this isn’t enough, Mark also founded Kill Kapture, a tough-luxury ecommerce brand and is now a sought after keynote and motivational speaker.

I hope you enjoy Mark’s honest, self deprecating, and relatable Combat Story as much as I did.

Find Mark online: Website Instagram: @mark.a.wales Book - Survivor: Life in the SAS LinkedIN Kill Kapture: Website | Instagram @kill_kapture Find Ryan online: Follow on Instagram @combat_stories Email ryan@combatstory.com Learn more about Ryan  Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle Show Notes 0:00 - Intro 0:46 - Mark Wales bio 1:42 - Interview begins 2:32 - Combat Story (in a way): Going to a brothel at 14 years old 8:19 - What is the pipeline for an officer? 16:42 - The view of 9/11 from an Aussie's perspective 18:08 - Training on how to throw a grenade 24:35 - Combat Story #1: Mark’s first patrol in East Timor 30:20 - The road to SAS and Selection 42:45 - First time being deployed to the Middle East 45:45 - For a team of six SAS guys, how do they feel about doing executive protection? 47:04 - Two more rotations to Afghanistan 49:25 - Combat Story #2: Tracking an HVT in East Timor 51:40 - Combat Story #3: SAS Troop Command in Afghanistan 1:02:36 - The language of the "unconscious body". 1:05:00 - Combat Story #4: Dangerous experiences in Helmund Province 1:16:02 - Combat (Reality Version) Story #5: Getting on Australian Survivor 1:19:20 - Combat (Reality Version) Story #6: Completing World's Toughest Race Fiji 2019 Eco-Challenge 1:23:40 - Kill Kapture 1:24:24 - What did you carry into combat? 1:26:17 - Would you do it all again?