Behind the Mask: Shield

Q: What does your call sign mean to you?

A: I chose my call sign for two reasons. A shield is used for protection in battle. As a MAT team member I want our Honorees to know that I am here for them on the course, not just to help them complete the mission but also as protection while the go through it. A shield is also slang term for a police badge, since I am a Task Force Sentinel MAT I found it to be a fitting call sign.

Q: What branch of the military or LEO did you serve in (or are currently serving in), for how long, and what was your job?

A: I served in the United States Marine Corps from 1989-1995. I was a Vehicle Commander and Scout Instructor for 1stLight Armored Reconnaissance Bn. I attended the US Army Airborne, Ranger Schools and was the 1st Marine Division Pre-Ranger School Instructor. I am also a retired Criminal Investigator for the Warren County Sheriff’s Department in MS. I was a Sniper for the departments Special Response Team and a Deputized United States Marshall on the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Q: What is your best or most unforgettable OEW-related memory?

A: My most unforgettable memory was at the Bataan Memorial Death March. I was able to

Honor, empower and motivate Matt Bradford in completing the event. I got to spend several hours with him talking and learning his story. Then to see him complete the event as a blind, double amputee and see how people reacted to it was very impressive and heartwarming.

Q: What is the most challenging thing about being a MAT?

A: Some would think INDOC is the most challenging; however I find the commitment to be most challenging. There is a lot of behind the scenes planning and preparing that goes on to make the events successful. As I grow in the organization I have been tasked with more responsibility and it takes a lot of “prioritizing my time” to make sure I continue to give the level of commitment that I promised to OEW when I joined.

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Q: Motto or principle you live by.

A: When you go, make sure you leave it better than when you came.

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Q: How do you stay in shape for the demands of the MAT?

A: Because I am a MAT Team Member I stay physically fit, I work out every day, so that when I am called to do an event, I am ready to complete the mission. I run or ruck at least 2-3 times a week, I break up the runs with spontaneous calisthenics, hill sprints or stair climbs. I CrossFit or lift weights 3-5 times a week. There are a lot of endurance exercises built into my workout and I often train with an elevation mask. I also do some triathlons and ultra-races.

Check out our OEW Spotify channel! Each Call Sign will share their own playlists of music that gets them pumped for action or helps them chill during their workday. Follow our channel and receive updates whenever new playlists are posted!

Follow Shield's playlist here.

Don't have Spotify? Click here to download now and enjoy FREE music on your mobile device or desktop.

About INDOC: The application process to apply for the Masked Athlete Team, Warrior INDOC, is now an open enrollment. Pre-requisite is to have military or LEO experience with honorable discharge. E-mail: indoc@enduringwarrior.org for submission details.

Meet Jim Young

Jim is the owner of Salvation Coffee Company. On the opening of his store, he held a fundraiser for OEW and donated the entire profit to us! Jim has done several fundraisers for us and we are grateful to have him on our team.

What is your occupation? I have a couple of businesses but right now being President of Salvation Coffee Company in Burlington, NC has my full attention.

How long have you been an OCA? I have been an OCA for about 3 years. I hooked up with them at the Ft. Bragg Spartan and after spending the day in the mud with those guys, how could you not want to be a part of it. Before that weekend I was back at Ft. Benning eating dirt.

How did you get involved? I have two great reasons to get involved: Lopez’s right and left butt cheeks lol. Have you seen them?

Most memorable moment? My most memorable was watching the Raging Panda (Nick Koulchar) hit every obstacle.

Why should people become OCAs for OEW? Its a great organization. Not many like it that you can actually get down and dirty with. I don’t think OEW has any “desk jockeys”; everyone gets in the dirt. Just participating and being alongside these warriors gives me, personally, a bit of self-worth.

What’s your next event with OEW? The coffee shop is taking most of my time right now but I’m hoping to join in another Spartan/Rugged Maniac. I would also like to give INDOC a try and be a masked athlete. Who knows.

Thanks for your unwavering support and help, Jim! We’re glad to have you as part of the family.

Meet Randy Diel

What is your occupation? I’m an analyst. That’s what I was in the Army, and since then, I’ve continued to retool those skills for different industries. Currently, I am employed at The Home Depot as a Staff Engineer, where I work on special projects and root cause analysis surrounding systems delivery and provisioning.

How long have you been an OCA? Since March of 2019. Danny Stokes and Jeff Farmer brought me home to OEW leading into and after Bataan.

How did you get involved? As I stated, I owe everything to Danny Stokes and Jeff Farmer for bringing me to OEW. I met Danny at a GoRuck event while training for Bataan back in January. Later Danny reached out needing assistance with moving the OEW trailer from South Carolina to New Mexico for Bataan. While doing logistics for the move, Danny mentioned that I would be picking up the trailer from a man named Jeff Farmer. To be honest, I cried at first. Jeff Farmer was one of the most respected men I had ever known in the Army. He was one of my Drill Sergeants at AIT 19 years earlier. Long story short, I joined OEW for Bataan, and I haven’t looked back since. I’ll never be able to thank Danny and Jeff enough, but I’ll be damned if I won’t try. The only thing Jeff really told me was: Just Show Up. I pass that on to everyone I meet. Wanna see change in people? JUST SHOW UP!

Most memorable moment? I would say the first time I saw Jeff Farmer for the first time in 19 years, prior to Bataan, back before I knew what OEW was.

What’s your next event with OEW? As of today, I am writing this while working with the Bradford Rainier Summit Team. My next event will be the Utah Spartan with Chris Wolff next weekend, as soon as I head out from Seattle. WOOT!!!

Why should people become OCAs for OEW? I can’t tell anyone why, bc your why should be personal. What I would challenge is that everyone should join us for an event. Come see what we do. Experience it firsthand. We’d love to see you there.