CS#63: Sniper Shots in Combat at Night | 20+ Years Green Beret | Tactical Rifleman

CS#63: Sniper Shots in Combat at Night | 20+ Years Green Beret | Tactical Rifleman | Karl Erickson

Рет қаралды 67,867

Күн бұрын

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Today we hear the Combat Story of Karl Erickson, a long time Green Beret, expert sniper, and retired Sergeant Major, who deployed pre- and post-9/11, including into Afghanistan just after the Twin Towers fell to hunt Bin Laden.
[NOTE: We're launching on Patreon soon. Register to get notified at www.combatstory.com/patreon]
After the military, Karl took his decades of teaching as a Green Beret into the civilian world and has a huge online following for his Tactical Rifleman brand and I can see why.
In this episode, we dive into the deep, deep details of being a sniper in combat, to include taking a sniper shot at night just before breaching a target (scopes, windage, aerodynamics, countdowns for simultaneous shots, round selection, and more), which is just a glimpse of what he shares with his followers online.
Karl is a natural born storyteller and I know you’ll enjoy this hilarious and deeply technical Combat Story as much as I did.
#military #veteran #greenberet #sniper
Find Karl online:
Instagram @tactical_rifleman / tactical_rifleman
Twitter @TacRifleman / tacrifleman
Facebook / tacticalrifleman
TacticalRifleman.com www.tacticalrifleman.com/
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Merch www.bonfire.com/store/combats...
Instagram @combatstory / combatstory
Facebook @combatstoryofficial combatstoryofficial
Send us messages at m.me/combatstoryofficial
Email ryan@combatstory.com
Learn more about Ryan www.combatstory.com/aboutus
Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Show Notes
0:00 - Intro
0:38 - Guest introduction (Karl Erickson)
1:30 - Interview begins
6:15 - Making Sergeant Major and being an Operator at Headquarters
15:38 - Childhood as self-proclaimed “juvenile delinquent” and when he knew he wanted to be a Green Beret
30:3 - How the lack of mentor influenced his career path
40:31 - What makes a good sniper
44:15 - Feelings in Desert Storm
53:58 - Combat Story #1 - Gunfight in Afghanistan
1:07:20 - Technical description of shooting with a suppressor
1:10 - Shooting in the dark
1:14:38 - First time having somebody in a scope for real
1:20:42 - Combat Story #2
1:39:28: - About Tactical Rifleman project
1:55:11- What did you carry into combat?
1:56:24 - Would you do it all again?
2:01:14 - Listener comments and shout outs

Пікірлер: 180

@TacticalRifleman 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Ryan, it was fun hanging out and chatting with you. Strength & Honor, Karl Erickson

@clintcoop5717 2 жыл бұрын

One of the very most things I've ever let my ears let my mind enjoy was listening to you express your feelings!!!! I can't even imagine the things you have to share!!! GOD MODE!!!! Much respect to you man!!!! I truly wish you were my friend so I could learn all the knowledge you have!!!! Much Love to You and your Family @!!!!! 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

@odan7564 2 жыл бұрын

Tactical Badassery! DOL 🙏 thank you 🙏

@TKTK-sw3tq 2 жыл бұрын

If you liked his stories, he tells his war stories on patreon. There’s a lot of them and each one is amazing. My favorite one is the great baboon war.

@markadkins9290 2 жыл бұрын

Love TR! Great to get Karl on here!

@yeastyg546 2 жыл бұрын

Karl…. My groin meat is throbbing as I listen to this. I miss you and love you. I miss your loving touch…

@stephanarizona9094 2 жыл бұрын

"Anyone worth shooting once, is worth shooting twice" Karl Erickson, Tactical Rifleman.

@ifyoudontfailyouarenoteven6210 2 жыл бұрын

f*ck, I'm going to order patch with that motto, I practice doubles all the time ;)

@reb363 2 жыл бұрын

Karl has to be without a doubt one of the easiest interviews to do. Interviewer: Hi Karl, 1st question, what was it like being a Green Beret? Karl........ 2 hours later, Interviewer: ok Karl, 2nd question. "Karl is a natural born storyteller" I have been following Karl for about a year and I have to say Karl is a wealth of knowledge. Someone will ask a question about something so trivial but in stead of just giving a short one sentence answer, Karl will tell a story about an operation that goes on for 10 minutes, then about the time you are thinking, what in the hell does this have to do with the original question? Karl will bring it back full circle and tell you how his story related to the original trivial question and answer it at the same time. "Karl is a natural born storyteller" that has to be the understatement of the century.

@jerryj3047 2 жыл бұрын

Karl is an awesome leader,he changed my life forever with only one sentence he told me 🤣🤣

@shanek6582 2 жыл бұрын

What was it Jerry j? He just told me to get a job lol.

@jerryj3047 2 жыл бұрын

@@shanek6582 He told me you are buttercup suck it up🤣🤣🤣🤣

@ericchristianson 2 жыл бұрын

Karl’s as good as they get. Strength & honor.

@oh2txb18 2 жыл бұрын

I love listening to Karl's stories. Been TR viewer for years now and have been hoping for something like this. Could listen to a 20 hour audiobook of his stories, preferably narrated by him.

@SaladDressing69 2 жыл бұрын

WE LOVE KARL! He also loves us, just not that much. TR FAM!!!

@davewylie654 2 жыл бұрын

That injury he speaks of requires a procedure called a fasciotomy which is absolutely brutal and describing the arm fillet job is exactly what it's like. Great story and this is one of the most bad ass Green Berets we have had. SGM sitting in the TOC wondering where life had gone wrong so he eats the S1 for a snack....lol

@shammy3135 2 жыл бұрын

Karl is awesome and has a ton of work info. People definitely need to pay more attention to the Tactical Rifleman channel.

@JayDubb3BCT 2 жыл бұрын

Karl is a interesting guy. This is gonna be a good one!

@benjaminkurfman1639 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for these interviews! As a senior in high school, its really inspiring to listen to the stories from these men

@charlesodle8595 2 жыл бұрын

This definitely needs a part 2,3&4. Loved his story

@mylifeinthailand8751 2 жыл бұрын

My favorite quote from Gladiator is “Strength and Honor” and I think it is very appropriate and fitting for you SF guys to use it. Absolute respect to you all

@ChunkyPuke4me 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, again, Ryan! Karl is a legend. Now, you've got to get the other TR team members, like Randy Rawhide Wurst and Instructor Zed.

@derekc4919 2 жыл бұрын

Karl was HHC 1SG when I first got to 5th group and had the "privilege", as a fresh new Echo, of being assigned to Group Sigdet. He offered to advise me if I had any trouble when I got to go to SOTIC. Later on he was my SGM in A/1/5. Couldn't ask for a better, more down to earth SGM.

@jk-76 Жыл бұрын

I worked in the GRP HQ when he was 1SG. He was a pleasure to work with. I had some good friends in the SIGDET.

@jefffoy530 2 жыл бұрын

Appreciate you sir!! SgtMaj’s can be shit, but occasionally they’re inspirational. I lost my SgtMaj in Iraq in 2007. He was an amazing Marine, knew all his troops names’, would engage in the field in a meaningful way, and in garrison as well. His name was SgtMaj Ellis and his story is legendary.

@mikedarren6658 2 жыл бұрын

I love your attitude about the Purple Heart. One of my medics had a paper cut of a wound to his cheek from a mortar round that detonated near us during the initial assault on Baghdad (one of nearly two hundred over the course of the day). I was the battalion PA. Years later he contacted me wanting me to fill out a field medical card to help him get a Purple Heart for that injury. I refused to do it because the soldiers I pronounced dead got the same award. I will not aid in cheapening the meaning of that award. You're a man after my own heart.

@jackjack4412 2 жыл бұрын

That would totally change how I saw that medic, assuming you held him in high regard before that.

@mikedarren6658 2 жыл бұрын

@@jackjack4412 It did. He had been a mediocre medic (SSG) but that request took him down several notches. I didn't even bother to respond to him.

@phil3038 Жыл бұрын

Love the way this guy tells his Story, his energy held my attention for the whole 2 hours, and given my hyper personality that's a rarity!! 👌🙂

@forddriver8827 2 жыл бұрын

A freind of mine's father was a sniper in Vietnam. He was never 'at ease' within himself and I believe he was truly haunted by what he had done during his tours.

@danielsullivan7740 2 жыл бұрын

I have his tactical rifleman AR15 from tactical edge. I don’t like the company tactical edge but that’s another story. The rifle is great and I bought just because I respect Karl. I’m dying to take one of his classes.

@andrewgeorge2405 2 жыл бұрын

Love Karl and TR. I've heard him tell many of these stories over and over again, but they never get old

@tonykeast9966 2 жыл бұрын

🤯👌 I'd say he thinks and talks as good as he shoots. Amazing from start to finish.

@christopherhickner4673 2 жыл бұрын

Ryan I am a proud American .. I too have been fascinated by these stories of combat and loss and there are some truly wonderful men and women soldiers that have served our country well !! I am proud of each and every one !! I did not serve but my uncles and my father did . Also my great uncles served in ww11 one as a pilot and another as infantry I am truly thankful for your podcast and listen to each one with baited breath!! Great job !!!

@jimclayron417 2 жыл бұрын

Didn’t know there was a world war 11 damn

@Johnson11c 2 жыл бұрын

SGM Erikson is a LEGEND! Much love TR and CS

@JOSHL50 2 жыл бұрын

Get the mission accomplished. Take care of your troops. And you can't do one without doing the other. That IS the lesson. Thanks for your service Sgt Maj Erickson.

@tammymincey7297 2 жыл бұрын

Karl was my next door neighbor in Plainfield - Self proclaimed juvenile delinquent? Not just self proclaimed - we all thought that. haha... The kid we thought wasn't going anywhere in life has accomplished more than our entire neighborhood combined. Thank you Karl for your service and sharing your stories. I am proud to say I know you! (and it wasn't Mary Poppins EVERY day :) ) -Tammy Morgan

@lancet.346 2 жыл бұрын

Carl is the man! I've followed his channel for years.

@jrh8393 2 жыл бұрын

This interview is informative and entertaining, which makes it excellent! Even though I have no military experience, I find these stories inspiring. Greetings from Australia. Love this channel!

@smjhobbies4527 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for posting a great storytime with this gentleman and thank you both for your sacrifices and service

@grinch45 4 ай бұрын

The SWCS psycologist Major that showed up in SFAS to further screen some who may of failed the personality tests. He walked past a group of up on a break and asked us "is everything copastetic?" As the fan of the Green Beret Movie, it was instantly recognizable as a movie line.

@wazhazhe5831 Жыл бұрын

Karl is a real character. What a fun interview. I just looked. The interview was over 2 hours and the time just flew. Thanks.

@GunWebsites 2 жыл бұрын

Another great conversation, thank you both for the insight and POV on so many topics I look forward to each episode and this one did not disappoint !

@jerryj3047 2 жыл бұрын

I would like to add that Karel is right. I've climbed a lot of rocks/mountains in my life, but the locals will always surprise you. We were in the middle of road VIII + UIAA it could have been 5.12a from the USA and a local guy showed up and modestly said, can I overtake you? in sneakers. And yes, the Afghans can see your plane or hear in complete darkness

@jeffbowman9187 2 жыл бұрын

Am I the only one that read this in the voice of Karl impersonating Jerry? Smiley face crying.

@jerryj3047 2 жыл бұрын

@@jeffbowman9187 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👍👍

@jeffbowman9187 2 жыл бұрын

@@jerryj3047 hope the leg is healed up

@jerryj3047 2 жыл бұрын

@@jeffbowman9187 🤣🤣

@esigetic 2 жыл бұрын

Great episode! Carl is awesome and so is his channel. Love hearing him tell stories.

@jeffmede24 2 жыл бұрын

Found this by accident and man I was glued to every word, what an amazing human.

@twillys9480 2 жыл бұрын

I was happy to see Karl on here. He’s a great guy, and what you see is what you get. He doesn’t put on a front. He’s a great American. Not to mention a great instructor. We’ve got to get him on The Team House also…..

@kemperwoodruff758 2 жыл бұрын

Beyond amazing interview thank you brother!

@Captain-wc6vj 2 жыл бұрын

Karl's the best. Was wondering when you were going to have him on. 👍

@Stargazer80able Жыл бұрын

Oh, my.. That was a great interwiew. Karl said he grew up with the movie Red Dawn, I saw it once in my early teens and never remembered the title. 20 years later I found it. One of the great movies of the 80`s.

@GolfRemoEchoGolf2 2 жыл бұрын

Karl is awesome! Thanks for having him on !

@BB-ly3dh 2 жыл бұрын

Yesss, excited to watch this 1

@dcdude81 Жыл бұрын

Excellent interview fellas

@davecollins6113 2 жыл бұрын

Really interesting seeing how this man can go down a rabbit hole on a 10min tangent and return to the original point, and blend it all together. Damned few people can do that.

@6.4hemidriver44 2 жыл бұрын

Karl is awesome, love his podcast. Great show!

@markadkins9290 2 жыл бұрын

Great getting Karl on here!

@jvarnell2010 7 ай бұрын

What a great presentation!

@TheHeavensAndEarth 2 жыл бұрын

Great story! Glad to get to know Karl better. Lots of respect knowing him better. Will revisit his channel.

@whenimbored29 2 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed this!

@andysmith5220 2 жыл бұрын

I find it so funny we were at the same locations together overseas and even though different branches. We must have met each other a dozen times just never knew. Great stories

@nicholaschandler6555 2 жыл бұрын

One of the best yet.

@CombatMedic00 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent point about the local hearing your AC-130. We encountered the same thing flying our drones in the mountains to the extent that a few times a person in the area would point right at us.

@user-rt8ik1ow4i 4 ай бұрын

Anyone been to Jericho Vermont for winter,mountain training around 2017 2018. Just wondering as I prepared the fort ,new mattresses on all the bunks,cleaning, painting, etc,and was told we were preparing it for A battalion of some kind,and I was happy to be part of that,aside was crew leader and made sure,it would pass the white glove test.That place was set up great for them,from the chow hall,to showers,it was on point

@user-rt8ik1ow4i 4 ай бұрын

I had at least one MRE every day in 2000 to 2001and a half,and thank God I had no issues.

@georgecoull1883 2 жыл бұрын

Mr Fugit I really enjoy your channel! Keep up the awesome work and all these American hero history stories coming! Huge fan 💯

@mylifeinthailand8751 2 жыл бұрын

Just recommended your channel to my Dads buddy who served in the Scots Guards, part of the Household Division British Army

@atticusrussell1225 6 ай бұрын

fantastic storyteller

@WindowsPlaysFPS 2 жыл бұрын

Bring him back! Would love to listen to more of these.

@shermrock345 4 ай бұрын

The 8.6 blackout is the quickest bullet i ever heard but still haevy and has that 1:3 twist that straight drills. I mean i winder if this guy wishes he ran that in Afghanistan and thats a serious question.

@DJ-on3gc Күн бұрын

This guy is awesome!

@dustyrhodes1655 Жыл бұрын

Karl is a real American! He won't admit it but he is a legend in the community.

@nataliedeyton6829 2 жыл бұрын

This is gonna be good !!!!!

@larrynorton2533 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome story teller

@michaelcarter8209 2 жыл бұрын

Outstanding

@god-la-7wins-verdad-942 2 жыл бұрын

Loved the bloody stories…

@rtdc5662 2 жыл бұрын

Love that statement Karl made "Life is so much easier when you're not trying to impress anybody." I've lived my life with that attitude. So much posturing in this world. Everyone thinks they are some kind of big shot and everyone needs to pay attention to them. I just laugh at the tactical trucks and suvs with black wheels, black windows, and blah blah blah. Like this is some sort of transformer punisher video game. To me tactical is blending in. Not reving your truck every time you want people to pay attention to you.

@shawngutierrez1566 2 жыл бұрын

Iv been waiting for Karl to come on. Love both your channels!

@Mosey410 Жыл бұрын

Great interview ✊You should have him back

@discofishing 2 жыл бұрын

Karl! You rock!

@lannymurphy8983 2 жыл бұрын

Good show.

@jetobey5656 Жыл бұрын

Karl would have gone crazy wanting me as a medic. A medic who is an expert with many firearms, even an armorer and has civilian expertise in trauma treatment. We share the same background, but, until 9/11 I maintained CO status. At around 65 yoa a friend, a retired colonel who had been in combat in Iraq backed me when I tried to enlist as a no-extraction sniper in Afghanistan.

@bobstrawn4994 2 жыл бұрын

I was in Kandahar in 2002, I recall our SF, SEALS, the Canadians, and the German SF

@sintare1504 Жыл бұрын

It’s really something here these war hero’s tell their story. I takes real courage.

@sintare1504 Жыл бұрын

It*

@bricktopmedic 2 жыл бұрын

Approx: 32: 00 heard the LRSD Commo ref: to Jesse Rich! Literally the nicest guy on Earth! We were at 7th ID LRSD together!

@gregwright392 2 жыл бұрын

Karl's the man

@luisarteaga6074 2 жыл бұрын

Dope💯💯

@tofu8664 2 жыл бұрын

stay healthy old friend

@Andrew8533 2 жыл бұрын

I could listen to Karl ramble on for hours haha

@ravenrazerclaw 2 жыл бұрын

Legend True

@F3PIZZA 2 жыл бұрын

This is such a stupid thing to say but I can’t get over how Karl, Jack Murphy, Mark Owen, and Mike Perry all sound so similar.

@mylifeinthailand8751 2 жыл бұрын

12 strong was great, I need to see if there is a book on it

@user-rt8ik1ow4i 4 ай бұрын

Great story how he entered SF.

@johnh.nickels3832 2 жыл бұрын

Should have a Purple Heart for the hearing loss. As a guy going deaf it is a hindrance/ injury.

@chrisculley3756 2 жыл бұрын

Ha so funny. "We put the captain in the back. You no longer have a speaking part." Ah this guy's great. RLTW 3/75

@antidoteify 2 жыл бұрын

39:00 I like the voice imitation ;)

@reggierico Жыл бұрын

Sounds like you were from eastern Connecticut? I went to Ledyard High School. Dad was a nuclear submariner at the sub base there in Groton. I also worked at EB, Electric Boat, building Trident and LA class subs.

@DestindKnee Ай бұрын

Can believed ai missed this one

@user-rt8ik1ow4i 4 ай бұрын

We'd break in we wouldn't steal stuff but we stold fire extinguisher, isn't that stealing something?

@doulos77 2 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed it but wish his audio was better quality

@mgabriel2636 2 жыл бұрын

i can frequently hear a train engine noise 5 miles away at night. planes are noisy too.

@israeldees4416 2 жыл бұрын

Need to get with nick irving- the reaper

@yeastyg546 2 жыл бұрын

MY SEXY KARL!!!!!! I miss you buddy!

@TacticalRifleman 2 жыл бұрын

Poor Yeasty

@dillydoor 2 жыл бұрын

His stories on patreon are awesome. If you have a few extra dollars he's worth your time.

@cameronsanmarco8201 2 жыл бұрын

How can I send this Travis a donation?

@lilslicknick93 Жыл бұрын

I wish he would call himself the “Tactical rifleman Norm McDonald II”

@Rattagun46 2 жыл бұрын

interesting about the AC130 being spotted by tali, even at night and flying high, didnt someone else say the Afghans have awesome natural night vison due to less light pollutuion. was it shrek?