Got Blown Up, Eventually Lost His Leg But Still Tried Out For Delta (Twice) | Ep. 297

Jay Collins spent 23 years in Army Special Forces, serving in South America and the Middle East as a Green Beret, where he was shot in the arm and ultimately lost a leg from injuries sustained in combat. A recipient of two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and the Combat Infantryman Badge, Jay went on to serve in the Florida State Senate and now serves as Lieutenant Governor of Florida, currently running for Governor. In this episode, he takes us back to Firebase Anaconda in Afghanistan, one of the worst defensible positions imaginable, and breaks down the presence patrol where he took a round to the arm, the mortar blast that would silently cost him his leg years later, and what it took to keep fighting through all of it. If you like this, click subscribe, like and share with a friend. ---------- Support Jay Collins https://www.jayforflorida.com/ https://x.com/JayCollinsFL   / jaycollinsfl     / jaycollinsfl     / jarrid-%22jay%22-collins-b737aa58   ---------- SPONSORS MARS MEN For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at https://mengotomars.com/ AMERICAN FINANCING NMLS #182334 nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-891-3262 for details about credit, costs and terms. Visit https://AmericanFinancing.net/MikeDrop. Average savings based on borrowers who save over $199.99 BEAM Here’s the deal: Beam is giving my listeners the ultimate patriot discount of UP TO 40% off. Try their best‑selling Dream Powder and get UP TO 40% off for a limited time. Go to https://shopbeam.com/products/dream-p... and use code MIKEDROP at checkout. QUO Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://quo.com/mikedrop AMERICA'S GOLD COMPANY https://ClaimMyGoldGuide.com/MIKEDROP to claim your FREE 2026 Gold Guide from America’s Gold Company NAVY SEALS FITNESS APP | HYBRID STRENGTH & CONDITIONING TRAINING Train like a SEAL with Mike Ritland's App. Build real-world strength, endurance and resilience. https://www.coachos-app.com/navy-seals TEAM DOG FOOD, TREATS & SUPPLEMENTS Be Your Dog’s Hero: Veteran-owned by a former Navy SEAL and Special Operations K9 Trainer, Team Dog provides a complete diet of science-backed premium dog food, treats, and supplements to optimize your dog’s health, forged from rigorous standards and real-world expertise. https://www.teamdog.shop TEAM DOG ONLINE TRAINING Mike Ritland – a former Navy SEAL & Special Operations K9 trainer – shares his simple and effective dog training program to build trust and control with your dog. Based on Mike’s bestselling book “Team Dog, Train the Navy SEAL Way”, join tens of thousands of families that successfully trained their way to a better dog. https://www.teamdog.pet SHOP ALL THE MIKE RITLAND BRANDS Get all your Mike Ritland branded gear - Mike Drop | Trikos | Team Dog https://shop.mikeritland.com CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:37 - Last Book Read 00:06:06 - Death Threats 00:07:17 - Constitutional Carry 00:10:36 - EDC & Carry 00:13:01 - Farm Childhood 00:18:22 - Military Calling 00:22:41 - Path to SF 00:27:03 - First SF Deployment 00:31:25 - Firebase Anaconda 00:33:48 - Getting Shot 00:36:38 - Mortar Injury 00:42:38 - Leg Deterioration 00:45:01 - Delta Selection Attempt 00:51:06 - Leg Amputation 00:51:56 - Mars Men Ad 00:53:43 - American Financing Ad 00:56:39 - Walter Reed & Odiero 01:00:21 - Re-qualifying One-Legged 01:02:23 - OSW & Medic Programs 01:05:01 - Retirement Decision 01:08:35 - Transition to Civilian 01:14:02 - Operation Barbecue Relief 01:18:44 - Entering Politics 01:22:48 - Running for Congress 01:25:41 - State Senate Win 01:29:33 - Banning China Land Buys 01:31:03 - Socialism/Communism Bill 01:31:52 - BEAM Ad 01:33:28 - QUO Ad 01:34:56 - America's Gold Company Ad 01:36:27 - Iran Discussion 01:44:05 - Marco Rubio & Messaging 01:46:54 - Florida Economy 01:51:04 - VA Reform Plan 02:03:36 - Federal vs State Budget 02:09:11 - Trump vs Reagan Comms 02:20:20 - Social Media & Kids 02:30:05 - Trump Decorum Discussion 02:42:27 - AI Regulation 02:49:54 - Data Centers & Hyperscalers 02:52:00 - Nuclear Energy Push 02:56:12 - Trades & Education Gap 03:03:07 - SF Lessons for Politics 03:05:08 - Lt. Governor Role 03:09:19 - Biggest Florida Challenge 03:10:19 - American Dream Reflection 03:10:26 - Faith in Leadership 03:13:22 - Governor's Race Pitch #MikeRitland #veteran #military #Geopolitics #MikeRitlandPodcast #JayCollins #SpecialForces #ConstitutionalCarry #FloridaGovernor #NuclearEnergy #MiltonFriedman #GreenBeret #FoxNews #NavySEALs #USMilitaryHistory #MilitaryPodcast #SpecialOperations #Trump #JDVance #ShawnRyan #DeltaForce #WarStories #GreenBeretsTraining #MilitaryHistory #MikeDrop #SEAL