Episode 216: Byron Russell "From CIF Hits to Startup Grit"
Byron Russell didn’t run from hard things—he ran toward them. Abused childhood. Infantry to Special Forces CIF in 5th Group. Afghanistan’s invasion, Iraq’s hardest nights, and the moral calculus of war. Then the toughest chapter: coming home, grieving, and unlearning the habits of combat to become a better dad, husband, and builder. Today he leads Black Armor Guns and Greybeard Syndicate, teaches drone defense and land navigation, and shares the lessons that kept him alive—and honest.We talk selection mindset and why Green Berets are teachers first, hearts and minds versus ideology, contractor friction, regret and family, starting a sub-MOA rifle company, and why staying busy is survival.
Watch, share, and drop your takeaway in the comments. Your story might help someone else write their second chapter.
Find ByronBlack Armor Guns site: blackarmorguns.us
Instagram: black_armor_guns
Greybeard Syndicate YouTube and site
Find DTD PodcastYouTube: Dynamic Tales Delivered
DTDpodcast.net
Instagram: dtd_podcast
Partner shoutNomadicResearch.com — travel tough, live ready
00:00 Intro
03:44 Why he joined and escaping abuse
07:17 Finding the first real male role models
14:01 80s and 90s Army vs GWOT pivot
21:46 Green Berets are teachers first
26:09 The image from Afghanistan he can’t forget
33:59 Taliban control and ideology
44:34 Iraq reality and DA tempo
51:55 Coming home and choosing family
55:10 Civilian work and transition pain
1:30:11 Building Black Armor Guns and standards
1:42:41 Greybeard Syndicate and community
1:50:33 Stay busy or die inside
1:52:01 Advice to his 18-year-old self
1:55:24 Proudest moment and legacy
1:57:29 Where to find Byron
#Veterans #GreenBeret #SpecialForces #GWOT #Afghanistan #IraqWar #DirectAction #Leadership #Transition #Entrepreneurship #Firearms #PrecisionRifle #SubMOA #DroneDefense #LandNav #GreybeardSyndicate #BlackArmorGuns #Resilience #MentalHealth #Family #Podcast #DTDpodcast #NomadicResearch #soft
INTRO and OUTRO music written,performed, and provided by the band Rattle Root. Check them out below.
Byron Russell
Owner
Byron Russell is a retired Green Beret from A Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group — better known as A15, the CIF company. He served in the invasion of Afghanistan and completed multiple combat tours in Iraq conducting hostage rescue and direct-action missions. After retiring, he founded Black Armor Guns, a custom rifle company, and Greybeard Syndicate, an apparel and media brand that celebrates the warrior lifestyle.
