Urban Valor: the podcast
Welcome to Urban Valor, where we hear the stories of our veteran heroes in their own words. Within these vet interviews, you'll hear everything from combat stories, life stories pre/post military, military transition, and everything in between. Our interviews aren't just war stories or combat veteran interviews, but interviews from any military veteran willing to share. Our mission is to educate the masses with what military veterans go through while serving their country and how life has been since their military transition back to civilian life. Join our cause, online community, and show your support for Urban Valor at https://urbanvalor.com
Urban Valor: the podcast
He Survived a Meth Overdose and Became a Special Forces Soldier
This is one of the wildest military redemption stories I’ve ever heard.
Shawn Vance was a former college athlete who spiraled hard—stealing for the thrill, smoking weed daily, and eventually overdosing on meth he found while picking up trash on the freeway. The overdose wrecked his heart. He could’ve died. Should’ve, honestly.
But instead… he enlisted in the Army through the 18X program and clawed his way into Special Forces.
In this Urban Valor episode, Shawn walks us through the full ride—from near-death overdose and felony arrest, to surviving Green Beret selection, passing the Q-Course, and becoming a Special Forces Medic (18D).
We break down:
– How Special Forces Selection (SFAS) really works
– Why so many 18X candidates fail out
– What actually happens during the Q-Course and SERE
– How the Army gave him the structure to turn it all around
If you’re into real stories about resilience, transformation, and the ugly truth behind “elite” military training—this one’s gonna hit.
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