476: Dog Ain't Got Nuthin' For Ya. With Retired SEAL Harold "Dog" Underdown.

Harold Underdown serves as a prime example of dedication and evolution in military service, with an extensive career that spanned various aspects of Navy SEAL life and military operations around the world.

Underdown's Early Life and Path to Navy Seals

From his North Carolina roots, Underdown expressed a desire to serve his community based on an influential experience with a state trooper in his youth. While originally aspiring to become a North Carolina highway patrol trooper, Underdown's path took a turn due to administrative delays.

Aspiring Trooper From North Carolina

Harold Underdown's ambition to enforce the law came from an incident where a highway patrol trooper gave him a pivotal talking-to rather than punishment after a youthful misstep. Underdown passed the required tests to join the highway patrol and awaited an invitation to the academy in Raleigh.

Joined Army National Guard In High School, Then Became Navy Seal

Meanwhile, Underdown joined the Army National Guard in high school and experienced his first taste of military discipline at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His initial military career continued in the Air Guard as a flight medic. All the while, he was working at UPS and struggling with college due to the lack of discipline and the necessity to work.

An article about a candidate in BUD/S sparked his interest in becoming a Navy SEAL, leading him to serve eight years in the National Guard before achieving a total of 30 years and one month of service, including 28 years and 11 days of active Navy duty. He initially enlisted with an assigned rate as a boatswain's mate but eventually volunteered for the SEALs. Underdown's wanderlust, ignited in Germany with the National Guard, propelled him toward his career as a Navy SEAL, despite low public awareness about the SEALs at the time he joined.

Underdown's Experiences as a New Seal Team Member

Underdown's early days in SEAL platoons were marked by learning from seasoned team members and tackling the rigorous challenges of SEAL training.

Learned to Observe From Seal Veterans

In SEAL Team One, the culture was one of a "silent professional," where discipline was paramount. New SEAL members were encouraged to keep quiet and learn from their more experienced teammates. Underdown was also influenced by a retired SEAL working at the pool, among other mentors at SEAL Team One who taught him to observe quietly and train diligently.

Encountered a Tough-Love Senior Corpsman, Which Underdown Adopted

This tough-love approach was not just to assert authority; it was a method to ensure the new SEALs honed their skills effectively. Underdown appreciated that while he was put under pressure to meet the high standards, it was ultimately to improve him and his peers in their roles.

Underdown's Combat Deployments and Operations as a Seal

Underdown's deployments spanned various global hotsp ...

Harold Underdown's post-retirement career reflects a trajectory filled with various leadership and training roles within the SEAL Teams, starting with his transition into a training command and eventually leading SEAL Team 4.

Transitioned To Training and Leadership in Seal Teams

Seal Team Command Chief Guided and Disciplined Juniors

Underdown's leadership skills were pivotal to his career progression and promotions. Achieving the rank of master chief on the training command on the East Coast, his orders post-deployment included transitioning to a training role. He brought expertise from tier one operations to teach young SEALs and took on the role of senior chief in charge of assaults, focusing on Close Quarters Combat (CQC) and Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT).

Going through Navy instructor school and becoming a master training specialist (MTS), Underdown served as a sniper instructor, transferring knowledge from civilian shooters to SEALs. As an instructor, he engaged hands-on with SEAL trainees, ensuring they developed the essential field craft and stalking skills necessary for their operations.

Managed Sensitive Protection Details for Iraqi Government Officials

In his leadership roles, Underdown also had the responsibility of overseeing protection details for high-ranking Iraqi government officials, ensuring their security 24/7. During his time as the master chief of SEAL Team 4, the team was tasked with protecting the newly selected Iraqi cabinet. Underdown managed resources including a full platoon of MPs with up-armored Humvees, weapons, and helicopter support. He also engaged in training Iraqi partners in marksmanship, further indicating a role in training and leadership.

Held Senior Roles in Seal Training and Special Operations Commands

Underdown's expertise was not limited to ground operations but extended into strategic operations and decision-making. He became the J3 master chief, a critical position for briefing and debriefing SEAL teams deploying into South American countries.

In these roles, Underd ...

The journey of "Four Branches Bourbon" from inception to market encapsulates the entrepreneurial spirit of its founder, Harold Underdown, and his partners, as they leveraged military experience to create a unique, quality bourbon brand that honors service and supports veteran communities.

Underdown's Transition to Business After Navy Retirement

After his Navy retirement and taking a year-long break when his father passed, Harold Underdown transitioned to civilian business life by reaching out to his Navy Seal Foundation contacts. Learning the ropes of logistics and freight movement laid the groundwork for his entrepreneurial journey, ultimately culminating in the co-founding of Four Branches Bourbon.

Networking Via Navy Seal Foundation

Underdown emphasizes the importance of networking and not burning bridges, allowing him to secure a critical logistics role post-navy. His meeting with Rick Franco, through his time in the Bahamas at Baker's Bay, was a pivotal moment that initiated the brand's inception.

Explored Opportunities Before Co-founding Four Branches Bourbon

Through careful exploration and partnership with like-minded individuals, including Rick Franco and other veterans from different military branches, Underdown states their goal with Four Branches Bourbon was to create a strong brand and ensure a quality product in the bottle, as opposed to just marketing a generic spirit.

Developing the Four Branches Bourbon Brand

Underdown and his team faced the initial challenge of connecting with distilleries, but eventually partnered with Bardstown Bourbon Company to craft a distinctive bourbon blend that explores the nexus of quality and military tribute.

Partnered With Distillers to Craft a Unique Four-Grain Bourbon Recipe

Partnering with a master distiller, they created a four-grain recipe to reflect the four military branches represented by the company founders. This product blend includes wheat, which is 5% of the blend, and imparts a softening effect likened to butter. They also settled on a 96-proof offering to balance flavor and approachability.

Branding and Packaging Honoring Military Branches

The brand’s packaging subtly honors the four military branches through a logo on a premium diamond bottle. The neck tag denotes the founders' military background, and the brand name “Four Branches” directly alludes to the different military divisions. The brand uses a purple top unique among American Spirits bottles, a nod to joint operations, and relentlessly pursues authenticity and recognition.

Underdown's Role In Promoting Four Branches Bourbon

Underdown's military background and his partners' shared experiences shape the promotion strategies and community engagements that define the Four Branches Bourbon brand.

...