#118 Nick Irving - "The Reaper"

Nick Irving recounts his rigorous career as an Army Ranger and sniper, reflecting on the intense demands of training and the battlefield, as well as his personal battles with PTSD upon his transition to civilian life.

Rigorous selection and training process to become a Ranger and sniper

The path to becoming an Army Ranger and sniper was marked by arduous training programs and challenging selection processes.

Challenging Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) with high attrition rate

Irving didn’t become a SEAL due to colorblindness; instead, he chose the Rangers, drawn by their reputation akin to Navy SEALs but without the swimming requirement. His military aspirations heightened after the events of 9/11, as he yearned to contribute. Following his enlistment, Irving experienced a terrifying introduction to his team at the 3rd Ranger Battalion and doubts about keeping up with the demanding military lifestyle. Tough team integration rituals like heavy drinking and physically taxing exercises like airfield seizures introduced him to Ranger life.

Irving recalls his intense journey through the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP). He describes the month-long selection process as a continual physical challenge, with activities ranging from lengthy ruck marches to log carries, and minimal sleep. The high attrition rates of the program are evidenced by the small number of graduates from his initial class, which dwindled down to only seven.

Specialized sniper training, including civilian long-range shooting courses

With the goal of becoming a sniper since childhood and being a keen shot, Irving lost 35 pounds during Ranger School and endured sickness. During the specialized sniper selection process, only seven out of fourteen candidates were chosen, including Irving. He undertook civilian sniper courses, which he credits as some of the best shooting training of his military career. These included high-angle training in Texas and paved the way for passing the challenging sniper school. He also recalls exercises aimed at honing observational skills, like identifying camouflaged military items at a distance.

Intense combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan

Irving's combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan were characterized by a high operational tempo and numerous combat engagements.

First deployment in Iraq with high operational tempo and numerous combat engagements

Shortly after Ranger School, Irving deployed to Baghdad, where he experienced non-stop missions, including an intense 120 operations within 90 days. He details his first heavy firefight against enemy snipers on a rooftop, and another incident where a downed helicopter prompted an immediate response and rescue. Irving describes a real baptism by fire as engagements rapidly escalated f ...

The tale of Irving's transition from military to civilian life underscores the profound personal battles many veterans face, including dealing with PTSD, depression, and the brink of suicide, and the importance of having support during recovery.

Diffileges adjusting to civilian life and lack of purpose

Since leaving the military, Irving describes his life as feeling emptiness and a severe lack of purpose. He experienced significant challenges in adjusting to civilian life, struggling with the transition from the clear, survival-focused objectives of combat to the numerous complexities of daily life, such as financial responsibilities and school.

Self-medicating with alcohol and suicidal ideation

Irving had a haunting moment with a bottle of Jack Daniels and a Glock pistol, contemplating the value of his existence in contrast to the lives of his fallen comrades. He indicates that the writing process served as his means of coping, somewhat of a self-medication during his darkest times when everything seemed to be crashing down around him.

Supportive role of wife in recovery process

While struggling to redefine himself and his purpose, Irving’s wife played a monumental role. She was always ready to talk, offering a stable pillar of suppo ...

Disillusionment with Christianity and search for higher meaning

Nick Irving grew up with exposure to occult practices due to his family and surroundings. A prevailing sense of disillusionment with Christianity seems to have led Irving on a quest for deeper meaning. Early influences included the presence of a Ouija board in his home, rituals handed down by his father from his time in the army, and his grandmother's exposure to voodoo. His father, being a Freemason, introduced him to Freemasonry, where Irving reached the third degree and respected the order's traditions and secrets. His family practices, which included attempting to make a person levitate and listening to hell, added to his early curiosity.

Experimenting with witchcraft and Freemasonry

Irving experimented with witchcraft for a year, practicing what he considered "light magic," performing chants, and conducting seances. He dabbled in reading works by Alistair Crowley and was interested in Crowley's involvement with Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite, revealing his exploration beyond traditional religious boundaries. In his Freemasonic journey, Irving found the rituals compelling, likening them to a theatrical reenactment rich with tradition.

Profound psychedelic experiences leading to spiritual awakening

Irving's military experiences eroded his Christian faith, particularly during his last deployment when he witnessed immense suffering and loss. However, a powerful psychedelic experience catalyzed his spiritual awakening, helping him to forgive his parents and reevaluate his relationships. This profound encounter led him to Enlightenment ideas, suggesting an interconnectedness of all things and the possibility of reaching a higher state of consciousness.

Embracing a more holistic, consciousness-based worldview

Belief in interconnected nature of reality and the divine

After his profound experiences, Irving developed a belief in the interconnected nature of reality and the divine. He saw individuals' souls as rays from the divine source, envisaging life as a dream from a higher dimension. This perspective sees every being and occurrence as part of a holistic divine experience, pointing toward an interconnected consciousness transcending ph ...

Shawn Ryan and Nick Irving articulate a deep skepticism of government, media, and corporate institutions, referencing historical and current events as evidence of manipulation and deceit.

Doubths about the true motives behind the Iraq/Afghanistan wars

Role of military-industrial complex and profiteering

Shawn Ryan and Nick Irving consider whether the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan were worth it, citing the questionable motives behind them. They raise skepticism about the public narrative provided by authorities and the media. Discussing Dick Cheney's role as former CEO of Halliburton and profiteering from the Iraq War, they underscore the involvement of the military-industrial complex. They express belief that the Global War on Terrorism was based on lies, with Irving questioning if the U.S. was fighting farmers defending their land rather than actual enemies. They further imply that financial interests—specifically of Halliburton and KBR—were a driving force behind the Iraq conflict, suggesting a conflict of interest given Cheney's positions.

Lack of accountability and transparency

The speakers express concerns about the lack of accountability and transparency accompanying these wars. They allude to Woodrow Wilson's historical warning about the military-industrial complex, highlighting a long-standing worry over unchecked expansion in this sector.

Corruption in the pharmaceutical industry and suppression of alternative treatments

Influence of pharmaceutical companies and regulatory bodies

Ryan delivers a scathing critique of the pharmaceutical industry, pointing to the Rockefeller family's influence in steering the industry away from natural Eastern medicine and toward profit-driven pharmaceuticals. He raises suspicions about the FDA's role in approving drugs with severe side effects and interrogates the overall health outcomes of the products sanctioned by regulatory agencies.

Potential for psychedelics and natural remedies

Ryan shares his positive experiences with psychedelics and advocates for their potential in treating a range of conditions, suggesting that their adoption could threaten the pharmaceutical dependency on drugs like benzodiazepines and opiates. He narrates a friend's successful treatment with Ib ...