Podcasts > Shawn Ryan Show > #201 Jon Truett - Optimizing Human Performance

#201 Jon Truett - Optimizing Human Performance

By Shawn Ryan Show

In this episode of the Shawn Ryan Show, Jon Truett discusses his journey from his early life in southeast England through his 23-year military career in the Special Air Service (SAS). As one of only 26 candidates who completed the rigorous SAS selection process out of 240 initial applicants, Truett served 19 tours, many in Iraq, where he specialized as both a breacher and Joint Terminal Attack Controller.

The conversation explores how personal tragedies and the intense stress of military service affected Truett's physical and mental health, leading to various neurological symptoms. Truett also shares his current work as an ambassador for N mez groups, where he helps develop muscle stimulation and breathing optimization technology to enhance human performance and support veterans and conflict survivors through rehabilitation programs.

#201 Jon Truett - Optimizing Human Performance

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#201 Jon Truett - Optimizing Human Performance

1-Page Summary

Early Life and Education

Jon Truitt grew up in southeast England with a builder/Olympic sailor father and an architect/milk recorder mother. Despite a happy outdoor childhood, Jon faced challenges when he began boarding school at age seven. Though he struggled with the strict environment, Jon excelled in both music and sports, eventually earning scholarships to attend Eton College. At Eton, he continued to demonstrate athletic and academic prowess while grappling with the institution's rigid structure.

Military Career in the SAS

Inspired by his brother's service in the Parachute Regiment, Jon joined the military in 1998 and pursued the elite Special Air Service (SAS). He completed the grueling six-month selection process at age 24-25, emerging as one of just 26 successful candidates from an initial 240. During his 23-year career, Jon served 19 tours, many in Iraq during the early 2000s. He specialized as both a breacher and Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), working closely with US forces in increasingly challenging conditions.

Personal Tragedies and Professional Challenges

While serving, Jon experienced significant personal losses—his mother died in a car accident in 2004, followed by his father's death from a heart attack in 2005. His military career also took its toll, with Jon experiencing behavioral and neurological changes, including alopecia and mini seizures, which he attributes to the intense stress of his work. After leaving service in 2021, Jon faced challenges in transitioning to civilian life while seeking new ways to apply his unique skill set.

Human Performance Technology and Rehabilitation Work

Jon now serves as an ambassador for N mez groups, a company developing innovative muscle stimulation and breathing optimization suits. These non-invasive technologies aim to enhance human performance and aid in rehabilitation, particularly for veterans and conflict survivors. Jon collaborates with experts to address the impacts of high-stress occupations and works with organizations like the Unbroken Foundation to support conflict survivors through sports therapy and technological innovation.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Actionables

  • You can explore resilience through personal history by writing a memoir or journal that captures your own life challenges and triumphs, similar to how Jon's journey was shared. Start by jotting down significant life events, both positive and negative, and reflect on how they shaped your character and abilities. This can be a therapeutic exercise and may also inspire others if you choose to share it.
  • Develop a support network for transitioning to new life phases by creating a small group with friends or community members who are also going through significant changes. Meet regularly to discuss the challenges and strategies for adapting to new circumstances, much like Jon did when transitioning to civilian life. This could be done through virtual meetings or local coffee shop gatherings.
  • Engage in a new physical activity that combines fitness with a cause, inspired by Jon's involvement in sports therapy for conflict survivors. For example, participate in charity runs or start a workout group that raises funds for a chosen cause. This not only benefits your health but also contributes to the well-being of others, creating a sense of purpose and community.

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#201 Jon Truett - Optimizing Human Performance

Jon Truitt's Background, Childhood, and Early Life

Jon Truitt’s story begins in the southeast of England, shaped by a joyful outdoor childhood, challenging school experiences, and extraordinary talents in both music and sports.

Jon Was Raised In Southeast England by a Sailor Father and an Architect and Milk Recorder Mother

Jon Truitt describes a very happy childhood spent primarily outdoors in a house constantly under construction by his builder father. His parents moved from London to the southeast before he was born. Jon's father was not only a builder and ran a small building company but also a competition sailor, having sailed in the Olympics and built his own boat. His mother was an architect and a milk recorder, and Jon recalls mornings waking on a farm in the back of a car while his mother worked. Despite not always agreeing with his father, Jon's mother was supportive of her husband, particularly regarding their children’s education. Jon paints a landscape of his youth filled with the energetic involvement of both his mother and father in his upbringing.

Jon's Happy Childhood; Challenges at Boarding School Starting Age 7

Jon Truitt recalls attending boarding school starting at age seven, where he encountered "quite tough experiences," including homesickness, strict rules, and limited contact with his parents. Jon often found himself in trouble for activities like leaving the school to get chocolate or go to the cinema—acts the school deemed "running away." Despite his troubles, Jon does not remember his childhood as unhappy and credits a lower master at the school for including him in family dinners under the pretense of chores, which provided him moments of care and normalcy.

Truitt's parents made sacrifices to offer him and his brother opportunities for a better education, deciding on the tough love of boarding school and later consulting with the institution for a psychological evaluation of Jon and his challenges.

Jon Excelled At Music and Sports, Earning Scholarships To Eton College

Continuing his educational journey, Jon was removed from his first boarding school at around age 11 due to challenging behavior, finding refuge in a day school for a year, where he enjoyed rugby. Leveraging hi ...

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Jon Truitt's Background, Childhood, and Early Life

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Actionables

  • Reflect on your childhood to identify core values by writing down your most vivid memories and the lessons they taught you, similar to how Jon's outdoor childhood influenced his values. For example, if you remember spending time in the kitchen with family, you might realize that community and sharing are important to you.
  • Create a personal growth plan that challenges your comfort zone by setting goals in areas where you've previously faced difficulties, much like Jon's experiences at boarding school. If public speaking has always been a challenge, commit to joining a local speaking club or volunteering for presentations at work to build confidence.
  • Evaluate and adjust your environment to bett ...

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#201 Jon Truett - Optimizing Human Performance

Jon's Military Career, Especially in the SAS

Jon's journey into the world of the Special Air Service (SAS) began with an unwavering determination to join the military under the influence of his brother, a commissioned officer in the Parachute Regiment, and led to 19 action-packed tours.

Jon Joined the Elite SAS Unit In His 20s After Completing the Selection Process

Driven by the support from the Parachute Regiment and guided by the life lessons from his roofing job, Jon enlisted in the military in November 1998 and, by 2002, set his sights on the SAS. His initiative led him through a grueling six-month selection process at around the age of 24 or 25, sharpening his skills in navigation and other essential tasks meant for elite soldiers.

SAS Selection Involved Intense Challenges Over Six Months to Test Candidates' Suitability

As Jon undertook the SAS selection process, he faced 182 days of demanding tests and challenges. The process stripped down the physical differences among candidates, leaving their mental fortitude bare. Training involved intense physical tasks like continuous runs and hill marches. During these challenging times, candidates honed skills through tuition preparing for test week, under the watchful eye of the Directing Staff (DS) who provided no encouragement to ensure only the most persistent and suitable remained.

The selection process's first part was intensely physical, which is where most candidates dropped out. This was followed by specialized training in harsh environments such as the jungle, where the ability to operate as part of a team and individual survival skills were tested to the extreme under conditions designed to tempt candidates into taking easy ways out. Eventually, Jon was one of the approximately 26 men out of an initial 240 hopefuls to earn the right to wear the SAS beret, and he became a part of an elite unit entrusted with the nation's most critical and dangerous missions.

Jon Served 19 Tours Over 23 Years, Many in Early 2000s Iraq

Jon was quickly deployed to Iraq after passing selection, arriving in Baghdad to witness the initial sense of hope which soon gave way to the reality of war and escalating complexity. As conditions worsened, Jon observed the marked shift from mission to mission, with his experiences amounting to 19 deployments, during which he witnessed significant events, like aircraft being shot down and collective bravery in the face of loss.

Jon's SAS Unit Collaborated With US Forces In Worsening Iraq Conditions

In Iraq, Jon's SAS unit often found itself in collaboration with US forces, encountering an increasingly coordinated enemy amidst the deepening crisis. The response to harrowing situations, like a downed Hercules aircraft, exemplified the multifaceted threats they navigated and the close inter-allied operational ties, partic ...

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Jon's Military Career, Especially in the SAS

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Actionables

  • Challenge yourself with a new physical activity to build resilience, like signing up for a local obstacle course race. This can mirror the physical challenges faced in military selection and help you understand your own limits and capabilities. For example, participating in a Tough Mudder or Spartan Race requires no special skills and can be a fun way to test your endurance and mental toughness.
  • Develop a personal growth plan that includes learning a new skill every six months, reflecting the continuous learning aspect of the selection process. You might start with a basic first aid course and then move on to learning a new language or coding. This approach encourages adaptability and persistence, qualities essential in high-pressure environments.
  • Volunteer for roles in community organizations that r ...

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#201 Jon Truett - Optimizing Human Performance

Jon's Tragedies and Challenges During and After Military Service

Jon's career has been marked by personal tragedies and professional challenges that highlight the complex realities of military service and its aftermath.

Jon Lost His Mother In 2004's Accident, His Father To a 2005 Heart Attack While Serving

Jon's Parents' Sudden Deaths Impacted Him, but He Stayed Dedicated to Military Duties

Jon endured the loss of both parents while fulfilling military duties. His mother died in 2004 following a severe car accident involving a woman who knew her personally. Dealing with the aftermath, Jon discovered some inconsistencies in the police report and took it upon himself to investigate. This tragedy deeply affected Jon's father, who became hollowed out by grief. Jon describes his father's transition to deep grief, marked by his morning tea routine. Unfortunately, Jon's father passed away from a heart attack the following year, a loss compounded by the holiday season's emotional weight. Despite these personal losses, Jon did not see the point of missing work, reflecting on his parents’ deaths healthily and feeling grateful for their legacy.

Jon's Behavioral and Neurological Changes Attributed To SAS Career Stress

Jon dealt with alopecia and changes in behavior during his military career—symptoms he retrospectively recognized as manifestations of stress, potentially exacerbated by the grief of losing his parents. His colleagues noticed an increase in his security awareness, an uncharacteristic sign of his mounting professional stress. He also experienced mini seizures, likely related to his intensive explosives training. Jon attributes these behavioral and neurological changes not just to trauma, but also to the continuous exposure to high-stress conditions. He managed to recalibrate after gaining a space for reflection, indicating a self-awareness of his experiences and the impacts they had on his mental and physical health.

Jon's Post-SAS Identit ...

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Jon's Tragedies and Challenges During and After Military Service

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Actionables

  • You can create a personal resilience journal to track your emotional and mental state during challenging times. Start by writing daily entries about your feelings, stressors, and coping mechanisms. This practice can help you identify patterns in your stress responses and develop strategies to manage them more effectively, similar to how reflection aided Jon in recalibrating.
  • Develop a transition plan if you're anticipating a major life change, such as a career shift. Outline the skills and experiences you want to carry over, and identify new areas you wish to explore. This mirrors Jon's post-military transition and can help you navigate changes more smoothly by setting clear goals and action steps.
  • Volunteer for a cause that resonates with ...

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#201 Jon Truett - Optimizing Human Performance

Jon's Work and Interests in Hpt and Rehabilitation

Jon is deeply involved in developing and advocating for non-invasive technologies to enhance human performance and aid in rehabilitation, with a strong focus on aiding veterans, conflict survivors, and those with high-stress occupations.

Jon Develops Non-invasive Technologies to Enhance Human Performance

Jon Is an Ambassador and Subject for a Company Pioneering Suits For Muscle Stimulation and Breathing Optimization to Improve Athletic, Medical, and Therapeutic Outcomes

Jon is an ambassador and data subject for a company pioneering the use of suits for muscle stimulation and breathing optimization. This company is called N mez groups, which stands for neuromuscular electrostimulation group. They are engineering a superconductive membrane that can be made into clothing, leading to the development of a suit used for training and improving physiological functions such as metabolic change at a cellular level.

Jon speaks about his role with N mez groups, positioning him at the forefront of technological advancements. These advancements are designed to enhance athletic, medical, and therapeutic outcomes, making Jon a vital figure in the promotion and application of human performance technologies (HPT).

He discusses how he uses a suit for muscle stimulation, a first-generation product that has been taken off the market as they consolidate to support the war injured. The suit includes a membrane designed to be highly effective, with medically graded waveforms authored for neurological conditions and has customization capabilities, such as varying the number of stimulation points, to suit different needs and applications.

Jon also explains the development and prospects of a new generation of suits hand-made by a team in Taiwan that are integrated with advancing technology. These suits, adaptable and applicable to various specialist professions, challenge human biology and encounter environments where radiation or explosive blasts are present.

Jon Collaborates With Experts to Mitigate High-Stress Occupation Impacts

Jon Applies Technology to Aid Veterans' and Conflict Survivors' Recovery and Reintegration

Jon showcases a strong commitment to using these technologies to aid the recovery and reintegration of veterans and conflict survivors. He discusses the implications of high-stress occupations on human biology, resulting in conditions like 'operator syndrome,' and the potential benefits of boosting physiological functions to address the impact of such environments.

He mentions the use of a suit that remaps pathways and builds vascular access back, which has been effective in a simplified form and is part of a current project aimed at rehabilitating individuals with war injuries. Jon speaks of working with MMS Group AB and experts who create waveforms to initiate changes in the body, which can vary based on individual biology.

Jon also talks about how non-invasive technology has been used for significant health improvements, citing a case where a patient with severe health issues made a dramatic recovery. This technology has also been applied to a rugby player's sister with Guillain-Barre syndrome and a veteran, Duncan Slater, assisting in their rehabilitation efforts.

He stresses the importance of accessibility and affordability, especially for therapeutic use cases, and how the company he's assoc ...

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Jon's Work and Interests in Hpt and Rehabilitation

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves. This leads to muscle weakness, often starting in the feet and hands and spreading upwards. GBS can be triggered by infections or vaccinations, and it can cause severe complications such as respiratory muscle weakness. The diagnosis is typically based on symptoms, exclusion of other causes, and specific tests like nerve conduction studies.
  • Amputee football tournaments are organized events where individuals with limb amputations participate in football matches. These tournaments provide a platform for amputee athletes to showcase their skills and compete in a sup ...

Counterarguments

  • The efficacy of neuromuscular electrostimulation suits for rehabilitation and performance enhancement may not be conclusively proven, and more peer-reviewed research may be needed to validate their benefits.
  • While Jon's work is commendable, it's important to ensure that the technologies developed are accessible and affordable to the populations that need them, such as veterans and conflict survivors.
  • The focus on high-tech solutions for rehabilitation may overshadow or underfund more traditional and equally important methods of rehabilitation, such as physical therapy and psychological support.
  • The use of machine learning in prosthetics, while innovative, may raise concerns about data privacy and the need for robust ethical frameworks to protect users' information.
  • Collaboration with commercial entities like N mez groups could potentially lead to conflicts of interest, where the promotion of certain technologies might overshadow objective assessments of their effectiveness.
  • The narrative may overemphasize the role of a single individual in what is typically a broad, interdisciplinary effort to develop and implement new rehabilitation technologies.
  • The long-term sustainability of initiatives like sports therapy tournaments for conflict survivors may depend on consistent funding and community support, which can be challeng ...

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