LT Brad Snyder here, what questions do you have for me?

LT Brad Snyder — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 08:38:47 -0400

*RP Staff will be monitoring this Discussion*

From "Fire In My Eyes":
In Afghanistan, Lieutenant Brad Snyder had one of the world's most dangerous jobs: to find and destroy enemy bombs, as an elite US Navy Special Operations warrior. On September 7, 2011, the former Naval Academy captain of the swim team stepped on an IED while helping save the lives of his patrol's Afghan counterparts. The subsequent explosion left Snyder permanently blind.

On September 7, 2012, Snyder won a gold medal in men's swimming for Team USA. He currently holds the world record for the 100m amongst blind swimmers.

From RP Team:
We're honored to welcome Lt Snyder to RallyPoint for a live Q&A this afternoon, 10/11/2016 at 4:00pm EST. Post your questions below!

To learn more about Lt Snyder's story, grab a copy of his book "Fire In My Eyes" here:
https://www.amazon.com/Fire-My-Eyes-Warrior%C2%92s-Battlefield/dp/ [login to see] /ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid= [login to see] &sr=8-1&keywords=fire+in+my+eyes

Amazon.com: Fire in My Eyes: An American Warriors Journey from Being Blinded on the Battlefield...

Buy Fire in My Eyes: An American WarriorÂs Journey from Being Blinded on the Battlefield to Gold Medal Victory on Amazon.com â FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders

Response by Candy Alkaabi made Oct 11 at 2016 8:47 AM

Candy Alkaabi — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 08:47:53 -0400

What is your favorite hobby? I know it seems ordinary to ask but I love to hear about things people like to do....

Response by Nick Petros made Oct 11 at 2016 8:51 AM

Nick Petros — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 08:51:37 -0400

What was the training regiment like? How did you make it from injury to Olympic Gold level inside of one year?

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Oct 11 at 2016 8:52 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 08:52:48 -0400

First of all, I salute you LT Brad Snyder and offer a heartfelt Thank You Sir! Thanks for serving our country and thank you for continuing to give back to our nation and its service men and women by giving us all an opportunity to interact with you. I truly believe this is an opportunity to help many currently serving or reach Veterans as well. Congratulations on competing for and winning the Gold medal and also congratulations on setting the world record!

My question: After your injury, did you ever find yourself going into the dark hole of depression? Was swimming more than competing for you, is the physical aspect therapeutic in a sense and giving you balance and continued purpose to live as close to a normal life after your service? Sir, once again, Thank You!

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Oct 11 at 2016 8:56 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 08:56:24 -0400

Your story of overcoming challenges is inspiring to all of us. What is the source of your determination and grit to keep pushing yourself for self-improvement and achieving huge goals, no matter what the obstacle?

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Oct 11 at 2016 9:04 AM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:04:20 -0400

I salute you, commend you, laud you, praise you, respect you, honor you: BE
YOND BELIEF, Sir.
You are the Finest of the Finest, the Best of the Best.
I highly Salute You and Send You my Warmest Regards, Sir-
SPC Margaret C Higgins US Army (Ret) LT Brad Snyder

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2016 9:25 AM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:25:02 -0400

Thank you LT Brad Snyder for everything you've done and sacrificed for our great country, it is an honor to have served in the same military with men like yourself.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2016 9:26 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:26:13 -0400

You are a personal hero, Sir! What are some words of wisdom you have when things seem impossible to overcome?

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Oct 11 at 2016 9:27 AM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:27:40 -0400

Hi, thanks for joining us. I'm friends with Scott Smiley, who I'm guessing you may know. My question is... how do you think the military should handle those that have been permanently injured but wish to continue serving in some capacity? We did that in WWII, but obviously a different era. Still, there are many who are injured today but can still contribute and wish to do so. What are your thoughts on this?

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Oct 11 at 2016 9:28 AM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:28:38 -0400

Sir, thank you for your service and welcome to Rally Point.

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Oct 11 at 2016 9:40 AM

Capt Brandon Charters — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:40:23 -0400

Honored to have you here with us LT Brad Snyder. What has been the greatest source of motivation in your life and how have you harnessed it each day to accomplish such incredible things?

Response by SSG Drew Cook made Oct 11 at 2016 10:00 AM

SSG Drew Cook — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 10:00:37 -0400

LT Brad Snyder First things first- we all here are proud of your service and your incredible journey to overcome disability. Unfortunately, most RP folks only care about politics, so my question to you is: what does the gold medal taste like and do you ever use it in a debate? As in "I win, because gold medal".

Thank you for your time.

Response by Maire Mitchell Thomas made Oct 11 at 2016 10:28 AM

Maire Mitchell Thomas — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 10:28:57 -0400

Good afternoon Brad, being raised with a sibling who has been visually impaired since birth, I am in awe of her independence but am also aware of her daily frustrations. What do you find to be some of yours and if you could invent one thing that would ease some of them , what would it be?

P.S give Gizzy a hug from me :)

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Oct 11 at 2016 10:30 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 10:30:40 -0400

No questions for you LT Brad Snyder. I just wanted to say thank you for your service and congratulations on your great achievement that inspires us all!

Response by SFC Jesse Vazquez Jr /G\ made Oct 11 at 2016 11:12 AM

SFC Jesse Vazquez Jr /G\ — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 11:12:32 -0400

No Question Sir, just honored that we have great men like you to look up to, thank you for your service.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Oct 11 at 2016 12:12 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:12:34 -0400

LT Brad Snyder Thanks for joining us! I echo all the sentiments of the other comments in my thanks and admiration. Many people can be uncomfortable asking another person about a major injury. How do you recommend approaching the subject? Avoid until the person chooses to bring it up? Ask directly "how did you become injured/do you mind if I ask what happened?" Something in the middle? Thanks for your thoughts.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Oct 11 at 2016 12:35 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:35:22 -0400

Sir, Thanks for joining us on RP. Do you have a special relationship or bond with other veterans on the US Paralympic team? What have your experiences as veterans had on you, either individually or collectively, regarding your identity as US athletes?

Response by SSgt Timothy Prevost made Oct 11 at 2016 2:38 PM

SSgt Timothy Prevost — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 14:38:05 -0400

Sir, I have the utmost respect for you and what you've done for our country so thank you for your service. Id like to know how your career path led you from an officer to an olympic swimmer?

Response by PVT Mark Brown made Oct 11 at 2016 4:32 PM

PVT Mark Brown — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:32:29 -0400

If you were EOD in A'stan I am grateful you returned home with all your attachments still where they belong. Dealing with blindness as you have is a true testimony to your inner strength and courage LT. Thank you for your service and thank you for being an example to the rest of us.

Response by LCDR Mike Roshaven made Oct 11 at 2016 4:36 PM

LCDR Mike Roshaven — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:36:07 -0400

Brad,
I met you this past January in Orlando when you were the keynote for Enterprise Holdings. Your address was riveting, your story inspirational. I think about you and your story quite a bit, and am glad to see you have written a book, which I will be nabbing off Amazon once I post this. Your mission continues, my friend, and you are still going above and beyond the call. Bravo Zulu Brad.

Response by TSgt David L. made Oct 11 at 2016 4:50 PM

TSgt David L. — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:50:20 -0400

Not a question LT Brad Snyder, but mad props for your daring and honored service, and for congratulations for your swimming accomplishments. As a fellow EOD Tech (AF not Navy) I look forward to reading your book. Thank you for service, Sir!

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Oct 11 at 2016 8:11 PM

SFC Joseph Weber — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 20:11:10 -0400

Though I joined the Army I lived in Annapolis and my Dad worked for the Department of the Navy for 20 some years. My cousin graduated from the Naval Academy in 1978. Just wanted to say keep kicking ass and if it weren't for all those low hanging pipes who knows? Just bought your book. I need to stop whining about my feet all the time! Per Scientiam Servita!

Response by SGM Stephen Taylor made Oct 14 at 2016 5:07 PM

SGM Stephen Taylor — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 17:07:54 -0400

That a good EOD man never stop being on top. Fire in the hole

Response by SPC Johnny Velazquez, PhD made Nov 26 at 2016 10:46 PM

SPC Johnny Velazquez, PhD — Sat, 26 Nov 2016 22:46:03 -0500

I salute you, Sir, for your service to this great country. You, Sir are an inspiration to so many displaced individuals. As a former Behavior Therapist, some of the injured I worked with, had a name for their disabilities, "An inconvenience." I used to marvel at their tenacity. My question. What motivates you to continue, as you have done? From where do you draw your strength? Blessings.

Response by LT Mark D. made Aug 25 at 2022 3:17 PM

LT Mark D. — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 15:17:50 -0400

No questions here but I have been wanting to thank you for your service for some time now. I was your class's proctor at EOD school for a short while. At the time I was an AOD instructor. I just wanted you to know what an inspiration you are to me and my sons. It's been amazing to see you accomplish so much after the Navy. Hooyah, Brad!

Response by SP5 Nathan Jackson made Aug 28 at 2023 6:45 PM

SP5 Nathan Jackson — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 18:45:33 -0400

My last open sea trip resulted in us getting trapped in a hurricane. The entire crew was knocked unconscious. My engine officer took over as captain. I kept the ship running and tended to the crew while he tried to hit the waves straight on. We had no chance of surviving a class 5 hurricane in a 110ft. 1953 rusted out army tugboat, but I and he couldn’t go down without a fight. He was a W-2 maybe 3 warrant officer. Even though he went nuts forty minutes after taking the helm, he still held his post for at least 17 more hours. He never moved a muscle the whole time. As long as I reassured him that he wasn’t alone and we can do this, he hit the waves straight on. They went 20ft. Over the ship at least and we actually went down 200ft. When we came out of the eye of the storm. I broke four bones and suffered brain damage so I can’t remember anyone’s name. I know that the life rafts were set to 170ft. with a 15ft. Cord and I heard one blow off as I was drowning down in the engine room shooting air into the engine to keep it running. I got lucky and came back alive only to go for round two, but a shock wave hit us and sent us back to the surface. 10 hours later the crew was back on their feet. I was supposed to report to the Whitehouse if we got back in time which we didn’t, so they put me in for Sargent school in Kentucky as a thank you. I had to clear post and take a p.t. Test at 4am following morning so I never got to see him again. I always wondered if he ever spoke again. He was my hero. He was also the only witness to what happened. I broke my left jaw and kneecap fighting to get back on the ship after being sucked out the door. I was so close to the inside wall of that hurricane and flew in and hit the bulkhead. It almost knocked me out, broke my jaw and I learned later during the 2mile run that I had brain damage. Sure was hard hiding my injuries at Ft. Knocks with my skull swelling and knee, hand, and…I actually had to use my shoelace to tie my broken burnt fingers together and shove the pencil between them. I couldn’t pick up the pencil or hold on to it to take the test. I always wondered what happened to that guy. He was one of the best warrant officers I ever served with. In fact that was one of the best crew and experienced sailors in the world. Even Norfolk came aboard and said so on another occasion. I never saw any of them again and the brain damage makes it impossible to remember names. I just wish I could thank him and shack his hand. We were 73rd waterborne T.C. Company Ft. Eustis two days before president Clinton went to the Whitehouse. I was supposed to be the head guard but nobody knew I was working there at the time. I was also working at Langley, and Norfolk too and a hole lot more: all at the same time! They said it was a be all you can be Army and I called bullshit!! I may have been wrong about that…….spc Jackson 1993 to 1997.