Ep 371: Steven Pietras - USAF Air Traffic Control & Hurricane Helene Response

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Aaron, Peaches, Trent, and Steven get real about the dedication it takes to respond to crises. Steven shares his firsthand experience as a Guard member running ATC for Hurricane Helene relief, describing the ground-level coordination that brought in over 100,000 pounds of supplies and thousands of flights in and out of affected areas. They dig into the pride and resilience it takes to run toward disaster while others might turn away, showing how the Guard and Air Force Special Warfare play crucial, under-appreciated roles in domestic ops. From working with Sentinel Foundation teams to the nitty-gritty of controlling chaotic air traffic with minimal tools, Steven breaks down the challenges of mission-focused operations, managing civilian volunteers, and facing the devastation up close. If you’re ready for an inside look at the hard-hitting, non-stop nature of real military response, this episode will inspire you to step up. Join the Ones Ready community, hit subscribe, and check out OnesReady.com for gear, tools, and unfiltered insights to stay mission-ready. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Team Dynamics 02:15 Air Traffic Control Insights 05:47 Joining the Air Force: Personal Stories 11:03 Transitioning from Student to Instructor 18:46 Response to Hurricane Helene 22:31 Understanding LZSO and Its Importance 25:54 Community Response and Legacy 32:40 The Role of Non-Military Support 54:14 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts Support the show Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com Find an Air Force Recruiter: AirForce.com Collabs: Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY DFND Apparel...