Calm in the Chaos - U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Podcast

Some missions go wrong before they even begin. Others turn into something no one could have planned for.

In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Richard Swope shares his career as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer—including two of the most intense moments a rescue swimmer can face: surviving a helicopter crash at night in the open ocean during an active rescue, and gaining sonobuoy contact on a Russian submarine trailing a U.S. aircraft carrier—moments before a collision with the carrier itself.

These aren't training scenarios. These are the real missions that define what it means to operate at the edge of human capability—in the dark, in the water, with no margin for error.
In this episode:
Helicopter crash at night during an active ocean rescue
Surviving open-ocean impact and the chaos that followed
Gaining sonobuoy contact on a Russian submarine
Near-collision with a U.S. aircraft carrier
Decision-making when everything goes wrong at once
Mental toughness forged in real-world high-stakes missions
What it means to serve as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer

Richard Swope's story is a masterclass in staying calm when the situation is anything but. This is exactly what the Calm in the Chaos podcast was built for.

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CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 57 

So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸

Rescue Swimmer Merchandise https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com Military & First Responders: Use code SARRESCUE10 for 10% off 100% of proceeds support the podcast

📖 Calm in the Chaos — The Book by Brian Dickinson Available at www.briandickinson.net
📩 Booking & Media Inquiries: [email protected]

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Calm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers

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For the first time, Apollo-era and Artemis-era recovery are compared side by side by the people who actually did the job.
Mike Longe, U.S. Navy helicopter aircrewman from the Apollo recovery missions, and Steve Williams, Senior Chief rescue swimmer supporting Artemis operations, break down what really happens when a capsule hits the water.
Same mission. Different era.
We walk through the full evolution—splashdown, swimmer deployment, stabilization, and hoist—and compare what’s changed from Apollo 13 recovery operations to modern Artemis procedures.
No theory. No commentary. Just operators.
Topics covered:
Apollo 13 recovery operations (Navy helicopter aircrew)
Artemis recovery procedures and modern systems
Rescue swimmer role vs legacy aircrew operations
Splashdown timeline and critical first minutes
Hoist operations in open ocean conditions
What’s actually harder now vs then
If you’re interested in NASA recovery operations, helicopter rescue, or real-world decision-making under pressure, this is the breakdown.
#Apollo13 #Artemis #NASA #RescueSwimmer #HelicopterRescue #SearchAndRescue #NavalAviation #SpaceRecovery #MilitaryOperations #Leadership

Combat Search and Rescue Veteran Bryan Trembath | 10 Gulf Deployments, 300+ Missions, Pentagon 9/11 First Response

Some careers are built in training. Others are forged in real-world missions.
In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Bryan Trembath shares 21 years as an Aviation Rescue Swimmer, including 10 deployments to the Gulf and over 300 direct action missions in Combat Search and Rescue.
His first real mission started on September 11, 2001—responding by helicopter to the Pentagon in the immediate aftermath of the attack. That moment set the tone for a career defined by operational intensity, responsibility, and sustained performance under pressure.
We talk about what it takes to operate at that level over time—mission after mission, deployment after deployment.

In this episode:
• 21 years as an Aviation Rescue Swimmer
• Combat Search and Rescue operations
• 10 deployments to the Gulf
• 300+ direct action missions
• Responding to the Pentagon on 9/11
• Sustaining performance over a long career
• Decision-making under pressure
• Leadership in high-risk environments
No shortcuts. Just experience earned the hard way.
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CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 55

So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸

Rescue Swimmer Merchandise
https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com
Military & First Responders: Use code SARRESCUE10 for 10% off
100% of proceeds support the podcast

 #CSAR  #911Pentagon #DirectAction #SpecialOperations #SoOthersMayLive

Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Ben Thacker | Real SAR Rescues from NAS Whidbey Island, Leadership & Decision-Making Under Pressure

What does it take to execute real-world rescues when there’s no margin for error?
In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Aviation Rescue Swimmer Ben Thacker breaks down multiple live rescue missions out of NAS Whidbey Island SAR. This is a look inside the reality of Search and Rescue—where preparation meets pressure and decisions carry weight.
We cover what it takes to stay ready, perform under stress, and operate as part of a crew when conditions deteriorate fast.

In this episode:
• Real-world SAR missions out of NAS Whidbey Island
• What it’s like to be an Aviation Rescue Swimmer
• Decision-making under pressure
• Crew coordination and trust
• Training vs. real rescues
• Staying sharp when lives depend on it
• Leadership at the operator level

This one is for anyone in the military, aviation, or first responder world—and anyone responsible for making decisions when it counts.
👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories.

CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 56

So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸

Rescue Swimmer Merchandise
https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com
Military & First Responders: Use code SARRESCUE10 for 10% off
100% of proceeds support the podcast

#NavySAR  #NASWhidbey #RescueSwimmer #CalmInTheChaos #SoOthersMayLive

Greg Baker spent 20 years as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer, operating where hesitation costs lives and preparation is everything.
From multiple real-world rescues to serving as a SAR School instructor responsible for shaping future Rescue Swimmers, Greg understands what separates average from dependable. He finished his career supporting Naval Special Warfare, operating in intense environments to track suspected bad guy vehicles based on intel.

In this episode:
• 20 years as a Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer
• Multiple real-world rescue missions
• Serving as a SAR School instructor
• Supporting Naval Special Warfare (NSW)
• Leadership under pressure
• The mindset that sustains a long operational career
(2) Bronze Stars — Joint Task Force Iraq
(1) Joint Service Commendation Medal — Iraq
(1) Navy Commendation Medal — HVBSS operation discussed on the show
(7) Navy Achievement Medals — for multiple rescue missions
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CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST Episode 53

So Others May Live! 🫡🇺🇸

Keep Calm in the Chaos Merch
(Link in bio or https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com)
Military and First Responders get 10% discount with code: SARRESCUE10 applied at checkout
100% of proceeds go to support the podcast!

#NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #SARSchool #NavalAviation #NSW #NavalSpecialWarfare #SearchAndRescue #MilitaryLeadership #FirstResponder #CalmInTheChaos #SoOthersMayLive