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

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

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

Bob Nowak brings more than three decades of real-world Search and Rescue experience—from the Vietnam era to Whidbey Island SAR, from high-risk recoveries to serving as a SAR Evaluator responsible for training and assessing the next generation.

This episode is about longevity in service, the weight of responsibility, and the mindset required to lead when conditions deteriorate.
In this episode:
• 30+ years in Search and Rescue
• Service during the Vietnam era
• Whidbey Island SAR operations
• The recovery of a DEA prisoner
• What a SAR Evaluator looks for in rescue professionals
• Leadership, discipline, and staying sharp over decades
• Decision-making under pressure

👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories.

CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST Episode 52

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!

#SearchAndRescue #NavySAR #VietnamVeteran #WhidbeyIsland #DEARecovery #SARLeadership #MilitaryMindset #FirstResponder #DecisionMaking #CalmInTheChaos #SoOthersMayLive

I deployed twice to the Persian Gulf with Jeff Strickland, a brother who went on to serve more than two decades as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer and aircrewman. His career spanned multiple combat deployments, high-risk rescues, and unforgettable missions — including flying Iraq mission sets with SEAL sniper Jack Carr, and an intense injured SEAL medevac following a ship takedown.
In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Jeff reflects on the highs and lows of a long Navy career — the camaraderie, the chaos, and the call to serve that never really fades. His perspective captures what it means to live the Rescue Swimmer creed long after the uniform comes off.

In this episode:
Deploying to the Persian Gulf and Iraq
Flying with Jack Carr during real-world SEAL missions
The injured SEAL medevac that tested training and heart
Lessons from 20+ years of service and leadership in the Navy
Brotherhood, resilience, and life after active duty

👉 Subscribe, share, and review — it helps more veterans, first responders, and families find hope through these stories.

CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST Episode 51

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!

#JeffStrickland #RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #JackCarr #NavySEALs #MedEvac #CalmInTheChaosPodcast #BrianDickinson #SoOthersMayLive #PersianGulf #IraqWar #CombatRescue #VeteranStories #NavyLife #SARCommunity #MilitaryBrotherhood #RescueSwimmerStories #USNavy

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Few people understand pressure like Aviation Rescue Swimmer Taryn Frazelle. A high-performance athlete and ranked CrossFit competitor, Taryn brought that same strength and discipline into the fleet—where staying calm isn’t optional, it’s life or death.
During one intense mission near Papua New Guinea, a routine flight turned into a high-risk remote island rescue. Conditions were chaotic and the mission evolved by the second. But Taryn’s training, composure, and focus took over. Her calm in the middle of that storm saved lives and set the standard for what it truly means to be a Rescue Swimmer.
In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Taryn shares:
The full story of the rescue near Papua New Guinea
What it takes to stay calm when everything around you is breaking down
The mindset required to perform at the highest level—physically, mentally, and emotionally
Lessons from the Rescue Swimmer community and the missions that shape you forever
👉 Subscribe, share, and review — it helps more veterans, first responders, and families find strength through these stories.

CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST Episode 50

So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸
Keep Calm in the Chaos Merch
(link in bio or https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com)Military and First Responders get 10% off with code: SARRESCUE10100% of proceeds support the podcast.
#TarynFrazelle #RescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #SAR #SearchAndRescue #PapuaNewGuineaRescue #CrossFitAthlete #CalmInTheChaosPodcast #BrianDickinson #SoOthersMayLive #MilitaryStories #RescueSwimmerStories #WomenInTheMilitary #CourageUnderPressure #NavyLife #FirstResponderStories #MilitaryHeroes
Follow @TheCalmintheChaosPodcast
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