Ryan Hendrickson

As we continue to withdraw forces out of Afghanistan I reflected on the nearly 4 years total in deployments I’ve spent in Afghanistan and how this place has changed my life for the better. I will always remember the sacrifices made by so many that I have served with and my mind is flooded with the good times I’ve had and the lifelong friendships I’ve made. The bonds I have formed in combat with my Afghan brothers are unbreakable, these memories I will forever cherish and I will always keep close to my heart those who laid down their lives for hope, freedom, and a better future for Afghanistan. To those who answered our nation’s call and did not make it home, may we live our lives to the best of our abilities as they would have wanted us to. De Oppresso Liber.

As I hit my midway point on my 8th deployment to Afghanistan it is easy to get into a routine and let special moments pass you by. You don’t have to be in Afghanistan to know what I’m talking about, this is about life and the ruts or routines we bury ourselves in. I was reminded today to take a break from time to time to capture the beauty that is all around us, even in the middle of the desert. God Bless America.

This being my 8th deployment to Afghanistan one thing that never changes is the friends you gain. I’ve worked a lot with our Afghan partners and I feel it is impossible to deploy here and not make friends. I love working with our Afghan counterparts and always looking for little opportunities to take a few Hollywood pictures when we can.

As I begin my last Afghanistan deployment I start to think back on all my previous deployments and just how much has changed. We will be one of the last here as we continue to close bases down and commence our troop withdraw. Its crazy to think how much blood, sweat, tears and emotion has been pored into this country by US service members and now its done. I am human like everyone else and I cant help but wounder if it all was worth it. During these trying times whether in Afghanistan or home with everything going on in the states, it is critical to keep your mind and body sound. I know the gym is my stress relief and thank God we have a good one at my FOB but each of us has to find our happy place, our safe place to recoup and recharge, ready ourselves to get back into the fight. Check on your family, friends, neighbors and anyone who could use a little help. We are all in this shit together so take care of one another and in the end we will be still be standing once the dust clears. God bless America.

Reporting to quarantine Dec 4th I felt like this was going to feel like years to get through till the 20th. Well, today waking up I can see the finish line in sight, only 3 more days here, then it’s back to Afghanistan. I think I’ve done more pushups and burpees than I’ve ever done in my life but I have stayed busy. Catching up on work, doing podcasts, and refocusing my mind have made this time in isolation a blessing in disguise. Always remember, regardless of the situation you may find yourself in, stay busy, occupy your mind and body, and you will feel rewarded in the end.

It’s that time again, another trip to Afghanistan but this deployment comes with a twist. On this, my 8 deployment to Afghanistan, I have to quarantine in Dubai for 16 days. I’m not one who can sit around or be locked up for very long so this will be a true test of my willpower. Now there are a few ways someone could approach this situation. One way would be the boredom route and what in the hell am I going to do for all these days. The second way would be to exercise your mind route. In the world today it is very easy to get caught up in the day-to-day hustle, going off muscle memory and just letting life go by or as one would say “going through the motions”. I’m going to try the second option, I’m going to use these 16 days to exercise my mind, read those books I want to, slow down and do a deep cleaning of my mind, and overall, use this time to recenter myself. There will be a lot of push-ups, air squats, and any other workout I can figure out, but for once in my life, I have no deadlines for 16 days. Time for a deep dive and some great mental maintenance.

It is a rare thing in life to be surrounded by greatness. Throughout my career, I have been a soldier working with many heroes. It seemed like everywhere you looked there was a man with an unbelievable story that would fill the pages of millions of books. Every Green Beret knows where we come from and the men who paved the way for my generation of Special Forces soldiers. Well, Roger Donlon and John Meyer are two Vietnam era Green Berets who set the standard of what a Green Beret is today. I’ve had a lot of opportunities in my life but this one is very special to me, the chance to swap book with heroes, a man amongst giants.

Quick trip to San Diego for an amazing opportunity to be on Jocko’s Podcast. It’s rare in life to run into someone that you know will have a lasting impression on you but Jocko is that guy. His passion for service members, veterans, and America cannot be denied. Was an honor, I appreciate the opportunity and keep killing it bro.

Putting yourself out there and taking chances is all apart of spreading the word about my book. November 1st, I decided to take a Facebook friend up on her offer and head to Sacramento. With multiple unknowns out there including I only knew of my contacts from Facebook, and having no clue what I was getting myself into, I decided to go. I guess it goes back to the old saying if you don’t try, you will never know. The event was in Auburn California which is a little Gold Rush town in Northern Ca. Needless to say, Auburn California was absolutely amazing to me and I want to thank everyone for their amazing hospitality. The best part of the whole event was being able to raise $1000 for Elk Grove firefighters.

“It’s all in the title – Tip of the Spear is an incredible story. A journey through life as a warrior punctuated with making tough decisions that most have never fathomed. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn about leadership, overcoming adversity, and what it means to serve something, or someone, greater than oneself.” Major Scott A. Huesing USMC (Ret)Bestselling Author Echo in Ramadi | The Firsthand Story of US Marines in Iraq’s Deadliest City