Ep 470: From AF Security Forces to FBI - Endex Archery's Jay Joins Us!

In this epic Ones Ready episode, we sit down with Jay from Endex Archery, whose resume reads like a military fever dream: SERE drop, Security Forces, Combat Arms, OSI Agent, tier-one special mission unit… and then casually slides into the FBI. This man literally said “nah” to survival school and then sprinted straight into a career that landed him fighting terror, investigating spies, and now helping vets heal through archery.

Jay opens up about losing six teammates to a VBIED in Afghanistan, how that tragedy turned into his life’s mission, and why a bow and arrow saved his soul. We talk survivor’s guilt, FBI hostage rescue, sneaky pull-up bars, and why he’s built an organization to help other veterans shoot their way back into mental clarity. Also: hilarious stories about SERE instructors, Air Force recruiter lies, and the absolute dumpster fire that is military admin.

If you’ve ever thought you couldn’t pivot, couldn’t overcome, or couldn’t create something powerful out of pain—this episode is your proof otherwise.

👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, leave a review, comment, hit up the merch store, join the membership, and check out indexarchery.org to support Jay’s mission. And yes—get yourself to the Operator Training Summit.

🔥 Key Takeaways:

🏹 Jay founded Endex Archery after losing 6 teammates in Afghanistan—and finding healing through a bow.
👮‍♂️ From Security Forces to Combat Arms to OSI to FBI: an insane career path fueled by “just say yes.”
🏔️ Serving at a tier-one special mission unit made him realize imposter syndrome is real… even among legends.
🏃‍♂️ “SERE dropout” doesn’t mean failure—it means pivoting to what fits you.
🧠 Archery = a physical, mental, and spiritual tool for veterans battling trauma.
💥 “Don’t romanticize war. Don’t expect combat to make you whole.”
🎯 Index Archery’s mission is to give vets healing, community, and purpose—through precision, patience, and presence.
🦬 Be the buffalo: face the storm head-on.
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro + Why This Story is Nuts
02:00 – From SERE Contract to Security Forces: Recruiter Lies, Day One Reality
06:00 – Combat Arms: Guns, Ranges, and the Best Job He Didn’t Plan
10:00 – Transition to OSI + Why Intel Felt Like a Calling
15:00 – Deploying to Bagram + Losing 6 Teammates to an IED
20:00 – Survivor’s Guilt, Anger, and Digging In
24:00 – Getting Tapped for a Tier-One Special Mission Unit
30:00 – Feeling Like an Ant Among Giants
35:00 – Leaving the Military for FBI + How Posse Comitatus Made HRT a Thing
40:00 – Founding Endex Archery: Healing with a Bow
45:00 – Why Archery Mimics Meditation & PTSD Therapy
50:00 – Success Stories: How Veterans are Reclaiming Their Lives
55:00 – Future of Endex: A National Network of Healing
58:00 – Final Thoughts: Say Yes, Face the Storm, Enjoy the Ride