Sean Parnell on Surviving 485 Days of Brutal Combat in Afghanistan

Nov 11, 2025 Shawn Ryan Show
This YouTube In Session Veterans Day Special features Shawn Ryan interviewing Sean Parnell, one of the most respected combat leaders of the post-9/11 generation. Viewers can expect a raw, detailed, and intensely personal account of Parnell’s 485 days of continuous combat in Afghanistan, the heavy cost carried by his platoon, and the lifelong impact of those experiences. The conversation also explores the meaning of service, the struggles many veterans face when they return home, and the lessons the civilian population can learn from the veteran community.

Sean Parnell is a former Army Ranger-qualified infantry officer who led the Outlaw Platoon of the 10th Mountain Division near the Pakistan border in 2006–2007. His unit fought through 485 days of brutal combat, eliminated more than 350 enemy fighters, and suffered an 85% casualty rate. He was wounded three times, awarded two Bronze Stars (one for valor) and a Purple Heart, medically retired as a captain, and later documented his story in the bestselling book Outlaw Platoon. Today, he serves as Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs and continues to be a leading national advocate for veterans.

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Sean Parnell Social Links:
Outlaw Platoon Book - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...
IG - / officialseanparnell
FB - / officialseanparnell
X - https://x.com/SeanParnellUSA
YouTube - / @officialseanparnell
LinkedIn - / sean-parnell-a2734298
Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/BattlegroundLIVE

Chapter Markers

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:48 Sean Parnell's Military Background
03:52 Sean Parnell's 9/11 Experience
08:52 First Day in Combat
19:45 The Chaos of War
26:44 Surviving the Battlefield
33:53 Supporting Veterans Post-Service
42:33 Advice for Active Duty Members Transitioning Out