Derek Dutton, Ranger Smash Extreme Endurance

Derek Dutton has a remarkably interesting story. From an early age, he knew he wanted to join the military. It was never a question of “if” … the only question was which branch he would choose. He chose the Army, and he dove in headfirst - literally. During a parachute jump, which was later described as a “parachute malfunction,” Derek had a pretty intense situation occur that led him to believe he is “fall-proof.”  Pretty crazy!  Dutton was built for the military and worked his way all the way up to become an Army Ranger. If you do not know what Army Rangers are then shame on you, but for those that may not know, they are the elite bad-assess of the Army. Dutton has served in various places throughout the world, completing two terms in Iraq. Deployment in the middle east takes its toll both mentally and physically. Unfortunately, the physical toll pushed Derek into early retirement and just like that, his military career was over. In this episode, Derek opens about some of his personal struggles with PTSD and some of the difficulties that he faced upon returning home. Many of our brave men and women in uniform return home from combat and are left to fend for themselves, not sure who to turn to, and feeling very isolated and alone. We at Beyond Grit feel it is our responsibility, as a nation, to rally together and support our troops. These heroes put their lives on the line for our freedoms and regardless of our personal beliefs about the war itself, these brave souls deserve to be supported by their fellow citizens.  It has not been an easy road for Derek, but he has learned a lot about himself through this process. One of the most important lessons he has learned is knowing when to ask for help. In addition to his military career, he is an extreme sports enthusiast, marathon runner, and swimmer, a phenomenal writer, and blogger, and he helps others who are living with PTSD. We need more men like Derek Dutton. He has survived what many have not, and he is still fighting today. Please remember that their fight does not end on the battlefield, the battle only begins there. Thank you, Derek, for being on the show and sharing a bit about your life. You exemplify what it means to live a life Beyond Grit, and we honor and salute you.

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@rangersmash375

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