Navy SEAL and Army Ranger Visit Ketchikan Coasties and Sailors

KETCHIKAN, AK - If asked to add up their injuries and friends lost in war and post combat mental health related tragic endings, Mikal Vega and Howard Mullen would have to sit down and spend hours with pen and paper in hand. But it’d never happen.“Spending time dredging up negative memories is the last thing I want people doing” said US Navy SEAL Chief retired Mikal Vega, in front of a packed crowd of Coasties during American300‘s latest visit to the Base and Station along with SECNAV Back Island Navy Service Members and Support Staffers this week. “I was on that road, and thanks to doctors who fed me pills and sympathy I ended up nearly killing myself.” Vega added.

Chief Mikal Vega, US Navy SEAL retired

Instead the busted up Naval SEAL Operator turned to eastern medicine as an alternative to traditional therapy and slowly started to become human again. “I started off with deep muscle message, acupuncture and then became a student of Kundalini Yoga as taught by yogi Bhajan.” With this transformation in care came a new beginning and life for Vega.Today, the Wounded Warrior turned Hollywood actor, can be seen in major film productions like Transformers and TV Series like CSI to name a few. He also founded ‘Vital Warrior’ a 501c3 nonprofit which works to share the teachings of Kundaline Yoga as taught by yogi Bhajan with fellow Service Members who he hopes can experience the same life changing and saving benefits that he’s been blessed with.

Mikal and US Army Ranger hall of fame member combat veteran, Master Sergeant ‘Mad Max’ Mullen, retired are part of a force of volunteers who have joined Robi Powers, the founder of American300 to spread resilient messaging across the service branches and globe. “Call our programming the antithesis of computer based training, what we do is provide one on one real world life lesson sharing delivered by fully vetted volunteers who are: likable, relatable and relevant.” says Powers, a former US Army Mountain Warfare Instructor and National and Olympic Teams athlete and Coach, he adds, “We visit the same areas of operation over 2-3 years bringing individuals who have experience worth listening to.”

For Coast Guard BM3 Micah Grey, American300 programming first landed on his cutter’s deckplate at midnight 2 years ago. “Back then I was a non-rate deckhand pulling a duty officer shift, I didn’t know what these guys were doing dropping in on us,” says Grey who was one of the last to ‘strike’ up into the Petty Officer ranks of the sea going service. “Robi brought some world champion cowboys and cowgirls into the galley in the middle of the night and the next thing I know my favorite song (Bob Dylan’s Wagon Wheel) was being played by a Nashville country music star. It’s surreal when I think back on it now that I’ve met so many different American300 guests and understand why they come visit us.” said BM3 Grey.

With a who’s who of guests like: Tom Whittaker the first amputee to summit Mount Everest, General Edward Mechenbier, nearly 6 year Vietnam Prisoner of War, USAF retired, Steve Swanson, 3x NASA Expedition Astronaut and International Space Station Commander, along with many others the goal of American300 resiliency tours at places like Coast Guard Base and Station Ketchikan is to deliver as many resilient real world stories over a 2 year span of time as possible.

Robi Powers, US Army and Olympic Teams Trainer - founder American300.org

The nonprofit conducts between 30-32 tours a year around the world and has been working with the Coast Guard’s Ketchikan teams for nearly 2 years now. “I’ve met a lot of amazing people through American300 Tours, but, Ranger Mad Max is my new favorite,” says MK2 Nick Wall, who serves as a engine room specialist on the 175’ Coast Guard Cutter Anthony Petit, “I mean I’m down in the engine room with Mad Max and all he has to say is how proud he is of my abilities, my service, my fellow shipmates... here I am pulling duty as a mechanic and this decorate combat warrior just wants me to know how important and proud of me he is, I still can’t get my head around it... I’m mean this guy is a warrior after all.” Nick, shakes his head as he drifts back from the moment earlier in the day when he led the Army Ranger through his ship and most importantly his engine room.

MSgt. Howard 'Mad Max' Mullen - US Army Ranger retired.

“I’m still working full-time for the Army down at Fort Benning, Georgia says Mad Max, but when Robi calls up and asks if I can join a tour I’m happy to flex and burn up the leave time,” says Mullen, who has been on half a dozen tours with Powers over the years to bases as far away as Afghanistan.

As Mullen puts it: “If I could put my Ranger uniform back on I’d do it in a second, but volunteering as a American300 mentor is the next best thing and I’m happy and honored to serve my brothers and sisters who are pulling the duty today, besides these Coasties in Ketchikan are outstanding, I’d have to say they are ‘Mad Max Approved’ even.”

For more information about American300 visit: www.American300.org

The nonprofit also has a facebook site: ‘American300 Tours’

American300 is a non-government all volunteer ( NGO/AVO ) 501c3 nonprofit with a mission of supporting our Department of Defense and Department of State - Total Force Fitness initiatives. No federal endorsement of nonprofit is implied or intended - American300.org