Ben Wallick, aka the “Vanilla Gorilla” (a nickname he was given in the SEAL teams), joined the Navy immediately after graduating high school in July 2001.
He went through BUDS (SEAL) training class 242 and after completion was assigned to SEAL Team 2 where he served as a Lead Breacher, Team Leader, and other various capacities for multiple combat deployments overseas to the Middle East. He detached from SEAL Team 2 in 2009 where he then spent his last year on active duty at Naval Special Warfare Training Detachment assault cell teaching all the east cost SEAL teams close-quarter combat tactics. After leaving active duty in 2010 he still remained attached to SEAL Team 18 (reserve team) until 2012.
Since leaving the SEAL teams, he has spent the last 12 years doing hired gun security contract work INCONUS and overseas. Here at home, he has worked for multiple security/tactical training companies teaching firearms instruction, small unit tactics, and CQC. Overseas he has worked as a GRS agent in a high-risk detail providing personal security assessments and mobile personal security protection for CIA field agents in combat environments in the Middle East.
He has also worked overseas as an APASS operator deploying aboard container vessels in international waters in high-threat areas conducting anti-piracy operations. #backthebadge #explorewithus #firstresponderwellness #interviews #lifeafterservice #mentalhealthwarriors #missionmindset #podcastcommunity #podcastjourney #resilientresponders
