Peaches sits down with Kaylon, a former Air Force Security Forces military working dog handler, dog trainer, and father of a 17-year-old preparing for Air Force Special Warfare.

This episode is for the parents.

Kaylon talks about his time as a Security Forces K9 handler at RAF Mildenhall, his deployment experience, working explosive detection dogs, and eventually transitioning into professional dog training. But the real focus of this conversation is what it feels like as a parent when your kid says, “I want to join the military,” and then starts looking at Air Force Special Warfare.

They talk about how Kaylon’s son went from considering Navy SEALs to discovering Combat Control, how the family handled that decision, why his mom supports him even while being nervous, and what parents should do when they do not fully understand the path their kid wants to take.

Kaylon also breaks down why he sent his son to Operator Training Summit, what the experience did for him, how the cadre helped expose holes in his training, and why the event gave his son more confidence that this is the path he wants.

If your son or daughter is talking about CCT, PJ, TACP, Special Reconnaissance, or any other military path that makes you nervous, this episode is a great place to start.

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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro, Tasty Gains, and Operator Training Summit
02:25 - Why This Episode Is for Parents
02:45 - Meet Kaylon
03:08 - Peaches and Kaylon at RAF Mildenhall
03:41 - Security Forces and Military Working Dogs
05:10 - EOD, K9 Handlers, and Career Field Banter
06:12 - Mildenhall, Old Friends, and Trusting the Ones Ready Crew
07:51 - Kaylon’s Military Family Background
08:01 - Joining the Air Force After 9/11
09:42 - Giving His Son the Chance to Try
09:56 - His Son’s Interest in Special Operations
11:26 - From Navy SEALs to Air Force Special Warfare
12:27 - School, Homeschool, and Graduating Early
14:45 - Mom’s Support and Military Spouse Reality
18:28 - What Parents Should Know When They Are Nervous
20:14 - Why Parents Should Use Ones Ready as a Resource
22:32 - Prior Military Parents and Steering Your Kid
24:35 - Training Around Special Tactics at Mildenhall
25:24 - CCT or Bust and Not Building an Escape Hatch
27:21 - Why Every Air Force Job Matters
28:56 - The Reality of Security Forces Shifts
31:50 - Life as a Dog Handler
33:57 - The Ugly Side of Working Dogs
34:48 - Helping His Son Build a Network
36:52 - Physical Training and Keeping a 17-Year-Old Honest
39:12 - Lessons From the TF Voodoo Rucking Episode
41:20 - Trash Hips and Mobility Work
41:57 - What It Was Like Arriving at Operator Training Summit
44:53 - Parents Sending Young Candidates to OTS
47:00 - OTS Is Instruction, Not a Smoke Session
48:52 - Why “Just Show Up and Don’t Quit” Is Bad Advice
49:20 - Why Kaylon Chose OTS Over Other Prep Camps
50:25 - The Value of Real Instructors
50:53 - Taylor Starch, Running Form, and Mobility
55:10 - Advice for Parents Whose Kids Want to Join
57:50 - Letting Your Kid Become Their Own Person
01:01:37 - Recruiters, Contracts, and Ship Dates
01:02:26 - Sitting Down With the Special Warfare Recruiter
01:03:40 - TSP, Blended Retirement, and Money Lessons
01:05:49 - Picking Battles in the Air Force
01:07:55 - Kaylon’s Son at OTS
01:08:32 - Why OTS Validated the Goal
01:09:57 - Trent, Peaches, and Cadre Mentorship
01:11:20 - Finding Holes in Training
01:12:31 - Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

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