Collin Koss built a remarkable Navy career as a Rescue Swimmer, performing multiple rescues at sea before witnessing one of the most harrowing moments imaginable — an F/A-18 ejection that struck the back of the carrier. Later, Collin made the jump to officer, leading from the front and shaping the next generation of sailors. Now, with retirement on the horizon, he reflects on a career of service, sacrifice, and lessons that will last a lifetime.

In this episode, Collin shares the highs and lows of his journey — from rescues in the fleet to the burden of command — and the perspective that only comes with decades in uniform.

CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST Episode 43

So Others May Live! 🫡🇺🇸

Keep Calm in the Chaos Merch

(Link in bio or https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com)

Military and First Responders get 10% discount with code: SARRESCUE10 applied at checkout

100% of proceeds go to support the podcast!

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Some warriors fight their battles in the ocean. Others fight them long after the uniform comes off.

In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Kevin McNease shares 20 years of service as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer—including a harrowing rescue in the South China Sea, pulling a Marine from the water who was still gripping his weapon, and one of the most terrifying mechanical failures imaginable: losing a helicopter door mid-flight—only to watch it shred through the rotor system.

And then there's the battle he's fighting now.

Kevin has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. And he's facing it the same way he faced every mission—with courage, clarity, and calm in the chaos.

In this episode:

• 20 years of service as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer
• Rescue in the South China Sea
• Pulling a Marine from the water—still armed, still holding his weapon
• A helicopter door lost in flight—and what happened when it hit the rotors
• Mechanical failure at altitude with no margin for error
• Receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis after two decades of service
• What resilience really looks like when the mission becomes survival itself
• The mental and emotional weight carried by those who serve

Kevin McNease gave 20 years to this nation. His story—every chapter of it—deserves to be heard.

👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories.

CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 58

So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸

Rescue Swimmer Merchandise https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com Military & First Responders: Use code SARRESCUE10 for 10% off 100% of proceeds support the podcast

📖 Calm in the Chaos — The Book by Brian Dickinson Available at www.briandickinson.net

📩 Booking & Media Inquiries: podcast@briandickinson.net

For more content, subscribe and follow @TheCalmintheChaosPodcast:

Twitter: https://x.com/briancdickinson/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandickinson/

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Calm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers

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Some missions go wrong before they even begin. Others turn into something no one could have planned for.

In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Richard Swope shares his career as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer—including two of the most intense moments a rescue swimmer can face: surviving a helicopter crash at night in the open ocean during an active rescue, and gaining sonobuoy contact on a Russian submarine trailing a U.S. aircraft carrier—moments before a collision with the carrier itself.

These aren't training scenarios. These are the real missions that define what it means to operate at the edge of human capability—in the dark, in the water, with no margin for error.

In this episode:

• Helicopter crash at night during an active ocean rescue
• Surviving open-ocean impact and the chaos that followed
• Gaining sonobuoy contact on a Russian submarine
• Near-collision with a U.S. aircraft carrier
• Decision-making when everything goes wrong at once
• Mental toughness forged in real-world high-stakes missions
• What it means to serve as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer

Richard Swope's story is a masterclass in staying calm when the situation is anything but. This is exactly what the Calm in the Chaos podcast was built for.

👉 Subscribe, share, and leave a review. It helps more veterans, first responders, and families find these stories.

CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 57

So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸

Rescue Swimmer Merchandise https://shop.calminthechaospodcast.com Military & First Responders: Use code SARRESCUE10 for 10% off 100% of proceeds support the podcast

📖 Calm in the Chaos — The Book by Brian Dickinson Available at www.briandickinson.net

📩 Booking & Media Inquiries: podcast@briandickinson.net

For more content, subscribe and follow @TheCalmintheChaosPodcast:

Twitter: https://x.com/briancdickinson/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandickinson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briancdickinson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briancdickinson

Calm in the Chaos: The Rescue Swimmer Podcast Untold Stories from U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers

#RescueSwimmer #NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #CalmInTheChaos #HelicopterCrash #NavyHelicopter #RussianSubmarineContact #ColdWarNavy #AircraftCarrier #NavyMilitary #MilitaryPodcast #VeteranStories #SoOthersMayLive #USNavy #NavyVeteran #MilitaryVeteran #RescueMission #SearchAndRescue #SAR #NavalAviation #OpenOceanRescue #SurvivalStory #MilitaryStories #SpecialOperations #ResiliencePodcast #LeadershipPodcast #MentalToughness #MilitaryLeadership #BrianDickinson #VeteranPodcast