BTU #359 - Hope Unseen with Scotty Smiley

June 29, 2020 Justin Nassiri

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Why Listen:
Today’s interview is both humbling and inspiring. Scotty lost his eyesight while serving on active duty. During and after his recovery, he continued to serve on active duty even though he was blind. Today's interview is just a great shot of inspiration, one about finding one's purpose and surrounding yourself with others who can lift you up and motivate you during the darker times of your life.

About Scotty:

Scotty is a graduate of the United States Military Academy (USMA). He began his career as an active duty officer. While leading his platoon overseas, Scotty came face-to-face with a suicide car bomber. That was the last thing that Scotty has seen. He woke up in the United States at Walter Reed Hospital blind and fighting for his life. Scotty not only had to learn how to live again, he also had to learn to lead. After fully recovering, Scotty became the military’s first active duty member to continue his service as a completely blind active duty officer. Scotty went on to receive a Master’s in Business Administration from Duke University and he has taught at USMA. Scotty commanded a 250-person company. In this role, he used his skills and abilities to lead his team through dire circumstances and adapt to much change. The Army Times named Scotty “Soldier of the Year” in 2007 and in 2008 he won an ESPY as the world’s Best Outdoor Athlete. Scotty retired from active duty and now works in the financial industry at Drexel Hamilton. He's written two books: Hope Unseen and Beatfeat.

Our Sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by the Carlson School of Management. Whether you're transitioning to a civilian career or continuing military service, an MBA from Carlson at the University of Minnesota prepares you for a high-impact career in business. Carlson is committed to the veteran community and provides the benefits, experiential learning, and network to accelerate your career. In addition to a resident tuition waiver, all admitted full-time MBA military candidates receive generous scholarships and stipends to cover expenses that may not be eligible for the GI Bill.
E-mail mba@umn.edu to learn more. That's mba@umn.edu.

Selected Resources:

Transcript & Time Stamps:

0:01

Joining me today from Pasco, Washington, my guest is Scotty Smiley.

Scotty, in 2005, you were injured in that suicide bombing vehicle that ultimately left you both blind in both eyes and paralyzed on your right side. What do you remember about the attack and your injuries?

I felt I was doing what I was called to do - serving my country and providing security in Iraq. I had just recently been married to my beautiful high school sweetheart. And, you know, leaving the freedoms of this country was something I didn't want to do. I understood that I was called to a different service - a service to help others and help support.

But on that day on April 6 2005, we were given a mission to find a suicide car bomb. And, you know, it's not any interesting information that we wouldn't normally have on any other day. It was one of the more contentious and hard fought fights in the country. At that time, a lot of the insurgents were trying to destroy the Iraqi government that we were setting up. And every day, it was either individuals blowing themselves up or being shot at by rocket propelled grenades. It was horrific. On that day, we were looking for a suspicious vehicle. I was traveling north and I turned right. So now I'm traveling East and I saw suspicious vehicles on the northern side of the East West running road. Given the rules of engagement, you can't shoot anyone in a situation like that. I decided that the best thing we could do was surround him. So I pulled my Stryker vehicle just about 30 yards to his South. I was facing east and he was facing west on the same road. I yelled at him to get out of his vehicle he just raised his hands off the steering wheel and shook his head. I yelled at him again. And then he let us off the brake and that's when I shot the front of his vehicle, and then boom. There was an explosion and that's when my life truly changed forever. I woke up about a week later at Walter Reed.

When I was in Iraq, I was in the best shape of my life. I had my Ranger tab, airborne wings, and a combat diver qualification. I was going to attempt to enter into the Ranger Regiment. I had plans. I had a future. I knew where I was going. I was newly married and really exciteda bout my future. I was living my best life and I had purpose and direction. I knew where I wanted to go.

And when I woke up after the explosion, I thought I was having nightmares. I was put in a medically induced coma. I no longer had eyes. I also was temporarily partially paralyzed because of brain damage that had occurred. I couldn't even walk. I couldn't feed myself, I couldn't do anything on my own. And to go from such physical health, physical strength, mental strength to literally nothing. It was one of the worst times of my life. I was angry. I was mad. I was depressed. For some reason, I didn't feel I deserved it.

It was the love my wife Tiffany showed me that pushed me through those times. She would tell me , ‘You're gonna be a public speaker’, ‘You're going to write a book’, ‘You're gonna be a teacher’. She always had confidence, faith and hope.