Episode 6: Breaking Formation: How Betrayal Led to a New Beginning
Explicit content warning
04/01/25 • 21 min
Brandon Held recounts his Air Force career trajectory and the pivotal moment that led him to abandon his original plan of military retirement for a completely different path. A false report from a vindictive master sergeant and subsequent lack of support from leadership sparked a series of events that ultimately led Brandon to pursue broadcast journalism after watching Marv Albert interview Michael Jordan.
Please start with Episode 1. Go to my site BrandonHeld.com
• Worked hard to demonstrate value through polished uniforms and professional excellence
• Won Airman of the Quarter for his security police squadron
• Selected as flight security controller despite being significantly junior for the position
• Falsely failed a quality control test by Master Sergeant Danford without actually being tested
• Commander refused to believe Brandon over the master sergeant despite the false report
• Discovered unexpected academic ability after scoring well in a college math class
• Significantly improved ASVAB scores but was denied retraining opportunities
• Made life-changing decision to become a sportscaster after watching Marv Albert interview Michael Jordan
• Left the Air Force in January 1995 and prepared to attend Minot State University
• Enjoyed unexpected transition period playing basketball and golfing while collecting unemployment
Join me next time for episode seven where I'll share more significant incidents from my military career that have stayed with me for over 30 years.
Brandon Held recounts his Air Force career trajectory and the pivotal moment that led him to abandon his original plan of military retirement for a completely different path. A false report from a vindictive master sergeant and subsequent lack of support from leadership sparked a series of events that ultimately led Brandon to pursue broadcast journalism after watching Marv Albert interview Michael Jordan.
Please start with Episode 1. Go to my site BrandonHeld.com
• Worked hard to demonstrate value through polished uniforms and professional excellence
• Won Airman of the Quarter for his security police squadron
• Selected as flight security controller despite being significantly junior for the position
• Falsely failed a quality control test by Master Sergeant Danford without actually being tested
• Commander refused to believe Brandon over the master sergeant despite the false report
• Discovered unexpected academic ability after scoring well in a college math class
• Significantly improved ASVAB scores but was denied retraining opportunities
• Made life-changing decision to become a sportscaster after watching Marv Albert interview Michael Jordan
• Left the Air Force in January 1995 and prepared to attend Minot State University
• Enjoyed unexpected transition period playing basketball and golfing while collecting unemployment
Join me next time for episode seven where I'll share more significant incidents from my military career that have stayed with me for over 30 years.
Previous Episode
Episode 4: From Military Service to Mental Health Crisis: A Raw Personal Account
Brandon shares how his life dramatically changed after joining the Air Force, from women suddenly showing interest in him to facing a mental health crisis following a relationship breakdown. His journey from Ohio to North Dakota reveals both the external transformations and internal struggles that shaped his early military experience.
Please start with Episode 1. Go to my site BrandonHeld.com
• First experience returning home on military leave after six months in the Air Force
• Women who previously ignored him suddenly showing romantic interest
• Getting lost in a dangerous Chicago neighborhood during his drive to North Dakota
• Cramped living conditions at Minot Air Force Base with a difficult roommate
• Complicated love triangle with roommate's romantic interest
• Overreacting to a breakup by threatening suicide, resulting in hospitalization
• Important life lesson about not overreacting in emotional situations
Stay tuned for episode five where I'll pick up where I left off in this story about my time at Lackland Air Force Base's mental health facility.
Dynamic Content Middle
Next Episode
Episode 7: The Air Force Files: Four Years I Still Can't Believe
I take you behind the scenes of my four years in the Air Force, sharing the wild personal stories and intense human drama that defined my military experience beyond the uniform and duties.
Please start with Episode 1. Go to my site BrandonHeld.com
• Strong military camaraderie formed with friends like John Copado, Dan Malone, and Dave Everson
• Lost friendship with Dave after my divorce when he became romantically interested in my ex-wife
• Shocking story of Dan's wife stealing my checks, which revealed her web of financial deception
• Dan discovered his other betrayal from his wife in this madness
• Three suicides occurred in the security police barracks within three months
• Multiple uncomfortable encounters with married women making advances
• Despite challenges, overall Air Force experience was positive compared to later Army service
• Would recommend Air Force over other branches based on quality of life and work environment
Thank you for joining me. I'll continue my life story in episode eight as we explore what happened after I left the Air Force.
Brandon Held - Life is Crazy - Episode 6: Breaking Formation: How Betrayal Led to a New Beginning
Transcript
Welcome back. This is Brandon Held, Life is Crazy, Episode 6.
SPEAKER_00Last episode, I took you through my marriage and the birth of my son, Ethan. And that spanned over six years of my life, including my post-Air Force life. I can't just go through what happened to me while I was in the Air Force. I don't really remember the sequence that some of these happened in. I think it's more fluid to tell th
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