Jason Redman

On September 11, 1992, at the age of seventeen, Redman enlisted in the United States Navy.[2][5] His first two years in the Navy were spent working as an Intelligence Specialist working for the Navy and Naval Special Warfare.[6]

In 1996, Redman graduated BUD/S class 202 in December of 1995 and earned his SEAL Trident.[7] Redman then took part in several counter-narcotics missions in Colombia and Peru.[8]

By 2000, he had risen to the rank of Petty Officer First Class. In December 2000, he was an instructor for SEAL Team's Basic Land Warfare block of training. For a year and a half, he taught Marksmanship, Reconnaissance, Surveillance operations, and Advanced Communications.[1] Shortly after, Redman was selected as one of the 50 enlisted personnel in the Navy to participate in the Seaman to Admiral program, which would put him on the "officer track."[3][9]

In May 2004, he was commissioned a Naval Special Warfare Officer.[3] Redman was transferred from SEAL Team 4 to SEAL Team 10.[10] The next year he was deployed to Afghanistan then Iraq.[9] In 2006, he graduated from the U.S. Army Ranger School. The next year, Redman was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq.[5]

After 21 years in the US Navy, Redman retired in 2013.[9]

On September 13, 2007, during a special operations mission, Redman was struck by machine gun fire. It first hit him in the left elbow, then in the right side of his face, entering his jaw and exiting through his nose.[2][11] At the time he was acting as the Assault Force Commander. Their mission was to capture a "high-value Al-Qaeda operative."[12] In all, Redman was shot seven times to the face and arms.[13]

LT Redman arrived at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on September 16, 2007.[13] As of 2012, he had undergone 37 surgeries,[11] and required 1,200 stitches, 200 staples, 15 skin grafts, and one tracheotomy.[13] Redman lost his sense of smell and has a limited range of motion in his left arm.[11]

While Redman was recovering, he hung up a sign on his hospital door. He said, "the sign came about because a few people came into my room with sorrow for the wounds I received and I pledged shortly after I was wounded not to feel sorry for myself, so I wasn't going to allow anyone else to feel sorry for me."[3] The bright orange sign read:

Attention to all who enter here. If you are coming into this room with sorrow or to feel sorry for my wounds, go elsewhere. The wounds I received I got in a job I love, doing it for people I love, supporting the freedom of a country I deeply love. I am incredibly tough and will make a full recovery. What is full? That is the absolute utmost physically my body has the ability to recover. Then I will push that about 20 percent further through sheer mental tenacity. This room you are about to enter is a room of fun, optimism, and intense rapid regrowth. If you are not prepared for that, go elsewhere.[13]

It was signed, "The Management."[3] The sign attracted then-President George W. Bush, and Redman had the chance to meet him in the Oval Office.[13][14] The sign hangs at the wounded ward of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.[3]

Jason (pictured far left)

Redman founded the non-profit organization Wounded Wear while he was recovering.[11] Because of his scars, he was always being asked if he was wounded in a car accident or motorcycle crash. Redman was never asked if he was hurt in combat, and that made him "bitter." After a culmination of questions, he decided to design a t-shirt that read, "Stop staring. I got shot by a machine gun. It would have killed you." On the back of the t-shirt was the American flag. After getting positive feedback from strangers, Redman realized that other wounded soldiers must be feeling the same way.[4]

Wounded Wear was founded in 2009.[4]

The organization donates clothing kits to warriors hurt in combat and to families of fallen soldiers. The kit contains clothing like jackets, workout gear, and t-shirts.[4] They also alter clothing for soldiers injured in combat to accommodate their medical devices.[9] Everything is done free of charge. As of 2014, Wounded Wear has donated 2,000 kits.[4] In March 2015, Redman announced plans to hire a professional to take over his role, but Redman will remain the spokesperson.[15]

Redman also travels the country as a motivational speaker.[12] He has spoken to the Marriott Corporation, the NFL Cincinnati Bengals, and the U.S. Men's 2010 Olympic Hockey Team.[5]

He is the head of staffing at Blue Star Veterans Network, where his job is to hire and employ wounded warriors and service disabled veterans.[14]

Redman is the founder of the private company SOF Spoken.[15]

Redman started writing his memoir, The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader, while he was in recovery.[3] It was co-authored with John Bruning.