20 Years as a Navy Rescue Swimmer | SAR School Instructor to NSW Support | Greg Baker on High-Risk Rescues & Leadership Under Pressure

20 Years as a Navy Rescue Swimmer | SAR School Instructor to NSW Support | Greg Baker on High-Risk Rescues & Leadership Under Pressure

Author: Brian Dickinson March 11, 2026 Duration: 1:02:37

Greg Baker spent 20 years as a U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer, operating where hesitation costs lives and preparation is everything.

From multiple real-world rescues to serving as a SAR School instructor responsible for shaping future Rescue Swimmers, Greg understands what separates average from dependable. He finished his career supporting Naval Special Warfare, operating in intense environments to track suspected bad guy vehicles based on intel.


In this episode:
• 20 years as a Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer
• Multiple real-world rescue missions
• Serving as a SAR School instructor
• Supporting Naval Special Warfare (NSW)
• Leadership under pressure
• The mindset that sustains a long operational career

(2) Bronze Stars — Joint Task Force Iraq
(1) Joint Service Commendation Medal — Iraq
(1) Navy Commendation Medal — HVBSS operation discussed on the show
(7) Navy Achievement Medals — for multiple rescue missions

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CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST Episode 53


So Others May Live! 🫡🇺🇸


Keep Calm in the Chaos Merch

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

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#NavyRescueSwimmer #AviationRescueSwimmer #SARSchool #NavalAviation #NSW #NavalSpecialWarfare #SearchAndRescue #MilitaryLeadership #FirstResponder #CalmInTheChaos #SoOthersMayLive


There’s a moment in every rescue when training meets turbulence, and a person must decide to step into the storm. Calm in the Chaos-U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Podcast is built around those moments, sharing firsthand accounts from the men and women who have lived them. Host Brian Dickinson, drawing from his own experience as a former Navy Rescue Swimmer and an author who has faced extreme environments, guides these conversations with a rare understanding. Each episode unfolds a real mission, but the focus often settles on what happens between the orders-the split-second decisions, the managed fear, and the profound humanity required to save a life in perilous conditions. This isn't just about historical operations; it's an intimate exploration of the grit, mindset, and quiet faith that define these individuals. The podcast has found a dedicated audience, ranking in the top tier of podcasts globally, precisely because it goes beyond the heroics to examine the tangible calm forged in chaos. While not affiliated with the U.S. Navy or Department of Defense, the stories offer an authentic window into a world where running toward danger is the job description. Listeners will hear voices often reserved for debrief rooms, sharing narratives of loss, survival, and the weight of the helmet, all framed by Dickinson’s grounded perspective.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 55

Calm in the Chaos - U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Podcast
Podcast Episodes
27 Bullets. One SEAL. One Rescue. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:28
When the call comes in, there’s no room for hesitation. This episode dives into the brutal pace and intensity of Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) in active war zones. Hear firsthand accounts of missions flown into fire, l…
Vietnam-Era Heroism | Combat SAR Stories That Defined a Generation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:36
Before GPS, night vision, and high-tech helicopters, these men risked it all. This episode dives into the raw, unfiltered heroism of Navy Rescue Swimmers and aircrews during the Vietnam War. From jungle extractions under…
Close Encounters of the SAR Kind | Real Stories from the Front Lines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:51
Step into the world of Navy Search and Rescue as we share real stories of life-or-death missions. In this episode of The Rescue Swimmer Podcast, former SAR swimmers recount some of the closest calls of their careers — fr…