A Secret Six-Day Mission Into Iraq & "The Only One Who Ever Rescued a Rescue Swimmer" | Aviation Rescue Swimmer Scott Haskell | Ep. 62

A Secret Six-Day Mission Into Iraq & "The Only One Who Ever Rescued a Rescue Swimmer" | Aviation Rescue Swimmer Scott Haskell | Ep. 62

Author: Brian Dickinson July 18, 2026 Duration: 1:37:20

Scott Haskell and his crewmate Tater have a standing joke: they're one of the only rescue swimmers who ever rescued a rescue swimmer.


In this episode of Calm in the Chaos, Anthony Haskell shares 20 years in Naval Aviation—from a 100-mile scramble to recover a downed EA-6B crew, to a secret six-day mission into Iraq to bring home an ejected F-18 pilot, to a flight deck wire-snap that nearly took his crew out and earned his aircraft a painted purple heart. After the Navy, he kept saving lives as a drill instructor, combat pool instructor, police officer, and lifeguard trainer.


In this episode:

  • The 100-mile scramble to recover a downed EA-6B crew—and the "rescued a rescue swimmer" story that followed
  • A secret six-day mission into Iraq to search for a downed F-18 pilot
  • Finding him in a salt lake near Karbala—and the honor guard that met the aircraft
  • A flight deck wire-snap during an F-18 ejection that injured deck crew and earned his helicopter a painted purple heart
  • Becoming a drill instructor and training non-swimmers at the "combat pool"
  • Earning his first official live rescue at HS-14


Two decades of recoveries, rescues, and near-misses—and a career that never stopped saving people, in or out of uniform.


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CALM IN THE CHAOS PODCAST — Episode 62


So Others May Live. 🫡🇺🇸


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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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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: 50

Calm in the Chaos - U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Podcast
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