Echo Mike Channel : Why, Story and Future

Welcome everyone, Join me on a hike in kit and lets chat about why I started the channel, I little about myself and what my plans are for the future of this community and channel.
Thank you all so much for the support, likes, comments and shares. I would have never of guessed wed grow this quickly.
Time stamps
00:00 - Intro
00:55 - Tip 1 Getting started and Hydration
02:31 - Kit
04:03 - Tip 2 Hills
05:19 - Why I started this Channel
13:10 - Kit Breakdown
19:40 - About Me
30:08 - Future of the Channel
35:14 - Closing thought
Enjoy,
Cheers
Instagram - Echomike_training

[@Randy_Batswinger]

I'm a white Englishman in my late 50s, and I'm sick and tired of hearing about "toxic masculinity". You, and men like you, are needed, these days more than ever. Reassuring to think the future is in safe hands. Good luck with everything. 🤝

[@JamieWalker-pc6nd]

I’m very happy that I read that: I felt like I was going mad. I’m on “compassionate leave” right now. It’s getting near the end now though and my father is showing no signs of improving or getting much worse… I need to be getting outside to be doing things like this more. I’m very grateful that I read this comment. I’m seriously considering making my own videos as I am in a rather unique position right now. I don’t want to risk any of that changing though 🤔. I do know that I would press play on “my” hypothetical thumbnails.

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Sorry to hear about your injury and having to leave the Marines. Don't worry though, you can still get plenty of crayons as a civvie! 😂Well done on persevering and achieving your dream, good on you mate. 👍

[@Echo_Mike]

Appreciate that mate 💯 and No worries, they sell the red ones by the pound here

[@crossfireaustralia]

@@Echo_Mikewatch out for the red crayons guys, not much nutrition with them. I stick to a variety of the colours for a balanced diet. Sometimes crushing them up into a canteen makes for a field expedient smoothie.

[@Echo_Mike]

@@crossfireaustralia Ahhaha

[@ianmurray4081]

@@crossfireaustralialike dietitians say, eat a rainbow of foods.

[@TheQuantumPotato]

@@crossfireaustralia The red ones are too spicy for me, always have to wash them down with some glue

[@matthewturner7209]

As a former RAF regiment guy, I’m loving this content, love to see your inspirational videos. Keep up the good work.

[@paulm749]

Can't up-vote this young man's message enough. Here is your example.

[@F80mthree]

You’re going to go far in America with this mindset and outlook on life. Alot of born and raised Americans could learn so much from guys like you. Subscribed and will be looking forward to the future of this channel!

[@gm0wdd473]

I too was in the CCF, not good at school and now 25 years as a commercial pilot, LHS in the A320 for the last 18 years. Well done.

[@Echo_Mike]

@@gm0wdd473 awesome to hear this mate

[@priority19]

I'm an retired US Army Apache pilot,, u inspire me because I love to see young people with drive. I preach mindset, fitness, training, and equipment.. my story is somewhat similar to urs, wasn't suppose to make it, but didn't listen to No! Drive on my friend! Warrior on!

[@Iwasborn2times]

You are not boring, Sir! Best wishes on your goals.

[@Dirty_Hamble]

He's the complete opposite of boring, isn't he? A real inspiration.

[@polkbritton]

Thank you for sharing your story! My dad contracted with the USMC and went the OCS route and tested very high on the helicopter pilot's exam. He had nearly a year of training under his belt and decided on pursuing pilot's wings. When he went for the aviation physical, the doctors discovered he was red/green colorblind and had a back condition, so that ended his time in the service. It ended up being fortunate because the year was 1968 and he was due to be sent straight to Vietnam after training. In fact he had several classmates who were KIA. Who knows, if he had ended up going to Vietnam I might not be here today.

[@SueDamron]

I’m not a guy nor young, but you’re an inspiration!! I love that you’re sharing necessary skills both physical and mental! Everyone, at every age, can learn something from you! I’m not in your demographic but I’m so pleased to have found your channel. A new and unlikely subscriber! It’s absolutely refreshing to listen to you. Your honesty and good cheer go a long way!! I used to hike a lot when I was younger! One tip I learned, going uphill, was to over breathe so I could oxygenate a bit ahead of time and thereby not have to catch up at the end. Thanks again for your honest and genuine content!

[@RebeccaPebble]

Not sure why KZbin recommended your channel since I'm most likely not your typical audience member, but I'm glad it did! You seem like a really respectful, hardworking, intelligent gentleman! I love hikes and am inspired by the addition of gear to your walks-- not to mention your story. Incredible! As a teacher, I disdain standardized testing and how it stigmatizes our children (but that's another topic altogether). Thank you for your service and keep up the great content!🤗

[@Randy_Batswinger]

I don't know why this channel was recommended, either, but it's fascinating. This guy should be speaking in schools.

[@drlunow]

Please tell your whole story. Great hearing how you beat the odds. Very Inspiring.

[@MICHAEL-wg2lh]

Thanks for being open and honest here mate takes some balls to do that on the internet , lifes path is strange how it works sometimes , im happy you achieved your dream in the end. , top man

[@SeamusOLepreachaun]

Thanks for telling your story buddy, great to hear and I agree it’s a good refresher watching your field craft series 🙏🙏👍

[@Echo_Mike]

Glad you’re enjoying it! was on the fence about posting this, apologies for talking half out of breath near the end !

[@SeamusOLepreachaun]

Ah lad you had a good excuse to be out of breath 😆😆 stay good my man 👌

[@aldozilli1293]

​@@Echo_Mikeare you from Chepstow, Wales? Got a bit of an accent. Interesting journey, I also did the CCF around 13. Didn't enjoy it at the time but it was good discipline for a young man. More should have to do it.

[@tc4524]

Hey man, fellow Marine (USMC) and new subscriber here. I appreciated the video you posted about America-as a veteran and first generation immigrant, I feel the same way. Good work on the channel, I’ll definitely be watching!

[@Echo_Mike]

@@tc4524 glad to have you here mate

[@nursegirlsrock]

Thank you for sharing your story and outdoors information. The smartest people I know have life smarts, not book smarts. I'm 49 and getting into hiking and outdoors. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Keep on going, hard times and different paths are meant to be. I've lived it multiple times and things that are difficult now are later meant for a purpose. Just keep going!

[@apexprepper7646]

Thanks for sharing your story and your knowledge. Great message. Congrats on becoming a pilot through diligence and hard work, God bless.

[@constantinosconstantinou6262]

Many thanks for the knowledge and experience you share through your channel!

[@Echo_Mike]

💯

[@politicallyincorrectmechan7989]

Good talk . Mastering the basics is the key to excellence, practice them until you get them right, then practice until you can't get them wrong. Mindset, Skillset, Toolset, no amount of hardware can overcome faulty software

[@BlindBelly79]

God bless you young man. Enjoying your channel!

[@Echo_Mike]

@@BlindBelly79 cheers mate

[@rodtennant7603]

I think your approach is correct. I think everyone has huge respect for special forces in all countries, however they could not have made their achievements without their direct support structure, special funding and equipment, but also the huge effort of the ordinary fighting and support units, who have to make do with much less advanced training and equipment, but create a large network of bases and patroling, especially in counter insurgency operations. I always felt that there was too little mentoring and training lessons learnt by SF, being passed on to the ordinary grunt in the standard units. If this cross training was done more, the productivity and effectiveness of the whole operational deployment, of all of the units would improve significantly. This also applies to personal equipment. The ordinary grunt will probably never get the full Gucci gear, but an effort could be made to at least upgrade some of the stuff to include newer light weight and stronger materials and better designs, related to their tasks. The blood sweat and tears of the ordinary grunt, in a regular unit, should be valued equally as much as that of those in SF units.

[@Echo_Mike]

100%. That’s exactly what I aim to do here. Give a classroom, unedited and serious presentation of lessons new and old from units and individuals all over the world

[@johnrodgers6250]

I really appreciate how down to earth you/your channel is. A few of the bushcraft and prepper channels have become "infotainment" or opinionated to the point that the message is lost. Thanks for sharing your stories and posting your content. I can truly see these videos finding their way into classrooms in the future.

[@Echo_Mike]

Cheers John, I sadly agree but glad you’re here and enjoying the content here

[@thomasfinley7754]

So you are a commercial airline pilot now? That's awesome, brother. I was a jet engine mechanic in the Airforce. I worked on the F117 at Holloman AFB. I live in WV and work in the trades now doing HVAC.

[@Echo_Mike]

Yes sir, I fly a private jet - Gulfstream. that’s amazing mate, bet you can safety wire a chicken coop from scratch. HVAC I hear is fantastic. 100% for the trades. keep killing it out there.

[@ordolupus]

There's an old manuscript that I've begun studying in which this section is something I think pairs well with your closing thoughts. Perhaps not as a duty but instead the opportunity to explore and thrive in setting goals to expand your horizon of capabilities. "Young knight learn To have love for God, honor the women, So waxes your honor. Practice Knighthood, and learn Art that adorns you, And in wars brings honor."

[@Echo_Mike]

This

[@Nghilifa]

Good content! To me, being a "warrior" or perhaps, the mindset behind it, is being able to overcome adversity. Life will be challenging, there's no way around that, so incorporating a "can do" type of mindset, will help one overcome whatever obstacles that one is presented with throughout life.

[@MrUnderthesea]

Hello Echo Mike. Wow - I appreciate you for sharing your life’s pathway and your heart. Very encouraging.

[@15vertigo]

The message you put out is great. As you've said, there is a certain stigma around this field of interest, especially if you are not wearing the uniform for a living. At times it could feel overwhelming and isolating, especially to the young bucks like myself. Hearing you talk about your story and motivations, and also seeing the crowd you are gathering can take a huge load off one's shoulders by letting them know they are not alone in their interests and mindset; that there are other, like-minded individuals out there. Cheers.

[@Echo_Mike]

@@15vertigo cheers 💯

[@johncooper3171]

Hi Mike' well I was blown away with that chat. Well done 👍🛩 I am doing a try flight in a Helicopter 🚁 soon But just for fun. Cheers Jc😁👊🏻🇬🇧.

[@Echo_Mike]

Cheers John! That’s awesome to hear, Enjoy helicopter’s! 💯

[@bigpoppa1422]

Honestly mate great channel. Some very good points. Your videos are well worth anyone's precious time.

[@Echo_Mike]

Humbled by this. Thank you

[@rodtennant7603]

Well done on your channel. Thank you for your good advice on practical matters and hard work in practising what you preach.

[@Echo_Mike]

Cheers mate, really appreciate that.

[@polhokustaa4989]

I'm so glad we have kept the mandatory conscription here in Finland as it does so much good for the population of young men. Also it brings the military familiar to almost all the families throughout the nation.

[@Echo_Mike]

Glad to hear this, I Think America and England alienating military from civilian life is hurting society and leading to many of the problems we’re seeing

[@polhokustaa4989]

@@Echo_Mike You are very correct sir!

[@RollingSherman505]

Somehow KZbin recommended your channel (maybe because of Dirty Civilian) and boy am I glad! Happy to have you as a proud American! I need the motivation to train and get in shape. Thank you!

[@ianmy3341]

bro thats soo cool thank u for these vidoes

[@Babygirlly555]

I'm sorry that your military career didn't workout, but I'm glad that you were able to achieve your dream.

[@benyork4058]

Total respect, Mike!

[@Dirty_Hamble]

Please do make another longer video of your story. Absolutely fascinating. Great stuff!

[@danielbeach4855]

Keep up the good work!

[@Echo_Mike]

💯

[@KatherineTThan]

I had just finished watching a mini series on General George Washington, and your video on becoming an American citizen , appeared. Yay!!I’m really glad that I found your channel . I love fitness, physical training , and learning skills in survival , and how to protect myself. I’d be interested in seeing pictures of the planes you fly. It would be nice to see pictures or videos in topics your discussing ...like when you were a cadet, or places you visited in America when you first came here. You sound like a good person and I’m glad to join your channel .

[@Echo_Mike]

Thank you. Glad to have you here, I’ll post more in time, but Instagram is where I post more day to day

[@rodtennant7603]

Thank you, brutally honest, no winging and whining, fantastic effort to achieve your dream, through hard work and perseverance. That is the warriors spirit. I have watched several of your videos, which have been excellent. Thank you. Your aim to create an information and guide for warriors trying to be professional is a fantastic idea. I salute your effort. I am a former senior operational infantry and marine officer from the SADF with bush war experience.

[@Echo_Mike]

Truly humbled. Thank you for everything you’ve done. Will keep giving this my all 💯

[@Dirty_Hamble]

I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to place your UK accent. There's a slight hint of "country" to it, but it's very subtle. Mine's a kind of Norfolk/Essex/Cambridge mash-up. Apparently, I get a bit "posh" when I've had a beer. I'm really not! 😂

[@aircooledtransport]

I'd love to hear your whole story! What a journey

[@Echo_Mike]

Glad you enjoyed mate, Looking forward to the rest !

[@Kieran.Walsh.]

Excellent stuff mate, good to hear your story, much more to come 💪

[@Vule34]

Thanks for sharing your information and great videos.

[@rebeccabrady3602]

Wow, you are amazing. You are intelligent and hard working. You are such a great encouragement for other young men. Thank you for being such a great support for them.

[@joebruno2321]

usmc infantry and law enforcement , keep up the great effort and work , welcome to the USA

[@DavidGaskell-iy9bf]

Great story man. Really down to earth and refreshing. No hype, no b.s., thanks for sharing.

[@42willys4]

Good luck with the channel mate!

[@ebc1f7]

Loved hearing a bit of your story. As someone who also feels like I’m lucky to be and have the life I live. I applaud the goal of helping the younger guys get through what seems like a tougher time these days. Keep up the good work sir. I love the long form and I’m looking forward to more talks. Love it all really. Im heading over to follow U on IG now.

[@Echo_Mike]

Appreciate all of that mate

[@marcberends5123]

Thanks for this great channel with the content I love. Great story of your life and my respect for that. Cheers from the Netherlands!

[@Echo_Mike]

@@marcberends5123 cheers mate !

[@Zuko_1224]

Thank you mate, I really appreciate you creating this content. It already helped me a lot, and thank you for shearing us your story. 🤙💪

[@Echo_Mike]

Glad you have you here with us 💯

[@no_step_on_snek9796]

Subscribed. Excellent video

[@chtactical5316]

Your story is very inspiring mate, similar to my own. Keep up the great work 🤙🏼

[@steveclancy6474]

With you. Fucked up after uni and should have made other choices and if had my time again would have overcome some rejections and persevered with a military career. But no regrets. Moved to Switzerland, got a great family, learned to shoot to a good standard and picked up my rucking again thru the mountains here. It’s a fantastic way to challenge yourself,see nature and maintain my fitness and readiness for my kids whatever the future may brings. I doubt any skills I might have will be needed but it’s a hell of a lot more fun being prepared this way rather than just repetitive exercise in the gym alone.

[@Echo_Mike]

Thanks for sharing mate. Sounds like you’ve got an incredible life to be proud of living. Would love to see and fly around Switzerland one day

[@milesmoyers]

Great job, I appreciate the definition of warrior you are using. Look forward to more content.

[@peasant1381]

Top video Mike. I think you've found a niche which hasn't been fully explained/developed which is the teaching of what I call martial skills outside of a military context. You may be aware that for at least a couple of hundred years in the late medieval period archery practise was compulsory in England which is a good example of a martial skill being trained out to the civilian population (there were very few standing armies at this time anyway). I also was in the cadet force (ATC in my case) I learned to shoot, ruck, personal admin, self discipline, learned lots of survival skills and did quite a lot of square bashing! It set me up for the rest of my life. Cheers.

[@Echo_Mike]

Cheers mate. That’s exactly it. Glad to have you here

[@craigrobertson6082]

EM - great stuff, especially about the basics. If you are in a stress situation and are mentally going into the black, you will unconsciously go to your basics. Movements, thought processes, the lot. So if you have only ever learned 'highspeed' techniques, you'll be scuppered if you have no foundational basics.

[@driverguy7]

I think watching television, then to the internet has shortened childrens attention span, till they want instant gratification, and just drop anything that takes patience and diligence. You are absolutely right about young men needing Good role models, and too many are seduced by the allure of gang violence, drug fortunes, and so on. I would say american youth feel no " sense of duty" whatsoever, so it's refreshing to see someone who does. I huge social thing has happened, where parents both work, put kids in daycare, quality time is sparse, and TV and the internet become their "Role Models", and what sells on TV? Death, violence, self promotion, arrogance, extravagance all the bad stuff! Parents who got a good days work done, loved their kids, tended responsibilities, that doesn't make the evening news!! Some of us learn survival skills by becoming homeless, or in inner cities. I love your honesty. Keep doing what you enjoy, and keep sharing your wisdom and skills, have a good week! I am suspicious that there are communist agencies working to destroy America on multiple fronts, like vaping.....

[@kennygreen3912]

Inspirational,Great Video ,Similar to my experiences when I was a young Man .

[@waitingforthefall627]

So much said in the first 10 minutes that echo my own thoughts exactly. Everyone wants to be a doorkicker, but even Tier 1 type doorkicker dudes have to know how to wash their armpits in the field and do basic land nav. That's what ties it together- everyone's gotta ruck. And there's also a certain feeling of deceit with the cosplay/flashy video intros with pyrotechnics and such. Regarding the guys selling business, becoming a man, fitness, etc- it often feels like there's this weird change in level- like the viewer is being spoken down to, like the presenter has the center stage and you just get to be in the audience. Cool if it's an expert talking about whatever, not cool when it's someone saying they're trying to uplift others but not giving any real path forward. There's also a weird focus on the specifics- I imagine that has to do with shilling their own products for money or clout. People ignore KISS acronym and that the average Joe doesn't have the funding and/or time to be able to function at that level. So the videos of you getting out and rucking, or demonstrating how to pitch a shelter so it doesn't look like a bag of ass, is hugely important for the average joe to see because the average Joe can connect to that and level with that.

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

Just found your channel today by accident. Except for crossing the Atlantic it sounds like we've had similar dreams & life experiences... desire to fly... my math & vision wasn't good enough. I did graduate from college and then enlisted and a few years later was injured. I did have to take college algebra 4 times to get my degree... After I was honorably discharged, I took a state LEO position and ended up getting injured a second time (both times were respectively drunk & elderly drivers). I'm 60 now recovering from a heart attack and Covid, dealing with chronic pain from the car accidents. But I either have a gift or a curse... I don't give up/quit. That's part of my DNA. Im working to get my health back. And I refuse to "let the old man in". Look forward to seeing more of your channel. I did see your video on bashas and Morals, good versus evil... America could use some more of that ... Yes, training/bushcraft/prepping requires kit... and theres a place for firearms too. A lot of folks acquire & "train" with those for nebulous reasons. But Its more than all that as well. Its also about the grey matter up topside. Cheers

[@Echo_Mike]

Thank you for sharing. Glad you found the channel and commented, welcome 💯🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@leto8161]

I really liked this video. You're saying the right things! Moreover, you are not just engaged in conversations, but also doing what you say that is very valuable! I respect such people. Go on. And although I'm new to your channel, I would like to suggest topics for the video content of your channel, say a military-themed video, a video about sports, training and the right way to look at life for a man, participation in some competitions, free time hobbies, travel and trips, maybe some meetings with people, etc. I also appreciated the mental reasoning, good and right thouhts. Also I think it will be useful to discuss various topics of personal and professional development. Anyway, I'm happy to subscribe. Like it! And I will follow your growth with interest, as I am going through a difficult period in my life, and so far successfully deal with it! 😎👍You grow only when you do something

[@MattSmithMidwest]

You should come to One Shepherd brother

[@jackson3327]

I have watched one other video and this one. The sentence "I consider myself more of an American, than most Americans" all I needed to hear.

[@DragonsBeard444]

your channel looks interesting thanks 👍

[@Octogunner]

I feel like a lot of people are turned away from getting into these hobbies because of the way the usual guntubers advertise expensive kits and accessories. My friends and I look out for surplus equipment, even if it's from other countries because it's likely to be cheaper than newly made. Lots of times you can find a vest or chest rig that's a little older but it still has just as many pockets as the mall warrior brands that are $800 and have special KZbinr patches on it. Granted, that doesn't mean you should look for the absolute cheapest possible options, because those are likely made by Temu or something and probably aren't the best. But if something was fielded by a military at one point, it's likely to be useful and not going to fall apart instantly. Tthe idea that you have to get equipment that's the newest, most expensive, or most talked about by guntubers is making people hesitant to start up. Great videos and keep it up, glad to know you made it to where you want to be in aviation.

[@Echo_Mike]

@@Octogunner this is why I started this channel. Welcome mate glad to have you here

[@froginthewaves8450]

Awesome video!

[@Echo_Mike]

Glad to have you here mate!

[@displacedgranitestater2821]

Great stuff, thanks for sharing all that. You are one of the few channels around that isn’t trying to sell me a monthly membership to something on their channel, just putting out good, informative content without a hidden agenda. It’s a breath of fresh air, thank you! Also, random and weird gear question. What is that canteen you pulled out of your ruck? Looked like a squared off Nalgene.

[@Echo_Mike]

Cheers mate, appreciate that. It’s the Australian issue 1 LTR

[@displacedgranitestater2821]

@@Echo_Mike Appreciate it sir! I’ll have to keep my eye out for something to pop up. I’m not sure I’ve seen Aussie gear on the US market before, I like the shape though, looks like it could fit into a 3 mag pouch.

[@bloobmonkey]

King 👑

[@Echo_Mike]

Right back at ya

[@IsaiahChapter53isAboutJesus]

Walking backward up a hill is super food for the knees. If you know anybody with knee issues, suggest this.

[@bootneck4828]

I went out to 29 Palms in 2019 and bumped into a cockney lad who was in the USMC thought i was going mad but apparently his parents were American

[@katehite9551]

Beautiful scenery...what state are you in?

[@Echo_Mike]

NH

[@skylongskylong1982]

If you volunteered for Civil Air Patrol, would they train you as a pilot if you showed the aptitude ?

[@herebemadness7054]

So, you trained for the military, got injured and cast aside, without any benefits? Wow, that sucks! And no previous jobs to fall back on! That must have been hard!! Definitely a "by your own bootstraps" story!

[@maxpowers1187]

How did you move to America without a degree?

[@Ger-cx3rb]

Mike are those haix high liability boots?

[@Echo_Mike]

Bates British contract (not even sure the name)

[@JamieWalker-pc6nd]

It’s really sad to say this but: this is the first time other than my own, that I’ve seen webbing set up “correctly” (in my humble opinion of course) for at least 5 months. I need be careful here hmm 🤔. I teach recruits the odd morning if one of the instructors is sick or couldn’t get cover etc… (I’m officially still in/ if you’re that interested I’ve mentioned it in other comments but it’s just boring personal stuff. I just mentioned it for the ones that “hey you couldn’t have served we don’t say that” or whatever. I don’t know about everyone else but when I’m typing a response to a military service question I like to make sure that anyone reading it will understand. Let’s be real we all should know at least that civilians who WOULD have joined the army before the rainbow got stolen are prepping. & they are prepping wrong. Like really wrong. Mentally wrong. Example: “I don’t gonna need much because I’m just going to use you guys as a loot drop cos I’ve bought _____ thermal optics” That is the type of mentality that actually scares me & I’m not easily scared. I’ve seen how people act when there’s a power cut and it was known that all the police in the area were busy at the airport (I was in LA at the time and all units had been diverted to LAX) During that power cut that lasted 82 mins. There were 5 shootings, almost every store on Venice beach got broken into and… well KZbin has deleted my 3 prior attempts so I guess I’ll just say: “they”‘and i just mean the average person, robbed, pillaged, plucked and all the other WORSE things just because they knew that they could get away with it. Genuinely disturbing. 13:34 this is a very very good Webbing set up bro. I wanted to do videos like this but I’m not sure still how the head shed would take it. Excellent videos sir: I look forward to watch them all when the kids at school Monday. If you read all of this: you’re a legend and if it looks like a word salad it’s because “fact checkers”’seem not to like me speaking the truth.’ Have a great day everyone 🫡✌️

[@Echo_Mike]

Cheers mate. Appreciate it

[@MR-dp3pz]

are you going to make a discord server?

[@Echo_Mike]

I’ve never done it but if enough people are for it I’m open to the idea. Instagram is the best way to reach out for now

[@discipleaj]

Have to post again, my comments keep on disappearing?

[@Echo_Mike]

I just got done flying I only see this one from you?

[@discipleaj]

@Echo_Mike thanks for responding. I didn't even put anything offensive, no vulgarity/profanity etc. I'll repost in this thread again.

[@didihrpro3499]

🫡

[@check-static-lines]

Fellow active duty Army guy, liking your content brother!

[@Echo_Mike]

@@check-static-lines cheers mate 💯