The Cadre Podcast
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Failed Sniper School, Came Back Stronger, Eric D'Oro's Story | Ep 015
2 hour 20 minutes Posted May 1, 2026 at 2:00 pm.
, Introduction, Who Is Eric D'Oro2:15, Growing Up in Pennsylvania, Family and Early Influences8:40, Joining the Marines at 18, Powerlifting, Wrestling, and 9/1115:20, SOI, Reclassing to 0311 and Volunteering for Recon22:10, The Recon Training Injury, Surgery, and the Extended Timeline31:45, Running the Sniper Screener40:30, Walking Into the Platoon, Catching Up to the Standard52:15, First Deployment to Australia, Mistakes and Feedback1:04:50, Leadership, Trust, and Team Dynamics1:18:25, Sniper School, Failure, and the Hazing That Followed1:31:10, The KD Test and What It Did to Him1:42:55, The Second Attempt, Broken Ankle, and Dropping Out1:54:30, Reintegration, Leadership Frustration, and the Decision to Leave2:06:15, Civilian Transition, College, and Firearms Instruction2:14:40, Contracting, Teaching, and Finding the Work That Fits2:20:05, Corey, Brianna, and Building a Support System2:26:30, Health, Stepping Back, and Choosing Competition2:32:45, Teaching With Lived Experience, NRL Hunter, and What's Next2:38:20, Final Thoughts on Resilience, Stubbornness, and the Long Road
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Show notes
Join Phillip Velayo and Eric D'Oro of The Cadre for the long version of how Eric actually got here, including the parts that didn't go to plan. Eric walks through growing up in Pennsylvania, joining the Marines at 18 in the shadow of 9/11, failing sniper school, coming back for a second attempt, and breaking his ankle mid-competition before having to drop out. He gets honest about the feedback that broke him, the bureaucracy that pushed him out of the Marine Corps, and the messy transition through college, firearms instruction, and contracting. Whether you're a young Marine wondering if you'd survive the standard, a competitor trying to reframe your last bad match, or someone mid-career-transition, this one is worth the full sit.
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Precision Through Chaos.
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