The Son I Met Through a Satellite Phone

Right after the 9/11 attack in the US I found myself deployed as a sniper in Afghanistan with SEAL Team 3.

7,000 miles away from the birth of my first son who I learned of from a satellite phone after an intense multi-day mission in the north of Afghanistan.

(Photo: Northern Afghanistan 2001. Author, far right).

I didn’t smell his little head. I didn’t hold my wife’s hand. I didn’t feel that terrifying, beautiful weight of a new life in my arms and it sat heavy with me.

By 2006, with a growing family, I was the Head Instructor at the SEAL sniper course, helping teach some of the deadliest snipers on the planet.

But the Navy collided head-on with the reality of being a father. And I started to look around me at the career SEALs and not many had a great family life. Broken marriages, estranged kids or worse.

I wanted something better for my children.

That’s when I made one of the hardest choices of my life: I hung up the uniform and Navy SEAL Trident for my family.

Looking back now it was one of the best decisions I’ve made.

What followed was incredibly tough transition to civilian life. I had to rebuild my life and identity all over again…all while trying to raise children.

I launched my first business and watched it go up in flames, taking my life savings with it in 2008.

Then came the divorce and on top of that I was broke and had kids to support.

But in the darkness, I found light.

I used the same mindset I learned in the Navy SEALs and positive performance psychology to get myself out of the funk.

Focusing on the positives were key. Learned a lot about business. Had a good relationship with my ex. I was very marketable and got a job at a top Defense company so I could rebuild.

I also learned that being a “hero” isn’t about medals or combat deployments. It’s about keeping it together for your kids when your world is falling apart.

Today, I have three incredible children and a partnership with their mother that works because we chose the kids over conflict and our personal bullshit.

So many of my friends and peers would meet my adult kids and comment how happy and confident they were.

Inevitably I knew what would come next.

“How did you do it?”, they’d ask.

Eventually it became clear to that we did something right, and I had something to offer other parents.

I’ve spent the last several years pouring every hard-earned lesson from the SEAL sniper mental management program, and my experience as a father, into these pages.

Now I Need Your Support

I believe Puddle Jumpers has some incredible material to help parents make the right choices so they can raise confident, joyful, and independent kids.

I’ve shared my stories and parenting insights with you for free on my SubStack.

Now, I’m asking for your help to turn this message into a movement.

We have to get this guide into the hands of parents who could use some extra tools.

Here is how you can help make this launch a success:

Pre-order the book by clicking here: Puddle Jumpers.

Ordering now is so important for me.

If you know a friend, a brother, or a fellow parent who is struggling to find their footing, I would be deeply grateful if you ordered a copy for them as well.

If you have a platform or a direct line to media, podcasts, newsletters, or shows that reach over 100,000 people—and you’re willing to make an intro, please reply to this email or DM me here.

If you lead a team, a company, or a veteran organization and want to equip your entire group with these resilience tools, please consider a bulk order.

Thank you for being part of the Puddle Jumper tribe!

Respectfully.

Brandon

P.S. I asked a few parents to read an early version of the book and here’s what they said.

“Puddle Jumpers is the rare parenting book that doesn’t preach — it equips.” -- Kristina Partsinevelos, CNBC Nasdaq Correspondent & Mom

“Part SEAL toughness, part entrepreneurial ingenuity, and all wrapped in fatherly love—Puddle Jumpers offers a fresh approach to parenting. It’s about raising kids who embrace challenges, grow resilient through adversity, and discover the confidence to chart their own path.” -- Dr. Chloe Carmichael, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and USA Today Bestselling Author & Mom

“Brandon Webb has a rare gift for turning life’s toughest lessons into wisdom we can all use. His new book isn’t just a story; it’s a masterclass in resilience, leadership, and living with purpose. If you want to learn what it takes to thrive when the stakes are high, this is the book to read.” -- Jairek Robbins (Yes, Tony is his Dad!), Performance Coach, Bestselling Author & a Father

|In typical Webb style, he communicates his message with grace, humor, and solid how-to wisdom that will help today’s parents raise their offspring to be ready and equipped to live their best and most successful lives possible! This book is truly a gift that will benefit generations to come.” -- Bob Burg, coauthor of the International Bestseller, The Go-Giver