The Cadre Podcast

Failed Sniper School, Came Back Stronger, Eric D'Oro's Story | Ep 015

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. Listen to us on: Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/show/0WhBQn3hUE1XarAFwAd2OU Apple, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cadre-podcast/id1806120803 TRAIN WITH US: https://www.thecadretraining.com DOWNLOAD OUR EQUIPMENT KIT: https://www.thecadretraining.com/kit Download The Cadre DOPE Card: https://www.thecadretraining.com/resources TIMESTAMPS 0:00, Introduction, Who Is Eric D'Oro 2:15, Growing Up in Pennsylvania, Family and Early Influences 8:40, Joining the Marines at 18, Powerlifting, Wrestling, and 9/11 15:20, SOI, Reclassing to 0311 and Volunteering for Recon 22:10, The Recon Training Injury, Surgery, and the Extended Timeline 31:45, Running the Sniper Screener 40:30, Walking Into the Platoon, Catching Up to the Standard 52:15, First Deployment to Australia, Mistakes and Feedback 1:04:50, Leadership, Trust, and Team Dynamics 1:18:25, Sniper School, Failure, and the Hazing That Followed 1:31:10, The KD Test and What It Did to Him 1:42:55, The Second Attempt, Broken Ankle, and Dropping Out 1:54:30, Reintegration, Leadership Frustration, and the Decision to Leave 2:06:15, Civilian Transition, College, and Firearms Instruction 2:14:40, Contracting, Teaching, and Finding the Work That Fits 2:20:05, Corey, Brianna, and Building a Support System 2:26:30, Health, Stepping Back, and Choosing Competition 2:32:45, Teaching With Lived Experience, NRL Hunter, and What's Next 2:38:20, Final Thoughts on Resilience, Stubbornness, and the Long Road CONNECT WITH THE TEAM: Follow Eric: https://www.instagram.com/ej_doro Follow Phillip: https://www.instagram.com/velayo_0317 Follow The Cadre: https://www.instagram.com/thecadre.training Precision Through Chaos.

Tenacity Firearms: Custom Hunting Rifles Without the Wait | Ep 014

Join Phillip Velayo and Andrew of Tenacity Firearms for a full breakdown of what it actually takes to build a high-end custom hunting rifle, get it in your hands fast, and run it with confidence in the backcountry. The conversation covers Tenacity's no-wait business model, the full component stack behind the Tenacity X, and the philosophy behind building a rifle system around how hunters actually operate in the field. They walk through every layer of the build: the McMillan Mountain Hunter stock with integrated Arca and Picatinny rails, the Tenacity-branded Defiance Anti-X action, Proof Research and Hell's Canyon Armory barrel options, and TriggerTech's role in a reliable, adjustable trigger system. The discussion gets into cartridge selection strategy, why factory ammo availability matters more than most hunters realize, and how scope mount height influences your ability to run the rifle cleanly under pressure. Phillip draws direct parallels between competition shooting fundamentals and backcountry hunting performance, including what the pre-shot and post-shot process looks like when an animal is in front of you. Whether you're specing your first custom hunting rifle, tired of waiting two years for a build, or looking for a modular platform that grows with your skill level, this episode gives you a blueprint for what a purpose-built precision hunting rifle should look like. Listen to us on: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0WhBQn3hUE1XarAFwAd2OU Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cadre-podcast/id1806120803 TRAIN WITH US: https://www.thecadretraining.com DOWNLOAD OUR EQUIPMENT KIT: https://www.thecadretraining.com/kit Download The Cadre DOPE Card: https://www.thecadretraining.com/resources TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Introduction | The Cadre x Tenacity Firearms Collaboration 2:12 - Custom Rifle Industry | Wait Times, Market Saturation, and the Tenacity Model 6:08 - Tenacity X Breakdown | McMillan Stock, Arca Rail, and Modular Design 11:47 - Action, Barrel, and Trigger | Defiance, Proof Research, and TriggerTech 17:25 - Cartridge Selection | What to Run and Why Factory Ammo Availability Matters 22:43 - Scope Mount Height and Modern Technique | Minimizing Rifle Influence 45:04 - Competition Shooting for Hunters | Why the Range Makes You Better in the Field 53:49 - Troubleshooting and Customer Support | Knowing Your System When It Matters 1:04:09 - Future Goals | New Configurations, Price Points, and Product Development CONNECT WITH THE TEAM: Follow Tenacity Firearms: https://www.instagram.com/tenacity_firearms/ Follow Andrew: https://www.instagram.com/andrew_whitney/ Follow Phillip: https://www.instagram.com/velayo_0317 Follow The Cadre: https://www.instagram.com/thecadre.training Precision Through Chaos.

Not All Ranges Are Equal - Wind, Positional Challenges & The Cadre Range Matrix Explained | Ep 013

In this episode, Phillip Velayo, Jon Bumpus, and Eric D'Oro of The Cadre introduce a specialized matrix for evaluating precision rifle venues based on positional challenge and wind complexity. By scoring four distinct ranges—Gravestone, Snake River, Mason Valley, and Fruit Stand—the crew demonstrates how varying terrain and environmental factors dictate specific training requirements and gear preparation. The discussion moves beyond simple mechanics to explore the nuances of wind engagement, the limitations of the Gun Number system at long range, and why "meaningful misses" are critical for growth. Whether you are a competitor, hunter, or instructor, this breakdown provides a universal framework for analyzing any range and reverse-engineering the skills needed to master it. Listen to us on:  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0WhBQn3hUE1XarAFwAd2OU Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cadre-podcast/id1806120803 TRAIN WITH US: https://www.thecadretraining.com  DOWNLOAD OUR EQUIPMENT KIT: https://www.thecadretraining.com/kit  Download The Cadre DOPE Card: https://www.thecadretraining.com/resources TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Introduction | The Cadre Range Assessment Matrix 2:09 - The Framework | Positional Challenge and Wind Complexity Explained 4:31 - Gravestone Range | A Four on Props, Real Wind Variability 9:16 - Wind at Gravestone | Reading Shifts, Angles, and Vegetation 15:52 - How to Prepare | Recoil Management, Kestrel Calibration, and Reactive Calling 28:27 - Snake River, Idaho | Natural Terrain and the Four-Rating Problem 38:55 - Mason Valley | Target Acquisition, Vegetation, and Team Communication 1:00:00 - Fruit Stand | Simple Positions, Complex Wind 1:06:06 - Understanding Wind | Flow, Vertical Dispersion, and Learning Through Misses 1:16:43 - Gun Number Gaps | Spin Drift, the AB App, and Where Students Break Down 1:19:53 - Building Intuition | Why the Cheat Sheet Has Limits 1:21:25 - Teaching Gun Number | Keeping It Simple and Knowing When It Fails 1:31:13 - Upcoming Events | NRL Hunter, Foundation, and Advanced Courses CONNECT WITH THE TEAM:  Follow Eric: https://www.instagram.com/ej_doro  Follow Phillip: https://www.instagram.com/velayo_0317  Follow Jon: https://www.instagram.com/thecadre.jon  Follow The Cadre: https://www.instagram.com/thecadre.training Precision Through Chaos

Inside a Precision Rifle Foundation Course: Instructor Debrief with The Cadre | Ep 012

Join Phillip Velayo, Jon Bumpus, Eric D'Oro, and Steve Holland of The Cadre for a full debrief from a two-day foundational precision rifle course in California — breaking down what actually happened in the classroom, on the line, and in the conversations that followed. The crew covers the pivot from a four-day format to two days, what got compressed, and where the pressure points showed up for students. Then it gets into performance: common equipment mistakes new shooters bring to the line, why bipod loading misconceptions persist, and what proper setup actually changes. The conversation shifts into something more useful — the difference between conscious incompetence and the path to unconscious competence, why knowing what you don't know is the most underrated outcome of a foundation course, and how different instructor styles surface breakthroughs that a single voice never could. Whether you're trying to decide if a foundation course is worth it, figuring out what gear actually matters before you show up, or looking to understand what separates structured learning from just burning ammo — this one is worth the listen. Listen to us on: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0WhBQn3hUE1XarAFwAd2OU Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cadre-podcast/id1806120803 TRAIN WITH US: https://www.thecadretraining.com DOWNLOAD OUR EQUIPMENT KIT: https://www.thecadretraining.com/kit Download The Cadre DOPE Card: https://www.thecadretraining.com/resources TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Introduction | Foundational Course Debrief 2:37 - Condensing the Curriculum | Two Days vs. Three 5:31 - Student Feedback | What They Walked Away With 10:32 - Common Misconceptions | Bipod Loading and Equipment Mistakes 43:46 - Teaching Styles | Why Different Voices Matter 44:15 - Gear Setup | What's Hurting New Shooters Before They Fire a Round 49:40 - Advice for New Shooters | How to Get Out of Your Own Way 1:05:56 - Why We Teach | The Fulfillment Behind the Instruction 1:08:03 - Advanced Course Preview | What's Next 1:14:49 - Managing the Process | Flexibility Over Perfection 1:16:58 - Failing in Front of Students | Why It's Part of the Job 1:22:37 - Closing | Upcoming Training in Cody, Utah, and Brave Lizard CONNECT WITH THE TEAM: Follow Steve: https://www.instagram.com/steve_haf Follow Eric: https://www.instagram.com/ej_doro Follow Phillip: https://www.instagram.com/velayo_0317 Follow Jon: https://www.instagram.com/thecadre.jon Follow The Cadre: https://www.instagram.com/thecadre.training #PrecisionRifle #LongRangeShooting #RifleTraining #NewShooter #PrecisionRifleTraining #TheCadre #BoltAction #PRSShooting #NRLShooting #RifleFundamentals #MarineSniper #LongRangeHunting #ShootingPodcast #RifleClass #PrecisionHunter #RifleGear #ScopeSetup #ProcessOverTalent #precisionthroughchaos  Precision Through Chaos.

NRL Hunter Mason Valley: Sustains, Improves, and Hard Lessons | Ep 011

Join Phillip Velayo, Jon Bumpus, and Eric D'Oro of The Cadre for a post-match debrief from the NRL Hunter Mason Valley match — breaking down what actually happened from the first stage impressions to the moments where the process started leaking. The crew covers the venue itself, what made the stage design stand out, and how conditions compared to last year. Then it gets into performance: equipment changes with the Abel Company cans and Thunder Beast brakes, trigger cam integration, and a full breakdown of sustains and improves from the match. The conversation shifts into something more useful — the difference between subconscious workflow and where conscious thought has to take over, why time management and asking the right questions mid-stage matter more than raw ability, and how teaching others sharpens your own process in ways competition alone can't. Whether you're trying to diagnose where your workflow breaks down under pressure, figuring out how to integrate new gear without disrupting your stage process, or looking to understand what separates composed execution from reactive shooting — this one is worth the listen. Listen to us on: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0WhBQn3hUE1XarAFwAd2OU Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cadre-podcast/id1806120803 TRAIN WITH US: https://www.thecadretraining.com DOWNLOAD OUR EQUIPMENT KIT: https://www.thecadretraining.com/kit Download The Cadre DOPE Card: https://www.thecadretraining.com/resources TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Introduction | Mason Valley NRL Hunter Debrief 2:13 - Weather & Equipment | Abel Company Cans, Thunder Beast Brakes 6:31 - Match Performance | What Held and What Broke Down 7:28 - Sustains & Improves | An Honest Post-Match Breakdown 13:14 - Teamwork & Communication | Working the Stage as a Unit 13:29 - Target Acquisition | Finding Targets in Dense Terrain 14:46 - Trigger Cam & Position Challenges | What the Camera Revealed 28:23 - Subconscious vs. Conscious Shooting | Where Your Focus Actually Lives 1:14:36 - Wind & Target ID | Reading Conditions in Real Time 1:23:22 - Teaching Under Pressure | What Coaching Does for Your Own Game 1:28:26 - Final Thoughts | Future Matches & What's Next CONNECT WITH THE TEAM: Follow Eric: https://www.instagram.com/ej_doro Follow Phillip: https://www.instagram.com/velayo_0317 Follow Jon: https://www.instagram.com/thecadre.jon Follow The Cadre: https://www.instagram.com/thecadre.training Precision Through Chaos.