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DJ Shipley is a national treasure. The Virginia Beach native would follow in his parents footsteps and begin a journey no one could have predicted at just 17 years old.
He joined the Navy, rising up the ranks with distinction into the rarified air of Seal Team 10 & DEVGRU serving within the ranks of special warfare. Shipley has traveled the world on some of the most dangerous missions in US military history, and led with courage & vision before being medically retired in 2019 due to combat injuries sustained.
To be fair, "injuries sustained" is the shameful understatement of the century. The things Shipley has endured no human should. Or could. That's why there's only one DJ Shipley. Two Shipleys would be like adding a sequel to Avengers: Endgame.
The point was made.
We spent 48 hours in Virginia Beach with documentarian filmmaker AWALL, who shoots some of the most wild and interesting subjects on earth (Griselda Records, D-Block, Hells Angels MC) to unpack the genius of Shipley and the rest of the GBRS crew.
What was supposed to be somewhat of an interview for five became a moving short film, a love letter to finding inspiration in the darkest times.
Today, Shipley is a proud husband and father, and is the Chief Training Officer & Co-Founder of GBRS Group, an elite tactical training organization for tiered operators & special mission units in real world situations. Growing up an avid skateboarder, he also the Co-Founder of TRIBE SK8Z, with partner Cole Fackler - a former Tier 1 Operator himself who has traveled the world with DEVGRU & Shipley for years prior to starting the skate & streetwear lifestyle brand that employs Gold Star kids. TRIBE's amassed a cult following with both the hypebeast & military worlds converging in rad new ways.
That's what being rawly authentic does. The only thing larger than his frame may be his heart.
"I have gotten emergency calls all the time from Operators, cops, former military & servicemen, just broken down, ready to end it all from the trauma and years of what this will do to you. I've gotten on the phone with them right then, and talked them through the crisis. My motivation now is helping people find their why."
Everything Shipley does is driven by his obsession with the why.
Shipley has dedicated his life to the service of others. He excels at motivating the hardest souls on the planet, helping them find their “why” and unlocking greatness & a warrior's spirit.
Chat directly, 1-on-1 with DJ on five.