When lives are on the line, you don't just need skills — you need a framework for making clear decisions under pressure.

In this special EMTS Academy session, Program Director and paramedic of nearly 30 years Matt Neland sits down with Justin "Hasard" Lee, F-16/F-35 fighter pilot and author of The Art of Clear Thinking, to translate combat-tested decision frameworks directly into EMS.

Hazard shares a gripping story from Afghanistan, where a fuel emergency, a destroyed runway, and a team of strangers in the sky turned into a masterclass in calm, coordinated decision making. Together, Matt and Hasard walk through the five laws of ownership and the ACE decision framework — adapted specifically for EMTs and paramedics.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why good teams focus on tasks but great teams own the outcome

• The Five Laws of Ownership and how they map directly to EMS

• The ACE framework (Assess–Choose–Execute) for high-stakes decisions

• How to "wind the clock" and avoid freezing when everything goes sideways

• The power of micro-debriefs and the "3×3" method to get better after every shift

• How to build a culture where people take ownership instead of waiting for orders

Whether you're a new EMT or a seasoned paramedic, this conversation will change how you think about leadership, decision making, and teamwork on every call.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to think more clearly when seconds count.