Inside The G-Base Podcast

Part 2 As you know D & I talk a good bit and can chase some rabbits when we get going. After our last episode, we received some great questions and wanted to ensure we answered them and provided some good details. So this episode a little long. To start with, in any discussion or debate you have to settle on terms and definitions. D & I use a lot of terms and jargon because we are military and it's just how we talk, but that does not mean you all know what we are talking about so we figured we would define a few things. Such as what are the different types of liberals? What do you mean by Leftists? We cover most of this in Part 1. It is also important that we start being more accurate in the terms we use. For example, when we talk about policies and ideologies that are counter to the US constitution, these are typically Marxist based ideologies. There are several groups who fall into this category, Black Live Matter (the organization) being one of them. This also poses a problem for a productive discussion. How do you divest the emotion associated with talking about Black lives matter the movement and the need for justice and equality from the organization that is clearly bent to unseat power in the US government and pushes a Marxist agenda? Naturally, this conversation then leads to policing and reform, and institutional racism. So who are the proponents of this narrative? Who is calling to "de-fund" the police? And why is no one asking who is in charge of the institutions that are supposed racist? It might surprise some people but by in large the most volatile and contentious locations are all under the control of one political party, from the governors to the city officials. So if an institution is 'racists" who should be held to account? All of these elements fit together and nest within that Marxist framework. Does that mean that people desiring change and calling for change are bad or un-American? By no means! However, it does highlight a sticking point in our ability as a society to communicate and cooperate to find a resolution. The enemies of our country have woven together a web that makes it nearly impossible to separate the emotion from the necessary examination of the organization promoting the current unrest. Moreover, it requires an even harder look at who the benefactors are of this unrest. There is quite a bit more to discuss along these lines, we may not have all the answers, but we are willing to talk and engage and try and unravel what we can, so you can make informed decisions and be aware of the forces at play in our society. --------------------------- If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

Part 1 of 2 As you know D & I talk a good bit and can chase some rabbits when we get going. After our last episode, we received some great questions and wanted to ensure we answered them and provided some good details. So this episode a little long. To start with, in any discussion or debate you have to settle on terms and definitions. D & I use a lot of terms and jargon because we are military and it's just how we talk, but that does not mean you all know what we are talking about so we figured we would define a few things. Such as what are the different types of liberals? What do you mean by Leftists? We cover most of this in Part 1. It is also important that we start being more accurate in the terms we use. For example, when we talk about policies and ideologies that are counter to the US constitution, these are typically Marxist based ideologies. There are several groups who fall into this category, Black Live Matter (the organization) being one of them. This also poses a problem for a productive discussion. How do you divest the emotion associated with talking about Black lives matter the movement and the need for justice and equality from the organization that is clearly bent to unseat power in the US government and pushes a Marxist agenda? Naturally, this conversation then leads to policing and reform, and institutional racism. So who are the proponents of this narrative? Who is calling to "de-fund" the police? And why is no one asking who is in charge of the institutions that are supposed racist? It might surprise some people but by in large the most volatile and contentious locations are all under the control of one political party, from the governors to the city officials. So if an institution is 'racists" who should be held to account? All of these elements fit together and nest within that Marxist framework. Does that mean that people desiring change and calling for change are bad or un-American? By no means! However, it does highlight a sticking point in our ability as a society to communicate and cooperate to find a resolution. The enemies of our country have woven together a web that makes it nearly impossible to separate the emotion from the necessary examination of the organization promoting the current unrest. Moreover, it requires an even harder look at who the benefactors are of this unrest. There is quite a bit more to discuss along these lines, we may not have all the answers, but we are willing to talk and engage and try and unravel what we can, so you can make informed decisions and be aware of the forces at play in our society. --------------------------- If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

We are back for Season 2! What is going on in the world...a Pandemic...a Plandemic...race riots...autonomous zones...where does it stop? And what do Penguins have to do with COVID? D & I set the scene by discussing the origins of COVID and how it lead to economic collapse and a global panic attack.  Was the reaction really necessary? And as always we take an asymmetric look at the implications and second and third order effects. The real question is who stands to gain from this pandemic. Although we didn't predict a pandemic, in Season 1 D & I did cover the potential for types of upheaval we are seeing today. What better way to prepare a population for a potential insurrection. The global response to COVID created the largest unemployment of military aged males the world has ever seen. Who else could be more ripe for further instigation and provocation from a media propaganda machine? No matter which side you are on, or what your opinion, everything is politicized, we can't escape it. Can you trust what the media numbers are? Or the projection models? Is the severity of the threat real or manufactured? We encourage you to think for yourself, do your homework and look for hard numbers. In our current environment each political faction has something to gain and a significant amount of power to lose. That is why what followed with the killing of George Floyd and the riots makes it so much harder to see through the smoke. But if you follow the money, the players will become more clear. As this was our first episode back, we are a little rusty, so we rambled a bit. Don't hold that against us, this discussion sets the stage for what comes next, and what we are seeing in the news today. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

We as people find ourselves in the biggest failure-based criteria program every day. This program is as rewarding in its inception as it is debilitating in its biggest failures. Yes, of course, I am talking about parenting. We all have our own take on how we should raise our kids and even at times may make ad hominin attacks towards people we feel are completely failing at their thankless job. More importantly, we ask ourselves the question, are parents who post their inventive approaches to punishment on social media wrong? Is the more salient lesson on parenting giving our kids purpose and direction, while holding them accountable for their actions? In addition, the world is changing faster than ever before and the old traditional ways of parenting are being challenged. We fundamentally have to understand who we are as a people and society in order to shape our small humans and prepare them for this rapidly changing society. I would love to see someone prove that telling a child in a full-blown tantrum to use his words works better than traditional discipline. Or prove more transcendental ideas like meditation or yoga are more effective than a timeout or a good old-fashioned spanking. Seriously, who wouldn’t love for their kid to sit still long enough to meditate on the evil deeds they have inflicted on one of their siblings or the embarrassment they caused their parents. Is there an absolute right or wrong way to raise a kid? I tend to raise my kids much like I led soldiers in the Army. I watch them carefully and by the art of trial and error on what they respond to as individuals. To complicate things further, my kids all have different personalities and each has their own way of coping with their punishments. However, I am always in danger of being accused of favoritism. In all reality, they are all my favorites and my favorite part of life. As varying as their personalities, so is my love for them. I love each of them individually for their own quirks and sometimes zany behavior. Every once in a while, I am rewarded with a statement or action that gives me the quiet confidence to know I am on the right track. Just like Jay’s son told him “If you didn’t have sad days how would you know you were happy? We all feel the impending trepidation of the parent trap. We get it! The everyday toil of parenthood is thankless and you are constantly under societal scrutiny. You may never feel like you are winning and are always climbing an uphill battle. But remember one thing, us Green Berets cherish most, never give up, nothing worthwhile has ever come easy. With all that said, we think we have the answers that everyone needs to know   Watch the video here:  DAD OF THE YEAR Jordan Peterson on Equity and Equality of Opportunity   If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

Originally Published December 6, 2018 Well, we took a little break. Not much of a break, I was out doing what we Green Berets do best, winning hearts and minds. We appreciate you sticking around while we get this thing fired back up. So, a lot has happened since we last posted. D is officially retired, with DD214 in hand. That is quite an accomplishment and D deserves a hearty thanks, as does his wife and family for keeping down the homefront while he was away. Congratulations! As you can imagine, with retirement comes a whole host of issues. Some you can plan for and others you cant. But hasn't this been done before? Hasn't the Army thought through this process? Put systems in place to support soldiers when they part? They tell us we are set up to be leaders in the commercial sector, that our experience in combat, in the military, is far superior to our civilian counterparts.  But is it? Does it even translate? Also, what happens to a soldier that is no longer a soldier? Both D & I, and the soldiers we served with, were born to be warriors. It's in our DNA. I was put on this earth to do exactly what I've been doing as a Green Beret. So when the time comes for us to take off the uniform, then what? Who am I, if not a soldier? If we are no longer Green Berets going to war to protect and defend our nation, our home our families, what, and who are we? In the past few years, the Army and SOF  made some great efforts to address this issue. In classic fashion, the Army made a program to tackle the issue, this one is called "Resiliency Training" and it's about as effective as the brown towels issued at basic training for actually drying you off.  This plays right into transitioning and retiring from service. Transition doesn't happen in the last year of your Army career, and you can't depend on the army to prepare you for life outside the army. The depth of these issues was addressed in a very timely and articulate piece written by BRITTA REQUE-DRAGICEVIC . This article spurred our conversation. I encourage you to go read it HERE.  Britta gets to the heart of what a lot of soldiers feel when they can no longer do the job that they were made for. She very well may have hit on the root cause of the suicide and depression epidemic facing our nation's soldiers.  A lack of purpose. If you were born to be a soldier and you can no longer a soldier, who are you? Without purpose what reason do we have to continue? Obviously, there are a million reasons, and suicide is not a viable option. But what we feel, what we experience revolves around this lack or absence of purpose apart from our lives at war. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

Originally Published June 14, 2018 Before we get to the episode, want to give you all a heads up – the first part of this episode D & I talk about a good friend who died this week.  I didn’t edit what we recorded through that section. I couldn’t even listen to it. Green Berets are a family, and this past week we lost a brother, Joel Mitchell. D & I went through the 18D course with Joel and he is someone we both respected and loved.  I know our line of work is dangerous, and we’ve both lost brothers before, but for some reason, this one hit home a lot harder.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Joel’s family and the Regiment. All we ask is that if you are in a place where you need someone to talk to, to hear you out, or to help you out of a dark place – reach out. We are here. And if we are not near you we know someone where you are. We are a brotherhood for life, we walk shoulder to shoulder in training, in combat, in success, and in struggles – that doesn’t end when we retire or move on.  God Speed Joel Mitchell. So let's talk about Russian interference in our election – because that's what they did, they got inside our election process.  They executed a masterstroke UW campaign against the US Presidential election and are still reaping the benefits of their efforts today. But what was their goal? I don’t think it was to get Trump elected, as some claim.  How did they do it? Pretty simple really, they used us against ourselves, with identity politics being the main weapon. In this episode, We start from a grand jury indictment and walk through how the chess masters played their latest game. But it's not just the Russians using these tools, the Alt-Right and white nationalist groups use the same techniques, so does the far left – making us even more susceptible meddling and influence. We try and cover it all.  I was told I put too much into my last blog post..so there you go – listen to the show and let us know what you think! Read the indictment for yourself HERE. Listen to how White Nationalists leverage and manipulate Identity Politics Then listen to a couple of other podcast discussions describing the weapons that the Russians used – its not just fake social media accounts, they leveraged the mood of the nation, the divisive and nefarious application of identity politics THE INTELLECTUAL DARK WEB – SAM HARRIS AND BEN SHAPIRO THE RUBIN REPORT – BEN SHAPIRO AND JORDAN PETERSON If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

Originally Published May 29th, 2018. What in the world are we teaching this next generation? It seems like the newest buzz word is Bully – and the most powerful character in the identity politics world is the victim.  We aren’t even talking about playground bullies, the kind of kid who was bigger and tougher and would pick on other kids until those kids banded together an whooped him. Today being a bully includes anyone who vocally challenges the status quo, or attempts to support a cause they believe in.  Physicality isn’t even required to be a bully, just the thought or idea and ensuing discourse is enough to bully someone. We have gone so far In this Zero-Tolerance society that taking a stand for what you believe in or defending it can be tantamount to hate speech, and that just can't be tolerated. Any opposing view or idea that falls into this category or must be shut down, shouted down and derided as some type of offense to humanity.  Where did this idea that life should be free from any type of challenge or opposition or discomfort come from?  We came up with this idea of “Safe Spaces,” for children to play and grow up insulated from any challenges or opposition. Safe spaces in life are right up there with unicorns who defecate rainbow-colored ice cream.  Along with this, we created a new class of superheroes too, the Victim. Is it possible that this ill-conceived idea of zero-tolerance, safe spaces, and a bully-free world is part of the problem?  Worse yet do attempts to legislate and federally fund these programs actually contribute to the problem? We already know that previous initiatives like this were epic failures.  The “Say no to Drugs” campaign actually increased recreational drug use in adolescents.  So clearly we haven’t learned our lesson here. As mature and reasonable adults, shouldn’t we be looking at every possible causality in the epidemics of suicide, school shootings, and cultural violence? Is it really the federal government’s responsibility to teach kids how not to be bullies and how to get along with others?  What role does the media play in shaping children (and adults) who think the only response to being picked on is to shoot people?  I think they have some role to play.  Or is there something we as parents should be doing differently? Maybe medicating kids into zombies so they sit still in class is a bad idea, what happened to recess, PE, football, pickup games of soccer, monkey in the middle? That's where you learn how to deal with life, on the playground.  What 10-year-old boy can sit still in class for 8 hours a day 5 days a week without being disruptive…I can't do that as an adult! As a father, I think parents are ultimately the responsibility to raise children, teach them how to treat others, and to ensure they aren’t going down a road of violence and destruction. I don’t think it is unfair to say the state of our culture is a reflection of our parenting? When I was young – many decades ago – when mom and dad needed a moment to themselves (because we were driving them crazy), they kicked us out of the house to play in the street, woods, park, backyard, ride our bike to the neighbors, whatever.  Just don’t come back before dinner, and you better get back before dark.  In the morning we walked to the nearest bus stop where we interacted with other kids (face to face) sometimes we got in fights, we teased, laughed, played, but we learned to get along, we learned to cope and recover, and express emotion.  These weren’t always positive experiences, but they were valuable experiences.  But now there are laws against doing what our parents did!  I would break the law to raise my child the way I was raised!  Contemplate that for a moment. So maybe that is how really bullies are made – you cant cope with any adversity so you cry victim – isn’t that a form of bullying? Today we have legislation to prevent kids from learning the hard knocks the way we did.  So as a parent how do I get a moment alone? (I have six of my own kids, so I’m guilty here) We plug them into a computer, pad, phone, game, TV – something that requires no interaction, no problem solving, no stress, no challenges really.  Perhaps this practice is worth evaluating given our current societal state. We aren’t allowing kids to learn any coping skills, and we are producing poor adults.  People today exist in the anonymous internet world where their words have no immediate consequences, where their opinions and thoughts are validated by scores of people who think like them because if someone disagrees, you delete them.  They are not required to defend a statement or belief, and you don’t get punched in the face when you say something really offensive, that's a quick way to learn how to behave. Then the adults, the educated people set up these mythical safe spaces for tolerance where people are free to be, do, think, anything they want and opposition and challenge is prohibited. So when is it these kids will learn to deal with life? How to productively deal with adversity that is sure to come?  How will they be able to discuss and interact in a society where everyone is free to think and believe what they want if they have never had to civilly defend or champion a belief.  We are set up for failure. But they these safe space babies have been given a super-power for sure.  When they are challenged, or they are uncomfortable, or they hear something they don’t like or disagree with, they just have to scream BULLY! and put on the victim cape.  This allows them to employ any number of identity politics buzz words and the bully is automatically guilty of at a minimum a thought crime and in the extreme a hate crime.  Victims in this class have immense power, including the power to remove status from real victims, real discrimination, real injuries.  But isn’t this power to shut down any opposition by labeling them with any number of dehumanizing euphemisms a form of bullying? Isn’t it the ultimate form of bullying?  Its the magic trump card. And this isn’t limited to just kids. This practice is rampant among the adults too – Look what happened at Google and in our politics, Did you know Trump supporters are a “Cult”? But the best examples are the universities which have become bastions of safe spaces, tolerance, and inclusiveness, as long as you think like them, agree with them, and you say what they want you to say, like at Berkley.  So don’t dare disagree with the groupthink, as soon as you do, you are a bigot, racist, (any)phobe, and your point of view is hate speech and is no longer allowed because you are the Bully. Of course, I use examples from my own point of view, but this practice is rampant on both sides of the aisle, politicians have perfected it.  The victim is now the most powerful figure in modern American society, and very well may be so powerful that it breaks the civility of our Union.  In the end, we all need to take a look at the complex and multifaceted contributions to what is going on in our culture.  This trend of Bully to Victim and the weaponization of the victim role is truly a disturbing trend.  We hope that you enjoy our discussion, and contribute to the conversation on our Facebook page and website. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

So what impact can one Green Beret have in the world? Let's ask Nate Boyer a fellow GB who’s life experience took him from a solo AAA planned Darfur humanitarian mission to the center of the latest civil-rights controversy in America.  If you live in the US I’m sure you have seen and read about the kneeling/standing controversy in the NFL. Like us, you probably have a strong opinion of it as well, but were you aware that the course of this protest, was impacted by the actions of a single Green Beret?  I think it may be something in each Green Beret’s DNA that is called to make an impact in the world, and Nate’s experiences definitely bare this out. But seriously, who in their right mind would sua-sponte a trip to Darfur in the middle of a humanitarian crisis and genocide?  The same kind of man who joins the Special Forces to pursue the ideal of De Oppress Liber.  Nate offers a great perspective and insight into the mindset of the Green Berets. His perspective and level headed approach by keeping an open mind to be a problem solver in the middle of an emotionally charged and media-fueled hype is impressive. We know Nate took some heat from our community, and quite honestly from me, I was initially upset one of our own would side with such a misguided (IMO) protest (listen to the Episode 8 – Eating our Own). But, I had to be reminded we don’t fight for the content of a protest, or the opinion or belief of the protestor, we fight for the right to express that belief, even if (especially if) we disagree with it.  On this point, Nate showed true courage to step out and speak up. We hope you enjoy this conversation, Nate has a great story and a bit of insight to the upcoming NFL season! We hope to have him back on later to carry on the conversation.  As always if you like what you hear write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree with us tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective, we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

Should women be Green Berets? I’m going to put it right up front, forcing gender integration, is folly.  In fact, it has very little to do if they are capable of passing the qualifications by meeting the physicality of the schoolhouse.  It has everything to do with distracting and degrading the primary function of combat arms – close with and kill the enemy. Every concession made for biological, emotional, or behavioral challenges is a detractor from combat effectiveness. In all likelihood, most of these problems would arise from the men and not the women! There are solid reasons to separate dogs and cats, especially when you need to focus on strategic missions.  So, why would we want to force any detraction?  Why would we ever consider compromising the combat effectiveness of our elite units so that a politically correct agenda and social perception can be reflected in our units?  That rationale defies logic. But, it is coming.  The Secretary of Defense signed the order, the Generals have all embraced it, and the training pipelines are starting to see candidates.  But you want to know what the men said?  We said it was a terrible idea, we don’t support it.  But never mind that, let's re-write the survey questions and give it to an even smaller sample of individuals who are more inclined to bend to political winds.  And that's exactly what they did (I link both studies below).  Don’t get us wrong, there is a critical and valuable role for women in Special Operations, no one will deny that, and we frequently request and welcome females to complement our missions.  But that isn’t the same as qualifying them to be on the front line, fully integrated members, with tabs and green berets. I hate to break it to people but there are just some genetic differences that need to be taken into consideration. Most Green Berets are men of average physicality with an exceptional mental capacity to push themselves beyond the limits of their mind and body. The females capable of succeeding at the initial phases of selection and training are no doubt incredible individuals and should be lauded for their efforts and accomplishments, but they are the extreme exception to the rule, they are not the average.  So this whole initiative is another example of trying to normalize and force acceptance of an extreme minority of individuals and beliefs and force it upon the functioning and effective majority. Sorry, it's not fair, too damn bad.  This push is not rooted in the battlefield's need for capability or proven effectiveness.  Quite the opposite – take a look at the scandal, cost, and detraction from the mission that we have already seen in all branches of service due to integration efforts.  Recently from the Commander of the 18th Airborne Corps, Special forces Colonels and even the CIA director.  What makes anyone think things will be different at the ODA level? Let's consider for a moment what this says about our society. Achieving the mindset and predisposition to be successful as a Green Beret is partially in how we were raised, and how we raise our boys. Historically there were times where women took to the field of battle, there have been great female commanders and leaders, but these were again the exception.  They were forced by survival and circumstance to take on this role or face the annihilation of their culture or society.  That is not where we are today. Is there a lack of able-bodied men in America?  No. What there is, is a lack of motivation to participate and accept a traditional role of protector/servant, because it might be viewed as toxic masculinity.  I think the whole equality in military roles lowers participation even further. Our generals even said it, if women are allowed in combat then there is a larger pool of potential recruits.  So if I’m a boy spoiled with video games, recreation, and leisure, why would I go in the army, there are girls and others who will do it for me.  We have voluntary military service, and a segment of our society is using identity politics of gender-equality to force a false narrative that it is somehow ignoble and sexist to not allow women into the ranks of men who volunteer to fight and die in their place. Let's call it what it is – a political agenda driven by special interest groups who have never seen combat and accepted by military leaders who lack the fortitude and candor to challenge the political machine. To be clear, both D & I believe there are critical roles for women to play in special operations, I’ve served with fantastic and professional female soldiers and will continue to do so.  I will not treat any soldier less than professional or forego the respect they have earned and deserve.  However, to not openly and honestly discuss the issues and the cultural and political motivations behind these issues is also a disservice to our profession and the country we serve.   We hope you hear what we are saying in this discussion.  This is not from a position of sexism or anti-women, its the culmination of experience in SF and an honest assessment of what is needed to sustain and win the current fight and in wars to come.

Well, why not take on another easy topic, Immigration, and US Border Security.  Unfortunately, social media-driven hysteria, the 24-hour news cycle, and the emotionally charged rhetoric on both sides of the isle detract from the real issues and the legitimate threats posed by open and un-secure borders.  But before you can talk about how Islamic Extremists coordinate with the cartels to move men and weapons into the US you have to first solve the DACA problem.  We have to first fact check, debate and defend every crime statistic and statement made by political figures before we can talk about the fact those same politicians are writing policy and manipulating the system to exploit cheap labor and gain votes. How can we have a law that says one thing, and cities and states in open rebellion against those laws, has anyone looked into who is supporting and backing the sanctuary movements?  There are definitely second and third-order effects of this issue that should be discussed, and viewed through the perspective of Unconventional Warfare – Don’t forget, UW is being conducted against our Nation as well, and considering you don’t hear much about it in the news means they are doing an excellent job. For the most part, we are talking about illegal immigration and the associated criminal element and potential security threats. Over the past decade, we have seen the emergence of a well funded and coordinated political movement that is driving a partisan narrative suggesting an effort to curb immigration and enforce border security is tantamount to racism or xenophobia, and raising concern over crime and terrorism is fear-mongering. This narrative has become so effective that cities and now states are openly refusing to enforce federal law. So what do the progressive politicians and corporations gain by supporting this resistance movement? Voters, profit, and political power. This whole narrative is political pandering couched in emotionally charged rhetoric and sold as a moral high ground, because who is really against an immigrant succeeding in life – if you are you must be a monster. So they drag in the dreamers, DACA.  A program that was born out of President Obama’s 2012 campaign to ensure his position on border security didn’t marginalize the Latino vote. Lets put the cards on the table, this was a hedged bet that a gift of amnesty will net more democrat voters, even though traditional Latino families tend to more conservative values, the DACA program was an offer they couldn’t refuse. The immigration advocates and Latino political groups, along with big-TECH put a ton of money and influence into getting this on the books because it meant cheaper labor and larger profits. But wait, I thought it was only the evil conservative capitalists that want to exploit immigrants? Fast forward to President Trump and the #resist movement.  I’m not even sure if people know what they are resisting anymore, but if Trump is for it, they are against it. The mere suggestion of changes to DACA garnered cries of racism. Policy initiatives to secure the southern border birthed sanctuary cities, essentially open rebellion to federal law. Trump and his team cite crime statistics from the Department of Justice and they are answered with claims of “Fake News.” But those stats aren’t fake, you can read the report. The identity politics and this narrative of the resistance have become so strong that facts and common sense are no longer necessary. This, I believe is developing into a dangerous crossroad. Something else I notice is this whole discussion is a masterful example of UW influence tactics.  Break it down, you have a network of financial and political operatives funding and paving the way for the inevitable political and legal fights (Area Complex in doctrinal terms). Then you have an Underground cadre disseminating information, talking points, fueling debate, and framing the narrative to pit a moral high ground (if you are against immigration you are racist).  This underground then recruits local advocates, mouthpieces, organizers, and enablers within the community and even within the opposition group to disrupt and distract the counter-narrative. These are the Guerrillas.  They are the ones marching in the streets, carrying signs, and parroting the talking points, lifting the emotional fervor of the argument, and marginalizing the opposition through identity politics.  And let's not forget the virtual force of nature in Social Media, platforms, and companies that have already thrown their hat on the political left and will allow the free flow of the progressive propaganda while filtering or throttling the counterpoints (ref Zuckerberg’s testimony to Congress this past week).  See, the thing about a UW campaign is it doesn’t have to go to open conflict. If the progressive movement plays their cards right, they can beat the conservative right in local political races by controlling the narrative. So who do you think wants to see this agenda succeed?  Russia? Iran? Mexico? Cartels? China? Islamists? They all benefit from a weakening America.  They don’t have to take us over, Red Dawn style, although they probably wouldn’t mind.  They just need us to tear ourselves down a little more and they can surpass us economically and militarily.  It's not outside the realm of possibility, in-fact its the way of empires to rise and fall. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

You knew we would get to the issue eventually, Gun Control. But is gun control really the solution, what about the myriad other issues surrounding the recent events.  What about the facts versus the narrative?  In fact, 1992 was the most deadly school year, not 2018.  So why isn’t that being discussed?  Why isn’t there a discussion on societal influences like social media, isolation, the lack of sports, and positive outlets for youth?  Of course, there are the mental health issues.  All of these should be included in the conversation, so why is the world so hyper-focused on gun control? In this episode, D & J invites a guest Green Beret, on the show, Physical “Phys” – A former 18C and 18Z, who wrote his thesis on Conspiracism. (you’ll see why he got the pseudonym he did).  So is there a conspiracy to be discussed in the gun control narrative? As always there are powerful people behind both sides who have an agenda, and each is playing a role in what we see in the media.  Our conversation tries to expose some of these narratives, and peel the onion on some of the second and third-order effects of taking an easy victory in passing gun control. We hope our G’s enjoy the discussion and it sparks more discussion and discourse in your circle of friends and community. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

We pride ourselves on being the best at the basics and letting our performance speak for itself.  But have we taken this maxim too far?  It's not like we are Navy SEALs with book deals, movies, and action figures.  Is it a crime for a Green Beret to discuss his experience, his work (not operational details), his weaknesses, and failures?  Within our community, we are our worst critics, and if we smell blood in the water we are quick to pounce and pillory the offending party. This aspect of our community is both a strength and a weakness.  Policing our own is necessary to keep us focused and in-line with our mission and core values, it helps us groom the next generation of Green Berets and pass on the tradition.  On the other end of the spectrum, we have embraced a hyper-vigilance to not be vocal Green Berets under any circumstances, even when speaking up and staking our claim within the SOF community is the best thing we can do for the community and society as a whole.  Especially as the combat years wind down, do our mission focus and code of silence create adversaries for our war-weary brethren as opposed to advocates who are trained to notice even the most minor changes in a person’s ability and disposition. What is an acceptable level of voice and exposure of a Green Beret’s capability to society at large? If we are truly as vulnerable as a society as current events indicate, isn’t it time for Green Berets to speak up and employ their professional acumen to benefit society?  If we did, we run the risk of running afoul of our community. In this episode, we bring on a special guest, Jeff Adamac from Changing Hearts & Minds Podcast into the G-Base and discuss these issues.  This is a genuine team room conversation ranging from the benefits of policing our own to the stigma and taboo of discussing PTSD and the effects of war within our community.  We think you will get a lot out of this discussion and insights into how Green Berets think and operate.  And as usual, D delivers a hilarious story to drive the point home. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

Originally Posted March 21st, 2018. This is part 2 of our discussion, Unconventional Warfare in Current Events.  In this episode, we discuss some current events where we clearly see the hallmarks of Unconventional Warfare influence operations.  But just how much do outside actors are impacted our nation?  How does identity politics play into the hands of our adversaries, both foreign and domestic?  For all the benefits of social media, is the current tech culture driving the divisiveness of our society, and what responsibility do the pundits and 24-hour entertainment news play in these shenanigans.  Who is it that really wants to disrupt and divide our nation?  These are the things we want you to question, look hard at, and evaluate. We are all susceptible to influence and manipulation. So if you weren’t trained to live in these small wars, shadow world like green berets, how do you recognize it?  And what do you do when you realize are the target audience, and have been played?  If you have an idea or an answer, then you are thinking like a G – and that's what we want! Most of us in SF have always known that these forces were at work in the US and within our political machine.  But the presence of external actors really came to light during this last election.  The Russians really did “meddle” in the election, they bought up social media advertising to influence the campaign. Nobody should be surprised by this, but what you might find surprising is that their measure of success had nothing to do with who won at all.  Their only goal was to sew the seeds of suspicion, dissent, and disruption – one of the objectives of Unconventional Warfare.  They succeeded.  Listen to the rhetoric, the continuing accusations, investigations, denials, and the elimination of a middle ground for even the most moderate opinion. What a stroke of luck, the stars aligned just so for the Russians – look at our candidates, their rhetoric, the civil issues in the cities with the police, multiple failed foreign policy initiatives abroad, and continued more in the middle east, one might say the Russians were supremely opportunistic.  Or were they? There are foreign fingerprints are on the social media posts, memes, and tweets that fuel and incense the vitriol on the inter-webs. Lobbyists, lawyers, and advocacy groups take money shrouded in foreign bank accounts and convoluted sponsorship to persuade lawmakers to support or refute initiatives that are rife with emotionalism and framed in moralistic rhetoric.  But when the onion is peeled their sole aim is to encourage a challenge to the status quo and foundational documents of our nation.  They don’t have to overturn them to be successful, they just need us to open the door. What a successful UW campaign that would be! Even in our own community, an ambitious former green beret and malcontent is profiteering off of his associations and access to our community by publishing footage of green berets being killed in Africa while doing their mission.  In the name of “journalism”, these criminally naive crusaders purposefully spread propaganda and material that bolsters the morale and support for enemies engaged in killing US soldiers and citizens.  They become useful idiots in the information war that rallies Islamic Terrorists against America. All of these influences and actors are at play on the global stage, they always have been. It's only now that our modern society has such immediate and abundant access to these influential mediums that the impact feels so amplified.  But when you see them and recognize them, you have to call them out.  In our discussion, D raises the key point.  Our biggest threat in America isn’t a foreign invader taking over our nation.  The biggest threat is that the US will tear itself apart from the inside out.  Each side will believe they are on the ‘correct’ side, that their cause is just and righteous even.  Meanwhile, the belief of being right, and just, is being coordinated, encouraged, and scripted by outside influences.  If you still don’t believe it, follow the money. Ask who gains from this divisiveness in our culture?  Hopefully, you can start to see through the veil of current events, and recognize how even without battles and armies and unconventional war is being waged right here in our homeland. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

Originally Posted March 15, 2018 This is part one of a two-part discussion on Unconventional Warfare.  If you’ve read anything about Green Berets in the past 16 years, you probably heard it was through Unconventional Warfare, UW, that the US – specifically Green Berets – defeated the Taliban, de-stabilized then re-stabilized Iraq, and defeated ISIS in Syria. But what is UW? We want to provide our G’s with a framework and understanding of UW – the doctrine and the basics.  Green Berets are practitioners of the art of UW.  But what happens when we return home and see the hallmarks of UW being conducted against our own nation?  How can our G’s recognize UW when it is conducted against you? One of the things you will hear most soldiers say, and definitely Green Berets is that we can't just “shut off” what we’ve seen or know.  We have spent decades training and honing our skills in a specific art form of warfare, the unconventional kind.  We are practitioners and academics of our art and skill. So we take what we have learned through history and military doctrine, what we’ve applied overseas, and we return home, where there is no active battleground.  The only problem is we immediately recognize that we are in fact in the middle of a battleground.  A battleground of ideas and influence that employs the exact same strategies and techniques we have been trained to employ abroad. You too are in this battlefield, even though there is not combat there is still a conflict.  So how do you begin to peel the onion and identify what is Unconventional Warfare? War is fluid, its not tanks and bombs, and barbed wire and the western front from day one. It starts years, decades before the first bomb in simmering small conflicts and skirmishes. Never forget all warfare has a political end, power will be gained and lost.  Minor battles and conflicts occur to move pieces on a political chessboard, dissidents, insurgents, and proxy armies test and probe defenses and solidify their base of support. If an insurgency takes hold, it may progress to open war, a war of movement or the conflict may retreat into the sub-surface, patiently waiting for an opportunity to overthrow the reigning power. Insurgents may hope to provoke an over-reaction by the state to claim injustice and rally their support to overthrow the government, or perhaps the state is truly so corrupt and heavy-handed that the people no longer tolerate the suffering and openly revolt.  In all these thrusts and parry’s by what appear to be disparate groups, there are alliances, supporters, an underground network, and auxiliary of people who, encourage, influence, and at times manipulate both the insurgent and the state to act in certain ways. This is the nature of unconventional warfare, it is done by surrogate and proxy before the large battle pieces move on the chessboard.  All nations engage in this type of geopolitical influence, including the US, this is the world of Green Berets.  And if the Green Beret is successful in this UW environment, open war never takes place, it is stopped before it starts, a terrorist attack never happens, an insurgency or uprising loses ground before it makes the 24-hour new cycle.  That is the end-state of unconventional warfare. This is what we discuss in part one, the basics of UW.  In part two we will discuss how these same tactics are currently being applied by outside influences in the US and how each of us, D, myself, and our G’s are susceptible to these influences and, how it takes diligence and study to identify and guard against these forces.  We try and clear away the idea of conspiracy theories in matters of global strategic influence and highlight the methods of UW conducted against the US.  As always we are eager to hear your feedback on the issue and discuss the matter further. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.  

Originally Published February 28, 2018 In this episode we have Doc “ASH” joining us to discuss 18D training, career, the scope of practice, and mindset, as well as some more in-depth discussion on advanced treatments available to preserve life in the war-zone.  Our conversation provides more background on who we are and the mindset with which we approach life.  This is not a comprehensive exploration of the Special Forces Medic, but rather highlights some of the unique capabilities and the critical role of the medic in the survivability of an SFOD-A and our partner forces. One of the key things we focus on in this episode is the breadth of support an 18D provides to the special forces mission.  Different than combat medics, 18D do not only treat the wounded, our scope of practice includes clinical treatment of illnesses, preventative medicine, hygiene, and sanitation, as well as surgical capabilities, and delivering babies, yes we have done it.  The gold standard for an 18D is to sustain a wounded patient (or critical patient) for 72 hours, enough time to evacuate the patient to definitive care. But this isn’t done in a full hospital or clinical setting but in an austere or even ad-hoc field clinic or non-military environment. However, our job would not be possible without doctors like ASH who invest the time and effort to train us, keep us current, and learn alongside of us from our experiences to bring the highest level of care to the men in the field.  As you’ll hear, his expertise and passion for the work enhance and motivates us to perform at the level we do. ASH brings some details about the medical field into the discussion, so you have to listen close, and hopefully, we captured all the notes so you don’t miss anything. The last part of the discussion shifts back to our primary mission on Inside the G-Base:  teaching you, our G’s, how to think like Green Berets.  We ask a hard question and want to challenge all of you to explore the possibility that it is time our society begins thinking differently about the threats and challenges we face.  No, we don’t discuss gun control – that is for a different debate.  But while that is being debated, why aren’t cities, schools, and “soft targets” preparing for the worst? All three of us recommend changing the civilian first responder mindset closer to that of a tactical medic.  Stage lifesaving medical treatments as close to the point of possible injuries as possible.  That means staging aid bags with tourniquets and clotting bandages in classrooms, theaters, malls.  We all know where to find an AED if someone has a heart attack, why isn’t there and Aid bag there with the capability to preserve life?  Of course, people will need training, but if J’s kids can apply these treatments, surely teachers can.  This is another call for our G’s to think outside the box, it may be time to accept that at least for now, our society and culture have changed and we need to do what we can to preserve life when we can.  That's what an 18D would do, that's what we want our G’s to do. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

Originally Posted February 21st, 2018 Want to know how D & J became Green Berets? This is the origins story. We had a great time recording this and laughing about some of the shenanigans that happen along the way. At the beginning of the episode, we also offer a little insight into why this podcast is called “Inside the G-Base.”  So a G-Base is a shorthand for a Guerrilla Base Camp, where insurgent or resistance fighters are holed up to train, plan, and conduct attacks.  These bases are most famous with the US Jedburgh Teams and the French Resistance of WWII and the Montagnard fighters of the Vietnam Highlands, where Special Forces ODA’s waged an unconventional war against the North Vietnamese.  From those safe havens, unconventional warriors and Green Berets were able to train fighters or “G”s to affect a disproportionate influence against a much larger and stronger enemy.  This is how we view the podcast, and our listeners our “Gs”.  Through the Podcast, we strive to teach and train you to think reason, and question like a Green Beret.  Ambitious, I know. But when you hear how we became Green Berets maybe you will understand a little more how we approach seemingly impossible challenges. So how did we become Green Berets? Just like everyone before us.  It's one thing to watch or read about the process, but its another thing altogether when you start looking at the motivations and drivers that push people to become Green Berets.  One of us was already a soldier, not doing the job he thought, but he was in the Army when he decided to try out for selection.  The other came right off the street and civilian life into the most demanding and challenging job in the world. But the path is never direct and without surprises.  I hope you all enjoy this episode, and even though its not as controversial as the last, I think there is still a lot to provoke thought and discussion about why some people choose to serve in the way that we do. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

Should you take the Blue Pill or the Red Pill?  We highly recommend the Red Pill.  In this episode, D & J discuss Plato’s Cave Allegory.  A philosophical discussion about knowledge and truth, and questioning the chains that keep us bound to dogma, ideology, and various beliefs.  Plato tells a story in the Republic about a hypothetical scenario where people – like us, are bound in a cave and restricted in what they can see and experience.  These people are only exposed to the images, sounds, and influences controlled by others. He then asked the question of what happens when one of those people gets free and learns the truth? How will this newly freed person respond? How will the others respond to him and he new found “truth”? Plato’s Cave permeates the life of a Green Beret whether we realize it or not, we think through this all the time. To be effective in our jobs, we have to live with and embrace many foreign cultures and people.  People with values and experiences vastly different from our own, yes we have to have empathy. That experience then influences how we view and function in our western culture.  We can't undo taking the Red Pill, it's too late.  So we want you to take the Red pill with us, engage in Plato’s Cave, apply it to your life, and see where it leads. As always, tell us your thoughts, give us your ideas and opinions, and challenge ours.  You have nothing to lose by taking the red pill!  If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

Originally Published February 10th, 2018 In this podcast, Green Berets, D & J explain how an Army PFC changed the course of an entire war when he walked off his firebase and became a guest of the Taliban. No, we are not interviewing Bergdahl, but we will tell you what happened immediately after he abandoned his post and how this still affects unconventional soldiers today.  As always we recommend you do not believe the narratives that are out there in the media about this case. We share our experiences and thoughts on the events, the politics, and the impact from the moment Bergdahl was declared DUSTWUN (Duty Status – Whereabouts Unknown). Like most things, this issue is not a cut and dry situation.  Was there a good reason why the President and congress treated Bergdahl as a POW hero and not the deserter we all knew he was? How did the Taliban out-fox the most powerful nation in the world with an E-3 Private from Idaho?  What residual effects from the Bergdahl debacle plague the military today?  Why is it important for citizens to gain a proper perspective on this highly politicized and public affair?  All great questions…listen to the episode to find out!  If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, write a review, and share it with your friends.  If you disagree tweet us and let's talk about it. If you have a different perspective we would love to hear it, post it on our Facebook.  This is about abandoning the spoon-fed narrative and evaluating the facts for yourself, think critically, and deeply on these issues because they matter.  Let's hear what you have to contribute to the G-Base.

Originally published February 2nd, 2018. In the first episode, J & D discuss the current global landscape, and the momentum taking us closer to war.  The Dooms Day Clock is now set to two minutes till midnight. Over the years the clock has shifted between five minutes to the occasional four minutes till midnight. However, only one other time in history has the Clock been set so close. That occurred shortly after Operation Ivy when the US tested thermonuclear weapons and the Soviets quickly followed suit with a thermonuclear weapon of their own. The doomsday clock plays an ominous warning to the world. Moreover, the Clock acts as a metaphor for man’s fallibility and greed in the governance of world affairs. Inside the G-Base podcast is a candid conversation with US Army Special Forces, Green Beret, veterans, and their perspective on current events, unconventional warfare, philosophy, and foreign policy.  It is a unique look at the world through the eyes of Silent Professionals. Join the conversation on Facebook & Twitter. Be sure to subscribe and leave a review!