A team of active duty Combat Control (CCT), Pararescue (PJ), and Special Reconnaissance (SR) leveraging our 70+ years of special operations experience to make the next generation of operators smarter, faster and stronger than we ever were. We are the PREMIERE resource for all things Air Force Specia…
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Listeners of Ones Ready that love the show mention:The Ones Ready podcast is a highly informative and entertaining show that provides valuable insights and advice for those interested in the USAF Special Warfare community. The hosts are knowledgeable, funny, and immensely helpful, making each episode engaging and enjoyable. Their interviews and discussions cover a wide range of topics, from training tips to leadership skills, providing aspiring airmen with a well-rounded perspective. I cannot recommend this podcast enough for anyone looking to gain knowledge and guidance in their journey towards AFSPECWAR or becoming a well-rounded leader.
One of the best aspects of The Ones Ready podcast is the wealth of information it offers. As someone who joined the USAF almost 30 years ago when resources like this were non-existent, I appreciate how these guys know what they're talking about and bring on guests who are equally knowledgeable. Whether you're a future recruit or currently serving in another field, this podcast is invaluable in terms of preparing for AFSPECWAR and learning about teamwork and personal growth.
While there aren't many negative aspects to mention about The Ones Ready podcast, one possible drawback is that it may not appeal to those outside the military or special warfare community. However, even individuals with different interests can find value in the episodes as they discuss topics such as leadership, motivation, and personal development that can be applied to various fields.
In conclusion, The Ones Ready podcast is an outstanding resource for anyone aspiring to join the USAF Special Warfare community or looking to become a better leader. The hosts' knowledge and humor make each episode enjoyable while providing immense help through interviews and discussions. This podcast has been a blessing for those seeking information and guidance on their journey towards AFSPECWAR.
Send us a textPeaches is back with your August 1st daily drop—after fighting his microphone and allergies like a true professional. He breaks down the latest military absurdities: an M18 that might go bang on its own, $800 million more to Ukraine (because why not), and bomber nostalgia getting its moment in the spotlight. From Air Force weapon inspections to Space Force getting ghosted on funding (again), this episode covers all the headlines that matter—plus a rant or two. Also, the Operator Training Summit in Nashville is coming up, so quit dragging your feet and get on board.
Send us a textScott Sanders didn't just go from Navy E-2 to Admiral—he took that momentum and barrel-rolled straight into crafting world-record bourbon and hunting MIAs in Cambodia. The Ones Ready crew sits down with the Tobacco Barn Distillery co-founder and Tours of Duty partner to talk Navy aviation, smacking SEAL brothers, bourbon snobbery, and what it means to chase purpose post-uniform. If you've ever wanted to drink patriotism straight from a bottle or launch a 500-lb barrel out of a C-130, this episode's for you. Oh, and PSA: don't mix good bourbon with Coke unless you want to get dropkicked by Trent.
Send us a textPeaches dives headfirst into the DoD's latest chaos buffet—$5.4 billion budget reshuffles, fighter jet production whiplash, and the Air Force playing safety dad with the M18 pistol. Meanwhile, cartel operatives are heading to Ukraine for drone training (because why the hell not), and a Swedish ISIS fanatic gets clocked for war crimes. Toss in some missileer cancer cleanup, a grounded Skyraider II PA scandal, and a missing sailor off the USS George Washington… and you've got yourself a full-blown geopolitical migraine. Don't worry—we made it snarky, so you don't have to cry.
Send us a textIn today's daily drop, Peaches blasts through the latest ops headlines like a Hellfire through a Toyota Hilux. From exposing our hilariously thin missile reserves to roasting tech bros whose drones crumble outside PowerPoint presentations, this one's a full-body workout in situational awareness. AFRICOM's been busy lighting up Somalia, the National Guard's turning Northern Michigan into a drone graveyard, and Space Force is slinging lasers and quantum gadgets into orbit like it's Star Wars cosplay. Meanwhile, Air Force Global Strike Command promises a “seamless” transition—LOL—and another Humvee goes full NASCAR in Wyoming. Also, Tricare might finally stop fleecing military families for having adult kids. That's not just news, that's a miracle. Buckle up, team. This episode's got more truth than a cleared EPR.
Send us a textStrap in, because this “daily drop” is a full-throttle rollercoaster of Pentagon absurdity and global WTFs. From promoting a former Space Force whistleblower to Under Secretary of the Air Force, to blowing $200M on a border wall while ignoring busted pistols and flood victims—this episode doesn't pull punches. Peaches goes off on political aircraft pork, war with China (spoiler: lots of body bags), and the Space Force's asteroid defense ambitions. Oh, and yes, Pizza Cat is alive and well. You're welcome, internet.
Send us a textKate Gladdin's mom was killed by a man who shouldn't have even been on the streets. And the prosecuting attorney? She's more interested in her win-loss record than actual justice. This episode pulls no punches as the Ones Ready crew exposes a legal system in Sheridan, Wyoming, that protects predators, punishes victims, and avoids accountability like it's contagious.David Johnson—DUI, sexual abuse of a minor, domestic violence, reckless driving, and now vehicular homicide—is being offered a plea deal. Why? Because Prosecutor Diana Bennett has a 20-year history of letting monsters walk. If you're not furious by the end of this episode, check your pulse. This is what happens when no one runs against tyranny in a pantsuit.
Send us a textWhat happens when a broke, hungover Ohio kid accidentally throws a beer bottle in front of a cop car, watches 9/11 unfold on a CRT TV, and decides to radically change the trajectory of his life? You get Aaron Love. In this solo mic-drop of an origin story, Aaron walks us through his chaotic rise from “littering charge degenerate” to USAF Pararescueman. From failed college attempts and $0.50 beer nights to literal jail time and getting smoked in Florida with boats and logs, Aaron lays it all bare—failures, comebacks, and all. This isn't just a PJ pipeline story. It's a redemption arc wrapped in sarcasm, sweat, and service.Prepare to meet the man behind the mic—the oldest, grumpiest, most entertainingly reckless member of the Ones Ready crew. You'll laugh, you'll cringe, and you'll probably Google “Can you really get arrested for littering?”
Send us a textPeaches drops into the team room to roast the DoD's latest brainchild—the $175 billion Golden Dome missile defense program. Because nothing says “fiscal responsibility” like duct-taping old tech to new threats. From sketchy F-35 upgrades to AI-driven psyops and a pistol that just…goes off, this episode is a rollercoaster of bureaucratic brilliance and defense déjà vu. Oh, and shoutout to the DoD for finally noticing that maybe, just maybe, over-classifying everything isn't helping. Get ready for Space Force buzzwords, Air Force growing pains, and a masterclass in defense spending madness.
Send us a textPeaches is back with another scathing ops brief—this time dragging the DoD for everything from mystery missiles and “indefinite quantity” contracts (yeah, that's real) to billion-dollar Iron Dome knockoffs. From Space Force promotions to “near-miss” B-52s and the Pentagon handing OpenAI a $200M AI war chest, this episode dives deep into the weird, the wild, and the “we're definitely not overfunded” chaos of 2025. Also: the real reason the Air Force hit their recruiting goals early (spoiler: they didn't). Oh, and yes, Tim Kennedy's name comes up... brace yourselves.
Send us a textPeaches returns with another banger, torching bureaucratic blunders and Joint Force nonsense. From the Pentagon flexing like it just invented drone grenades, to the DoD accidentally letting Chinese engineers tinker with our cloud—this one's a spicy ride. He dives into the F-35 budget cut drama, Space Force cosplay, uniform updates that no one asked for, and yes, another near-miss in the skies. Also: Nashville OTS still has slots, and you might even get Uncle Sam to foot the bill (if your chain isn't lame). Buckle up—your commute just got smarter and more sarcastic.
Send us a textBuckle up, aspiring warriors and pipeline survivors – the Ones Ready crew is back with a savage takedown of military myths, featuring Tac P legend Alex Chiapetta, who joined the Air Force at the ripe old age of 27 (gasp!) and somehow didn't shatter like fine china in the pipeline. Spoiler: He crushed it, thanks to mobility stretches, protein overloads, and bedtime at 7:30 PM – because who needs video games when you're building an empire? Alex spills the tea on ditching desk jobs during COVID, dodging Army officer boards like a bad date, and why Tac P's strategic battlefield wizardry hooked him harder than a Hellcat obsession (pro tip: Skip the 28% interest muscle car, kids). From land nav in the woods (no, not that kind) to JTAC brain-melting chaos, he exposes how the pipeline's "easier" rep is total BS – it's all rucking, radios, and refusing to be that washout marching lines at Medina. But here's the real mic-drop: Alex played the long game, stacking VA loans for free rent via house hacks, maxing TSP like a boss, and snagging Air Force Cool certs while you were blowing TDY cash on nonsense. Now he's bailing for Texas McCombs MBA, networking with vets like a pro, and plotting to buy businesses from retiring boomers. Oh, and don't get him started on getting fat post-military – he's aiming for "hot dad" status, not "retired slob." The crew throws in pool training plugs, fat-shaming roasts (RIP Tony's BMI), and why your network is your net worth. If you're grinding the pipeline or plotting your escape, this episode's your no-BS blueprint to level up – or end up checking IDs at the gate. Hell yeah, brother... or nah?Key Takeaways:Age Ain't Nothing But a Pipeline Myth: Alex joined at 27, outlasted cocky 18-year-olds by prioritizing recovery, mobility, and sleep – turns out discipline beats youth every time. Pipeline Real Talk – It's Brutal, Brainy, and Doable: From rucking hell to land nav nightmares and JTAC multi-tasking madness, the Tac P grind builds unbreakable confidence if you shut up and grind. Military Benefits = Wealth Hacks: Stack TSP, snag VA loans for multi-unit houses (live rent-free, idiots), and use Air Force Cool for free certs – Alex turned four years into generational weSupport the showJoin this channel to get access to perks: HEREBuzzsprout Subscription page: HERECollabs:Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: 1Ready ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLeteCardoMax - Promo Code: ONESREADYDanger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYDFND Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYHoist - Promo Code: ONESREADYKill Cliff - Pro...
Send us a textThis one's a banger, folks. Lt Col Brandon Temple—Mustang, TACP legend, and card-carrying member of the “deep state”—joins the team room and brings the heat. From botching his shot at pro baseball to stumbling into the Air Force via a giant binder of mystery jobs, Temple's journey is pure chaos and grit. We dive into his Mustang days (yes, he enlisted first), Navy betrayal (yep, he crossed over), and what it was like sleeping bag spooning with a CCT in Afghanistan.Oh, and he's not just a warfighter—he's a legislative assassin now, influencing Capitol Hill and telling Congress what's up with AFSPECWAR. Add in some dark humor, Civil War accents, a napalm joke, and a love letter to Hunter Seven Foundation… and you've got an episode that's half roast, half reverent, and 100% Ones Ready.
Send us a textWelcome to your no-fluff, sarcasm-fueled download of the Ones Ready Ops Brief for July 17th. In this episode, we cover everything from Excel-budget nightmares and B-1 Lancer drama to Space Force doing... whatever it is Space Force does. Jared rips through the latest military headlines with his signature blend of humor, eye rolls, and reluctant patriotism.We kick things off with a sneak peek at the Operator Training Summit and a shoutout to the surprisingly effective (and very unscammed) Tasty Gains gummies. Then it's all gas, no brakes through a gauntlet of DoD absurdities: pipe-dream weapon standardization in NATO, a billion-dollar GPS system that's somehow still in testing, and the Air Force saving $10 billion by using—wait for it—Excel. Yeah, that's a real thing.We wrap with cyber hacks, Ukraine fatigue, F-35 wishlists, and a whole lot of “wait, that's real?” moments. Buckle up, this one's got teeth.
Send us a textHope you packed your sense of humor and a fire extinguisher—because this episode scorches everything from overpriced moldy barracks in Guam to the Pentagon ghosting Aspen like it's a bad Tinder date. Jared runs down the biggest WTFs across the Department of Defense with a tactical blend of sarcasm and salt. We're talking billions for broken plumbing, drones that can't hang in Alaska, the F-35 backlog (finally) clearing, and a KC-46 that decided midair was the perfect time for a wardrobe malfunction. Plus, the Air Force tries fashion policing again (no more eyelash extensions, folks), Space Force dreams of relevancy, and China continues its “quantity over quality” military glow-up. Also, Nashville OTS is coming—bring your snorkel and your ruck.
Send us a textBuckle up, buttercups—Jared's back in the Ones Ready team room, dishing out yesterday's DoD drama because the PAO couldn't update today's headlines. Hegeth's memo: stop being bureaucratic wimps, buy American drones fast—excessive caution is the enemy. Joint air drills with B-52s flexing on North Korea; AI saving lives in mass casualties; SOCOM slashing Skyraider buys in half, likely budget tight. Jared throws shade at AFSOC's PAO for dodging his interview ask, calls out China's South China Sea bullying flop, cheers Senate's A-10 rescue (thunder lives!). Wraps with cyber fails, Turkey's F-35 snub (beat it, nerds), and pushing for service members' right to repair gear without contractor scams. Tired of bland military news? This is your sarcastic, straight-talk wake-up from Ones Ready—no apologies.Key Takeaways:- Hegeth's drone memo: Stop being cowards and buy American expendables ASAP—excessive caution is the real enemy.
Send us a textThis episode is a gut punch of clarity and common sense wrapped in Hoist-fueled sarcasm. Aaron and Peaches sits down with retired Marine Corps Colonel Curtis Lee—civil affairs legend, community builder, and founder of Carolinas for Ukraine. From mentoring under three-war combat vets to spearheading grassroots refugee resettlement, Curtis breaks down the real meaning of service after service.And oh yeah—we're not afraid to poke the bear. Illegal immigration? We say no. Strategic, vetted, value-driven immigration? Hell yes. Curtis' program resettles Ukrainian families legally—and it might just be the model for how we fix the entire U.S. immigration dumpster fire.We hit topics the media won't touch with a ten-foot boom mic:The Afghanistan withdrawal debacle
Send us a textWelcome to the July 11th edition of the Daily Drop, where the Pentagon plays Monopoly with rare earth minerals, drones become the new IEDs, and Trump hands out Patriot missiles like party favors—with NATO picking up the tab (allegedly). Jared unpacks the latest military madness with his usual blend of sarcasm, side-eyes, and straight-up disbelief. From AI drone swarms to banned eyelash extensions, from therapy dogs saving morale to space lasers tracking Chinese satellites—this one's got it all. Oh, and apparently we bombed Iran's nuclear sites… but maybe didn't hit anything? It's like a military-themed episode of “Nailed It!”
Send us a textAaron rolls solo to drop a grenade on your expectations and walk you through the jaw-dropping overhaul of the Air Force Special Warfare pipeline. New names. New timelines. New chaos. Is dive school back? Is SWOE-V dead? Will your career implode before it starts? Aaron breaks it all down with brutal honesty and zero fluff. No sarcasm (seriously)—just straight facts and insider updates from the front lines of AFSPECWAR's Frankenstein pipeline rewrite. If you're anywhere near the door to this career field, buckle up. You're not ready for what's coming—but you will be after this.
Send us a textIt's July 10th, and the Daily Drop is back with Jared dropping truth bombs harder than a B-1 on afterburner. From the announcement of the next Operator Training Summit in Nashville (spoiler: it's gonna slap) to the Pentagon lobbing real ones at Iran, this episode's got more hot takes than a Twitter war during a government shutdown.Jared breaks down military logistics like your drunk uncle explaining the NFL draft—passionate, slightly unhinged, but mostly right. He rants about AF simulators being broken garbage, drones flying into everything, the VA being predictably dysfunctional, and why the Air Force is still pretending they might keep the B-1 (spoiler: they're not). Also, the Space Force apparently needs another $6 billion. For what? Who knows.If you like your defense briefings with a side of sarcasm, a shot of cynicism, and topped with real-world experience, this one's for you.
Send us a textThe Ones Ready crew is back with a blistering Daily Drop that reads like a classified briefing laced with caffeine and outrage. Jared goes scorched-earth on the U.S. finally banning Chinese farmland buys (spoiler: it's 2025 and somehow this wasn't already illegal). Meanwhile, the Army wants to quadruple Patriot missiles—because what's deterrence without volume? The Air Force still can't decide if the F-15EX should have a roommate. Space Force gets a budget bump, but bureaucratic gatekeepers still cling to outdated classification nonsense like it's a Cold War cosplay. And don't worry, the KC-46 is still a flying contradiction—does it even have SATCOM?Oh, and if you're still here: Nashville. October. OTS. Let's go.
Send us a textIn this no-holds-barred Daily Drop, Peaches dives headfirst into the latest national defense chaos—from Humvees rolling through LA to Marines moonlighting as ICE support in Florida. Pete Hegseth wants to bring the warrior spirit back (because apparently we lost it), and Jared's not buying the sudden patriotism unless you're ready to pull bodies from burning cars. Meanwhile, retired four-stars are back in the game pushing for E-7s and more F-35s… but who's paying them now? The Academy is bleeding staff, a nuclear microreactor is going to Alaska (because obviously), and the Air Force just teamed up with AI-piloted Valkyrie drones like it's Skynet 2.0. Also—yes, the Space Force canceled something big. Again. Strap in, nerds.
Send us a textAfter six months of silence, the Ones Ready crew finally unleashes a no-holds-barred breakdown of the looming AFSPECWAR pipeline overhaul—and spoiler alert: it's a total mess. From gutting water confidence to pushing combat dive into career purgatory, this episode exposes how leadership is sacrificing operational readiness for… spreadsheets.Jared, Aaron, and Trent torch the new “land-based” selection model, the sketchy 12-week “Common Skills” course, and the alphabet-soup plans for MGFE (whatever that means). The team unpacks why this isn't just dumb—it's dangerous. If you think removing water-based assessments won't ripple downstream into mission failure, think again.Whether you're a pipeline hopeful, a team room veteran, or someone who actually cares about how elite operators get made—this is the one you don't skip.
Send us a textPeaches returns with a scorched-earth breakdown of America's latest military moves—and screwups. From counter-UAS task forces to the Pentagon's $330M-per-jet regrets, this episode tears into drone threats, Space Force drama, and Operation Midnight Hammer's massive flex… that also accidentally exposed all our weak spots. We're talking fleet gaps, busted tankers, munitions shortages, and decision-makers who keep canceling the wrong programs. Plus: the Air Force ditches sit-up alternatives (again), the F-47 enters the chat, and Iran just keeps poking the bear. If you want strategic insights laced with sarcasm, this is your ammo drop.
Send us a textThe Air Force is bleeding instructors, CENTCOM's next boss is a mystery wrapped in vagueness, and the B-2 is getting a glow-up because, well, the B-21 still isn't ready. In this Daily Drop, Jared dives into the military's latest budget frenzy, Iran's Cold War cosplay, and why creatine is now part of his mental warfare toolkit. From wildfires pulling Guard troops off security gigs to Cyber Command begging for updated dial-up, it's another day of chaos, caffeine, and congressional cash grabs. Oh—and Space Force is building GPS knockoffs just in case things get really spicy. Buckle up, nerds.
Send us a textIn this spicy Daily Drop, Jared wades through the DoD's latest chaos with all the charm of a migraine and none of the bureaucratic BS. Iranian missiles rain on Al Udeid (spoiler: we were ready), Raisin Kane flexes with Patriot batteries, and Trump might've poked the bear again—depending on who you ask. Meanwhile, the Pentagon's rolling out budget moves like a drunk accountant: retiring the A-10 (for real this time?), canceling the E-7 Wedgetail, and somehow not screwing up the Sentinel ICBM timeline… allegedly.He torches military mental health hypocrisy (hi, Joe and your stripper wives), raises an eyebrow at Air Force budget math, and mourns the tragic losses of airmen in water-related incidents. Also: Space Force gets the Pixar treatment, cloud networks are trying to unf*** comms, and one moron laser-tagged F-16s and got... nine days in jail. Cool system we've got.
Send us a textMatt Cubbler is back—and this time, it's personal. If you thought the first episode blew the lid off the Job Price case, buckle the hell up. In this scorched-earth sequel, the Ones Ready crew dives headfirst into the why behind the mysterious death of SEAL Team 4 Commander Job Price. Spoiler alert: the official “suicide” story doesn't just have holes—it's a full-blown cover-up crater.Cubbler, a 30-year law enforcement veteran and the man who cracked open the case, lays out a damning forensic, contextual, and moral case that screams murder. From scrubbed crime scenes and missing money to suppressed pistols and suppressed truths, this is a masterclass in how to weaponize silence, loyalty, and bureaucracy to erase a man.We're talking forged narratives, suppressed evidence, and a command culture that would rather protect the brotherhood than admit a SEAL commander might've been executed by his own men. If this episode doesn't rattle your faith in the system, check your pulse—or your security clearance.
Send us a textThe Pentagon dropped a $962B budget bomb, and Razin Caine dropped an actual bomb—well, more like 125 aircraft dropping GBU-57 bunker busters on Iranian nuclear sites. In this no-fluff Daily Drop, Jared unpacks the FY26 defense budget, the rise of the F-47, the death of the A-10, and why space is the new high ground (sorry, Wedgetail). He also calls out bureaucratic nonsense, praises enlisted studs like Tech Sgt. Montoya, and side-eyes yet another “brilliant” plan to split the Air Force into four separate services. Meanwhile, Hoist is still the drink of choice, even if Congress can't get theirs together.
Send us a textBuckle up, warfighters—this one's gonna rattle some cages. In this fire-breathing episode, Jared and Aaron torch the lazy talking points and break down why foreign aid isn't just “giving away your tax dollars.” From crushing fentanyl pipelines before they cross U.S. borders to outmaneuvering China's Belt and Road sleight of hand, this is your crash course in how global influence actually works. They pull no punches while explaining how smart international assistance builds partner capacity, prevents U.S. boots on the ground, and gives America leverage without dropping a single JDAM. Plus: why U2 should be banned from Bluetooth speakers and what happens when your soft power goes soft.Forget TikTok takes—this is real strategy from dudes who lived it.
Send us a textWelcome to your June 26th no-BS team room drop—brought to you by the Ones Ready squad and powered by caffeine, sarcasm, and tactical booties. Jared dives into the late-breaking chaos of June 25th like a B-2 on a midnight hammer run. From underground terror bunkers to squirrels declaring war on Minot AFB, this episode hits harder than hypersonics and keeps it unapologetically real.CENTCOM says terrorists are going subterranean, Iran's still acting like the boss villain of global instability, and somehow the Missile Defense Agency is still blaming COVID for its two-year delay. Oh, and in case you missed it—female aircrew smoked Iranian targets while half the internet cried over the phrase “our boys.” Grow up.We also cover squirrel infestations, Air Force fitness crybabies, the return of NATO guilt-tripping, and why Congress doesn't need to be in the Airstrike Group Chat. It's everything you need to know to stay informed, pissed off, and ready to crush your next ruck.
Send us a textWelcome back to The Daily Drop—where Jared rants, roasts, and breaks down the news like only the Ones Ready crew can. Today's main event? Iran punches back with a missile strike on Al-Udeid, but 13 of 14 missiles get slapped out of the sky. Trump drops an F-bomb on the lawn. Space and Cyber Command flex behind the scenes. And everyone's favorite stealth bat—the B-2—continues to steal headlines.Meanwhile, the Air Force wants airmen to run two miles... twice a year. Cue the Facebook tears and diaper rash in the NCO groups. Jared lets the fatties have it with a no-holds-barred takedown that would make your Chief blush. Also: the F-15EX has supply chain issues (again), Tech Sergeant promotions spike, and drones in Ukraine are now hiding in IKEA houses.It's blunt. It's brutal. It's your morning slap of reality—Ones Ready style.
Send us a textStrap in, because this Daily Drop drops bombs—literally. Jared's back from the San Diego Operator Training Summit and immediately diving into the nuclear circus known as Operation Midnight Hammer—the largest B-2 strike in U.S. history. We're talking 125+ aircraft, deception ops worthy of Hollywood, and a casual flex on Iran's nuclear ambitions. But don't worry, the Pentagon swears it's not “regime change.”Also in this episode:CENTCOM's tanker games, shady KC-135 logistics, and a DoD recruiting task force that somehow thinks legal and public affairs are your new talent magnets (spoiler: they're not).A Marine takes over the F-35 program, we slap “F-47” on our next-gen fighter because Trump said so, and someone in Oregon thinks they can tell the federal government what to do with the National Guard.Oh—and China's getting military secrets from broke Army NCOs. Cool. Cool cool cool.This one's loaded with hot takes, hard truths, and the usual blend of sarcasm and side-eye from the Ones Ready crew. Buckle up, buttercup.
Send us a textLet's get one thing straight—this ain't your typical Air Force hype-fest. Xavier Knapp went from "please God, not F-16s" to becoming the standout maintainer in Netflix's Thunderbirds documentary. In this episode, we pull the curtain all the way back on what it really means to be a top-tier wrench-turner in the Air Force. Xavier shares the unfiltered truth about failing out of EOD, getting slapped in the face (literally) by maintenance, and grinding through 120° days and freezing nights to keep jets flying. He breaks down the hard-earned pride of maintenance culture, the myth and reality of the Thunderbirds, and why tight uniforms and tighter standards actually matter. If you think being a Thunderbird is all glitz and no grit, this one's going to hurt your feelings. Let Xavier wreck your cynicism—and maybe inspire you to raise your own damn standards.
Send us a textThis isn't just an episode — it's a character arc. For the first time, Trent pulls back the curtain on how his life before the pipeline forged the fire he brings to every candidate now. From getting his teeth kicked in (literally) during his early military career, to surviving brutal operational deployments, to losing everything that mattered and rebuilding from scratch — this is his blueprint.It's not a sob story. It's a leadership autopsy. And it's why he's allergic to your excuses. If you've ever wondered why Trent holds the standard so relentlessly or why he gives zero oxygen to pity parties, here's your answer: he's lived the consequences of failure, mediocrity, and accountability — and still came out swinging.This episode is raw, emotional, and required listening for anyone claiming they want to lead warriors. Don't bring your ego. Bring a notebook.
Send us a textWhat happens when a guy born in Mexico, raised in Montana, gets denied reentry into the Air Force for nearly six years—and comes back swinging as Puerto Rico's first full-time AFSW recruiter? You get this episode.Peaches sits down with a recruiter who has seen every side of the Air Force: enlisted mechanic, disgruntled civilian, determined returnee, and now the face of Special Warfare recruiting across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. This live Q&A is raw, real, and packed with advice you won't find in any pamphlet.They cover everything from sneaky prior-service roadblocks and cross-training myths to what it's like building a pipeline in a place where half the population still thinks “military” just means “Army.” If you're thinking about enlisting, crossing over, or even just wondering if 5'2" is too short to ruck 10 miles—this one's for you.
Send us a textThe Pentagon's busy doing backflips to avoid picking a side in the Israel-Iran slugfest, while the U.S. military quietly scrambles tankers, evacuates families, and acts like $300 is enough to survive Naples, Italy. Meanwhile, Air Force tankers take center stage, hypersonic weapons get a reboot (because we're behind... again), and Space Force finally gets a toy that isn't just PowerPoint.Plus: AI flight scheduling, Normandy's long-overdue tribute, the F-35's never-ending upgrade saga, and why the Naval Academy's race-based admissions policy should've died long ago. Add some Trump, NATO posturing, and North Korean diplomacy (lol) for flavor. You'll either be informed, outraged, or both—so grab your pre-workout and dive in.
Send us a textThe Pentagon is getting Spiderwebbed, CENTCOM's begging for a faster arms dealer, and Iran claims it bagged three F-35s (with CGI receipts, naturally). In this no-holds-barred Daily Drop, Jared rips through the absurdity of base security theater, why our military sales process might as well be faxed from 1996, and why trusting SpaceX while threatening to cancel their contracts is peak DoD dysfunction.Also—Space Force can't track satellites if you build a Starbucks next to the antenna, China's nukes are multiplying like rabbits, and apparently 100% ID checks are optional now? Buckle up—this episode's a napalm blast of reality for anyone still clinging to the myth that we're “ready” for the next war. Spoiler: We're not.
Send us a textOnes Ready goes scorched earth on the Manda Bay attack—a tragic cocktail of leadership failure, intelligence gaps, and straight-up tactical laziness that left Americans dead and a base in flames. This isn't just a “bad day at work” story—this is what happens when we let comfort, complacency, and half-baked threat assessments set the tempo.In this episode, we dissect the 2020 al-Shabaab attack on Manda Bay, Kenya, and the damning DoD report that followed. From unmanned gates to zero reaction plans, we break down just how avoidable this disaster was—and why the term “low-risk” might as well be a death sentence. Hard truths, hard lessons, and no pulled punches.
Send us a textThe Ones Ready crew is back with your daily drop, and today's episode is hotter than the LRSO's payload. Jared breaks down the latest in defense news with a healthy dose of sarcasm, fury, and common sense—none of which were found in the FY26 budget. From the Navy's sixth-gen fighter dreams to Putin's never-ending land grab, the episode covers it all. We're talking U.S. evacuation plans in Bahrain, AFRICOM vs EUCOM turf wars, drone warfare budget gymnastics, and why building a micro nuke in Alaska is finally something to get excited about. Oh, and apparently we're ready to go to war over Greenland…?If you like watching bureaucratic chaos unfold in real-time while Jared dunks on generals and defends SpaceX like it's a religion, this one's for you.
Send us a textWhat do you get when you mix scarlet berets, dive school lies, and a belt company that quietly shames your Amazon nylon webbing? You get this week's Ones Ready episode featuring the legendary Greg “Vic” Novickas—a battle-hardened Combat Controller who's operated at every level of AFSOC and is now rewriting how we prepare the next generation of warfighters.Vic takes us through his journey from broke in Key West to tactically melting faces across the globe. From diving with inflatable sheep to running human performance integration like a battlefield surgeon, Vic is helping reshape Air Force Special Warfare—from Basic Training mindsets to elite pipeline development. This one's deep, personal, hilarious, and full of hard truths—just how you like it.
Send us a textWelcome to your daily dose of blunt-force intel. On this episode of Ones Ready, Peaches breaks down the 12 June Ops Brief with the same energy as a pissed-off NCO finding unbloused boots. From nuclear microreactors to E-7 program death rattles, and shady F-35 budget slashings, this rundown covers everything the Pentagon tried to slip under the radar.Oh, and did we mention Air Force One is getting a facelift from Qatar... and no one will say what it costs?This one's for the operators, the policy nerds, and the junior troops trying to make sense of senior leader decisions that sound like they were made during an Ambien trip.From partisan posturing to microreactor hype, this episode has one foot in the future and the other on a Congressional landmine. Grab your coffee and prep for turbulence.
Send us a textBuckle up. In this Daily Drop, Jared steamrolls through a Pentagon fever dream where California governors cry about sovereignty, the Air Force funds anxiety nap pods, and Russia's Spiderweb drone strikes are the new nightmare fuel. Meanwhile, Trump deploys 2,000 National Guard troops to L.A., the Air Force downs another billion on wingman drones, and Space Force is somehow both broke and booming.The DoD can't acquire software on time, the Air Force is buying nap boxes instead of fixing actual morale, and Space Force wants $4B more to figure out what they even do. If you were hoping for clarity, this ain't it. But if you like chaos with a side of sarcasm and defense budget insanity—you're in the right place.
Send us a textIn today's Daily Drop, Jared's back to walk you through a spicy buffet of government overreach, UFO shenanigans, and military budget cosplay. NORCOM's moving troops into L.A., Newsom's throwing a federal tantrum, and the Pentagon is apparently deleting Signal messages like they're hiding UFOs—because, spoiler alert: they kind of are.We've got dive-deep takes on the Air Force's nuclear glow-up, Space Force's identity crisis (again), and why the B-1B is still the king of air-dropped “nope.” Also, if you ever wanted to know how Norway hijacked a U.S. bomb mid-flight or why Gavin Newsom thinks he's still in charge of something—this one's for you.
Send us a textStrap in, nerds — it's time for another brutally honest, occasionally aggressive PSA from your favorite cynical pipehitters. Aaron, Jared, and Trent are done pretending like your DMs are cute. This episode is a tactical nuke on all the dumbass questions that keep clogging our inboxes like an MRE-induced constipation crisis.Are you 25 and feeling “too old”? Shut up. Asking if you should delay shipping because your runtime is 0.3 seconds off? Delay your dreams forever, why not. Unsure whether you should be a PJ, CCT, SR, or join the FBI to fight aliens with the CIA? We're not your career counselor, Karen.This is the one-stop, soul-crushing episode you'll be angrily timestamping and rage-sharing with your overthinking wannabe operator buddies. We cover:Magical age limits and why the pipeline doesn't care about your birth yearWhy your “peak interest” is spelling itself out of selectionWhat training volume actually means (spoiler: you're not doing enough)The truth about SpecWar lifestyle, hot teammates, and why Air Force has the hottest dudes AND best hotelsOh, and yes — we talk about “Hot Kyle.” Again.
Send us a textThe Daily Drop is here and this one is overflowing with fraud, firepower, and the federal fumble reel. Jared dives into the Pentagon's latest week of insanity: $10.8B in fraud? Check. Hypersonic missiles making a comeback? Check. A free Qatari plane that's somehow costing $400M to modify? Check. And that's before we even get to the Air Force's new anti-ship missile flex, transgender cadet policy chaos, and the absurd SpaceX-White House pissing match.Oh yeah—Space Force nostalgia? F-47 cockpit speculation? Missileer cancer rates? Welcome to another episode of “Who's Driving This Thing?” The answer is: no one. Absolutely no one.
Send us a textStrap in, nerds. This episode is Peaches, raw and unfiltered—no Aaron, no Trent, no buffer. Just one man, one mic, and 46 minutes of Combat Controller origin story, featuring: childhood trauma via Lethal Weapon, a trifold pamphlet that somehow convinced him to join the Air Force, and a fratricide incident that definitely wasn't in the recruiting video.If you've ever wondered how a 5'4” kid with a soccer background, a VHS tape, and a chip on his shoulder turned into a JTAC legend, mentor, podcaster, and actual military boogeyman—this is it. Plus, why leadership isn't sexy, why “white carding” is a war crime (almost), and why service to others is still the hardest flex.
Send us a textIt's another beautifully chaotic episode of the Ones Ready Daily Drop, and today we're launching straight into the bureaucratic bonfire. Jared's back with updates so wild you'd think the Pentagon was drunk texting Congress. From billion-dollar GPS launches to PFAS exposure going prime time, we're diving headfirst into drone dread, six-gen fighter delays, Space Force spending black holes, and the VA disability floodgates cracking wide open.Also: A WWII hero finally gets his due, Canada's prepping for WWIII by 2028, and NATO's still hoping its members hit 2% defense spending...by 2036. Meanwhile, GPS going dark could cause global chaos (shocker), and everyone's pretending we'll somehow counter Ukraine-style drone strikes with... what, PowerPoints?
Send us a textStrap in and put your outrage pants on, because this Ones Ready Daily Drop is pure Pentagon chaos. Jared drops a firestorm of updates faster than a drone swarm over Belgorod. NATO wants 5% GDP? Greenland's back on the menu? Pete Hegseth skips Ukraine for brunch in Brussels? And oh yeah — $38 MILLION for a child development center that could've bought an entire gated suburb in Vegas.We hit drone warfare's brutal reality check, the baffling state of U.S. air defenses, and why letting China buy farmland next to our missile silos is somehow still legal. Spoiler: It shouldn't be. This episode is fast, furious, and fired up. If you're not yelling at the sky by the end, check your pulse.
Send us a textWelcome to another episode of the “Daily Drop,” where Jared breaks down the chaos disguised as a defense budget. We're talking about a $1 trillion spendathon featuring: cutting cybersecurity staff during peak cyber threat season, trying to mass-produce drones in 24 hours with foreign parts we don't make, and senior leaders treating AI like it's witchcraft.You'll also get the inside scoop on how our Space Force is flexing with rapid GPS launches (kind of), why cutting Air Force Academy faculty could kneecap future warfighters, and which senator is still obsessed with moving Space Command for no tactical reason.PLUS:
Send us a textIn this chaotic return to the Daily Drop, Jared barrels through a no-holds-barred rundown of DOD chaos, diplomatic double-speak, and the ongoing clown show in space. The Pentagon's trying to win hearts and minds in Somalia with airstrikes, Space Force is low-key getting circled by Russian sats, and we're hoping AI can save Indopaycom's wargames. Spoiler: it won't.Jared dives into all of it — including the Thunderbirds doc that actually slapped (yes, really), privatized base hotels, and a new Kunsan commander who's literally cleaning up her husband's mess. There's also a raw take on the mental health industrial complex and why adding more psychologists might not fix what's broken.Unfiltered. Unscripted. Possibly unhinged. This is the military news you should be getting, but definitely won't from Public Affairs.
Send us a textSome dudes show up shredded with swagger. Others show up ready to grind. Rylan Tanner showed up both — and still had to bleed for it. In this brutally honest episode, Aaron and Jared break down the rise, stall, and redemption of one of the most talked-about Special Warfare candidates to come through the prep pipeline.You'll hear about what it's like to crush PSTs and still struggle, the lessons of humility when leadership doesn't think you're ready, and why “doing everything right” sometimes still ends with you getting dropped. But guess what? That doesn't mean you're done.This episode's about embracing failure, owning the pain, and building back with twice the fight. If you're preparing for A&S and think heart alone will get you through, press play. You're gonna need more.
Send us a textLet's get one thing straight—Charlie Faint isn't just an intel officer. He's the intel officer that made it through JSOC, the 160th, and now West Point without once becoming a PowerPoint nerd with security clearance delusions. In this episode, we dig into his warrior-scholar journey—from nearly drowning in a flight suit during selection to launching the Havoc Journal and mentoring cadets who think Platoon is a recruiting video.We cover everything: JSOC mythos, combat intel screw-ups, the Rangers' OPSEC paranoia, mentoring Gen Z cadets with TikTok attention spans, and what happens when your daughter accidentally drops a no-strike target's name over a monitored call. You'll laugh. You'll learn. You'll probably get flagged by the NSA.