Podcasts about jtac

Chris Brennan served for 15 years in the Australian Army, 11 of which were as an operator within the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR).He fulfilled multiple team specialist roles, including as a JTAC and Tandem Bundle Master within a Freefall Assault Team, before progressing into leadership roles as a team 2IC and culminating his career as an SASR Team Leader.Chris deployed on multiple occasions and spent two years as a specialist trainer and assessor in the SASR's selection and training squadron.He assisted in the design and implementation of high-risk training for new members undergoing the SASR reinforcement cycle, as well as assisting in the delivery of team-leading packages tothose undergoing progression into tactical leadership functions.Upon transitioning from the Australian Defence Force, Chris completed his Master of Business degree through the University of New South Wales, which provided academic backing to his lived experiences within the SASR.As a result, Chris founded OMADA Performance Concepts, a high–performance team consultancy. Through OMADA, he now delivers specialised Team Development solutions, Team Leadership packages, and Instructor Development programs for critical response teams operating in high-risk environments.More about Chris:Website: www.omadapc.com.auInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/omada.performance.concepts/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-brennan-991215353/Timestamps:00:00:21 Introduction to Chris Brennan00:01:41 Brennan's Career in the Australian SAS00:04:05 Unit Supporters' Success in the U.S.00:05:39 Hardest Part of Selection00:07:16 Testing Standards00:09:17 Quick Note: Mental and Emotional Demands of Selection00:10:14 Freefall Rules00:11:19 Jumping Bundles00:12:24 Working as an Instructor00:13:21 What Makes a Student Stand Out in the Reinforcement Cycle?00:14:51 Evaluating Attributes00:21:24 Cultural Fit00:24:44 Team Gear, My Gear, Me00:25:25 Training Other Team Leaders00:26:03 What Makes an Effective Team Leader?00:31:02 Tom Satterly and the Hot Wash00:35:55 Staying Focused on Things You Can Change00:39:17 Founding Omada00:44:40 Applying Previous Experiences 00:51:37 Future Plans for Omada00:53:36 Working for Omada00:54:06 One Book that Everyone Should Read00:58:09 Best and Worst Advice Ever Received 00:59:48 Contact Chris Brennan01:00:37 Outro

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.

Chris Fettes is a former U.S. Navy SEAL who served for 13 years with SEAL Team 10 and the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). He deployed to combat zones in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, where he served as a sniper and earned a Bronze Star at JTAC. A notable marksman, Fettes once made a 900-yard sniper shot on an enemy in Somalia, and would often bring a high-end ice cream machine on deployments to make ice cream for his teammates and local children. Chris Fettes is a former U.S. Navy SEAL who served for 13 years with SEAL Team 10 and the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). He deployed to combat zones in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, where he served as a sniper and earned a Bronze Star at JTAC. A notable marksman, Fettes once made a 900-yard sniper shot on an enemy in Somalia, and would often bring a high-end ice cream machine on deployments to make ice cream for his teammates and local children. After leaving the military in 2016, Fettes didn't take the easy road. Like many veterans, the transition to civilian life came with its own set of battles. But in true warrior fashion, he forged a new path—launching 'Be Free Craft Ice Cream' in 2022, a small-batch, veteran-owned ice cream brand based in Virginia Beach. Each flavor is a tribute to his military past, blending boldness and creativity like only a seasoned operator could. He recently provided private security for Shawn Ryan during a controversial trip to Romania—and he's just getting started. Subscribe to the Mike Drop Patreon Page to see Ad-Free Episodes Early + Bonus Content at https://www.patreon.com/mikedrop ---------- Support Chris Fettes - Website - https://befreeicecream.com/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@chrisfettes6 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisfettes6/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085655282219 ---------- Sponsors: C. Crane When the internet goes dark, radio still works! Order Your C. Crane CC Radio 3 today when you call C. Crane's U.S. based Customer Service at 800-522-8863 or visit https://ccrane.com/drop and use code DROP at checkout for 10% off orders over $75! ---------- BUBS Naturals The BUBS namesake derives from Glen ‘BUB' Doherty, who was heroically killed in Benghazi, Libya in 2012. In addition to remembering Glen for the patriot he is, the BUBS ethos centers around the passionate and adventure seeking life that Glen lived. BUBS Naturals products are rooted in sustainably sourced ingredients and controlled consistency to provide our customers with the highest quality Collagen Protein & MCT Oil Powder that help you feel amazing and live a fuller life. Our mission is simple. FEEL GREAT. DO GOOD. 10% always goes back to charity, helping military men and women transition back into civilian life. Go to https://www.bubsnaturals.com/mike and use code MIKE for 20% off your order. ---------- TEAM DOG FOOD, TREATS & SUPPLEMENTS Be Your Dog's Hero: Veteran-owned by a former Navy SEAL and Special Operations K9 Trainer, Team Dog provides a complete diet of science-backed premium dog food, treats, and supplements to optimize your dog's health, forged from rigorous standards and real-world expertise. https://www.teamdog.shop TEAM DOG ONLINE TRAINING Mike Ritland – a former Navy SEAL & Special Operations K9 trainer – shares his simple and effective dog training program to build trust and control with your dog. Based on Mike's bestselling book “Team Dog, Train the Navy SEAL Way”, join tens of thousands of families that successfully trained their way to a better dog. https://www.teamdog.pet SHOP ALL THE MIKE RITLAND BRANDS Get all your Mike Ritland branded gear - Mike Drop | Trikos | Team Dog https://shop.mikeritland.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, John “Rain” Waters is joined by Vince “Snapper” Sherer, a veteran A-10 pilot with 4,500 flight hours and 299 combat missions. Snapper breaks down his path from the Air Force Academy to deployments across Afghanistan flying the A-10A and A-10C, including time in the MC-12. He details the evolution of close air support, the integration of targeting pods, and the challenges of executing time-sensitive strikes in complex environments. Snapper also shares how personal events—including his brother's career-ending accident and a high-casualty strike on a high-value target—shaped his approach to combat and leadership. The discussion covers training, weapons employment, A-10 capabilities, and the operational realities of supporting ground forces across multiple conflicts.Snapper YT: https://www.youtube.com/@snapperlandSnapper IG: https://www.instagram.com/snapperland

Send us a textYou've asked. We've avoided. But today? We answer. In this no-holds-barred, caffeine-fueled episode, Aaron and Trent finally break down what Special Reconnaissance (SR) actually does—why it exists, why it's not just “Air Force Marine Recon,” and why anyone trying to say “but SEALs can do that” needs to go touch grass.Trent—who literally helped write the playbook for SR—lays out why the Air Force had to level up from SOWT, why SR isn't a clone of other recon units, and how SR brings a capability-based solution to Air Force-specific problems in the next-gen fight. Oh, and if you think it's just “guys sneaking around in ghillie suits,” strap in. We're talking intel, electronic warfare, environmental sensing, sniper school, free fall, and (hopefully) dive recovery missions… all while bridging the gap between air assets and ground teams.Also: Why the Air Force finally realized being “just an enabler” wasn't cutting it anymore, how SOCOM called their bluff, and why SR isn't meant to just “loan guys out” to other services. This is your crash course on why SR isn't weather anymore—and why it's a critical wedge in the special warfare team.

In this episode of 10x Your Team, Camden and Otis McGregor are joined by Marc Fitzwater to explore the importance of values and grace in leadership. Marc shares his insights on how personal values shape leadership styles and the significance of allowing grace in professional relationships. The discussion delves into the challenges of aligning values within a team, the impact of diverse perspectives, and the role of open communication in fostering a collaborative environment. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out, this episode offers valuable perspectives on building a cohesive and values-driven team.More About Marc:Marc Fitzwater, a retired Green Beret with 23 years in the U.S. Army (16 in Special Forces), served in high-stakes roles across Central and South America, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Eastern Europe. He held key leadership positions, including Team Sergeant of a modern Jedburgh Team and NCOIC of FIRES for the 10th Special Forces Group, overseeing JTAC training. Marc also worked at the strategic level with SOCNORTH, coordinating Special Operations and interagency efforts. Academically, he holds a Mathematics degree and a Master's in International Relations. Today, he runs I68 Consulting Group, offering defensive shooting training and community events like the Hounds & Hollow Points competition, which supports veterans through Victory Service Dogs. Marc's post-military mission focuses on empowering individuals and fostering veteran community engagement.Chapter Titles and Times:Introduction to Marc Fitzwater [00:00 - 05:00]Overview of Marc's background and expertiseIntroduction to the episode's themesThe Importance of Values in Leadership [05:01 - 15:00]Discussion on how personal values influence leadership stylesThe challenges of aligning values within a teamAllowing Grace in Professional Relationships [15:01 - 25:00]The significance of grace in fostering collaborationExamples of grace in action within teamsDiverse Perspectives and Open Communication [25:01 - 35:00]The impact of diverse perspectives on team dynamicsStrategies for encouraging open communicationBuilding a Cohesive Team [35:01 - 45:00]Tips for creating a values-driven team environmentMarc's insights on leadership and team cohesionClosing Thoughts and Takeaways [45:01 - End]Final reflections from Marc and the hostsKey takeaways for leaders looking to enhance their team dynamics#10xYourTeam #CamAndOtis #MarcFitzwater #LeadershipWithValues #GraceInLeadership #SpecialForcesLeadership #GreenBeretWisdom #TeamAlignment #ValuesDrivenLeadership #OpenCommunication #CollaborativeLeadership #VeteranLeadership #EmpowerYourTeam #DiversePerspectives #LeadershipChallenges #BuildingStrongTeams #I68Consulting #LeadershipJourney #MissionDrivenLeadership #VeteransEmpoweringCommunitiesMarc FitzwaterWebsite: https://www.i68consulting.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i68consultinggroupFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/I68consulting/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-fitzwater-476686178/

In this episode of The Resilient Show, Chad Robichaux is joined by Former United States Navy SEAL & French Foreign Legionnaire, Taylor Cavanaugh. Taylor Cavanaugh's journey is unlike any you've heard before, one marked by failure, redemption, and the relentless pursuit of purpose.Taylor opens up about his troubled youth, addiction, time in jail, and how he defied all odds to become a Navy SEAL and later a Legionnaire. Chad & Taylor talk about near-death moments, the dangers of misplaced identity, and the power of faith, discipline, and second chances.Taylor Cavanaugh is a former Navy SEAL from SEAL Team Seven and the only known Navy SEAL to also serve in the French Foreign Legion. After a turbulent journey marked by addiction, jail time, and personal failure, he turned his life around through discipline, faith, and service. As a SEAL sniper and JTAC with deployments to the Middle East and later as a Legionnaire operating in South America and Eastern Europe, Taylor's story is one of redemption, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of purpose.Learn more about Taylor Cavanaugh: https://www.taylorcavanaugh.com/Follow Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/tcavofficialhttps://www.youtube.com/@tcavofficialRESILIENT:Join Our Patreon: https://patreon.com/theresilientshowFollow Us On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resilientshowFollow Us On Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/resilientshowFollow Us On TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@resilientshowFollow Chad:⁠https://www.instagram.com/chadrobo_official⁠https://www.x.com/chadroboSPONSORS:Smith & Wesson: ⁠https://www.smith-wesson.com/⁠Vortex Optics:https://vortexoptics.comGatorz Eyewear: ⁠https://www.gatorz.com/⁠Allied Wealth:https://alliedwealth.comBioPro+: ⁠https://www.bioproteintech.com/⁠BioXCellerator:https://www.bioxcellerator.comThe Holy Waters:https://theholywaters.comGet The Resilient Show x Uncharted Supply Co Bag: https://liveresilient.com/shopTRS is a proud supporter of military & first responder communities in partnership with Mighty Oaks Foundation.

Le chef de corps nous parlais de relation avec des détachements alliés Belges et britannique, je me rapproche justement du détachement belge.

Fred Apgar worked in Air Force intelligence during the Vietnam War. However, he was part of the clandestine war in Laos that was not acknowledged at the time. We talk fire support, electronic warfare, and Fred's return to the country to close that chapter of his life. Support the showhttps://www.patreon.com/formeractionguyshttps://www.jcramergraphics.comhttps://www.ANGLICOshop.comFred's Bookhttps://www.amazon.com/Return-Plaine-Jarres-Fred-Apgar/dp/196430003700:00:00 J Cramer Graphics Ad00:00:40 Intro | Joining the Air Force00:04:07 Treatment of Veterans | Deployment Cycles00:14:08 Individual Augments to Vietnam | Joining the Air Force00:17:49 Vietnam Vet Reacts to Afghanistan Withdrawl00:29:31 Airborne Intelligence in Laos and Vietnam00:32:20 What are the JTAC and FAC Jobs?00:41:28 Operations in Laos and the Naming of the Podcast00:44:43 Laos ELINT Missions | TF Alpha00:53:27 First Paveway Bombs | Dragon's Jaw Bridge01:00:46 "We Weren't In Laos"01:07:22 Redemption01:18:11 Keep Your Honor Clean | POWs

Send us a textWhat kind of lunatic leaves the world of MARSOC, JTAC missions, and high-speed raids to become a DOCTOR? Well, Kyle Bond did. After years of deployments, kicking in doors, and barely surviving the Marine Corps' obsession with shaving every day, Kyle took a wild turn—straight into med school.

The boys are joined by real estate mogul Jonathan Howard, former Air Force Combat Controller and JTAC, to talk about his military career, his rescue efforts in the hills of North Carolina, his insanely profitable real estate career, and his position with the Special Missions Unit in the Florida State Guard!! Check out our sponsors!! Ghost Bed (promo code "Ghostbed" for 50% off!) https://www.ghostbed.com/pages/antiheroutm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=antihero Human Performance Team (promo code "HERO" for 10% off!) https://hptrt.com/ Zero 9 Holsters (promo code "ZERO9ANTIHERO10" for 10% off!) Cloud Defensive (promo code "ANTIHERO15" for 15% off!) https://clouddefensive.com Zero 9 Holsters (promo code "ZERO9ANTIHERO10" for 10% off!) https://zero9holsters.com/ Venjenz (promo code "ANTIHERO" for 15% off!) https://venjenz.com/ Refracted Wolf Apparel (promo code "ANTIHERO" for 15% off!) https://refractedwolfapparel.com/ First Responders Coffee Company (promo code "FRCC15" for 15% off!) https://frccoffee.com/ Patreon https://patreon.com/TheAntiheroPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest was - Richard - DickYou are Forged over time, not made in a moment. Own your Ego, it can be a useful tool in life. Maintain your growthmindset. Remember we're stronger together.Telling the stories of our whole community. The ☠️ Chain from Build to Boom

If you haven't seen the artillery in action, it's quite the spectacle. They have big guns that can deliver accurate fire over a few dozen kilometres, and one of the most reassuring feelings you can have is getting cover from afar when you need it. Throw in some drones, observers, and now air defence, you've got the makings of a very cool trade. Meet one of the people who make it all happen in this episode featuring Sergeant Daran Caines from the 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.Feel free to contact Captain Adam Orton with any comments or questions:armyconnect-connectionarmee@forces.gc.caConnect with the Canadian Army on social media:Facebook  | X (Twitter) | Instagram | YouTubeVisit Forces.ca if you are considering a career in the Army.Copyright Information© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence, 2025

Guest was - Brian BP You are Forged over time, not made in a moment. Own your Ego, it can be a useful tool in life. Maintain your growthmindset. Remember we're stronger together. Telling the stories of our whole community. The ☠️ Chain from Build to Boom

Ep. 63 THE TALK OF TODAY Join myself and a very special guest for the FINAL episode of 2024... my dad, Brian Griffith. Brian has career backgrounds in many areas, such as in being a military officer for 29 years (helicopter pilot, fighter pilot, JTAC, special ops) with tours in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. He has 9 years experience as a police officer, business owner for 25 years on his Ranch specializing in horse training, cattle and produce horse sale. In this episode, we touch on his careers, achievements and dive into how he utilized being the underdog in many circumstances, to his advantage. Brian shares his outlook on handling pressure, not expecting success to then be successful, how to handle the fear of failure and so much more. His stories and life experience (he gives very specific examples of while he was deployed and in training) will give you a new perspective on going after your goals, embracing the discomfort and how you can use that to excel in everything that you do, and ultimately, how to embrace the "suck". Enjoy! SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7rPlrN7F6QLfPVkufYJXX4?si=gsUe0mPySDqLYOazqpsYgw Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/coaching-call-with-amy-griffith/id1677640473 Youtube: https://youtube.com/@coachingcallpodcast?si=tnYaO2zOtKyuSwzk SOCIAL MEDIA: @coachingcallpodcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/coachingcallpodcast?igsh=MWJ5eXV2eTRoN29xOA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr @itsamygriffith IG: https://www.instagram.com/itsamygriffith?igsh=MW91ZnplbGgxcm02Mw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr @itsamygriffith TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsamygriffith?_t=8jdD3XLFl5R&_r=1 Thank you for your support! Be sure to leave a comment sharing your biggest takeaway & screenshot to share on socials so I can connect with you

Happy Birthday to the Kindle. THE INTERVIEW Air Force veteran and author Ethan Brown is a Senior Fellow for Defense Studies at the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress (CSPS), a bipartisan think-tank in Washington D.C. He is also the author of the “Visual Friendlies, Tally Target” trilogy (Casemate Publishers), chronicling the role of forward air controllers and Close Air Support in the Global War on Terror. Ethan shares how his background as a TACP with multiple combat deployments led him to his writing career, and discusses the work he does with CSPS work to address the military recruiting crisis and toxic exposure issues among military veterans. SCUTTLEBUTT Follow Stacy down the Reddit Rabbit-hole as she explores "Random ways people got out of deployment" Bravo Zulu to South Carolina post who did Buddy Checks in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Special Guest: Ethan Brown.

Send us a textOnes Ready Podcast - Your inside look into the United States Air Force Special Operations Community. In this episode, we sit down with former TacP and author Ethan Brown, who takes us deep into the world of Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs). From clearing up misconceptions about their role to sharing stories from the battlefield, Ethan pulls no punches. Discover how these elite warriors call in airstrikes with pinpoint precision, what it means to control life-or-death decisions, and how their communication skills are just as deadly as their firepower. Ethan also opens up about his compelling book trilogy, which reveals the true stories and sacrifices behind JTACs in the War on Terror. Whether you're a veteran, an aspiring operator, or just a military enthusiast, you won't want to miss this eye-opening conversation. Tune in for insight, adrenaline, and the untold stories of those on the front lines of America's battles.Hit play now! And when you're done, make sure to check out Ethan's book, "Visual Friendlies, Tally Target: How Close Air Support in the War on Terror Changed the Way America Made War: Volume I - Invasions" on Amazon or wherever you buy your digital products. Also, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the rest of the series!Get your copy today, here - https://a.co/d/0XzwqyaChapters00:00 Introduction and Background of Ethan Brown03:08 Ethan's Journey to TacP05:52 The Power of a JTAC09:12 Misconceptions and Responsibilities of JTACs11:59 The Importance of Communication in Combat15:01 The Role of JTACs in the War on Terror17:56 The Evolution of Special Operations21:05 Fratricide and Lessons Learned23:48 The Future of JTACs and Special Operations27:02 Ethan's Book Trilogy Overview30:04 Closing Thoughts and Book PromotionSupport the showJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9aFBBZoBcQk8UUN_pO7nDA/joinBuzzsprout Subscription page: https://www.buzzsprout.com/680894/subscribeCollabs:Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: 1ReadyATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLeteCardoMax - Promo Code: ONESREADYHoist - Promo Code: ONESREADYThe content provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The host, guests, and affiliated entities do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. The use of this podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship, and the podcast is not liable for any damages resulting from its use. Any mention of products or individuals does not constitute an endorsement. All content is protected by intellectual property laws....

Send us a Text Message.In this episode of the Ones Ready Podcast, we're diving deep into the world of cross-training within Air Force Special Warfare—a topic that's as challenging as it is rewarding. Our hosts break down why tech sergeants often face hurdles when attempting to cross-train and the unique challenges higher-ranking individuals encounter in the pipeline. But it's not all about the obstacles; it's about the opportunities to bring your maturity, sharp writing skills, and ability to serve as a critical liaison between the cadre and your team to the forefront.We're sharing hard-earned insights and personal stories to help aspiring cross-trainees bring real value to the pipeline. From understanding the Air Force's quotas and allocations for cross-training to navigating the sometimes murky waters of career field changes—think JTAC and EOD—we're here to equip you with the knowledge you need.But that's not all. We're taking a closer look at the distinct archetypes of Special Reconnaissance (SR) and Combat Controllers (CCT). Which TV and movie characters nail these roles? What unique skills and abilities do these airmen bring to the battlefield? And why is a diverse skillset critical in these career fields?Whether you're a seasoned operator or someone eyeing a cross-training opportunity, this conversation is packed with valuable insights, cautionary tales, and motivational advice to help you navigate your Air Force career with precision and purpose. Don't miss out—this episode is your roadmap to understanding the intricate dynamics of cross-training in Special Warfare. Tune in, take notes, and get ready to elevate your career.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Bagel Sponsorship05:19 Challenges of Cross-Training Tech Sergeants10:39 Bringing Value as a Cross-Trainee16:27 The Role of Cross-Trainees in the Pipeline18:55 Advice for Cross-Trainees23:44 Air Force Quotas and Allocation Spreadsheet24:19 Understanding Cross-Training Quotas and Placeholders26:26 Navigating Rumors and Misinformation in Career Fields27:27 The Importance of Clean Data in the Military35:20 Exploring the Nuances of Different Missions and Challenges38:19 Flexibility and Adaptability in the Military48:00 Exploring the Archetypes of Special Reconnaissance and Combat Controllers49Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9aFBBZoBcQk8UUN_pO7nDA/joinCollabs:Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: 1ReadyAlpha Brew Coffee Company - Promo Code: ONESREADYATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLeteCardoMax - Promo Code: ONESREADYDread River - Promo Code: ONESREADY Eberlestock - Promo Code: OR10Hoist - Promo Code: ONESREADYTrench Coffee Company - Promo Code: ONESREADYThe content provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The host, guests, and affiliated entities do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. The use of this podcast does not create an attorney-client relationship, and the...

In this episode, we were joined by Veteran JTAC and Pilot, Shannon Cruz. Shannon has an impressive 3700 flight hours, multiple combat decorations, and 21 years of military service. Despite this, Shannon has been fighting to get back his medical and hard-earned pilot's licenses for over two years. Unfortunately, he is 1 of 5000 pilots involved in the VA record pull by the FAA. To help support and advocate for pilot mental health please visit www.pmhc.org. Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepilotspandemic/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepilotspandemic/support

Lt. Col. Tom Schueman served in Afghanistan for sixteen months, including the single bloodiest battle of the war in Afghanistan, as a platoon commander with the Third Battalion, Fifth Marines in Helmand Province. He redeployed to Afghanistan as a JTAC and advisor to the Afghan National Army while he was a member of First Reconnaissance Battalion. Schueman went on to get his master's in English literature at Georgetown University and teach English literature at the United States Naval Academy. In 2022, alongside his friend and Afghani interpreter, Zak, he published Always Faithful, a book about his time in Afghanistan and the effort to get Zak and his family to America before the Taliban could make good on their promise to kill them. Thomas is still an active-duty Marine and the founder of the nonprofit Patrol Base Abbate, based in Montana. PB Abbate provides a space for veterans and service members to reconnect around shared interests.More about Major Schueman:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kill.z0n3Patrol Base Abbate: https://www.pbabbate.org/home-0Always Faithful: https://amzn.to/3M6EI1nTimestamps:00:00:22 Intro to Thomas Schueman00:01:22 Overview of Thomas Schueman's Career00:05:25 Infantry Officer Course and Recon Selection00:06:44 Why the Basic Reconnaissance Course Didn't Work Out for Thomas00:15:25 Sponsor Note: Buildingtheelite.com00:15:53 On Which Deployment Did Thomas Meet Zack?00:17:56 Marines Lost in Thomas's Unit00:18:44 More Deaths in Infantry Than Other Sections of Military00:24:49 Working With Zack00:27:15 Thomas's Mindset After 100 Firefights in 100 Days00:42:19 What is Patrol Base Abbate?00:52:53 Where is PB Abbate in Montana?00:53:53 How is PB Abbate Funded?00:56:36 Getting Zack Out Before the Fall of Kabul01:06:53 Outro

Send us a Text Message.Taylor Cavanaugh went from jail, to Navy SEAL, back to jail, suicidal, to French Foreign Legionnaire. Learning to self-actualize his divine design via a correct system of life disciplines. Now he is on a mission to show others how to re-align their lives to experience peace and clarity by training the mind deliberately as well as the body. Showing others how to get their fire for life backA graduate of University of California Santa Cruz, Taylor enlisted in the Navy in 2010, becoming a SEAL assigned to SEAL Team SEVEN. Deployed multiple times to the Middle East as a sniper, JTAC, and Advent Laden specialist.  Kicked out of the United States military for violation of Navy policy after seven years, then spending two years in the civilian world battling demons, poor habits, and lack of purpose, Taylor then flew to France and entered into the French Foreign Legion. Becoming the only SEAL/Legionnaire on record.  Deploying to the South American jungle as well as East Europe with NATO as a Fire Team leader.  During this brutal time establishing disciplined systems and daily practices that cracked the code on experiencing consistent mental clarity and inner peace which is now his mission to share.Find TaylorInstagramYoutubeFind The Suffering PodcastThe Suffering Podcast InstagramKevin Donaldson InstagramMike Failace InstagramApple PodcastSpotifyYouTubeThe Suffering Podcast FamilySherri AllsupToyota of HackensackPoPl Discount code TSP20Cubita CafeSupport the Show.The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram TikTok YouTube

“Most people will tell you, even myself at one time, ‘I don't like sales.' But any business that you do is going to be rooted in sales. Understanding that process is so important… talking about investments or talking about how someone's looking to invest their money, and it's still sales at the end of the day.” –Justin Loutfy, USAFA '16 Justin Loutfy is an investor, author, speaker, and self-proclaimed “Girl Dad” to his two young daughters. He is the managing partner of Onyx Peak Capital, a real estate and investing firm. In addition to his real estate ventures, Justin runs the DadVesters podcast and a YouTube channel where he shares his knowledge and experiences in real estate and investing. He aims to educate and inspire others to achieve financial freedom through investing. Before founding Onyx Peak Capital, Justin was the chief operating officer for Cherokee Wood Products. He was also an operations manager for Amazon and a fund analyst at Lion Creek Capital, LLC. In addition, Justin served as a special warfare officer/joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) for the U.S. Air Force. In this episode, we discuss: Justin's journey from military service to 9-5 jobs to entrepreneurship in real estate investing. The rapid learning curve Justin experienced in his first year of entrepreneurship, trying various business models including wholesaling real estate and exploring teaching courses. Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, including the value of practical experience in sales over a traditional business education. Justin's innovative debt validation fund that provides a 20% return to investors while helping people get out of debt for half of what they originally owed. Justin's short-term goal of raising $50 million for his debt validation fund to help 25,000 people get out of debt. Justin's podcast "DadVestors," where he explores the intersection of parenting and investing. Justin Loutfy's journey from U.S. Air Force special warfare officer to successful investor illustrates the power of diverse experiences in shaping innovative business ventures. After 9-5 roles in operations at Amazon and Cherokee Wood Products, Justin transitioned to entrepreneurship, exploring various business models including real estate wholesaling and course teaching. This period of experimentation led him to found Onyx Peak Capital, a real estate and investing firm where is managing partner. One of Justin's standout ventures is his debt validation fund, which offers a 20% return for investors while helping individuals reduce their debt by half. With an ambitious goal to raise $50 million, the fund aims to help 25,000 people overcome debt. This innovative approach exemplifies Justin's ability to create solutions that benefit both investors and the broader community. Beyond his investing activities, Justin is dedicated to education and sharing his knowledge. He runs a YouTube channel focused on real estate investing and hosts the "DadVestors" podcast, exploring the intersection of parenting and investing. As a self-proclaimed "Girl Dad" to two young daughters, Justin's story demonstrates how embracing diverse experiences, rapid learning, and innovative problem-solving can lead to entrepreneurial success while maintaining a focus on family and community impact. Connect with Justin Loutfy: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube https://www.onyxpeakcapital.com/ justinloutfy@gmail.com If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today. Subscribe and help out the show: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Leave us a 5-star review! Special thanks to Justin for joining me this week. Until next time! -Scott Mackes, USNA '01

There is a difference between confidence and arrogance. Distinguishing between the two is essential, especially when preparing for demanding challenges like special operations selection. The best summary of this idea might be Facta Non Verba, or "deeds not words," which, not coincidentally, is the motto of Canada's tier one SOF unit, JTF2.  A realistic assessment of one's abilities, backed by experience and knowledge, underpins confidence. It involves a quiet assurance that doesn't need constant external validation because it's rooted in real achievements and a clear understanding of one's strengths and weaknesses.Arrogance or cockiness, on the other hand, is characterized by an overestimated self-view, often lacking solid evidence or achievements. Arrogant individuals typically dismiss others' advice and overplay their capabilities, potentially leading to critical oversights.Zack Ferguson is a former Navy SEAL Team 7 veteran who has deployed to Iraq, Yemen, Africa, and the UAE. He served as his platoon's Lead Sniper and Pointman and was a JTAC, Combatives Instructor, and Weapons Ordnance Specialist.He is a competitive 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu purple belt and an amateur MMA fighter. He also teaches for the Graceful Warrior Project, a non-profit organization that aims to equip in-duress women in central Africa with self-defense skills.Zack has a degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Charleston. At his day job, he is an instructor for Defense Strategies Group, an organization of special operations veterans that provides defensive training and security solutions. One of Zack's favorite phrases is that insecurity is loud. In this episode, we talk with Zack about what that idea means to him and how he came to understand it so deeply. ----More about Zack:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zackkferg/Personal Site: https://zackkferg.com/pages/about-zack-fergusonDefense Strategies Group: https://www.defensestrategies.us/instructorsTimestamps:00:00:22 Intro to Confidence vs. Arrogance00:03:37 Confidence in High-Stakes Environments (SOF Selection, etc.)00:04:50 Connection Between Incompetence and Overestimation00:05:25 Connection Between High-Performers and Underestimation00:06:26 Improvement Through Education00:07:25 Dunning-Kruger Effect Not limited to Any One Field00:07:44 Impact of Constructive Feedback00:08:54 Assessment and Capabilities of Winston Churchill00:11:03 Napoleon Bonaparte's Arrogance and Downfall00:16:04 Intro to Zack Ferguson 00:17:02 The Training Center LA in Beverly Hills00:18:48 Zack's Take on Confidence and Arrogance00:20:50 Jiu-Jitsu With “The Quiet Professional” vs. “The Loud Guy”00:23:45 Confidence Without Arrogance Within SEAL Teams00:24:26 Contrast: Arrogance But Not Confidence00:26:40 External Arrogance Signals Compared to Resilience00:29:35 Learning to Maintain a Stable Emotional State00:31:36 Athletes Coping With Setbacks and Not Being Deterred00:34:41 Sponsor Note: Coaching Mentor Program00:35:23 Developing Strength by Putting in the Time00:36:56 Looking for Shortcuts is a Red Flag in Candidates00:39:28 The Smartphone Generation and Emotional Regulation Issues00:42:20 Zack's Mental Struggle to Get Through “Surf Torture”00:43:26 Confidence is Earned Through Difficult Experiences00:45:32 Insecurities Are Loud00:45:40 Practical Takeaways00:47:10 Outro

Welcome to this week's episode of the Team Never Quit podcast. Today, we are honored to host Bill Wagasy, a decorated U.S. Navy SEAL veteran, former Notre Dame football player, and current VP of national sales for Commonwealth Land Title Company. Bill's journey from the gridiron to the battlefield and beyond is nothing short of extraordinary. In college, Bill played as a reserve outside linebacker under Coach Lou Holtz, and harnessed the lasting influence of Coach Holtz's relentless pursuit of excellence. Post-college, Bill pursued a law degree and a master's in dispute resolution from Pepperdine University. However, driven by a deep sense of duty, Bill joined the Navy and became a Navy SEAL, completing four combat tours between 2002 and 2012—three in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. His specialties included lead sniper, lead breacher, JTAC, and lead navigator. After his military career, Bill discusses the transition to civilian life and working with the Gary Sinise Foundation, and the importance of resilience, duty, and honor in his life and career. We are deeply grateful to Bill Wagasy for sharing his powerful story. His unwavering dedication to service and the indomitable spirit he embodies serve as an inspiration to us all. In This Episode You Will Hear: • The first time she [my sister] ever did Boston [marathon] was the year of the bombing. That was the first public event I ever went to when I got out of the SEAL teams. (16:08) • I feel like a wonderful, all-American upbringing. (22:28) • My coach [at Notre Dame] was coach [Lou] Holtz. (27:43) • One of the greatest things I can say about him [Coach Lou Holtz] – He brought an intensity and a passion every single day for five years I was there. He never had an off day. (27:57) • Do what's right. It's not right to find your teammate's wallet before he loses it. (28:52) • The way you show people you care – is if your part of a team, you have to put forth incredible effort and mental focus. Do your best in every single facet, from execution and preparation. (29:17) • Every day, you've gotta bring it. (29:51) • There's nothing that anybody could've ever said to me when I was going through SEAL training that would have the effect of what Coach Holtz said to me. (32:42) • There's a huge jump between having a dream, and having the courage to follow it. (43:57) • While we were in sniper school, that's when Operation Red Wings went down. (69:20) • When they found you [Marcus Luttrell] it was like a miracle, like no one could believe that you were alive. It was bittersweet because we lost everybody else. (81:46) • Our fastest sniper rifle shoots about 3,000 feet per second, and an explosive goes somewhere around 12,000 to 25,000 feet per second. (95:02) • I was in a vehicle rollover where I shattered my right wrist, and had a level 5 shoulder separation on my left side. I was in the hospital for ten days. (103:59) • He (Gary Sinise) truly lived the example of “We can never do enough for our veterans, but we can always do a little bit more.” (131:10) • If you were to ask me what 2 years I would never want to repeat again in my life, it's the 2 years transitioning out of the military into the private sector and starting from scratch at 42 years old. • I had 1 superpower in BUDS and that was taking cold water and just splattering everybody. (156:24)

Subscribe to the Mike Drop Patreon Page to see Ad-Free Episodes Early + Bonus Content at https://www.patreon.com/mikedrop Zack Ferguson is a former Navy SEAL Team 7 veteran with multiple deployments to Iraq, Yemen, Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, where he served as his platoons Lead Sniper/Point man, JTAC, Combatives Instructor, and Weapons Ordnance Specialist. He's also an instructor and co-owner at Defense Strategies Group, a collective of Special Operations Combat Veterans dedicated to continued service and empowering communities through defense training and security solutions. And when he's not training with the best, he's even a competitive 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu purple belt and amateur MMA fighter, where he met fellow Defense Strategies Group instructor (and previous Mike Drop Episode #62 Guest) Angel Cortes. But for every hardened warrior there's a complicated backstory, and Zack's story doesn't end overseas. So where did the trouble at home come from? How does a SEAL recover when they've lost everything? And most importantly, why is Zack Ferguson still fighting?   ---------- Support Zack Ferguson -  Find Out More about Defense Strategies Group at https://www.defensestrategies.us Find Out More about Zack at https://zackkferg.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Zackkferg IG - https://www.instagram.com/zackkferg ---------- Sponsors:  Beam Take advantage of Beam's biggest sale of the year and get up to 40% off for a limited time when you go to https://www.shopbeam.com/MIKEDROP and use promo code MIKEDROP at checkout! ---------- BUBS Naturals  The BUBS namesake derives from Glen ‘BUB' Doherty, who was heroically killed in Benghazi, Libya in 2012. In addition to remembering Glen for the patriot he is, the BUBS ethos centers around the passionate and adventure seeking life that Glen lived.  BUBS Naturals products are rooted in sustainably sourced ingredients and controlled consistency to provide our customers with the highest quality Collagen Protein & MCT Oil Powder that help you feel amazing and live a fuller life. Our mission is simple. FEEL GREAT. DO GOOD. 10% always goes back to charity, helping military men and women transition back into civilian life.  Go to https://www.bubsnaturals.com/mike and use code MIKE for 20% off your order.  ---------- Fueled by TeamDog | www.mikeritlandco.com | @Teamdog.pet ALL THINGS MIKE RITLAND: SHOP for Fueled By Team Dog Performance Dog Food, Treats, Apparel, Accessories, and Protection dogs - MikeRitlandCo.com - https://www.MikeRitlandCo.com Team Dog Online dog training - TeamDog.pet - https://www.TeamDog.pet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) Tony Musselman and host Justin Cramer discuss JTAC technology and Tony's pre-deployment training for his second Raider Battalion deployment. Check out the entire interview on Ep. 104!Support the showhttps://patreon.com/formeractionguyshttps://jcramergrpahics.comhttps://ANGLICOshop.com.

A conversation between brothers in arms who have known each other since the early 1980s - one an athlete, the other his coach at the time.----more---- SUMMARY Neither has ventured far from the Air Force or the Academy. Lt. Gen. Richard Clark '86, the Academy's 21st superintendent, opens up about his leadership journey to Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Gould '76, the man who first coached him all those years ago. Gen. Clark's leadership story is exceptional and Gen. Gould does a masterful job of helping him tell it.   OUR FAVORITE QUOTES "The one thing that doesn't change is our mission. And our mission is to develop lieutenants, better leaders of character that are ready to go out and win our wars and that are ready to go out support defend the Constitution. That is it." "Whenever there's Americans on the ground, we're going to do whatever it takes to help them you will do whatever it takes." "Seeing those young guys go out there and do that, and do what they needed to do to help other Americans to help their fellow servicemen that made me prouder than anything." "I am very happy and comfortable to leave this torch with them to hand the torch off to them. And I'm just proud to have served with them." "I am leaving with a lot of gratitude in my heart, just from our cadets from our permanent party, from the alumni that helped us do this and the other supporters."   SHARE THIS EPISODE FACEBOOK  |  LINKEDIN  |  TWITTER  |  EMAIL   CHAPTERS 00:00:  Introduction and Mission of the Air Force Academy 01:09:  Lieutenant General Rich Clark's Background and Career 08:27:  Making the Best of Unexpected Assignments 10:18:  Leadership in Challenging Situations 00:09:  Introduction 07:28:  Enhancing the Academy's Facilities and Programs 14:57:  Developing Leaders of Character 31:11:  The Importance of Alumni and Supporters 37:51:  Transitioning to the Role of Executive Director of the College Football Playoff 45:08:  Conclusion   TAKEAWAYS  - Leadership is developed through challenging experiences like overcoming adversity, mentoring others, and leading in high-pressure situations like combat.  - Support from family, mentors, and sponsor families can help one persevere through difficult times and find purpose.  - Having an open mind and making the most of unexpected opportunities can lead to unexpected benefits and career success.  - Giving back to one's alma mater through things like financial support, mentorship, and service helps continue its mission and benefits future generations.  - Expressing gratitude to those who support your mission helps foster positive relationships and a sense of shared purpose.     LT. GEN. CLARK'S BIO Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark '86 is the Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He directs a four-year regimen of military training, academics, athletic and character development programs leading to a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force or United States Space Force. Lt. Gen. Clark graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986. His commands include the 34th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota; 12th Flying Training Wing, Randolph AFB, Texas; Eighth Air Force, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and Joint Functional Component Commander for Global Strike, Offutt AFB, Nebraska. He has also served as a White House Fellow in Washington, D.C.; the Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado; Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché, Cairo, Egypt, and as the Commander, Third Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Prior to his current assignment, Lt. Gen. Clark served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. - Copy and image credit:  af.mil       ABOUT LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP Long Blue Leadership drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Spotify and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on your favorite social channels for Long Blue Leadership news and updates!            FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS Our guest is Lt. Gen. Richard Clark '86  |  Our host is Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Gould '76   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  00:12 The one thing that doesn't change is our mission. And our mission is to develop lieutenants, better leaders of character, that are ready to go out and win our wars and that are ready to go out and support and defend the Constitution. That's it.   Announcer  00:27 Welcome to the Long Blue Leadership podcast. These are powerful conversations with United States Air Force Academy graduates who have lived their lives with distinction. All leaders of character who candidly share their stories, including their best and worst moments, the challenges they've overcome the people and events that have shaped who they are, and who willingly lend their wisdom to advance your leadership journey. Your host for this special presentation of Long Blue Leadership is Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Gould, USAFA class of '76 and currently serving as a member of the Association and Foundation board of directors. And now, Gen. Mike Gould.   Lt. Gen Mike Gould  01:09 My guest today is Lt. Gen. Rich Clark, the 21st superintendent of the Air Force Academy, Class of '86 at USAFA, and if I'm not mistaken, you're about 46 days away from retiring. After a 38-year career, that when you think about it, has spanned so much in our country, starting with the Cold War through conflicts in Southwest Asia, in the Middle East, and the culture wars that we all experience today. I think his experience in active duty is highlighted most by seven commands that he's held; a bomb squadron, a training wing, to numbered Air Force's, the joint functional component command for Global Strike, served as the commandant of cadets here at the Academy. And now like I said, as the 21st superintendent. In addition to that, Gen. Clark served as the senior defense official, and the defense attaché in Cairo during some interesting times, and also served as a White House fellow. And if that's not enough, he's flown over 4,200 hours in the B1, both the EC and KC-135, the T1, the T38, the T6 and the T21. And most notably, 400 of those hours are in combat. So Rich, as you look back on the past nearly four decades of service, I'm sure you have a lot to think about as it's all coming to an end. And really, how it all started. I'd like you to please share with us a little bit about your life as a young child. And you know, some of the influential people who you met in your formative years, and then kind of how that led you here to the Air Force Academy.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  02:58 Wow, well, first, can I call you Coach, General Gould?   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  03:02 You (can) call me Coach…   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  03:03 I'll call you Coach because you were my coach when I was here, and you saw me walk in the doors here. So, I'll talk a little bit about that. But I just want to thank you for letting me be here today. This is a real honor. So, thank you.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  But I grew up in the Bay Area, Oakland, Berkeley, California, and my parents were divorced. So, it was my mother, my brother and I. And then when my mom got remarried, we moved to the East Coast to Richmond, Virginia, and that's where I went to high school, and not a military family. My dad was drafted back in the Vietnam era. He served a short tour, so I don't really remember those days. So, I don't consider myself really from a military family and really hadn't considered joining the military. I played football, I played a lot of sports. Growing up, football was my primary — and track actually, but football the primarily, and I had signed to go to William & Mary in Virginia, and I was going with my best friend from high school and actually in junior high. And Coach Ken Hatfield came to my house. And the Air Force had been recruiting me. So did Army and Navy. And he actually came to my house though and visited my parents. And he had dinner at our house, and my mom thought, “He is such a nice man. And he was like, “Look, just come out and see the Air Force Academy.” Now what he didn't know was that I wanted to, I was very interested in flying more commercial. I always thought I wanted to be a commercial pilot. And he convinced me to come out. My mom was like, “Just go; it's free.” You know, I was like, OK, and so I still had a couple of college visits left. So, I came to the Air Force Academy. I'll be honest, I got here and after seeing the place and seeing the opportunities to fly — just to have a great education and to play Division I college football, I was hooked. And I, my dad — my stepdad who I consider my dad — made me call the coach at William & Mary tell him I was changing my mind. And I signed and came to Air Force. And when I got off the bus and got on those footprints , and they started yelling at me, I was like, “Hey, wait, I'm a football player. You're not supposed to yell at me.” That's what I thought. And that was not true. And the rest is history. And, you know, it was an important decision in my life, certainly. But, you know, I appreciate Coach Hatfield being persistent and coming to get me and, you know, talk to my parents, formative people, obviously. But it was a great decision. Great decision.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  05:48 Did you also visit West Point and or Annapolis?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  05:52 I did not because I didn't want to go to a — I wasn't interested, really in a service academy. What I will say, though, I did fill out an application to Air Force before Coach Hatfield came. And I did go and do an interview with my congressional member. Because my guidance counselor convinced me to do that in case I didn't get another good offer from somewhere else. And I actually got a congressional appointment. But then the Academy contacted me, and I told them I was going to turn it down. And that's when Coach Hatfield came to my house. But I, I went through the motions, I think, but I didn't really have an intention to come. I wanted to go to William & Mary, and I wasn't even going to visit Army and Navy because, you know, there wasn't something I was interested in.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  06:46 I'll bet you've looked back and asked yourself the question, what would you be doing now had you gone to William and Mary, or one of these other schools?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  06:54 Hard for me to picture my life without being in the Air Force and the Air Force Academy, right?   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  07:01 Now, you let on a little bit about falling in on the footprints. But as you look back at arriving at the Academy, and you're in now, you signed up and you're going to be a Falcon, what kind of memories do you have about basic training and leading into your first fall semester?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  07:21 Yeah. So, here's the here's one memory I definitely have — and I talk to the cadets about this sometimes — I mentioned the phone-booth to them. And they're like, “What? “What's a phone booth?” Well, you know, I explained to them, there were these big boxes that had a telephone and you had a card that you could call home. And in basic training, about halfway through, you got to call home. And I call my mom. And I said, “Mom, this place is not for me. I'm ready to come home.” She's like, “Oh, that's great. Because the William & Mary coach called last week to see how you're doing. You could probably still get your scholarship.” And I was like, “Oh.” I was expecting her to say, “Well, you better not come home.” But she said, “You know, that's OK.” And truth is, I looked out the door, you know, they had the glass doors, and all my classmates are lined up out the door waiting for their turn to come in. And honestly, I thought, “Man, I'm not ready to leave these guys yet.” And so, she said, “You come on home, it's OK.” And I said, “Well, you know what, mom, I think I'm just gonna' finish basic training. And then I'll see. I want to stick that out with these guys.” You know, I made some great friends. It's not what I expected, but I liked the people. So, I stayed. And then after basic training, she asked me, “Are you still going to come home?” And I said, “Well, you know, I think I'll stick it out one semester, I'd really like to play football because I've gotten in with the team now. And I got some friends on the team. So maybe I could play one season. I think I've got a good chance to make the varsity.” And I did that. And then it was, “You know, Mom, maybe I'll stay for my rest of my freshman year.” It was like one step at a time until eventually I was like, “You know, I'm in.” But it was not a done deal for a while for me, you know, where I just said, “You know what, this is it. I'm in the right place.” I think after that first year, though, I realized that I was, you know — it took some time though. And football had a lot to do with it. The friends you make, the success we had as a team. That was just great. And I love my squadron. I was in 7th Squadron. Great, great friends there. So, after a year though, I feel like I was in but there was that moment in that phone booth and basic training where I was like, “Man, I don't know.” But I did it and I'm glad I did.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  09:52 Well, everything you just went through right there was referencing the people. That's what kept you there. But then you get into academics and you get your military training. How did you navigate some of those things? And you know, I know you had fun with your buddies and football is always a hoot. But about the other challenges that the Academy threw at you?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  10:15 Yeah. So, I actually, I liked academics, I did pretty well, I was on Dean's List most semesters, like seven of my eight semesters, I made the Dean's List. So not that I didn't have some challenges. I mean, there's those certain courses that you're just like, “Oh, my goodness.” But overall, academics wasn't the big challenge. I think the challenge for me was not having some of the freedoms that you wanted early on because you're sort of getting acclimatized to it, you know, you're getting used to not being able to do certain things, the military lifestyle, you have to get used to that a little bit. But once I got that — and going back to the people, everybody's kind of struggling with that. And when you're all struggling together, it just makes it a lot more bearable and doable. And I think after that first year, I was in, I was like, “You know, I'm in the right place. And I'm gonna' stay here.” I did have a moment though. When I was a sophomore, I tore my knee up playing football, the last game, San Diego State. Just ripped my ACL. My MCL — meniscus cartilage — had [to be] reconstructed. And I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to play football again. And that made me kind of think a little bit about was I going to stay. And I had to come to terms with some things, you know, “Why am I here? What's my real purpose?” And as much as football meant to me, I was here for something bigger than that. And I realized that unfortunately, at that point when I was injured, I think that was also the point where I really came to terms with why I was here, that it was something bigger than myself. And I wanted to be a part of it. And so I stayed. I was still determined to play and I did get to play, you know, the next season. But my purpose was a bit different, you know, and that injury really helped me kind of figure things out and sort through my greater purpose.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  12:18 Gave you that confidence of overcoming adversity.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  12:21 Absolutely. Like sports does. Right. That's it.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  12:24 Now, back in my day, we didn't really have a sponsorship program — sponsor families in town. But I think by the time you were a cadet, that program existed to have a sponsor family.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  12:41 They were awesome. The Frables, Neil and Elizabeth. I just had lunch with Neil about four months ago. We still we stay in touch and they're just awesome. And they were so good. They sponsored four of us. And they actually gave each of us a key to their house. And a key to their third car. Oh, my goodness, that was a lifesaver. And they cooked a lot. And we ate a lot. And they just they really opened their homes up to us. So, I credit them. I mean, they were my second family, and still just love them for what they did for us. They were a great, great sponsor family.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  13:24 When you were a cadet, did you participate in any formal leadership programs? Did you hold some positions within the cadet wing?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  13:35 O don't think they thought that highly of me. I wasn't that kind of cadet. I was the D.O. for my squadron. And that was because one of my buddies was a squadron commander. He's like, “Hey, man, will you help me?” And I was like, “Yeah, I'll do this.” But that was the most leadership experience I got and, you know, informal way. But I was glad to do that. It was my squadron. Although, when I told my friends to clean their rooms up and stuff, they'd always give me grief. You know, all these seniors. We were all seniors together. And they're like, “Who are you to tell me this?” Peer leadership is the hardest thing in the world. But yeah, I didn't rise to the level of like group or wing leadership or anything like that. So, the cadets were already surprised to hear that I'm like not, I wasn't that good of a cadet. I mean, I was like your average kind of cadet that did pretty well.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  14:28 Well, you're being modest here. I watched you lead on that football team. You guys had some success and a really tight group.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  14:35 We did. I loved our team. We had a lot of leaders on our football team, though. And people — I always characterize the leadership on our football team — people knew when they needed to lead. You know, there was just times where someone needed to step up and be a leader. And it might not be that you were the leader all the time. But when it was needed, somebody always stepped up. And that was I think the hallmark of our team. And it was just a great group of people, humble leaders, all about team success. And I learned as much leadership from football as I did anywhere else here at the Academy. And credit to Coach DeBerry, Coach Hatfield, you know, all of our coaches, and my teammates, for just helping me develop as a man and, and what kind of a leader and person I wanted to be. So that was as much of a leadership laboratory as anything for me.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  15:33 So, it sounds like when it came time to toss your hat and put on the gold bars, you were prepared to go out and be a lieutenant in the Air Force.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  15:43 I think I was. And my first job was right back and coaching football here. So that was a nice transition from the Academy. I taught unarmed combat, PE, and I coached the JV football team and you, you were at the prep school then I think, Coach, and so… But that was a phenomenal job. And there were like eight of us that stayed back and did that. That was just great. And you know, you had to employ some leadership there because you're trying to lead the cadets. And whether they're on football or in the PE class. So, I learned a lot doing that, but I really enjoyed it. I love being back here. And honestly, it gave me a whole different appreciation for the Academy. Because when you're a cadet, you are looking about five feet in front of you and you don't stop to look at the mountains and you don't stop to look at all that everybody's doing to make this place happen and the passion that people really have for our cadets. That was when I first kind of said, “You know what, this place really is special.” But you don't get that as a cadet necessarily. Some cadets, so they're special anyway, but cadets like me, I didn't know, and I was just ready to graduate. But that one year gave me a whole different appreciation. And I'm grateful for it.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  17:00 Right. And then you headed off to pilot training and like most lieutenants, you know, you're gonna' mix in with a new group of people, a new group of friends. Talk to us about your experience as a student pilot, and then on to start your career flying big airplanes.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  17:18 Yes. So, me and one of my good friends, Mike Chandler, we decided we were going to go to pilot training together. He was a teammate in football. And we were actually roommates when we traveled. And we decided we're going together. So, we both went to Laughlin. And we thought we'll go to Laughlin so there's no distractions, there's good weather, we're going to kill pilot training. And when we got there, we realized there's no distractions at all. And there was nothing else to do there. But we had a great time because of the people in our class. And we're the only two Academy grads in the class. But we just we bonded well as a class and pilot training was pretty good. I do remember though, I almost washed out, like in the first month, because I had a couple bad rides in a row. And you know how you get a couple, three bad rides, and you're out? And especially in those days, we lost half of our class, they washed out 50% of our class. And I had these bad rides. And I had to go to what they call an 89. You know, and what that was if you if you fail three rides in a row, right? If you couldn't do your no-flap landings, and you couldn't get them right in the T-37, then you went to an 88. You fail the 88, then you go to the 89. 89 was the elimination, right? And so, I had to go to an 89. And I had to fly with the squadron commander. And the night before, I call my mom again. I always called my mom. And I was like, Mom, tomorrow might be my last flight because I flew today, I failed the ride, and I don't think a whole lot is gonna' change between tonight and tomorrow. And she was like, “Well enjoy it. Because it might be the last time you get to fly an airplane, so you need to at least have fun. It's been your dream and my heart goes out to you. But enjoy the flight. Don't make your last flight something that was a bad memory for you.” And I was like, “Well, if I fail, it's gonna' be a bad memory.” She said, “But at least have fun. You can have fun.” But it was great advice because I went up there, Coach, and I was just relaxed. I even stopped studying when I called her. I didn't study that night. I went to bed, got up in the morning, didn't get up early and study. I went in there, I did my ground evals. I was usually pretty good in the ground evals and I just went up and I flew the sortie. I remember, he told me to do a cloverleaf, you know, the maneuver the cloverleaf, which was my favorite. I did the cloverleaf and he goes, “OK, we can head on back to the pattern now get your pattern work done.” And I said, “Can I do one more clover?” And he's like, “I don't recommend it, the one you did was fine.” And I said, “I know I just like the cloverleaf. Sir, can I just do one more?” He was like, “OK.” And I did another cloverleaf thinking, “You know, this might be my last time I did the cloverleaf.” I flew back to the pattern, I'm talking to the IP and stuff. I did my landings, you know, really uneventful. Got out of the plane, we're walking back, and he goes, “I don't even know why you're in this ride. That was a great ride.” And I was like, “You mean, I passed?” And he was like, “Yeah, great job today, Lt. Clark, you passed.” And what I realized, it was about just relaxing and flying the plane. And it was the best lesson I ever got in an airplane, when you can relax and just let your training kick in. And just don't worry and let your instincts take over. You just fly better. And my mom sort of taught me that. She's like, “Just relax and have a good time.” So, I sort of credited her with keeping me at the Academy. She got me through pilot training. I mean, she was my mom, too. So, I give her that credit. But yeah, that was a good pilot training memory. And, you know, everything's been great since then.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  21:12 So, you head off, and you're going to the EC135 first, right? So, talk to me a little bit about your career progression there as a captain and major and things you look back on from that period.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  21:27 Well, so, here's one big lesson that I got out. When I got the EC135, I wanted to fly C-130. Really I wanted to fly a gunship. And I thought, “I don't even know what that is I didn't put it on my dream sheet. How did I end up getting this?” I was bummed out. And then one of the IP(s) said, “You know, they handpick people to go into the EC135.” Oh, really? Well, because the EC135 was the airborne command post — the nuclear mission at Offutt and you always had a general officer on board. And you could only fly with instructor pilots and a co-pilot. You couldn't have a straight aircraft commander in that plane. And the co-pilot had an immense amount of responsibility in that mission, and you got a whole lot of flying time. And when you got done with that assignment in two years, you got your choice of your next assignment. And a lot of guys went to fighters. They had to compete for that. But then for me, it was the B-1 and I saw that that was available. And I learned that when I first walked in the door because several people got to FP111s and B-1s. And I was like, “Man, I could do this.” I got 2,000 hours in the T-38 because they had the ACE program, the companion trainer program in the EC. And between those two aircraft, I got 2,000 hours, which was plenty for me to go into the B-1. And then I flew the B-1 basically the rest of my career. And so, it was really one of the lessons I learned. Sometimes you get put somewhere that maybe it didn't want or maybe didn't expect, but you make the best of it. And sometimes there's these, sort of, hidden benefits and successes that you didn't even know about. But if you go there and just bloom where you're planted, good things happen. And I learned that early. Fortunately, in the EC135. I flew the B-1 for 17 years. I flew at McConnell which ended up moving B-1s out of there. Dyess Air Force Base, I flew at Ellsworth as a squadron commander. I did do a stint in the Pentagon and legislative liaison in there and I was also a White House fellow, which was an amazing opportunity for me. But those years and the B-1 and doing the Pentagon and the White House fellow were really amazing years. I met Amy in there and we got married. When I was stationed at Dyess as a captain, well, actually I met her as a captain — we dated, and I pinned on just a few months before we got married. But my flying career was just awesome. And my first command was just absolutely a pinnacle point. It was squadron commander and the 34th Bomb Squadron. And I got into that squadron. Sept. 5, 2001, is when I showed up for that and I had just left the White House fellowship, which was just a fantastic opportunity. But I was riding high Sept. 5, and then Sept. 11, happens and everything changed. The squadron deployed and I wasn't checked out yet in the B-1. I had to go through a re-qual program. And so, I can remember when they left. The squadron was heading out and they were, “…or maybe we could just take you as an unqualified pilot,” blah, blah, blah. There was no way that that was going to happen. And so, I can remember that day, when they were leaving, they left about a month after Sept. 11, in October. And I just went and helped pack up bags. I just did whatever I could to help that squadron out. I wasn't the squadron commander at the time. But I remember thinking, “Man, I can't believe the squadron that I was going to go in is going to go without me.” But they did. And I helped. And I tried to be as much of a contributor as I could. And when they came back, I was all qualified. And then a couple of months after that, I took over the squadron. And then they tapped us to go again. And so, I got to deploy the squadron in combat over Iraq. We deployed to Oman and we flew missions at the beginning of OIF. And that was just an unbelievable experience, growth experience, leadership experience, but really, just something I'll never forget, you know, it was hard. It was tough. We're there for about six months. But leading in combat I think is something we all prepare for and want to be ready for. But it's also an honor, you know, to be able to have that kind of responsibility. And I think back on it, and my timing couldn't have been better for me to be able to do that. It was just a highlight of my career.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  26:31 Can we entice you to tell a quick war story about a Distinguished Flying Cross that you are awarded?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  26:37 Oh, well, I could talk about that. Can I talk about a different story there? I have a better one, I do. This was one of my proudest moments I think I had as the squadron commander. I had to line up all the crews, you know, to put experience within experience and make sure that they were balanced out with the people that I knew, and who was going to perform the best. And I had 24 crews. They actually sent me extra crews from a different squadron to make sure that we had a full complement. And the last crew that I had were two of the most inexperienced people in our squadron. Two captains and two lieutenants. And one of them was a brand-new FAPE. Has just come from T-37s into the B-1. And I had to have 24 crews and they were the last four people. And I didn't really have another way to balance the experience and inexperience. So, I did it. And the flight commanders were like, “Don't do it. We can't send these guys out like that.” And I said, “We have to; they need to go. And so, on the second night, they went out they had 24 JDAM, 2,000 pound GPS bombs. And they started out. They orbited in the area, they did well. First they delivered their 12 bombs on-target, the direct targets from the ATO, and they hit those targets. And then they were orbiting, waiting for what we call it, x-cast, somebody to call in and say, “I need some bombs.” And our mantra in the squadron was whenever there's Americans on the ground, we're going to do whatever it takes to help them. You will do whatever it takes. And so, they're orbiting, and they're about at bingo fuel in there, meaning the fuel that they needed to go back, and they get a radio call from an AWAC. There's troops in contact and they need some air power. So, they give this crew, the aircraft commander, this young FAPE goes, “Well, we're close to bingo, but we're not there yet. So, give us the coordinates and give us the radio frequency,” and they fly. And they get this JTAC — joint tactical air control — on the ground. And he's like, “We're getting shelled from a ridgeline. There's Iraqi armored vehicles, they're hitting us hard. We need some bombs. We got 150 soldiers down here, can you give us some bombs.” He's like, “Got it, give us the coordinates.” So, they start getting a nine-line there. They're loading the coordinates, and the “Wizzo” is just putting the bombs, you know, he starts putting them on target. Boom, boom, one at a time. And they get the coordinates, bomb on target. But then they hit bingo. And so the aircraft commander tells the JTAC, “Hey, we're at bingo fuel, we need to get going or we're not going to be able to get back home. But we'll get somebody else out here.” And the JTAC says, “If you leave us now, we're going to get pummeled. Can you stay a little longer?” He says, “We'll stay as long as you want.” And so, they keep putting bombs on target. And they keep putting them down until they went Winchester and the JTAC says, “Hey, the shelling stopped. You guys are cleared out.” And when they turn their nose to go home, they didn't have enough fuel to get back. And so, they get on with AWACS and they're talking to AWACS trying to figure something out. They're looking at divert. Field diverting into a field in Iraq is not a good idea. But finally, a KC-135 flies into the country, into Iraq, unarmed, unafraid, gives them gas and then those guys can come home. And when they got back, they were three hours past their estimated arrival time. And I met him at the airplane because I'm going, “What happened?” And when the aircraft commander comes down the ladder, he's got salt stains on his back. They were working hard. I said, “What happened? He goes, “Sir, we overflew our bingo.” I said, “Well, certainly there's more to it than that.” And so, we go into the intel debrief and they told that story. And all of those, that whole crew, was awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses for what they did. And so that of all the things that happened, to see those young guys go out there and do that, and do what they needed to do to help other Americans, to help their fellow servicemen, that made me prouder than anything,   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  30:44 I guess it would. And you took a chance, in a way, by putting this crew together.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  30:49 I did. Yeah. As far as I was concerned, I didn't have a choice, you know, but I had to trust them to do their job. And they were trained. I mean, they had received the training that was required for them to go to combat, so we have to trust them to do it. And they did it.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  31:05 Well, that's a really cool story. And if my math is right, you are about 15-16 years into your career at that time. Let me shift gears a little bit. How much thought did you give to staying in touch with or staying engaged with the Air Force Academy while you were out? You know, developing your career path.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  31:33 I gave a lot of thought to it. I used to come back for football games. I came back for my reunions for sure. And I don't think financially at that point, I hadn't gotten involved. But a couple years later, when our class, our 20th reunion was starting, that's when I really started realizing financially I could and should start to give back to the Academy. So that was when I think from a financial point, I really connected and realized that. But just from a present standpoint and coming back, I came back at every opportunity. I came back for games; I came back for some mentorship opportunities that people asked me to come talk to cadets and things like that. But I never thought I would get to come back here to work. You know, it never crossed my mind until someone asked me to be the commandant years later. And that was like beyond imagination for me, especially knowing what kind of cadet I was. I was like, “OK, you really want me to be the commandant? I don't think so.” But I got that opportunity down the road. I mean, that was after a lot. I went on to be a wing commander, you mentioned I was the wing commander. At 12th Flying Training Wing, I got to fly all the trainers and that was just awesome. And then I deployed to Iraq for a year, which was an intense year, hard year, I would say probably the hardest year I've had, you know, in my career. And then I got promoted to one star. And they sent me to Barksdale Air Force Base as the vice commander of 8th Air Force. And when I came back from Iraq, I knew I'd gotten promoted. And that job was kind of roundabout. They said, “Hey, we're gonna' send you to Barksdale to be the vice at 8th. But that job is actually going to be downgraded to a colonel and you're about to pin on one star. So we're not sure what's going to happen with you next.” I was like, “Oh, man,” trying to remember the lessons of the past though. I said, “OK. This is where I'm going so let's bloom where I'm planted,” right? So, we all move there. Things were great. And then I remember the MATCOM commander called me in one day and he goes, “You know…, they get the phone call from the secretary. I'm gonna', one, I'm a newly pinned on one star. And he goes, “Hey, you know that job you're in is a colonel job?” And I was like, “Yes, sir, I know. But I love it.” You know, I was being positive. He says, “But we're gonna' have to move you out of there.” “Yes sir. Understood.” And he goes, “What would you think about going to the Air Force Academy and be the commandant?” You could have knocked me over with a feather. And that's when you and I first connected, when I got to come be your commandant when you were the supt. And that was just a dream to be able to come back here and that's when I really connected back, you know, when I got a chance to see it, even from a different level. I talked about it as a coach you know, and seeing how special it is and seeing how passionate people are about our school. But being the commandant gave me a whole different view and being able to engage with the cadets and understand what they were doing and trying to push that development for them. Just amazing and I loved it, and Amy loved it, to live in the Otis House, having the cadets over, trying to help them with their, you know, their development. And that's a big job, right? We all know that because you take it very personally, because you want them to be everything that they can be in there. So amazingly talented. You just want to take that talent and give them every opportunity you can to thrive. So, we did that. And after that, even Amy, she might as well be a grad. I mean, she just fell in love with this place after those two years. Our kids, Milo and Zoey, they were 10 and 8 coming in. Our family just was immersed in USAFA.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  35:40 So, I was going to ask you about the role that Amy and the kids played in your development as a leader, but I got to see it firsthand. And you just went through that. When you had to leave the Academy, if you can remember, I'm sure you do remember this, I wanted to keep you here for a third year. Because you were that perfect role model in so many ways for the cadets. Not only your leadership, you know, in the job, but your family and the way these kids could then look up and say, “I want to do that someday. I think I can be like that guy.” And we wanted to keep you another year and then you came out on the two-star list and you moved on to what was undoubtedly a really, really tough assignment as the DAT and senior guy in Cairo. Tell us about that little bit.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  36:30 Yeah, well, if you remember at first they told me I was going to the Pentagon to be the 8th, which was like the big job. If you're a two-star, you go there, the 8th as the programmer. And Amy loves D.C. And so, they told us we were going there. And then I get a phone call from then-Chief of Staff Gen. Schwartz, actually, he called and said, “Hey, I need you to talk to the GAO management office, the GoMo, who do all the assignments for the general.” And I was like, “Oh, yes, sir. Is there a problem?” And I think you might have known about that — you probably knew about this already. Because it was bad news, I think he wanted to tell me personally or something. And so, I called GoMo. And they go, “Yeah, your assignment's changed. You're not going to the Pentagon, you're going to Egypt.” And I go, “Is there a base in Egypt?” They're like, “No, you're gonna' be working at the embassy as the DET.” And I was like, “Ah, OK. All right. That's good.” And so, then the first thing that came to my mind was telling me, I was like, “Oh man, she's gonna' flip out.” Well, I called her. And I said, “Honey, we're not going to D.C.” And here's the thing. Our movers were already in route, like, they were coming to pack us out. And I said, “We're not going to D.C., we're going to Egypt.” I was bracing for impact. And she goes, “Oh my gosh, are you kidding me? That's amazing.” I was like, she couldn't care less about what job I had, she couldn't care less that I was giving up like the best job to target. She was just looking for that adventure of Egypt. And that actually took a lot of heat off me. Because if she's happy, I'm happy. And so, we went to Egypt. And it actually turned out to be great. But we got truncated on the training. Like, you're supposed to get language school, you're supposed to go through this whole defense attaché course. And I didn't have time because it was a late breaking change. And they said, “Don't worry, you don't need all that training because Egypt's on skids.” That was the exact words of the guy that that told me I was getting a job. And he meant Egypt is in a good place. You know, they just elected a new president, democratically elected, and everything's good. Well, when we got there, I got to the airport and we're all sitting in the lounge at the airport, and I picked up a newspaper, and it was in English. And it said that day, the president fired all the military, all the top military leaders. I was like, I guess we're not on skids anymore. And it just went downhill from there. I was there for a month, and they attacked the embassy. And then a year later, the coup happened. Amy and the kids and all the families within the embassy had to go home. It was an order departure. They all had to leave. I remember telling Amy because I was in the meeting with the ambassador when all this happened. And I said “Hey, you might want to pack a bag because I think you're about to go.” She's like, “Pack a bag?” I said, “You can only pack a carry on.” “How long are we going to be gone?” “I don't know.” And they left and they went to D.C. And we had no idea. They ended up being gone for nine months. The kids started school and everything. Well, there was two thirds of the embassy stayed, but it was actually, from a professional standpoint, awesome. To be involved, often to be our representative on the military side, to work with the Egyptian military to try to help navigate through this coup d'état. And they're a country that we were very interested in keeping as a partner. I got a lot of good experience and just cool, like, opportunities to do things. It was a little scary at times, but I actually loved it. And then Amy and the kids came back. We look at that as one of our best assignments as a family. It was just — the Egyptian people are amazing. The travel that we got to do was incredible. And I just loved the assignment, and it goes back, you know, I mentioned to you, sometimes you get an assignment and you're like, “Gosh, what?” And it turns out to be the best thing ever. And that was one of them.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  40:50 And I thought for sure, somewhere in there, you were gonna' say you called your mom.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  40:57 Then I was married, so then I just had to stop calling my mom after that. Well, I still call her but not for advice. I gotta' call Amy, so, you know?   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  41:06 Well, you had a couple more really challenging assignments. But let's talk about your time as superintendent. Not too many people think that you'll grow up someday and have that type of responsibility. And then when you get here, you realize that it's probably one of the most heavily scrutinized positions you can have in the Air Force.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  41:26 That's an understatement.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  41:29 We can both agree on this.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  41:34 But other than the general leadership and the experiences you have throughout your career, this place is different. USAFA is different than any other command, and in many ways more challenging, because you just hadn't had that experience. How do you reflect back on your time as superintendent and the fact that you you've worked through, I think you had two presidents, two commander in chiefs, you had a couple different secretaries, and they all have guidance that comes to you. But your job then is to make that guidance into your own policy. How have you dealt with all that?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  42:14 You know, honestly, all of us military members are — our job is to make the commander in chief's policy our policy, and to execute that policy. That's our oath. And that's what we do. And so, you know, for me, I feel like we've all done that. I mean, we've all at some point in our careers had to say, you know, “This is the law of the land.” I mean, I'm gonna' follow my oath to the Constitution, support and defend. And that's a part of it. So, in that aspect, you saw it was no different. But like you said, it's such a, I don't know, everybody has an idea. Everybody thinks they can run the Air Force. Everybody thinks that it should flow along their ideological lines, or whatever. And, frankly, it's about our country's policies that we have to abide by. But the one thing that doesn't change is our mission. And our mission is to develop lieutenants that are leaders of character that are ready to go out and win our wars, and that are ready to go out, support, defend the Constitution. That's it. And the policy things that people get so hung up on, sometimes they're really on the periphery, and they're not as entrenched. And what we do as people might think are — our core mission has never changed. There are some nuances, there's some things that might change a little bit, society changes. Young people change, you know, people that are 18 to 24. It's a pretty volatile group, in a way, and they change with society, too. So, we have to tweak and adjust based on our superiors, you know, people in the Pentagon and OSD and our president. We have to change based on society, and who we have coming into the Air Force Academy. And frankly, parents get a vote in this and the things that happen. And alumni always have a voice in this as well. They make their voice well known. But in the end, what it's my job to do is to make sure that our team is inoculated enough from all that, that we can continue to do our job and make sure that these warfighters are ready to go out and do what those lieutenants and those captains did for me as a squadron commander. That we're putting people out that are ready to go do that. And I always have in mind, like that story that I told you, Coach, it's always in the back of my mind. I hope that I'm developing people that are ready to go out and do what Those guys did that day. If our lieutenants are ready to fight like that, then we've succeeded. And that's my goal. I've never been a political person. But I get dragged into it all the time. And my job is to make sure that when I do get dragged into it, that we're still able to execute our mission, and that I don't drag the entirety of the Academy into it. And you know how it is. That's our job as leaders: to provide that top cover, and that shield, so that our people can do their job and produce those lieutenants that are going to go win wars.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  45:34 Well, that's a great attitude, and you've done it well. Tell me about your relationship with the Association of Graduates and Foundation? How have they contributed to your successes here at the Academy? And is there anything that the two organizations could do better?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  45:52 Well, I will say, let me start off with, enormous support from the Foundation and the AOG. And it's hard for everyone to really know what kinds of things you guys do for us. But all you need to do is drive around the campus, right? And look at the North Commons area, look at our new hotel, look at our visitor center, that's coming up, look at the Cyber Innovation Center that's coming up, look at our football stadium that's getting built. All those things are either fully private or public-private, that the Foundation has to not only raise the money, but facilitate those things happening. And I would say that, nowadays, we're not going to have very much construction that's going to happen here or any growth that the Foundation isn't involved in. You're going to have to be involved in pretty much everything that we do, if we want to keep evolving as an Academy. And since I've been here, the Foundation has done that. And the Foundation and the AOG are only as strong as our alumni. And I guess I've always known that intuitively. But since I've been here, it is entrenched in me and I will always be a supporter of our Academy from a financial standpoint, from my time standpoint, but it's critical, not just for our Academy, but really for the product, those 1,000 lieutenants that we put out, they benefit enormously from the help that we get. And those are just the big things. Forget about all of the research opportunities, the travel opportunities, the opportunities to bring in guest speakers, NCLS, you know, the National Character and Leadership Symposium is NCLS. There's so many other things that people don't even know that only happened because someone was willing to put their resources behind our Academy. And so, you know, the Foundation makes that happen for us to AOG brings them in, but together, that support is just enormous. And, you know, I get a lot of compliments about people who they see — the visitors that we have coming through the Carlton House, you know, the supt. house — thousands of people that come through there: cadets, donors, dignitaries, all kinds of people. All that happens because of gift funds from the Foundation. We're able to represent our Academy in a way that people can't even understand. And that also, you know — there's a synergy from that and an exponential effect from us being able to do those kinds of things that most universities do. But the government doesn't always support those things because it's not in a funding line. But the Foundation helps us to make those things happen.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  48:45 Well, you've summed it up pretty well. Our goal is for the Association to be relevant in the lives of cadets through their time here at the Academy and onto their careers. So that eventually they follow into that continuum where they go to the Foundation and say, “How can I help?” And we're seeing that happen now. And it's nice to hear you recognize that it's been a factor in your time. We're close to running out of time here. Richard, let me ask you about your next big challenge, executive director of the College Football Playoff. This is exciting. What are your thoughts there?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  49:19 So, I am enormously grateful and blessed to even have this job. I still kind of don't believe it. You know, because it's such a dream job. I'm going from one dream job to another, you know, but it's funny. What I'll say is, it came out of the blue. A search firm contacted me and I had some, I had known them because I was involved in another search for the Mountain West Conference to find our commissioner. And the people that ran the search knew me just because I was on that panel and everything. And the guy calls me one day. He goes “Hey, Rich, I heard you might be retiring soon. I think you mentioned to us would you be willing to put your name in the hat for the executive director of the CFP.” I was like, “Is that a trick question?” And so, he said, “Now you're the longshot candidate.” They wanted a nontraditional candidate on the, you know — they have 15 or 20 people that they're looking at, but they wanted a nontraditional. I was like, “Yeah, I'll do it.” I said, “Can I ask though, do I really have a shot at this?” He goes, “Yeah, everybody has a shot.” I'm like, “OK, so I got a shot. Let's do this.” And I did a phone interview, then I did a Zoom interview, then it was narrowed down to three and an in-person interview. And I got the job, and I couldn't believe it. But what's really interesting, the things that they liked about me, like, they asked me some questions like, “Do you have any media…?” They go, “Do you have any media experience?” I was like, “No.” “Do you have any experience in managing college athletic teams?” “No.” You know, “Do you have any experience and revenue generation?” “No.” I, you know, and I thought, “I'm just done.” But then they started asking me leadership questions and things that any of us in the military, we would all knock them out of the park. They are things that we've all lived and done things that I learned here, you know, at the Air Force Academy. They weren't hard questions; they were things that are second nature to us. The other thing that they liked was that I played football for four years. And being a student-athlete myself, they thought that that was a big benefit. So really, it goes right back to being here at the Academy and getting that job. And now I look at the challenges that it faces, then you just talked about all the scrutiny we get here as a superintendent. Yeah, I think I'm walking right into another job where I'm going to get scrutinized. It's going to the 12-team playoff, you know, this year. Last year, you know, number five team, everybody was all mad and lost their minds. And I think the committee did it right, though. Next year, it'll just be team 13 that's going to be mad. So, I'm ready, though. I'm excited about it. Amy's excited about it. We're going to move to Dallas, which is where the headquarters is. But I still am, you know, I'm sprinting to the finish in this job. So, I don't have a lot of time to think about it. But it's nice to know that I have another great job that I'm going to be able to flow into. I feel incredibly blessed by it. And just for the opportunity to continue to contribute to student success. And to be a part of that.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  52:32 That's a really good thought. And let me just ask you to close this out, Rich. Any parting thoughts to your team here at the Academy, to the cadets and to your teammates as you move on to your second career?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  52:50 Well, first of all, and you know this, as much as I do, you know, as the supt, you know, you're at the head of the table, right? And you're trying to provide the top cover. But it's really so that all of the amazing teammates — we have the dean of faculty, the commandant, the athletic director, the prep school, airbase wing, just across the board. You know, all of those people in the flying training group too, even though they're not AETC, there's much of this character development effort that we have. But they're the ones that get the job done. And what makes the Air Force Academy so special is that everyone is so passionate about our cadets, and trying to help them to be ready to go out and do the things that we need them to do. That's what makes us special. It's also what makes it kind of hard, though. But I will take hard when people are passionate any day, you know? They just will do this mission and they will do it, whatever it takes to make it right. And to make sure that we're giving those cadets everything they deserve. I couldn't thank them enough from all of our senior leaders right on down to the, you know, the people in the trenches working in Mitchell Hall. You know, I just love this place because of the people that make it work and that make it go to our cadets. I'll be very honest, there's people that go, “What's wrong with this generation? They don't, you know, they're not patriotic; they're not athletic.” These people don't know what on Earth they're talking about. Come spend an hour, 30 minutes, with our cadets and you'll change your mind. These are the most incredible people. They are patriotic. They want to go serve. They might be different than we were. They might be different than you know, even the classes before us. But there is no lack of patriotism and them wanting to serve and them wanting to do great things and to reach their destiny. And they are every bit as much leaders of character as anybody, this generation. They're better. They're smarter, they're more athletic, they're more in touch with their world around them. I am very happy and comfortable to leave this torch with them, to hand the torch off to them. And I'm just proud to have served with them. And then just to everyone out there, all the supporters of the Academy, and we do have a lot, I just thank them, you know, for letting us do our job at helping us do our job and supporting this Academy. So, I am leaving with a lot of gratitude in my heart, just from our cadets from our permanent party, from the alumni that helped us do this and the other supporters. It just makes me feel good about our country, you know, people still care, people still want to serve and to go do great things. And this place exemplifies that, like no other.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  55:48 Rich, that gratitude goes both ways. We're awfully proud of you, Amy, Milo, Zoë, and we just thank you for your years of service and the leadership you've exhibited here at the Academy. You left a mark, trust me, and we wish you all the well in the future as you go on about, and please stay in touch. Thank you.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  56:11 Thank you to the AOG and Foundation. And I'll say this, you know, I thank Amy because she's the one that was willing to go an extra four years because I could have retired as a three star when we started and she said, I'm in that passion from our time as commandant, she was like, “I'm in, let's do this.” And another four years wasn't easy for her. I'll be honest with you. She wants to live in her own house. She wants to… she started a new job. But she, she owned it. And she loves this Academy too. And I have to thank her and Milo and Zoë. They've just been my, that's my team. You know, I mean, in the end, you know, I thank God for them. I thank God for every opportunity. But I am just full of gratitude. So, thanks, Coach.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  56:59 Well done. Thank you. Lt. Gen.Rich Clark, 21st superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  57:03 Thanks very much. Yeah, thank you.   Announcer:  57:08 Thank you for listening to long blue leadership. If you enjoyed this episode, we encourage you to subscribe, share it with your family and friends and post it to your social channels. Long Blue Leadership is a production of the long blue line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation. The views and opinions of the guests and hosts do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Air Force, Air Force Academy, Academy Association and Foundation, its staff or management. The podcast drops every two weeks on Tuesday mornings. Subscribe to Long Blue Leadership on Apple podcasts, Spotify, tune in plus Alexa, and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and more for show announcements and updates and visit long blue leadership.org for past episodes and more long blue line podcast network programming     KEYWORDS Air Force Academy, leadership, character, military career, pilot training, squadron command, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Lt. Gen. Richard Clark '86, superintendent, United States Air Force Academy, executive director, college football playoff, Association of Graduates, Foundation, leadership, character development, support, gratitude     The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation      

Join Jen, Greg, and Cory with Justin Watts of Foul Bore Precision, JTAC, and Thud Life Outdoors

Michael Golembesky is a former Marine JTAC that served with Kilo Battery 2nd Battalion 10th Marines and 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion. After serving with Marine Special Operations Team 8222, Michael wrote Level Zero Heroes and the follow-up Dagger 22 to detail the heroics of the Marine operators and enablers in the Bala Murghab valley.Support the showhttps://patreon.com/formeractionguyshttps://jcramergraphics.comhttps://ANGLICOshop.comMichael's sitehttps://levelzeroheroes.com00:00:00 Intro00:06:54 French Artillery Training | Expeditionary Fire Support System00:11:45 The Best Billet for Field Artillerymen00:17:07 Artillery Maintenance in Combat00:20:00 Effects of Max Charge Artillery Shots00:24:02 Tube Artillery vs HIMARS00:26:40 Modern Fire Support and Emergence of Tactical Drone Warfare00:37:12 Disinterested Public00:40:32 Air Drops in Gaza00:46:33 MSOT 8222 | Aerial Resupply was the Only Option00:56:10 MSOT 8222 | Fire Support in Afghanistan01:04:02 MSOT 8222 | Taliban Tunnel Systems01:10:37 War Porn01:19:06 MSOT 8222 | No One Is Coming01:23:33 Level Zero Heroes01:33:52 Military Recruiting and Retention

Ryan Stevens; a former US Marine JTAC that served with ANGLICO, MARSOC, and DEVGRU; shares his firsthand account of Operation Lexington. Join him as he takes you through this collaboration between MSOT 8212, Army Special Forces, and DEA Foreign-Deployed Advisory and Support Teams (FAST) that ended with extracting casualties under enemy fire after one of the CH-47G helicopters crashed during the extract.Support the showhttps://patreon.com/formeractionguyshttps://jcramergraphics.comhttps://ANGLICOshop.comRyan's bookhttps://www.fullarmorfarm.com/products

Don Tran is a former special operations Marine, and is the co-founder of Deep End Fitness. Prior to joining the MARSOC, or Marine Special Operations Command, community, Don was a water survival instructor, where he first began learning the skills that he developed over his career and brought to Deep End Fitness. Don was also a JTAC - a Joint Tactical Attack Controller, which is a specialty within US SOCOM that involves the coordination of combat aircraft in close support of ground operations.  He finished his time as a Marine Raider in a leadership role as a team operations chief and spent additional time at 4th Force Reconnaissance Company before leaving active duty in 2018. From there, he shifted full time into his work at Deep End Fitness, where he and his team teach physical fitness and water confidence, integrating the training methods he learned and developed as a maritime special operator. At BTE, we're big fans of the work that Don and his crew are doing at Deep End Fitness, and we encourage our clients to train at their facilities for in-person coaching on the critical skills in the water that they'll need to excel in their selection courses. The concepts that they're teaching have been at the heart of maritime special operations culture for a long time, and it's great to see those benefits becoming more mainstream and reaching not just other competitive athletes, but people from all walks of life seeking to become more fit while learning to better understand and manage their bodies and stress responses.  Deep End Fitness:www.DeepEndFitness.comhttps://www.instagram.com/deependfitness/Time Stamps:00:00:22 Intro to Don Tran00:01:58 Don's Career Overview00:02:45 Water Survival Instructor00:05:26 Marine Raider00:08:56 Advice For Someone Becoming a Raider00:10:15 Attributes Don Struggled With00:12:51 Selection Courses00:19:47 Underwater Football League00:22:51 Stresses of a Career as a Raider00:24:58 Getting out of the Military00:27:07 Deep End Fitness00:29:23 How to Explain the Concept of DEF00:32:32 MMA Fighters and NFL Players at DEF00:36:10 Training Methodology00:41:01 Manage Baseline Anxiety00:43:33 Fear Vs Anxiety00:44:45 Water: The Great Equalizer00:47:37 Basic Safety Guardrails00:50:01 In-Water Safety00:52:45 Don't Panic Don't Drown00:54:42 Firefighters00:55:11 Find Deep End Fitness00:55:50 Outro

Rob Dyer's extensive career spans over 27 years in military and government service, showcasing a remarkable journey through various high-stakes and specialized roles. His experience includes serving in Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons as an F/A-18D Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) and engaging in high-level operations with Force Recon, SOCOM, and JSOC as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) and Joint Terminal Attack Controller. His expertise extends to the intelligence community as a DoD Civilian and as a Subject Matter Expert for Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Systems. Dyer's decorated service record is punctuated by numerous combat deployments across diverse global theaters such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Europe, and Africa, where he took on critical roles as an aviator, Force Recon FAC, MARSOC Air Officer, and JTAC. His impeccable service record is a testament to his commitment and skill. In addition to his military career, Dyer has leveraged his experience and leadership in the entrepreneurial world. He is the Director of Sales at Anomaly Six LLC, CEO of Eagle Technologies Group, and CEO of RuckPack LLC, demonstrating his ability to lead and innovate in the business sector. His role at Magpul Industries in International Sales further exemplifies his versatile professional skills. Dyer's academic background is equally impressive, with a focus on economics at the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Business Administration with a focus on Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School. His education complements his field experience, providing a solid foundation for his various leadership roles in both military and civilian sectors. Throughout his career, Rob Dyer has exemplified the qualities of a dedicated leader, skilled aviator, and innovative entrepreneur. His commitment to service and ability to adapt to multiple high-level roles across different environments make him a distinguished professional and an inspiring figure in both military and business communities.   We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors for their unwavering support of the VinnyRoc Podcast. Their commitment enables us to consistently deliver content that informs, educates, and engages.   Core Medical Group: Striving to pioneer in wellness solutions and help you achieve optimal well-being. Visit https://www.coremedicalgrp.com to discover more. GMR Gold: Offering premium gold and silver investment options to elevate your wealth. Explore more at https://www.gmrgold.com. Everest: The ultimate marketplace for the great outdoors. Embark on your adventure today at https://www.everest.com. Modern Gun School: Dedicated to enriching your firearms knowledge with a comprehensive curriculum. Find out more at https://mgs.edu.   We value the contribution of each sponsor and appreciate their dedication to our shared goals.   For those who haven't yet, we invite you to watch our latest episode on YouTube, subscribe to our channel, and follow us on social media to stay updated on upcoming content. If you find our discussions valuable, please share them within your networks.   Thank you for your continued support of the VinnyRoc Podcast.   #VinnyRocPodcast #ThankYouSponsors  

Zack Ferguson is a former Navy SEAL Team 7 veteran with multiple deployments to Iraq, Yemen, Africa, and the UAE. He served as his platoon's Lead Sniper and Pointman and was a JTAC, Combatives Instructor, and Weapons Ordnance Specialist.He is currently a competitive 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu purple belt and an amateur MMA fighter. He is also an instructor for the Graceful Warrior Project, a non-profit organization that aims to equip in-duress women in central Africa with self-defense skills.Zack has a degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Charleston. At his day job, he is an instructor for Defense Strategies Group, an organization of special operations veterans that provides defensive training and security solutions. In this episode, we talk with Zack about his decision to join the Navy and volunteer for BUD/S, the mental preparation that he did for that, his experiences in training, and his transition out of the SEAL teams. More about Zack:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zackkferg/Personal Site: https://zackkferg.com/pages/about-zack-fergusonDefense Strategies Group: https://www.defensestrategies.us/instructorsTimestamps:00:00:23 Intro00:01:14 Zack Ferguson Introduction00:05:19 Hard Commitment to Seal Teams00:08:01 Commitment Tested00:11:02 Reality of the Course00:14:03 Being Fit Enough Isn't Enough00:19:19 Quick Note00:19:40 Laughing at Absurdity00:22:12 Illness is Part of the Course00:25:16 Biggest Mistakes Made00:27:32 Balancing Commitments00:29:06 Getting Out of the Navy00:35:49 Guided Psychedelic Therapy00:37:05 Seal Team to Civilian 00:39:47 MMA and SEAL Teams Similarities 00:40:56 Differences00:41:32 Defense Strategies Group00:43:15 Best and Worst Advice00:45:36 Learn More About Zack Ferguson00:46:15 Outro

Cal Zant, owner of Precision Rifle Blog joins us! Get insight into how he started the blog and JTAC instructors have used this info throughout the years! Stay tuned to listen to someone who thinks they can fight bears as well as enjoy our first podcast with Austin Buschman!

On today's Zero Limits Podcast I chat with Taylor Cavanaugh former US Navy and current French Foreign Legionnaire.Taylor had his sights set on becoming a seal at a young age however getting in trouble with the law on multiple occasions which attended a recruiting station and was refused to enlist. To expedite the probation process he spent 4 months in a penitentiary and after completing his time he was allowed to join the Navy.Completing BUD/s and SQT class 284, graduating Jul 2011 serving 7 years as a US Navy Seal posting to Seal Team 7 with deployments Mexico, Yemen and Iraq. He also qualified as a Sniper, JTAC, Comms, Advent Laden SME. However his seal career was turbulent with brushes with the law and eventually being discharged after being caught using performance enhancing drugs. After struggling with mental health and contemplating taking his life, Taylor decided to get his life back on track he took a flight to Paris and joined the French Foreign Legion in 2019 which he is still currently serving out his 5 year contract. Listen in for this I didn't say a word for a hour! The story he tells was captivating.Website - www.zerolimitspodcast.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/zero.limits.podcast/?hl=en

This week in the studio Dan Horgan is a US Air Force Veteran and served on Active Duty, Reserves, and National Guard. He retired with over 20 years Honorable service. Dan held several positions while in the Air Force from Security Forces, to AWACS aircrew member, to a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) member and Joint Terminal Attack Control (JTAC) qualified. Dan deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting 10th Mountain Division operations. While serving in the National Guard, Dan was also a Detective for the Baltimore Police Department and served seven years protecting and serving the residents of Baltimore, Maryland. Dan deployed back to Afghanistan as a defense contractor and worked in the aviation and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) industry. When Dan moved from Oklahoma to Texas, he joined the Black Rifle Coffee Company team as the CEO's Executive Operations. Dan learned the ins and outs of the coffee and media industry while there from becoming the Director of Marketing Operations and then finally Director of Special Projects. Dan is married to his wife Bethany, currently serving in the Air National Guard full time, and has four children. Dan is a huge supporter of veteran programs and the therapeutic nature of archery.

Vishal Amin is a former United States Marine Corps F/A-18 weapon system officer (WSO) and enlisted military policeman. Following his 2014 deployment, Vishal was targeted on an !s!s attack list. Vishal now works at Microsoft and maintains a pulse on cyber security and emerging technologies.Support the showhttps://patreon.com/formeractionguyshttps://jcramergraphics.comhttps://ANGLICOshop.comVishal's Linkshttps://www.travismanion.org/00:00:00 Intro00:21:14 F/A-18 WSO Flight School00:29:51 You Have to Take Vishal00:41:18 What Does a Weapon System Officer Do?00:47:37 Controlled Chaos00:55:56 Gravity-induced Loss of Consciousness01:01:22 Ejecting01:06:31 2015 Deployment | !s!s Kill List01:20:07 Cyber Security01:29:39 Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence

From pretending to be a soldier at a young age to becoming a Special Forces soldier to becoming an entrepreneur. That's this week's Team Never Quit Podcast guest, former US Army Special Forces Green Beret, Mike Glover. With deployments to fourteen combat theaters, Mike worked in the US Army for over 18 years, serving as a weapons specialist, assaulter, sniper, recon specialist, team sergeant, joint terminal air controller (JTAC), and operations SGM. Mike is the founder and CEO of Fieldcraft Survival, and host of the Fieldcraft Survival Podcast on iTunes, and Soundcloud. He is an avid outdoorsman, traveler, and hunter. He teaches survival and disaster preparedness and provides equipment solutions based on his experience in special operations. As an expert at counter-terrorism, Mike says that survival isn't just technical ability; it is the encompassing of everything he has learned throughout his career: mindset, technical skills, and equipment. Links/Socials: - https://mikegloveractual.com/ - Instagram: Mike.a.glover Sponsors: -  NavyFederal.org - 55% off (Babbel.com/TNQ) - 20% off (Fitbod.me/TNQ)   -  Up to 80% off (GoodRX.com/TNQ) In this episode you will hear: • Common sense is not so common anymore. If more people paid attention to having a little more common sense, most of the things you see go wrong is because of the lack of it. (2:03) • I joined the Army at the age of 17 and started my journey. (6:05) • I was never the disciplinary unless it came to standards. If you wanted flexibility, you had to meet the baseline. (28:37) • My military certainly taught me how to have and develop hard skills – technical skills. The overwhelming majority of me surviving had nothing to do with hard skills, but had everything to do with planning, preparation, attention to detail, culture, physical fitness, health and wellness, as a collective. (32:38) • You have to understand how to operate and be resilient every single day. (33:29) • Resilience, by far, is the hardest thing to teach. (34:36) • Resilience is the act of getting up after you've been beat down. (37:39) • “You're going to rise to the occasion” is a misnomer. You're going to fall to your level of training. (40:58) • My company is called Fieldcraft Survival. (43:00) • VSO – Village Stabilization Operations. You wanna have access to placement? Well, get into the environment where people live, train and educate them, empower them, and that place will be better. (50:03) • One of the reasons me and Marcus were successful in our military careers is because we had an institution – a culture that was willing to listen to subject matter experts, and we took that information and applied it to our lives. (54:20)

Nate Cornacchia is a former Green Beret that served more than a decade with Army Special Forces. Nate served on jump, dive, and mountaineering teams during his career. During one of his multiple deployments to Afghanistan, Nate's team was ambushed resulting in multiple casualties and multiple valor awards for his team.Support the showhttps://patreon.com/formeractionguyshttps://jcramergraphics.comhttps://ANGLICOshop.com00:00:00 Intro | SOTACC00:08:46 JTAC Priorities00:16:49 Special Forces Attachments00:21:41 Sketchy Partner Forces00:25:15 ANA Commandos00:29:14 ISIS Enters Afghanistan00:35:19 Special Forces 18X Program00:42:41 Special Forces Specialties00:48:02 Choose Your Own Adventure00:51:37 Tab Protectors00:54:46 Mountaineering Teams00:58:45 Deployment to Mongolia01:00:26 Fast Rope | SPIE01:05:45 Last Field Op01:11:56 Ambush in Tarin Kwot01:26:03 Grenade Attacks 01:28:10 Processing Info Like a JTAC

On today's Zero Limits Podcast I chat with Mike Glover Former US Army Green Beret, CIA Contractor and CEO Field Craft Survival.He has served in various positions during his 20 years in the US Army such as Weapons Sergeant, Sniper, Assaulter, JTAC, Freefall Jump Master, Sniper Team Sergeant, and Operations Sergeant Major in US Army Special Operations. Mike's passion is in survival training which led to him start Fieldcraft Survival to offer a new perspective in the survival industry.He is an expert in Counter-Terrorism, Security, and Crisis Management Operations and is the host of the Fieldcraft Survival Podcast.After 20 years of service to this country in the highest of capacities, we talk about his experience as tomb guard, green beret, and Tier 1 operator. More importantly, we talk about how those experiences shaped who he is and how he brings that knowledge to your everyday citizen through his company, Fieldcraft survival.Support the show - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=9LG48GC49TW38Website - www.zerolimitspodcast.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/zero.limits.podcast/?hl=en

Dans ce nouvel épisode en partenariat avec l'Ecole de Guerre, le lieutenant-colonel Aurore raconte son passage du Mirage 2000D au rôle de JTAC, ainsi que la confrontation à une attaque de convoi par IED.

Resilience is a word that gets thrown around a lot when it comes to describing the warriors and veterans that fight for our freedom, but few embody the term moreso than Zach Garner. On the surface, he's a retired Green Beret from 7th Special Forces Group that completed multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. But a peek under the hood tells a different story - surgeries, seizures, multiple-month hospital stays, and even a brutal fight with an absolutely devastating flesh-eating bacteria have all played a part in his life. But to hear Zach tell it, that's why he's here - to share his experience and the lessons he learned throughout his recovery, in the hopes of providing solutions to the obstacles we all face. If Zach can do it, anybody can. ----------Chapters:00:00 - Intro02:47 - Dad Was a Styx Fan09:14 - Morning Routine 13:42 - Born in Illinois20:16 - Ground Rules26:55 - Becoming a Forward Observer36:05 - Multiple Launch Rocket System41:35 - Overnight House Clears53:20 - Then I Got Stabbed at a Kenny Chesney Concert01:01:09 - A Single Dude in Germany01:14:51 - Special Forces01:20:48 - Firefight in the Valley01:28:32 - Everybody Loves an A-1001:38:41 - The First Seizure----------Support Zach Garner: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zack_next_doorYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@zacharygarnerLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-garner-253605170----------Sponsors: StrikemanRight now, get 25% OFF by using the code RITLAND when you go to TRAINWITHSTRIKEMAN.COM.----------1st Phorm1stphorm.com/mikedrop Free shipping on all orders over $75 when you use the link. ----------BioPro+use code: mikedrop to save $30 on your first order----------Fueled by TeamDog | www.mikeritlandco.com | @Teamdog.petALL THINGS MIKE RITLAND:SHOP for Fueled By Team Dog Performance Dog Food, Treats, Apparel, Accessories, and Protection dogs - MikeRitlandCo.com - https://www.MikeRitlandCo.com Team Dog Online dog training - TeamDog.pet - https://www.TeamDog.petThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5531509/advertisement

In this heart-stopping clip from Episode 183 of the Former Action Guys Podcast, we take a deep dive into the experience of Ryan Stevens, a former Marine JTAC. During a close-quarters confrontation with the enemy on his maiden deployment with MARSOC, Ryan inadvertently relayed his own position for an air strike. The resulting A-10 gun-run led to a catastrophic impact on friendly forces. Despite this tragic misstep, Ryan demonstrated exceptional resilience, undertaking two additional deployments with MARSOC and another four with DEVGRU. Tune in to hear Ryan recount this fateful incident and its profound consequences.Support the showpatreon.com/formeractionguys jcramergraphics.com ANGLICOshop.com Ryan's sitefullarmorfarm.com Emailjcramermedia@gmail.com

Cody Anderson & Aren Brandfass are MARSOC plank holders and each did multiple deployments with the Marine Raiders. After leaving the military, both men supported Special Operations Command as contractors.Support the showpatreon.com/formeractionguysjcramergraphics.comANGLICOshop.comCody and Aren's Podcastinstagram.com/stranger_pod/00:00:00 Intro | MARSOC Farming Network00:01:57 Fratricide in Afghanistan00:06:57 EOD Enablers00:10:14 Marine Raiders and Recon Cultural Differences00:14:57 Selections are Becoming Less Physical00:16:59 MARSOC and Ranger Deployments Compared00:20:03 Lance Corporal's are the Badasses00:23:44 Targeting | Collateral Damage Estimates00:27:22 Military Drone Deep Dive00:32:51 Changes in Conflicts00:39:47 Two Systems00:45:56 Phones are Tracking Devices | Digital Marketing00:53:06 Is the Daily Wire Propaganda?01:00:22 Problems in the System01:07:54 Politics01:19:33 Calling Out Corruption01:37:56 Bad Leaders

Ryan Stevens is a former Marine Corps Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) that completed 3 deployments with ANGLICO, 3 with MARSOC, and 4 with Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU).Support the showpatreon.com/formeractionguysjcramergraphics.comANGLICOshop.comRyan's Sitefullarmorfarm.com00:00:00 Intro | Post-Service Care00:08:57 Growing a Community00:15:23 Going to MARSOC00:17:37 Deploying with MSOT 821200:20:45 MARSOC Commando Mission00:22:42 Working with Green Berets and DEA00:24:50 Operation Lexington | Helo Crash Recovery00:29:56 Surreal Moment | Downed Aircraft00:35:06 MSOT 8212 Listed as Missing in Action00:42:08 Operation Red Thunder00:44:14 Last Mission | JTAC Gear00:47:44 Fratricide | A-10s Hit Friendlies00:58:10 Close Calls01:00:43 Medevac From Afghanistan | Investigation01:05:55 Jump School01:13:47 MARSOC JTAC or CCT?01:18:11 Second MARSOC Deployment01:21:31 The Violent Village01:27:13 Ambush01:29:30 Suicide Investigation01:33:36 Are You Allowed to Take a Break?01:37:05 Attaching to Special Operations01:40:53 Pathfinder School

Clay Nygard is a United States Marine Corps artillery officer that served with 1st ANGLICO and 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment in Afghanistan. Nygard's ANGLICO team was attacked on two separate occasions by SVIBIEDs during their deployment with the Georgian military.Support the showpatreon.com/formeractionguysjcramergraphics.comANGLICOshop.comClay's websiteknockitoffdesigns.com00:00:00 Intro00:03:14 OCS 3 Times00:12:44 Manual Gunnery vs Digital00:16:27 Using M198, M777, and M119 Artillery00:19:12 M777s in Ukraine | Capabilities00:28:04 1/5 in Sangin 201100:34:12 Casualties in Sangin00:38:21 Last Advisor Team in Sangin00:41:29 Playing Chess with the Enemy00:43:08 An Artillery Officer in Afghanistan00:45:32 Strike Approval00:52:15 Those Guys Were Definitely Dead00:58:20 0861 Shot Himself in the Foot01:01:30 Civilian Casualty01:09:58 Post Deployment Jitters01:12:27 Orders to 1st ANGLICO01:16:56 First Live CAS Shoot as a JTAC01:21:23 Georgian Military Advisor Deployment01:23:30 Booby-Trapped Radio01:26:10 First Car Bomb Attack01:32:15 Second Car Bomb Attack01:36:53 Priorities01:42:00 Shooting Down Balloons

Tony Musselman was a United States Marine Corps JTAC that was sent to Marjah with 2nd Battalion 6th Marines as a combat replacement after fellow JTAC Jason Calo was killed in combat. Tony had barely graduated from TACP school when he got his orders and it set the theme for the rest of his career. Tony deployed multiple times with 5th ANGLICO, 2/6, and MARSOC before leaving the service.Support the show!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguyswww.jcramergraphics.comwww.ANGLICOshop.comWant to be on the Former Action Guys Podcast?https://forms.gle/9MuoSkzBUgNiVgPu5Podcast Links:YouTube: http://bit.ly/formeractionguysYouTubeSpotify: http://bit.ly/formeractionguysApplePodcast: http://bit.ly/formeractionguysAppleSocial Media:instagram.com/formeractionguys instagram.com/jcramergraphics twitter.com/4meractionguys

Ryan Stevens is a United States Marine JTAC that served with 2d ANGLICO, Raider Battalion, and Naval Special Warfare Development Group. Stevens has served in multiple combat zones and you can hear more of his story on Ep. 142 of the podcast.Support the podcast and website: https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguyswww.jcramergraphics.com www.ANGLICOshop.comPodcast Links:YouTube: http://bit.ly/formeractionguysYouTubeSpotify: http://bit.ly/formeractionguysApplePodcast: http://bit.ly/formeractionguysAppleSocial Media:Instagram: www.instagram.com/formeractionguys Instagram: www.instagram.com/jcramergraphics Twitter: https://twitter.com/4meractionguys

Nate Garens details his time with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) supporting the 1st Armored Division, 1st Infantry Division, and Naval Special Warfare (NSW) units in Ramadi, Iraq.Hear Nate's entire story on Ep. 009 and 038 of the Former Action Guys Podcast.Support the show! https://www.patreon.com/formeractionguyshttps://jcramergraphics.com/collections/former-action-guys-podcast-gearWant to be on the Former Action Guys Podcast?https://forms.gle/9MuoSkzBUgNiVgPu5 Podcast LinksYouTube: http://bit.ly/formeractionguysYouTubeSpotify: http://bit.ly/formeractionguysApplePodcast: http://bit.ly/formeractionguysAppleSocial MediaInstagram: www.instagram.com/formeractionguys Instagram: www.instagram.com/jcramergraphics Twitter: https://twitter.com/4meractionguys