Serving in Special Forces isn't supposed to be easy. In fact, becoming a Green Beret is rewarding because it's supposed to be hard. If it was easy, anyone could do it; but not everyone can - or should - be considered elite.
Retired Sergeant Major John McPhee is one of America's most distinguished and experienced Special Operators. For decades he led America's most lethal units in the Army's elite Delta Force. The self proclaimed Sheriff of Baghdad, John tells it like it is and leaves nothing up to interpretation.
The Jedburgh Podcast, the Jedburgh Media Channel and the Green Beret Foundation are proud to announce our partnership with the University of Health and Performance outside of Bentonville, Arkansas. UHP is dedicated to building the world's most elite fitness and nutrition entrepreneurs out of our Veterans.
To kick off our partnership, John and Host Fran Racioppi climbed into the back of an armored Humvee to reminisce about the impact of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, what America did right, what we did wrong, and why the counter-terrorism battle is far from over.
John also shares his thoughts on the Army today, how to fix recruiting, the Israeli pager war, and why we must never forget that a Special Operator's job is to close with and destroy the enemy.
Watch, listen or read our conversation from a vehicle many of us spent too much time in. Don't miss our full Veterans Day coverage from UHP. Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.
HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 Introduction
01:28 Welcome to UHP
02:12 Rangers to Green Beret
03:54 Special Forces in the 90s
05:54 How 9/11 changed Special Forces
10:25 Legacy of Afghanistan
12:30 What if we need to go back
13:45 Sheriff of Baghdad
16:15 Disbanding the Iraqi government
19:10 The difference in Syria
23:26 Israel-Iran Pager War
25:30 Army Recruiting Challenges
29:04 Is the Army woke?
32:28 Next generation of NCOs
35:09 The PTSD debate
40:12 Wear yourself out everyday
QUOTES
We had no bullets. No money to go train. The Army didn't have a budget. The 90s Special Forces sucked."
"This is where nations go to die. What did we think was going to happen?"
"You can't do that. You can't just get rid of the whole army like that."
"We had enough money to buy where Saddam was without ever firing a shot."
"Syria can never be tamed and it will always be a problem for us."
"War is only a failure of politicians and politics."
"We didn't have an Army before WWII. We fielded 6 million men quick. When America gets pissed off, you're done."
"The Army needs to do two things only. Kill the bad guys and break their shit."
"I would tell anybody to try to be the smartest guy in the room because generally the smartest guy in the room is going to be the best Commando."
"I personally don't believe in PTSD. You get stuck in the same chapter of your book."
"Every human being should be taking an hour to two hours a day on themselves."
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The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation. Learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. Watch the full video versions on YouTube.
The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of our guests and creator and host Fran Racioppi. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy; nor does Green Beret Foundation endorse any political candidate or any political party.
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