Jocko Podcast 113 w/ Mike Ritland - Into the Mind of a K9 Warrior.

Key Missions

Mike Ritland and Jocko Willink recount significant missions from their military careers. One notable mission involved ambushing enemy forces in Nazarea, Iraq, under the command of General Mattis. They gathered intelligence and executed several successful hits, showcasing their tactical prowess 1. Another mission highlighted was the largest special operations mission in NSW history, involving the coordination of multiple platoons to secure vital oil infrastructure 2.

   

Training Stories

The rigorous training programs in the military are designed to push individuals to their limits. Mike shares his experience of joining BUD/S at a young age and the intense physical demands it entailed, including running several miles daily and consuming large amounts of food to keep up with the calorie burn 3. He also discusses the complexities of canine training programs, emphasizing that mastering such programs requires years of dedication and is akin to creating a new special forces unit 4.

It's a totally different animal, no pun intended. It takes years to get truly, I would say, to be able to master what it takes to implement a dog program.

--- Mike Ritland

   

Navy Deployment

Mike and Jocko reflect on their Navy deployments, highlighting the unique experiences and challenges they faced. Jocko recalls the old-school conditions on ships built for Vietnam, which provided valuable lessons in working with conventional forces 5. Mike shares an unexpected deployment to Kuwait, where his team had to quickly adapt and repurpose their equipment for the mission ahead, showcasing the flexibility and resilience required in the field 6.

There's a feeling that we won't be able to replicate for a long time, which is guys that had never been to war. The desire that you had to go because you think you're only going to get like, one mission.

--- Jocko Willink