In this episode, we discuss the following topics.

*What a combat engineer platoon does as part of a battalion landing team

*What it was like joining BLT 1/8

*Building trust between Everett’s platoon and BLT 1/8

*Everett’s advice to platoon commanders looking to build trust between units

*His platoon’s training plan for the 24th MEU workup

*Responding to complaints from Marines about a high-tempo schedule

*The platoon’s experiences on the 24th MEU prior to heading to HKIA

*When the possibility of deploying to HKIA first came on Everett’s radar

*His reaction and his Marines’ reactions to learning they would go to HKIA 

*Being labeled “the lead combat engineer for HKIA”

*The tough decision to leave Marines behind on ship

*The value of crossing training

*The first few days on the ground at HKIA

*Reactions to the news that the Taliban would cooperate with the Coalition

*Working at Abbey, East, and North Gates

*The last phase of the withdrawal

*Creativity and problem-solving at HKIA

*Radio communications during the NEO

*Everett’s advice for lieutenants who may find themselves in situations like at HKIA

*The training he received at Marine Corps Engineer School

*Enemy contact at HKIA

*Dismantling several of HKIA’s guard towers

*Command and control at HKIA

*Maneuver warfare concepts applied at HKIA

*What Everett was doing the day of the Abbey Gate Bombing

*Talking to his platoon about the Marine losses at HKIA

*What Everett observed in his Marines after the NEO

*Returning to Camp Lejeune

*Everett’s advice on talking to people who have experienced a mission as harrowing as HKIA

*The value of professional reading

*The role and value of mental health checks and mental health services

*The role of cell phones at HKIA

*Cleaning up various parts of HKIA

*The role of discipline 

*The most frustrating and rewarding aspects of the HKIA mission

*Everett’s pride in the performance of his Marines

*The most challenging decision he made at HKIA

*Where Everett excelled as a commander and decision-maker and where he could have done better

*The lessons he took away from HKIA, particularly as they apply to FD 2030 and the future Marine Corps

*The role and value of decision games to train and educate Marines for missions like HKIA