Mike Drop

Episode 267 Part 3 of the Mike Drop Podcast with host Mike Ritland welcomes Dave Berke—the only Marine to ever fly the F-22 Raptor and F-35 while also serving as a TOPGUN instructor and ground combat leader in Ramadi alongside Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.

In this final part of an epic 3-part conversation, Dave and Mike go deep on the toughest leadership questions facing the military today: Should AI ever be allowed to pull the trigger on its own? Why fighter pilots hated autopilot landings, the real reason Dave walked away from command and promotion, and how a single phone call from Leif Babin turned retirement into the smoothest transition in military history.

They also break down life at Echelon Front (how they teach Extreme Ownership to Fortune 500 companies), why leadership is hardest at home, ego vs. humility, military standards under the new administration, and readiness challenges for the next generation of warfare. Packed with never-before-heard stories, raw honesty, and laugh-out-loud moments, this is one of the most requested Mike Drop episodes ever—perfect for veterans, aviators, leaders, and anyone who loves real talk about combat, flying, and life after the uniform.

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In Part 2 of this epic episode of the Mike Drop Podcast, host Mike Ritland continues his deep-dive conversation with Dave Berke – the only Marine to ever fly the F-22 Raptor and a legendary Topgun instructor.

This episode is packed with raw, unfiltered stories from the skies and the streets of Ramadi. Dave breaks down why fifth-generation fighters (F-22 and F-35) dominate not through speed or maneuverability, but through total battlespace awareness – “If I know everything you’re doing and you have no idea I’m even there, I’ve already won.” He shares unforgettable combat moments with Jocko Willink’s Task Unit Bruiser, including riverine boat insertions with Chris Kyle, calling in a Hellfire missile through a second-story window to save SEALs under fire, and the emotional weight of losing Marines on the ground.

From feeling like a “fish out of water” running with SEALs in Ramadi to the humbling transition into the F-22 cockpit, Dave reflects on luck, leadership, ego, and the real cost of the Iraq War. Whether you’re a military aviation geek, a combat veteran, or just love real stories of extreme performance, this episode delivers powerful lessons on teamwork, situational awareness, and what it truly takes to dominate in chaos.

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Join host Mike Ritland for an unforgettable conversation with Dave Berke – the only Marine in history to fly the F-16, F-18, F-22, and F-35, a legendary TOPGUN instructor, former Forward Air Controller attached to Jocko Willink’s Task Unit Bruiser in Ramadi 2006, and co-author of the Extreme Ownership series. From the cockpit of the world’s most advanced fighters to the blood-soaked streets of Ramadi alongside SEALs, Dave pulls zero punches on what real high-performance leadership looks like when lives are on the line.

In this nearly 4-hour deep dive, Dave reveals the brutal debrief culture at TOPGUN that turned good pilots into lethal ones, why the peacetime military he first joined in 2001 was nowhere near ready for war, how 9/11 instantly transformed training forever, and the life-changing moment he left the world’s premier fighter-weapons school to volunteer for ground combat in the deadliest city in Iraq. He also shares his unfiltered take on AI ending the era of the single-seat fighter pilot within our lifetime and the raw lessons that still keep him up at night from Ramadi.

Whether you’re obsessed with fighter aviation, extreme ownership, or what it really takes to lead when failure isn’t an option, this is one of the most powerful veteran-to-veteran conversations you’ll ever hear.

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In this powerful and unfiltered part 3 of episode 266, host Mike Ritland sits down with former U.S. Army Green Beret and Afghan-American Kawa Mawlayee — a first-generation immigrant who fled Soviet-occupied Afghanistan as a child, grew up in the American Midwest, and went on to serve 23 years in Special Forces, including multiple combat tours.

What starts as a discussion about Trump’s leadership style, tariffs, and manufacturing quickly evolves into a raw, no-holds-barred exploration of the biggest issues facing America in 2025: foreign policy hypocrisy, the military-industrial complex, the Israel-Palestine conflict, Islamophobia and the myth of “Sharia law takeover,” America-First nationalism vs. endless overseas entanglements, accountability in leadership, the future of the U.S. military under Pete Hegseth, and whether the country is sliding toward internal conflict.

Kawa brings a rare perspective: a Muslim Green Beret who loves America deeply, calls out both parties, refuses PAC money, and isn’t afraid to criticize Israel, U.S. foreign policy, or the current administration — all while still serving in the National Guard Special Forces. The result is one of the most honest, nuanced, and at times uncomfortable conversations you’ll hear from two combat veterans who actually agree on far more than they disagree.

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In Part 2 of this explosive conversation, former Marine turned Green Beret and Afghan-American warrior Kawa Mawlayee goes even deeper with host Mike Ritland. What starts as a discussion about post-9/11 wars quickly spirals into some of the most raw and controversial territory ever covered on Mike Drop: the real reasons behind the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions, the overwhelming influence of pro-Israel lobbies (AIPAC, ADL, Christian Zionism), the shrinking map of Palestine from 1948 to today, why Arab nations won’t take Gaza refugees, Holocaust/Zionism historical claims, the military-industrial complex, Ukraine as a money-laundering proxy, and why America keeps fighting endless wars that don’t serve American interests.

Kawa pulls no punches on Gaza (“modern-day Nazis”), the Nakba, the deliberate creation of Israel, Jewish Bolshevik history, the Scofield Bible’s role in Christian Zionism, and how the same forces destroying Palestine are quietly eroding American sovereignty at home. At the same time, the two veterans bond over their shared combat experience, the Marine-to-Green-Beret pipeline, coming full circle returning to Afghanistan, and whether America can ever claw its way back to the country they grew up in.

If you want a conversation that refuses to stay in the safe lane – blending war stories, geopolitical red pills, and uncomfortable truths from someone who’s lived on multiple sides of these conflicts – this is it.

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In Episode 266 of the Mike Drop Podcast, Mike Ritland sits down with Kawa Mawlayee—the first Afghan-born Green Beret—for a raw talk on war, immigration, and identity. Kawa recounts fleeing Soviet-invaded Afghanistan, losing his father, and growing up as a refugee in Nebraska before serving 21 years across the Marines and Army, including Iraq’s invasion and the battle of Fallujah.

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In Part 2 of Episode 265 of the Mike Drop Podcast, host Mike Ritland continues his in-depth conversation with Ken Rhee — a Korean-American UDT/SEAL (ROK SEAL) who grew up in the U.S., served in South Korea’s elite naval special warfare unit, trained at American BUD/S, fought pirates off Somalia, volunteered in Ukraine, and now runs a private military consulting firm while navigating strict Korean gun laws and a suspended prison sentence.

Expect raw insights into cross-national SEAL training, hostage-rescue ops, post-military contracting, the realities of foreign volunteer combat, and a unique cultural take on firearms, self-defense, and crime from someone who’s lived in both American and Korean worlds. Audio is Zoom-based but packed with unfiltered stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

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In this episode of the Mike Drop podcast, host Mike Ritland sits down with Ken Rhee, a former Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy SEAL lieutenant who uniquely completed both Korean BUD/S and U.S. Navy SEAL training in Coronado. Raised in the U.S. from age three, Rhee returned to Korea driven by family patriotism, rising through Officer Candidate School to become a tier-one operator in the elite Special Mission Battalion (SMB).

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Welcome to Part 2 of Episode 264 of the Mike Drop podcast, hosted by Mike Ritland, a former Navy SEAL and renowned dog trainer. In this gripping continuation, Mike sits down with Nico Kelly Nick O'Kelly, a former Green Beret who transitioned into an elite Night Stalker pilot with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). Kelly is also the author of the book Stigma: Breaking the Stigma, which delves into his personal battles with mental health.

Listeners will find an unfiltered, raw conversation covering Kelly's high-stakes military career—from his warm reception back in Savannah as a new 160th pilot, intense training trips across the U.S., and his first combat deployment in the CENTCOM region, to the adrenaline-fueled details of real-world missions like dusty landings and contingencies. The episode takes a deep dive into Kelly's ongoing struggles with anxiety, debilitating dizzy spells, depression, and fleeting suicidal thoughts, which persisted through his pipeline and deployments but were often masked by adrenaline and focus. You'll hear about his post-deployment knee surgery that grounded him, leading to a misdiagnosis of narcolepsy, eventual identification of panic disorder, and his journey tapering off medications like Effexor while incorporating natural protocols like cold plunging and neurofeedback. Kelly shares his transition to civilian life as a financial planner specializing in veterans, insights on breaking mental health stigmas in elite units, and optimistic views on crypto and long-term investing. This episode is a powerful blend of military grit, vulnerability, and practical advice on resilience, making it essential for veterans, first responders, and anyone navigating mental health challenges or career pivots.

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Join host Mike Ritland on Mike Drop Podcast for an unflinching conversation with Nick O'Kelly, a retired Green Beret turned Night Stalkers Black Hawk pilot from the elite 160th SOAR. From the high-stakes chaos of his first combat insertion—where a last-second sharp turn into a dusty, high-speed landing pushed the limits of control—to the invisible war he fought against crippling suicidal ideation that began in flight school, Nick pulls no punches. His debut book Stigma, releasing October 21st, exposes the raw truth behind mental health struggles in special operations.

Nick traces his path from a strict Christian upbringing in Washington state, through SF selection and Okinawa deployments, to mastering aviation amid family pressures and a newborn son. He shares the culture shock of warrant officer training, the adrenaline of Everest Base Camp treks, and the surreal focus of flying tier-one operators under fire. Faith, perfectionism, and Vince Lombardi's pursuit of excellence weave through his story of resilience.

As Covid extended his final deployment, knee surgery grounded him and forced a reckoning with anxiety, panic disorders, and systemic failures in military mental health care. Nick's journey from zombie-like survival to revival highlights the cost of silence—and the power of speaking out. Essential listening for anyone in high-performance worlds.

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