The Jedburgh Podcast

What separates war fighting from a warrior? Is it skill? Is it experience? Or is it something deeper that only reveals itself when it matters most?

From the Pentagon, Fran Racioppi sat down with Sergeant Major of the Army Mike Weimer and retired Command Sergeant Major Rick Merritt to discuss what it truly means to build and sustain warriors in the United States Army.

CSM Merritt spent over three decades on active duty, including 25 years in the 75th Ranger Regiment, serving in every enlisted leadership position from rifleman to Regimental Sergeant Major. He conducted over 1,500 combat operations under Joint Special Operations Command and served more than five years in combat task forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. His experience spans the full arc of modern warfare.

Together with the SMA, we unpack into the difference between technical proficiency and true warrior mindset, what commitment looks like when compliance disappears, and how leaders enforce standards without eroding trust. 

We explore whether resilience is built over time or revealed under pressure, and how purpose sustains Soldiers when motivation begins to fade.

As warfare becomes more technical and systems driven, the SMA is challenging the force to ensure technology enhances the warrior. Future conflict will demand innovation and the technological edge, but victory on the battlefield will still be decided by human judgment, character, and leadership.

This is a conversation about standards, commitment, mental toughness, and the responsibility of leaders to hold the line…not just to engage in the business of war fighting, but to forge warriors ready to close with and destroy our nation’s adversaries.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 0:00 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
• 4:40 Defining An Army Warrior
• 14:02 Compliance to Commitment
• 20:02 What Is The Army Culture?
• 27:18 Why A Warrior Mindset Matters
• 38:52 How to Lead the War fighting Profession

QUOTES

• “I see a warrior as the reason why we do it.”
• “Make a difference with your presence. Otherwise, why are you there?”
• “A warrior is a way of life.”
• “Technology is not going to make up for the foundation.”
• “A warrior is one that is dedicated, disciplined, willing to go the extra mile, will fight for those left and right, and never quit.”
• “The best recruiters we have are our service members, our veterans.”
• “How much is enough of these key attributes to take a risk on you and bring you in and start developing the rest of that?”
• “There’s just some things about human beings that are going to be done on an individual’s basic timeline in life.”
• “It’s not normal for this generation.”
• “Combat readiness is a way of life.”
• “Although I took the uniform off, my oath didn’t go away.”
• “The guys on my team know that they’re in the right spot with the right people, with the right culture.”
• “You’re consecrated into this culture that I got to find when I retire.” 
• “What makes that culture is character and character development.”
• “That probably makes the difference in the world is where our NCO core is compared to other countries.”
• “I’m a firm believer that the noncommissioned officer is the keeper of the culture.”
• “I think that was our biggest challenge in Vietnam.”
• “This profession, we hand you a machete and we say ‘Take that path.’”
• “Grit comes through hardship.”
• “At the end of the day, guys got to go on the ground.”
• “We’re struggling a little bit in that space.”
• “There’s no time limit on honorable service.”
• “What is better than being a company commander?”
• “Don’t be a pain in the ass. Be value added.”
• “This is a journey, not a destination.”
• “A legend is nothing but a man or woman who spent their life surrounding themselves with people better than them.”

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.

War stories are easy to tell. There’s action, adventure, and good vs evil. For most Veterans their service isn’t defined or explained by their war stories. For most Veterans the story that is far most difficult to write...and to live...is the story they have to write themselves.

In this episode, Fran Racioppi sat down with Steven Grayhm, writer and director of Sheepdog, a film dedicated to telling the most difficult story of our Veterans. The story of what happens to us, our families, our friends, and those around us when the war stories fade, reality sets in, and the hard work must actually begin. 

Steven explains his 14 year journey to make Sheepdog, the thousands of hours he spent with Veterans of all walks of life, his embedment at VA hospitals across the country, and the reality of independent filmmaking; a blue collar process rooted in grit before the red carpet, where every dollar is raised face to face and every decision carries weight. 

The film confronts veteran suicide honestly while reinforcing a simple truth. Ending your life does not end the pain. It ends the possibility of it ever getting better.

What drove Sheepdog was not an interest in war, but a responsibility to understand what happens after it. Steven and his team studied the realities of trauma, addiction, brain injury, generational differences between Vietnam and post 9/11 service members, and the long shadow that war can cast over identity and purpose. They went where the conversations were uncomfortable, where the answers were not clean, and where trust had to be earned. The result is a film that focuses not on combat, but on the war within. 

Veterans are not victims. Sheepdog recognizes that service members volunteered, took risk, and earned something that does not disappear when the uniform comes off. A Veteran’s perspective matters. Trauma exists, but it does not eliminate the responsibility of Veterans to continue their personal and professional growth post service. 

Sheepdog is a story about redefining purpose, about post traumatic growth, and about the courage required to take the first step forward when the path is unclear. It reflects the reality that transition is not a checklist, that no two experiences are the same, and that finding the right sense of mission after service is critical.

Highlights

• 0:00 Introduction
• 3:42 Why make Sheepdog?
• 12:40 Addressing generational differences
• 16:38 The idea of perspective
• 21:34 Losing morality
• 29:52 Veteran Suicide
• 37:43 VA resources
• 1:03:40 Was it all for nothing?
• 1:08:34 Hope for Sheepdog

Quotes

• “The hardest thing I ever have done wasn’t to become a Green Beret, it was to not be a Green Beret.”
• “They train you so well to do that job that you never really understand what the result of that job actually looks like.”
• “Whatever happens on the other side of this, I’m going to leave it there.” 
• “One of the most challenging things in this journey of Sheepdog was getting it right.”
• “The warrior doesn’t get to choose the war they go into.”
• “It haunted me in my nightmares for years that crack in the sheep pen wall.”
• “The guys that I learned to be more worried about were the guys that smiled through the pain.”
• “I get very nervous when people wax poetically about suicide because it comes in all different forms.”
• “All the resources in the world can exist, but it doesn’t matter if you’re not willing to use them.”
• “Veterans are not victims.”
• “In the film you would see, no one feels sorry for themselves.”
• “I think we have to do better as a veteran to remove the victim mindset.”
• “If we could save a single life with this film, that would be the greatest Hollywood success story."

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.

The speed of innovation has long been the difference between military success and failure. Countries and militaries that rapidly develop, deploy and evolve technology thrive. Those who lag…flounder. America, NATO and the world order are being challenged…and innovated against…at a faster pace than ever before. 

From the Global SOF Symposium in Athens, Greece, I sat down with Ryan Benitez of NATO DIANA to talk about how innovation, technology, and rapid capability development are shaping the future of defense across the Alliance.

As the DIANA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ryan explains her work inside one of NATO’s most forward-leaning organizations. DIANA, the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, connects startups, researchers, and industry leaders to solve some of the most urgent challenges facing allied militaries. 

From emerging technologies to dual-use solutions, DIANA is helping NATO move faster, stay adaptable, and maintain an edge in an increasingly competitive global environment.

Ryan also shared how her experience in the Navy and Venture Capital informs her approach to modern innovation, why collaboration between nations and private industry is more critical than ever, and how DIANA is empowering new ideas that can redefine readiness, resilience, and operational effectiveness to not only keep pace, but move faster than our enemies.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:37 Welcome to GSOF Europe
• 3:06 Defining NATO DIANA
• 5:25 Companies Supporting NATO
• 9:23 Filling Technological Gaps
• 11:15 Time to Technology
• 13:44 NATO’s Leading Innovators
• 14:57 Compelling Countries To Invest
• 16:49 Is NATO behind Adversaries?
• 20:21 Defining Readiness
• 22:17 The Next Battlefield
• 24:40 NATO DIANA Future

Quotes:

• “We needed to access the emerging technologies that innovators were putting together.”
• “Does this technology align with a critical capability need that an operator and user has brought to the table?”
• “Team is everything.”
• “Interoperability has different scales.”
• “The flavor of the month is Counter-UAS.”
• “The Special Operations community has always been early adapters of streamlined acquisition and innovation.”
• “We’ve seen the Netherlands do a lot.”
• “We’re keeping a pulse on the market and the demand signal.”
• “How can we help you with your innovation base?”
• “We’re seeing a lot of lessons learned in Ukraine. The innovation cycle there is weeks.”
• “The word defense used to not be top of mind. It is now.”
• “We need to make sure we’re acting as a bridge to the emerging technology market.”
• “Cost is going to become an issue.”
• “War isn’t front and center every day like it is in Europe.”
• “You’re going to start seeing our ability to really rapidly spin up.”

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.

Communication is the backbone of every military operation. How well our forces talk to each other across air, land, sea and space is what sets the American military apart from everyone else. Without communication leaders can’t lead, and militaries can’t win. 

From the Global Special Operations Symposium in Athens, Greece, Fran Racioppi sat down with Dr. Lisa Costa, a leading technologist, former Chief Information Officer for U.S. Special Operations Command, and the first Chief Technology and Innovation Officer for the U.S. Space Force, to discuss how innovation, cyber, and modernization are reshaping Special Operations across all domains.

Dr. Costa brings decades of experience at the crossroads of defense, technology, and strategic innovation. From running one of the Department of Defense’s largest IT enterprises supporting elite global SOF operations to spearheading digital transformation efforts in the Space Force, she has helped architect the future of how our forces fight, communicate, and adapt.

She addressed the evolving threat landscape, including cyber attacks, space domain challenges and why staying ahead through technology, data, and innovation is no longer optional. She emphasized the importance of agility, integration, and forward-thinking capability as the bedrock of a modern force ready for tomorrow’s missions.

This discussion is about building advantage through technology, strengthening alliances across domains, and protecting America by ensuring the force evolves with the threat.

Highlights

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:36 Welcome to GSOF Europe
• 3:15 USSOCOM CIO & Space Force's CTIO
• 6:02 Communications Evolution
• 8:51 DoD Civilian Workforce
• 13:43 Special Operations LSCO
• 16:41 SOF Space Cyber Triad
• 19:24 The Space Battlefield
• 22:17 Lunar South Pole
• 24:35 War Today
• 26:18 Combatting misinformation
• 28:38 Defining AI
• 30:22 Human in the loop
• 31:33 Guardrailing AI Weaponization
• 34:06 Advancing Time to Technology
• 35:48 Citizen Based
• 37:06 Ground Level Innovation
• 40:46 Buying Commercial Resources
• 45:10 The Next Battlefield

Quotes

• “I might be the only person wearing both a SOCOM and Space Force pin.” 
• “Communications is absolutely critical.” 
• “It has gone from big bulky equipment to a binary signal.” 
• “Civilians are part of the force.” 
• “I look at SOF as the tool and capability to prevent us going to war.”
• “The best battle space is the one we never have to put a boot into.” 
• “There is not even a position, navigation, and timing capability on the lunar surface.” 
• “Is it the person who discovered it or the person who gets there first?”
• “We’re fighting for data.”
• “It’s not there because we’re using AI.”
• “I do not define AI as just Large Language Models.”
• “There are going to be mission specific incidents where AI is going to have to be trusted to make that decision.”
• “Don’t sign up for Chinese AI.”
• “Operation Spiderweb was one pilot to every drone. That is not scalable.”
• “It’s going to have to take everyone.”
• “It comes down to the operational planners that are doing that risk assessment.”
• “I believe that we will rely greatly on commercial assets.”
• “There are areas of space that we have not taken advantage of.”
• “I hope that the future of the battle space is much more cognitive.”
• “I always put the operator in charge of a project, not a PhD.”
• “Always prepare for the next unknown mission.”

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.

Who’s more important? The operators on the ground or the aviators in the sky? It’s hard to seize the objective without boots on the ground; but if you can’t get to the objective in the first place, there’s no mission at all.

The reality is that operators need aviators and aviators need operators. Green Berets and the pilots of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment share bonds that transcend their MOS and their mobility platform. 

Live from the 2nd Annual Stars and Stripes Classic, I sat down with Chairman of the Green Beret Foundation retired Lieutenant General Ken Tovo and Chief Warrant Officer Sean McCormick to talk about what it takes to build true interoperability between air and ground units, and why there is no such term as “more important.”

Chief McCormick served as a lead pilot in the 160th SOAR after a career in 75th Ranger Regiment; he also served as General Tovo’s pilot while the General was the USASOC Commander. Their partnership and friendship provides a rare perspective on the leadership, trust, and relentless commitment that define Special Operations. 

Together, they shared how those experiences shaped their understanding of teamwork, mission focus, and the ability to take on any challenge. They also share an unknown secret about GBF’s upcoming POW/MIA recovery missions with Project Recover.

The Stars and Stripes Classic is more than a lacrosse game. It’s a moment to honor the warriors who always step forward, the families who support them, and the community that preserves their legacy through the Green Beret and Navy SEAL Foundations. Special thanks to the Premier Lacrosse League for hosting another thrilling game. 

Highlights

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:42 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
• 3:25 Service in the 160th SOAR
• 4:57 Defining Interoperability
• 6:15 Planning and Customer Centric in the 160th
• 10:54 Building a SOF team
• 14:08 Defining De Opresso Liber
• 16:00 Honoring MACV-SOG
• 18:30 Partnering with Project Recover

Quotes

• “It was a great honor, great experience, and a lot of good stories about that.”
• “Sometimes the most difficult and important part of a mission is actually just getting there.”
• “You are the RCO’s representative when you’re the LNO.”
• “We’re going to plan and rehearse as much as we possibly can before that mission takes place.”
• “You can’t be an expert if you do more than one thing.”
• “They’re problem solvers who figure out “What do I need to do to do what I signed up to accomplish.”
• “No matter what happens, you’re going to accomplish the mission.”
• “99% of the time, we’re working through a partner force to accomplish whatever our mission is.” 
• “Even in our own community, a lot of what MACV-SOG did is really not even part of the history because it’s been classified until recently.” 
• “58 Green Berets still are yet to be found in Vietnam from that era.”

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.

Lacrosse is a sport built on passion, precision, and community. It’s also a sport that defines service. Live from the Stars and Stripes Classic, Fran Racioppi sat down with Mike Rabil, co-founder and CEO of the Premier Lacrosse League, to highlight the PLL’s partnership with the Green Beret Foundation and explore how the sport of lacrosse is intertwined with American Special Operators. 

A remarkable number of America’s Special Operators come from a lacrosse background. The sport builds toughness, discipline, teamwork, and the ability to perform under pressure. The same qualities that define an elite operator and a key reason why so many lacrosse players serve in the military.

Mike shares his vision for building the PLL into the world’s only professional lacrosse organization. Now in its seventh season, the PLL is deeper, faster, and more competitive than ever, supported by partners who believe in the mission and the athletes who make it possible.

Together, the PLL and the Green Beret Foundation are proving that sport can be a force for impact. This partnership honors the athletes, the warriors, and the families who give so much, and it strengthens the connection between two communities built on grit, excellence, and service.

Highlights

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:21 Welcome to the Stars & Stripes Classic
• 2:50 PLL Progression
• 4:51 College to Pro
• 8:32 Leading up to the Second S&S Game
• 11:14 Lacrosse Discipline in Special Ops

Quotes

• “50% of our games have been decided by just one goal this year.”
• “Now the pressure’s on us to make it worthwhile.”
• “These are the best lacrosse players in the world but some of the best athletes.”
• “To incorporate endurance, strength, physicality, and the hand eye, those are things as a tier one operator you need.”
• “Practice is the payoff for the eventual game.”
• “The community is actually bigger than we think, the game means something to people and it's actually been misbranded.”
• “They’re people of character.”
• “I think athletics in general will teach you a certain level of discipline, resiliency, and adaptability that become critical to your ability to succeed.”

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.

Romania is one of America’s key allies in the fight for Eastern Europe. Romanian Special Forces are critical to the success of that mission; and the partnership between United States Special Operations and our Romanian counterparts sits at the center of that strategy.

From the Global Special Operations Symposium in Athens, Greece, Fran Racioppi sat down with Major General Claudiu Dobocan, Commander of the Romanian Special Operations Forces, to discuss how Romanian Special Operations are combatting Russian aggression and holding the line in Europe.

General Dobocan shared his perspective on strengthening SOF partnerships, advancing interoperability, and building modern capabilities that allow allied forces to operate seamlessly together. He spoke about Romania’s place within NATO, the importance of trust and shared mission across borders, and the need for Special Operations units to remain agile and prepared for the full spectrum of emerging threats.

From combating hybrid threats to maintaining readiness alongside allied SOF elements, General Dobocan emphasized that success today depends on relationships, shared understanding, and the willingness to stand together in the face of uncertainty.

Highlights

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:26 Welcome to GSOF Europe 2025
• 3:21 Mission of Romanian Special Operations Forces
• 8:45 Evolution of technology in SOF
• 10:45 Eliminating Human-in-the-Loop?
• 13:35 Changes in military tactics
• 16:57 Romanian Special Forces Mission
• 18:44 Why Join the Romanian Army?
• 20:06 NATO Alliance Importance
• 25:24 Leading against a Global Threat

Quotes

• “We were created by cooperation between Romanian Ministry of Defense and US SOCEUR.” 
• “Interoperability, no one really talks about what that really means.” 
• “Words carrying value carry meaning.”
• “Industry defines the speed of technological development.”
• “The strategic game changer is generative AI.”
• “I’m scared of the moment when everything is passed to AI.”
• “I don’t think swarming is going to be the next way of doing battle.”
• “Our mission is to be a strategic level instrument that helps with reaction to crisis and building partnerships and capabilities in the region.”
• “10th Group and 20th Group came around and showed us what right looks like so I signed up.”
• “It’s a tool that kind of prevents conflict.”
• “NATO is the umbrella under which we share a lot of things that otherwise we cannot discuss about.”
• “When you talk about the good work NATO has done, you have to talk about the standards.”
• “We have to be deterrent on our part, but capable to move from military assistance type of missions into a very kinetic one.”

Special thanks to the Global Special Operations Foundation for hosting us in Athens. 

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.

America is not the only nation in a fight for freedom, stability, and security. International threats are complex, the missions are critical, and the operators leading them must think globally while acting locally.

The Philippines is one of America’s longest strategic allies. From their geographical importance of World War II, to their front lines combating Chinese expansion in the Pacific, the military partnership between the United States and the Philippines is an important part of global stability. 

At the heart of this collaboration, is the Joint Special Operations Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. A force that has been shaped by decades of counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, and close partnership with America's Green Berets and Special Operations Forces.

From the Global Special Operations Foundation Symposium in Athens, Greece, Fran Racioppi sat down with the Commander of Joint Special Operations Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Brigadier General Eliglen Villaflor, to discuss the evolution of Special Operations in the Philippines, the lessons learned from years of conflict, and the country’s expanding role in regional and international security cooperation.

General Villaflor shared his perspective on leading through complexity, building true interoperability with partners like the United States, and preparing the next generation of Filipino Special Operators to face an ever-changing threat environment.

This episode is about partnership, professionalism, and the shared mission that connects Special Operations Forces around the world to defend freedom wherever it’s challenged.

Highlights

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:45 Welcome to GSOF Europe 2025
• 3:30 Mission of Philippines Joint Special Operations Command
• 5:28 JSOC Commander Challenges
• 8:21 Large Scale Combat Operations in the Philippines
• 11:48 Building relationships in SOF
• 15:54 Philippine Armed Forces Culture
• 18:22 Interoperability in the Philippines
• 19:33 Philippines’ biggest threat
• 23:31 Future of JSOC Philippines

Quotes

• “We’re a family.”
• “The Joint Special Operations Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines was formally activated just last May.”
• “I am the force employer.”
• “The challenges will outweigh the positive impact of having JSOC.”
• “The engagement with the U.S. counterpart has been more aggressive than before.” 
• “Our core mission is to work with other nations to achieve the combined goals of our nations.”
• “I’m very glad I was given the opportunity to train with foreign counterparts, especially the U.S.”
• “SOF are not only building trust, we are building family. We are family and we take care of each other.”
• “People mostly join the Armed Forces because of low economic status.”
• “I want to avail of the free education.”
• “We are always leader centered.”
• “We are now inculcating in our culture the word interoperability.”
• "Aggressive, illegal, dangerous, and coercive action of China is very visible in our country.”
• “It’s still all about the mindset, attitude, and discipline.”

Special thanks to the Global Special Operations Foundation for hosting us in Athens. 

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.

Few leaders have shaped the identity of America’s Special Forces more than President John F. Kennedy. In just three years as Commander in Chief, JFK redefined how the United States would fight, lead, and prepare for an uncertain world, one that demanded unconventional solutions and elite warriors ready to face any challenge.

As the Cold War escalated, President Kennedy saw the need for a new kind of Soldier, one trained to think, adapt, and win in conflicts fought not only on the battlefield, but through influence, innovation, and resilience. His vision for military modernization gave birth to the era of Unconventional Warfare and cemented the role of the Green Berets in America’s national defense strategy.

From his visit to Fort Bragg and the historic meeting with Brigadier General William Yarborough, to the moment he publicly endorsed the Green Beret as “a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, and a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom,” JFK’s leadership transformed Special Forces from a small experimental group into a cornerstone of American military power.

Today, that legacy continues, honored each year at the JFK Wreath Laying Ceremony, carried forward by generations of Green Berets who live by the same principles of courage, creativity, and service that JFK saw as vital to the nation’s defense.

From the USASOC History Office, Fran Racioppi sat down with two of the historians who’ve preserved and advanced this legacy; Dr. Troy Sacquety and Dr. Jared Tracy. Their work ensures JFK’s vision is never forgotten. We explored the strategic thinking behind Kennedy’s military modernization, the significance of the Green Beret endorsement, and why, decades later, the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School still bears his name. We also discussed the legacy-building moment of JFK’s recent induction as Distinguished Member of the Regiment and the enduring symbolism of the annual wreath laying at Arlington.

This episode is about vision, legacy, and the enduring bond between a President and the warriors he inspired - the Green Berets.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:58 Welcome to the USASOC Historians Office
• 2:57 JFK and Green Berets
• 5:34 USASOC Historian role & importance
• 10:57 JFK’s vision
• 18:11 USASOC capability in the 1960’s
• 21:05 JFK’s impact
• 28:24 DMOR induction
• 33:54 A world with JFK?

QUOTES

• “What really struck us was how great of a speech giver he was.” 
• “The most important thing we could do is preserve the history of our organization.” 
• “On any given day, I could be working on something that comes from 1774 to yesterday.” 
• “Kennedy viewed the Army Special Forces as the natural fit to be able to fill that role.” 
• “He’s very deliberate in wanting to make Special Forces a part of his program.” 
• “Can we do this as a nation every time there’s a need to contain the spread of communism?” 
• “During the Kennedy administration, the term Special Warfare was not very well defined at all.” 
• “Without the Korean War, you don’t have the ability to do Special Operations in Vietnam.”
• “It’s part of the identity of Special Forces.” 
• “Everyone assumes it was done. When we did the research and looked at it, we realized it hadn’t been.” 
• “It serves as a reminder for soldiers that are in the Regiment today.” 
• “What would history be like if Kennedy hadn’t been killed?”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by University of Health & Performance, providing our Veterans world-class education and training as fitness and nutrition entrepreneurs.

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.

The Jedburgh Podcast is an official program of the Green Beret Foundation.

There are few chapters in American military history as daring, secretive, and defining as MACV-SOG, the Military Assistance Command-Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group. A small band of elite Green Berets who operated deep behind enemy lines, often without acknowledgment, and always with extraordinary courage.

These men were tasked with missions that had never been done before and might never be done again. Their work in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam forged the tactics, technology, and mindset that would become the DNA of modern Special Operations.

But when they came home, many faced a different kind of battle. The Vietnam era brought with it a complex legacy, one of heroism and heartbreak, pride and pain. Some became business and political leaders; others struggled for decades to find peace. Yet through it all, the brotherhood forged in MACV-SOG never wavered.

Live from the 2nd Annual Stars and Stripes Classic, we sat down with Doug Godshall and Jim Shorten, two veterans of MACV-SOG, to honor their service, preserve their stories, and remind today’s Green Berets what courage, sacrifice, and innovation truly mean.

This episode is about the origins of Special Forces as we know them today, the unbreakable bonds formed in war, and the duty we all share to ensure that the lessons of MACV-SOG live on in every generation of those who don the Green Beret.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:42 Welcome to the Stars & Stripes Classic
• 3:06 Defining MACV-SOG
• 5:54 Who were the partner forces?
• 7:20 MACV-SOG Losses
• 11:27 Why Become A Green Beret?
• 14:42 Life Post-Vietnam
• 19:35 Leadership Lessons from MACV-SOG
• 22:54 Honoring MACV-SOG Veterans

QUOTES

• “We had no identification that we were United States soldiers.”
• “MACV-SOG had the highest casualty rate of any US Army unit since the Civil War.”
• “We were very dedicated to the Montangards.”
• “We wouldn’t be alive but for our indigenous partners.”
• “Teams went out and didn’t come back. They were overrun upon landing.”
• “The Vietnamese War was highlighted by a lot of enemy infiltration into our ranks.”
• “Our generation wasn’t supportive.”
• “I’m one of those guys that likes to continue learning.”
• “You can never train up enough.”
• “You can be whatever you want to be if you put your mind to it.”
• “I think the modern GWOT soldier has a lot of history to look back on and they're going to be better soldiers."
• “If you really want to run the mission, get all the training you can possibly get.”
• “We’re glad that you’re honoring us, but you’re honoring you and the rest of the Regiment as well.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by University of Health & Performance, providing our Veterans world-class education and training as fitness and nutrition entrepreneurs.

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.

The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation.