This is Jocko podcast number 506 with Echo Charles and me, Jocko Willink.

Good evening, Echo.

Good evening.

Now listen, I need to step out of the moment and put a little perspective to the situation.

I spent my youth first as a reconnaissance Marine and then as a special forces soldier.

I ended up my military life as an assaulter and sniper for third special forces group

commanders in extremist force which while it no longer exists at the time could arguably be

described as the most vicious murderous bastards on the planet sure a handful of other units

could vie for that title back then but few and while I was not their king I did prove I could

run with the pack I've felt bones break in my hands I've killed other humans in a significant quantity

and basically led a life of violence few other humans can fathom never had I felt anything like this not even close and that right

there is an excerpt from a book called the barbarian spirit which is written by a guy

named Clay Martin who as you heard served both as a Marine Corps scout sniper

reconnaissance Marine before transferring to the Army, where he was a member of the special

forces. And his deployments were during periods of fierce fighting. He also served as an instructor

teaching both special operations target interdiction, which is their fancy way of saying sniper course.

And he also taught advanced urban combat

before he was medically retired after retirement.

He became a prolific writer.

And I don't throw that phrase out easily, prolific writer.

You've got to get after it if you want me to call you a prolific writer.

But he certainly has.

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