This is Jocco Podcast number 523 with Echo Charles and me, Jocco Willink. Good evening, Echo.

Good evening.

My gear was fast and tighter than normal. I had 12 mags on me loaded to full capacity.

My rifle was well cleaned and lubed. I had two grenades strapped to my chest, my tops fixed blade fighting knife under my left arm, four tourniquets at different grabable locations across my torso,

three smoke grenades, two flares, an extra saw drum, a metal detector, and plenty of water

my daypack alongside my plate carrier and other typical gear. We loaded two M-Raps and departed

P.B. Alcatraz in full expectation of a fight.

As we drove, I quietly recited Psalm 2713 and asked God for strength.

The truck stopped at the 605 north.

I opened the back hatch of the MRAP and dismounted this was our first foot

patrol into enemy territory and I was the first out as point man I made my way 400

meters south on the 611 with the rest of the second squad behind me patrolling in

ranger file formation.

My rifle was at the ready,

and I surveyed the road closely for disturbed earth,

command wires trailing off into the green zone,

and other IED indicators.

My head was on a swivel,

going from ground to buildings to rooftops to tree lines

and back to the Marines behind me

my attitude and posture were brazened my jaw was clinched my chest puffed out and my

face as scowled as I could make it there were two voices in my head the first was that

...