From Topgun Instructor to SEAL Teammate: Dave Berke on Ego, Luck, Leadership, and the Real Cost of Iraq | Ep. 267 | Pt. 2

Mike Drop

Mike Ritland

Society & Culture, Personal Journals, Documentary, Politics, News

4.9 • 6.3K Ratings

🗓️ 27 November 2025

⏱️ 79 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Can you speak to what the capabilities of the F-22 are that they don't have?
0:04.7	Yeah.
0:06.9	Generically, I can.
0:08.0	You know, this is the way I've always described the F-22.
0:10.1	It is the most impressive airplane you'll ever see.
0:14.0	Go to an air show and you see the F-22 demo.
0:16.4	Go to YouTube and search aircraft flying demos.
0:20.0	The Raptor is the most impressive machine you'll ever see.
0:22.7	And the least impressive thing about the Raptor is how well it performs.
0:26.5	And my point to that is what's unique about fifth gen fighter aviation, F-22s and F-35s, is what is happening on the inside.
0:34.9	And that's the part that you don't, nobody sees that.
0:37.9	When you look up at an air show, you certainly don't understand that.
0:40.3	It's not being demonstrated or revealed.
0:42.4	The ability for an aircraft, and the F-35 is by far the most capable in the world.
0:47.6	It doesn't perform like an F-22, but in terms of what it knows and what it sees and where it can play, nothing like it.
0:53.6	The uniqueness of these airplanes is their
0:56.1	understanding of what's happening on the battle space, which as you know is the most important
1:01.8	thing. Your firepower, your speed, your maneuverability, your flexibility, those are all great
1:06.1	attributes. But I'm sure as a seal you would agree is if you could only have one
1:11.8	If you could only have one thing of value
1:15.5	And it could be if I would give you a list like you know how what was your heaviest machine gun? You know what is your biggest
1:22.4	capability and information and understanding of the battle Swiss is on there, you'd want that more than anything.
	...

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