Staying Alive in Iraq and Afghanistan

March 24, 2026 01:07:06
Staying Alive in Iraq and Afghanistan
The Spear
Staying Alive in Iraq and Afghanistan

Mar 24 2026 | 01:07:06

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Show Notes

As a young platoon leader in Iraq during the 2003 invasion, John Faunce experienced the chaos of combat, including shifting missions, limited intelligence, and the need to rely on soldiers’ input to make decisions in uncertain conditions. His later experiences as a Special Forces officer, particularly working with Afghan commandos, emphasized leadership through trust, autonomy, and partnership, while navigating complex coalition dynamics. In this episode, he shares what he learned in those combat zones about leadership and recounts a career defined by embracing difficulty, learning from failure, and adapting under pressure.

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