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Today we hear our first Combat Story from a Marine aviator, David Berke, who is a TOPGUN Graduate and Instructor, in addition to being rated in the F-16, F/A-18, F-22, and F-35.

David has a remarkable story of multiple deployments, including dropping rounds in Afghanistan just weeks after 9/11. Beyond his distinguished and almost Hollywood-like time in the cockpit, David also volunteered to serve as a Ground Forward Air Controller where he was assigned to lead Marines in Iraq alongside the Army and Navy SEAL teams, including that of Jocko Willink’s in the middle of the fighting in Ramadi in 2006. Despite all the aviation accolades, David’s experience on the ground provided a unique experience that he never could have anticipated.

Jocko and Leif Babin reconnected with David and brought him onboard to help lead training and leadership development at Echelon Front, which trains leaders at all levels at companies in every conceivable industry. David effectively hung up his uniform as an instructor in the aviation domain (to include serving as the head trainer at TOPGUN) to instructing the next set of business leaders with Echelon Front.

This interview is an insightful, humble, and very real perspective of what it’s like to lead from the air and the ground while support soldiers, Marines, and SEALs. This was a really special episode from such an accomplished veteran and I hope you enjoy this whirlwind discussion as much as I did.

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- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Find David Online:
- Echelon Front https://echelonfront.com/dave-berke/
- Extreme Ownership https://echelonfront.com/extreme-ownership/
- Twitter https://twitter.com/davidrberke?lang=en
- Instagram @davidrberke https://www.instagram.com/davidrberke/?hl=en
- Learn more about David https://echelonfront.com/dave-berke-media/

Show Notes:
00:00 - Intro
00:58 - Guest Introduction (Ryan Rogers)
02:22 - Interview begins
02:38 - Callsigns
05:08 - Favorite aircrafts
09:07 - Childhood
15:42 - Would have done if not Military
18:20 - Family reaction to joining
21:04 - Leading up to enlistment
28:14 - Marine path to Aviation
32:27 - Who gets selected for command roles
34:34 - Last f18 out of El Torro
37:05 - Going to Top Gun
41:40 - 4Patriots
42:59 - Afghanistan after 9/11
47:30 - Night landing on an aircraft carrier
52:55 - First deployment after Top Gun
56:40 - Teaching at Top Gun
59:57 - Experiences that make a Top Gun instructor
01:05:46 - After Top Gun deployment
01:12:06 - Difference between ANGLICO and FAC
01:18:48 - A challenging operation
01:27:02 - Near death experience
01:39:22 - Hard to leave behind
01:42:46 - Echelon Front
01:47:20 - Most courageous thing
01:49:25 - Sentimental item
01:50:58 - Do it all again
01:53:11 - Listener comments and shout outs