Celebrating Veteran's Day 2024 | Mike Drop Ep. 213

About this video

Mike Ritland introduces a Veterans Day special episode featuring a montage of stories from previous guests. The episode includes an extended interview with a Delta Force operator who recounts his experiences during the Battle of Mogadishu (Black Hawk Down). The operator describes the initial missions, the chaotic 18-hour firefight, running out of ammunition and water, the loss of teammates, and how the experience fundamentally changed his perspective on combat and himself.

Key takeaways

• The Delta operator recounts that during the Battle of Mogadishu, his unit went in expecting a quick mission but became pinned down for 18 hours with only basic combat loads, no water, and no night vision
• The operator describes waves of attackers, many appearing drugged, continuously advancing despite casualties, forcing him to the point where he accepted he would die and lost his fear
• The operator explains that the experience led to major changes in special operations training, moving away from ‘in and out’ mindset to preparing for extended urban combat, though he believes the trauma contributed to feelings of inadequacy that affected him throughout his career

Episode details: published November 12, 2024 · 33.1K views · 2:40:17 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Stories told by Mike Ritland’s podcast guests are the guests’ own accounts, attributed to them — not independently verified. Commentary is Ritland’s, presented as his analysis.

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