DEVGRU & SBS Took Orders From a 29-Year-Old E6 in Afghanistan?

About this video

A former DEVGRU operator recounts leading a multi-national, multi-agency raid in Afghanistan as a 29-year-old E6, where he commanded operators from DEVGRU, SBS, and Canadian forces despite being outranked by many. He captured a high-value target without firing a shot. The conversation shifts to his post-military career path through various industries, his article challenging the direct transferability of SEAL skills to business, and his support for Defense Secretary Hegseth’s emphasis on maintaining military standards.

Key takeaways

• The guest recounts successfully leading a time-sensitive target mission in Afghanistan as a 29-year-old E6, commanding operators who outranked him based solely on his deployment experience in the area
• The guest argues that leadership in special operations is easier than civilian leadership because you can take motivation and basic competencies for granted, whereas business requires adapting to vastly different individuals
• The guest identifies maintaining high standards without compromise as the one constant across all elite teams, whether military or civilian, and supports Hegseth’s focus on standards over diversity

Episode details: published February 19, 2026 · 30.8K views · 24:41 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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