Green Beret Master Sgt. Darrell Utt | Mike Drop Episode 226

About this video

Retired Green Beret Master Sergeant Darrell Utt discusses his military career, including five Bronze Star medals and operations in Iraq. Utt recounts his journey from a humble upbringing in West Virginia, through joining the Army after an unsuccessful attempt to enlist in the Marines, to eventually serving with 10th Special Forces Group. He describes his path from regular infantry to Special Forces selection, sharing specific challenges from assessment and selection training.

Key takeaways

• Utt recounts that he initially tried to join the Marines but was disqualified due to low ASVAB scores for his desired air traffic controller role and a medical issue (a cyst), leading him to join the Army infantry instead in 1990.
• Utt describes that after 5-6 years as an infantry staff sergeant, he became interested in Special Forces after exposure to 5th Group at Fort Campbell and attended selection in fall 1996.
• Utt shares that the toughest part of Special Forces Assessment and Selection for him was carrying ‘sand babies’ (sandbags) during Team Week, which he describes as one of the most painful experiences where he felt like the bones in his legs would go through his feet.

Episode details: published February 11, 2025 · 28.8K views · 2:42:11 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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