MARSOC Det One: I Took Over From Jocko Willink in Baghdad

About this video

A former MARSOC Raider recounts his experiences with Detachment 1 in Baghdad during 2004. The guest describes taking over from Jocko Willink, starting operations from scratch with no existing target packages, and conducting their first mission involving an Iraqi interpreter unwittingly helping identify fellow interpreters who were later executed. He details various high-value target operations throughout the deployment, including capturing someone connected to Nick Berg’s beheading and pursuing bomb makers.

Key takeaways

• The guest explains that Detachment 1 arrived in Baghdad in 2004 with no turnover from existing SEAL platoons and had to build their own intelligence network and target packages from scratch
• The guest recounts how their first major mission came from their intel team discovering a pattern of 20+ executed Iraqi interpreters, leading to the capture of a bomb maker and propaganda distributor
• The guest describes conducting numerous direct action raids focused on high-value targets, crediting their success to hitting targets very late (2:00 AM) and having robust intelligence support with dedicated HUMINT and SIGINT personnel

Episode details: published August 5, 2026 · 19.4K views · 22:12 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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