#0043 - John Dailey - Tough Rugged Bastards

Join us as we discuss John Dailey's book 'Tough Rugged Bastards' and the story of MARSOC, the Marine Raiders. We'll discuss the process of getting the book approved by the military and the challenges faced. We'll also talk about John's motivation for writing the book and the benefits of getting an MFA in creative writing. We discuss the difference between recon Marines and force recon, and the role of force recon in working for the force commander. And we also touch on the importance of a culture of accountability and constructive criticism in high-performing organizations. The conversation also covers the experiences of John Dailey during his time in the Marine Corps and as a member of the first Marine Special Operations Company.

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John’s Links

https://www.jadailey.com/ 

https://www.amazon.com/Tough-Rugged-Bastards-Special-Operations/dp/163758735X 

Chapters

00:00 The Approval Process and Challenges

04:04 Motivation for Writing the Book and Getting an MFA

08:44 Difference Between Recon Marines and Force Recon

12:26 The Culture of Accountability

18:37 Imposter Syndrome and Excellence

23:59 Custom Building a High-Speed Unit

28:14 Training and Preparation for Deployment

34:55 Focus on CQB in Iraq

37:18 Challenges and Successes of the First Marine Special Operations Company

38:00 The Importance of Intelligence Support in Operations

40:34 The First Mission Based on Intel Work

43:23 Rolling Out and Capturing a Bomb Maker

48:09 Notable SEALs in Iraq

50:07 Sentiment from SOCOM, Marine Corps, and the Unit

53:29 Developing an Assessment and Selection Program

55:33 Structural Changes and Future of Marine Raiders

59:17 Training Focus and Future Plans

01:02:50 Writing Process and Mentors

01:05:26 Book Availability and Events

01:07:44 Future Writing Projects and Coaching

Takeaways

The process of getting a book approved by the military can be lengthy and requires following the rules and making changes.

Having an MFA in creative writing can provide the confidence and skills needed to write a book.

Force recon Marines work for the force commander and operate deeper behind enemy lines compared to recon Marines.

A culture of accountability and constructive criticism is important in high-performing organizations.

Imposter syndrome can be a driving force for excellence and continuous improvement.

Custom building a unit allows for the development of new SOPs and procedures that can improve mission success.

Training and preparation for deployment can vary depending on the mission and location.

CQB (Close Quarters Battle) becomes a main mission focus for force recon Marines deployed to Iraq. The first Marine Special Operations Company (DETF-1) faced challenges and successes during their deployment to Iraq in 2003.

Intelligence support played a crucial role in their operations, and the unit had a strong focus on the basics of shooting, moving, communicating, and surviving.

The creation of the Marine Raiders was a significant development in Marine Special Operations.

John A. Dailey plans to continue writing and has future projects in mind, including books on military life lessons and mental toughness.

He is also involved in coaching and training Marine Raide