#0016 - Amber Smith - Make The Military Great Again

Summary Join us in Welcoming Amber Smith, a former Kiowa Warrior pilot and Senior Pentagon Official, as we discuss her experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan and her decision to write a book about her military career. She highlights the importance of the Kiowa Warrior platform and its role in supporting ground troops. Amber also talks about the challenges of shooting from a helicopter and the perishable nature of the skill. She shares her journey of writing her first book, 'Danger Close,' and the response she received from fellow veterans. She then discusses her upcoming book, 'Unfit to Fight,' which explores leadership issues and the changing landscape of the military. The conversation explores the themes of leadership, accountability, and culture in the military. It discusses the negative impact of wokeness and political correctness on the effectiveness of the military as a fighting force. The conversation also touches on the issues of vaccine mandates, diversity and inclusion, and the role of women in special operations. The main takeaways include the need to return the military to a meritocracy, increase accountability for senior leaders, and address the cultural challenges within the military. Show Links Get 1-month of FREE access to the ⁠Vet Collective Community⁠ by using discount code: NLT1UQTI Join us here: ⁠https://www.collective.vet⁠ Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter: ⁠⁠https://www.collective.vet⁠ Follow us on LinkedIn: ⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/harder-not-smarter/⁠ Episodes also available on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music. Amber's Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-smith-usa/ https://linktr.ee/OfficialAmberSmith Chapters 00:00 The Role of the Kiowa Warrior in Supporting Ground Troops 06:23 The Perishable Skill of Shooting from a Helicopter 16:20 Leadership Issues in the Military 35:29 History and Evolution of Special Operations Training 44:27 Solutions: Returning to a Meritocracy and Increasing Accountability Takeaways The Kiowa Warrior platform played a crucial role in supporting ground troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Shooting from a helicopter is a perishable skill that requires regular practice. Writing a book about one's military experiences can be therapeutic and provide closure. The military has experienced leadership issues and a shift in values and priorities. Amber Smith's upcoming book, 'Unfit to Fight,' explores these leadership issues and the changing landscape of the military. The military needs to return to a meritocracy and prioritize effectiveness as a fighting force. There is a lack of accountability for senior leaders in the military. Wokeness and political correctness are negatively impacting the military's effectiveness. The implementation of policies like vaccine mandates and diversity and inclusion initiatives has been flawed and detrimental to the military. The role of women in special operations should be based on merit and mission standards, not quotas or lowered standards.