David Rutherford Show: From Living in His Car to A-10 Pilot: Dale Stark On A Warfighter’s Mindset

Dale Stark was living in his car at 19. At 25 he was flying close air support over Afghanistan in an A-10 Warthog. In episode 2 of the Idaho series, Dale sits down with David to break down how he went from rock bottom to one of the most selective pilot programs in the world — and what the training really does to you. You'll learn why the A-10 community calls themselves "cowboys and outcasts," what happens when pilot training exposes a weakness you didn't know you had, and how Dale flew MQ-9s for four years hunting insurgents during the Marjah push before earning his way back into the A-10. David and Dale also get into the brutal reality of watching a war unfold through a sensor pod, the moment Dale's body finally broke under G-forces, and why surfing — of all things — is what keeps him grounded now. Dale Stark is a retired U.S. Air Force A-10 pilot with combat deployments to Afghanistan and four years operating the MQ-9 Reaper during the Afghan surge.  ✅ Sponsor: ☕️ Black Rifle Coffee: https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/➡️ Dale's Ranch, Belt Business & More: https://dalestark.com/➡️ Follow Dale on X: https://x.com/DaleStarkA10 🏫 Get coaching by David Rutherford: https://www.froglogicinstitute.com/ 📕 Get David's novel, The Poet Warrior: https://www.ballastbooks.com/ballast-bookstore/the-poet-warrior 📰 Sign up for David's newsletter for free coaching tips, updates, and more: https://davidrutherfordletter.substack.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.