TOPGUN Instructor | Combat Aviator | Ground FAC | Echelon Front Instructor - Davide Berke
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
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Today we hear our first Combat Story from a Marine aviator, David Berke, who is a TOPGUN Graduate and Instructor, in addition to being rated in the F-16, F/A-18, F-22, and F-35.
David has a remarkable story of multiple deployments, including dropping rounds in Afghanistan just weeks after 9/11. Beyond his distinguished and almost Hollywood-like time in the cockpit, David also volunteered to serve as a Ground Forward Air Controller where he was assigned to lead Marines in Iraq alongside the Army and Navy SEAL teams, including that of Jocko Willink’s in the middle of the fighting in Ramadi in 2006. Despite all the aviation accolades, David’s experience on the ground provided a unique experience that he never could have anticipated.
Jocko and Leif Babin reconnected with David and brought him onboard to help lead training and leadership development at Echelon Front, which trains leaders at all levels at companies in every conceivable industry. David effectively hung up his uniform as an instructor in the aviation domain (to include serving as the head trainer at TOPGUN) to instructing the next set of business leaders with Echelon Front.
This interview is an insightful, humble, and very real perspective of what it’s like to lead from the air and the ground while support soldiers, Marines, and SEALs. This was a really special episode from such an accomplished veteran and I hope you enjoy this whirlwind discussion as much as I did.
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- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Find David Online:
- Echelon Front echelonfront.com/dave-berke/
- Extreme Ownership echelonfront.com/extreme-owne...
- Twitter davidrberke?lang=en
- Instagram @davidrberke davidrberke...
- Learn more about David echelonfront.com/dave-berke-m...
Show Notes:
00:00 - Intro
00:58 - Guest Introduction (Ryan Rogers)
02:22 - Interview begins
02:38 - Callsigns
05:08 - Favorite aircrafts
09:07 - Childhood
15:42 - Would have done if not Military
18:20 - Family reaction to joining
21:04 - Leading up to enlistment
28:14 - Marine path to Aviation
32:27 - Who gets selected for command roles
34:34 - Last f18 out of El Torro
37:05 - Going to Top Gun
41:40 - 4Patriots
42:59 - Afghanistan after 9/11
47:30 - Night landing on an aircraft carrier
52:55 - First deployment after Top Gun
56:40 - Teaching at Top Gun
59:57 - Experiences that make a Top Gun instructor
01:05:46 - After Top Gun deployment
01:12:06 - Difference between ANGLICO and FAC
01:18:48 - A challenging operation
01:27:02 - Near death experience
01:39:22 - Hard to leave behind
01:42:46 - Echelon Front
01:47:20 - Most courageous thing
01:49:25 - Sentimental item
01:50:58 - Do it all again
01:53:11 - Listener comments and shout outs
He's gotta come back . I want to hear him tell about what he liked most about each of the jets . F 16 seems like a real sports car with wings bolted on a single big engine .
Well damn...
I just started this and am instantly bummed. This is exactly what I got excited about when I saw the title. Bummer!
Same!!
I've listened to Dave's story on Jocko's podcast before. He's being way too humble. I went to Echelon Fronts Muster in Vegas in 2021 and got to listen to Dave speak. He's so humble. Dude is legit.
David has that personality were he could do anything and thrive. He would make everyone around him thrive as well.
Good deal Dave! Not only one of the most accomplished pilots, anywhere. But the quality of man is apparent, and as humble as they come. Hanging with Jocko and Echo will probably contributed to that..😊
As a ground guy that just got selected for aviation, it was nice hearing from a pilot that’s gotten to experience both. Really gives you a good understanding of the mission and men you’re supporting. Love it. Thank you both for your service!
Congrats!
Yes please have him back. Semper Fi!!! He has definitely earned this Marine grunts respect!! Having been in an ANGLICO unit myself I know the challenges he faced. There is no experience that compares with combat on a ground, face to face level.
Great episode. Listening to your experience growing up around El Toro is very similar to mine growing up next to Miramar in Scripps Ranch 1980. Always had my head out the sun roof watching a lumbering F-14 on left base over the freeway.
longest way around is the shortest way to go. Dreams really do come true. ❤
Great interview as always. I was a flight deck squadron guy. My second deployment was night check on the flight deck and he brought it home. Different world up there at night
I really injoy this show. How humble this Marine pilot. God bless everyone that has answered the call.Thanks.
Thank you both, David and Ryan for the remarkable podcast! Truly some fascinating stuff! Hope you, Gentlemen, will do part 2 soon!
Great, GREAT! interview. One of the best. That story (~1+ 32) reminds me of what my son (likely near Mr Berke at that time) told me about his BS+ moment - "I just decided I was already dead - it was easier [do do what he had to] then". Thanks.
Wow! That’s all I can say. Appreciate your perspective humbleness and sharing your amazing stories and career. Hoping to hear the second half of his story! Please bring him back on! Thank you for your time and your service!
Remember the movie, 'Independence Day'? A big part of that movie takes place at El Toro.
High speed guy. Awsome
Good stuff guy!
Please do a part 2.
My all time favorite airshow act I was at was looking out of the hanger I work in. I was working a Saturday and the marines had two of their F18’s and were putting on a show! The mechanics that were with them came to ask about borrowing a tool from me, I of course said take what you need. The pilot ended up hanging out before his act, and told us to go out and stand in a certain spot while he was doing his act. Of course we did it, and I have some of the most bad ass f18 pictures I’ve ever seen with the transonic cone and all! Marines put on the best airshow acts, just saying HAHA!
I really appreciate the quality of your content on this podcast Ryan , I watched David with another pilot Tom Kopel F-4 driver during Nam talking about carrier quals and night landings and it made me understand that these men had a job that was life or death guaranteed no exceptions every time they would wrap up another sortie . I could not imagine the amount of stress knowing what these aviators faced daily ! Much respect to all you fly boys and girls
MCAS El Toro had one of the best air shows in SoCal and the Western US back in the day.
Simply Awesome. Long time listener and these never disappoint! Part 2 please!
Wow! This was great guys. Thank you for your service Mr Berke.
Chip Burke motivates and excites me. I wish I had him as an instructor for ANYTHING.
I had a friend that served in Vietnam as a marine. He was in the reserve at this time with the fifth Mike in Chattanooga. They activated his unit and he said he was now the oldest active duty Marine in the Marine Corps. They would not let him go to the Middle East. Instead they made him a liaison officer talking to the families. He told me that he would’ve rather had people shoot at him and kick in doors then have to talk to moms and wives about their sons and husbands all day.
"chip" ! Love it. 😁
Just read a great article about Cpl Christopher Leon’s entire life. Amazing story
Just so remarkable---a trait invested in all guests that you identify for a "presentation."
Thanks for sharing! Nice to hear "good deal Dave" on your channel.
Wow! Definitely looking forward to part 2.
There’s a reason he’s called Good Deal Dave.
We were stationed at El Toro! Loved the comments
Really good episode, thank you!
Good deal Dave
This was a great interview!
Wow what a legend
What a great episode. I need to hear his answer on the differences between jets!!
Dave is the best!!
wonderful! ❤️
Gotta have Davide Berke back on to talk about the F-22 & F-35! I was waiting for that even though the rest of his story is pretty incredible. I’ve seen the F-22 Raptor demonstrated live twice in Military air shows. The first time was with a very aggressive Marine pilot and that whole thing just blew my mind. Airplanes aren’t supposed to do that! 😆 it was truly a unique experience both times. The F-22’s capabilities are nothing short of amazing. I call what it does UFO shit, because when you see it fly or not fly right in front of you, it’s really hard to wrap your head around because a lifetime of watching normal aircraft
flying has conditioned you to believe airplanes just don’t stop in the sky. That thing is the most super cool, super creepy thing I’ve ever seen. It’s nightmare fuel. 🛸
Probably my favorite aircraft besides the A-10.
love it !💙💚
there is a fantastic Movie called 12 strong about the Horse solders ODA 595
Great Video Love it !!!😍👌
nice vid i rlly enjoyed it💙💚💛
Semper Fi and Rest in Peace Chris.
Good view💫
fascinating🔝
Keep it up’☺️☺️
Hoorah
amazing💝💝
Awesome! Will there be a part 2?!
very good video💙💝💖
nice video keep💓💓
nice i like it💕💕💕
I like Dave, have much respect for him. And have seen him on Jocko and a few others.
The ONE thing that bothers me is that everyone makes such a huge deal of Top Gun. Which IT IS, and I dont want to downplay it in anyway... But he never mentions WTI (Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course) and MAWTS-1 (Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1) in Yuma AZ.. Top Gun is a Pre-Req to attend WTI as a Marine F-18 Pilot Student... Top Gun is for very good younger pilots on the rise...You dont see Many Marine Majors, or Navy Lt Commanders as students at Top Gun. They are 1st Lts, LtJG, Marine Captains, and Navy Lt's....
wow very nice mannnn.💖💖💖
Great video, thank you. PS: You spelled David’s name wrong in the title
Cool vid, I was impressed🤎💜🖤
How many have gone from fast jet pilot to FAC? This is going to be quite a story...
woow so nicee❣️💘💝
Question: would his experience as a fighter pilot v FAC be different if he had ever gone up against a near-peer adversary?
He would be dead
Iraq presented the largest concentration of tactical combat aircraft into an AOR that is physically and force-structurally possible, with 768 airframes.
Russia would never be able to marshall 768 tacair platforms into any of their military districts because of their widespread commitments across 10 time zones ranging from Saint Petersburg to the Kamchatka Peninsula thousands of miles away from Saint Petersburg and Moscow.
We blew through Iraq like a hot knife through butter and they had far more experience than Russian pilots, for example. That included 8 years of combat against the 2nd most advanced air force in the Middle East at the time, namely the Iranian Air Force equipped with F-14A/AWG-9/AIM-54A, F-4E/AIM-7, F-5E/AIM-9J, Hawk SAMs, etc.
@@LRRPFco52 In 2003 they only had around 300 combat aircraft, and by ramadi I doubt there were many. This isn't to take away from his actions, but the future is dark. China is not the Taliban.
@@LRRPFco52 and even in desert storm, by the time not SOF ground forces were engaged air superiority had been achieved.
@@belac738 I'm talking about 1991. China will also struggle to sortie-generate in a coherent and consistent manner because of their current engines in the fleet. This is true whether we're talking about J-10s, J-11s, J-15s, or J-20s. If they attempt to train to US standards, they'll lose even more airframes and pilots. Their safety and maintenance is atrocious, plus they have vacuum of command due to Xi's cult of personality that is immune to information flow.
What plane he was flying missions on Afghanistan???
F-18
How was Chris killed?
I tried posting a link, but it got deleted. I guess you can’t post links? 🤷🏻♂️
Google ANGLICO David Burke radio operator killed for a great article by Los Angeles magazine
Good interview but the reason I don’t like your style you always manage to not get into the nitty gritty of the conversation like flying operation flying the F-22 and F-35 I don’t know I always come back to try to watch but 20% engagement and then whatever you want to hear and never REAL deep into the best stuff they can share with us.
wonderful! ❤️
love it !💙💚
Great Video Love it !!!😍👌
nice video keep💓💓
nice i like it💕💕💕
Cool vid, I was impressed🤎💜🖤