In this episode of The Spear, host Charlie Faint sits down with the command team of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Colonel Sean Karrels and Command Sergeant Major Julio Santos, for a conversation about the people, leadership, and culture behind the Night Stalkers. Drawing on decades of experience in Army aviation and special operations, the two discuss their paths into the regiment, what the 160th looks for in its soldiers and leaders, and why teamwork, disciplined initiative, accountability, and mastery of the fundamentals remain central to its success. They explore how the regiment practices mission command, learns from failure, maintains demanding standards, and balances technological innovation with the tactical skills required to operate in the world’s most challenging environments. Looking toward future conflicts, they also discuss artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, contested operating environments, and why the regiment’s greatest advantage remains its people. Throughout the conversation, Sean and Julio return to a defining idea of the culture in the 160th: Night Stalkers don’t quit.
You can hear the full episode below, and don’t forget to subscribe to The Spear on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, or your favorite podcast app.
Image credit: Reed Knutson, US Army
