In this episode of The Spear, host Dr. Charlie Faint sits down with author, journalist, and former US Army Ranger Marty Skovlund to discuss his journey from a rural upbringing in South Dakota to the front lines of the War on Terror and ultimately into a career as a storyteller, author, and professional journalist. Skovlund reflects on the influences that led him to join the Army, which include family military service, a fascination with military history, and the events of 9/11, and how those motivations carried him into the 75th Ranger Regiment.
During his time in the regiment from 2006 to 2010, he completed five combat deployments—three to Iraq and two to Afghanistan—during one of the most operationally intense periods of the conflicts. He describes an operational tempo where units conducted more than a hundred missions in a single deployment cycle and shares vivid stories of helicopter assault operations, the realities of combat deployments, and the unique culture of professionalism and competition inside Ranger units. Throughout the conversation, Skovlund emphasizes the leadership lessons he learned from experienced noncommissioned officers who demonstrated humility, accountability, and a relentless commitment to preparing their soldiers for combat.
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: Spc. Luke Sullivan, US Army
