In this episode of The Spear, retired Special Forces officer John Faunce sits down with MWI’s Charlie Faint and recounts a career defined by embracing difficulty, learning from failure, and adapting under pressure. From his last-minute acceptance to West Point and early struggles during cadet training, John describes how setbacks—like nearly quitting, changing majors, and failing the combat diver qualification course—ultimately shaped the path that led him to Special Forces.
As a young platoon leader in Iraq during the 2003 invasion, John experienced the chaos of combat, including shifting missions, limited intelligence, and the need to rely on soldiers’ input to make decisions in uncertain conditions. His later experiences in Special Forces, particularly working with Afghan commandos, emphasized leadership through trust, autonomy, and partnership, while navigating complex coalition dynamics. Throughout his career, John experienced a key evolution in his leadership: moving from doing everything himself to empowering subordinates. In his post-military work, John advocates for veteran well-being and successful transition, concluding with advice to young leaders to prioritize counseling and clear communication as essential tools for accountability and team cohesion.
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: Sgt. Kyle Alvarez, US Army
