5th Special Forces Group in Iraq | Rob Leach | Ep. 393

5th Special Forces Group in Iraq | Rob Leach | Ep. 393

Author: dee takos January 24, 2026 Duration: 1:41:34
The Team House
HistoryCultureDocumentaryGovernmentSocietySociety & Culture
Robert Leach is a former 5th Special Forces Group Green Beret and the author of the military-inspired novel Wretched Descent. He retired from the Army in 2023 and now works in military innovation with CMI2, supporting soldier-driven rapid prototyping (maker spaces, 3D printing/CNC, and drone development) through the Army Research Lab’s Catalyst Pathfinder program.
Get Robert's book "Wretched Descent" here: https://a.co/d/5O6GFa8
Today's Sponsors:
Blue Chew ⬇️
https://bluechew.com/
Get 10% off your first month of BlueChew Gold with code "HOUSECALL"
Miracle Made Sheets ⬇️
Go to https://TryMiracle.com/HOUSE to try Miracle Made sheets today. You’ll save over 40%, and when you use promo code HOUSE, you’ll get an extra 20% off plus a FREE 3-piece towel set.
GhostBed⬇️
https://www.ghostbed.com/house
FOR 25% off! 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For ad free video and audio and access to live streams and Eyes On Geopolitics...JOIN OUR PATREON! 
https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouse
To help support the show and for all bonus content including:
-live shows and asking guest questions 
-ad free audio and video
-early access to shows
-Access to ALL bonus segments with our guests
Subscribe to our Patreon! ⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse

Support the show here:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
___________________________________________________
Subscribe to the new EYES ON podcast here:⬇️
https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnGeopoliticsPod/featured
__________________________________
Jack Murphy's new book "We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History" ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/We-Defy-Chapters-Special-History-ebook/dp/B0DCGC1N1N/
——————————————————————
Or make a one time donation at: ⬇️
https://ko-fi.com/theteamhouse
Social Media: ⬇️
The Team House Instagram:
https://instagram.com/the.team.house?utm_medium=copy_link
The Team House Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TheTeamHousePod
Jack’s Instagram:
https://instagram.com/jackmcmurph?utm_medium=copy_link
Jack’s Twitter:
 https://twitter.com/jackmurphyrgr?s=21
Dave’s Twitter: 
https://twitter.com/dave_parke?s=21
Team House Discord: ⬇️
https://discord.gg/wHFHYM6
SubReddit: ⬇️
https://www.reddit.com/r/TheTeamHouse/
Jack Murphy's memoir "Murphy's Law" can be found here:⬇️
 https://www.amazon.com/Murphys-Law-Journey-Investigative-Journalist/dp/1501191241
The Team Room Reading Room (Amazon Affiliate links):⬇️
 https://jackmurphywrites.com/the-team-room-reading-room/
Intro music by https://www.youtube.com/user/RemixSample
"Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"
00:00 Start 
01:21 Growing Up and Joining the Army
02:20 First Deployment to Iraq
08:05 The Surge and Second Deployment
11:33 Selection and the Q Course
19:13 Joining the Fifth Special Forces Group
21:19 Operation New Dawn and Its Challenges
28:01 The Challenges of Military Operations
36:13 Experiences in Jordan and Regional Dynamics
42:26 Life in the UAE: A Different Perspective
45:01 Transitioning from Combat to Planning
01:02:16 Imagining Future Conflicts
01:09:33 Character Dynamics in Special Forces
01:10:20 Geopolitical Tensions and Technological Advancements
01:15:27 The Challenge of Information Assurance
01:25:29 Countering Drone Technology
01:27:21 Reception and Future of Wretched Descent


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support.

Hosted by Jack Murphy, The Team House is a long-form conversation built around a simple, powerful premise: to understand national security, you need to listen to the people who have been there. This podcast deliberately steps away from the partisan noise, offering a fiercely apolitical space where special operations veterans, intelligence professionals, and frontline reporters can share their experiences and analysis. Many guests here are speaking publicly for the very first time, providing raw, firsthand accounts that you won't find elsewhere. Each episode is a deep dive into the realities of conflict, the nuanced tradecraft of intelligence work, and the underlying geopolitical forces that shape global events. The conversations are detailed, often technical, and always grounded in the lived expertise of the guests. Alongside this main show, the The Team House network includes the sister program Eyes On Geopolitics, hosted by Mick Mulroy, Andy Milburn, and Jason Lyons, which continues the focus on global dynamics with a similarly experienced lens. For listeners seeking substance over soundbites, this podcast delivers complex narratives about modern warfare, espionage, and international relations, told directly by the individuals who have operated within these shadowed worlds. It’s a rare opportunity to hear unfiltered perspectives on the most critical security challenges of our time, making each episode an immersive lesson in the human and strategic dimensions of power.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Official website RSS
The Team House
Podcast Episodes
Former Green Beret and SMU Operator | David Carmichael | Ep. 412 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:23
David Carmichael joins us to discuss his memoir Gray Man: A Life Lived Under the Radar, tracing his life from growing up in missionary communities across West Africa to surviving abusive boarding schools and eventually f…
Navy SEAL Operator: From 9/11 to Fighting ISIS | Joe Taverner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:01
Former Navy SEAL Joe Taverner joins us to discuss his career from joining the Navy before 9/11 to deployments in the Philippines, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the fight against ISIS. He breaks down hunting Abu Sayyaf in Zamboa…
NSA vs CIA: A Former Analyst Explains the Difference | Alma Katsu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:48
Former NSA and CIA analyst Alma Katsu joins us to discuss her career in intelligence, from the analog era of NSA and early hacking programs to CIA work on social media, disinformation, and emerging technology. She also b…
Why We Can't Beat Iran | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:20
This episode features a deep discussion on current geopolitical tensions, military strategies, and U.S. foreign policy, with insights from experts on Iran, NATO, and U.S. military operations. The conversation covers rece…
24th STS Operator | Chad McCoy (throwback episode) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:38:32
original airdate 11/4/22Chad McCoy served in the Air Force for over 22 years, 18 of which with the 24th STS. (24th Special Tactics Squadron). Chad has been on 17 deployments the majority of which with JSOC and earned the…
Is the U.S. Headed Back Into War With Iran? | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:17
We break down the latest on the Iran conflict, the stalled diplomacy, and why the Strait of Hormuz has become Tehran’s most powerful bargaining chip. We dig into whether the U.S. or Israel would actually resume military…

12345...10»