The Real Marine Behind Generation Kill | Brad Colbert

The Real Marine Behind Generation Kill | Brad Colbert

Author: dee takos June 26, 2026 Duration: 2:20:57
Brad Colbert, retired Marine Force Recon veteran and one of the real Marines behind Generation Kill, joins us to talk about his path into the Corps, recon selection, 9/11 while forward deployed, Camp Rhino, and the early days of the war in Afghanistan.
We also get into the 2003 invasion of Iraq, how recon Marines were used as shock troops, his Royal Marines exchange, HBO’s Generation Kill, and the lessons he carried into life after the military.

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https://bradcolbert.us/

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00:00 — Start
03:04 — Carry On Podcast and Generation Kill Connections
04:08 — Rough Childhood and the Road to the Marines
11:06 — Recon Selection and the Recon vs. Force Recon Divide
15:52 — Okinawa, MEUs, and a Rare Marine Port Call in China
22:37 — 9/11 While Forward Deployed
25:25 — Camp Rhino and the Longest Amphibious Assault
32:31 — First Real Recon Missions in Afghanistan
40:34 — Afghanistan Lessons and the Ramp-Up to Iraq
50:00 — Iraq Mission Changes: Recon Marines as Shock Troops
55:54 — Crossing the Berm on Iraq D-Day
59:07 — Evan Wright, the Embedded Reporter, and Generation Kill
01:21:16 — The Royal Marines Exchange
01:29:04 — Fallujah 2007 and “Garrison Combat”
01:48:39 — HBO’s Generation Kill and the Legacy of the Story
01:58:37 — Leaving the Corps for the Intelligence Community
02:15:05 — Closing Thoughts: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

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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: 50

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