Airs: The Spear Podcast - Requesting Aerial Combat Assistance
In a gripping episode of The Spear podcast, released in 2020, retired U.S. Marine Corps Officer David Berke shared his account of a dramatic close air support (CAS) mission in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006.
During the mission, Berke, a Marine officer assigned to an Army unit as a forward air controller, found himself supporting ground troops in a rural area that was met with incoming fire. The incident took place when a US Army element was on a movement-to-contact patrol.
The episode discusses Berke's heroic actions during the mission, where he coordinated the arrival of two Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornets to provide critical close air support. The lead pilot of the mission was a former squadron-mate of Berke's, who recognized him by his personal call sign, providing Berke a sense of relief.
Berke's combat experience in Ramadi has been a highlight of his service, showcasing his exceptional skills in coordination, timing, and use of aviation assets in a complex urban combat environment. He has leveraged his experiences into leadership speaking and training after his military retirement.
David Berke is a well-known speaker and author on leadership, a former TOPGUN instructor, and is credited for flying several fighter aircraft throughout his career. His account of the Ramadi mission is frequently mentioned in leadership contexts, emphasizing lessons learned from such missions.
Listeners can find The Spear on various podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, and others. The podcast encourages its audience to subscribe and leave ratings or reviews on their preferred platform.
For those seeking a more detailed narrative of the Ramadi incident, Berke's books, interviews, or military storytelling forums may provide a richer account of the events. The image credit for the episode is attributed to Lance Cpl. Michael Thorn, US Marine Corps.
[1] "David Berke: Leadership Lessons from a Marine Corps Aviator" - Forbes [4] "David Berke: From Marine Corps Officer to Leadership Speaker" - Military Times
Politics often intertwine with war-and-conflicts, as depicted in David Berke's account of the Ramadi mission in 2006. General news outlets, such as Forbes and Military Times, have highlighted Berke's leadership lessons from his service, including his experiences in Ramadi.
