558: What We Can Learn From John Spencer Almost Dying 20 Times.

Jocko Willink interviews John Spencer, whose military survival stories illustrate the powerful lessons that shaped him throughout his career, from intuition and common sense to the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood.

Near-Death Experiences Reveal Intuition's Power

Spencer recounts a near-death experience involving an IED in Iraq. He notices a wire with unusual yellow insulation leading to a half-buried artillery shell. Trusting logic, he considers just pulling the wire aside—a routine soldiers have done before—but his gut warns him something is off. He credits his subconscious, informed by "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin de Becker, for triggering this lifesaving warning. Instead of acting impulsively, Spencer calls EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), a decision that takes hours but saves lives. EOD discovers the device is a booby-trapped complex of four 155 rounds and a tripwire. Spencer’s decision, grounded in gut instinct, prevents certain catastrophe.

Willink emphasizes that intuition is our subconscious brain leveraging ancient pattern recognition for survival. While logic and procedure are vital, ignoring intuition in life-or-death situations can be fatal. Both agree that soldiers often override these gut feelings, not realizing the value of thousands of years of evolutionary wisdom kicking in at the critical moment.

Iraq Combat Operations Show Common Sense Overrules Complex Planning

In another story from Iraq, Spencer’s unit is ordered by higher headquarters to install concertina wire and warning signs at a crossroads, even though it is the middle of the night and the intended audience is unclear. Spencer debates clarifying the order but ultimately follows the order's spirit, not its letter. When the attack begins, he quickly removes and discards the wire and signs, focusing on the core objective—unit safety and mission success. He does not pass impractical requirements to his men, understanding that excessive adherence to bureaucracy can jeopardize operational integrity.

Willink and Spencer discuss how common sense must not be overshadowed by procedural rigidity. The military’s vast system of plans and doctrines can obscure obvious solutions, particularly when leaders become too fixated on process. The five principles of patrolling—planning, reconnaissance, security, control, and common sense—exist because the latter saves lives. Willink recalls a mentor who could spot obvious, practical solutions that others missed because they were too close to the problem. The lesson is clear: leaders must retain perspective and not let detailed decision-making processes smother practicality and survival instincts.

In Ranger School, the maxim “one more step” symbolizes mental fortitude and practical awareness. When the human body is pushed to its breaking point by exposure and deprivation, survival depends as much on common sense and mental toughness as on tactics or procedure.

Dangerous Encounters Test Character and Require Quick Decisions

In a harrowing incident in Iraq, Spencer’s team faces the chaos of combat and the inevitable unpredictability of war. During a nighttime operation, an Iraqi civilian van, driving without lights, plows into their convoy at high speed, killing six civilians instantly. The team survives—not due to superior tactics, but because they happened to be in an up-armored Humvee, which absorbed the impact. Spencer emphasizes that sheer chance and equipment, rather than tactical brilliance, made the difference between life and death.

The aftermath demands rapid decisions and character. The severely wounded are treated as quickly as possible: a medevac arrives, and Spencer ensures all injured soldiers—including those who protest—are evacuated, resisting bravado for the sake of survival. May and Wood, though badly injured, ultimately recover enough to walk, but not to run, and are discharged from the Army.

In another account, Spencer’s team faces risks while exploring Gaza’s tunnels—dangerous operations that rely on experienced soldiers to control the situation and ensure survival, reinforcing the importance of steady leadership and ...

Effective leadership depends not just on power or expertise, but on clear personal principles and codes of conduct. John Spencer and Jocko Willink discuss how such values shape character, guide actions in the face of uncertainty, and enable meaningful relationships with subordinates, superiors, and local partners.

Creating a Personal or Family Code of Conduct Guides Decisions in Stress and Ambiguity

Both Spencer and Willink argue that explicit, articulated codes of conduct are vital guideposts in moments of stress and ambiguity. Spencer describes the Spencer family code—"strong in mind and body; improve both every day; treat all people with kindness; respect is earned, never owed; own your decisions; never lie, cheat, or steal; do not seek meaning from others; persevere; given nothing"—which draws heavily from military values such as those found in the West Point cadet conduct code.

Integrating military values with personal beliefs, the code establishes expectations regardless of context, enabling consistent behavior whether in family life or under military pressure. Willink notes that such codes are distinct from military ones like the Ranger Creed or Army Values, but are rooted in similar principles. He contends that a personal or family code allows individuals to steer their actions deliberately rather than leaving their conduct to chance.

Having these general guidelines lets leaders, from the youngest soldiers to those in command positions, make better, faster decisions during moments of confusion or crisis. Without a guiding code, people are directionless and may flounder when facing ethical dilemmas.

Balance Loyalty and Truthfulness in Reporting Violations and Difficult Situations

Leadership often requires navigating the gray zone between rules and relationships. Spencer recounts an incident where a young lieutenant had a negligent weapon discharge—a serious violation requiring formal reporting up the chain of command. Instead, Spencer managed the situation internally, ensuring the officer faced visible consequences and that the unit understood this was not a case of covering for someone.

This decision weighed unit cohesion, the possibility for the officer’s redemption, and Spencer’s own commitment to honesty during follow-up discussions with his commander. Willink emphasizes that such judgment is crucial; covering for subordinates without context can create dangerous precedents, but rigidity can also undermine morale and trust. Leaders must clearly communicate their reasoning and boundaries, so the standard of accountability remains intact.

Integrity in leadership, they agree, isn’t mechanically applying rules but discerning context, accepting risk, and always remaining prepared to defend one’s decisions based on honorable motives rather than self-interest.

Respect Differs From Honor and Can Not Be Forced or Demanded

Spencer and Willink both reflect on the difference between respect and honor, particularly in masculine and military environments. Spencer shares a painful lesson after losing his ear in a fight—a response he justified through a belief that disrespect warranted violence. This incident led to his removal from the Ranger Regiment and taught him how ego-based reactions can damage lives and careers.

True respect, they agree, is built through consistency, excellence, and integrity, not toughness or intimidation. Willink highlights that respect is a deep admiration for character and achievement, not something that can be forced, shouted, or avenged through violence. Youth, particularly young men, often struggle to distinguish between ego-driven reactions and credibility established through character. Professional leaders earn lasting respect through their actions and performance—not their demands.

Orders Exist On a Spectrum; Leaders Must Judge Compliance vs. Pushback for Lawful, Unlawful, or Stupid Orders

Leaders must judge whether to comply with orders or push back. Willink and Spencer distinguish between lawful, unlawful, and "stupid" orders. Obedience to clearly unlawful orders—such as those behind the My Lai Massacre—remains rare in ethical militaries, and true professionalism means refusing such instructions regardless of risk or fallout.

More commonly, leaders face lawful but suboptima ...

Recent global conflicts show the evolution of urban warfare, with complex local dynamics, advancing technology, and enduring lessons about resilience and military adaptation. These conflicts—from Gaza to Ukraine, Lebanon, the Caucasus, and Kashmir—demonstrate that while technology increases precision and lethality, the core challenges of urban fighting, civilian protection, and endurance remain.

Gaza's Urban Warfare: Challenges With Tunnels, Civilians, and Drones

Gaza presents extreme challenges for urban warfare due to its dense environment, highly-developed tunnel networks, and the presence of civilians. John Spencer notes that the Gaza Strip has an estimated 600 miles of tunnels, constructed over twenty years. Finding tunnel entrances is complicated by rubble and urban devastation. Collecting actionable intelligence requires drilling holes along suspected tunnel paths and inserting cameras. Once discovered, tunnels are cleared by robots and dogs, but human infiltration remains a last resort due to the risks from hidden explosives, ambushes, and blast doors designed to thwart robotic investigation.

One unique tunnel was designed to pour thousands of soldiers across the Israeli border, although Hamas did not use it on October 7th. After significant investment, Israel sealed the Gaza-Egypt border, destroying tunnels inch-by-inch, removing the flow of weapons into Gaza. The IDF’s tunnel-clearing brigade deploys specialized engineers using sophisticated robotics, but full clearance takes years. Tunnels are filled with concrete or explosives; some are so extensive that vehicular traffic is possible inside, and elaborate ventilation is required to prevent suffocation.

Wire-guided drones are an emerging threat. These commercial drones, adapted for war, can fly almost 15 kilometers under wire control—rendering electronic countermeasures largely ineffective. They have been used lethally against IDF soldiers, forcing Israel to constantly adapt defense tactics.

Israel now controls about 60% of Gaza, with a "Yellow Line" dividing Israeli-controlled from Hamas territory. IDF forces sit on outposts along this line, clearing tunnels from the devastated rubble fields while facing persistent infiltration attempts. Many unexploded ordnance items complicate civilian return and normalization. Hamas sometimes repurposes unexploded bombs as IEDs, posing ongoing danger even in controlled areas.

Hamas maintains a radicalized and young recruit base; occupations in Hamas-controlled zones are often limited to roles like tunnel digging or fighting, given the group’s control of virtually all economic activity and aid flows. De-radicalization and economic reconstruction are considered essential, but remain aspirational amid current violence.

Ukraine's Defense Highlights the Importance of Veteran Soldiers and Experienced Commanders Despite Technological Advancement

Ukraine’s urban defense draws on a population with deep combat experience, overturning conventional expectations. Spencer’s manual for urban defense was translated and distributed throughout Ukraine, quickly being implemented even by local defense militias. Key points included street blockades, building strongpoints, and ambush tactics. Ukraine’s capacity to slow the Russian advance hinged not on untrained civilians—as imagined in popular culture—but on armed veterans and local commanders rallying resistance.

Veterans, sometimes grandfathers fighting with RPGs from rooftops, proved decisive against Russian convoys, highlighting the need for organization, will to fight, and decentralized command in urban warfare. Russian planners underestimated this veteran-led resistance, misjudging how swiftly and effectively they could transform a volunteer force into an effective urban defensive network.

Spencer clarifies that, contra the Hollywood narrative of teenage freedom fighters, successful resistance in Ukraine—and in any modern "Red Dawn" scenario—depends on experienced veterans, not solely enthusiastic youth.

Lebanon's Conflict Reveals Hezbollah's Supply Lines Disrupted by Syria's Political Shift, Israel's Operational Successes

Since October 7th, conflict in Lebanon has intensified. Hezbollah, long financed by Iran and formerly able to resupply through Syria, faces new constraints. The fall of Assad’s government amid Israeli operations cut off a critical supply corridor. The new Syrian regime, hostile to Iran, actively blocks weapons shipments—including wire-guided drones—that once flowed freely to Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has not only expanded tunnels but also constructed vast bunker complexes over two decades. Whereas Gaza’s tunnels are usually collapsed with concrete or liquid explosives, Lebanon’s bunkers require manual emplacement of explosives throughout caverns and tunnels, sometimes causing seismic activity upon demolition. Each method reflects adaptations to local terrain and enemy infrastructure.

Wire-guided drones, similar to those in Ukraine, now threaten the IDF in Lebanon. Their low-flying, wire-directed patterns circumvent electronic jamming and have inflicted significant casualties.

The division of labor between Israel and Lebanon is unprecedented. While not formal allies, the Lebanese Army is moving into zones cleared of Hezbollah by Israel, working—sometimes in tandem, sometimes in tenuous coordination—to hold and stabilize territory. This negotiated environment gives Lebanon a rare opportunity to build government capacity in areas once dominated by an Iranian proxy. For the first time, Lebanon recognizes Israel’s statehood in certain forums, a massive step for regional relations. Israeli advances remain the most significant since the 2006 Lebanon w ...

This account details John Spencer’s journey through some of the most demanding military environments, from grueling training events to direct observations of modern urban warfare, showing how elite soldiers cultivate fieldcraft, decision-making, and leadership under extreme pressure.

Ranger School and Best Ranger Competition Are the Toughest Military Tests, Pushing Soldiers To Their Physical and Mental Limits

Spencer recounts starting his service at age 19 with the elite 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis—an environment where fitness and preparation are paramount. He describes how becoming a Ranger instructor was his only chance to participate in iconic competitions like the Best Ranger Competition, which he likens to the Olympics for soldiers.

Half of Competitors Drop Out On Day one of Best Ranger Competition

The Best Ranger Competition is notorious for its difficulty. Soldiers must endure months of intense, specialized training in advance—including running, swimming, land navigation, and obstacle courses. Competitors are selected after divisional and regimental tryouts focused on those considered most capable of winning. Just qualifying requires athletes to be in “extreme physical shape,” akin to pro-level preparation with doctors and dietitians, because bodies are pushed to the limit. Despite this, about 50% of entrants drop out on the first day; only those able to recover rapidly after each grueling event can continue.

Spencer's Survival: Boot Tangled In Cargo Net During Unexpected Equipment Upgrade Fall

Spencer’s experience included a brush with disaster: competing on a 40-foot cargo net, he used a practiced descent move, but an equipment upgrade had tightened the net. He lost control, free-fell about 40 feet, and was saved from serious injury or death when his boot snagged in the net—allowing him to disentangle and keep competing, even as medics rushed toward him.

Strategically Weighted Competition For Point Maximization

The competition’s structure rewards not just overall performance but strategic mastery. Rest periods are determined by event finish times, so those who finish early get precious recovery time, while slow finishers start the next event more fatigued. Specific events carry greater point value—such as unknown-distance road marches and land navigation, where covering more distance means more points—making it essential for teams to maximize performance where it matters most. Teams carefully track which events to prioritize for top placement for maximum point gain.

Opposing Force Rotations at Combat Training Centers Enhance Fieldcraft and Tactical Cunning Beyond Regular Training

Spencer describes how Combat Training Centers create realistic opposing force (OPFOR) scenarios that push tactical fieldcraft to the next level.

Lone Sniper Spencer Demonstrates Disproportionate Battlefield Impact

In one OPFOR rotation, Spencer found himself alone after his squad was “killed” early in the exercise. He adopted sniper tactics, moving undetected for days and “eliminating” high-value targets with a laser system. His actions baffled exercise controllers—a demonstration of how a single skilled operator, enabled by fieldcraft, can influence an entire battlefield scenario.

Mentor Urges Fieldwork For Spencer, Offering Unique Learning Beyond Protocols

Spencer’s mentor, taking note of Spencer’s unique ongoing impact, allowed him to remain in the field contrary to standard safety protocols, arguing that the real learning came from being in the thick of events—not following the letter of training scripts.

Soldiers Rotating Through Opposing Force Duties Develop Effective Field Skills For Combat Operations

Such rotations immerse soldiers in thinking like the enemy, honing their ability to operate with cunning and initiative—skills critical for real-world combat, where unpredictability and adaptation are as important as rehearsed tactics.

Immediate Action Needed On Tip About Saddam Hussein's Location

Combat operations often force leaders to make decisions with limited information and minimal planning time.

Spencer's Platoon Had Twenty Minutes to Plan a Raid, Unlike the Months for the Bin Laden Operation

Spencer’s unit received sudden intelligence suggesting Saddam Hussein’s location. Unlike the months of meticulous preparation that characterized the later Bin Laden raid, they had only 20 minutes to formulate a plan—assembling and briefing squad leaders, glancing at maps, and launching the operation under genuine pressure.

Rapid Decisions in Imperfect Conditions Reflect Combat Realities, as Waiting Loses Opportunities

Both Spencer and Jocko Willink underscore that in real-world missions, waiting for perfect plans risks missing critical opportunities. Action taken quickly, even if imperfect, is often better than risking paralysis through excessive planning.

Raid Dry, but Saddam Found Nearby, Validating Intelligence Despite Result

Although their direct search turned up empty, Saddam was found soon after hiding in a farm near their target area, validating the quality of the intelligence and the necessity of acting quickly in combat conditions.

Presence in Leadership Means Firsthand Observation

Spencer highlights the irreplaceable value of physically witnessing battlefield conditions and operations.

Spencer's Firsthand Insights Into the Hamas Tunnel's Construction, Ventilation, and Scale

Visiting Gaza after hostilities, Spencer entered an immense Hamas tunnel—large enough to drive vehicles through, ventilated to avoid ...

John Spencer and Jocko Willink explore how character is shaped and revealed through stress, responsibility, discipline, duty, and perseverance. Through combat stories, training memories, and reflections on military values, they show that integrity, trust, and commitment are tested in moments both extraordinary and routine.

Stress Tests Character: Principles Maintained or Abandoned?

Spencer recounts a catastrophic explosion during a test fire, with a cloud visible for miles and calls pouring in. There was no hiding the mistake; the sky itself told the story. Faced with this unambiguous evidence, Spencer chose to immediately report what had happened, demonstrating that integrity requires stepping up and taking responsibility even for massive failures. He notes that while it can be easy to do the right thing in such obvious situations, true character is also revealed in quieter moments, such as resisting bribery. At a checkpoint, Spencer was offered $10,000 to let someone through, a temptation many might face. He refused, upholding his principles even when no one was watching.

Spencer emphasizes that stress exposes who people really are: “stress reveals character.” It is not just about not lying, cheating, or stealing; it is about maintaining integrity as a durable internal compass, doing what’s right for one’s unit, family, or self without compromise. He observes that these stressful moments, big or small, test and sometimes change a person, reinforcing that character is forged and measured in adversity.

Responsibility and Consequences Build Trust and Cohesion

Spencer illustrates that trust is foundational in all human relationships—soldier to commander, employee to boss, spouse to spouse. When mistakes happen, responsibly owning them builds the kind of credibility that shields leaders from the failure that comes with blame-shifting or deception. After the negligent weapon discharge in his unit, Spencer chose to manage the incident internally, transparently, and in front of his soldiers, refusing to cover it up. This openness fosters trust and morale.

Taking personal responsibility, like managing the disposal of concertina wire himself, ensures the team can accomplish its mission and underscores the leader’s confidence in both standards and subordinates. A leader who accepts blame and bears burdens for the team builds cohesion; those who deflect or hide mistakes fracture trust that is nearly impossible to restore.

Discipline: Acting On Values Without Supervision, Making Daily Hard Choices Consistently

Discipline, as Spencer and Willink agree, emerges from the daily grind—the repeated choice to put in extra work, pursue mastery, and internalize standards rather than wait for orders. Spencer’s success was built on dedication to mastering training and constant study, effort applied day after day.

Willink shares that discipline is not merely physical but mental endurance, illustrated by Azerbaijani soldiers who climbed mountains with heavy gear, executing demanding plans through pure perseverance and repeated value-driven choices. Discipline is described as a form of freedom—by making consistent, value-aligned choices, individuals enable themselves and their teams to operate effectively, especially when unobserved.

Duty Involves Fulfilling Obligations To Something Greater, Maintaining Faith Even When Costly

Duty, for Spencer and his comrades, means fulfilling obligations to something larger than themselves, even at ...