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The Spear

John Amble

The Spear is a podcast from the Modern War Institute at West Point. It aims to explore the combat experience, with each episode featuring a guest who tells a detailed and personal story, des...

Episodes

20 of 227 episodes

Foreign Area Officer in Iraq and Southeast Asia

In this episode, Dr. Charlie Faint sits down with retired Lieutenant Colonel Andre Rivier, a former infantry officer and foreign area office...

01:09:48Oct 22, 2026

SAG-U Commander's Action Group

In this episode, Colonel Mike Rosol joins MWI's Charlie Faint to reflect on a career spanning armored warfare, multiple deployments to Iraq...

01:22:30Oct 8, 2026

ISAF Planner in Afghanistan

In this episode with host Dr. Charlie Faint, retired Colonel Pat Howell reflects on a career that took him from the 82nd Airborne Division a...

01:07:18Sep 24, 2026

Night Stalkers Don’t Quit: An Interview With the Command Team of the 160th SOAR

In this episode of The Spear, host Charlie Faint sits down with the command team of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Colonel...

01:23:53Sep 10, 2026

Psychological Operations in Combat and on the Joint Staff

In this episode, Colonel Chaveso “Chevy” Cook sits down with MWI's Charlie Faint to recount a career that took him from a South Carolina JRO...

01:32:35Aug 27, 2026

Explosive Ordnance Technician in Training and Combat

Dr. Charlie Faint sits down with EOD officer Michael Villahermosa in this episode for a wide-ranging conversation about combat, leadership,...

01:26:54Aug 13, 2026

Joint Planner for Security Assistance Group–Ukraine

In this episode, Colonel Tiffany Bilderback joins MWI's Charlie Faint to discuss a career defined by coalition building, strategic leadershi...

00:59:45Jul 30, 2026

The Crucible of Innovation in the Indo-Pacific

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Dale Hunter joins MWI's Charlie Faint on this episode to discuss how a new Army unit—the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force...

01:09:21Jul 16, 2026

Observer, Coach, Trainer at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center

In this episode, MWI's Dr. Charlie Faint speaks with Captain Francis Ambrogio, an Army armor officer, West Point graduate, and observer, coa...

00:44:42Jul 2, 2026

Commanding a Multi-Domain Effects Battalion in the Indo-Pacific

In this episode, Dr. Charlie Faint hosts Lieutenant Colonel Tiane Garner, commander of the Multi-Domain Effects Battalion (MDEB) in the 1st...

00:44:42Jun 18, 2026

Long-Range Precision Fires and the Fight for the First Island Chain

In this episode of The Spear, host Dr. Charlie Faint speaks with Lieutenant Colonel Ben Blane about the rapid evolution of long-range precis...

00:46:00Apr 20, 2026

The Ranger Regiment's Fighting Platoon Sergeant

In this episode hosted by MWI's Charlie Faint, Retired Command Sergeant Major Curt Donaldson reflects on a career shaped by the 75th Ranger...

00:47:37Apr 6, 2026

Staying Alive in Iraq and Afghanistan

As a young platoon leader in Iraq during the 2003 invasion, John Faunce experienced the chaos of combat, including shifting missions, limite...

01:07:06Mar 24, 2026

Ranger Missions in Iraq and Afghanistan

In this episode of The Spear , author, journalist, and former US Army Ranger Marty Skovlund sits down with Dr. Charlie Faint to discuss a jo...

01:01:54Mar 10, 2026

Combat Interpreter in Iraq

Ayman Kafel and his family survived civil wars in Lebanon and Liberia before immigrating to the United States. Following the September 11 at...

01:06:02Feb 10, 2026

Route Clearance and Counterbattery in Iraq

JJ Pinter graduated from West Point and was commissioned as a field artillery officer. A few short years after 9/11, JJ found himself in Ira...

00:55:35Jan 16, 2026

Combat Surgery in Afghanistan

Fred Lough began his Army career as an engineer officer before deciding to leave military service to attend medical school and become a surg...

00:47:31Nov 19, 2025

Recovering a Downed Marine in Afghanistan

During his service as a combat rescue officer in the US Air Force, Captain Sal Sferrazza and his team of Air Force pararescue jumpers were d...

01:20:36Sep 10, 2025

Ranger Regiment J1 in Afghanistan

While serving as an infantry officer in the 75th Ranger Regiment, First Lieutenant Scott Filbert was deployed to Afghanistan to serve as the...

01:17:22Aug 29, 2025

Danger in Mosul

In 2005, Jeff Marshburn was a reconnaissance platoon leader in the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, in Mosul, Iraq. While leading his...

01:08:35Aug 8, 2025