Apologia Radio 545. The Return of the War Department w/Captain Brad Geary
Oct 9, 2025
Captain Brad Geary, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL with 29 years of service, shares insights into military culture and leadership. He discusses his transition to consulting and writing, along with the revitalization of the War Department, emphasizing the need for a strong military as a deterrent. Brad critiques institutional decay and advocates for high standards in combat readiness, while opposing DEI training in favor of meritocracy. He highlights the importance of leadership in combat and the necessity of holistic support for troops to enhance fitness and morale.
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Return To A Warfighting Posture
- Returning to a War Department mindset reframes posture from defensive to offensive deterrence.
- Captain Brad Geary says this liberates leaders to focus on lethality and mission.
How Incremental Change Broke Readiness
- Incremental cultural shifts turned risk-taking into institutional risk aversion over years.
- Geary compares it to the boiling-frog effect and warns institutions normalize bad practices.
Control The Three Combat Variables
- Train, equip, and lead well because leaders control only a few variables in combat.
- Prioritize those controllable areas to give warfighters the best chance when Murphy and the enemy act.