Dalton Fischer Podcast Delta Force Operator: Venezuela Raid, Psychology of Killing & Billy Lavigne | Josh Burton
Jan 31, 2026
Josh Burton, a 23-year Special Operations veteran and founder of Elevated Operator, shares raw stories from Delta, the Maduro raid, and life in the Ranger Regiment. He discusses the psychology of killing, the fallout of combat on identity and relationships, Billy Lavigne’s decline, and alternative healing approaches. Short, intense conversations on mission tradecraft, trauma, and the path toward recovery.
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Instantly Switching Between War And Home
- Elite operators must flip a mental switch between violence and normal life instantly.
- Josh Burton says that ability to switch gears is rare and central to selection and mission success.
Training Converts Paper Targets To People
- Training changed targets to look human to overcome innate reluctance to kill.
- Burton references Dave Grossman's On Killing to explain how training conditions soldiers to engage real people.
Moral Clarity Against Atrocities
- Burton felt no moral hesitation killing enemies he judged as evil, especially ISIS.
- He frames the role as necessary work and believes few people can perform it at that level.
