From The Green Notebook

Tough Rugged Bastards with John Dailey

Jul 5, 2025
John Dailey, a retired Marine Raider and author of 'Tough Rugged Bastards,' shares his journey through elite military service and the lessons learned along the way. He discusses the founding of Marine Special Operations and the importance of mentorship and trust in leadership. John emphasizes the transformative value of breath work, meditation, and literature, including how Stoic philosophy shaped his resilience. He candidly addresses the emotional and physical toll of service and the therapeutic benefits of writing in rediscovering identity post-military.
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ANECDOTE

Colonel's Tough Team Guidance

  • Colonel Coates told John Dailey to pick only "tough, rugged bastards" with hard backs and strong feet for his team.
  • This phrase inspired John to write his memoir titled Tough Rugged Bastards one day.
ADVICE

Empowerment via Commander's Intent

  • Give broad commander's intent to empower initiative and creativity in execution.
  • Trust between commander and team enables faster and more effective bottom-up innovation.
ADVICE

Breath Work and Meditation Benefits

  • Use breath work like box breathing to control heart rate, stay calm, and improve performance.
  • Meditation also helps manage stress and PTSD, boosting combat readiness and recovery.
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