Ops Brief 064: Daily Drop - 23 June 2025 (Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER & China's Buying Our Secrets)
Send us a textStrap in, because this Daily Drop drops bombs—literally. Jared’s back from the San Diego Operator Training Summit and immediately diving into the nuclear circus known as Operation Midnight Hammer—the largest B-2 strike in U.S. history. We’re talking 125+ aircraft, deception ops worthy of Hollywood, and a casual flex on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. But don’t worry, the Pentagon swears it’s not “regime change.”Also in this episode:CENTCOM’s tanker games, shady KC-135 logistics, and a DoD recruiting task force that somehow thinks legal and public affairs are your new talent magnets (spoiler: they’re not).A Marine takes over the F-35 program, we slap “F-47” on our next-gen fighter because Trump said so, and someone in Oregon thinks they can tell the federal government what to do with the National Guard.Oh—and China’s getting military secrets from broke Army NCOs. Cool. Cool cool cool.This one's loaded with hot takes, hard truths, and the usual blend of sarcasm and side-eye from the Ones Ready crew. Buckle up, buttercup.🔥 Key Takeaways:🇺🇸 Operation Midnight Hammer: 125+ aircraft, including 7 B-2s dropping bunker busters on Iran. Largest B-2 op ever.🎭 Deception Game Strong: B-2s faked a trip to the Pacific—classic rope-a-dope move.☢️ Fordow Facility Hit: Heavy damage confirmed, but Iran probably played musical chairs with their gear ahead of time.🛢️ Strait of Hormuz Drama: Iran threatens to shut it down—Rubio calls it “economically disastrous.”🤡 DoD Recruiting Task Force: Featuring public affairs and lawyers. What could possibly go wrong?🧠 Air Force Readiness Crisis: Old jets, no pilots, and China licking their chops.🕵️♂️ Espionage Alert: An Army NCO tried selling secrets to China. More like “Joint Base Leakcord.”🚫 Transgender Troop Ban: Back in the headlines. Controversy guaranteed.🛸 Space Force’s Vibes: From honoring WWII Airmen to blocking housing developments for “mission disruption.”⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome back & OTS San Diego recap 01:00 – Operation Midnight Hammer: What really happened 02:25 – Fordow nuclear facility gets smoked 03:05 –Support the showJoin this channel to get access to perks: HEREBuzzsprout Subscription page: HERECollabs:Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: 1Ready ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLeteCardoMax - Promo Code: ONESREADYDanger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYDFND Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYHoist - Promo Code: ONESREADYKill Cliff - Pro...
--------
16:20
Ep 484: From Thunderbirds Maintainer to Netflix Star - TSgt Xavier Knapp!
Send us a textLet’s get one thing straight—this ain’t your typical Air Force hype-fest. Xavier Knapp went from "please God, not F-16s" to becoming the standout maintainer in Netflix’s Thunderbirds documentary. In this episode, we pull the curtain all the way back on what it really means to be a top-tier wrench-turner in the Air Force. Xavier shares the unfiltered truth about failing out of EOD, getting slapped in the face (literally) by maintenance, and grinding through 120° days and freezing nights to keep jets flying. He breaks down the hard-earned pride of maintenance culture, the myth and reality of the Thunderbirds, and why tight uniforms and tighter standards actually matter. If you think being a Thunderbird is all glitz and no grit, this one’s going to hurt your feelings. Let Xavier wreck your cynicism—and maybe inspire you to raise your own damn standards.🔥 Key Takeaways:💥 “I didn’t want to be a crew chief… definitely not on F-16s.” Guess what he got.🧠 Failure isn't weakness—quitting is. Xavier failed EOD but stayed in and built a career.🔧 Maintainers hold the line. No glory, no thanks—just jets in the air.😤 Dirty uniforms, broken noses, and 20-minute jobs that become 3-hour soul crushers.🧠 The real NCO magic: translating officer-speak into buy-in from the trenches.✋ Thunderbirds aren’t just a show—they’re the public face of Air Force standards.🤝 Best friends turned rivals turned brothers. Aviano lightning-in-a-bottle team culture.🎯 “Either we have standards, or we don’t.” Simple as that.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – The Ones Ready intro + Thunderbirds doc hype 01:30 – Why the Pose Fitness App might save your push-up dreams 03:45 – Meet Xavier Knapp: Netflix star & Thunderbird maintainer 05:50 – EOD dreams crushed, crew chief reality accepted 09:30 – Surprise: F-16 maintenance is kinda badass 13:00 – That moment you realize you are the adult on the flight line 17:30 – How strong NCOs and real teammates build you up 23:45 – The Aviano dream team, and lessons from a Puerto Rican rival 28:00 – Pride, pain, and busted noses—what being a maintainer actually means 35:00 – Why Support the showJoin this channel to get access to perks: HEREBuzzsprout Subscription page: HERECollabs:Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: 1Ready ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLeteCardoMax - Promo Code: ONESREADYDanger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYDFND Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYHoist - Promo Code: ONESREADYKill Cliff - Pro...
--------
1:06:55
Ep 483: Trent’s Origin Story: How Pain and Pressure Built a Savage Mentor
Send us a textThis isn’t just an episode — it’s a character arc. For the first time, Trent pulls back the curtain on how his life before the pipeline forged the fire he brings to every candidate now. From getting his teeth kicked in (literally) during his early military career, to surviving brutal operational deployments, to losing everything that mattered and rebuilding from scratch — this is his blueprint.It’s not a sob story. It’s a leadership autopsy. And it's why he's allergic to your excuses. If you’ve ever wondered why Trent holds the standard so relentlessly or why he gives zero oxygen to pity parties, here’s your answer: he’s lived the consequences of failure, mediocrity, and accountability — and still came out swinging.This episode is raw, emotional, and required listening for anyone claiming they want to lead warriors. Don’t bring your ego. Bring a notebook.🔥 Key Takeaways:Trent’s life wasn’t a prep course. It was a crucible.He didn’t “become” — he earned it through failure, growth, and relentless recalibration.Real leadership comes from scars, not slogans.If you're chasing the title but not the sacrifice, you missed the point.His pain didn’t make him bitter — it made him honest.Candidates think the pipeline is hard. Try surviving your own life first.Trent’s not mad at you — he just refuses to lie to you.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: Why This One’s Personal 04:10 – Trent’s Humble Beginnings and First Gut-Checks 09:30 – Losing Battles, Losing Family, and What It Cost 15:45 – The Moment It All Snapped Into Focus 22:00 – From Broken to Brutal: Earning the Right to Lead 29:15 – Why He Won’t Coddle You (Because No One Coddled Him) 36:00 – The Real Reason He’s So Hard on Candidates 42:20 – Trent’s Advice for Anyone Who Thinks They’re Ready 48:00 – Closing Thoughts: What It Means to Truly Serve🎯 Call-to-Actions:LIKE if you’ve ever grown through something that almost broke you.SUBSCRIBE if you’re tired of sugarcoated leadership content.COMMENT: What part of Trent’s story hit hardest?Leave a 5⭐ REVIEW if you want moreSupport the showJoin this channel to get access to perks: HEREBuzzsprout Subscription page: HERECollabs:Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: 1Ready ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLeteCardoMax - Promo Code: ONESREADYDanger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYDFND Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYHoist - Promo Code: ONESREADYKill Cliff - Pro...
--------
57:27
Ep 482: Live Q&A with AFSW Recruiter!
Send us a textWhat happens when a guy born in Mexico, raised in Montana, gets denied reentry into the Air Force for nearly six years—and comes back swinging as Puerto Rico’s first full-time AFSW recruiter? You get this episode.Peaches sits down with a recruiter who has seen every side of the Air Force: enlisted mechanic, disgruntled civilian, determined returnee, and now the face of Special Warfare recruiting across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. This live Q&A is raw, real, and packed with advice you won’t find in any pamphlet.They cover everything from sneaky prior-service roadblocks and cross-training myths to what it’s like building a pipeline in a place where half the population still thinks “military” just means “Army.” If you're thinking about enlisting, crossing over, or even just wondering if 5'2" is too short to ruck 10 miles—this one’s for you.🔥 Key Takeaways:It took him 5 years and 8 months to get back in—but he never quit.Puerto Rico gets its first-ever full-time Special Warfare recruiter (and it shows).Prior-service lists? Yeah, they're real—and limited AF.Physical standards matter, but mental reps are what’ll save you.Yes, 5'2" is fine. So is being 33. You’re not washed. Yet.Don’t bring your whole family during the pipeline. You’ll regret it.The recruiter isn’t “just” a recruiter—they’re the front line of this community.A bachelor's degree doesn’t make you too good to enlist.“Three workouts a day” isn’t a joke—it’s the minimum for some of these applicants.He talks trash on purpose to weed out the weak. And it works.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome: Peaches forgets names again 01:00 – Recruiter origin story: Mexico ➝ Montana ➝ Mechanic ➝ Perseverance 06:00 – 5 years to rejoin: Why it took so long 10:30 – Puerto Rico’s first full-time AFSW recruiter 14:00 – Motivating the “can’t do a pull-up” crowd 18:00 – 33-year-old female asks how to support AFSW (we got you) 22:00 – “Enlisted is not beneath you”—Peaches breaks down the roles 26:00 – Why going officer isn’t always better 30:00 – Six-year contract beneSupport the showJoin this channel to get access to perks: HEREBuzzsprout Subscription page: HERECollabs:Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: 1Ready ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLeteCardoMax - Promo Code: ONESREADYDanger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYDFND Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYHoist - Promo Code: ONESREADYKill Cliff - Pro...
--------
1:05:43
***Sneak Peek*** MBRS 54: $2B Crop Dusters & British Hate Crimes
Send us a textIn this absolute banger of an episode, Peaches and Trent casually disassemble the military-industrial complex, parenting guilt, British censorship, and how not to run a drone program… all while planning t-shirt logistics and surviving haunted Airbnbs. It’s like sitting in on a leadership meeting, a roast, and an existential crisis—all at the same time.We kick things off with crop dusters—no, not the fart kind, the literal aircraft AFSOC spent $2 billion on instead of investing in drone tech that actually works at elevation. Then we spiral into public affairs drama (hi PAO 👋), complain about retired intel officers who suddenly think they know how to run special ops, and go deep on fatherhood and why we’ll never get it right (but we’re gonna keep trying anyway).There’s also a solid takedown of British “hate speech” laws, a nostalgic breakdown of the chaos of pipeline prep, and a reminder that the best way to become famous is to get arrested by the UK’s constables.You’ll laugh, you’ll get fired up, you’ll want to call your kid and apologize for being on your phone earlier.🔥 Key Takeaways:AFSOC spent $2 billion on a glorified crop duster that can’t fly far, high, or long. But hey, at least it looks like it does something.Our drone program? Worth about 1.3% of that. But sure, let’s keep crashing them into Walmart roofs.Military leadership sometimes cares more about “protecting the image” than fixing the actual problems.Honest feedback is rare because people look up to you—until they're behind your back calling your event “mid.”Being a dad is mostly wondering if you were emotionally unavailable this week or just tired.If you’re gonna shoot someone in self-defense—make sure they’re dead. Not our words, just... ask any cop.The British will arrest you for saying mean things in a group chat. Jared hopes they try.Haunted Airbnbs are still better than futons.Introverts are people too. They just talk less and feel more.Being real gets you shadowbanned. Being loud gets you cancelled. But being honest? That gets you members.🎯 Call-to-Actions: 🚨 Like, Comment, and Subscribe before weSupport the showJoin this channel to get access to perks: HEREBuzzsprout Subscription page: HERECollabs:Ones Ready - OnesReady.com 18A Fitness - Promo Code: 1Ready ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLeteCardoMax - Promo Code: ONESREADYDanger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYDFND Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADYHoist - Promo Code: ONESREADYKill Cliff - Pro...
A team of active duty Combat Control (CCT), Pararescue (PJ), and Special Reconnaissance (SR) leveraging our 69 years of special operations experience to make the next generation of operators smarter, faster and stronger than we ever were. We are the PREMIERE resource for all things Air Force Special Warfare. The Ones Ready Podcast is honest talk about what it is like to go from a know-nothing high school graduate to an elite Special Operator. We will cover important practices for success including physical training, nutrition, recovery, and mindset traits essential to any team. Join us in The Team Room to get all your questions answered!! With battle-tested operators from across USAF SPECWAR and far-reaching web of recruiters, subject matter experts, and friends, there are no questions we can’t answer- and if we can’t, we know exactly where to look. See you in The Team Room!Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the OnesReady team are those of the team and do not reflect the official policy or position of the DoD. Any content provided by our Podcast guests, bloggers, sponsors, or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign the DoD, any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone.