Sheriff of Baghdad John 'Shrek' McPhee | Mike Ritland Podcast Episode 195

Jul 8, 2024

John 'Shrek' McPhee, a retired U.S. Army Special Operations Sergeant Major and Delta Force operator, shares riveting stories from his two-decade military career. He dives into his early days growing up in Chicago and how he transitioned into elite forces. John discusses his solo missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, the importance of stealth, and the challenges of working with military dogs. He reflects on post-service struggles, emphasizing the role of daily routines in recovery. Plus, find out why he's nicknamed 'Shrek' and his thoughts on effective training and mindset.

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INSIGHT

Adversity Built Resilience

Early life adversity (getting beaten daily) shaped McPhee's resilience and perspective.
He frames danger as a fact of life and chooses not to let it ruin his day.

ADVICE

Use Controlled Quits To Manage Suck

Use a partner 'quit' system during extreme training to manage mental threshold.
Allowing controlled short quits refreshes decision-making and endurance.

ANECDOTE

Solo Snatch Then Trojan-Horse Assault

McPhee told a solo snatch story in Afghanistan where he filmed a target, navigated checkpoints, and guided an assault force back in.
He rigged trucks as Trojan horses, helped capture the target, and called gunship support when locals massed.

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John McPhee, widely known as “The Sheriff of Baghdad” or “SHREK,” is a retired U.S. Army Special Operations Sergeant Major with over 20 years of distinguished service. A retired DELTA Force Operator, John was responsible for countless solo missions in country across a number of combat theaters all through out the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. After retiring from active duty, John founded the S.O.B. Tactical brand to extend his expertise to civilians, law enforcement, and militaries worldwide.

Talking to John, one thing's for sure - he's not one to apologize about anything. In fact, he's more down to earth than you might expect, and he's more than happy to answer any questions anybody dares to throw at him. So how does a homegrown Chicago man go on to run solo missions of the highest order? How does one develop the skills necessary to pass their skillset onto the next generation? And most importantly - why the hell do people call him 'Shrek' anyway? Let's meet John.

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YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@sobtactical

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