Join Mike Ritland for a powerful conversation with Dave Berke – the only Marine to fly the F-16, F-18, F-22, and F-35, legendary TOPGUN instructor, and former Forward Air Controller attached to Jocko Willink’s Task Unit Bruiser in Ramadi. From elite fighter jets to street-level combat, Dave breaks down what real high-performance leadership looks like when lives are on the line.
He reveals the brutal TOPGUN debrief culture that forged lethal pilots, how 9/11 transformed the military overnight, why he left the world’s premier fighter school to fight on the ground in Iraq, and his unfiltered take on AI ending the era of the single-seat fighter pilot. Packed with raw lessons, this is one of the most intense veteran-to-veteran conversations you’ll hear.
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CHAPTERS
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:07:43 - Introducing Dave Berke
00:12:20 - Time Travel: WWII P-51 Pilot
00:22:45 - SoCal Upbringing, No Traditions
00:28:40 - Jets Overhead Sparked Dream
00:31:50 - Mentor Locked In F-18 Goal
00:39:00 - Path: F-18 → Top Gun → War
00:43:30 - Top Gun Movie vs Reality
00:47:10 - Top Gun Selection Process
00:57:40 - Max Performing the Jet
01:00:50 - AI & End of Manned Fighters
01:03:30 - Flying F-16, F-22, F-35
01:08:31 - First Combat Deployment 2000
01:10:21 - Meeting Jocko & Leif Babin in Ramadi
01:14:52 - Peeing & Snacks in Fighter Jets
01:18:23 - Go Pills & Staying Awake
01:22:22 - F-22 Raptor: The Ultimate Machine
01:27:19 - F-35 vs F-16 Analogy
01:34:13 - First Impression of Jocko & Leif
01:45:48 - Biggest Impact Mission (Aug 2, 2006)
01:54:22 - Legendary Ramadi Deployment
02:02:23 - Was Iraq Worth It?
02:07:18 - Almost Retired After Iraq
02:09:26 - Selected for Marine F-22 Exchange
02:17:20 - Stealth and Staying Undetected
02:23:18 - F-35 Sensor Revolution
02:27:19 - Pure Flying: F-16 Wins
02:29:04 - Why Marines Flew the F-22
02:31:52 - 4th vs 5th Gen Explained
02:37:07 - China/Russia Pilot Skill?
02:46:17 - Losing Passion for Flying
02:50:36 - Declined Colonel & Retired
02:57:02 - Purpose After Service
02:59:46 - My Role at Echelon Front
03:04:21 - Combat Anecdotes
03:08:28 - Hack: Just Listen First
03:16:09 - Turning Down a Client
03:22:41 - Hardest Place: Home
03:34:39 - No Fat Generals Debate
03:39:29 - UAP/UFO Encounters?
03:46:54 - Top Gun “No Way” Moments
03:52:38 - Closing
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