The Spear

The Spear

Modern War Institute at West Point

Episodes 217
Avg. Duration 45m
Activity Declining
Apple Rating 4.8 (616)
Since Jul 2017
Latest Episode Apr 2026

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Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Episodic
Consistency
69%
Hosting
feeds.castos.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

The Spear is a podcast from the Modern War Institute at West Point. It sets out to explore the combat experience, with each episode featuring a guest who tells a detailed and personal story, describing the events and exploring topics like decision-making under stress and what it feels like to be in combat.

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Recent Episodes

Long-Range Precision Fires and the Fight for the First Island Chain

Apr 20, 2026 46m

In this episode of The Spear, host Dr. Charlie Faint speaks with Lieutenant Colonel Ben Blane about the rapid evolution of long-range precision fires and the Army’s shift toward multidomain…

The Ranger Regiment's Fighting Platoon Sergeant

Apr 06, 2026 47m

In this episode hosted by MWI's Charlie Faint, Retired Command Sergeant Major Curt Donaldson reflects on a career shaped by the 75th Ranger Regiment’s relentless standards, emphasizing that true…

Staying Alive in Iraq and Afghanistan

Mar 24, 2026 1h 7m

As a young platoon leader in Iraq during the 2003 invasion, John Faunce experienced the chaos of combat, including shifting missions, limited intelligence, and the need to rely on soldiers’ input to…

Ranger Missions in Iraq and Afghanistan

Mar 10, 2026 1h 1m

In this episode of The Spear, author, journalist, and former US Army Ranger Marty Skovlund sits down with Dr. Charlie Faint to discuss a journey from a rural upbringing in South Dakota to the front…

Combat Interpreter in Iraq

Feb 10, 2026 1h 6m

Ayman Kafel and his family survived civil wars in Lebanon and Liberia before immigrating to the United States. Following the September 11 attacks, Ayman enlisted in the US Army and deployed to Iraq,…

Route Clearance and Counterbattery in Iraq

Jan 16, 2026 55m

JJ Pinter graduated from West Point and was commissioned as a field artillery officer. A few short years after 9/11, JJ found himself in Iraq, leading route clearance missions and performing…

Combat Surgery in Afghanistan

Nov 19, 2025 47m

Fred Lough began his Army career as an engineer officer before deciding to leave military service to attend medical school and become a surgeon. After rejoining the Army to support the Global War on…

Recovering a Downed Marine in Afghanistan

Sep 10, 2025 1h 20m

During his service as a combat rescue officer in the US Air Force, Captain Sal Sferrazza and his team of Air Force pararescue jumpers were deployed to Afghanistan, where their mission set included…

Ranger Regiment J1 in Afghanistan

Aug 29, 2025 1h 17m

While serving as an infantry officer in the 75th Ranger Regiment, First Lieutenant Scott Filbert was deployed to Afghanistan to serve as the J1, or personnel officer, for a joint special operations…

Danger in Mosul

Aug 08, 2025 1h 8m

In 2005, Jeff Marshburn was a reconnaissance platoon leader in the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, in Mosul, Iraq. While leading his platoon during the battalion's first contact with the…

The Battle of Barawala Kalay

Jul 31, 2025 58m

In 2010 Kevin Mott's unit arrived in Afghanistan's Kunar province for a deployment that would see months of hard fighting. At one point, he was even wounded so badly—shot in the head, four fractured…

A Marine Platoon in Anbar Province

Jun 19, 2025 37m

In 2004, Tim Strabbing was a lieutenant and platoon commander in the Marine Corps, deployed to an area just outside Fallujah in Iraq's restive Anbar province. On his platoon's very first patrol, they…

Escort Mission Over Anbar

Jun 05, 2025 41m

In 2007, United States Marine Captain Kyleanne Hunter was flying an escort mission above Marines operating in western Iraq. When the Marines on the ground discovered a massive weapons cache—and a…

Forward Air Controller in Ramadi

May 22, 2025 52m

In this episode of The Spear, retired Marine officer David Berke joins to share a story from 2006, when he was a forward air controller attached to an Army unit in Ramadi, Iraq. During a…

Air Force PJs at War

May 07, 2025 1h 4m

Air Force pararescuemen, also known as pararescue jumpers or PJs, are special operations forces known for their wide range of professional skills and for their motto, "that others may live." In this…

Easter Offensive, 1972

Apr 25, 2025 1h 27m

During the Vietnam War, the 1972 Easter Offensive was a major operation launched by North Vietnam to destabilize South Vietnam and strengthen its own hand in ongoing peace talks in Paris. The…

Surprise on the Kunar River

Apr 10, 2025 36m

In this episode Maj. John A. Meyer shares a story from his first deployment, in 2007, to Afghanistan. On July 27, his platoon and a group of Afghan National Army soldiers were moving along the road…

Rescue Mission in Kunar

Mar 28, 2025 53m

This episode of The Spear features a conversation with Josh Webster. A US Army officer, he previously served as a US Air Force pararescueman—a member of an elite part of the Air Force whose mission…

Navy Cross in Iraq

Mar 12, 2025 2h 6m

In this episode, Brian Chontosh, a retired Marine Corps officer, details the circumstances of an intense and complex combat operation in Iraq that involved Brian and his Marines using captured enemy…

The MQ-9 Reaper in Combat

Feb 13, 2025 1h 8m

This episode features a story from Joe Ritter, an Air Force officer and MQ-9 Reaper pilot. The MQ-9, the largest remotely piloted aircraft in the US military's inventory, has a wide range of the…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Spear have?

The Spear has published 217 episodes since July 2017, covering topics in Government, News.

Is The Spear still active?

The Spear is currently declining with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 45m.

How do I contact The Spear for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for The Spear, including email and social media links.

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