Jocko Podcast #504: Congressman Wesley Hunt – Discipline, Leadership, and America’s Future
Date: September 3, 2025
Host: Jocko Willink (A), Echo Charles (B)
Guest: Congressman Wesley Hunt (C)
Episode Overview
This episode features Congressman Wesley Hunt—West Point graduate, Army Apache pilot, Iraq War veteran, and now a U.S. Congressman from Texas—discussing the deep interconnection between military discipline, leadership, and public service. Jocko and Echo guide General Hunt through stories of family legacy, combat, transition to political life, and his philosophy on America’s present and future.
Key Topics & Segments
1. The Value of Veterans in Government (00:06 – 02:33)
- Jocko opens with Samuel Huntington’s "The Soldier and the State," highlighting why military experience grounds governmental policy in realism and discipline.
- Quote (A, 01:09):
“Military experience does not guarantee wisdom, but it provides an anchor against illusion and an appreciation for the discipline, unity and responsibility that preserve and a free society.”
- Quote (A, 01:09):
- Introduces Wesley Hunt as an example of a veteran leader bringing this ethos to Congress.
2. Family Background, Upbringing, and "Parent Privilege" (02:44 – 08:38)
- Hunt describes coming from a military family: his father was a Lieutenant Colonel, his siblings and he all graduated from West Point.
- C, 03:07: “You don’t have three West Pointers coming from one house, growing up in a soft home.”
- C, 06:03: “There aren’t… privileges in this country. There’s only parent privilege and also the privilege of being an American.”
- Importance of honoring a legacy rooted in discipline, service, and non-victimhood.
- Summers filled with academics, athletics, and spirituality due to parental discipline.
3. Lessons in Discipline, Love, and Respect (08:38 – 14:04)
- Parental philosophy: “I am not your friend. I am your parent.” (C, 09:40)
- Respect built through loving presence, support, and clear standards.
- Anecdote about trouble in school revealing his father’s expectation to stand up for himself.
4. West Point: Humility, Adversity, and Leadership Training (14:14 – 26:54)
- Arriving at West Point and the “kick in the teeth” of humility:
- C, 14:46: “You realize everybody’s like that. Dude, you’re not special.”
- 9/11: Hunt was at West Point, a transformational moment:
- C, 16:17: “We are now going to war…. Most of us stayed. None of those brave men saw the age of 28.”
- Emphasis that war and team identity outweigh divisions (race, background).
- Choosing Apaches for their offensive capability and even for air conditioning.
- West Point’s focus on holistic leadership: physical, academic, and military proficiency.
- C, 20:46: “You can’t be a fat leader.”
5. Combat: The Realities of War and Coming Home (27:26 – 50:31)
- Aviator training, rapid deployment, first taste of combat:
- C, 29:51: “I went from flight school to Baghdad.”
- The exhaustion and mental toll of combat flying:
- C, 33:07: “Fifteen days straight… Four hours of concentrated flying. The most tired I’ve ever been.”
- The anxiety and focus of early combat missions, and how actual gunfire clarifies fear and purpose.
- C, 37:28: “That five seconds feels like an eternity.”
- The constant priority: "Make sure the ground unit guys go home safely."
- Bonds forged in combat last a lifetime; loss and grief for fallen comrades never fully fade.
- C, 52:26: “You never let those guys go either.”
6. The Transition to Public Service (57:53 – 71:10)
- Hunt’s move from military to diplomatic liaison in Saudi Arabia, exposure to radically different cultures and threats.
- Grateful perspective on American liberty and prosperity after witnessing other societies.
- C, 62:27: “We have champagne problems in this country. People don’t understand.”
- Deciding not to make military a lifelong career. Early urge for political service:
- C, 64:22: “I always wanted to be a politician in some capacity. Didn’t know how or when.”
- Emphasizes why veterans need to be in politics and the challenge of political “old guard.”
- On role models:
- Jocko (68:01): “Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.”
- C, 68:33: “For me... Frederick Douglass. If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
7. Running for Office: Losing, Learning, and Winning (71:02 – 88:27)
- After grad school (3 master’s degrees at Cornell), returns home to run for office.
- C, 72:34: “I left there the most conservative I’ve ever been in my entire life.”
- Initial political loss and subsequent victory; learning from defeat:
- C, 84:28: “Losing sometimes is the best thing…because either you’re going to get up or you’re not.”
- Importance of authentic, tight-knit campaign teams over consultant-heavy approaches.
- Celebrates grassroots authenticity and direct connection with constituents.
8. Life in Congress and Reflections on Service (88:27 – 94:48)
- Emotional impact and sense of duty in representing his Texas district.
- C, 88:27: “It’s an honor of a lifetime… to represent almost a million people from my hometown.”
- Humility and awe at working in the Capitol, committed daily to "we the people."
- On being the first to endorse Trump’s second campaign and the whirlwind of life on the national stage.
9. Political Discourse and the State of America (94:48 – 113:20)
- Friendship across political lines, division in modern political culture.
- C, 79:18: “[Liberals] are the ones that are the most rejecting of anything that doesn’t fit their paradigm.”
- The importance of debate, humor, tolerance, and respectful disagreement.
- On family sacrifice and the need for strong personal and political support systems.
- On staying in touch with his "why"—serving family, constituents, and country.
10. America’s Threats, Strengths, and the Path Forward (104:10 – 112:57)
- Biggest concerns: the deficit and China’s rise.
- C, 104:23: “The greatest threat to us, to me, is our deficit… and China.”
- Need for exponential economic growth and generational leadership.
- Cultural fights and the risks of divisive politics; insists on future-focused optimism and role-model leadership.
- C, 108:53: “The left is constantly trying to divide us along racial lines… I don’t want liberals dividing this country.”
11. Memorable Quotes & Moments
-
On discipline:
(C, 06:03) “There is no privilege in this country. There’s only parent privilege and also the privilege of being an American.” -
On war:
(C, 16:17) "We are now going to war… One of the proudest things about my class… most of us stayed. Only a handful left.” -
On losing friends in combat:
(A, 55:45) “When you lose your friends, that's gonna leave a mark. And there's nothing wrong with it.” -
On leadership:
(C, 20:46) “How can you possibly lead anybody…if you can’t control your body, if you can’t control what you look like?” -
On campaign authenticity:
(C, 116:35) “Let Wesley Hunt be Wesley Hunt. We’re going to let you be you… Authenticity, your authentic self. It’s better that way.” -
On American opportunity:
(C, 68:33) “The great-great-grandson of a slave…win by 27 points. That is the progress of the greatest nation in the world.” -
On America’s future:
(C, 109:41) “We shouldn’t dwell there. We should look to the future, where we can go and what we can do.”
Notable Light-Hearted Moments
- On military aircraft choice:
(C, 19:22) “Which airframe has air conditioning? Just kidding. Well, the Apache does have air conditioning.” - On campaign advertising:
(C, 114:40) “We’re talking about in upwards of 50 to $100,000 for...not good ads. Turn the TV on and look at any typical ad!”
Closing Themes
- Resilience and Growth—Personal failures, combat trials, and political setbacks teach humility and drive future success.
- Role Models & Legacy—Hunt sees himself living out the progress his ancestors struggled for, and aims to be a visible example for others.
- Service and Sacrifice—From flying Apaches in Iraq to legislating in Congress, service means putting others above oneself, always remembering those who “gave their last full measure.”
- Optimism & Responsibility—Despite divisiveness and structural challenges, Hunt and Jocko emphasize duty, ownership, and faith in American potential.
Select Timestamps
- 00:06 – Opening and Huntington quote
- 16:17 – 9/11 at West Point
- 33:07 – Combat flying exhaustion
- 52:26 – On losing comrades, grief
- 68:33 – On Frederick Douglass and American progress
- 84:28 – Lessons from political defeat
- 88:27 – Sense of awe in Congress
- 104:23 – Deficit and China as existential threats
- 116:35 – Authenticity in campaigns
Final Word
“The only thing that’s preventing you from being anything you want to be in this country is you. … Do not allow people to have low expectations of you because you will live up to that.”
—Wesley Hunt (A, 129:00)
Set high expectations, look to the future, serve with discipline. That’s the lesson from a Congressman who’s lived it.