Shawn Ryan Show - Episode #143: Pete Hegseth on Operator Syndrome, Military Industrial Complex, and the War on Warriors

Release Date: November 7, 2024

Hosts:

• Shawn Ryan: Former U.S. Navy SEAL, CIA Contractor, Founder of Vigilance Elite.
• Pete Hegseth: Army Veteran of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay; CEO of Concerned Veterans of America; Fox News host; Author of "War on Warriors."

1. Introduction to Pete Hegseth

Timestamp: [01:01]

Shawn Ryan welcomes Pete Hegseth to the show, highlighting Hegseth's extensive military background, including his service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, where he earned two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantry Badge. Hegseth is also recognized for his role as a Fox News host and his leadership as CEO of Concerned Veterans of America (CVA).

Notable Quote:

"If I had a dollar for every person that met Shawn Ryan, that guy's the man. I'd be a rich man." – Pete Hegseth [01:08]

2. Veterans Affairs (VA) Reform Efforts

Timestamp: [02:24] – [04:02]

Pete discusses his tenure as CEO of CVA, emphasizing the organization's mission to prioritize veterans' needs over bureaucratic inefficiencies within the VA. During the Trump administration, CVA played a pivotal role in advocating for the VA Choice Act and the VA Accountability Act, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and increase accountability.

Notable Quote:

"The veteran should be at the center. And if you're a bullshit VA employee and you're jacking around on company time, you should be able to be fired just like anywhere else in life." – Pete Hegseth [03:09]

However, Hegseth notes that these reforms have largely stalled under the Biden administration due to strong resistance from government unions and entrenched bureaucratic interests.

3. The Military Industrial Complex vs. Veterans Industrial Complex

Timestamp: [04:18] – [06:35]

Hegseth contrasts the traditional Military Industrial Complex with what he terms the Veterans Industrial Complex. While the former focuses on weapon procurement and defense strategies, the latter comprises veteran organizations that inadvertently perpetuate VA bureaucracy by lobbying for increased VA budgets rather than advocating for meaningful reforms that benefit individual veterans.

Notable Quote:

"The VA hates that because it would, heaven forbid, their budget might reduce or their facilities might not be used as robustly." – Pete Hegseth [05:15]

4. War on Warriors and Institutional Wokeness

Timestamp: [21:44] – [78:34]

Topic Overview: Hegseth delves into his book, "War on Warriors," which explores the internal decline of the U.S. military due to the infusion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Critical Race Theory (CRT). He argues that these ideologies have shifted the military's focus away from core missions like combat readiness and lethality towards social agendas that undermine unit cohesion and effectiveness.

Subtopics:

• Impact of DEI and CRT: Hegseth asserts that DEI initiatives create a culture of "walking on eggshells," leading to distractions from mission-critical tasks.
• Women in Combat: He critiques the integration of women into combat roles, citing studies he believes show reduced unit effectiveness.
• Transgender Policies: Hegseth expresses concerns over transgender service members, arguing that medical transitions render individuals non-deployable.
• High-Profile Cases: Discussion of cases like Brad Geary and Eddie Gallagher, where military personnel were accused and, in some instances, falsely implicated in misconduct, reflecting systemic issues within military justice.

Notable Quotes:

"Every single one of those distractions means we're less good at our job, which is supposed to be to identify and destroy the enemy on behalf of our nation and bring our boys home." – Pete Hegseth [26:14]

"The standards have lowered because they, the general comes by and asks a question. Why aren't there more women in your unit? That means get some more women in your unit now." – Pete Hegseth [55:00]

5. Recruitment and Retention Challenges

Timestamp: [74:54] – [78:34]

Hegseth discusses the dire state of military recruitment and retention, attributing the decline to the aforementioned cultural shifts and bureaucratic obstacles. He predicts that without significant reforms, the military will continue to struggle with maintaining adequate force levels and operational readiness.

Notable Quote:

"The army had a 25% and missed its recruiting goal, I think, in 2023 by 25%." – Pete Hegseth [76:44]

6. Education System and Critical Race Theory

Timestamp: [115:37] – [139:45]

Transitioning to the education system, Pete criticizes the Frankfurt School and the Critical Race Theory (CRT) movement, labeling them as Marxist ideologies aiming to deconstruct Western civilization and instill a progressive worldview in children from an early age. He advocates for classical Christian education and homeschooling as solutions to counteract what he perceives as indoctrination in public schools.

Key Points:

• 1619 Project: Hegseth views it as an attempt to redefine American history through a racial lens, undermining traditional narratives.
• Classical Christian Schools: Promotes them as a means to provide a balanced education grounded in Western and Christian values.
• School Choice and Vouchers: Encourages states to adopt policies that allow parents to choose alternative education options for their children.

Notable Quotes:

"The pipeline of the curriculum is the same as other schools because it's all been federalized in Washington, D.C. by bureaucrats who are pushing a very specific agenda." – Pete Hegseth [128:20]

"Save your kid right now. Because the house is on fire." – Pete Hegseth [135:00]

7. Solutions and Recommendations

Timestamp: [138:00] – [139:45]

Hegseth offers practical solutions for parents concerned about their children’s education:

• Homeschooling: Emphasizes the importance of parents taking direct control of their children's education to avoid progressive indoctrination.
• Classical Christian Schools: Suggests leveraging school vouchers and educational savings accounts to make such schools accessible to more families.
• Community Initiatives: Proposes collaborative efforts among like-minded families to establish alternative education models that align with their values.

Notable Quote:

"If you absolutely can't [homeschool], then just be vigilant as all hell. Just be all over what your kids are bringing home in their backpack." – Pete Hegseth [139:18]

8. International Threats and Defense Capabilities

Timestamp: [78:34] – [86:33]

The conversation shifts to global threats, particularly focusing on China and Russia. Hegseth expresses concern over U.S. defense capabilities, citing advancements like hypersonic missiles and the vulnerable power grid. He criticizes the Pentagon for being reactive rather than proactive, leading to strategic disadvantages in potential conflicts.

Notable Quotes:

"We know what our real capability. You see, we didn't even get to this part of the war on warriors." – Pete Hegseth [81:40]

"China's building an army specifically dedicated to defeating the United States of America." – Pete Hegseth [83:35]

9. Personal Experiences and Final Thoughts

Timestamp: [86:21] – [123:50]

Hegseth shares personal anecdotes, including being denied orders to guard the inauguration due to his tattoo, which was misinterpreted as extremist. He emphasizes the need for honest leadership that prioritizes mission over political correctness. Hegseth stresses the importance of preserving traditional military values and criticizes the current administration's inability to effectively address internal issues.

Notable Quotes:

"If Trump does win and goes at it, I think it might be our last sort of chance to save this institution and turn it back to what it was because it is a top-down organization." – Pete Hegseth [34:01]

"The education system pumps patriotism falsely to sort of get rid of God." – Pete Hegseth [115:48]

10. Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Timestamp: [125:04] – [147:28]

Hegseth concludes by reiterating the urgent need for educational reform and military revitalization. He encourages listeners to take proactive steps in homeschooling or enrolling their children in classical Christian schools. Additionally, he advocates for political engagement to support leaders who prioritize national interests over ideological agendas.

Notable Quote:

"What you're doing about your own family? What do you do about your kids and your grandkids? That's what you have to save right now." – Pete Hegseth [132:26]

Conclusion

Episode #143 of the Shawn Ryan Show with Pete Hegseth provides a comprehensive critique of the current state of the U.S. military and education system. Hegseth argues that ideological infusions like DEI and CRT have compromised military effectiveness and diluted educational integrity. He calls for urgent reforms, emphasizing personal responsibility in parenting and education choices to preserve traditional values and national strength.

Note: This summary is crafted to provide an insightful overview for those who have not listened to the episode, capturing the essence of the discussions, key points, and notable quotations.