The TTPOA Podcast — "Obsidian Spear Group: Your Talent Will Take You To Places Your Character Can't Keep You"

Date: February 15, 2026
Guests: Ed Garry (Founder, Obsidian Spear Group), Rick Lofton
Hosts: Matt, Brandon (Active-duty Texas SWAT Team Leaders)

Episode Overview

This episode of The TTPOA Podcast features an in-depth conversation with Ed Garry and Rick Lofton of Obsidian Spear Group, focusing on the nuances of tactics, training, leadership, and—most importantly—character in the lives of military and law enforcement professionals. The discussion ranges from the value of mentorship and legacy, to building culture within teams, adapting to post-military/law enforcement life, the importance of fundamentals, and influencing the next generation of protectors. The title theme is revisited throughout: how talent alone is never enough—character, humility, and continual service must sustain you wherever your career takes you.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introductions and Backgrounds

• Ed Garry: Texas native, military career in 101st, Ranger Regiment, and special operations. Family ties to law enforcement.
• Rick Lofton: Grew up in Illinois and Florida, Army since ‘96, SFAS, Q Course, first group, and North Carolina resident.
• Teacher-student dynamic: Rick was Ed's instructor and personal counselor during selections—now colleagues and equals (04:09).
• Quote:
  • "There’s a connection between Rick and myself because he was actually my instructor...the guy who pretty much held the keys whether I continued on or didn’t." – Ed (03:41)

2. Mentorship, Legacy, and Team Culture

• Pride in witnessing protégés grow into leaders.
• The importance of passing down history, standards, and culture to newer team members (06:21).
• Quote:
  • "That’s the definition of true legacy, man… what can I instill to somebody else?" – Ed (05:38)
• Elite teams (like the Rangers) shape culture and develop individuals into contributing team members, not just focusing on the individual (06:23-07:19).
• Culture, humility, and intention are keys to fostering a healthy team dynamic.

3. Navigating Human Terrain and Leadership Challenges

• Navigating personalities & egos requires tact and self-awareness, especially when mentoring (07:47).
• Instructors and mentors feel a weight of responsibility—nervousness and care are part of the process (11:13).
• Quote:
  • "I was just as nervous counseling you as you were..." – Rick (11:19)
• Gatekeeper vs. cultivator mindsets in selection and training: balancing standards, empathy, and the needs of the organization (14:19).

4. Change, Trust, and Succession

• The challenge of knowing when to innovate vs. preserve tradition.
• Trust within teams is vital; sudden change without buy-in can erode trust (17:13).
• Leaders recognize their role as both students and teachers, essential for continual team improvement (16:05-18:18).

5. Obsidian Spear Group: Origins & Philosophy

• Name symbolizes strength through hardship and the collective path of protectors, not just military prowess (19:28).
• Emphasis on the path—struggles, failures, and how they shape service and teaching.
• Quote:
  • "Obsidian… applies to anybody. The things you experience in life came from a very dark place... that path you walked to be that protector." – Ed (18:33)
• Teaching’s deepest value comes from shaping the next generation and sharing lessons learned from failure, not just success (23:19).
• A culture of relentless improvement, self-critique, and serving others is essential (25:10-34:53).

6. Transitioning Out: The Identity Crisis

• Both Ed and Rick recount how leaving high-performing teams brought personal challenges—loss of identity, questioning self-worth, and adapting to civilian/service teaching roles (27:44-30:16).
• Teaching civilians and law enforcement becomes a new means of finding purpose.

7. Talent vs. Character: The Central Theme

• Talent only gets you so far—character sustains you in difficult places and throughout your career.
  • Memorable Quote:
    • "Sometimes your talents will take you places your character can’t keep you." — Ed (41:08)
• Applied to sports, military, law enforcement—why some fail despite ability and why character is the foundation for long-term success.
• In both teaching and operations, passion, humility, and “the grind” separate the professionals from others (38:48-44:22).

8. Instructing and Team Development

• Importance of diagnostic, flexible teaching—assess student needs dynamically rather than rigid curricula (47:02-48:35).
• Teaching advanced skills (CQB, marksmanship) means pushing performance boundaries, knowing when to push and when to pause, and facilitating experiential learning through mistakes (49:19-54:10).
• No one, at any level, has reached perfection—constant evolution and critique are needed (55:03-55:11).

9. Law Enforcement-Specific Training Insights

• The gap between elite military and local LE in both skill and resources, but also examples of highly impressive LE performance (66:05-67:21).
• Reluctance of many LE SWAT teams to embrace range training as part of their CQB workflow—can stem from pride or lack of experience (67:25-68:42).
• The importance of round accountability, realistic standards (“upper A-zone”), and self-diagnosis after mistakes (69:49-77:19).
• Ongoing issues with unsafe practices (e.g., running safeties off), the need for clear standards, and the challenges in shifting entrenched cultures (58:06-63:32).

10. Fundamentals and Advanced Skills

• Both elite military and LE must constantly return to and refine fundamentals (81:19).
  • Quote:
    • "What’s high speed? Performing the basics on demand." – Matt (81:19)
• Failure is crucial—self-diagnosis, humility, and “the crawl-walk-run” progression are necessary for mastering complex operations.
• Even at the top, dry fire and fundamentals remain a staple (82:08-82:41).

11. CQB, Tactics, Policy, and The Erosion of Skills

• Culture and policy shifts: Some LE teams face restrictions on dynamic entries and live reps, creating a loss of institutional knowledge and skill erosion (99:47-101:13).
• The need to combat complacency and keep critical skills honed, ready “to cut hard, fast, and deep” when needed (105:04).

12. Obsidian Spear Group — Structure, Services, and Approach

• Multi-disciplinary team (military, LE, executive protection, intel).
• Curriculum tailored to client needs: baseline assessment, progression, and context adaptation (93:56).
• A focus on full-spectrum skills (firearms, CQB, HR, human intelligence), with flexibility and an emphasis on the “why” behind every lesson (94:12).

Notable Quotes & Moments (Timestamps)

• On legacy:
  "That's the definition of true legacy, man... It's what can I instill to somebody else?" — Ed (05:38)
• On failure:
  "I’ve probably failed more than I’ve ever succeeded... The young generation sees the title, but what they don’t see are the failures." — Ed (22:28)
• Central theme:
  "Sometimes your talents will take you places your character can’t keep you." — Ed (41:08)
• On mentorship:
  "I was just as nervous counseling you as you were..." — Rick (11:19)
• On humility:
  "Even at the top, you’re returning to dry fire, fundamentals, constantly breaking yourself down to build better habits." — Ed (82:08-82:41)
• On training and culture:
  "Performing the basics on demand... that’s what’s high speed." — Matt (81:19)
• On pushing students:
  "We’re not beating you up. I’m learning what your thought process is—that’s it. We’re not trying to beat you up." — Rick (57:42)
• On handling mistakes:
  "If you’re messing up, then you’re pushing the limits... but as long as you learn from it, that’s where the magic happens." — Ed (50:21)

Important Segments (Timestamps)

• Mentor/Student Origin Story: 03:40–04:11
• Legacy and Mentoring Culture: 05:38–06:20
• Philosophy of Obsidian Spear Group: 18:33–20:23
• The Talent/Character Lesson: 41:08–42:01
• Instructing and Diagnosing Students: 47:02–48:41
• CQB as Art Form Analogy: 49:19–50:21
• Skills Erosion—Policy and Reps: 99:46–104:07
• Training Philosophy—Tailored Approach: 93:56–94:26
• Contact & Social Media: 106:33–107:06

Final Thoughts & Resources

The episode closes with appreciation for mutual service, partnership, and building a community that continually seeks to improve. Obsidian Spear Group welcomes contact from teams and individuals seeking tailored, character-driven, and experienced-based instruction.

Contact:

• Email: eduardo@obsidianspeargroup.com / marketing@obsidianspeargroup.com
• Instagram: @obsidianspeargroup

Tone and Language: The episode maintains a candid, brotherly, sometimes gritty, and always earnest tone—filled with humble war stories, direct lessons, and respect for the lived experience of first responders and soldiers.

For First Responders and Professionals: This conversation is a practical masterclass on leadership, self-awareness, humility, and the relentless pursuit of mastery—a must-listen for anyone on the tactical or service path.

Train Hard. Serve Well. Stay Humble.