Podcast Summary: The Why Files: Operation Podcast

Episode 618: The First Earth Battalion: America's Strangest Military Experiment

Date: November 26, 2025
Host: The Why Files

Overview

This episode explores the bizarre and little-known history of the U.S. Army's "First Earth Battalion"—an experimental unit that investigated the use of psychic abilities, New Age philosophies, and non-lethal techniques in military operations. Blending thoroughly researched facts with the podcast’s trademark dry humor, the episode delves into the origins, practices, outcomes, and modern legacy of this unconventional military experiment.

Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. Origins of the First Earth Battalion

(Start – 04:00)

• The concept envisioned an army that used music instead of bullets, drank herbal tea, practiced meditation, and engaged in psychic phenomena.
• Inspired by the “Project Jedi” program, the battalion sought to create “psychic soldiers.”
• Notable Experiment: In 1979, experiments included attempting to kill goats with psychic energy. The notorious “men who stare at goats” episode, later immortalized in film, was based on real, though exaggerated, events.

  “Guy Savelli stares at specimen 17… The goat’s ears start to twitch. Its eyes roll back. It falls over… Its heart stops. The experiment worked. These are the men who stare at goats.” (B, 01:35)

2. Lt. Col. Jim Shannon & The Field Manual

(04:00 – 08:00)

• Jim Shannon, a decorated Vietnam veteran, proposed using intuition and unconventional techniques after his own unusually successful combat record.
• Shannon wrote the "First Earth Battalion Field Manual," featuring practices such as herbal supplements, pressure points from Tai Chi, hypnotherapy, “warrior hugs,” and biodegradable uniforms with health sensors.

  “Shannon’s guide read more like hippie New Age philosophy than military tactics. But the U.S. army took Shannon’s ideas seriously. They had to. His combat record proved they worked.” (B, 03:41)

• The manual—now publicly available—outlined methods decades ahead of their time, like wearable tech and adaptive camouflage.

3. The Battalion's Philosophy & Practices

(07:32 – 12:00)

• Focus on consciousness: Sensory training, relaxation tanks, Aikido and martial arts not just for combat, but also for healing.
• Dietary regimens included algae protein bars and fasting for clarity.
• “Psychotronics” or using sound/frequencies as non-lethal weapons was proposed.
• Commanders would use isolation tanks for expanded awareness in decision-making.

  “Commanders would float in darkness to achieve expanded consciousness for better decision making.” (B, 08:17)

4. General Stubblebine and the Age of Psychic Espionage

(12:00 – 16:30)

• Major General Albert Stubblebine III, Army Intelligence chief, became a powerful proponent. Famously tried to walk through walls and bend spoons with his mind.

  “He figured that atoms are mostly empty space. And if he could just get his own atoms to align with the wall’s atoms, he would slip right through.” (B, 11:30)

• Oversaw multiple psychic programs: SCANATE, Gondola Wish, Centerlane, Sunstreak, and Stargate.
• Supported remote viewing—using “natural psychics” to spy by mental projection. Some successes documented, but results ultimately considered inconclusive.

  “Remote viewers described a massive Soviet submarine under construction before satellite imagery confirmed it actually existed.” (B, 14:44)

5. Legacy and Transition to Modern Military Practice

(18:43 – 21:34)

• Official psychic programs ended (CIA shut down Stargate in 1995), but non-violent and mind-honing techniques persisted.
• Special Forces today use controlled breathing, mindfulness, and sensory training.

  “Navy SEALs use mindfulness techniques to maintain focus during operations. And Army Rangers train in heightened sensory perception and intuitive threat detection.” (B, 18:51)

• Non-lethal weapons inspired by the battalion, such as sticky foam and psychological ops using loud music (e.g., Operation Just Cause playing Van Halen to force surrender).

  “They set up massive speakers and played Van Halen and the Clash at deafening volumes for three days straight. He surrendered.” (B, 20:07)

6. Reflection, Critique, and the True Impact

(23:46 – 26:45)

• Some original stories—like goat-staring or psychic success—were often exaggerated or unreliable.
• Shannon’s core message: using human consciousness for awareness and compassion rather than violence.

  “His soldiers weren’t psychic. They were just really well trained. If you can develop a high sense of situational awareness, it looks like predicting the future when it’s done right.” (B, 25:09)

• Jim Shannon retired to environmental efforts, aiming to use military power for planetary healing.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On contradictions:

  “The guy who murders goats says goats are symbols of nonviolence.” (D, 10:27)

• On outlandish proposals:

  “Then came the gay bomb. They wanted to spray aphrodisiacs over enemy troops to make them sexually attracted to each other. It was a real funded proposal.” (B, 20:45)

• Host’s closing reflection:

  “Colonel Jim Shannon didn’t want us to get better at killing. He wanted us to get better at living. He literally wrote the book on peace. So how many people have to die before we start listening?” (B, 26:35)

Key Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:48 | Introduction to Project Jedi and “men who stare at goats” | | 03:41 | Jim Shannon’s Vietnam record and inspirations | | 06:26 | Details from the Field Manual: meditation, hugs, smart uniforms | | 08:21 | Description of “cerebral command center” & biohacking practices | | 11:20 | Maj. Gen. Stubblebine tries to walk through walls, psychics, etc. | | 14:44 | Remote viewing success stories | | 18:43 | Psychic programs' end; legacy in modern special operations | | 20:07 | Use of music as a weapon in Panama | | 20:45 | Non-lethal weapons: “gay bomb” and sticky foam, combat psychology | | 25:09 | The real benefit: situational awareness, not psychic powers | | 26:35 | Closing message: peace, compassion, and using human potential |

Conclusion

"The First Earth Battalion" episode masterfully blends military history, government experimentation, and critical inquiry. What might sound like science fiction is rooted in declassified documents and firsthand accounts, showing the U.S. Army’s experimentation at the fuzzy boundary between mind and warfare. The host reminds listeners that while the most outlandish breakthroughs never materialized, the real victory was in legitimizing the power of heightened awareness, focus, and compassion in modern military training.

Final Reflection:

“Imagine what the human race could achieve if we spent our energy solving actual problems. Climate, disease, hunger. We have the resources. We just keep using them to build better weapons.” (B, 26:24)

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