Tier 1 Podcast Live | Fred Baker: Air Force Tier 1 CCT and Joint Special Operations

Host: Brent Tucker
Guest: Fred Baker (Air Force Tier 1 CCT)
Aired: December 12, 2025

Overview

In this highly engaging live episode, Brent Tucker is joined by Fred Baker, an Air Force CCT (Combat Controller) and seasoned Tier 1 special operator. The conversation explores the state of military and political integrity, recent legal drama among special operations alumni, leadership, culture in elite teams, and Fred’s unique insights on everything from gear selection to the future of AI. Notably, they dissect recent controversies involving high-profile veterans, the challenge of public service optics, military history, wild internet rumors (giants in Afghanistan, UFOs), and the tough realities of both service and American civic life. The episode is energetic, unfiltered, humorous, and thought-provoking, tailored perfectly for a community that values authenticity and the after-action review mindset.

Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. Kicking Off: Current Special Operations News & Lawsuits

(00:00–21:24)

• Discussion on Lawsuits in the Veteran Community:
  The show opens with a deep dive into a public spat between Sean Ryan (former SEAL, host of the Sean Ryan Show) and Congressman Dan Crenshaw.

  • Sean Ryan is facing a defamation threat from Crenshaw, who took issue with comments about his finances and a message referencing “my boys at 6” (SEAL Team 6/DEVGRU).
  • Ryan refuses to apologize or remove content, insisting on the public's right to scrutinize elected officials.
  • Brent: “Dan, you're a sitting congressman. When are you going to start acting like it?... You're a public servant.” (13:56)
  • Fred (on public scrutiny): “You work for me.” (13:56)

• Critique of SEAL Public Image and Lawsuits:

  • The crew poke fun at the apparent litigious trend among some SEALs (Rob O’Neill’s suit for defamation is also mentioned).
  • “That’s fratricide... SEAL on SEAL violence going on.” (18:00)
  • Fred reflects on older-school values: “My dad always taught me... handle my problems like a man and, like, I'm not going to sue anybody.” (19:51)

2. Leadership, Public Service & The Optics of Wealth

(21:24–26:41)

• On Wealth and Political Service:

  • Dissecting the optics of Crenshaw’s lavish party headlined by DJ Steve Aoki—questioning how career politicians on $174k salaries afford “rockstar” lifestyles and why public servants should stay grounded.
  • Brent: “I don't want a cool congressman. I want a congressman that's really smart, understands his environment, and has the courage to vote correctly...” (15:14)

• “Counting Coup”—Fred’s Business Name & Military Heritage

  • Fred explains the origin of his company name, rooted in Native American warrior tradition of earning honor by touching enemies and escaping unharmed—directly relating this to after-action reviews and the passing on of lessons learned.
  • “Counting coup means you’re going to the enemy and you're just touching them... and escaping... and that was a sign of great honor among mostly the Western Plains Indians.” (21:47)

3. Democracy, Voting, and Socratic Skepticism

(26:41–35:30)

• Who Should Vote?

  • Extended banter on the idea that voting is not (and perhaps should not be) an unconditional birthright:
    • Brent references Socrates’ view that democracy should be a skilled endeavor for the informed, not merely a “right.”
    • “Anything that's special, you don't give away... Socrates... believed it [voting] was a skill that required wisdom and education, not a right by birth.” (28:23)
    • Risks discussed: limiting suffrage vs. the “snake oil salesmen” problem of demagoguery.

• Contemporary Parallels:

  • The hosts connect this to the prevalence of “snake oil salesmen” in modern American politics, and the challenge of uninformed voting.

4. Geopolitics: Venezuela, Russia, and ‘Near Peer’ Myths

(38:14–53:38)

• Venezuela Oil Tanker Seizure:

  • The U.S. Coast Guard’s dramatic seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker carrying sanctioned oil becomes a springboard for geopolitics.
    • “We gained a ship, you lost a ship... if you're breaking sanctions... then what's the point of sanctions if you do nothing?” (43:17)
    • Fred: “We told everyone what we’re going to do. Venezuela’s not doing the right thing... you’re going to get punished.” (41:44)

• On Trump’s Foreign Policy and Deters War:

  • Praising the US’s clear signaling and resolve as mechanisms to avoid broader conflict.

• Russia & China: Debunking the Near Peer Threat:

  • Fred and Brent, drawing on combat, intelligence, and technology experience, mock the notion that China or Russia are actual near peers in military capacity.
    • Fred: “Numbers, which would come to China. As far as technology, tactics, experience—all those things, there is no near peer.” (47:59)
    • Brent’s anecdote about Chinese “armed ISR” demo failures: “They never hit the car in the middle of the field… meanwhile, we’re over there in Iraq knocking out Iranian generals in a 4-car convoy, dropping hellfires right in the passenger seat.” (50:29)
  • Sober assessment: If we ever need to fight, we’ll train as if it’s possible, but reality says otherwise.

5. Mission Culture, Gear, and After-Action Mindset

(66:19–79:48)

• Debriefing a Hostage Rescue Video:

  • Brent and Fred break down a viral police sniper video—praise the officer’s performance but ruthlessly dissect possible pitfalls, discussing why “almost as good” isn’t good enough in high-risk work.
    • “Just because a bad tactic works, it makes you go home going 'well, this tactic works.' Well, no, it worked then because you weren’t opposed.” (68:19)

• After Action Culture:

  • Both emphasize brutal self-critique after every mission:
    • Brent: “Did we ever talk about how great we were?... No. What's the only thing we talked about? Who messed up what.” (78:06)
    • Fred: “I want you to be the best, not just so you can save your life, but so you can save my life as well.” (78:58)
    • The culture of positive, necessary, and sometimes “not forgiving” criticism.

6. Fred Baker on UFOs, Giants, and Special Ops Lore

(80:28–84:12)

• On “Recovery Missions”, UFOs, & Conspiracies:
  • Fred deadpans that he’s never recovered a UFO nor found the fabled “red-headed giants” of Afghanistan, though he affirms seeing “strange things” in his time.
    • “I am not a believer. I am not a skeptic. I'm a firm believer that if you categorize yourself... then you're forced to live within that realm.” (81:19)
  • The crew share a laugh about wild war zone rumors.

7. Advice for Aspiring Special Operators

(102:28–105:32)

• Fred’s Path to CCT and Advice for the Young:
  • "First step…this is it. This is the only thing I’m going to do. There’s no plan B." (104:41)
  • Emphasizes mental commitment, top physical fitness, but downplays ‘gaming’ selection—focus on preparation, not shortcuts.
  • Advice is equally applicable to anyone facing an elite, high consequence goal.

8. Culture, Technology, & AI: The Next Leap?

(110:11–115:43)

• How Far Can Tech Go?
  • Brent and Fred riff on the pace of human and AI-driven technological progress.
    • “Batteries never get better. We're still carrying these big, stupid batteries.” (111:25)
    • “Maybe our purpose is to create AI, and AI does its thing, maybe becomes self aware... but that's the next step.” (111:49)
  • Drew recites an ancient Biblical prophecy about knowledge exploding at the end times, drawing a parallel to today’s progress.

9. Society, Identity, and Political Discourse in Modern America

(135:35–155:58)

• Viral Clip: “Cancel Christmas”—Radical Protest Culture Critiqued:

  • The crew lampoon a New York protest leader trying to “cancel Christmas,” drawing comparisons to hypocrisy around Ramadan/Islam and political activism.
    • “I wonder if we canceled Ramadan, how awesome that would be for them.” (137:58)

• Love is Blind Reality TV—Real World Divides:

  • Brent relays (humorously, self-consciously) how reality TV contestants are more likely to reject partners for political views or lack of ‘wokeness’ than for compatibility, loyalty, or love itself.
    • “It was just all liberal women... The men weren't even anti-anything. They just didn’t care.” (148:23)
    • Big laugh: “There’s no world... where a man looks at a girl and says, ‘Hey, you're too liberal and you have no growth.’” (149:26)
  • Fred shares stories about couples making it through political differences “somehow,” pointing to the lost value of in-person dialogue over digital feuding.

10. Broader Themes / Notable Quotes

• On Team & Nation:

  • “A good culture is so hard to get and… if you have a good culture, it’s because there were really good dudes that fought for a really hard time to make sure… it has good culture. And it's why you have to protect it at all costs.” (79:18)

• On the SOF Mindset:

  • “It’s not to say you can’t do it. You just have to work five times, ten times harder, whatever it is. But you do have the mental advantage... you are seasoned.” (88:41)

• On CCT as Force Multiplier:

  • “No person on the battlefield in history can bring more power, fusing the air and the men on the ground, than a CCT.” –Dan Schilling (quoted by David Hookstead) (126:08)

11. Super Chats, Humor, and Community Q&A

(Throughout, esp. 21:24–164:48)

• Banter on everything from “Kodiak bear vs Siberian tiger” (team split: Fred – tiger; Brent – bear), to best barrel lengths (“Age of the musket is kind of gone…” – Fred), to favorite dream cars (Fred: “old Willys Jeep”; Brent: “new C8 Corvette”), to hilarious hypotheticals about racing covered in coconut oil vs motor oil.
• Audience engagement and inside jokes maintain a sense of brotherhood.

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes (w/ Timestamps)

• “He thought a legal threat would make me back down… but unfortunately, Dan, you’re wrong. I’m a veteran. I’ve been in combat, too…” – Sean Ryan clip, (08:43)
• “Counting coup means you’re gonna go to the enemy, touch them and return. That came into training... passing on stories.” – Fred (21:47)
• “I just don't get it... Not enough people are getting punched in the face anymore.” – Fred (143:13)
• “Every mission... we never talk about how good we were. We talk about who messed up what.” – Brent, (78:06)

Conclusion / Takeaways

• This episode blends biting humor, credible critique, and hard-won wisdom, offering insight into both special operations reality and the challenges of civic and cultural life.
• Key running themes: integrity, the importance of brutal self-assessment, skepticism of easy answers, and a defense of traditional leadership values—whether on the battlefield or in the halls of Congress.

Next Episode Tease:
Chris Blau from 1911 Syndicate joins Tier 1 Podcast Live next Thursday!

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:49] Lawsuit explanation (Sean Ryan video)
• [13:56] “You work for me.” — On public accountability
• [21:47] Counting coup/after-action culture
• [43:17] Venezuelan oil tanker/US sanctions rationale
• [50:29] China’s failed ISR demo anecdote
• [66:19] Police sniper video breakdown
• [79:18] On protecting team culture
• [104:41] Fred's advice for aspiring SOF operatives
• [111:49] AI: next step for human advancement
• [126:08] CCT’s unique battlefield power

Find & Follow:

• Brent Tucker: @tier1podcast
• Fred Baker: @counting_coup_tactical

(For more, tune in every Thursday or explore the podcast archive.)