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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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What separates excellence from mediocrity in military service? It all comes down to your relationship with standards. While the Army establishes baseline requirements for physical fitness, marksmanship, and professional competence, truly exceptional soldiers view these minimums as merely the starting point—not the destination.
In this candid exploration of military standards and expectations, we dissect the Sergeant Major of the Army's powerful statement: "I don't like to start from the minimum standard. That, to me, is not a place you start any conversation, especially as warfighters." Too often, we encounter soldiers approaching their Army Combat Fitness Test with a dangerous mindset: "As long as I do my minimum, I'm good." This checkbox mentality fundamentally misunderstands what military service demands.
The conversation expands beyond physical fitness to examine how competitive spirit shapes military excellence. When you consistently push yourself beyond requirements—whether in PT, weapons qualification, or professional development—you're building the resilience and capability that combat situations demand. As the SMA reminds us, "This is a hard life. This is not easy. You chose the path that needs a machete."
We also explore the journey from basic compliance to genuine commitment that represents the maturation of a soldier. New recruits rarely fully comprehend what they've signed up for, but effective leadership helps them understand the deeper purpose behind standards and expectations. The Army isn't merely a jobs program—it's a profession with real consequences for national security.
Have you fallen into the minimum standard trap? Are soldiers in your unit sandbagging their performance? Share your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to like and subscribe as we continue exploring what it means to serve with excellence rather than adequacy.
Video is from The Jedburgh Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@jedburghpodcast
Thanks for listening, please download and leave a review.
Remember, you don't have to embrace the suck, if you have the right tools in your ruck!
If you have any question comments, or ideas for the show you can send them to my Gmail account: [email protected]
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Chapters
1. Hitting 1000 Subscribers Milestone (00:00:00)
2. Settling for Minimum Standards (00:01:15)
3. Standards in the Army Blue Book (00:04:35)
4. Exceeding Fitness Test Standards (00:08:40)
5. Building a Culture of Fitness (00:17:43)
6. Recruiting, Retention and Warrior Ethos (00:22:57)
7. The Competitive Spirit of a Soldier (00:27:19)
77 episodes
