The Enemy Gets A Vote Pt 1

The Enemy Gets A Vote Pt 1

From The War Locker Show by The War Locker Show

June 1, 2026 · 1h 24m · Season 7 · Episode 329

About this episode

The episode discusses military service and the transition to civilian life with insights from veterans.

Tom and guest co-host, Ret. Lt. Col. and Author of the Terry Davis books, Clay Novak sit down with Army combat veteran Matthew Perry to discuss military service, leadership, decision-making under pressure, and the difficult transition from military life back into the civilian world. Matthew shares his journey from the financial sector into the Army, his experience entering the Special Forces pipeline, his decision to step away from that path, and his deployment to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division during the drawdown of the war. The conversation quickly moves beyond military stories and into something deeper: why some veterans thrive after leaving the service while others struggle, how leadership shapes future leaders, the importance of communication, and the lessons learned from both good and bad examples. Along the way, Tom, Clay, and Matthew explore everything from Ranger School aspirations and combat deployments to body language, interviewing techniques, mentorship, accountability, and the value of owning your mistakes. This episode is ultimately about adaptation. Whether in combat, business, law enforcement, or everyday life, success often comes down to recognizing…

People in this episode

Host: Tom

Guests: Clay Novak, Matthew Perry

Topics covered

  • military service
  • leadership
  • decision-making
  • veteran transition
  • communication
  • adaptation

Keywords

  • military
  • veterans
  • leadership
  • decision-making
  • adaptation
  • communication
  • combat

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Terry Davis, 82nd Airborne Division

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