Marine Special Operator (MARSOC) Commander | Mozart Group Founder Andy Milburn

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Today we hear the Combat Story of a long time Marine and Special Operator Andy Milburn who, after retiring from 31 years of service, decided to then go to Ukraine to support their fight against the Russians through what he aptly named the Mozart Group.
Andy has a knack for getting close to the action that started long before he became a Marine. Growing up in the UK, Andy found himself detained momentarily in Iran before meeting a group of Marine Security Guards in Pakistan that changed his career path from lawyer to Marine. He was part of operations in Somalia, Iraq (from the invasion to counter-ISIS operations), Afghanistan, and Libya.
He commanded at multiple levels, including the first ever O-6 level Special Operations Task Force while battling ISIS in Iraq. He’s battled some of the darkest moments of the trauma and grief that come from combat and loss but continues to give back, to include the time he spent in Ukraine with the Mozart Group.
Andy’s written a book about his time in service, When The Tempest Gathers, that helps clearly explain how he might end up in Ukraine after retiring and has been published in multiple journals, including The Atlantic and Task and Purpose. He and his Mozart Group have been featured in the New York Times and countless other news outlets.
We need to say a special thanks to our brothers at the Team House for making this interview happen and I hope you enjoy this story of sacrifice and selflessness from a lifelong Marine as much as I did.
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- Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Find Andy Online:
- When The Tempest Gathers: www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-G...
- Learn more about Andy www.mei.edu/profile/andy-milburn
- Twitter @andymilburn8 andymilburn8?lang=en
- LinkedIn / andrewmilburn2023
- Instagram @milburnar milburnar?...
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Show Notes:
00:00 - Intro
00:47 - Guest Introduction (Andy Milburn)
02:15 - Interview begins
03:00 - Marine House in Islamabad
11:26 - From Islamabad to Australia
16:30 - Family's reaction to dangerous trip
20:15 - Rocket Money
24:54 - Isolation of command
27:22 - Starting as a Private at Paris Island
32:23 - Hollywood Marines
34:23 - Path to Mogadishu
40:41 - First time in combat
52:41 - Being in Command
55:30 - Challenging battles
01:07:57 - Loss during Command
01:15:20 - Time in Libya
01:35:44 - Counter-ISIS
01:47:04 - Perseverance in traumatic times
01:56:05 - Similar role in the future
01:57:30 - Mental health experiences
02:02:12 - Sentimental Items
02:07:52 - Would you do it again
02:10:09 - Listener comments and shout outs

[@FreedomisworkUKR3]

A honorable man that actually came over here to train,, supply,, teach and do good is Mark Turner. He bring my sister unit Phokus Labs IFAKS and one of the IFAKS save my friend «Zed» from losing right leg

[@TheTeamHousePodcast]

2 legends!!!!

[@OriginalLarry_]

I have listened to most of these stories, and this one was, to me, possibly the most fascinating ones I have heard. Thanks to Ryan and Andy, for sharing.

[@natem1334]

Thank you Andy and Ryan for this interview. Andy's interviews with you and Team House are my very favorite things I've ever listened to, but I feel like the darker moments in this interview make it especially important. The thing about his daughter is hitting me hard.

[@dailygiftsforever]

Glad when all good soldiers make it home safely.... a lasting victory. Ia Drang Valley, LZ Xray Nov. 65'

[@teresamartin8344]

I'm deeply grateful for you and to you, Andy ❤

[@mrs8171]

Outstanding work Ryan! Thanks for having Andy on. Well done.

[@jaycobhittson4886]

Thank you for your service hope things go well for us

[@ReallyFarFarAway]

Andy Milburn is really an interesting listen !!! 👉 ... " 👍 " ... 👈

[@user-nw2si7hu3u]

Phenomenal guest and convo

[@tudyk21]

Great call on interviewing this man. One of the most interesting people on "the net", as it were. The alcohol soaked episode on The Team House is a classic! 😂

[@glenndlr2935]

Beautiful story from enlisted to officer. My bootcamp was 1979 in San Diego 0311 Marine Rifleman. Semper Fidelis.

[@terrenceb.9860]

What a great interview with very insightful concepts of successful leadership under command and personal duress. Thanks!

[@PD-we8vf]

What a waste using those skills in Ukraine.

[@dannyotter7247]

Just love this, thanks for getting g this documented Ryan, I always find Andy great value and fascinating with his unique career and background. Need to do a part two to this as his perspective, and of course for me being a Brit, a rare mixture of culture, opportunity and life experiences he has had - good and bad.

[@brandondrake14]

Love this!!!

[@user-et4vd2kp1b]

Five Stars falls far short in describing this interview. I have been a great fan of this great show for years and even by by the high standards of previous shows this stands out. Combat Story plays a critical role that centuries ago might have been performed around the tribal fire where the young were allowed to listen to the stories of tribal warriors as an important part of their education. One theme that comes through in many of these stories is the enduring gifts of principled warriors. There's also the brutal reality and great leadership of removing the remains one of his troops from the vehicle rather than leaving it to others. The lessons in leadership, dealing with the unexpected and courage are inspiring. Ryan plays a critical role in bringing out the stories and often helping the guest through some very difficult times. We are indeed fortunate to have Andy Milburn and host Ryan to have served the nation in combat and to have brought these stories to us in such a vibrant and real form. As a side note, Combat Story has helped guide my book shopping both for my audible library and for hardcover gifts to others (including my local library)

[@dannyfowler7055]

Best quote ever about Boot Camp…”I wouldn’t take a million dollars for the experience, but I wouldn’t give a nickel to do it again”.

[@dennisbennett9725]

The General Danced Til; Dawn by Fraser is great too.

[@joesgotya9930]

Andy is awesome. thank you Team House for the link up 🤙

[@kurtlundell]

Love this, very cool as usual Andy. ;)

[@revjay6127]

Thank you Andy for everything you've done your service and your sharing, it means a lot thank you

[@doodahman2995]

Missed the part of how he went from enlisted to officer. And how he got into MARSOC.

[@gman52712]

He sounds like a brit doing a poor impression of an american lol. Thanka for the great interciew yet again ryan. Edit: Wow I should have watched more than five minutes before I left a comment

[@jlucas9342]

When you listen a bit more, it's like a Brit doing an impression of an American who is acting like an Australian.😁

[@douglasaverkamp8573]

Oopsy to both of you. No ready, shoot, aim critic when it comes to Andy… or anyone Ryan enlightens us with on his “Saturday Day Special”.

[@gman52712]

@@douglasaverkamp8573 what??

[@jlucas9342]

@gman52712 seems he's just someone getting butt hurt on another persons behalf because we poked a little good faith fun at the brits accent and dialect. Which, according to him, happens all the time and is a good sport about it. Unlike this person.

[@MrSpasticplastic]

My favourite Combat Story / Mil Podcast is Patrick Moltrup - You should get Chad McCoy (USAF Pararescue Jumper) absolutely amazing!

[@drmarkintexas-400]

🎖️🏆🤗🙏🇺🇲 Thank you for sharing

[@EdD-ym6le]

WOW . We inhabit this planet with some amazing people . What an interesting fella . I thought a lot about if you put a good human into the Marine world they can mold an admirable capable person .

[@slightlyseen6767]

Thank you Google algorithm. I just watched a podcast with Andy as the co-host and I wanted to find anything I could about him that dives deeper more than scuttlebutt from what I've heard. I'm so excited for this!

[@skipmooney5732]

Andy is the Real Deal

[@CAPEjkg]

If you're gonna fight dirty people, you gotta fight dirty!

[@doodahman2995]

RIP to the Lance Corporal that died on the live firing range at Camp Pendleton recently.

[@KabbalahredemptionBlogspot]

Nice to see Andy interviewed by an officer. Just saying.

[@bricktopmedic]

What does that mean? He's had 3 interviews with The Teamhouse, one of the he got he out drank the Enlisted SOF and Intel Pukes! Are you relieved the Blue Bloods are influencing in annunciation of his R's ?!?!

[@KabbalahredemptionBlogspot]

Slava Ukraini@@bricktopmedic

[@DoingMyThing1900]

As for "Hollywood Marines" once in the fleet, differences were Esprit related.

[@henryseva1]

Nothng mentioned about hs MarSoc time

[@KristinP-zi2dj]

My dear Andy, so gorgeous and scrupulous.

[@ohxsea80]

"his nationality is irrelevant...but he was Irish" lol

[@enyskept]

So many cal themselves “Operators” but they do not want to attend OTC😑

[@mrs8171]

In defense of Andy from someone who knows a little about the Marine Corps as well as officer career paths, I would simply say the following (and this is in defense of Ryan as well): Ryan or his editing team likely threw the label "operator" onto this video title due to Andy's verified status as member of MARSOC. Over the course of numerous interviews, I have NEVER heard Andy refer to himself as an "operator". As for MARSOC officer staffing in the early days, just to fill officer staff bullets, the unit had to pull from the regular Marine Corps, and while they attempted to only draw reconnaissance community veterans, this was not always possible. This is especially true for officers at the rank of Major and above. Despite what you may think, having a scuba bubble, gold jump wings, being a graduate of ARS, or even OTC does not in any way guarantee that an officer will be better at doing his job. The challenge of an officer being permitted to go to all of those schools is very rare. Obviously, the Marine Corps, SOCOM, and MARSOC felt that Andy could do the job without going through A&S, nor OTC, and evidently he did the job well. I am sure he would have attended if he had been given the choice. School slots for officer's are very tough to come by and attending any training evolution or selection is never a "given". Additionally, SOCOM has had officer exchange billets for decades in which "regular" Marine officers were accepted & served.

[@MikeHunt-rw4gf]

Algorithm.

[@tfred2129]

All infantrymen are criminals lol! Some of the biggest POS ive ever met was in regiment😂😂. Great rangers and warfighters! Shirty civilians

[@Nightwolfsc]

Has anyone ever heard this guy talk about going through Marsoc or Recon selection . I have never heard any explanation of how he got to be a Marsoc Commander

[@bhitz]

@36:12 mortarmen drop bombs and bang moms

[@thiemtranthi7760]

Woman thanhk youtube army

[@christopherscobie]

Why were you there? Likes murdering?

[@FreedomisworkUKR3]

When he say that he was that he was «only organization» to help train guys in Ukraine in beginning of full scale invasion is shit. I can name men by name who were ex western SOF that were here training guys and women, getting as close as gray zone, bring even units like mine IFAKS, medical supplies and what ever else. This man is far pulling the truth in to sum thing it is not

[@FreedomisworkUKR3]

I am a Ukrainian operator and I do not mean offense but from what I hear about Mozart by other SOF guys and PMCs in Ukraine this guy was involved in Ukraine for money. If 1 or 2 people say it I do not usually believe it but I hear this from over a dozen guys. Many westerners have come here for all wrong reasons.

[@j.langer5949]

And what would you expect? There is good money to be made in Ukraine today, and you have a lot of prostitutes who throw themselves into the arms of Westerners thinking that the grass is greener in the West.

[@dr2759]

No Americans should be there spilling blood, but I can appreciate your perspective and thanks for sharing.

[@mrs8171]

Sadly, Andy had a business partner (also a former Marine Colonel) who helped found the Mozart Group. From what I have heard, this individual was a self-serving scumbag who very likely could have been the root of the problems you talk about. For example, this individual fonducted a legal & physical "business take-over" of the Mozart Group from Andy. He essentially forced Andy out of the business & stole it from him WHILE the company was in the midst of operations in Ukraine. A true scumbag move. Andy has great integrity & character and the things you talk about are not reflective of him nor the work he was involved with

[@gurugoguzhanson]

That is how Colonels and Generals operate. They need lots of money up front to build and run battalions and brigades. It sounds like he was stuck with donations and doing "sergeant stuff", teaching basic stuff and doing evacuations. A waste of his 30 years of leadership skills.

[@0onpoint]

The shot callers belong to epsteinseinsteinheartcellaradltribe, so …good “people” also nyc tunnels man

[@nickjenkins1663]

Not trying to be over critical. BUT, wish he didn't have to explain the answer in detail. Before giving the answer. every time.. PLEASE, Be Bright. Be brief. and Be gone. otherwise good interview.