16 Oct 2026 07:00
Beret Inflation - Ep 629
Apparently the Air Force looked around and decided what we were desperately missing was another beret.This time it’s EOD.Aaron, Trent, and Peaches react to the new rust-colored EOD beret and immediately ask the obvious question:Who was asking for this?This isn’t an anti-EOD episode. EOD technicians do an extremely difficult job, go through a demanding pipeline, and bring a legitimate capability to the fight.But does every specialized career field need its own funny hat?The boys break down why berets existed in the first place, why they were historically tied to unique units and qualifications, how PJ and CCT ended up with theirs, why Rangers changed colors after the Army adopted the black beret, and why distinctive headgear starts losing some of its meaning when everybody gets one.Also discussed:What happened to Goggins in the pipeline?Is SR actually being merged with CCT?What traditions do Combat Controllers have?Should EOD move under AFSOC?What does an EOD mission inside AFSOC actually look like?And why would you voluntarily leave Civil Engineering, where you’re the cool guy with the bomb suit and new beret, just to walk into a Special Tactics team room and immediately become another support function getting roasted by Controllers?The episode also takes a minute to remember Operation Gothic Serpent on its anniversary, including the legacy of the Airmen, Rangers, and special operations forces who fought through Mogadishu and the lessons that shaped the decades that followed.And eventually the crew discovers the most important possible follow-up question:If EOD joins the Special Warfare team room...where exactly do they rank?That one had to go to MBRS.Links:OnesReady.comOperatorTrainingSummit.comChapters:00:54 - Does EOD Really Need a Beret?03:08 - Who Was Asking for This?04:32 - Are Berets Actually Functional?05:36 - What Makes a “Sharp” Airman?06:18 - Who the Hell Is Samson Kearns?10:31 - The E-4 Mafia Cannot Be Stopped15:06 - How Did PJ and CCT Get Their Berets?16:46 - Why Are Berets Supposed to Mean Something?18:16 - How Big Is Air Force EOD?21:00 - Your Questions: EOD, Goggins, and Beret History25:18 - Remembering Operation Gothic Serpent28:18 - Why Do Some Career Fields Get Berets?30:07 - Is SR Merging With CCT?31:11 - What Traditions Do Combat Controllers Have?32:29 - Does the AFSW Pipeline Need Another Update?34:26 - Should EOD Move to AFSOC?37:46 - Why Moving to AFSOC Might Actually Suck39:37 - Who Ranks Where in the Team Room?39:51 - Continue the Fight on MBRS
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