On August 30, 2021, a US Army Lieutenant General Chris Donahue stepped onto the ramp of the last American C-17 in Afghanistan and into the pages of history. At the time, he was the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, leading his paratroopers as the United States withdrew from Afghanistan after almost twenty years of combat. Now a corps commander, Donahue joins this episode of The Spear to discuss the fundamentals of leadership needed for success in combat. Faced with an evolving and complex mission on the ground at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Donovan relied on trust and relationships to lead his troops and oversee the evacuation of more than 120,000 Afghans.

In this episode, Donahue reflects on his career and the leadership lessons he learned along the way, sharing advice for junior and aspiring leaders. Whether describing the true point of morning physical training or making book recommendations, his insights into combat, chaos, and leadership are incredibly valuable for those seeking to build an unbeatable formation.

Listen to this episode below and don’t forget to subscribe to The Spear on Apple PodcastsStitcherSpotifyTuneIn, or wherever you get your podcasts. While you’re there, please take a moment to give the podcast a rating or leave a review.

Image credit: Master Sgt. Alexander Burnett, US Army