Today we have a Combat Story first as we hear firsthand from Rob Peters who spent almost 30 years in the Navy on submarines from the mid-1990s to just this year. Rob served on five different subs and commanded twice. In this episode we cover some of the different types of subs, the training, and the mission sets, to include special operations forces support and delivery, attack parameters, missile launches and more.

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We found Rob thanks to a former guest and forever friend of the show Todd Opalski, the Marine sniper and recon operator invited into Delta. He and Rob met in an unusual way and Todd, a decorated combat leader himself at the highest level, suggested I interview Rob not just for some unique and humorous insights from a life underwater, but also for the leadership experiences and learnings Rob shared with Todd. That’s high praise in my book.

With that, please enjoy this deep dive into the deep ocean of submarines with Rob Peters.

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

00:00 Intro
00:46 Meet Rob Peters: A Navy Submariner
01:48 The Unlikely Meeting of Rob and Todd
02:58 Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
08:36 Rob's Military Background and Family Influence
10:21 Joining the Navy and Discovering Submarines
15:10 Submarine Training and Challenges
27:23 Understanding Submarine Operations
37:29 Qualification Process for Submarine Officers and Enlisted Personnel
40:09 Roles and Responsibilities on a Submarine
41:13 Watch Rotations and Qualifications
42:17 Submarine Systems and Operations
45:32 Practical Jokes and Hazing on Submarines
47:44 Missile Launch Procedures and Experiences
56:00 Challenges of Operating a Submarine in Rough Seas
01:12:13 Training and Preparation for Submarine Missions
01:22:33 3D Battle Space and Torpedo Mechanics
01:24:46 First Command Experience
01:26:43 The Burden of Command
01:28:49 Lessons from a Near Miss
01:36:45 Funny Mishap Stories
01:44:30 Integrating Women on Submarines
01:53:52 AI and the Future of Submarines
01:57:31 Reflections on a Military Career