Ones Ready
A team of active duty Combat Control (CCT), Pararescue (PJ), and Special Reconnaissance (SR) leveraging our 69 years of special operations experience to make the next generation of operators smarter, faster and stronger than we ever were. We are the PREMIERE resource for all things Air Force Special Warfare. The Ones Ready Podcast is honest talk about what it is like to go from a know-nothing high school graduate to an elite Special Operator. We will cover important practices for success including physical training, nutrition, recovery, and mindset traits essential to any team. Join us in The Team Room to get all your questions answered!! With battle-tested operators from across USAF SPECWAR and far-reaching web of recruiters, subject matter experts, and friends, there are no questions we can’t answer- and if we can’t, we know exactly where to look. See you in The Team Room!Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the OnesReady team are those of the team and do not reflect the official policy or position of the DoD. Any content provided by our Podcast guests, bloggers, sponsors, or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign the DoD, any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone.
Ones Ready
Ep 576: Harvard to F-15C Pilot to 53rd Wing Commander - Col "CAP" Gunn
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Most people think becoming a U.S. Air Force Wing Commander is about perfect careers and flawless records. It’s not.
In this episode of Ones Ready, Peaches sits down with Colonel “CAP” Gunn, Commander of the 53rd Wing, to talk about the real path to leadership in the Air Force. From a Harvard math degree to flying fighters, leading combat units, and ultimately commanding one of the most influential wings in the Air Force, his career wasn’t built on shortcuts—it was built on discipline, humility, and relentless learning.
They break down what it actually takes to lead airmen, how high-level Air Force leadership works behind the curtain, and why the best officers stay students of the profession. If you want a realistic look at military leadership, aviation culture, and what separates good leaders from great ones, this conversation delivers.
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome to Ones Ready
01:10 Meet 53rd Wing Commander Colonel CAP Gunn
03:30 Harvard math to Air Force pilot
07:15 Early motivation to join the military
11:40 Fighter pilot training and career path
18:30 Learning leadership the hard way
26:45 Command responsibility and pressure
35:10 How Air Force leadership really works
44:20 Lessons from decades of service
53:10 Advice for young officers and future leaders
01:00:20 What great leaders do differently
🎯 Call-to-Actions:
👍 Like the episode
🔔 Subscribe
💬 Comment with your take
🌟 Leave a review
🪖 Join the Ones Ready Membership
👕 Check out the Ones Ready merch store
Join this channel to get access to perks: HERE
Buzzsprout Subscription page: HERE
Register for our Operator Training Summit: OperatorTrainingSummit.com
Collabs:
Ones Ready - OnesReady.com
18A Fitness - Promo Code: ONESREADY
ATACLete - Follow the URL (no promo code): ATACLete
Danger Close Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY
DFND Apparel - Promo Code: ONESREADY
Hoist - Promo Code: ONESR...