In this episode of I Serve, a podcast from Foreign Policy and With Honor, Elliot Ackerman reflects on his years as a U.S. Marine, Marine Raider, and CIA paramilitary officer.
The conversation covers Ackerman’s service in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the Second Battle of Fallujah, where he fought in some of the heaviest urban combat of the post-9/11 wars and later received the Silver Star.
Fallujah and Combat Leadership
Ackerman discusses the intensity of fighting in Fallujah, the challenges of leading Marines under fire, and the trust required inside a combat unit. He reflects on how cohesion, judgment, and responsibility shape leadership in war.
Special Operations and Service
The episode also follows Ackerman’s path from the Marine Corps infantry to Marine special operations and later the intelligence community. He describes how the most complex parts of service often involve judgment, negotiation, creativity, and working with others under pressure.
Life After War
Ackerman also discusses his transition into journalism and writing, including the enduring power of shared experience, service, and the social contract that binds a democratic society together.