LostLt’s Razor

11 | Doctrine vs Reality: The Small Unit Leader (w/ Blakewater0326)

Doctrine gives us structure. Reality gives us truth. Somewhere between the two is where leadership actually happens. In this episode, I sit down with Blake “Blakewater” Flannery — a 20-year Marine Corps veteran who spent most of his career in the Force Recon community. Now the founder of Maneuver Training Solutions and an instructor with Orion Training Group, Blake trains Marines and civilians alike to bridge the gap between what’s written in the book and what actually works in the field. We break down the tension between Doctrine vs Reality, the core habits every small-unit leader needs, and lessons for squad leaders and platoon commanders who are shaping the next generation. What you’ll hear isn’t theory — it’s experience forged through CQB, small-unit leadership, and two decades of operational reality. Follow Blake on Instagram → @blakewater0326 [https://www.instagram.com/blakewater0326?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Learn more → Maneuver Training Solutions [https://www.maneuvertrainingsolutionsllc.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] LostLt1775 Website: ⁠https://lostlt1775.square.site/ [https://lostlt1775.square.site/]

10 | PLA Takeaways for Marines (w/ Aura Ambush)

In this episode, Ty (Aura Ambush on Instagram) joins the show to break down what small-unit leaders need to understand about the PLA. Not from a geopolitical angle, but from the perspective of squad and platoon-level application. What’s in it for you? Understanding how the PLA operates at the tactical level helps you train and fight smarter. Keep the main thing the main thing. What we discuss: * Why every TL, SL, and PC should study the PLA — and what it teaches about our own tactics. * How to integrate PLA-style TTPs into training while reinforcing Marine Corps fundamentals. * A ton of other insights from Ty on things you can control and where to dedicate your bandwidth. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a comment with a recommendation for a future guest or topic. Support the Show: Follow Aura Ambush: https://instagram.com/auraambush [https://instagram.com/auraambush] LostLt1775 Website: https://lostlt1775.square.site/ [https://lostlt1775.square.site/] Support the Show: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lostlt1775/subscribe [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lostlt1775/subscribe]

09 | Inside the PLA (w/ Sino Talk)

In this episode, our first guest on the podcast Joaquin Camarena (“Sino Talk” on Instagram) breaks down what Marines need to understand about the CCP’s top-down control of the PLA, reliance on unmanned systems, and a logistical network designed for rapid starts… but not sustained chaos. What’s in it for you? A clear picture of how the PLA operates, where they are strong, where they break, and what your squad / platoon needs to know. What we discuss: -CCP political control over the PLA and how it slows decisions at the platoon level -PLA integration of drones and UGVs - what’s real vs. propaganda. -Logistics modernization and the sustainment critical vulnerabilities to exploit. -Practical implications for platoon commanders and NCOs. If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe and leave a comment with a recommendation on a future guest / podcast topic. Support the Show: Follow Sino Talk: https://instagram.com/sino_talk [https://instagram.com/sino_talk] LostLt1775 Website: https://lostlt1775.square.site/ [https://lostlt1775.square.site/] Support the Show: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lostlt1775/subscribe [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lostlt1775/subscribe]

08 | Passive C-sUAS TTPs (Part 2): Avoid Detection

You’ve learned how drones hunt - now learn how to increase your survivability and avoid detection through signature management and deception. In this episode we go through specific, field-ready TTPs that small units can take and incorporate right now to avoid detection and survive under persistent sUAS surveillance. Everything from decoy positions to understanding EMCON windows, to thermal crossover, and IA drills. What’s in it for you? Simple methods to increase your units survivability. What we discuss: * How to build effective decoy CPs using basic materials * EMCON windows · radio-silence discipline · thermal masking * Immediate-action drills when a drone is overhead * Movement timing during thermal crossover periods * Leadership habits that make concealment second nature Listen if you want to: * Lead a unit that fights unseen, manages its own electromagnetic signature, and understands how to break an enemy’s kill chain before it starts. -LostLt1775 Website: ⁠https://lostlt1775.square.site/⁠ [https://lostlt1775.square.site/] -Support the Show: ⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lostlt1775/subscribe [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lostlt1775/subscribe]

07 | Passive C-sUAS TTPs (Part 1): Understanding the Threat

Every squad, every platoon—every movement—is being watched. -In this episode, we break down how modern passive counter-sUAS (C-sUAS) tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) are changing the battlefield. Learn how small-unit leaders can identify, avoid, and deceive enemy drones using lessons drawn directly from Ukraine and the IDF. What’s in it for you: actionable methods to reduce your unit’s visual, thermal, and electromagnetic signatures—and lead Marines who can survive and fight under constant drone observation. What we discuss: * How the sUAS threat evolved from nuisance to daily reality at the squad level * What “passive C-sUAS” actually means: detection · denial · deception * Lessons from Ukraine and the IDF on small-unit survivability * The science and timing behind thermal crossover * Leadership checks and SOPs that enforce signature discipline Listen if you want to: Build a squad that stays unseen, understands how drones hunt, and applies doctrine-based solutions without waiting on new gear. -LostLt1775 Website: https://lostlt1775.square.site/ [https://lostlt1775.square.site/] -Support the Show: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lostlt1775/subscribe [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/lostlt1775/subscribe]