Fireside Chat: Those Who Face Death with Mark Grdovic (Part 3)

In this three-part series, JSOU’s Mike Lundstrom sits down with LTC (Ret.) Mark Grdovic—former Special Forces officer, special warfare instructor, USSOCOM J3 advisor, and JSOU adjunct—to explore one of the most consequential yet overlooked campaigns of the Iraq War. Drawing on Grdovic’s firsthand experience and his book, this series brings history into the present to sharpen SOF thinking. Part 1: Road to War in Iraq Explore the strategic context and planning that led a small Special Forces and CIA team to infiltrate northern Iraq ahead of the 2003 invasion. Learn how unconventional warfare concepts were operationalized. Part 2: Operations in Kirkuk Gain insight into the execution and adaptation of SOF operations to keep Hussein’s forces tied up in northern Iraq by engaging around the city of Kirkuk. Part 3: Kirkuk con’t and Lessons Learned In the concluding discussion, we unpack how the mission wrapped, the enduring lessons that today’s SOF leaders can carry forward into future conflicts. For more information, follow us on our website and social media platforms: Website: jsou.edu LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/thinkjsou X: https:X.com/thinkjsou Facebook: facebook.com/thinkjsou/ YouTube: ThinkJSOU Instagram: instagram.com/thinkjsou/ The views expressed in this video are entirely those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, policy, or position of the United States Government, Department of Defense, United States Special Operations Command, or the Joint Special Operations University. #SOF #SOFCommunity #ModernWarfare #JSOU