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🎙 Episode 53 – Green Beret Team RWB: COL (Ret.) Michael “Sully” Sullivan

In this episode of the ASVAB Domination Podcast, Mickey Gamonal sits down with Michael “Sully” Sullivan, retired Army Colonel, former Green Beret, and leader with Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB).

Sully’s military journey began long before Special Forces. He took the ASVAB as a high school student, went through ROTC at Claremont McKenna College, commissioned as an Army officer, and eventually built a career that included service as a Green Beret and Special Forces officer before retiring as a Colonel.

But this conversation goes far beyond test scores or choosing an MOS.

Mickey and Sully talk about what it takes to build a meaningful military career, competing on the Army’s Order of Merit List, pursuing opportunities without becoming consumed by promotions, and learning to focus on doing your current job exceptionally well.

Sully also shares his perspective on one of the biggest challenges service members eventually face: figuring out who you are when the uniform comes off.

Today, through Team RWB, he continues serving the military and veteran community by helping veterans build healthier lives through fitness, community, leadership, and genuine human connection.

What you’ll learn:

How Sully went from taking the ASVAB in high school to becoming an Army officer
His path through ROTC and into a successful Army career
What ultimately led him toward Special Forces and becoming a Green Beret
How young Soldiers and officers should think about promotions and the Army’s Order of Merit List
Why doing your current job well matters more than constantly chasing the next rank
Lessons Sully learned from decades of Army leadership
Why military transition can create an identity gap for veterans
How fitness can become a powerful tool for connection and community
How Team RWB helps veterans build meaningful relationships after military service
Why your military career should create opportunities rather than become the limit of your identity
How service, leadership, and purpose can continue long after leaving the Army

Key moments:

3:15 – Taking the ASVAB in high school & ROTC at Claremont McKenna
8:42 – The path into Special Forces & becoming a Green Beret
16:20 – Navigating promotions & the Order of Merit List without losing your focus
24:05 – Why excelling in your current role matters more than chasing rank
31:10 – Lessons learned from decades of Special Forces and Army leadership
38:45 – The military transition: facing the identity gap when the uniform comes off
45:12 – How Team RWB builds community and connection through fitness

Final message from Sully:

Your ASVAB score can help open the first door, but what you do after walking through it is up to you.

Build relationships. Take care of people. Challenge yourself. Stay physically and mentally engaged. And when one chapter ends, find another reason to keep moving forward.

Put in the work. Create more options for yourself. Bet on yourself.

About Team RWB

Team Red, White & Blue is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching veterans’ lives through fitness, community, and human connection. Learn more and find a local chapter at TeamRWB.org.

About ASVAB Domination

ASVAB Domination helps future and current service members improve their ASVAB and AFCT scores, strengthen their academic foundations, and create more opportunities throughout their military careers. Don’t let one test score determine the ceiling of your military career.