Planning the War Against ISIS – Maestro Renken’s Inside Story

Maestro Renken 10 PCT 74 Part 1“Maestro” Renken planned the U.S. air war against ISIS from inside the CAOC, then led his F-15E squadron into combat in Syria. In this gripping interview, he reveals how fast-moving threats, fragile coalitions, brutal targeting dilemmas, and hostile Russian fighters shaped the air campaign—and how the lessons from that war are shaping today’s fight.0:00 intro teaser - “money shot”1:48 Welcome Maestro3:17 Safe on Deck endorsement!3:55 Maestro’s intro/career summary 10:30 CAOC experience - ROE complications - aiding decision making 21:55 campaign planning as a weapons school grad in an asymmetric war29:28 channel ad 29:56 disseminating the FRAG, defining tasking and CSAR considerations 36:20 crazy vehicles, low quality fuel - Hyundais and the evolution of targeting 39:25 micro/macro problem solving/targeting 41:54 “money shot” story 45:47 depth of services integration and cooperation at CAOC level (intel/SPECOPS)49:52 “smoking” cash and old tactics made new again 56:14 “slippery fish” and “theatre”1:02:10 Targeting cycle and improvising extra intel 1:08:55 technological and weapon challenges 1:16:04 does this go back to the weapons school?1:17:05 ensuring correct targets are hit vs the legal element 1:29:05 taking command and leading in theatre. Challenges and anecdotes1:46:05 view on the Russian aspect and thoughts on the threat1:55:05 kill is kill? and further ramifications 1:58:15 “keeping stuff secret”?2:00:45 psychological aftershocks from commanders perspective 2:18:50 defining less than optimal deconfliction, the sanctity of the debrief and reviewing “errors”2:24:10 Strike Eagle community today (Iranian drone swarm)2:29:19 Are manned fighters still relevant and the democratisation of air power