Podcasts about airborne divisions

Lt. Gen. (retired) Ben Hodges is the former Commanding General of United States Army Europe, a post he held from 2014 to 2017 during the initial Russian invasion of Ukraine and NATO's subsequent reinforcement of its eastern flank. A 1980 West Point graduate and infantry officer, he commanded at company, battalion and brigade level, including the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He later served as Commander of NATO Allied Land Command in İzmir.Since retirement, Hodges has become a prominent analyst of European security, NATO logistics, Russia and Ukraine. He serves as a NATO Senior Mentor for Logistics, is associated with GLOBSEC's Future of Security and Defence Council, previously held CEPA's Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies, and co-authored Future War and the Defence of Europe. ----------LINKS:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hodgeshttps://x.com/general_ben?lang=enhttps://www.globsec.org/who-we-are/our-people/lieutenant-general-retired-ben-hodgeshttps://www.rusi.org/people/hodges-0https://www.thecipherbrief.com/experts/ben-hodges----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------DESCRIPTION:Ben Hodges on Western Will, Russia's Escalation, and a Path to Ukrainian VictoryJonathan interviews retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges about what they describe as a “sub-admission” war in which the West fails to openly acknowledge Russia is at war with it, undermining political will, policy coherence, and a defined end state. They discuss Russia's rising risk-taking, including the Leipzig airport explosives drone incident and an underwhelming German response, arguing Moscow fills the space created by Western inaction and is rarely made to pay meaningful, unanticipated costs (including over frozen Russian assets). Hodges criticizes U.S. leadership under President Trump and urges Europe to “defeat Russia first” by enabling Ukraine to expel Russian forces, which would also signal resolve to China and isolate Iran. They contrast Ukraine's infrastructure-strike exhaustion strategy with Russia's strategy of erasure, warn about an accelerating drone arms race, and note civilians' constrained options under intensified strikes. Hodges argues strategic bombing is not decisive, highlights Ukraine's growing capacity to damage Russia's oil and gas revenue and to conduct integrated combined-arms operations, and closes by stressing war as a test of will.----------EPISODES:00:00 War Is a Test of Will01:08 Naming the Conflict03:10 Russia Fills the Space05:19 Seizing the Initiative07:21 Why the West Hasn't Mobilized09:26 Leadership and Defeat Russia First12:24 Theories of Victory16:17 Europe's Crocodile Strategy19:32 Drone Arms Race Reality21:35 Life Under Airstrikes25:19 Why Strategic Bombing Won't Win27:36 Combined Arms Hope29:34 Final Warning on Will30:25 Support the Channel----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Car4Ukrainehttps://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaignsDzyga's Pawhttps://dzygaspaw.com/projectsSuperhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/----------PLATFORMS:Substack: https://substack.com/@siliconcurtainTwitter: https://twitter.com/CurtainSiliconLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finkjonathan/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4thRZj6NO7y93zG11JMtqm----------

In this episode with host Dr. Charlie Faint, retired Colonel Pat Howell reflects on a career that took him from the 82nd Airborne Division and conventional engineer units to the 75th Ranger Regiment, strategic planning in Afghanistan, Joint Special Operations Command, and ultimately leadership of the Modern War Institute at West Point. Pat describes how strong noncommissioned officers and demanding organizations shaped his approach to leadership, particularly the need to balance leading by personal example with stepping back to supervise the larger mission. He discusses his intellectual development at West Point and beyond before recounting his experience as a lead planner for the International Security Assistance Force under General Stanley McChrystal and reflectiong on his later service with Joint Special Operations Command and as director of MWI. Throughout the conversation, he returns to several enduring lessons for military professionals: accomplish the mission while taking care of soldiers, remain intellectually curious, learn to evaluate facts and assumptions rigorously, and develop critical-thinking skills that remain useful regardless of how warfare changes. Chapters (00:00:02) - Introduction and Guest Welcome(00:00:44) - Family Background and Choosing West Point(00:02:27) - Cadet Life, Academics, and Athletics(00:03:42) - Commissioning and Early Assignment Setbacks(00:04:30) - Serving with the 82nd Airborne Division(00:05:35) - Move to Germany and Mechanized Unit Culture(00:06:43) - Leadership Lessons: Leading by Example vs Supervising(00:09:14) - Adapting to Heavy Unit Culture and the Cot Story(00:11:24) - AMFL Mission and Multinational Training in Germany(00:13:56) - Teaching at West Point's Department of Social Sciences(00:15:11) - Becoming Course Director for International Relations(00:18:38) - CGSC and Learning from Iraq War Veterans(00:21:03) - Joining the 75th Ranger Regiment as Engineer(00:23:58) - Deployments and Lessons on Mission Importance(00:25:08) - School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS)(00:27:59) - Understanding Campaign Planning vs Tactics(00:30:31) - Deploying to ISAF Under General McChrystal(00:32:21) - The 40,000 Troop Request Planning Effort(00:36:22) - Other Major ISAF Planning Projects(00:39:09) - Congressional Testimony and Rapid Staff Work(00:41:05) - Marines Under McChrystal: Command Relations Explained(00:45:16) - Reflections on General McChrystal's Leadership(00:46:27) - Battalion Command at Fort Leonard Wood(00:48:53) - Second Tour: JSOC Engineer Role(00:50:43) - The ASP3 Fellowship and PhD Pursuit(00:52:24) - Strategic Planning Roles After ASP3(00:55:21) - Becoming Director of the Modern War Institute(00:58:05) - Returning to West Point: Reflections on Change(00:59:28) - Career Takeaways and the PhD Story(01:03:16) - Advice for Aspiring Military Professionals(01:05:56) - Closing Remarks and Podcast Outro

Episode 193: Chuck Marvin & his book, America 5.0: Ending Division, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey About ChuckChuck Marvin is an entrepreneur, construction consultant, and award-winning technical author with more than 30 years of experience solving complex problems through evidence-based analysis and principled decision-making. He co-founded RSI (Roof Solutions Incorporated), established in 1994 and now specializing in the entire building envelope, including roofs, walls, and subgrade systems. Through RSI, Chuck has built a career around unbiased analysis, practical solutions, and identifying the true source of complex problems before attempting to solve them. A former member of the 82nd Airborne Division and co-founder of The Principled Capitalist, Chuck now applies the same technical rigor and principle-driven thinking to business, leadership, and societal challenges through his writing and public work. His book America 5.0: Ending Division, explore how principles, personal responsibility, structural systems, and disciplined problem-solving shape both individual outcomes and society. Through The Principled Capitalist, Chuck focuses on evidence-based analysis and mathematically viable approaches to reducing division and expanding equality of opportunity.CONVERSATION HIGHLIGHTSChuck's current work after selling his company, including expert witness testimony, NGO work in Guatemala, research, reading, and writing a second bookHow growing up with a single mother, a liquor-store-running nana, and early family loss built empathy and resilienceHis time in the 82nd Airborne Division, where service alongside people from many backgrounds shaped his view of race and identityLiving in South Korea, teaching English, and learning from his father-in-law, who became a lasting model of discipline and resilienceThe move into construction and building-envelope consulting, including robotics, material handling, and later founding RSI Roof SolutionsWhy reading Covey made Chuck and his wife decide they could not stay in an unethical work environmentWhy Chuck argues that many social problems are structural, not systemic, and traces them to the tax codeThe framework behind America 5.0 Ending Division, including universal health care, an income primer, and a one-page tax modelChuck's four-part test for whether something is a principle or a value: identity independence, invariance, indifference, and non-exception stateabilityWhy he believes AI will make a transition support system like basic income and universal health care more necessary, not lessHow Covey's ideas about paradigms, principles, and sharpening the saw still shape company policy and leadership thinkingThe MAIN QUESTION for you that comes out of my conversation with Chuck is, How are your values and principles interacting in order to both understand and work with others, and impact the world around you? Find ChuckCompany: https://www.rsiresults.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-marvin/Book: America 5.0: Ending DivisionAmerica 5.0 Explainer Video: https://youtu.be/l7Onu7xBfqkLinkedIn - Full Podcast Article:CHAPTERS00:00 - The Book Leads Podcast - Chuck Marvin00:47 - Introduction & Bio02:12 - Who are you today? Can you provide more information about your work?05:27 - What did you path to today look like?20:11 - How does the work you're doing today reconcile to who you were as a child?30:27 - What is your superpower?45:31 - What does leadership mean to you?49:01 - Chuck speaks on his own book, America 5.001:19:47 - Can you introduce us to the book we're discussing?01:34:22 - What are you up to these days? (A way for guests to share and market their projects and work.)This series has become my Masterclass In Humanity. I'd love for you to join me and see what you take away from these conversations.For more great content, check out the catalog for my newsletter Last Week's Leadership Lessons, if you haven't already!

Army veteran Kevin Carey joins Gulf War Side Effects to share his story of military service, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the 101st Airborne Division, Gulf War exposures, veterans' benefits, and an incredible fight for survival years after leaving the military.Get access to past and bonus content with exclusive guest. Please help support the podcast and veterans so we can keep making the show - patreon.com/GulfWarSideEffects▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Fill out the Form

Army veteran Kevin Carey joins Gulf War Side Effects to share his story of military service, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the 101st Airborne Division, Gulf War exposures, veterans' benefits, and an incredible fight for survival years after leaving the military.Get access to past and bonus content with exclusive guest. Please help support the podcast and veterans so we can keep making the show - patreon.com/GulfWarSideEffects▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Fill out the Form

Joshua Devereux is a Jewish American who served in the 82nd Airborne Division before spending five years as an officer with the Houston Police Department. Along the way he became an Army Combatives instructor, trained under Sgt. 1st Class Kevin D. Rice (master trainer at the U.S. Army Combatives School, Fort Benning), and competed in MMA.In this episode of Frontline Israel, Joshua joins host Doron Keidar to discuss what combat and the cage taught him — and how that same discipline now shapes his fight against a very different kind of threat: coordinated online disinformation and antisemitism campaigns.We cover:His path from the 82nd Airborne → law enforcement → the world of combativesWhat he's seen change in the information war over the past few yearsWhat it actually takes to counter propaganda at scale, rather than just react to itA conversation about real-world experience meeting the modern information battlefield.If you're interested in the Middle East, Israel, geopolitics, and the war of ideas, this conversation is for you.Support Frontline with Doron Keidar Israel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cryforzionnSubscribe for more conversations on Israel, faith, history, and current events. If this episode was helpful, please like, share, and comment below.Follow Doron Keidar:Website: doronkeidar.comFilm: https://iamisraelfilm.com/Instagram: @keidardoronFacebook: @doronkeidarX: @DoronKeidarSubstack: @doronkeidar#DoronKeidar #frontlineisrael #Israel #Zionism #MiddleEast #Geopolitics #WesternCivilization #JewishAdvocacy #JoshuaDevereux #82ndAirborne Follow Joshua Devereux:Instagram: @versari_warrior2Facebook: @Joshua.a.DevereuxThe Brave Ones bookhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/1503945421?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallbackRestrepo Documentaryhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt1559549/

Richard Spegal is an author, disabled veteran, and former member of the 82nd Airborne Division and Pennsylvania National Guard. After years of writing as a hobby, he turned his passion into a full-time career, independently publishing adult-oriented fiction spanning dark fantasy, supernatural, romance, action, and science fiction. His works include the Wolves and Ravens trilogy and Eternal Nights series, where he explores darker, more realistic characters and consequences. Today, Richard continues building his independent publishing brand while releasing one to two books each year.

Was 9/11 an Inside Job? A Combat Veteran Examines the Evidence with Korey Rowe Was 9/11 an inside job? Combat veteran Korey Rowe examines the evidence, government warnings, intelligence failures, WTC 7, Loose Change, and the unanswered questions surrounding September 11. Rather than reducing the story to a simple conspiracy claim, this conversation examines what is documented, what remains disputed, and what we can learn from 9/11. 9/11 evidence, 9/11 investigation, WTC 7, Loose Change, Korey Rowe, 9/11 unanswered questions, government accountability, Iraq War In this episode of Eyes Wide Open with Nick Thompson, Nick sits down with Korey Row, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq and later became the creator and producer of the documentary Loose Change and author of The Soldier That Left: The Untold Story of Loose Change. The conversation explores 9/11, the Iraq War, government warnings, intelligence failures, unanswered questions, media narratives, accountability, and the long-term impact of war. Korey shares his personal journey from joining the Army before 9/11 to being deployed to Afghanistan, later serving in Iraq, questioning the intelligence behind the Iraq invasion, going AWOL, and eventually working with Dylan Avery on Loose Change. The conversation also examines: • What Korey experienced after 9/11 • Why his perspective changed during the Iraq War • Government warnings before 9/11 • Intelligence and accountability after 9/11 • Why the phrase "inside job" may be too simplistic • The unanswered questions surrounding 9/11 • Building 7 and the continuing debate surrounding the official explanation • The history and impact of Loose Change • How media narratives shape public opinion • Political polarization and confirmation bias • Free speech and censorship • What society can learn from 9/11 • Education, critical thinking and teaching the next generation • The lessons Korey believes we should carry forward Korey argues that the important question is not simply whether someone accepts a particular 9/11 theory, but whether people are willing to examine the available record, documented failures and unanswered questions. He also discusses the broader lesson he took from the experience: that ordinary people can influence major conversations when they have enough passion, persistence and conviction. This episode is a conversation about 9/11, war, government accountability, media, critical thinking and the importance of asking difficult questions. Watch the full conversation and decide for yourself. Our Guest  Korey Rowe is a US Army combat veteran of the 101st Airborne Division, serving tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He is an entrepreneur, author, and the filmmaker behind the historic documentary Loose Change. His new memoir, The Soldier That Left: The Untold Story of Loose Change, chronicles his military journey, the anti-war movement, and institutional deception.   Our Mission Eyes Wide Open is a space for honest communication. Our goal is to remove the stigmas around mental health, holistic lifestyles, culture, and free speech so you can show up as your authentic self with your eyes wide open. By having real conversations about difficult truths, we move toward collective healing. Chapters: 0:00 - Twenty-Five Years After 9/11: Reflections on Truth 3:06 - Saying Yes to Everything: The Rebuilding Journey 7:00 - Stepping Back and Empowering Others in Business 11:26 - Enlisting Pre-9/11 and Deploying to Afghanistan 16:22 - The Shift to Iraq and Questioning the War 21:58 - Stop-Loss, Moral Conviction, and Going AWOL 27:22 - Producing Loose Change While Traveling the Country 32:23 - Political Polarization, Distraction, and Media Narratives 38:00 - Educational Reform and Teaching Future Generations 47:06 - Examining the Documented Record: WTC 7 and Loose Change 54:21 - Systemic Ineptitude, Public Trust, and Corporate Governance 1:07:35 - Seeing Each Other as Human Beings First   Find Korey Rowe here:   Website: www.KoreyRowe.com The Soldier That Left Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2K8B8QL?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback  Watch the documentary: www.LooseChange911.com   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KoreyRowe        Additional Links:  www.OtsegoMedia.com  www.DoshaFarms.com  www.FilmOtsego.org    Find Nick Thompson here:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/ |  https://www.instagram.com/the_ucan_foundation/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyesWideOpenContent  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickthompson13/    UCAN Foundation: https://theucanfoundation.org/  Website: https://www.engagewithnick.com/   

Dr. Charles Boustany, retired cardiovascular surgeon and former six-term member of Congress representing South Louisiana from 2005 to 2017, joins Discover Lafayette to recount an extraordinary and deeply personal journey to Ukraine, where he traveled with his longtime friend and former Kentucky Congressman Geoff Davis to witness firsthand the human toll of Russia’s war upon Ukraine. The two former congressmen made the trip at their own expense. They went not as elected officials or representatives of the United States government, but as concerned Americans determined to listen, learn and better understand a conflict that Charles believes has profound implications far beyond Ukraine. Their journey culminated in a terrifying night in Kyiv on May 23, 2026, when Charles found himself sheltering in the basement of his hotel with Ukrainian families as missiles and drones pounded the capital for hours. It was an experience that changed him. A Friendship Forged in Congress Leads to Ukraine Charles and Geoff Davis became close friends while serving together in Congress. Their backgrounds were very different. Charles came to public service after a career as a cardiovascular surgeon. Geoff is a West Point graduate and former Army Ranger who served with the 82nd Airborne Division. Ukraine became particularly personal for Geoff after a West Point classmate, a retired U.S. Army colonel of Ukrainian ancestry, went to Ukraine and volunteered to fight after Russia’s invasion. Although the Ukrainians wanted to commission him as a senior officer because of his experience, he chose to enter the fight as a private. He was killed in combat. Charles had his own longstanding concerns about Russian aggression. While serving in Congress, he watched Russia’s actions in Georgia and the 2014 seizure of Crimea and territory in eastern Ukraine. He had traveled to Georgia as a member of Congress and visited within roughly 30 miles of the front line, seeing the consequences of Russian military action there. Over time, Charles and Geoff became increasingly concerned that Americans were losing sight of what was happening in Ukraine. “We felt like you have to go see what’s going on to really understand what’s going on in the world,” Charles says. “And if you’re a policymaker, it’s really important to do that.” They decided to go themselves. Their objective was first to gather information: to speak not only with government and military officials, but with ordinary Ukrainians living through the war. Their second goal was to return home and share what they had witnessed. The Long Road Into Ukraine Rather than entering through Poland, as many American visitors do, Charles traveled from Louisiana through Atlanta, Amsterdam and Bucharest, Romania. From there, he took a commuter flight toward the Romanian-Ukrainian border, where a humanitarian contact arranged for a van to take the group into Ukraine. The drive to Kyiv took approximately ten and a half hours. That route gave Charles an unexpected view of the country. They traveled through the agricultural heartland of southwestern Ukraine, passing farms and countryside that in some ways reminded Charles of home. The landscape was beautiful and peaceful, until reminders of war suddenly appeared: a bombed truck, a destroyed barn or a damaged home. Even those rural areas bore the scars of the conflict. What struck Charles throughout the trip was how familiar much of Ukraine felt. Gas stations offered snacks much like those in America. Stores and restaurants were open. People went about their lives. He laughed as he recalled that the restrooms they encountered along the journey were among “the cleanest bathrooms I’ve seen anywhere.” “The people are so nice,” he says. That sense of normalcy made the destruction they encountered even more jarring. “These Are People Just Like Us” Charles and Geoff deliberately sought out Ukrainians who could tell them what they had experienced. Some of the stories were almost unbearable. Charles met people who had survived Russian occupation and heard accounts of civilians tortured and killed. He spoke of a woman with a Ph.D. in sociology whose husband serves in the Ukrainian military. During Russia’s initial advance toward Kyiv, she hid with her children for two weeks, surviving on whatever water and food she could find until Ukrainian forces reached them. They visited an Orthodox seminary that had been damaged during the early days of the war. The priest who led the seminary described atrocities so horrific, Charles says, that the experience had nearly shaken his Christian faith. “It brought tears to my eyes to hear these things,” Charles recalls. He also met the mother of a young Ukrainian who had been killed during the early days of the war while serving with the Azov forces defending Mariupol. For Charles, these encounters stripped away the distance created by maps, political arguments and television coverage. “These human stories are powerful,” he says. “These are people just like us.” Air raid sirens are part of everyday life. They happen at night, designed to keep Ukrainians from getting adequate rest. People seek shelter. When the all-clear sounds, they emerge and return to work, school and family life. Charles saw in Ukrainians what he described as a unmistakable look of determination. “It’s the look of a people that have been striving for their independence for years, and they’ve had a taste of it, and they’re not about to let it go.” A student of history, Charles found himself thinking about Londoners enduring the Blitz during World War II and about America’s own struggle for independence against the British Empire. He sees that same resolve in Ukraine. A Surgeon’s View of War Charles’s medical background also shaped what he saw. In Kyiv, he spent considerable time with an American surgeon whose wife is Ukrainian and who has devoted himself to helping both civilians and the Ukrainian military. The surgeon has worked to bring modern trauma techniques and donated hospital equipment into the country and has traveled repeatedly toward the front to assist with casualties. Charles learned about devastating injuries created by modern drone and explosive warfare, including severe head trauma and wounds unlike those traditionally associated with gunfire. He also saw a country rapidly reinventing warfare. Ukraine has developed a sophisticated domestic drone industry. Drones are being used for surveillance and attack, but also for logistics, moving supplies and even evacuating wounded soldiers. Unmanned maritime systems have changed naval warfare as well. “This is 21st century war,” Charles says. “It’s innovative. It’s completely different.” He says American and European military personnel are studying Ukraine closely because the battlefield is teaching lessons that will shape warfare for decades. The Warning: “Tonight, It’s Going to Be a Very Bad Night in Kyiv” Nothing, however, prepared Charles for his final night in the Ukrainian capital. Earlier that day, Charles and Geoff had received an approximately two-hour intelligence briefing about Russian tactics, Ukrainian strategy and how the conflict might unfold. “I wish every member of Congress could get the briefing,” Charles says. As they left, Geoff received a call from a senior Ukrainian special forces officer who wanted to meet with them that evening. They met at a hotel at 9 p.m. Before beginning the discussion, the officer issued a warning. “Gentlemen, before we get started on what I want to talk about, I just want to warn you that tonight it’s going to be a very bad night in Kyiv.” A massive missile and drone attack was expected. They were told to take precautions and find somewhere safe. Back at their small hotel near Kyiv’s central square, Charles and Geoff inspected the basement. Geoff’s military instincts told him it might not be particularly safe. Exposed pipes, electrical lines and other hazards could leave anyone sheltering there trapped if the building took a direct hit. Charles returned to his room. Knowing he was supposed to leave Ukraine the next day, he packed his belongings and placed his passport, wallet and room key together so that he could grab them quickly. Then he got into bed. He couldn’t sleep. At approximately 12:50 a.m., the explosions began. At first Charles remained in his room listening. The blasts grew progressively closer. After about an hour, there was a short lull. Then the attack intensified. “The building was shaking,” Charles recalls. He could hear breaking glass and explosions nearby. He finally went downstairs. The hotel manager grabbed him by the arm and directed him toward the basement. There, Charles encountered a scene he will never forget. An American in a Basement With Ukrainian Families Ukrainian families were sheltering below the hotel. Most spoke no English. One family particularly stayed with Charles: a grandmother, two young parents and their seven-year-old son. The little boy was frightened. His father tried to distract him by showing him soccer videos while his mother comforted him. Charles could not speak to them. But they knew he was American. “They kept looking at me,” he remembers. “I wish I could have communicated with them.” So Charles did the one thing he could. He put his hand over his heart. “I have to hope it gave them some confidence that an American cared enough to be there with them during that hellacious night.” The bombardment continued from approximately 1 a.m. until 7:30 that morning. When daylight finally came, Charles looked outside and saw smoke and fires across Kyiv. A large hotel only a few blocks away had been badly damaged.  He was relieved simply to be alive. What Charles Believes America Should Understand Charles returned from Ukraine convinced that the conflict cannot be viewed simply as a distant European war. His policy views are clear and strongly expressed in our conversation. He believes Ukraine urgently needs greater missile defense capabilities, continued intelligence sharing and the ability to put greater pressure on Russian forces. In his assessment, those elements could improve Ukraine’s position sufficiently to eventually negotiate from a position of strength. He also sees broader consequences for Europe and the United States. Ukraine’s importance as a major agricultural producer means disruptions there reverberate through global food and commodity markets. Charles connects the conflict to pressures experienced by American farmers through energy, fertilizer and equipment costs. “Everything’s interdependent and connected,” he says. “We’re feeling those pressures here.” But his deepest concern is security. Charles believes Americans should remember the lessons learned at tremendous cost during the first half of the 20th century: instability in Europe does not necessarily remain in Europe. “This is not just some remote conflict,” he says. “It’s basically at the center of European security.” Ukraine’s Long Fight to Be Ukraine Now pursuing a Ph.D. in modern European history at LSU, Charles places today’s conflict within Ukraine’s centuries-long struggle for independence. All photos shown below were taken by Charles during his trip to Ukraine. Memorial for foreign soldiers who died fighting in Ukraine. Memorial to civilian victims of war in Kyiv suburb of Bucha. Memorial to fallen soldiers on the Maidan. St. Sophia Cathedral built in 1037. On the day Charles Boustany departed Ukraine, a Memorial Day Service was held to honor the Americans who had died fighting for Ukraine. Ukraine’s history, he explains, stretches back more than a thousand years. Its people and territory have existed at the crossroads of powerful empires, including Poland, the Habsburg Empire, the Ottoman Empire and Russia. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine emerged as a sovereign country. For Charles, understanding that history is essential to understanding the determination he witnessed on the streets of Kyiv. Ukrainians are not simply defending territory, he argues. They are defending their language, culture, identity and the right to determine their own future. Coming Home to Louisiana When Dr. Boustany was asked how he felt after returning home, his answer brought the conversation back to Louisiana. “I love our country,” he says. “I’m thankful every day for what we have.” Seeing Ukrainians fighting for freedoms Americans often take for granted reinforced his gratitude for ordinary life here: living peacefully, raising families, going to work, attending church, watching LSU, UL-Lafayette or high school football, and simply going about our lives without wondering whether missiles will arrive during the night. “We live in peace and prosperity here because people are willing to fight for that freedom,” Charles says. That realization became even more personal during the long night in Kyiv. “I am so glad I went. I’m glad I survived,” he says. “I was worried that I might not. I spent a few hours thinking I might not survive, and started thinking about how thankful I was for the good life that I had.” There was one person back in Louisiana whom Charles deliberately did not contact while the missiles were falling: his wife, Bridget. He knew she would be terrified if she learned what was happening while he remained trapped in Kyiv without reliable communication. So Charles waited. Once their van was safely on the road out of the capital the next morning, he watched the time until he knew it was about 6:30 a.m. in Louisiana. Only then did he text Bridget, explain what had happened, assure her he was safe and tell her he was on his way out of Ukraine. When he finally returned home, Bridget had a succinct response: “No more trips to Ukraine.” After hearing his story, it is easy to understand why. Yet it is equally easy to understand why Charles Boustany and Geoff Davis felt compelled to go. Their journey was born of friendship, history, service and a conviction that understanding the world sometimes requires getting close enough to see the people behind the headlines.

In this pivotal episode of Echoes of War, host Craig sits down with Michael Lebowitz, a senior attorney in the DOJ's National Security Division and decorated combat veteran of the 101st Airborne Division, to discuss the haunting reality of post-9/11 terror plots targeting America. Lebowitz is the author of "Second Wave: Inside Al-Qaeda's Post-9/11 Attack Plan and America's Secret Effort to Stop It," a groundbreaking book that exposes the strategic blueprint Al-Qaeda developed immediately following the September 11 attacks. This is not speculative—this is documented intelligence about what Al-Qaeda operatives actually planned for the American homeland. The conversation reveals how Al-Qaeda didn't view 9/11 as their final blow. Instead, they meticulously planned sleeper agents strategically positioned throughout American cities, designed to execute a coordinated wave of devastating attacks aimed at inflicting catastrophic casualties. Beyond manpower, these operatives worked to acquire weapons of mass destruction through sophisticated smuggling networks, including efforts to obtain nuclear and radiological materials. Lebowitz traces how events in 1998 fundamentally shaped these post-9/11 ambitions and influenced the trajectory of their planning. He explores how the 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) coordinated with logistics operatives like Saifullah Paracha, whose critical role in Al-Qaeda's weapons procurement networks brought these nightmarish scenarios perilously close to execution. Perhaps most disturbing is the detailed examination of Osama bin Laden's "America's Hiroshima" vision—a plan requiring a minimum of 10,000 American casualties. The episode also reveals the story of Muhammad Atta meeting the potential "20th Hijacker" Muhammad Al-Katani in Orlando, and how intelligence failures and miscommunication nearly allowed catastrophic follow-up attacks on East Coast infrastructure, gas stations, and soft targets. This episode pulls back the classified curtain on counterterrorism efforts and declassified DOJ intelligence. Whether you're interested in 9/11 history, terrorism studies, national security, or counterterrorism operations, this conversation with a DOJ insider and 101st Airborne veteran provides rare, firsthand insight into how intelligence agencies tracked, investigated, and neutralized threats before they could materialize on American soil.   Don't forget I have a Youtube Membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbp8JMZizR4zak9wpM3Fvrw/join or my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel where you can get exclusive content like "What if Japan invaded the USSR during WW2?"

We've launched Minimum Competence CLE, and our first course is now available completely free. Researching Federal Tax Issues After Loper Bright looks at how the Supreme Court's decision ending Chevron deference changes the way lawyers should research and evaluate Treasury regulations, IRS guidance, and other federal tax authorities.Take the course and earn CLE credit at cle.minimumcomp.com.This Day in Legal History: The Little Rock NineOn September 4, 1957, nine Black teenagers tried to walk into Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas—and were turned away at the doors by soldiers of the Arkansas National Guard, deployed by Governor Orval Faubus specifically to keep them out. The image of Elizabeth Eckford, one of the nine, walking alone through a jeering white mob, became one of the defining photographs of the civil rights era. And the confrontation it began became one of the most important tests of whether the rule of law actually means anything.The legal backdrop was Brown v. Board of Education, decided three years earlier, in which the Supreme Court held that segregated public schools are unconstitutional. Little Rock had a desegregation plan; the Little Rock Nine were supposed to be its first students. Governor Faubus decided to defy the federal courts, using state troops to block integration. The standoff escalated until President Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas National Guard and sent in the 101st Airborne Division to escort the nine students into the school—federal soldiers enforcing a federal court order against a state government determined to resist it.The significance of September 4, 1957 crystallized the following year in the Supreme Court's decision in Cooper v. Aaron, which arose directly from the Little Rock crisis. There, in an opinion signed personally by all nine justices—a rare show of unanimity—the Court declared that state officials cannot nullify a federal court's interpretation of the Constitution, and that “the federal judiciary is supreme in the exposition of the law of the Constitution.” It's a principle that echoes through so much of what we cover: that a court order is not a suggestion, and that no official, however powerful, gets to decide for himself which parts of the Constitution to obey. It's also a fitting anniversary for today, because our second story is, at bottom, another chapter in the long, unfinished American argument about race and education.The Trump administration has taken its mail-in voting fight back to the Supreme Court, filing to have the justices clear away the last judicial obstacle to its executive order. Longtime listeners know this saga well. The order would create a federal list of eligible voters and restrict how the Postal Service delivers ballots. Back in late August, the Supreme Court, on its emergency docket, lifted one of two injunctions—but left the Postal Service piece blocked nationwide. The administration then went to the appeals court to try to clear that remaining block, and now it's gone straight back to the Supreme Court to finish the job. So the whole thing is back in front of the justices, again on an emergency basis. Here's what makes this significant and, frankly, uncomfortable. We are now two months out from the November midterms, and the fundamental legal question—whether the president actually has the authority to reshape how Americans vote by mail—still has not been decided on the merits. Everything so far has happened through emergency orders and stays, the “shadow docket,” with no full briefing, no argument, and no written opinion explaining the Court's reasoning. Election administrators need settled rules to run an election; voters need to know how to cast a ballot. Instead, the rules are being rewritten in real time, in emergency filings, weeks before people vote. The significance is that the Supreme Court is now positioned to shape the mechanics of a national election through its emergency process—and whichever way it rules, doing it this way, this close to the election, on this thin a record, is itself a serious concern for the stability and predictability that election law is supposed to provide. Trump administration takes mail-in ballot fight to US Supreme Court | ReutersNPR · The HillNow the biggest legal story of the day: the Treasury Department and the IRS have proposed regulations to strip federal tax-exempt status from private schools and colleges that consider race in admissions, scholarships, or policies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent framed it bluntly, saying that schools rebranding race-based preferences as “equitable” or “diversity-enhancing” doesn't change what he called their discriminatory nature. To understand how significant—and how legally aggressive—this is, you need to know a case called Bob Jones University v. United States. In 1983, the Supreme Court upheld the IRS's power to deny tax-exempt status to a school that racially discriminated—there, a university that banned interracial dating—on the theory that tax exemption is reserved for organizations that serve a public purpose, and that racial discrimination in education violates fundamental public policy. That doctrine was forged to punish schools that discriminated against Black students. What the administration is doing now is taking that exact doctrine and inverting it: arguing that after the Supreme Court's 2023 SFFA decision ended race-conscious admissions, it's race-conscious programs—the ones designed to help underrepresented minorities—that constitute the illegal discrimination violating public policy. So the anti-discrimination tax weapon built to dismantle segregation is being turned against diversity programs. A few crucial caveats: this is a proposed regulation, not a final rule—it goes through notice-and-comment and will absolutely be litigated—and it pointedly exempts schools that select based on religion. The significance is enormous. Tax-exempt status is existential for schools; losing it means donations stop being deductible and the institution owes taxes. We've tracked this administration's campaign against DEI—Harvard, Columbia, William & Mary, the Deloitte settlement—and this is the most powerful lever yet: using the tax code, and a civil-rights-era precedent, to force schools to abandon any consideration of race. Trump moves to strip tax-exempt status from schools that consider race | ReutersWashington Post · CNBCAnd finally, a story that should make every lawyer check their firm's cybersecurity: data from two elite law firms, Quinn Emanuel and McDermott Will & Emery, has been exposed in a wave of cyber breaches hitting the legal industry. Law firms are, in a sense, the perfect target. Think about what they hold: their clients' most sensitive secrets—merger plans, litigation strategy, trade secrets, personal financial and health information, government investigations. A single big firm is a one-stop shop for confidential data across dozens of major companies and individuals. That makes firms enormously attractive to criminal hackers and nation-state actors alike, and this latest wave—part of a broader surge of attacks on the legal sector—shows the threat is intensifying. Here's the professional-responsibility dimension, because this isn't just an IT problem. Lawyers have an ethical duty to protect client confidences—the ABA's Model Rules require attorneys to make reasonable efforts to prevent unauthorized disclosure of client information, which in the modern world squarely includes cybersecurity. When a firm gets breached, it can face not only regulatory and contractual liability and breach-notification obligations, but also questions about whether it met its ethical duty of competence in safeguarding the data in the first place. The significance is a wake-up call for a profession that runs on confidentiality. As firms rush to adopt powerful new tools—we covered Google bringing Gemini AI into Big Law just last week—they're accumulating and centralizing ever more sensitive client data, which raises the stakes on protecting it. The duty of confidentiality is as old as the profession; the threat surface is brand new, and growing. Data of law firms Quinn Emanuel, McDermott exposed in cyber breaches | ReutersBloomberg Law · The Record This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Patrick Leddin is a leadership expert, disruption strategist, and the founder of The Disruption Project at Vanderbilt University. An army veteran, he led paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne Division as an infantry officer and U.S. Army Master Parachutist. He also advised senior executives at KPMG Consulting and FranklinCovey, and co-founded Wedgewood Consulting Group. His latest book, Disrupt Everything—and Win, was co-authored with James Patterson and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Patrick joined host Robert Glazer on the Elevate Podcast to talk about his leadership career, disruption, and his writing partnership with James Patterson. Thank you to the sponsors of The Elevate Podcast Shopify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Masterclass: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠masterclass.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Framer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠framer.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Northwest Registered Agent: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠northwestregisteredagent.com/elevate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Indeed: ⁠⁠indeed.com/elevate⁠⁠

What do you do when your life changes forever in a single moment?On April 10, 2012, during his third deployment with the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant (Ret.) Travis Mills set his pack down on a concealed IED. He survived, becoming one of only a few quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.In this extraordinary episode of Your Next Mission® video podcast, host 12th SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley sits down with Travis to discuss his recovery at Walter Reed, why he rejects the term "wounded warrior" in favor of "recalibrated warrior," and how he turned his hardest days into a lifelong mission to support combat-injured Veterans and their Families. From founding the Travis Mills Foundation from a hospital bed to hosting thousands of Military Families at their barrier-free retreat in Maine, Travis proves that attitude, gratitude, and purpose can overcome any obstacle.

If you have ever had that passing thought of "should I add tax to my bookkeeping firm?" this is the episode you need to hear before you make a move.In this one, I'm sitting down with Nick Cobos of Saga Accounting Solutions. Nick has built a five-person firm that does both tax and bookkeeping. We get into the real pros and cons of running both under one roof, and I share why I went down this exact rabbit hole myself and decided against it. This is a practitioner-to-practitioner conversation from start to finish, and I loved every minute of it.In this episode you'll hear:The breakdown of adding tax to a bookkeeping firmHow Nick got his first clientsWhy I decided against adding tax to my firmGrowing a firm and delegatingResources mentioned in this episode:Saga Accounting Solutions: https://sagaaccounting.com/Between 2 Firms: https://open.spotify.com/show/71gGjmatd829DB8IrJdI9T?si=bbb9deb996d74f56Meet NickNick graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2019 and spent 5 years as an Army Officer. After graduating the US Army Ranger School Nick held assignments as an Infantry Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer with the 11th Airborne Division and later served as an Army ROTC instructor at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).After transitioning out of the Army, Nick earned his Enrolled Agent credential and jumped into the world of accounting. He now enjoys advising clients and helping them grow their businesses while saving on taxes.When he's not working, Nick enjoys hunting, fishing, playing (admittedly terrible) golf, and spending quality time with his wife, Lisa, their three children, Lucy, Nathan, and Matthew, and their dog, Molly.Connect with NickLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickcobos/Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeperFor more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.comFollow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blogConnect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeperConnect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeperConnect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpaThank you for your support of our show. If you haven't left a review yet it's super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.Podcast Publishing Tools we use:Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llcDescript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

Sheppard's Restructure THIS! podcast explores the latest trends and controversies in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, commercial insolvency and distressed investing. In this episode, Samuel Maizel, partner and chair of Dentons USA's Distressed Healthcare group, joins host Justin Bernbrock to discuss why healthcare bankruptcies are unlike any other Chapter 11 case, from Medicare/Medicaid provider agreement disputes to the wave of hospital and skilled nursing facility closures reshaping communities nationwide. What we discuss in this episode: Sam's transition from infantry officer to the DOJ, then to private practice What makes healthcare restructurings different from a typical corporate Chapter 11 Why hospital closings devastate communities in ways other business failures don't The government's inconsistent position on Medicare/Medicaid provider agreements Why cutting off successor liability matters so much to buyers of distressed hospitals, and how that shapes deal value How Sam's win in In re Verity Health Systems of California used the pre-existing duty rule to reshape how courts treat these agreements, and how the government has since backed off similar fights How the treatment of provider agreements impacts the ability to sell a hospital or healthcare facility, particularly in safety net and rural contexts The wave of hospital and health system bankruptcies over the last three years and the role private equity has played Why skilled nursing and long-term care facilities are the "canary in the coal mine" for financial distress in healthcare The looming impact of Medicaid cuts, provider-directed payments ("bed tax") crackdowns and immigration restrictions on the healthcare workforce The outlook for healthcare restructuring activity over the next five to ten years   About Sam Maizel Sam Maizel is a partner in Dentons USA's Los Angeles office, where he leads the firm's healthcare industry restructuring efforts nationwide. His practice spans in- and out-of-court restructurings across a broad spectrum of industries, and he is a nationally recognized expert in the unique issues that arise when healthcare entities face financial distress. Sam's Chapter 11 work has included serving as lead counsel to debtors, trustees, and creditors' committees, and representing buyers and sellers of assets. He's also represented local hospital districts and other governmental units as both debtor's counsel and counsel to creditors' committees in Chapter 9 bankruptcy proceedings. Prior to entering private practice, Sam was a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice's Commercial Litigation Branch, representing the federal government in bankruptcy, district, and appellate courts nationwide. He also served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, including during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Before becoming an attorney, he was an infantry officer in the 101st Airborne Division and the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). About Justin Bernbrock Justin Bernbrock is a partner in the Finance and Bankruptcy practice group in Sheppard's Chicago office, where he focuses on all aspects of corporate restructuring, bankruptcy and financial distress. He represents clients across a wide range of matters, including debtor and creditor representations. He has substantial experience in out-of-court and in-court restructurings, primarily in the Southern District of New York, Eastern District of Virginia, District of Delaware and Southern District of Texas.   Contact Information Sam Maizel Justin Bernbrock   Thank you for listening! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every week. If you enjoyed this episode, please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or Spotify. It helps other listeners find this show. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.

On this episode, we continue our look at the extraordinary life of a man who has found great success as a career military man. Major General William Hickman spent 36 years serving his country. Born and raised in Maury County, Gen. Hickman attended local schools before attending Vanderbilt University. As an ROTC student there, upon graduation, he was commissioned into the army as a 2nd lieutenant in 1983. Over the next three decades, he rose through the ranks holding various field and staff commands including company, battalion, and brigade commands with the 101st Airborne Division. Between 2003-2008, Gen. Hickman served three tours of duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Serving in over 30 countries, he joined the Central Command Staff as military assistant to General David Patraeus. He became commanding general of the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Deputy Commander for the U.S. Army in the Middle East, and finally, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Policy, NATO's Allied Command Transformation. Retiring from the military in 2019 as a major general, Gen. Hickman is now senior advisor at Compass Executives Group, assisting businesses in crisis management, strategic planning and decision-making, coaching and leader development, and supply chain management. Tom Price and Dr. Barry Gidcomb lead the discussion.

Veterans are filing claims for benefits they earned — but some of those claims may be disappearing into what veteran advocate Steve Miller describes as a VA “black hole.”Miller, a former member of the 82nd Airborne Division and president of Wellness for Veterans, says claims submitted through veterans service organizations are being transmitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs but are not always being entered into the VA system. He says the result is that veterans are left waiting, sometimes for months, without knowing what happened to their claims.Miller says he learned about the problem from a VA representative and was told the system issue had been going on for at least four months. He also says veterans affected by the problem have not been notified.That matters because these claims can determine access to disability compensation, medical care, and other benefits for veterans injured or made ill during their military service.Miller has helped more than 800 veterans pursue service-connected benefits and says his work has helped secure more than $1.5 million annually for veterans — all without charging them for his assistance.In this Lean to the Left interview, Miller explains what he believes is happening, why he says veterans are being left in limbo, and why he wants Congress and the VA to act.Watch the full conversation and tell us what you think. Have you or someone you know experienced unexplained delays or missing VA claims?Subscribe to Lean to the Left for independent interviews, political commentary, and conversations about the issues affecting Americans.#Veterans #VeteransAffairs #VAClaims #VeteransBenefits #MilitaryVeterans #VA #LeanToTheLeftCHAPTERS:00:00 VA Claims Scandal Intro00:45 Claims Lost in Limbo01:53 Who Knows and Who Was Told02:55 Why These Benefits Matter03:58 Taking It to the Media05:22 Politics and Accountability06:12 Congressional Staff Should Help07:12 Hotlines and No Resolution07:37 Wellness for Veterans Mission08:21 800 Vets Helped for Free10:35 Beyond Claims Gear and Housing11:16 Wrap Up and Next Steps

 Today, Justin is joined by Michael Lebowitz. Michael served as a paratrooper in the Army's 101st Airborne Division and later as a judge advocate in the US Army Reserve, currently at the rank of lieutenant colonel. As a civilian, he's worked as a trial attorney in private practice and as a prosecutor for the Department of Justice's National Security Division. Michael is here to discuss the investigations, arrests, and trials of terror suspects following the 9/11 attacks, which he wrote about in his new book, available this week from Diversion Books. Connect with Mike: lebowitzbooks.com LinkedIn: Mike Lebowitz Check out the book, Second Wave: Inside Al Qaeda's Post-9/11 Attack Plan and America's Secret Effort to Stop It, here. https://a.co/d/0buuFYIK Connect with Spycraft 101: Get Justin's latest book, Murder, Intrigue, and Conspiracy: Stories from the Cold War and Beyond, here. spycraft101.com IG: @spycraft101 Shop: shop.spycraft101.com Substack: spycraft101.substack.com Patreon: Spycraft 101 Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here. Check out Justin's second book, Covert Arms, here. Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here. Kruschiki The best surplus military goods delivered right to your door. Use code SPYCRAFT101 for 10% off! https://kruschiki.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailSummary: In this in-depth interview, Sergeant Major Daniel J Wallace shares his extensive military career, insights into strategic communication, leadership credibility, and the evolving landscape of military public affairs. Discover practical advice for aspiring public affairs professionals and the importance of authenticity and adaptability in high-pressure environments.BIO: SGM Daniel Wallace enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 2003 as a health care specialist before reclassifying in November 2009 to become a public affairs specialist. He is currently assigned to the 21st Theater Sustainment Command as the Chief Public Affairs Noncommissioned Officer at Panzer Kaserne, Kaiserslautern, Germany.SGM Wallace has served in a variety of positions during his 23 years of service, these include: Public Affairs Advisor to the Sergeant Major of the Army at the Pentagon, Virginia; First Sergeant for American Forces Network Pacific HQ at Yokota Air Base, Japan; Public Affairs Plans and Operations NCO for Eighth Army at Camp Humphreys South Korea; and Public Affairs Operations NCO for the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He has had multiple deployments, including: Operation Iraqi Freedom to Tikrit, Iraq, and Camp Burhing, Kuwait; and Operation Enduring Freedom to Kabul, Afghanistan.SGM Wallace is a Christian and husband to Jobelle Wallace, and father to three daughters, Althea (22), Tyrish (21), and Ayumi (17), and one son, Gabriel (14).SG

On this episode, we look at the extraordinary life of a man who has found great success as a career military man. Major General William Hickman spent 36 years serving his country. Born and raised in Maury County, Gen. Hickman attended local schools before attending Vanderbilt University. As an ROTC student there, upon graduation, he was commissioned into the army as a 2nd lieutenant in 1983. Over the next three decades, he rose through the ranks holding various field and staff commands including company, battalion, and brigade commands with the 101st Airborne Division. Between 2003-2008, Gen. Hickman served three tours of duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Serving in over 30 countries, he joined the Central Command Staff as military assistant to General David Patraeus. He became commanding general of the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Deputy Commander for the U.S. Army in the Middle East, and finally, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans and Policy, NATO's Allied Command Transformation. Retiring from the military in 2019 as a major general, Gen. Hickman is now senior advisor at Compass Executives Group, assisting businesses in crisis management, strategic planning and decision-making, coaching and leader development, and supply chain management. Tom Price and Dr. Barry Gidcomb lead the discussion.

"Whoever owns Alaska owns the world."These prophetic words from the founder of the modern Air Force, General Billy Mitchell, ring truer today than ever before. Operating in the most unforgiving and extreme environment on the planet, the 11th Airborne Division "Arctic Angels" stands guard at the top of the world. But what does it take to fight, survive, and win when temperatures plummet to -40°F and the elements are as dangerous as the enemy?In this powerful episode of Your Next Mission®, video podcast, host 12th Sergeant Major of the Army, Jack L. Tilley, takes you inside the Army's premier extreme cold-weather warfighting force. Sitting down with Major General John P. Cogbill and Command Sergeant Major David P. Hanson, this conversation explores the epic rebirth of the 11th Airborne Division. Born in the sweltering jungles of the WWII Pacific theater—where they executed the flawless Los Baños POW rescue and became the first Allied force to occupy Japan—this storied division is now dominating the frozen tundra.

How do you make people care about your documentary?Facts alone rarely make an audience care. The emotional core of a documentary lives somewhere else. In this episode of Documentary First, filmmaker Christian Taylor tells the story of how she found the heartbeat her film about the Battle of Carentan was missing. It was not in the archives. It was in the memories of a man who was six years old when the war came for his town.For months, Christian's film Heroes of Carentan felt stuck in what one WWII veteran called the “data of history,” the maps, the dates, and the military maneuvers. Everything shifted when she met Yves Marchais. In June 1944, Yves was a small boy living under German occupation in Carentan, France. This year he sent Christian thirteen letters recording what he remembered, and those letters gave the historical record a soul.It comes down to a lesson every documentary filmmaker learns the hard way: audiences do not connect to issues or information, they connect to people. Anchored by a line from Pfc. John E. Fitzgerald, a runner for Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Col. Robert Cole, this episode argues that the essence of history is not its record but its heartbeat. Yves calls his own account his “hummingbird's share,” not the whole war, but the small, vivid pieces that passed before a child's eyes. His story becomes a lesson in telling a big historical event through one small, personal one.In this episode, you'll learn:Why facts and figures alone rarely move an audienceHow to find the emotional core, or heartbeat, of a documentaryWhy audiences connect to people, not to issues or informationHow to tell a big historical story through one small, personal oneWhat Pfc. John E. Fitzgerald meant when he warned that history can lose its heartbeatWhy one person's story can carry an entire historical eventWhat the “hummingbird's share” is, and why small memories matter more than big onesHow the Battle of Carentan looked through the eyes of a six-year-old boyHow Yves Marchais and his family survived the occupation and liberation of CarentanWhy the story a filmmaker starts with is often not the story worth tellingWhat the series Band of Brothers has to do with the real Battle of CarentanHow to know when your film has finally found its emotional coreChapters:00:00 Meeting a survivor of Carentan01:15 13 letters and Band of Brothers02:26 Life under German occupation04:01 D-Day and the kitchen sink05:27 Fleeing an empty Carentan06:59 The trench and liberation08:45 Colonel Cole and the runner10:57 The lesson: find your heartbeatFrequently Asked Questions:How do you find the emotional core of a documentary?Facts and chronology rarely move an audience on their own. The emotional core, what host Christian Taylor calls the heartbeat, usually lives in one person's specific, lived experience rather than in the broad historical record. In this episode she describes finding it in the memories of Yves Marchais, a French civilian who was six during the Battle of Carentan, and building the film's meaning around his point of view.How do you make an audience care about a documentary subject?Audiences connect to people far more than to issues or information. The most reliable way to make viewers care about a large subject, a war, a movement, a crisis, is to tell it through one specific person whose experience makes the bigger story personal. In this episode, Christian Taylor builds her film about the Battle of Carentan around a single child's memories rather than the broad military record.What was the Battle of Carentan?The Battle of Carentan was a June 1944 fight for the town of Carentan in Normandy, France, a key objective linking the American forces landing at Utah and Omaha beaches. The 101st Airborne Division, including units later made famous by Band of Brothers, fought to take the town, which was liberated on June 12, 1944.Who is Yves Marchais?Yves Marchais is a French man who, as a six-year-old boy, lived through the German occupation and the 1944 liberation of Carentan. Decades later he recorded his childhood memories of the war in a series of letters, which became the emotional core of Christian Taylor's documentary. He calls his account his “hummingbird's share,” the small, true pieces of history he witnessed firsthand.What did Pfc. John Fitzgerald mean about history losing its heartbeat?Pfc. John E. Fitzgerald, who served as a runner for Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Col. Robert Cole, wrote that the data of history should not lose its heartbeat as it becomes information, or all that remains is the record without the essence. Christian Taylor uses that idea as the key to her film: the facts of a battle matter, but the human story is what makes people care.About the Film and the Story:Heroes of Carentan is Christian Taylor's in-production documentary about the 1944 liberation of Carentan, Normandy, told through the people who lived it. Yves Marchais was six years old during the battle. His firsthand account of the occupation, the bombing, his family's escape through a deserted town, and the moment of liberation forms the emotional center of the film. This episode is the second part of Christian's story about finding that center.About Documentary First:Documentary First is a weekly podcast about the craft, business, and truth of documentary filmmaking. Host Christian Taylor is a documentary filmmaker (The Girl Who Wore Freedom), actor, voice actor, and podcast host based in the United States. Each week she explores what it takes to tell true stories that move people, through interviews with filmmakers and solo episodes drawn from her own work.Resources Mentioned:The Colonel and the Runner, by Pfc. John E. Fitzgerald (a recollection of Lt. Col. Robert G. Cole, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division)Band of Brothers (Episode 3 follows the Battle of Carentan)The Girl Who Wore Freedom, Christian Taylor's award-winning D-Day documentaryWatch or Listen to Part 1:https://pod.fo/e/4405a5Listen and Follow:Documentary First: https://podfollow.com/documentary-firstYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@documentaryfirstSupport the show on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/DocumentaryFirstConnect:Documentary First on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/doc1stConnect with Christian Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetchristiantaylor

For review:1. US Military planners have in recent weeks examined a range of options for possible action against the island, including an Army-led air assault involving thousands of U.S. soldiers to be carried out by the 101st Airborne Division, the only unit trained for such a task, according to multiple U.S. officials with knowledge of the discussions. 2. US President Trump is leaning toward further expanding US military operations in Iran, according to reports Wednesday, after huddling with top aides in the White House Situation Room the previous night to discuss potentially launching a major offensive against Iran in the coming days.3. The United States launched fresh waves of strikes on Iran on Wednesday afternoon and evening after reimposing a naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran threatened to shut off more regional energy exports.4. Iran is signaling it could use Yemen's Houthi allies to shut the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea.5. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to the United States on Saturday night, a senior Israeli official told The Times of Israel on Wednesday.6. Russia said on Wednesday that any multinational ​force sent by Ukraine's allies to ‌deploy there in the event of a peace deal would be unacceptable to Moscow, which would view ​it as a threat and a legitimate ​military target.7. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Mykhailo Fedorov as the country's minister of defense after just six months in office.8. The Army could award contracts for its high-profile Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (CAML) program next month, according to Lt. Gen. Frank Lozano, the service's portfolio acquisition executive for Fires.The CAML program is set to serve as a replacement for the Army's Typhon — its Mid-Range Capability (MRC) long-range launcher — as the service discovered the Typhon was a bit too large to operate on the battlefield.

Most veterans don't fail transition because of ability—they fail because they never built a plan.Many service members spend years preparing for military missions but only weeks preparing for civilian life. David Howe argues that's one of the biggest mistakes veterans can make.After serving 30 years in the U.S. Army and building a successful civilian executive career, Dave learned that transition isn't just about finding a job—it's about creating a vision for the rest of your life. In this conversation, he shares why written life planning can dramatically improve transition outcomes and how the Comfort, Peace and Freedom Foundation is helping Gold Star families navigate life's most difficult moments.In this episode, you'll discover:• Create a written transition plan that goes beyond employment and income• Avoid the "undue sense of urgency" that causes veterans to make poor transition decisions• Understand the emotional impact of taking off the uniform for the final time• Learn how strategic life planning helps Gold Star families find purpose and hope after lossAbout David Howe:David Howe served 30 years in the U.S. Army, including active duty with the 4th Infantry Division and 82nd Airborne Division before retiring from the Army Reserve. He built a successful civilian career in healthcare administration and consulting, holding senior leadership positions with major organizations including Deloitte Consulting. Today, he helps veterans and Gold Star families develop life plans through the Comfort, Peace and Freedom Foundation.

Can thirteen letters from an 88-year-old stranger bring a dead film back to life?For two years, Heroes of Carentan, Christian Taylor's documentary about the 101st Airborne Division and the June 1944 liberation of Carentan, sat on a shelf, half made. In this episode she tells the honest story of why a WWII documentary stalls, what it costs to keep going, and the thirteen letters from an 88-year-old man in France that finally gave the film its heartbeat back.In Episode 281 of Documentary First, Christian Taylor takes listeners inside her upcoming film for the first time. Part 1 is how Heroes of Carentan fell apart, and how it came back. Part 2 travels to Normandy, where the letters came to life.Christian walks through the three walls that stalled the film: a story that had all its pieces but none of the feeling, a modern-to-historical framing device that turned into a cage, and the reality of self-funding a documentary, including a Covid disaster loan she wished she'd never taken. Then comes the breakthrough, hidden in two years of research, and the moment she remembered Yves Marchais, who was six and a half years old when the 101st Airborne liberated his town.In this episode, you'll learn:Why a documentary can have every piece in place and still feel dead on the screenHow a timely framing device can quietly become a liability that dates a filmWhat self-funding a documentary can mean, and the loan no one talks aboutWhy the story of the Battle of Carentan was not workingHow going back to the research, not the footage, broke a two-year blockWhy pointing the camera at the people the soldiers saved changed everythingWho Yves Marchais is, and why his memories reframed the whole filmHow thirteen letters from an 88-year-old man gave the film its heartbeatWhat separates Heroes of Carentan from The Girl Who Wore FreedomWhy the cost of war, carried in one person, became the true subjectCHAPTERS0:00 A letter from Carentan0:32 Why this episode is for you1:19 Heroes of Carentan and The Girl Who Wore Freedom1:50 Normandy's gratitude, and where this show began2:46 Two years on the shelf: the three walls2:57 Wall 1: all the pieces, none of the feeling3:41 Wall 2: the framing that became a cage4:34 Wall 3: self-funding, burnout, and the loan no one talks about5:48 The breakthrough hiding in the research6:32 Point the camera at the ones they saved7:08 Meeting Yves Marchais8:27 Thirteen letters from a child of war10:25 The heartbeat, and off to NormandyFrequently Asked QuestionsWhat was the Battle of Carentan in June 1944?The Battle of Carentan was fought from June 10 to 14, 1944, days after the D-Day landings. The U.S. 101st Airborne Division fought to take the Norman town of Carentan, which linked the Utah and Omaha beachheads. After crossing an exposed causeway under fire, the Americans forced the German defenders out on June 12, then held the town against a counterattack with help from the 2nd Armored Division.Who liberated Carentan in World War II?Carentan was liberated by the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, the Screaming Eagles, in June 1944. The 501st, 502nd, and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments and the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment spearheaded the fight, with Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole leading a famous charge along the road nicknamed Purple Heart Lane. In addition, tanks from the 2nd Armored Division helped repel the German counterattack on June 13.What is the documentary Heroes of Carentan about?Heroes of Carentan is a feature documentary by filmmaker Christian Taylor about the liberation of Carentan, France, in June 1944, told through the people who lived it. After a two-year production stall, the film was rebuilt with the help of Yves Marchais, who was a six-year-old child during the battle and later wrote thirteen letters recounting his memories. It is Taylor's second feature, following The Girl Who Wore Freedom.Why do documentary filmmakers self-fund their films?Documentary funding is famously hard, and self-funding is common because otherwise many projects would never get made. Filmmakers often cover early costs themselves to show commitment before grants or investors come in. The current climate is tougher than usual, with the closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and cuts to PBS shrinking traditional support, so many filmmakers now rely on personal savings, credit, and small donor communities.Who is Yves Marchais?Yves Marchais is a French civilian who was six and a half years old when the U.S. 101st Airborne Division liberated his town of Carentan in June 1944. Now 88, he wrote thirteen letters to filmmaker Christian Taylor recounting his childhood memories of the occupation, the bombing, and the American soldiers who saved his family. His testimony became the emotional center of the documentary Heroes of Carentan.About Heroes of CarentanHeroes of Carentan is Christian Taylor's second feature documentary, currently in production. It tells the story of the liberation of Carentan, France, in June 1944 by the 101st Airborne Division, seen through the eyes of French civilian Yves Marchais, who lived through it as a six-year-old child.About The Girl Who Wore FreedomChristian Taylor's award-winning first documentary, about the gratitude the people of Normandy still carry for the American soldiers who liberated them. This episode includes a short clip from the film featuring Valerie Cardin and Marie-Pascal Legrand. Website: https://www.thegirlwhoworefreedom.comAbout Documentary FirstDocumentary First is a weekly podcast about the craft, business, and truth of documentary filmmaking. Host Christian Taylor is a documentary filmmaker, actor, and voice artist with more than four decades in entertainment. Each week she sits down with documentary filmmakers and nonfiction storytellers, and The Deep Dive companion series explores a single idea from a recent conversation.Resources MentionedThe Girl Who Wore Freedom: https://www.thegirlwhoworefreedom.comListen & FollowListen and follow Documentary First: https://podfollow.com/documentary-firstYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@documentaryfirstSupport the show on Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/c/DocumentaryFirstConnectDocumentary First on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/doc1stChristian Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetchristiantaylor

Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason tells the story of a former professional soccer from North Carolina who went from performing on the pitch in Italy to running a successful Italian restaurant in Raleigh. Mason also shares insight into an upcoming story on the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division's All-American Band and Chorus and their upcoming Independence Day tributes. 

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-sixty-fourth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.' Hosted by MAJ Amy Beatty, the G-4 Senior Sustainment Planner from Plans / Exercise Maneuver Control Task Force on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today's guest is the Battalion Commander for the 82nd Light Support Battalion, LTC Peter van Howe.   The 82nd Light Support Battalion (LSB), formerly the 82nd Brigade Support Battalion (BSB), serves as the sustainment backbone of the 3rd Mobile Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, providing logistics, maintenance, medical, transportation, and distribution support to enable the brigade's rapid deployment and expeditionary operations worldwide. Known by its Hollywood call-sign, “Gator,” the battalion has a long history of supporting airborne and contingency operations, ensuring paratroopers can seize, hold, and fight from key terrain under austere conditions. As the Army transitions from the BSB to the LSB construct, the battalion continues to evolve its sustainment capabilities to support dispersed operations, contested logistics, and prolonged combat against peer threats. The battalion's motto, “Service to the Line,” reflects its enduring commitment to projecting, generating, and preserving combat power for the brigade, ensuring maneuver forces remain lethal, mobile, and ready to fight whenever and wherever the Nation calls.   This episode explores the employment of the Light Support Battalion (LSB) and how sustainment formations are adapting to survive and sustain maneuver forces on the modern battlefield. The discussion focuses on base cluster design, command and control, survivability, distribution operations, and the constant balance between protection and sustainment throughput. Leaders examine different approaches to organizing the Brigade Support Area, emphasizing that there is no single solution and that sustainment leaders must remain flexible based on the enemy situation, terrain, mission requirements, and available resources. Topics include dispersed versus consolidated support areas, use of forward logistics elements, deception operations, engineer support, survivability positions, signature management, and the employment of decoy command posts. A recurring theme throughout the episode is that sustainment formations must think and fight like maneuver formations, continuously adapting their posture to maintain survivability while preserving the ability to project, generate, and preserve combat power for the brigade.    The conversation also focuses on the critical relationship between maneuver units and the sustainment enterprise. Leaders discuss the importance of accurate LOGSTAT reporting, synchronization across echelons, understanding the roles of the S4, Support Operations Officer (SPO), G4, and G8, and ensuring sustainment is integrated into planning from the outset. Additional topics include running estimates, logistics common operating pictures, rehearsals, battle rhythm events, sustainment forecasting, and the role of NCOs in MDMP. The episode highlights how sustainment success depends on shared understanding, continuous communication, and deliberate synchronization in time and space. Ultimately, the discussion reinforces that the LSB is far more than a logistics provider—it is a combat multiplier that enables brigade operations by ensuring forces can continue to fight, move, communicate, recover, and sustain themselves throughout prolonged operations against a capable peer threat.      Part of S05 “Beans, Bullets, Band-Aids, Batteries, Water, & Fuel” series.   For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast.   Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.   Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format.   Again, we'd like to thank our guests for participating. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.   “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.

Join us for a remarkable story of survival, courage, chance, and resilience as Doug Cervi shares the life of Holocaust survivor David Wisnia (1926–2021), whose experiences spanned some of the darkest and most consequential events of the twentieth century. Born into a Jewish family in Warsaw, Poland, David was a gifted singer whose voice would help save his life after he was deported to Auschwitz at age sixteen. There, amid unimaginable brutality, he survived by performing for Nazi guards and fellow prisoners. He endured the horrors of Auschwitz, a death march across Europe, and a daring escape before being liberated by soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division. Remarkably, the teenager who emerged from the camps went on to serve as an interpreter with the American Army as it advanced into Germany. Years later, David built a new life in the United States, becoming a cantor, educator, and tireless witness to history. His story gained international attention through the memoir One Voice, Two Lives, which recounts both his wartime experiences and a long-hidden chapter of love and survival in Auschwitz. Doug Cervi, who worked closely with David on preserving and sharing his story, returns to the Veterans Breakfast Club to recount David's extraordinary journey and reflect on the responsibility of keeping eyewitness history alive after the witnesses themselves are gone. This program offers a powerful firsthand window into the Holocaust, liberation, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

In this episode we talk to historian and author Neil Barber about the 6th Airborne Division. We discuss the men that landed on D Day and how Neil got to know them and discover their incredible stories of bravery. We hear about Wally Parr, the Para who used a German gun to shoot at the enemy, and the Frenchman who wasn't bothered about the battle going on outside his home and went back to bed! We also listen to an emotional “last letter home” from Stan Eckert, read by 17 year old Charlie. Stan and his brother were both killed in action are buried together in Ranville Cemetery. We remember them, and many others.

Modern warfare is no longer defined by who has the biggest force, but by who can adapt the fastest. The battlefield is changing in real time through artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cyber capabilities, and the speed of information. But even in the most advanced operating environments, victory still comes down to disciplined leaders, trusted teams, and soldiers prepared to make decisions under pressure when everything is on the line.The responsibility for America's rapid response to any crisis belongs to the Army's XVIII Airborne Corps.From their headquarters at Fort Bragg, NC, Fran Racioppi sat down with Lieutenant General Greg Anderson, Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps, to discuss how he is preparing America's Contingency Corps for combat in an increasingly dangerous world.Leading more than 80,000 soldiers across the 3rd Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division, 82nd Airborne Division, and 101st Airborne Division, and other subordinate commands, LTG Anderson explains how the Corps balances readiness, speed, and innovation while maintaining the fundamentals that have always defined military success.Our conversation explores the role of Noncommissioned Officer, the importance of mastering the basics, and why leadership development remains America's greatest asymmetric advantage. We also discuss the integration of conventional and special operations forces, the concept of compound warfare, and the difference between interoperability and true integration on the battlefield.LTG Anderson breaks down the Corps' push toward innovation through initiatives like the Joint Innovation Outpost and experimental exercises that incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven decision-making into operational planning. But even as technology changes warfare, he makes one thing clear; there must always be a human in the loop.Highlights0:00 Introduction2:17 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast4:01 The role of XVIII Airborne Corps9:57 Empowering NCOs14:58 Joint Innovation Outpost19:00 Speeding the Acquisition Timeline22:53 Keeping A Human in the Loop25:41 Integration vs Interoperability29:13 Guiding the Tactical Level Leader32:48 Compound Warfare Today37:22 Generational Warfighting Differences42:00 The XVIII Airborne Corps Formation45:04 Daily HabitsQuotes“What operational problems do they expect us to solve for them?”“If I've got a strong team…we'll typically prevail.”“Certainly what I've learned of any value has come from non-commissioned officers that raised me up.”“The role of the non-commissioned officer is to become the technical tactical experts in the application of violence at the tactical level.”“What are we doing to get the NCO corps to that point where they are the Army?”“How do we use advanced computing to allow us to make decisions more informed and faster than our opponents?”“The advantage of war fighting is not replacing humans with machine decision making. It's now creating superhumans that are enabled by it.”“Interoperability is our ability to work together in an efficient, effective manner.”“Compound Warfare is the blending of regular and irregular capabilities to create a host of dilemmas for your enemy.”“You'll never be able to tell that tactical level leader when things are going to change and shift if you haven't done the operational level rigor.”“My role as the general is not to solve the problem or be the hero that comes in, but to think and understand the problem we're trying to solve.”The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

We have special Wilderness Areas for humans who continue to look to consumerism, monotheism, and ICE for solutions to the ecocide called modern living. If you run a trillion dollar Big Oil Bank, or the 101st Airborne Division, or a Sports Franchise with celebrities, lawyers and reputational consultants, you might mistake a climate change era superstorm for a computer that has been hacked and needs servicing. You might think that Canada's 800 wildfires can be fixed with AI.  The Earth is the Real Government. 

At four years old, Andrew Meari stood at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and quietly told his mother: “Mommy, I'm going to be a soldier.” He never changed his mind. Years later, PFC Andrew Meari deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division, 1-502nd Infantry. On November 1, 2010, during combat operations in Kandahar, Andrew was killed in action while protecting his brothers during a motorcycle VBIED attack. He was 21 years old. In this powerful Memorial Week conversation, Gold Star Mother Denise Williams joins The MisFitNation to share the story behind the uniform… the little boy who loved history, the young man who dreamed of service, the soldier who stood forward, and the legacy that continues long after his final mission. But this episode goes deeper. It explores the reality of military sacrifice. The unimaginable moment a parent receives the call. The bond between soldiers. The strength of Gold Star families. And how purpose can still exist after devastating loss. Denise also shares:

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comToday I'm honored to have back on the show once again: Ritual Abuse, Military Mind Control, and Organized Abuse survivor, thriver, and whistleblower, loving mother, writer, painter, and graphic artist, daydreamer of publishing her own book one day, content creator, nature lover, 12-step fellowship and survivor support group participant, and a courageous warrioress bringing a light to the darkness that is RAMCOA: Mary Sparrow From the very first days of her life, Mary entered a world that tried to break her before she could even speak. Born in a Catholic hospital in Manhattan, she was taken from her mother for weeks - an eerie separation that set the tone for a childhood steeped in both fleeting love and unrelenting terror. Her father, a former paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division turned bar owner, began sexually abusing Mary in her earliest years. Her mother, shaped by her own generational trauma from impoverished, oppressed Ireland in the 1930s and 40s, responded with verbal and physical outbursts rooted in unresolved pain. By age four, Mary was drawn into a nightmare far darker than most can imagine: a child sex trafficking network in the New York City area involving ritual abuse, child pornography, exploitation, and highly sophisticated military mind control programming.She was taken to lab-like facilities with men in uniforms and white coats, strapped into chairs with helmets and wires, subjected to electricity, pain, and psychological torment that forced her to dissociate - floating out of her body to survive. She witnessed horrors including ritual sacrifice and organized abuse involving pedophile networks and powerful figures. Programming instilled false pride, sexualized affection mixed with pain, and discard protocols meant to ensure she would self-destruct later in life.Her mother's courageous escape when Mary was ten and a half ended the active trafficking and ritual horrors. The physical captivity ended, but the internal programming remained ruthless.In her early forties, while deep in 12-step recovery, repressed memories began surfacing in gentle fragments. Journaling, intuitive drawing, and painting became lifelines.Today, Mary is a radiant beacon of hard-won triumph. She lives with a joy that once felt impossible, her days filled with writing and dreaming of the memoir that will one day reach thousands, creating art that processes flashbacks and balances darkness with vibrant light, music that stirs her soul, poetry that ignites memories of the past, and profound connection in survivor circles. And this is what we will be sharing more of today - Mary's creativity through her own artwork and poetry. On Mary's last episode, we shared a moment in time through her artwork, grappling with the reality of ritual abuse and taking in moments from the past Mary vulnerably shared that stirred and came to life behind the paint on the paper. On today's episode, we will be showcasing more of Mary's artwork and introducing some of her collages and poetry. CONNECT WITH MARY: IG: https://www.instagram.com/sparrowdose/Website: https://sparrow4everfree.com/CONNECT WITH EMMA:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imaginationpodcastofficialEMAIL: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.com OR standbysurvivors@protonmail.comMy Substack: https://emmakatherine.substack.com/BUY ME A COFFEE: https://www.buymeacoSupport the show

02.05.2026 – Langsam Gesprochene Nachrichten – Trainiere dein Hörverstehen mit den Nachrichten der DW von Samstag – als Text und als verständlich gesprochene Audio-Datei.

Colm Walker is entered in the 2026 Golden Globe Race. He was in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico when we talked, on the way from San Diego to France via the Panama Canal. He is a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, an Airborne Ranger and combat veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, and a lifelong waterman. ​His boat, Mo Chuisle ("My Pulse" in Irish), is a Tayana 37 cutter. He sails in support of veteran mental health, raising awareness for those still fighting unseen battles long after the guns have gone quiet. For Colm, the Golden Globe Race is not an escape from life, but a commitment to it. It is a test of self-reliance, resilience, and surrender. A chance to show that stillness can be strength, and that sometimes, the way forward is to go alone. We talk about Mexico, clearing in to Mexico, the benefits of traveling internationally, the passage from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta, boatyard woes, racing on a Swan, the feel of sailing his boat - a Tayana 37, the Hydrovane and the Raymarine qutopilots, a spinnaker-pole failure, how military experience is beneficial in sailing, PTSD, rites of passage, Taoism, why the Golden Globe Race is Important, moving from digital back to analog sailing, safety, physical and mental preparations for the race, the Wisdom Dojo, and more. Photos and links are on the podcast shownotes page Support the show through Patreon Shop or list sailboats at sailboatsforsale.com Shop tankless dive systems at Blu3

Retired Green Beret and Virginia legislator Nick Freitas (author of The Manbook) discusses the crisis of modern masculinity, how to push back against “black-pilled” doomers on the political right, and the fundamental standards every man needs to meet. And in explosive testimony in Germany, Dr. Helmut Sterz (former Pfizer executive & head of their EU toxicology centers) estimated up to 60,000 COVID vaccine-related deaths in Germany alone. Elon Musk responded by posting “The vaccine dosage was obviously too high and done too many times…my second vaccine shot almost sent me to the hospital. Felt like I was dying. Investigative journalist Sonia Elijah exposes the institutional cover-up, and how HHS Secretary Alex Azar invoked the PREP Act to grant blanket liability to vaccine manufacturers a full 35 days before the WHO even declared a pandemic. Sonia Elijah also discusses “miracle” updates from Edogawa Hospital in Japan, the only facility known to have successfully cleared spike proteins and amyloid blood clots using dual filter plasmapheresis and stem cells. Sonia Elijah is an independent investigative journalist and former BBC researcher. She is author of 3/11 Viral Takeover: On March 11, 2020, a Pandemic was Declared and Our World Changed Forever. She has conducted in-depth investigations into the COVID-19 response, including Pfizer-BioNTech trial documents, vaccine safety issues, excess deaths, regulatory failures, and institutional conflicts of interest. Follow at https://x.com/sonia_elijah Nick Freitas is author of The Manbook: A Point-by-Point Guide to Sucking It Up and Getting the Job Done. He is a retired US Army Special Forces (Green Beret) who served two tours in Iraq as a Special Forces Weapons SGT and Special Forces Intelligence SGT, after initially serving with the 82nd Airborne Division and 25th Light Infantry Division. In 2015, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. He and his wife Tina have three children and live in Virginia. Follow at https://x.com/NickJFreitas 「 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 」 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• FATTY15 – The future of essential fatty acids is here! Strengthen your cells against age-related breakdown with Fatty15. Get 15% off a 90-day Starter Kit Subscription at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/fatty15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • PALEOVALLEY - "Paleovalley has a wide variety of extraordinary products that are both healthful and delicious,” says Dr. Drew. "I am a huge fan of this brand and know you'll love it too!” Get 15% off your first order at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/paleovalley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • THE WELLNESS COMPANY - Counteract harmful spike proteins with TWC's Signature Series Spike Support Formula containing nattokinase and selenium. Learn more about TWC's supplements at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twc.health/drew⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 「 ABOUT THE SHOW 」 This show is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Executive Producers • Kaleb Nation - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kalebnation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Susan Pinsky - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/firstladyoflove⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Content Producer • Emily Barsh - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/emilytvproducer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted By • Dr. Drew Pinsky - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/drdrew⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An abandoned prison in the English countryside… where the living may be gone, but the dead are still serving their sentences. Anne and Renata investigate Ashwell Prison in Oakham, Rutland—a former men's facility built atop a WWII U.S. Army base once home to the 82nd Airborne Division. Decades of violence, death, and unrest may have left more than memories behind. Visitors report shadow figures moving through derelict halls, footsteps that follow too closely, and an unseen force that seems determined to drive the living back out… as if some former inmates never accepted their release. Alls Not Well at Ashwell Prison UK - A True Hauntings Podcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Senator Kelly Hines grew up in the small town of Whitesboro, Oklahoma, in the Kiamichi River Valley. He received his commission in the U.S. Army through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at East Central University in Ada. Senator Hines began his military service as an Infantryman with the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1985, serving until he graduated from college in 1992. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Army Aviation. His active-duty aviation assignments included the Multinational Force and Observers in Egypt; the 101st Airborne Division; the 10th Mountain Division; the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers); United States Special Operations Command; the 25th Infantry Division; and the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence. Senator Hines commanded numerous units, including the 110th Aviation Brigade, the Army's only Aviation Training Brigade. His final assignment was as the 10th Commandant of the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College. Senator Hines retired from active duty on November 1, 2019, after more than 34 years of service. He served numerous combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan and has had operational deployments throughout Central and South America. He is a Master Army Aviator, qualified as a pilot in command of numerous helicopters, and has logged nearly 3,000 flight hours (1,000 with night vision goggles and over 500 in combat). Upon retirement, Senator Hines joined Aviation Training Consulting (ATC) in Edmond as the Director of Business Development. He currently serves as a Senior Adviser at Delaware Resource Group Senator Hines holds a bachelor's degree in history, a master's degree in ancient and classical history, and a master's degree in strategic studies. His military awards and decorations include two Legion of Merit Medals, two Bronze Star Medals, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Medals (one for Valor), the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three stars, and the Iraq Campaign Medal with four stars. Senator Hines and his wife, Shannon, have been married for 32 years and have two children. Their son, Alex, is a Second Lieutenant in the Oklahoma Army National Guard and a police officer with Oklahoma City Community College. Their daughter, Riley, works for the University of Oklahoma Press and is engaged to a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Huge thank you to our sponsors. The Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum telling Oklahoma's story through its people since 1927. For more information go to www.oklahomahof.com and for daily updates go to www.instagram.com/oklahomahof  The Chickasaw Nation is economically strong, culturally vibrant and full of energetic people dedicated to the preservation of family, community and heritage. www.chickasaw.net Dog House OKC - When it comes to furry four-legged care, our 24/7 supervised cage free play and overnight boarding services make The Dog House OKC in Oklahoma City the best place to be, at least, when they're not in their own backyard. With over 6,000 square feet of combined indoor/outdoor play areas our dog daycare enriches spirit, increases social skills, builds confidence, and offers hours of exercise and stimulation for your dog http://www.thedoghouseokc.com #thisisoklahoma

"History is a great way of looking at past problems, layering in a new framework of how we can potentially solve them in ways that are relevant to today's problems." - Christopher Hossfeld   Christopher Hossfeld is a distinguished 27-year U.S. Army veteran and the founder of Barrel Strength Leadership. With extensive experience in leadership and strategic thinking, Chris leverages historic battlefields as unique learning environments to teach leadership principles. His work involves taking teams to pivotal sites like Gettysburg to analyze past military strategies and their applications in modern leadership and business settings. Chris has led leadership sessions globally, including prominent engagements with the 101st Airborne Division and executive teams across Europe and the United States.   Episode Summary: In this episode of "All My Healthers Hope," host Jana Short chats with Christopher Hossfeld, a retired Army veteran and the visionary founder of Barrel Strength Leadership. The episode delves into how history can offer profound insights into leadership through immersive experiences at historic battlefields. Chris Hossfeld's innovative approach includes using these historical sites to teach leadership lessons that transcend time and are applicable to today's business strategies. Throughout the episode, Chris discusses how Barrel Strength Leadership invests in people, highlighting the importance of mentorship, especially for veterans in transition. His work is designed to nurture leaders who can inspire and effectively manage teams by employing strategic thinking honed through the study of historical events. Additionally, the episode touches on the value of building communication, trust, and resilience in leadership—a concept Chris vividly illustrates with examples from historic battles like Gettysburg. With upcoming plans for leadership experiences in Italy, Chris continues to bridge the gap between historical understanding and practical leadership in contemporary settings.   Key Takeaways: Investing in People: Effective leadership is rooted in investing time and resources in people to help them grow and develop leadership skills. Historical Insights: Studying historical battlefields offers deep insights into leadership dynamics, decision-making, and the application of strategy. Communication and Trust: Building trust and maintaining open lines of communication are fundamental in both military and business leadership. Mentorship for Veterans: Assisting veterans with their transition into civilian life through mentorship can pave the way for their success in new business or corporate environments. Europe Leadership Experience: Chris's upcoming leadership experience in Italy offers participants a unique opportunity to explore ethics and personal growth through historical contexts.   Resources: https://www.barrelstrengthleadership.org/ https://www.instagram.com/barrel_strength_leadership/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/barrel-strength-leadership/   ✨ Enjoying the show? Stay inspired long after the episode ends! Jana is gifting you free subscriptions to Ageless Living Magazine and Best Holistic Life Magazine—two of the fastest-growing publications dedicated to holistic health, personal growth, and living your most vibrant life. Inside, you'll find powerful stories, expert insights, and practical tools to help you thrive—mind, body, and soul.

Send us Fan MailPeaches is back with another Daily Drop—and this one's not subtle.Thousands from the 82nd Airborne Division are now in position, the USS Tripoli is on station, and we've burned through 850+ Tomahawks in weeks. If you think this is just “posturing,” you're not paying attention. Peaches breaks down what's actually happening: pre-positioning vs invasion, why combat patches are already getting handed out, and how quickly this could turn into something ugly.Then he goes off—acquisition still sucks, we're late on nuclear modernization, and somehow we're just now figuring out micro nuclear reactors like it's a new idea.Oh—and yes, someone tried to steal a Javelin missile. Because apparently common sense is still optional.Bottom line: things are accelerating, stockpiles are getting stressed, and if this goes ground-war level… it's not going to look anything like what people think.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Daily Drop—Here's What Actually Matters 01:30 82nd Airborne Arrives—Signal vs Reality 03:15 Combat Patches Already? That Was Fast 04:30 Mobile Command & Control—Or More Contracts? 05:45 USS Tripoli & Marine Presence Explained 07:00 Submarine Commissioned—Why It Matters 08:00 Javelin Theft—You Can't Make This Up 09:45 OTS Nashville—Get In While You Can 10:30 F-35 Arrival in Japan—Indo-Pacific Shift 11:30 Sentinel ICBM—We're Late (Again) 12:30 Micro Nuclear Reactors—Finally Moving 13:45 Space Force Wants a “Range”… For What? 14:45 Trump Wants Others to Pay—Good Luck 15:30 Ground War Planning—This Gets Ugly Fast 16:45 AWACS Hit—That Thing Is DONE 17:30 850 Tomahawks Fired—Stockpiles Strained 18:30 Red Sea Escalation—Here We Go 19:15 Peace Talks… Maybe

Send us Fan MailPeaches is back with a no-BS Daily Drop, and if you're still pretending the world isn't heating up… you're behind.We're talking real movements—82nd Airborne Division heading to the Middle East, the USS Tripoli rolling into CENTCOM, and an E-3 Sentry AWACS getting smoked at PSAB. Yeah… that's not “business as usual.” Peaches breaks it down the way most headlines won't—this isn't panic, it's positioning. Big muscle movements, pre-staging, and letting the world know we're ready if things go sideways.Then he goes straight at the uncomfortable truth: acquisition is still broken, low-cost munitions are “coming soon” (sure…), and we're stretched thin enough to consider shifting aid from Ukraine.Oh—and the SecDef praying for “overwhelming violence”? That's not extreme. That's reality when you're in the profession of arms.If that makes you uncomfortable, good. War isn't supposed to feel safe.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to Reality—Daily Drop Explained 01:30 82nd Airborne Movement—Signal or Setup? 03:15 USS Tripoli Enters the Fight 04:45 Carrier Deck Injury—How Dangerous It Really Is 06:30 OTS Plug—Train Like It Actually Matters 07:30 AWACS Hit—Yes, That's a Big Deal 09:15 “Maintainers Will Fix It”—Dark Humor, Real Truth 10:00 Low-Cost Munitions… Supposedly 11:15 Acquisition System Is Still Broken 12:30 SecDef Calls for “Overwhelming Violence” 13:45 Ceasefire Talks Are Going Nowhere 14:30 Ukraine Aid Might Get Cut—Here's Why 15:30 Drone Boats & New Warfare Trends 16:15 300 Wounded—This Isn't Slowing Down 17:15 Final Thought—Wake Up or Fall Behind

As the war in Iran continues into its fifth week, the Pentagon is contemplating sending an additional 10,000 ground troops to the Middle East. This escalation would add to the roughly 5,000 Marines and at least 2,000 paratroopers from the elite 82nd Airborne Division that have already been ordered to the region. Meanwhile, President Trump has pressed pause on his threat to strike Iranian energy infrastructure offering a ten-day reprieve, and on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the U.S. could achieve its objectives without using ground troops. We talk about the latest on the Iran War and the fast pivoting American strategy. Guests: Mona Yacoubian, director and senior advisor, Middle East Program, Center for Strategic & International Studies Lt. Col. Jahara Matisek, command pilot and research fellow, U.S. Naval War College Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MOPs & MOEs is powered by TrainHeroic, the best coaching app on the planet. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to get 14 days FREE and a consult with the coaches at TrainHeroic to help you get your coaching business rolling on TrainHeroic. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MOPs & MOEs delivers our training through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TrainHeroic and you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠get your first 7 days of training with us FREE by clicking here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To continue the conversation, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We have experts standing by to answer your questions.On this episode we're sitting down with three leaders from the Arctic Wolves: 1st Brigade, 11th Airborne Division. They have allowed units across their brigade to conduct "offset PT" which - importantly - is not just "reverse cycle PT" but rather a flexible approach to when physical training is conducted. Their initial pilot showed huge improvements not just in fitness, but across sleep, nutrition, and even social connections. COL Christopher Brawley, the Brigade Commander, had already implemented this model successfully at 1st Ranger Battalion, so he knew the potential it presented to building trust and organizational performance. CSM Jeremiah Waggoner, a multiple time Best Ranger competitor, was focused on the physical fitness expectations for the formation, as well as keeping NCOs in charge of leading training of all types.Dr. Ellie Van Luit, the brigade's H2F Program Director, saw H2F's role as enabling and supporting this effort, but she emphasized that it was a brigade initiative, not an H2F initiative.You can find the full results of the initial pilot on our free downloads page.

Send us Fan MailJaron Wharton—a former brigade commander in the 82nd Airborne Division and co-editor of Bend but Do Not Break joins Joe to examine the future of the all-volunteer force and the role of professional discourse in strengthening the military. Joe and Jaron discuss how education and self-study shape better leaders, why intellectual curiosity is essential in command, and how stepping outside of purely tactical experiences helps leaders avoid what Joe describes as a “soda straw” view of the world. They also reflect on the dangers of groupthink inside hierarchical organizations and the responsibility leaders have to create space for dissenting ideas.Throughout the conversation, they explore the growing disconnect between the military and the society it serves, the risks of an emerging “warrior caste,” and why service must be valued beyond just those in uniform.Joe and Jaron also discuss: Why education prepares leaders not just for success—but for failure  The danger of an “anti-intellectual bend” in the military  How groupthink develops—and how leaders can actively fight it  Why publishing isn't the goal—promoting conversation is  The risks of a widening civil-military gap  Why service should be celebrated across all professions—not just the military  The importance of giving junior leaders a voice in shaping the profession  What it might take to mobilize society for large-scale conflict Whether you're a junior leader trying to find your voice, a senior leader thinking about the future of the force, or someone simply interested in the relationship between the military and society, this episode offers a thoughtful and challenging look at where we are—and where we may be headed.Also, check out Bend but Do Not Break, with proceeds supporting Wear Blue: Run to Remember.Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Dunedain Systems is a veteran-founded defense technology company building Warmind, an AI platform that accelerates military planning, operations, and document generation. Warmind connects to your unit's data and learns how your warfighting function operates, delivering outputs tailored to your SOPs and operational context rather than generic AI responses. Whether your team is building OPORDs, running intel workflows, or generating CONOPs, Warmind handles the heavy lift so your staff can focus on decisions, not paperwork. Built by combat veterans who lived the problem firsthand, Warmind is already in use across SOCOM and the broader DoD. The beta is free for anyone with a .mil or .edu email at dunedainsystems.com.Meet ROGER Bank—a modern, digital bank built for military members, by military members. With early payday, no fees, high-yield accounts, and real support, it's banking that gets you. Funds are FDIC insured through Citizens Bank of Edmond, so you can bank with confidence and peace of mind. 

The Pentagon is planning on putting boots back on the ground in the Middle East. Some 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division have received orders to deploy to the region despite President Donald Trump signaling last week that he was interested in ending his war in Iran via diplomatic means.As Democrats and Republicans continue to find themselves in a stand off over DHS funding, security lines at airports around the country continue to grow.Tech giants Meta and YouTube were found negligent in a landmark case concerning the companies' creation of addictive online platforms that harm users' mental health and wellbeing.And, in global news, Iranian officials confirmed this week they received a 15-point plan from the U.S. to end the war that's killed thousands of Iranians and several American service members. Tehran, however, is signaling its found the demands contained within “extremely maximalist and unreasonable.”Meanwhile, Tehran-backed Hezbollah leaders are rejecting any notion that they're seeking an end to their conflict with Israel.And the world's attention swinging to Iran seems to have emboldened Russia, as Vladimir Putin's forces gear up for a spring offensive in their campaign against Ukraine.We cover the most important stories from around the globe on the News Roundup.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

U.S. Central Command reports that American forces have now struck more than 10,000 military targets since the operation against Iran began. Soldiers from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division are heading to the region. Meanwhile, Iran has been fortifying Kharg Island against a potential ground assault, according to multiple sources familiar with U.S. intelligence. Plus, tech journalist Kara Swisher on a jury's landmark decision in a case against YouTube and Meta, which were accused of creating addictive social media products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gio Benitez has the latest on the investigation into the LaGuardia Airport runway crash, including the NTSB revelation that the fire truck involved did not have a transponder to alert ATC that it was on a collision course with a plane; while President Trump doubles down on his claim that peace talks are underway, Rachel Scott reports on the Army preparing to deploy up to 1,500 troops from the elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East; Trevor Ault has details on the chilling testimony from Arielle Konig recounting the moment she says her husband tried to kill her on a Hawaiian cliffside; and more on tonight's broadcast of World News Tonight with David Muir. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

US soldiers from the U.S. Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division are on their way to the Middle East in addition to the 5,000 US marines headed to the region... and this morning centcom confirmed there are Approximately 50,000 troops are already there. 

The U.S. and Israel launched a war against Iran over three weeks ago and now President Donald Trump has indicated that the White House is engaging in talks with Iran. The President said the talks would continue during the week and that he had ordered the War Department to postpone attacks against energy infrastructure in Iran for five days. Meanwhile, there are reports that the Pentagon is preparing to deploy more troops from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, adding to the thousands troops already headed to the region to assist with operations in Iran. FOX's Eben Brown speaks with James Robbins, Dean for Academic Affairs in the Institute of World Politics, who says plans for military operations against Iran have been discussed for quite some time. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amber calls-in to talk about what's going on in Iran. She is a former U.S. Combat Warrior, helicopter pilot and air mission commander in the 101st Airborne Division. She flew combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and later served as Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.