Podcasts about general staff college

Major General William M. Matz, Jr, U.S. Army (Ret), was appointed as the eighth Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission in January 2018 by President Donald Trump, a position he held until March 2021. General Matz is a highly decorated combat veteran of the United States
Army with a distinguished military career spanning four decades. As an
infantryman, he served in Korea and Panama, and as a company commander with the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he was wounded in action in the 1968 Tet offensive. He served multiple tours in the 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions and was executive secretary to two secretaries of defense, Caspar Weinberger and Frank Carlucci. During the Vietnam War, he served two years with the Navy/Marine amphibious forces in the Pacific and deployed with the 7th Infantry Division to Panama during Operation JUST CAUSE in 1989. Upon retirement from the Army in 1995, General Matz worked nine years in the defense industry. He was first employed by Raytheon Company as vice president, Army Programs; and later as general manager for Vinnell/Northrop Grumman’s Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, returning to the United States in June 2004. In 2005, President Bush appointed him to the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission, where he served until the commission rendered its report to the Congress in 2008. He is also past President of the National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS), a national veteran’s organization that advocates in Congress for service members, veterans and their families. He is on the Eisenhower Institute National Advisory Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Airborne and Ranger Schools, the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Gettysburg College and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of San Diego. He is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security. Among his military service awards and decorations are the Distinguished Service Cross (second highest award our nation bestows for valor on the battlefield), Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge. General Matz was born in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Linda, reside in Naples, FL, and have three children and seven grandsons. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The purpose of Russian hacking and their concept of cyber war is conceptually and practically different from Western strategies.  This talk will focus on understanding why Russia uses cyber tools to further strategic interests, how they do it (by examining the 2016 interference in the U.S. presidential election and the NotPetya cases), and who does it. About the speaker: Dr. Richard Love is currently a professor at NDU's College of Information and Cyberspace and recently served as a professor of strategic studies at U.S. Army War College's (USAWC) School of Strategic Landpower and as assistant director of the Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute from 2016-2021. From 2002 to 2016, Dr. Love served as a professor and senior research fellow at NDU's Institute for National Strategic Studies / WMD Center.  He is an adjunct professor teaching law, international relations, and public policy at Catholic University and has taught law and policy courses at Georgetown, the Army Command and General Staff College, the Marshall Center, and the Naval Academy, among others.  He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations and Security Studies from the University of New South Wales in Australia (2017), an LLM from American University School of Law (2002), and a Juris Doctor in Corporate and Security Law from George Mason University School of Law. His graduate studies in East-West relations were conducted at the Jagellonian University in Krakow, Poland, and the University of Munich, in Germany.  His undergraduate degree is from the University of Virginia.

We sit down with newly selected below-the-zone promotable Colonel, LTC(P) Rebecca Sinclair—a standout 70H Medical Operations Officer and dynamic leader. Join us as LTC(P) Sinclair shares invaluable tips for successful medical operations planning and what it takes to lead a health clinic with purpose, precision, and impact. From strategic thinking to day-to-day leadership, she offers real-world insights into how 70Hs support Army Medicine's mission at every level. Whether you're a junior officer looking to grow in medical operations or a seasoned leader aiming to sharpen your skills, this episode delivers actionable takeaways, leadership wisdom, and a glimpse into what it means to lead with excellence.LTC Rebecca (Lesemann) Sinclair is a native of Madison, Mississippi, and grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. She enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 2002 as a saxophone player and was commissioned active duty into the Medical Service Corps as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Appalachian State University in 2006. She has served in numerous leadership and staff roles across Army Medicine, including Commander of MEDDAC-HAAF and Director of Tuttle Army Health Clinic and Richmond Hill Medical Home; Chief of Future Medical Operations for ARNORTH; Brigade S3 and Chief of Plans for the 44th MED BDE; Battalion XO and S3 of the 261st MMB; and Commander of the 550th ASMC. Her strategic-level experience includes serving as EA/XO to the OTSG/MEDCOM Chief of Staff and XO to the MEDCOM Director of Communications, as well as a liaison officer to the Army's Office of the Chief of Public Affairs. LTC Sinclair holds a B.S. in Psychology from Appalachian State University and a Master of Public Service and Administration from the Bush School of Government at Texas A&M University. She is a graduate of Intermediate Level Education at the Command and General Staff College. Her operational experience includes a deployment to Iraq (2008–2009) and key roles in multiple homeland and defense support missions, including the 2010 Winter Olympics in Canada, COVID-19 response, Operation Allies Refuge and Allies Welcome, and hurricane and border response efforts. Her awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Expert Field Medical Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Army Surgeon General's “A” Proficiency Designator. She is also a proud member of the Order of Military Medical Merit.Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are the guests and host's alone and do not reflect the official position of the Medical Service Corps, the Department of Defense, or the US Government. All information discussed is unclassified approved for public release and found on open cleared sources.For more episodes listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube @ Be All You Can Be MSC For more information, suggestions, or questions please contact: beallyoucanbemsc@gmail.com

In this installment of today's podcast, Mary chats with retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Robert Maginnis about his book, "Preparing for World War III". Robert graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, the Naval Postgraduate School, the Command & General Staff College, the Defense Language School and the Army War College's strategy course. He is an Airborne-Ranger infantry officer with service in four infantry divisions on three continents. So many accomplishments, far too numerous to list here, but he is an experienced and internationally known expert on national security and foreign affairs. In addition, Colonel Maginnis has decades of media experience as a columnist, a Fox News military analyst and as an on-air commentator for multiple radio programs and networks to include Salem Radio Network. Today's subject might not be something we like to think about, but in our chaotic world, and when measured against the sure word of Bible prophecy, we know that wars and rumours of war are part of the package. In the book, he outlines 6 sections that help us add to our knowledge about such a world-realigning event. Is the world ripe for war? What have we learned from previous wars? What does the 21st century battlefield look like, in terms of technology and AI? What might some of the flashpoints be, and can it be deterred? Finally, how to prepare our local communities and what our role as Christians should be, our priorities. A fascinating hour with an experienced geopolitical icon.     Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A

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We welcome Major General William M. Matz Jr., a distinguished retired U.S. Army officer, whose new book, My Toughest Battle: A Soldier's Lifelong Struggle with Polio, chronicles his journey of overcoming polio and his distinguished military career. In August 1944, at a young age, Matz contracted polio, resulting in paralysis of his right leg. Despite a grim prognosis, he demonstrated remarkable determination, undergoing extensive treatments and rehabilitation. His perseverance enabled him to overcome the physical challenges posed by the disease, setting the stage for his future endeavors. Matz pursued higher education at Gettysburg College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He furthered his studies with a Master's degree in Political Science from the University of San Diego. His academic achievements were complemented by military training, including graduation from the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne and Ranger Schools, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. Additionally, he completed Harvard University's Senior Executives in Government/Management Course. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1962, Matz embarked on a military career that spanned over three decades. As an infantryman, he served in Korea and Panama, and as a company commander with the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he was wounded during the 1968 Tet Offensive. His service extended to multiple tours with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, and he held the position of executive secretary to Secretaries of Defense Caspar Weinberger and Frank Carlucci. Matz also served two years with Navy/Marine Corps amphibious forces in the Pacific during a second tour in Vietnam and deployed with the 7th Infantry Division to Panama during Operation JUST CAUSE in 1989. Upon retiring from the Army in 1995, Matz transitioned to the defense industry, holding positions such as Vice President of Army Programs at Raytheon Company and General Manager for Vinnell/Northrop Grumman's Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In 2005, President George W. Bush appointed him to the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, where he served until 2008. He also served as President of the National Association for Uniformed Services, advocating for service members, veterans, and their families. In January 2018, President Donald Trump appointed Matz as the Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), a position he held until March 2021. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing America's overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials, honoring the service of U.S. armed forces. Throughout his career, Matz received numerous military awards and decorations, including the Distinguished Service Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. We're grateful to UPMC for Life and Tobacco Free Adagio Health for sponsoring this event!

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Brian Hamel discusses his 2023 Army Command and General Staff Theses entitled: Reframing the Special Operations Forces-cyber-space triad: Special Operations' contributions to space warfare. Brian delves into the complex and evolving landscape of modern warfare, focusing on the intersection of Special Operations Forces (SOF), cyberspace, and space. The "Triad" emphasizes the synergistic relationship between these domains to achieve strategic objectives. Those interested in military strategy, national security, and the future of warfare will enjoy this one.  Recording Date: 16 Dec 2024 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #124 Dean Cheng on China, Space, and Information Operations #130 Teasel Muir-Harmony on Spaceflight, Foreign Policy, and Soft Power Command and General Staff Thesis: Reframing the Special Operations Forces-cyber-space triad: Special Operations' contributions to space warfare by Brian Hamel Army University Press Article: Reframing the Special Operations Forces-Cyber-Space Triad by Brian Hamel Supporting Warfare in the Indo-Pacific Through Space-Based Sustainment by Maj. Brian E. Hamel Bowen, Bleddyn E. War in Space: Strategy, Spacepower, Geopolitics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2020. Carlson, Joshua P. Spacepower Ascendant: Space Development Theory and a New Space Strategy. Independently Published, 2020. Drew, Jerry: The Battle Beyond Gallegos, Frank. “After the Gulf War: Balancing Space Power's Development.” In Beyond the Paths of Heaven: The Emergence of Space Power Thought, edited by Bruce M. DeBlois, 63–102. Maxwell AFB, AL: Air University Press, 1999. Klein, John J. War in Space: Strategy, Spacepower, Geopolitics. New York: Routledge, 2006. Klein, John J. Understanding Space Strategy: The Art of War in Space. London: Routledge, 2019. Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space by Namrata Goswami and Peter A. Garretson Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Maj. Brian E. Hamel is a space operations officer assigned to the United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the School of Advanced Military Studies, the Information Advantage Scholars Program, and the Red Team Leader course. Brian has multiple rotations to the Middle East and South America with special operations units. He has a Master of Art from Northeastern University, and recently wrote a thesis detailing special operations' contributions to space warfare as part of the Information Advantage Scholars Program at the Command and General Staff College, Kansas. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

As a mentor, leader, and inspiration to many, COL Hughes brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to this candid conversation. Join us as we explore the profound impact mentorship has on personal and professional growth, the qualities that define great leaders, and the lessons COL Hughes has learned throughout his distinguished career. Whether you're looking to grow as a leader, find ways to mentor others, or simply be inspired, this episode will provide valuable insights and actionable takeaways. Tune in for a heartfelt and empowering discussion about the transformative power of mentorship.COL Hughes is a graduate of Washington State University where he was commissioned through the ROTC in 2002. COL Hughes civilian education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science / Pre-Law from Washington State University, a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management from The University of Kansas, and Masters in National Resource Strategy from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security & Resource Strategy. His military education includes the AMEDD Officer Basic & Advanced Courses; U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; Joint Combined Warfighting School; U.S. Army War College Defense Strategy Course; Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Course; Division Transportation Officer Course; Support Operation Course; The Joint Logistics Course; U.S. Army Airborne Course; Battalion and Brigade Pre-Command Courses. His military career includes Division Support Platoon Leader and Division Medical Supply Officer, 702nd Main Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea; Det. Commander and Chief, Medical Logistics, Dunham U.S. Army Health Clinic; Brigade Medical Supply Officer and Battalion S4, 106th Forward Support Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team Karbala, Najaf, and Hit, Iraq; Deputy Brigade S4 and Property Book Officer, 62nd Medical Brigade; Commander, 551st Medical Company (Logistics); Battalion S3, 56th Medical Battalion; Group Medical Supply Officer, 10th Special Forces Group; Logistics Officer, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, and Support Operations Officer, 10th Special Forces Group; Support Operations Officer and Executive Officer, 421st Medical Battalion; Strategic Medical Plans, Office of the Joint Staff Surgeon; Commander, 10th Field Hospital; and Director, Army Medical Logistics Command Strategic Initiatives Group. He currently serves as the 70K consultant to the Surgeon General. COL Hughes Combat, Operational, and Humanitarian Deployments include OIF III; OIF 07-09; Operation United Assistance, Haiti Earthquake Relief; Operation Observant Compass, Uganda & South Sudan; multiple COVID-19 support mission across the United States. Medical Service Corps Leader Development:  https://www.facebook.com/mscleaderdevelopment  https://medium.com/experientia-et-progressusArticles by COL Hughes:https://fromthegreennotebook.com/2021/06/16/7587/https://fromthegreennotebook.com/2024/07/26/the-one-question-that-every-leader-should-ask/  Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are the guests and host's alone and do not reflect the official position of the Medical Service Corps, the Department of Defense, or the US Government. All information discussed is unclassified approved for public release and found on open cleared sources.For more episodes listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube @ Be All You Can Be MSC For more information, suggestions, or questions please contact: beallyoucanbemsc@gmail.com

#190: General Robert F. “Bob” Dees served for 31 years in the U.S. Army in a wide variety of command and staff positions culminating in his last three assignments as Assistant  Division Commander for Operations, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Commander,  Second Infantry Division, United States Forces Korea; and as Deputy Commanding General,  V (US/GE) Corps in Europe, concurrently serving as Commander, US-Israeli Combined Task  Force for Missile Defense. Bob is a graduate of numerous military schools including the  Command and General Staff College, the Naval Postgraduate School, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and the Royal College of Defence Studies in London. He has authored and taught Management Science topics in the Department of Engineering at West Point, as well as multiple Resilience courses at Liberty University. Following military retirement in January 2003, Bob served as a Microsoft Corporation executive; followed by leadership of a non-profit outreach to the military. He authored the  Resilience Trilogy (Resilient Warriors, Resilient Leaders, and Resilient Nations) and pioneered resilience programs for the military as Vice President for Military Outreach at Liberty University.  In the 2016 Presidential cycle, Bob served as National Security Advisor and Campaign Chairman for Dr. Ben Carson. Bob now heads Resilience God Style, a national movement to restore resilience to every area of American life, including recent publication of the Resilience  God Style book, study guide, video series, and training game (www.ResilienceGodStyle.com). Bob is a senior advisor for the newly formed Faith-based Veterans Support Alliance (FBVSA). Bob is also President of the National  Center for Healthy Veterans (www.HealthyVeterans.org) with the mission of “Returning Healthy  Veterans to America.” This broad and comprehensive Healthy Veteran initiative ranges from trauma recovery using best practices, faith-based programs to veteran microbusinesses which afford dignified work, skills training, and economic opportunity. Community is a critical element of the initiative, including veteran tiny home villages for formerly homeless Veterans and others.  While the Healthy Veteran initiative will help Veterans, the real winner is America with Healthy  Veterans positively impacting culture as role models for our youth, as experienced leaders in business, and as standard bearers in every walk of life. Bob speaks at numerous seminars and conferences, as well as commentary on national security, leadership, and resilience in a wide array of media, military, business and church venues. He was featured as one of 30 “Master Leaders” in America by noted author George  Barna and was awarded the Council for National Policy George Washington Military  Leadership Award in 2018.  For more on General Dees check out www.ResilienceGodStyle.com as well as www.HealthyVeterans.org Enjoy the show 

In the second episode of the Great Escape Series, we are joined by Derek Mallett, an Associate Professor at the US Army Command and General Staff College. Derek joined us to tell us all about those in charge of German security in Stalag Luft III, from the Commandant to the ferrets, as the Great Escapers engaged in a battle of wits against them to get out of the camp before Tom, Dick and Harry were discovered!For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape. If you would like to follow us on Twitter we can be found @FYTWIO we can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FYTWIO/ or if you would prefer to send a more long form message we can also be reached via email at FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Kay Nissen discusses her Army's Command and General Staff College thesis entitled: Second Mover Advantage In The Military Information Environment. This thesis examines second-mover advantage theory within the military information environment. It aims to offer military planners alternative strategies beyond the traditional emphasis on seizing the initiative, proposing a secondary response framework. The research explores how to create a second-mover advantage, focusing on response timing and type through a mixed-methods approach. The conversation also touched on the challenges of implementing theories in practice, the importance of cooperative partners, consistency, and information tempo, and the potential research areas in this field. Recording Date: 8 Nov 2024 Research Questions: Kay Nissen suggests interested students examine:  What makes a cooperative partner in order to create a second mover advantage? How does information tempo compare to influence timing? How do second mover advantages appear in different information functions? Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #190 Army Command and General Staff Information Advantage Scholars Symposium #195 Michael Zequeira on the Effects of Social Media on Military Recruiting #205 Nick Loui on Transforming Chaotic Data into Actionable Intelligence Kay Nissen's thesis: Second Mover Advantage In The Military Information Environment will be available here Rebels to Reels: A biography of Combat Cameraman Daniel A. McGovern USAF by Joseph McCabe Nobody Is Coming to Save You: A Green Beret's Guide to Getting Big Sh*t Done Hardcover by Scott Mann Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio:  Maj. Kay M. Nissen is the commander, 2d Audiovisual Squadron, at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. As the commander, she oversees the squadron's mission to create effective audiovisual productions on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense. She is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Total Force Airmen and Government Service civilians to operate an Air Force level production center and employ the Air Force's only live broadcast truck. Maj. Nissen received her commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in May of 2011. She has served as a public affairs officer for both fighter and airlift wings, as well as in support of NATO and Major Command staffs. She has also deployed as a media engagements officer for the NATO Resolute Support mission in Kabul, Afghanistan, and as a Chief of Public Affairs for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing in the United Arab Emirates. Prior to this position, Maj. Nissen was a student and Information Advantage Scholar at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Kurt Schlichter is a lawyer, author, and retired Army Colonel. He served for 28 years in the Army and today is a weekly senior columnist for Townhall Media. He is also a TV commentator and the author of numeraous books including the Kelly Turnbull series. His latest novel, THE ATTACK, is available now. After college, Kurt joined the United States Army and received his commission as a second lieutenant through Officer Candidate School. While stationed in West Germany, Kurt was deployed to Operation Desert Storm serving as a platoon leader. After leaving active duty, he joined the California Army National Guard and served in various command and staff positions. Kurt served in Kosovo and was mobilized for the Los Angeles riots, the Northridge earthquake, and the 2007 San Diego fires. He is a graduate of the Army's Combined Arms Staff Service School and the Command and General Staff College and earned a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the United States Army War College. Kurt is a graduate of Loyola Law School, where he was a law review editor. To learn more about Kurt, follow him on X @KurtSchlichter. SPONSORS CRY HAVOC – A Tom Reese Thriller https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/cry-havoc/ Bravo Company Manufacturing: Visit us on the web at http://jackcarr.co/bcm and on Instagram @BravoCompanyUSA.com SIG: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the legendary SIG SAUER P226. Learn more here - https://jackcarr.co/SIG40thP226 Jack Carr Gear: Explore the gear here - https://jackcarr.co/gear Kurt Schlinchter,jack carr,targeted,jack carr book,the terminal list,targeted:beirut,danger close podcast,military decline,America military crisis,war strategy,battlefield readiness,leadership crisis,American dominance,military preparedness,military edge,accountability in military,defense strategy,America's readiness,Tucker Carlson,Sean Hannity,Candace Owens,Collapse,silent crisis,u.s. military,military,no one talks about,crisis,war,israel,hamas,iran

Mary welcomes back Pete Garcia for a conversation about the Apocalypse. The media is using "of biblical proportions" more and more to describe the world we are in. Climate change, economic meltdown, natural disasters ("birth pangs") and AI takeover of the human race all contribute to apocalyptic fear and fervor. We look at the exponential increase of these types of films over the last 100 years, as well as headlines that invoke fear. To what end? There are multiple answers to that question, but they do include keeping the masses fearful and in crisis mode, but also it plays right into the anticipation of the man with the answers - the Antichrist. Is there also a fear of death that these movies seem to bring actual consolation? Perhaps, since the phrase, "post-apocalyptic" is so common today, and describes those who have survived the worst and lived to tell, and renovate, and repopulate. A fascinating subject that ends with our hope, and how to spread that instead of terror.  Pete Garcia is a military combat veteran and aviator, writer, researcher, speaker, and teacher of Bible prophecy and apologetics with a BA in International Relations and a graduate of the US Army's prestigious Command and General Staff College. He wrote for Jack Kinsella's The Omega Letter from 2011-2018. To date, he has written hundreds of articles that are carried on numerous websites and platforms.     Shameless plug for swag for our listeners/donors! https://www.redpillprints.com/stand-up-for-the-truth - Thanks for YOUR Support!  

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, MAJ Scott Hall discusses his paper: Enhancing Mounted Maneuver Operations by Setting Conditions of Advantage through Information Environment Effects Synchronization, which is getting published in Armor magazine in the Fall 2024 edition. Recording Date: 26 Sept 2024 Research Question: Scott Hall suggests interested students examine:  What are the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating Information Operations across all domains and services, and how can joint forces Information forces coordination and application be improved? How can the DIME (Diplomatic, Information, Military, Economic) framework be leveraged to achieve a more comprehensive and integrated approach to Information Operations? What role can artificial intelligence and machine learning play in processing vast amounts of data and identifying patterns and trends in Information Advantage Dimensions? Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #166 John Agnello on Information Advantage Large Language Model Course of Action Analysis Dynamic Generative Large Language Model for Continuous Situational Awareness Stratagem: Deception and Surprise in War by Barton Whaley The Deceivers: Allied Military Deception in the Second World War by Thaddeus Holt Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War by P. W. Singer and August Cole Unrestricted Warfare by COL Qiao Liang and COL Wang Xiangsui Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: MAJ Scott C. Hall is the U.S. Army Cyber (ARCYBER) G-39 Influence Branch and ARCYBER Trans-Regional Information Advantage Detachment (TIAD) Lead Information Advantage Planner, Fort Eisenhower, GA. His previous assignments include: U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command (USAREUR-AF) G-5 Plans Eastern Campaign Branch, Clay Kaserne, Wiesbaden, Germany, Squadron Executive Officer, 1st Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, 316th Cavalry Brigade, Fort Benning, GA. National Training Center (NTC) Live Fire Combined Arms Battalion Lead "Dragon 11," Operations Group, NTC Combined Arms Battalion Company OC/T “Scorpion 11”, Operations Group NTC, Fort Irwin, CA., Troop Commander, Havoc Troop (HHT), 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd IBCT (Airborne), Grafenwöhr, Germany, Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commanding General – Maneuver, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX and Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan, Platoon Leader, 3rd Platoon, C Company (Tank), 2nd Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX and Baghdad, Iraq.  MAJ Hall's military education includes; US Army Cyber Operations Planner Course (COPC), Joint Cyber Operations Planner Course (JCOPC), Joint Information Operations Planner Course (JIOPC), US Army Space Cadre Basic Course, US Army Special Technical Operations Planner Course, Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) Special Operations Forces (SOF) Information Advantage and Intelligence Integration Course, JSOU SOF Influence and Operations in the Information Environment, Joint Military Deception Training Course (JMTC), US Army Theater Army Staff Course, Information Operations Officer Qualification Course, Command and General Staff College, US Air Force Joint Firepower Course, NTC OC/T Certification Course, US Army Jumpmaster Course, US Army Pathfinder Course, Maneuver Captains Career Course, Combative Level 1, US Army Airborne School, US Army Armor Officer Basic Course, and US Army Air Assault School.  MAJ Hall holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Project Management from Grand Canyon University and a bachelor's degree in Military History from Norwich University, VT. MAJ Hall's awards includes; a Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), Army Commendation Medal (4th Award), Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award), Meritorious Unit Commendation (2nd Award), and NATO Medal – Afghanistan, the Combat Action Badge, Senior Rated Parachutist Badge, Army Space Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and Air Assault Badge. MAJ Hall also holds the German Silver Parachutist Badge and the Romanian Parachutist Badge and holds a Bronze Order of Saint George Medallion and an Order of Saint Maurice Medallion. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

EPISODE #1099 UFOS AND ALIENS: SCIENCE, SPIRIT, OR FAKERY? Richard welcomes Lt. Col. Bob Maginnis back to the podcast to discuss his own open eyed and detailed analysis of the science and theology brought to our doorsteps by the real possibility that unidentified flying objects are manned by extraterrestrial beings that are likely much smarter and far more spiritual than earthlings. Are they a threat to our national security and to our faith in God? Do they come peacefully or as conquers? GUEST: Lt. Col Bob Maginnis (U.S. Army Retired) graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, the Naval Postgraduate School, the Command & General Staff College, the Defense Language School and the Army War College's strategy course. He is an Airborne-Ranger infantry officer with service in four infantry divisions on three continents. Colonel Maginnis has decades of media experience as a columnist, a Fox News military analyst and as an on-air commentator for multiple radio programs and networks. He is the author of nearly a thousand articles and about ten published books, including , Kings of the East, Give Me Liberty, Not Marxism, The Deeper State, Alliance of Evil and his latest, Out of this World: Are UFO's Aliens, Spirits, or pure Hokum? WEBSITE/LINKS: https://www.facebook.com/RLMaginnis BOOKS: Out of this World: Are UFOs Aliens, Spirits, or Pure Hokum? Kings of the East: China's Plan to Eliminate America and Impose a Communist World Order Give Me Liberty, Not Marxism Progressive Evil: How Radicals Are Redefining America's Rights, Institutions, and Ideals, Making Her Globally Irrelevant for the End Collision Course: The Fight to Reclaim Our Moral Compass Before It Is Too Late Alliance of Evil The Deeper State: Inside the War on Trump by Corrupt Elites, Secret Societies, and the Builders of An Imminent Final Empire Saboteurs SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! HIMS - Making Healthy and Happy Easy to Achieve Sexual Health, Hair Loss, Mental Health, Weight Management START YOUR FREE ONLINE VISIT TODAY - HIMS dot com slash STRANGE https://www.HIMS.com/strange BECOME A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER!!! https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm Three monthly subscriptions to choose from. Commercial Free Listening, Bonus Episodes and a Subscription to my monthly newsletter, InnerSanctum. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm/

This week on the ‘What's Your Pineapple Express?' series, Scott had the honor of sitting down and speaking with an incredible leader – Jason Howk. Jason leads a non-profit organization called Global Friends of Afghanistan and has continued doing amazing work while keeping Afghanistan at the forefront. Join us this week as Jason shares his many years of experience in Afghanistan, gives us insight into some very important information, and shares what we need to learn from the abandonment of Afghanistan. Some of the things he reveals about what happened with this abandonment and more importantly, what's happening right under our noses in this growing safe haven will blow you away. Own Every Room - https://rooftopleadership.com/owneveryroom/ Nobody is Coming to Save You - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/scott-mann/nobody-is-coming-to-save-you/9781546008286/?lens=center-street Scottmann.com  Join Rooftop Nation! Website: https://www.rooftopleadership.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScottMannAuthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottmannauthor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rooftop-leadership Twitter: https://twitter.com/RooftopLeader Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYOQ7CDJ6uSaGvmfxYC_skQ  Select Afghanistan experiences and published works SummaryJason Criss Howk spent 23 years in the U.S. Army as an Infantry and Sapper Paratrooper, and also as a South Asia Foreign Area Officer (Soldier-Diplomat).  His work in Afghanistan began in 2002 and has continued until the present day as he leads the Global Friends of Afghanistan educational non-profit organization that monitors and leads discussions on Afghan issues. Jason has worked on Afghanistan portfolios at the tactical, operational, strategic, national policy and international policy levels. He has taken part in a variety of missions to include military, diplomatic, intelligence, academic, and humanitarian efforts. During his Afghanistan work Jason worked daily with dozens of generals, ambassadors, and political appointees with Afghan portfolios. Due to his assignments and knowledge of the topic, Jason is one of the few Americans that has been privy to the discussions of all 4 presidential administrations as they planned their Afghanistan policy. Jason studied both Arabic and Dari at the Defense Language Institute, is a professor at the USAF Special Operations School, and is a Malone Fellow in Arab and Islamic Studies. He holds a Master's Degree in South Asia and Middle East Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, is a CGSC graduate, and was a term-member of the Council on Foreign Relations from 2010-2015. Jason is an award-winning author who has written 4 books in English and has published over 225 works since 2008 in over 40 outlets. As a professor, lecturer, and columnist he focuses on Afghanistan, Islam, terrorism, and various National Security topics. For his work on Afghanistan Major Howk earned the Legion of Merit award for his years of exceptionally meritorious service as a Soldier-Statesman, and two Bronze Star Medals. He also earned the Afghanistan Governmental Success medal from the President of Afghanistan. Afghanistan ExperiencesSep 2002-Sep 2003       Sep-Nov 2003: Operations officer Coalition Task Force 82. Engineer Operations Officer on MG Vines General Staff at Bagram Airfield. Focus on engineer support to daily counter-terrorism operations across the country. His key effort was the completion of the FOB Salerno Airfield and Heliport in Khost province. Tactical and Operational level experiences in various Eastern Provinces.Nov 2002-Sep 2003: Aide De Camp to MG Karl Eikenberry as he took over as Chief of the Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan at the U.S. Embassy Kabul and also as the U.S. Security Coordinator. They worked daily with Afghan cabinet members across all parts of the government for the first year of the interim government and got to know all of them intimately. MG Eikenberry was tasked with implementing the international Security Sector Reform program in Afghanistan, and as Chief OMC-A creating the Afghan National Army and MOD from scratch. Their typical daily interactions included the leaders of UNAMA, NATO-Nation Embassies, ISAF, the 3-star US Forces Commander, CENTCOM, OSD, the Joint Staff, the Intelligence Community, regional ambassadors, the Special Forces leaders training the ANA, and the US Ambassador. For the majority of the year Jason was the sole note-taker in over 4,000 hours of meetings and the drafter of reports to State, OSD, and CENTCOM.2004-July 2007During an assignment in TRADOC Jason began to create and teach courses in the Army and at civilian institutions about Afghan and Islamic culture. He helped the Engineer School develop their Cultural, Counter-insurgency, and Counter-IED training for 2LTs deploying to Afghanistan and Iraq. During company command the Army selected Jason for the highly competitive Foreign Area Officer (FAO) program after completing a fellowship in Oman where he studied their insurgencies and how they rebuilt their nation after those conflicts. He continued to study Afghanistan and stayed in touch with his former boss LTG Karl Eikenberry who was the Combined Forces commander in Afghanistan.2007-2009 FAO TrainingIn FAO training he obtained a Master's Degree in South Asia and Middle East Security Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School in 2008. At NPS Jason focused on Afghanistan and the Oman counter-insurgency campaigns. He published a thesis on Oman's COIN and CT lessons which was distributed to his former bosses LTG Eikenberry, LTG McChrystal, and GEN Petraeus. He also wrote a directed study on the creation of the Afghan Military and the US Security Sector Reform efforts that was published as a monograph by the US Army War College in 2009 with a foreword by GEN McChrystal. That study was completed after many interviews with LTG Karl Eikenberry who was then assigned to NATO, just prior to his selection as Ambassador to Afghanistan.From 2008-2009 Jason attended Arabic language training at DLI until the day LTG McChrystal was nominated by President Obama to command ISAF. He was immediately ordered to the Pentagon to prepare LTG McChrystal for senate confirmation and to assist him when he took command in Kabul.2009-2010 As ADC to LTG McChrystal, Jason helped prepare him for his assignment and attended all meetings with Legislative and Executive branch leaders in Washington. Within hours of the Senate confirmation, they flew to Brussels to meet with NATO leaders and then onwards to Kabul Afghanistan. In Kabul Jason helped GEN McChrystal form trusting relationships with the same Afghan leaders Jason worked closely with when they first formed the government in 2002.For the next 2 months Jason traveled with GEN McChrystal to over half the provinces to listen to NATO and Afghan forces, and Afghan leaders to better understand the war.  Jason assisted COMISAF during the strategic review of the U.S. and NATO Afghanistan policy, often quietly liaising between GEN McChrystal and Ambassador Eikenberry, his new and old bosses.After the strategic review was sent to CENTCOM Jason was selected to initiate and design the NATO interagency team focused on reintegration — i.e., how former insurgents could rejoin society. GEN McChrystal loaned Jason to support the incoming Reintegration Advisor who had worked on a similar mission in Iraq and would carry out sensitive diplomatic missions.As the Military Assistant and Political Advisor to retired British Lt Gen Sir Graeme Lamb. They worked with the Afghan government as they developed their peace and reintegration policy with foreign governments, diplomats, and international organizations. This also helped launch the US/NATO peace process and made Jason one of the insiders on Afghan peace talks for over a decade.2010-2014After a year in Dari (Afghan Farsi) language training at DLI, and graduation from the Army Command and General Staff College, Jason was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Afghanistan and Pakistan Task Force. In that role, he led two of the highest-level interagency teams of Afghanistan and Pakistan experts in providing products and briefings for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and OSD leadership, and the White House.  Also in that role, his teams helped prepare four different Generals to assume senior commands in Afghanistan. One of his team's key efforts was monitoring and helping U.S. leaders prepare for diplomatic negotiations with the Taliban.2015-2021After retiring in 2015, Jason continued his focus on Afghanistan and Islam as a professor at numerous institutes and continued to advise the U.S. and Afghan governments, and international bodies.From 2016 to 2017, he served as an advisor on the Presidential Transition Team's National Security cell focused on the Afghan peace process and foreign relations with Islamic nations. He contributed ideas to both the 2017 National Security Strategy and 2018 National Strategy for Counterterrorism.From 2017 onwards he served as an advisor on conflict resolution to the U.S. government, NATO member states, parts of the U.N., the Afghan President's NSC staff, and the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces leadership.Jason was invited to give presentations at the 2019 and 2020 Central and South Asia Military Intelligence conferences at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). His topics included the future of the ANDSF, and the Unconventional Warfare efforts of Pakistan against Afghan and NATO forces.Jason led a USIP project team to assess post-conflict security in Afghanistan that culminated in a an invitation from the Afghan President and UN Chief in Kabul to give a presentation to over 70 nations at the 2020 U.N. Donor Conference on Afghanistan in Geneva.A second USIP project allowed his team to remain involved in the peace process until August 2021 as part of a U.S. Institute of Peace project authorized to conduct Track-2 diplomacy while talking to the Afghan government, various parts of Afghan society, and Taliban supporters.From 2019-2021 during both USIP projects his team took part in the USIP-led discussions that contributed to the congressionally-mandated Afghanistan Study Group Report. “A Pathway for Peace in Afghanistan” was published in February 2021.August 2021 OnwardsAfter the collapse of the Afghan republic while Jason was virtually assisting the evacuation of at-risk Afghans from Kabul, he and his colleagues formed the Global Friends of Afghanistan non-profit (GFA) to speak and write about Afghanistan and ensure the topic of Afghanistan was not removed from the daily news, and to help Afghans raise their voices to the outside world. On 1 September 2022 GFA held their inaugural annual conference with Georgetown University to discuss the evacuation and resettlement of Afghans, and the humanitarian crisis and security collapse in Afghanistan. Writing ExperienceSummaryJason has written 5 books, was on the editing team of the FAO Association International Affairs Journal, and was the senior editor for A Voice for Two Nations blog. He has published over 225 articles, essays, and news reports in over 40 outlets. He is a mentor to writers and a member of the Military Writers Guild, where he edits and co-authors with new writers. Most recently he has begun publishing U.S. veterans and Afghan book authors at Tamarisk Press a niche publishing assistance non-profit. His work has been published in the following outlets: CNN, Fast Company, Foreign Policy, The National Interest, ClearanceJobs News, Military Times, The Cipher Brief, US Institute of Peace, The Global Observatory, Small Wars Journal, Divergent Options, From The Green Notebook, The Bridge, The Forge, The Foreign Service Journal, The FAOA Journal, Observer, Task&Purpose, Business Insider, Real Clear Defense and Politics, SOFX The Special Operations Forces Network, US Army War College, Naval Postgraduate School, O-Dark-Thirty, and in various Afghan newspapers like Reporterly, and Hasht e Subh. He also discusses Afghanistan, Terrorism, and Islam on CNN, Afghan International Persian, TRT World, and Voice of America, and appears on other news and radio outlets.Select Publications Books2012, Lions in the Path of Stability and Security: Oman's Response to Pressing Issues in the Middle East. My 2008 NPS thesis was published in Oman in Arabic.2017, The Quran: A Chronological Modern English Interpretation. Gold Medal Winner at the National Indie Excellence Awards2021, Leaders Always Go a Little Further: ...Unless They Trip. Foreword by LtGen Sir Graeme Lamb.2021, Ali's American Dream: An Iraqi Refugee's Story of Survival and Triumph. Foreword by SIV recipient Nasirullah Safi formerly of Afghanistan.2022, U.S. War Options in Afghanistan: Choose Your Own Path. Foreword by Afghan Colonel A. Rahman Rahmani, a would-be terrorist who was deradicalized and later flew special operations combat missions against the Taliban-Haqqani network and aided evacuation of Afghans Pilots in 2021. 2020-2022, Lead Editor of the Foreign Area Officer Association book, Culture Shock: Leadership Lessons from the Military's Diplomatic Corps. Foreword by LTG (Ret) Charles Hooper. Publishing advisor and book formatting for 4 books. 2021: Brand Elverston's Proclivity and Nasirullah Safi's Get the Terp Up Here!2022: Brand Elverston's Instruments of Ignorance and Nasirullah Safi's Indispensable: Tale of a Military Interpreter Various Studies (contributor and author/co-author)2009, US Strategy Review of US and NATO Afghanistan Policy, ISAF2009, A Case Study in Security Sector Reform: Learning from Security Sector Reform/Building in Afghanistan (October 2002-September 2003), US Army War College press2010 Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Programme, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan2021, “No Going Backward”: Afghanistan's Post–Peace Accord Security Sector, USIP2022, Afghan Women: “I Don't Feel Safe.” A Global Friends of Afghanistan survey report, GFA Select recent articles and columnsAug 2022, Afghanistan Has Become a Terrorist Paradise, The National InterestAug 2022, How Can We Help Afghanistan? Ask the Afghans, The National InterestMar 2022, Information Operations: How is Ukraine Different Than Afghanistan? ClearanceJobs NewsMar 2022, Lessons Learned from the Last 20 Years: 9 Flaws in the American Way of War, ClearanceJobsDec 2021, U.S. Foreign Affairs Influence and the Afghanistan Fallout for the U.S., ClearanceJobs NewsOct 2021, Why Afghan Peace Talks Got Derailed, ClearanceJobs NewsSep 2021, ‘You Are Fighting in the Wrong Country.' How We Failed Afghan Policy Miserably, The Pilot19 Aug 2021, Taliban Takeover in Kabul: Pakistani Invasion Complete in Afghanistan, ClearanceJobs9 Aug 2021, Where is the Taliban with the Doha Peace Process? ClearanceJobs NewsMay 2021, Terrorists Kill Around 90 Afghan Students: The World Shrugs, ClearanceJobs NewsApr 2021, Afghanistan Needs a Weaker President: Decentralizing power can be key to long-term peace, Foreign Policy, with Shabnam NasimiFeb 2021, Taliban Keep Showing True Colors with Mockery of the Doha Peace Process, ClearanceJobsJan 2021, Path to Peace in Afghanistan for the Biden Administration, ClearanceJobs NewsDec 2020, Time to Make the Taliban Diplomatically Uncomfortable, ClearanceJobs NewsFeb 2019, America, don't abandon Afghanistan…Again, CNN, with Abdul Rahman Rahmani

1.  Improvised Partnerships: U.S. Joint Operations in the Mexican-American War, by Nathan A. Jennings, Joint Force Quarterly 105, April 14, 2022. 2. D-Day Veracruz, 1847 – A Grand Design, by Paul C. Clark, Jr. and Edward H. Moseley, National Defense University, 1996. 3. Sea Control 510 – The Fortress Fleet with Lt Col Nathan Jennings, PhDBio: Nathan is an associate professor and Army strategist at the US Army Command and General Staff College.Jared Samuelson is Co-Host and Executive Producer of the Sea Control podcast. Contact him at Seacontrol@cimsec.org.This episode was edited and produced by Marie Williams.

From Moldova to Tajikistan, from Belarus to Uzbekistan: The Formulation and Flow of National Identity from the Late Czarist Times to Today Riordan will explore the formulation of identity over the past 150 years in Moldova, Tajikistan, Belarus and Uzbekistan. Drawing on decades of on-the-ground work and research across all four countries, Riordan will discuss his findings on the trajectory of national identity and how it continues to shape the political discussion in each country today. About the Speaker: John P. Riordan is a career Foreign Service Officer in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He currently serves as the Deputy Mission Director at USAID/Moldova. Prior to Moldova, he was on assignment as a Development Advisor to U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) in Tampa, Florida (2017-2020). Riordan was the USAID Country Director in Uzbekistan (2014-2017), where he served for multiple, extended periods of time as acting Deputy Chief of Mission. He was also USAID's Country Director in Belarus (2009-2013). In both Belarus and Uzbekistan, Riordan pioneered the leveraging of Baltic partner expertise and regional knowledge in order to advance shared objectives. He was recognized in 2017 with a Diploma of Commendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia for his decade contribution to fostering a close relationship between Latvia and the United States and in jointly providing support for Belarus and Central Asian countries. Riordan was the USAID Development Adviser to the command group at Combined Joint Task Force 101 and 82 in Bagram, Afghanistan (2008-2009). Riordan served two assignments in Iraq (2006 and 2008, respectively) as the Deputy Director of USAID's Governance and Provincial Reconstruction Team Office during the U.S. Government “surge,” and then helped to launch the Joint Interagency Task Force at Multi-National Forces-Iraq. He also served at the Agency's mission in Romania (2005-2006). Riordan was honored to be the first Foreign Service Officer selected for an academic year in the Advanced Military Studies Program at the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas (2007- 2008). While there, Riordan produced a monograph, Red D.I.M.E., which drew on original research on the Basmachi Resistance Movement against the fledgling Bolshevik forces of the Soviet Union in the Ferghana Valley region of Central Asia in order to apply historical and political lessons to irregular warfare in complex, adaptive environments. Before joining USAID, Riordan lived and worked in the Ferghana Valley region of Central Asia. He lectured at Ferghana State University and was the first American to conduct research in the Ferghana City archives as a Fulbright scholar in Uzbekistan. He also collected oral histories of Uzbek, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Russian, and Tajik World War II veterans in order to better understand the formation of Soviet identity in Central Asia (2002-2003). He was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Ferghana Valley region of Kyrgyzstan (1998-2000), and worked as the Office Director of the State Department funded Freedom Support Act/Future Leader Exchange Program (FSA/FLEX) in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (2000-2001). Riordan earned a master's in military arts and sciences from the School of Advanced Military Studies at the Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., and a master's in Russian, East European, and Central Asian studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was awarded a Foreign Language Area Scholarship while at Wisconsin for the study of the Uzbek language and spent three summers on scholarship at Indiana University studying Russian, Uzbek, and Turkmen. He completed his undergraduate degree in Political Science at Marquette University, where he was selected for an internship on Capitol Hill via Marquette's Les Aspin Center for Government.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, US Army Major Michael Zequeira discusses his Army Command and General Staff research entitled: the Effects of Social Media on Military Recruiting. More and more Americans receive information from social media. This work looks at the effects of social media's rise on U.S. Army recruiting. The primary research question was “Is the increased reliance on social media for information negatively affecting the U.S. Army's ability to recruit?” The secondary research questions were “What role do foreign mis, mal, and disinformation play in decreasing the propensity to serve in the Army of the United States population?” and “How do the negative effects of social media on mental health affect the Army's ability to meet its' recruiting goal?” The researcher answered these questions through a hermeneutics approach, analyzing existing research and correlating it to the past 10 years of recruiting trends. The researcher supplemented this by conducting open coding of videos on YouTube to assess the narratives portrayed based on various Army-related keywords. Based on this research, the increase in information speed of social media allows foreign adversaries to perpetuate mis, mal, and disinformation at speeds that decrease trust in the U.S. Government and Army. The well-documented negative effects of excessive social media use on mental health are decreasing the qualified youth available faster than any other discriminating factor.  Recording Date: 20 Jun 2024 Research Question: Mike Zequeira suggests an interested student examine:  For narrative/misinformation academic researchers, does the TikTok algorithm push content harmful to, or counter to, a positive US military outlook? For military researchers, how can Social Media feeds be integrated into the targeting cycle to enable real time/near real time targeting? Resources Active Measures: The Secret History of  Disinformation and Political Warfare by Thomas Rid LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media by Peter Singer My Share of the Task: A Memoir by Stanley McCrystal Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio:  Major Michael (Mike) Zequeira was born and raised in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area. He commissioned through the Officer Candidate School at Fort Moore in 2013 as a branch-detailed Military Intelligence Officer. MAJ Zequeira served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Battalion Logistics Officer in 1-68AR, in the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division in Ft. Carson, Colorado. Post graduation from the Military Intelligence Captain's career course, he served as Brigade Assistant Intelligence Officer at 2nd IBCT, 10th Mountain Infantry Division, 2-14 Infantry Battalion Intelligence Officer, and Military Intelligence Company Commander for the 41st Brigade Engineer Battalion at Fort Drum, New York. He also served as the Headquarters, Headquarters Company Commander, and as an Operational Test Officer at the Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Testing Directorate at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. MAJ Zequeira is currently transitioning to his next assignment in the Division Intelligence section of 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell KY. MAJ Zequeira's military education includes the North Georgia University/MCOE Mandarin Language Course, Airborne Course, Military Intelligence Officer Captains Career Course, Digital Intelligence Systems Master Gunners Course, Army Basic Space Cadre I & II, the CENTCOM Foreign Disclosure Officer Course, and the Information Advantage Scholars Program at the Resident Command and General Staff Officer Course at Fort Leavenworth, KS. His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Economics from Anderson University (SC), a Master of Arts in International Security Studies from the University of Arizona, and a Master in Military Arts and Sciences with a concentration in Information Advantage from the Command and General Staff College. MAJ Zequeira's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (3), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (2), NATO Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Rotational Forces Lithuanian Medal, Romanian Partner of Defense Medal 3rd Class, Order of the Gold Spur, Order of the Silver Spur, Combat Action Badge and the Parachutists Badge. He is also the winner of the CGSOC Class 24 Excellence in Information Warfare writing award. He is married to his wife Laura, who has her own career in finance and the couple shares a young son, Matthew, age 2. Mike and Laura are both avid sports fans of baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and both enjoy skiing. Mike also enjoys working out and fishing in his free time. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Being a life-long blind person I have never served in the military and thus only understand the military way of life vicariously. There is reading about it, of course and there is talking to military people about their lifestyle. Today you get to hear a conversation not only about military life, specifically the army world, as it were, from a 20-year career soldier, Chase Spears who recently retired from the military as a major in the army. Chase grew up always interested in the news and what was going on in the world around him. He attended college, both undergraduate studies and later graduate work at universities in Tennessee. Along the way an army recruiting officer persuaded him to join the army. By that time, he was well married to a woman who, surprising to him, supported his decision to leave college and join the army. Chase's telling of this story is wonderful to hear. As you will see, he is quite the storyteller.   He and I talk a great deal about the world of a soldier, and he puts a lot of things into perspective. For those of you who have served in the military much of what you hear may not be totally new. However, since Chase served in public affairs/relations duties throughout most of his army career, you may find his observations interest. Chase and I had a good free-flowing and informative conversation. I personally came away fascinated and look forward to talking with Chase again in the future. A few months ago, Mr. Spears retired and entered into a doctoral program at Kansas State University where he is conducting research concerning how military life impacts the citizenship of those who serve. You will get to hear a bit about what he is finding.   About the Guest:   U.S. Army Major (Ret.) Chase Spears is first and foremost a Christian, Husband, and Father to five children who help to keep him and his wife young at heart. Having grown up with a passion for news and policy, Chase spent 20 years in the Army as a public affairs officer, trying to be part of a bridge between the military and the public. He merged that work with a passion for writing to become one of the Army's most published public affairs officers, often to resistance from inside the military. Chase continues that journey now as a doctoral candidate at Kansas State University, where his dissertation research explores how military life impacts the citizenship of those who serve. His other writings focus on topics including civil-military dynamics, communication ethics, and the political realities of military operations.   Ways to connect with Chase:   LinkedIn/X/Substack/Youtube: @drchasespears www.chasespears.com   About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.     Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Hi there and welcome once again to unstoppable mindset. And we have a I think really interesting show today are interesting episode we get to chat with major retired Chase Spears. I've been saying ret all morning because he's got Rhett in parentheses. And I didn't even think about it being not a name but retired. But anyway, that's me. Anyway, he has been involved in a lot of writing in and out of the military. He was a major military person for 20 years. He's now in a doctoral candidate program, Kennedy C candidacy program. And my gosh, there's a lot there, but we'll get to it also. Major Rhett major Chase spears. Welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here.   Chase Spears ** 02:13 just thrilled to be with you, Michael. Thanks for having me. Now   Michael Hingson ** 02:17 that now that we've abused you with Rhett, but that's okay.   Chase Spears ** 02:20 I think God worse. Well, there   Michael Hingson ** 02:22 you are. And by your friends, I bet. So that's what really makes them more fun. But we're but I really am grateful that you were willing to come on and spend some time with us. Why don't we start I love to, to start this way to give people a chance to get to know you. Why don't you tell us some about the early Chase spheres and growing up and all that stuff?   Chase Spears ** 02:44 Well, it's yeah, it's been quite a journey. I grew up in the southeast us My family was out of Florida. And when I was a teenager, we ended up moving we went out to Texas, which was really just kind of a an entire change of culture for us. If you can imagine going from the kind of urban parts of Florida that are really highly populated a lot of traffic, a lot of tourism, a lot of industry. And we went up to North Central Texas in my teen years. And if you can imagine going from from that, you know, Florida to a town of about 9000 people it was a an oil and agricultural cattle town, and Graham, Texas and it was really kind of a culture shock at first, but turned into some of the best and most formative years of my life where I I really learned the value of hard work working on the fields with my dad really got to kind of connect with nature and just taking some gorgeous sunsets in the evenings out working in the fields enjoying the views of the wildlife Hall. I was out working. But one thing that I did learn from hard manual labor, was it made sure that I kept on track for college. And so I ended up going to Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee in 1998. Right after I graduated from high school, I was homeschooled and met my Hi my sweetie there, Laurie. We were married by senior year we decided neither one of us we wanted to graduate and leave the other one behind. So we got married start a family pretty young afterwards. Went on to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville afterwards because I thought, hey, I want to work in journalism. And it'd be great to have a master's degree in journalism to prove my commitment to the field make people take me seriously. And it was during that time that I ran into an army recruiter while I was working my part time job at a law firm. I was working at the courthouse one day filing paperwork. And this gentleman and I just struck up a conversation in an elevator he was there in his full dress uniform was very impressive to me as a civilian at the time. And so I started asking him questions about what he did. In what army life was like just trying to be friendly, conversational, I was genuinely curious, though I was not looking for a military career. Well, as a good recruiter does, he managed to coax a phone number out of me. And seven months later there I am raising my right hand, swearing into the army in Knoxville, Tennessee. And so we were in the army for 20 years, we moved to several different parts of the nation, we've landed in northeastern Kansas, just on the outskirts of the Greater Kansas City, Missouri area. And now we're kind of starting a new phase of life after the army enjoying being kind of planted Gayndah. Watch our kids grow in a smaller community. And we're excited about what's next. So   Michael Hingson ** 05:42 what is the postdoc? Where are the doctoral degree in, that you're seeking.   Chase Spears ** 05:47 So I am in a program entitled leadership communication. But I'm kind of a misplaced public policy scholars what I've learned, but the faculty there have been so wonderfully gracious to me, and I've been very supportive of my research agenda. So I'm a career communicator. In the army, I was a public affairs officer. So everything I did was about stuff like this. I didn't community engagement, I did interviews, I was did social media strategy, I was part of the bridge that the military tries to build between it and the public, which is incredibly important in our form of governance. And so I love all things communication. And I also love team leadership, small organizational leadership, I had the chance to, to lead teams, I had the chance to lead a company while I was in the army, so fell in love with that. So when I saw a degree program that merged both of those, you know, they had me at hello, I was a sucker from the get go when I saw the marketing. So I applied and they very kindly accepted me. So I've been studying leadership communication, but my research agenda is actually more in the policy realm. My dissertation work is studying how did we come to this concept that the military isn't a political and air quotes institution, when it is funded by the government when it is commanded by elected leadership? When when we exert our national will, on other nations with it there absolutely political connotations to all of that. And And yet, we kind of say the opposite. So I was curious, I was like, this would be something fun to explore, how did we How did we get to where we believe this in spite of what we do? And so that's what my research Jind agenda is all about. And I'm having a lot of fun writing.   Michael Hingson ** 07:37 Well, and I guess we could go right to why well, so why do you think the reason is that we are not a political but we say we are? Oh, are you still researching it to the point where you're not ready to answer that yet? Well, I   Chase Spears ** 07:57 have, I have some theories and what I believe are pretty educated guesses. I'm trying to make sure that I don't bore your audience going too deep in the weeds on this. It's really kind of comes out of the Second World War. When you look at the history of the United States. Traditionally, we are a nation, our ancestors were part of a nation that were really cautious about the idea of having large standing military forces during peacetime. Because there had been this historical observance over hundreds of years, particularly in Europe, that large forces during peacetime ended up causing problems for society and the nations that bred large armies inevitably found ways to use them, that might not always be to the benefit of the populace. So we come out of the Second World War, and the nation has decided we're going to become the global military superpower, we didn't want to be caught off guard again, like we were for what Germany had done in the years after the First World War. And we also have a rising Russia, we need to counter that. So we decided as a nation, yeah, we will become a global, permanent, large, highly industrialized, highly institutionalized force. Well, how do you gain public support for that when the public has traditionally for hundreds of years been very, very suspect of that and very much against it? Well, Samuel, in walk Samuel Huntington, a brilliant political scientist who writes the book, the soldier in the state, and in it he proposed a theory of military supervision in which officers would abstained from voting and then over time that grew legs into Okay, well, now we're just not involved in politics and then in time that grew legs into where a political, but if you go around the force and ask most people what that means, if you ask them to define that word, few would actually be able to define it. It's one of those kind of discursive terms that we've come up with kind of like for the public good. Well, what is for the public good? Can you actually define that, and it's largely often in the eyes of the beholder. So that that's where I believe it came from, I'm still doing quite a bit of work and reading in that. But historically, it's very fascinating to see where we've come and just 70 years on that topic. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 10:25 And also, we're in a phase of all of that, where it seems to be at least that it's changing and morphing again, I mean, with what's happened in the last seven years in this country, and the, the lack of desire for discourse, the the desire on some people's parts to really involve the military and a lot of things. It seems like we're possibly changing again, or perhaps even strengthening the military in some way. And I'm not sure what that is.   Chase Spears ** 11:04 We there's really kind of been somewhat of a public backlash, the last, I'd say, five to 10 years, we saw an increasing comfort with military members publicly advocating for political policy for political parties, which is absolutely within their constitutional right to do, George Washington himself said, we did not lay aside the citizen to assume the soldier. But again, that that discourse coming out of the Second World War, really kind of conditions the American public to think that when you're in the military, you do give up your rights to expression that you do give up your rights to citizen agency, and, and, and meaningful involvement in civic processes. And while we do rightly give up some expressive rights, and that is captured and codified in military regulations, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, there's some legitimacy to that argument. But I would say, you know, if you're, if you're holding a ruler in your hand, the regulations kind of restrict us somewhere between the two and three inch mark on the ruler, whereas the perception that's just kind of come out of the repetition of these terms and ideas is more that we're up around the nine or 10 inch mark on the ruler, if that makes any sense for you. So we we've seen in the last few years, more military people being willing to get involved politically, and there has been somewhat of a backlash to it. And therein is the problem. You if you're going to hold to a belief to a doctrine to a discursive claim, then you have to match it. And the military is really kind of at a point right now they have a decision to make, are we going to hold on to this discourse to this idea? Or are we going to acknowledge that? Well, the regulations are much less restrictive than what people have been led to believe? It's it's a tough spot to be there's not a perfect answer, to help the institution requires cracking down on constitutional freedoms. And well, what is the institution there to serve? So it's a very sticky issue?   Michael Hingson ** 13:11 Well, it does seem to me that in no way, because the person becomes a soldier. And even in their oaths, do they give up the right to be a citizen of the country? So I'm with George Washington?   Chase Spears ** 13:26 Oh, absolutely. No, I am with with George Washington himself, you know, the greatest American? And I think we would, it's a, it's a good reminder of the importance of knowing our history and knowing where we came from. It's in my interviews with military members on this topic. In my research, I'm finding that that like me, most of them were just kind of told these things verbally. They were never pointed to the actual rules. They were never actually pointed to the actual laws. I only know the regulations because I have a personal fascination on the topic. And I went and looked them up. But no one ever told me where to find them. That was research on my own team and figure out where do I look for this. So it's, we really need to do better, nationally, to know our history and know where we came from.   Michael Hingson ** 14:14 We do have a really interesting paradox in the world, because we've gotten in the last two government administrations, to different views of not only how to govern, but to a degree how the military needs to be a part of it, and that's gonna not be very helpful to things either.   Chase Spears ** 14:34 Absolutely. The the military at the end of the day is controlled by the Civilian governance. Now. I'll acknowledge that General Mark Milley didn't really seem to think so and there have been other figures in military history who MacArthur being one of them who who seemed to challenge who was actually in charge of the military. But at the end of the day, constitutionally, we We are governed by by civilians. And that that is right, that is proper any anything else would be a coup and you don't want that. So we, it comes down to how does the military try to hold a consistent line? When you have governments that change every two to four to eight years and have drastically different perspectives on policy? How do you as a military hold an even keel and another wise stormy sea. And in previous generations, we had senior general officers who were pretty good at that they were pretty good at saying, regardless of what the ship of state is doing, the ship of military is going to remain on a heading to serve everyone. And there's been somewhat of a lack a breakdown of discipline at the senior ranks in the last probably 10 years, that's really kind of shuttered the ship of the military. And I think the current some of the recently promoted, general officers understand that I think General GA is the new Chief of Staff of the Army, I think he understands that and he's trying to do some things to reintroduce some stability, but it's a hard thing.   Michael Hingson ** 16:16 Yeah. And the other part about it is that the military, in some ways is a part of society. So we've had things like the whole Don't Ask, Don't Tell dealing with LGBTQ types of issues. And, and of course, even women in the military, and there's been a lot of things that haven't necessarily been as visible as they have become, and are issues that we are starting to face and deal with more. But it seems to me that the military, like it or not, is part of society. And we do need to recognize that collectively, as well.   Chase Spears ** 17:02 We were absolutely drawn from society. We serve society, we exist, you know, for the protection of society. But I will say there's one thing that's all always kind of set Western militaries apart a little bit, and the US military hails from that Western tradition of understanding that just because society chooses to take a move in one direction, doesn't necessarily mean that it's in the national security interest of the United States for the military, to follow suit. And then there's kind of a reason that the military has always tried to, in some way, set itself apart, of acknowledging that there's some things that society will do or want to that are affected by the times as Shakespeare himself noted, there's always a tide in the affairs and man, the tide comes in the time tide goes out the the, the winds shift. And but one thing that was said at the military part was this idea of, at the end of the day, if it's a societal change that enables us to better defend the nation, then that's the direction we'll move. If it's a societal change that could potentially be a friction point or cause additional challenges in securing the nation, we might, we might think on that one a little bit harder, we might be a little more a little slower to adopt that. And we've seen that has kind of broken down the military is very much going out of its way to be reflective of society. And in some ways that can be good in some ways that's caused additional unnecessary frictions to the force and is rightly being having questions asked about it.   Michael Hingson ** 18:45 And that's where having good solid leadership in the military at the highest echelons, has to be an important part of it, because that's where ultimately, the direction that the military goes, is at least in part, going to be authored. Yes, there is a civilian government that and civilian commander in chief, but still the military leaders have to really be the ones mostly to figure out where the military should go in terms of policies and how it deals with different issues or not, I would think.   Chase Spears ** 19:27 And the key word that you hit on there, Michael is leadership. Back a few months ago, I wrote a piece that was published by real clear defense called seven new things the new Sergeant Major of the Army could do to restore trust in the force. And the argument that I made his predecessor was one who was very kind of reactive to the, to the whims you might say, of a the younger generation of soldiers. He was very much all over Twitter about telling me your issues. Let me get involved in your issues. And he was, in some ways a very divisive, senior official in the military. And I equated it to you, you want to look at kind of the British constitutionalist position, the British Crown, if you're looking overseas, it has traditionally been something that it's kind of the rock, unmovable, unshakable, the parliament will do what parliament will do that the Tories and Labour will do what they will do, but the crown is unmovable the crown serves all. And that's kind of something that the military reflected, and I call out to the new rising generation military leaders to remember that, to remember that we don't own this, we owe nothing in the institution, we all leave it one day, as I left it a matter of weeks ago. All I have are my memories and and hopes that I was able to leave some things better than I found them and that the people I served that I hope I served them well. But at the end of the day, we hand it off to someone else. And it's so important for to have good leaders who recognize that we we steward the profession, that we we want to do the best we can with it in our time, and recognize the decisions that we make, will impact those who serve long after our time and do our best to hand it off in the best possible condition that we can for them. Because then to the to society, we returned. And then we depend on this who came after us for our national defense. And so it's the steward mindset to me as key.   Michael Hingson ** 21:41 Yeah. Well, and going back a little bit. So you're in graduate school you got recruited in and accepted and went into the military. What did you do? What was it like when you first went and that certainly again, had to be quite a culture shock from things that you would experience before? Ah,   Chase Spears ** 22:02 yeah, I figured absolutely was you'll never forget your first shark attack at basic training for for anyone who's unfamiliar with that, it's when you once you've done your initial and processing there, whatever base you get your basic training at, for me, it was Fort Jackson in South Carolina. And then they eventually buss you off to your your training companies, which is where you will actually conduct your combat training. This is after you've received your uniforms and done all your finances, paperwork, and life insurance and all that. And then the buses stop and the drill sergeants, they're just there waiting for you. And it's a moment you never forget. And of course, you jump off the bus and they're giving you all these commands that they know it's impossible for you to, to execute to any level of satisfaction. And then when you fail, as you inevitably will, you know, the entire group just gets smoked over and over and over again. And I remember that moment just having that realization of I have not in Kansas anymore, like the next next few months of my life are about to be very different than anything I've ever experienced. And it was it absolutely was. I got through that. And I think the first thing that was really kind of shocking to me be on to the training environment was the use of last names. So yeah, I go by chase my friends call me chase people who know me call me chase. I'm I'm not hung up on titles. I'm a simple guy. In the military, you are your rank and last name. I was specialist Spears sergeants First Lieutenant spears or LT Captain spears, major spears. And I remember at my first unit, there were other other people who in my unit there were the same rank as me. And so I thought were peers I'd call them by their first name. And they never gave me problems about it. But our higher ups would you know, people have rank spears, we don't go by first names spears. And I never I never 20 years and I still never really adjusted well to that I learned how to how to keep myself from getting as many talking to us about it over the years is I had in previous times. But that was a culture shock. And, and just the the constant what we call the military, the battle rhythm, you know, civil society would call it your work schedule, while in the military. It never really ends your day start very early. You have physical training that you're doing with your unit at 630. Depending on what unit you're in, you may be off at a reasonable time in the late afternoon, early evening, or you may be there. I've remember staying at work one night till 4am Just because the boss gave us a job to do. Frankly, it was an unreasonable job. But he gave us a job to do and an extraordinarily tight deadline and it took us till 4am to get the job done and And I was at work by 630, the next morning. So you never, ever really do get used to that in some ways, because you kind of come to accept it. But it's been really eye opening to me in the last nearly three months now that I've been now, looking back and having some control over my schedule now for the first time in 20 years, and realizing, wow, that was such a foreign existence I lived. But when you're when you're swimming in a fishbowl, you don't know you're wet. So every time you do adapt to it, but it's been neat being on the other side and realizing, you know, can kind of breathe in and start to have some say over what a schedule looks like, because I'd forgotten what that was, what that'd be like.   Michael Hingson ** 25:44 But as you rose in the ranks, and I assume took on more responsibility, did that give you any more flexibility in terms of how you operate it on a day to day basis.   Chase Spears ** 25:56 It all depended on the position, there were there were some jobs I had, where were, regardless of the rank, I had flexibility. And then there were other jobs, where I absolutely did not even as a major want, there was a job that I had, where the boss was very adamant. This is the time you will be here and you will be sitting at this desk between these hours and you are authorized authorized is a big term in the military culture, you are authorized a 30 minute lunch break period. And you will be here until this time every day. And this was when I had you know, I think I was at my 1718 year mark. And I remember thinking to myself, golly, do I need to ask permission to go to the bathroom to see, it seemed I didn't. So it really kind of depended on your job. There's a perception a lot of times that the higher you go in rank, the more control you have over your life. And I observed that the opposite is actually true. The higher you go, typically, the more the more demands are placed on you. The more people are depending on the things that you're doing. And and the bigger the jobs are. And the longer the days are was my experience, but it had been flooded depending on what position I was in at the given time.   Michael Hingson ** 27:17 Now, when you first enlisted and all that, what was Laurie's reaction to all of that.   Chase Spears ** 27:23 I was shocked. She was so supportive. She actually grew up in an Air Force household. And so she knew military life pretty well. Her dad had been been in, he spent a lot more time in the air force than I did the army. And then even after he retired from the Air Force, he went on and taught at the Naval Academy as a civilian. So she is just always had a level of familiarity with the military as long as she can remember. She joked with me that when she got married to me and then had to give up her dependent military ID card that it was kind of a moment of mourning for she didn't want to give that thing up. So one day, there we are Knoxville, Tennessee, and I approached her. And I'm trying to be very careful, very diplomatic, very suave, and how I bring it up to her and let her know I've been thinking about the army. And I'm kind of curious what she might think about that. Because it'd be such a drastic lifestyle change from everything we've been talking about. And I was bracing for her to look at me and be like, are you insane? And instead, she was like, Oh, you won't get in the military. And I get an ID card again. Yes. She was she was supportive from from Jump Street. And so you talk about a wife who just was there, every minute of it, and loved and supported and gave grace and rolled with the punches. milori Did she was absolutely phenomenal. Though, I will admit when it got to the point that I was starting to think maybe 20. I'll go ahead and wrap this up, because my original plan had been to do 30. But when I started talking with her about that she was she was also ready, she was ready to actually start having me home regularly for us to be able to start making family plans and be able to follow through with them. Because we had the last three years we had not been able to follow through with family plans, because of the different positions that I was in. So she was very, very supportive of me joining and then she was equally very supportive of me going ahead and and calling it calling it a day here or the last just at the end of this year. But what a what a partner could not have done it   Michael Hingson ** 29:41 without her. So where did she live when you were going through basic training and all that.   Chase Spears ** 29:46 So she stayed in Knoxville for nonGSA. Yeah. And then from there, she actually ended up moving up to her dad's and his wife's place up in Maryland because my follow on school after base See training was the Defense Information School. That's where all the Public Affairs courses are taught. And it's so happens that that is located at Fort Meade, Maryland, which is just about a 45 minute drive traffic dependent from where her dad lived. So while I was in basic training, she went ahead and moved up there to Maryland so that while I was in school up there, we could see each other on the weekends. And then from there, we didn't have to go back to Tennessee and pack up a house or stuff was already packed up so we could get on the road together there to wherever our next duty station was. And it turned out funny enough to be Colorado Springs, Fort Carson. And here's why that's funny. When, when I approached Laurie, about joining the army, one of the things that she was really excited about was seeing the world if you're in the military, you get to see the world, right. And my first duty assignment was the town that she had grown up in, because her dad had spent the last few years of his career teaching at the Air Force Academy there on the northern end of Colorado Springs. So so her her dreams of seeing the world with me, turned out that our first tour was going to write back home for her.   Michael Hingson ** 31:14 Oh, that has its pluses and it's minuses.   Chase Spears ** 31:17 Yep. So it was neat for me to get to see where she had grown up and learn the town little bit.   Michael Hingson ** 31:23 I've been to Fort Meade, and actually a few times I used to sell technology to folks there. And then several years ago, I was invited to come in after the World Trade Center and do a speech there. And so it was it was fun spending some time around Fort Meade heard some wonderful stories. My favorite story still is that one day somebody from the city of Baltimore called the fort because they wanted to do traffic studies or get information to be able to do traffic studies to help justify widening roads to better help traffic going into the fort. So they call it the fort. And they said, Can you give us an idea of how many people come through each day? And the person at the other end said, Well, I'm really not sure what you're talking about. We're just a little shack out here in the middle of nowhere. And so they ended up having to hire their own people to count cars for a week, going in and out of the fort was kind of cute.   Chase Spears ** 32:23 Well, there's quite a bit of traffic there. Now that basis when   Michael Hingson ** 32:26 I was then to there wasn't just a little shack, of course, it was a whole big forest.   Chase Spears ** 32:32 Yeah, yeah, it's I was back there. Golly, I want to say it wasn't that long ago. But it was about five years ago now is back there. And I almost didn't recognize the place. There's been so much new built there. But oh, I know, as far as army assignments go, it's a it's a pretty nice place.   Michael Hingson ** 32:50 Yeah, it is. And as I said, I've had the opportunity to speak there and spend some time dealing with folks when we sold products and so on. So got to got to know, people, they're pretty well and enjoyed dealing with people there. They knew what they were doing. Yeah,   Chase Spears ** 33:07 yeah, that's a it's a smart group of people in that base.   Michael Hingson ** 33:10 So you went through basic training and all that and what got you into the whole idea of public relations and what you eventually went into?   Chase Spears ** 33:20 Well, I had studied in college, my undergraduate degree was in television and radio broadcasting. My master's was in journalism, I'd grown up kind of in the cable news age, and the at the age of the emergence of am Talk Radio is a big, big tool of outreach. And I grew up thinking, this is what I want to do. I love communication. I actually thought it'd be really neat to be an investigative reporter on if, if you remember, back in the 90s, it was this big thing of, you know, Channel Nine on your side, yeah, had this investigative reporter who tell you the real deal about the restaurant or the automotive garage. And I always thought that would be amazing, like what a great public service like helping people to avoid being ripped off. And so I wanted to be a news. I'm sure you're familiar with the Telecom Act of 1996. That That caused a tremendous consolidation of media for your audience who might not be familiar with it. It used to be that really, if you had the wherewithal to buy a media station or a television station or radio station, you were unlimited in what you could you there were limits, I should say on what you could buy, so that you couldn't control too much, too much media environment, the Telecom Act of 1996, completely deregulated that and so large media companies were just swallowing up the nation. And that meant there's a tremendous consolidation of jobs and the my junior year in college. I was in the southeast us at the time at Lee University. Atlanta. Nearby was our biggest hiring media market, my June Your year CNN laid off 400 people. So I could tell really quick, this is going to be a chat and even more challenging field to break into than I thought. And that's why I ended up working part time in a law firm was in, in Journalism School. Afterwards, because I was looking great. I was looking for a backup plan. I thought if journalism doesn't work out, I also love the law. It'd be nice to get some experience working in a firm to see if I want to go to law school. So it was a natural fit for me when the army recruiter started talking to me. And he was asking me what I was interested in. And I told him, Well, here's what my degree is in, here's what my career plan had been, here's who I really want to do with my life. And he said, we have public affairs, I said, What's that? It turns out, the military has radio stations, and they have television networks and you PR, I had no idea. I was a civilian. And I was like, Well, that sounds good. And so I thought, yeah, sure, I'll I will enlist for that come in, do one four year contract, I'll build a portfolio and and then I'll be able to take that portfolio out into the civilian realm. And hopefully that will make me more competitive for a job in the news market. And of course, a couple of years into that. I was in Kuwait deployed to camp Arif John. And my brigade commander sat me down to lunch one day, and made it very clear that he expected me to apply for Officer Candidate School, which was nowhere on what I was interested in doing was nowhere on my radar, I applied, I really didn't have a lot of confidence. I thought, I looked at officers and I thought they were people who are way, way more intelligent than me, way more suave than me. And I really didn't know if I'd get in, well, I got in. And after I commissioned officer candidate school is about like basic training all over again. So that was fun. And I ended up being assigned to a combat camera unit. And then afterwards, I was able to put my paperwork in to branch transfer right back into public affairs, it was a perfect mess was everything I wanted to do. I didn't get to work in news directly. I wasn't a reporter. But I got to work with reporters, I got to be an institutional insider and help facilitate them and help to tell the stories of what some great American patriots were doing, and wanting to serve their countries. And so it was, for the most part, more often than not, it was a really, really fun way to earn a living living.   Michael Hingson ** 37:34 I collect as a hobby old radio shows I'm very familiar with but back in the 40s was the Armed Forces Radio Service, then it became Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. And so I'm aware a little bit of, of the whole broadcast structure in the military, not a lot, but but some and know that that it's there. And it does, I'm suspect, a really good job of helping to keep people informed as much as it can as they can with the things that they have to do in the world. It's   Chase Spears ** 38:04 definitely it's a comfort over the years, if you're spending a lot of time overseas to have kind of that that taste of home and our forces network does a really good job of that letting I think we're starting to see some debates inside the military. Now. What do we want to continue of it? Because now information is so ubiquitous, if you will, you can pull it down, you can stream whatever you want, wherever you are in the globe. So I kind of wonder in the next 1020 years, will it still be a thing, but during my early career during my early deployment before he could stream stuff, it was really cool to have an AFN radio station to tune into is really cool to have an AFN television network to tune into to be able to get a taste of home. That was much a comfort,   Michael Hingson ** 38:52 right? Yeah, it is. It is something that helps. So you can't necessarily stream everything. I spent a week in Israel this summer. And there were broadcasts I could get and pick up through the internet and so on. And there were stuff from here in the US that I couldn't get I suspect it has to do with copyright laws and the way things were set up but there was only so much stuff that you could actually do.   Chase Spears ** 39:20 And what a time to be in Israel you will I bet that trip is even more memorable for you now than it would have been otherwise.   Michael Hingson ** 39:27 Fortunately, it wasn't August. So we we didn't have to put up with the things that are going on now. But still Yeah, it was very memorable. I enjoyed doing it. spending a week with excessively over there and got into getting to meet with with all the folks so it was definitely well worth it and something that that I will always cherish having had the opportunity to do get   Chase Spears ** 39:51 for you. If it's on my bucket list. I've always wanted to spend some time over there.   Michael Hingson ** 39:56 Hot and humid in the summer, but that's okay. Let's say but they love breakfast. Oh, really? So yeah, definitely something to think about. Well, so you, you joined you got you got the public relations, jobs and so on. So how did all that work for you over? Well, close to 20 years? What all did you do and what, what stories can you tell us about some of that?   Chase Spears ** 40:25 It was it was fascinating. It was fascinating because everything that I got to touch was, in some way a story. And so my first job was in radio and television production. I did quite a bit of that in Kuwait. And it was actually there that I got my first taste of crisis communication, and I was immediately addicted. Do you remember back in? It was December 2004. Donald Rumsfeld said you go to war with the Army you have not the army want or might wish to have it another time? Yeah. I was there. That that was uttered in camp you're in Kuwait. And that was such an interesting moment. For me in terms of a story to tell. I was with the 14 Public Affairs Detachment we were deployed to camp Arif John to provide public affairs support for for Third Army's Ford headquarters. This was back during the height of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. And so there's a lot of military going over there. We were part of that. And I remember hearing this tasking that had come down that the Secretary of Defense is going to come out here is going to do this town hall meeting with the troops. There's going to be no question that you can't ask. You're going to be allowed to say anything you want to say to the Secretary of Defense, nothing's going to be scripted, nothing's going to be put through for review. And by the way, 14 pad you guys are going to make sure that it can be televised live back to the United States. And so here I am thinking what can possibly go wrong. And so we helped we all the event, Secretary Rumsfeld hindered and handled it really, really well. They set up this big, you know, fighting machinery display, they're in a in a big aircraft hangar epic camp bearing which is in northern Kuwait, just not too far south from the Iraqi border. And he gets up he gives the speech. He's well received by the troops. And it goes to the q&a part. And soldiers were asking him all sorts of questions. Most of them are jovial, you know, hey, when when do we get to go to Disney World, stuff like that. They were kind of big jocular with them.   Michael Hingson ** 42:42 Seems a fair question.   Chase Spears ** 42:44 Yeah, you know, I felt them right. And so finally, this one guy, I'll never forget his name, especially as Thomas Wilson from the 2/78 Regimental Combat Team. Tennessee National Guard asks him a question about when are they going to get the body armor that's needed? And in true Rumsfeld style, he's he says, Well, I'm not quite sure I understood the question. Can you ask it again, which is a great technique. He used to buy him some time to think the answer. And then it came back after the second question. And the whole hangar about 1000 of us in there. It was hast. I'll bet you could have heard a plastic cup hit the floor at the back back of the room. I mean, everyone was like, what? Oh, no, what just happened? What's about to happen? And Rumsfeld makes that remark, you go to war with the army have not the one you want or need. Yeah. And and then the questions went on. And there was not be after that. There was no awkward moment for the rest of the time. And I and I thought, wow, that could have gone south. But it didn't cool. It was just it was neat to watch. I was running the television camera that caught the moment. I was in the room. And so we me and my sergeant had to stay up there the rest of the day because there were some other television network interviews with other officials that we were running the satellite transponder for. And it was a long day our commander was kind of being a jerk to us. So by the end of the day, we were tired we'd been up there sleeping on cots for a couple of days, we were kind of just ready to get back to data camp Arif, John to our beds and put the whole mission behind us. And then we drive to three hours through this pouring pouring rainstorm in Kuwait, and a Canvas side Humvee that's leaking. All you know, water just pouring into this thing on us. So we're done. We're done. We're done. We're like, we just want to get a bed. We get back to our base. We're offloading all the equipment, putting everything away. And at this point in time, I forgotten about the moment earlier in the day when that question was asked, and I walk in and there we had this wall of televisions you know, tracking all the different news networks back in the US and on all of them Their Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, you go to war with the army have not the army won or wish to have another time. And at that moment, I was like, it's about to be an interesting few weeks around here. And it turned out, it turned out indeed to be an interesting few weeks, an interesting few months. And I got to be on the front end of what the public affairs response to that looks like. And I can tell you, I've never seen armored vehicles flow into a place as quickly as they did in the following month. So the power of a message transmitted is a real thing. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 45:39 so whatever happened to specialist Wilson?   Chase Spears ** 45:44 I don't I don't know. I know that news coverage. When that news reporters were asking that very question and coverage that I saw said, Oh, his unit, his assured that nothing bad will happen to him. He was a national guardsmen, so he kind of fall under a different, different command structure than us. From time to time, I have wondered that and I've tried to look him up online, and just try to find out what happened to the sky and what was life like for him? I'd love to talk to him and ask alright, what was it like, man, what is your unit do? But I, I have no idea. I can't find him. I presume he's gone about his life and doesn't want to be famous about it. But it also goes back to National Guard culture versus active duty culture. We talked earlier about the citizenship aspect. And the National Guard gets that way more than the active component. At the end of the day, they demobilize. And they go home. Right, you're running into the same people you serve, with the church, at the grocery store, at the grocery store, at the PTA, places like this, some of them might be your neighbors. And so they have an entirely different outlook. This is what they do to serve the country when needed. And then they go on about their lives. I don't think you would have seen an active duty soldier ask that question. I really don't because the culture is so so markedly different. And there's a level of kind of freedom of thought and expression, present that guard that that is much more lacking in the active component.   Michael Hingson ** 47:19 Should there be more freedom, in that sense in the active component? Or do you think that it's really appropriate for there to be the dichotomy that you're describing?   Chase Spears ** 47:32 And the act of force you need discipline? You need a discipline force, who, when they're given a lawful order, will carry it out hastily, because lives could hang in the balance. That's absolutely important, and we can never lose that. But sometimes we can use discipline I say sometimes, often, more is the more appropriate term often we confuse discipline with silence. We confuse discipline with a lack of willingness to ask tough questions. We confuse discipline with just saying Yes, sir. When you know, in the back of your mind, there might be something you need to dig into more. We we need, unfortunately, since the end of the Second World War, going back to my comments earlier about this large, industrialized, institutionalized force we have it breeds careerists. It breeds a mindset that's fearful to ask tough questions, even if you know they need to be asked. Because you want to be promoted. Right? You want to get assignments, right. And it breeds a culture where you really are much more timid. Or you're much more likely to be timid than someone who's maybe a reservist or National Guard member. We need people who will ask tough questions. We don't need indiscipline, we don't rush showmanship, we don't need people who are being performative just to be seen. But there are valid questions to be asked is, you know, is US defense policy? Better set for a 400? Ship navy or a 300? Ship? Navy? That's a valid question. Is it better for us to use this route of attack versus that route of attack? Given the Give Me Everything we know, those are valid questions. We need people in the military who who are willing to be critical thinkers, and there are a lot of extraordinarily brilliant people in today's armed forces, as there always has been. But there is on the active duty side a culture that works against original thought and that's really to our detriment. And I think the manner in which the evacuation of Afghanistan ended is one more blatant indicator of that.   Michael Hingson ** 49:48 It was not handled nearly as well as it could have been as we have seen history tell us and teach us now   Chase Spears ** 49:56 Absolutely. i It broke my heart. I'm A veteran of that conflict I'm not one who cries easily, Michael but I can tell you that morning when I saw the some of the images coming out of cobbles especially there's a video of a C 17 cargo jet taking off and people literally hanging to and falling to their deaths. Just i i fell off, I fell off my on my run into a sobbing human being on this on the ground for a little bit it is there's a lot to process and it has continued to be a lot to process. And there again, there's a great example of why you gotta be willing to ask tough questions. There was no no reason at all. We should have abandoned Bagram and tried to evacuate out of downtown Cabo. But that's a whole nother conversation. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 50:52 Well, speaking of you, I understand that you weren't a great fan of jumping out of airplanes, but you got used to doing them? I   Chase Spears ** 51:01 sure did. Oh, yeah. I always thought that would just be something that no, I don't want to say no sane person would do. I mean, I enjoy watching skydivers, I think it's really cool. And obviously, they're saying, I never thought I'd be among them. I thought, Nah, that's just something, I don't think I'm gonna do that. And when I was an officer candidate school, I was roommates with a guy who had been to Airborne School earlier in his career. And he was like, man, don't do it. Don't let him talk you into going to Airborne School, though, you'll be stuck at Fort Bragg, you'll just you'll be broke all the time, you'll be hurting all the time, the army takes the fun out of everything. And he's right. To an extent the army does take the fun out of most things that touches. But I got to my first unit as an officer. So I'd done enlisted time for three years, then I went to Officer Candidate School. And then my first job as an officer was at the 55th combat camera company, which is not a full airborne unit, but it's a partial airborne unit. And they had a hard time keeping enough active duty paratroopers on hand. And so I remember day one, when I was in processing the unit, there are all these different places you go, when you're in process, you gotta go see the training room, and you got to go see the administrative room, and you got to go see the Transportation Office and all these places, and they're just checking your paperwork. And so I see the training room, and there's the sergeant in there. And he's looking through my list. And he's asking me all these questions, you know, when was your last PT test? Where's the last physical, you know, making notes on me for the unit record? And then he says, Do you want to go to Airborne School? And without thinking, I said, Absolutely not. I have no interest in going to Airborne School. And his reply to me was go ahead and get an airborne physical. And I thought, There's no way I'm ever getting an airborne physical because I'm not going to Airborne School. So a few weeks later, I'm in the unit, I'm more comfortable. And I'm across. I'm in a different office across the hall from where this guy worked. And I'm joking around with this other sergeant. And I'm like, sir, and you're just such a cool guy. Like you've got all together, you're, you're like everything I want to be when I grow up. What how do you do it? He said, Well, sir, you got to go to Airborne School. That's step one. The other guy across the hall ever hears that, you know, mouse ears, I don't know how. But he darts out of his office across the hall into this opposite we're in, looks me straight in the face and said, Did you say you want to go to Airborne School? Like no, is not what I said, I absolutely have no interest. I'm not going to Airborne School. And he again replies with schedule your physical. And I thought, I'm not going to disappoint me scheduling a fiscal. So I get back to my office that later that day. And I thought this guy is not going to give up. So I came up with this brilliant plan. It was smart, smartest plan you'll ever hear of, I'm going to pretend I'm going to get my airborne physical and then he'll forget about me, leave me alone. So I called him and said, Hey, Sergeant, what's the phone number I have to call them schedule an airborne physical and it gives me the phone number and the the name of the person to talk to and I said, Great. I'll talk to him. There were two or three other lieutenants set to show up to the unit next in the next month. So I thought he will assume I'm getting a physical which I'm not getting and there's other guys will show up and he will convince them to go and I will fall off his radar. I was incorrect. That was a bad bad miscalculation on my part, you might say a flawed operation   Michael Hingson ** 54:39 with your the and you were the one who was talking about brilliant people in the army Anyway, go ahead.   Chase Spears ** 54:43 I know I know. Right? Yeah, I am a paradox. And so that within an hour I get an email from him with my he's already put me in for school. I already have orders generated to go to jump school. And then he calls me he's like Hey, by the way, your report in like three weeks, I need your physical as soon as you can get it. And I thought this guy, I told him I'm not going to Airborne School. Well, at the same time, our unit commander was a paratrooper, and he loves jumping out of airplanes. And I had two or three paratroopers in my platoon who were underneath me. And I thought, There's no way I can go now. Because if I, if I get the commander to release me, one, I'll lose face with the old man. And I'll lose face with the troops that I lead because the soldiers have to compete for this. They're just giving it to me. And so I went, protesting, kicking, screaming the whole way. I hated ground week. I hated tower week. And then they put took me up to the 250 foot tower and dropped me off the side of it under a parachute. And I loved it. I was like, Oh, this is fun. I actually asked if I can do it again. And they said, they don't get what's right. So the next week, we go into jump week in there I am in the back of an airplane, and it comes to my turn to get up and exit it. And I do, and I get to the ground and I survive. And I literally just sat there and laughed uncontrollably because I couldn't believe I just jumped out of a plane. And it was my first of 40 jobs. So I was I was absolutely hooked from that moment on.   Michael Hingson ** 56:20 And what did Lori think of that?   Chase Spears ** 56:23 She was a little bit surprised. She She again, was supportive. But she was surprised she never thought it's something that I would take to and it ended up being a great thing for us. Because having been on jumped status, it opened the door for me to request the unit and Alaska that we ended up going to for six years, you had to be on airborne status to be able to go to that job. And so had I not going to jump school, I would not have qualified to go into Alaska for that particular job. And so it ended up being a wonderful, wonderful thing. But I would have never guessed it, it just it's another one of those poignant reminders to me that every time that I think I've got a plan, it's God's way of reminding me that he has a sense of humor, because what's going to work out is always going to be very different from what I think.   Michael Hingson ** 57:10 And you help Laurie see the world. So well worked out. Absolutely.   Chase Spears ** 57:15 Yeah, she we never, we never got to spend time together overseas. But Alaska was an amazing adventure. And, gosh, if if no one in your listeners haven't been there yet to go see a Sunday?   Michael Hingson ** 57:29 Yeah, I went there on a cruise I didn't see as much as I would have loved to but still, I got to see some of them. It was great.   Chase Spears ** 57:38 It's nothing like it. No. Now you   Michael Hingson ** 57:42 as you advance in the ranks, and so on you, you started being in public relations, being a communicator, and so on. But clearly, as you advanced, you became more and I'm sure were viewed as more of a leader that was kind of a transition from from not being a leader. And just being a communicator and doing what you were told to be more of a leader, what was that transition like?   Chase Spears ** 58:07 That was another one of those things that I would have never seen coming. After I did my three years as the spokesman for the Airborne Brigade. In Alaska, I ended up becoming the deputy communication director for US Army, Alaska, which was the highest army command there in the state responsible for 11,000 troops and their families in multiple locations. And I remember one day, my boss came to me and saying, hey, the general is going to give a speech to the hockey team at the University of Alaska, about leadership. And so I need you to write it. And I looked at him and I said, boss, all right, whatever he told me to write, but the general has forgotten more about leadership than I know, like, how do where do I start with this? And I don't remember the exact words, I think it was something to the effect of, you're smart, you'll figure it out. And so I put together a speech, it was by no means anything glorious, but it was the best I had to give that moment in time and what leadership was fully convinced that I was not one. And then over time, I there are people who spoken to me at their headquarters who called out leadership that I didn't see they were pointing out influence that I had there pointing out people who I was able to help steer towards decisions that I didn't realize that I didn't know and it made me start looking back in other parts of my career and realizing, Oh, my goodness, I actually led that team. This man actually looks to me for decisions. I actually I am a leader, I had no idea. There's something I always thought if if you were in the military and you're a leader, you were some grand master, you know, like, like Patton or Eisenhower and I didn't think think myself anything like that. And so finally, in 2015, I was offered A chance to take command of a company which in civilian terms, that's kind of like being the executive director, if you will, of an organization of 300 people. And I was so excited for it. Because by that point in time, I finally made the mental transition of saying, I'm not, I'm not merely a communicator, communicating is what I've done. But occasionally it's I've worked on delivering us on passionate about, by came to realize, I love that so much because communicating is a part of leading and, and I, I am a leader, it's just something. Looking back. Of course, my life has always been there, I just never knew it. I never saw it, I never believed in it. And so by the time I was offered the chance to command, I was very excited for it, I was very eager for it, because I realized this is going to be an a wonderful adventure getting to lead a team at this level of this size. And it was the hardest job I ever did in the army, and the most rewarding. I don't know if you've ever watched any of the Lord, Lord of the Rings movie. But there's this moment where Aragon is being chided, is set aside the Ranger Be who you were meant to be to be the king. And that meant that came back to my mind several times I had to challenge myself that just because I only see myself as a communicator all these years doesn't mean that I can't do other things. And so it was a joy to actually walk into that. Believing is not easy. There's there are a lot of hard days or a lot of hard decisions. Especially when I was a commander, I agonized every decision. So I made because I knew this will have an impact on a person, this will have an impact on a family this, this will change the directions and plans that people had. And so it's a heavy weight to bear. And I think it's good that those kind of decisions come with weight. And I would question someone who who can make those kinds of calls without having to wrestle with them.   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:01 When you look at all the things that you've done, and the work that you do, and the work that you did, at the end of every day, or at some time during the day, I know you were pretty busy. But did you ever have the time to just kind of sit back and reflect on how did this go today? How did that go? What could have been better? Did you do any kind of introspection? Or did you feel you had time to do that?   Chase Spears ** 1:02:24 I didn't really feel I had time. And it would be easy for me to blame the unit, it'd be easy for me to blame people. But that responsibility rests with me. It's a discipline that I didn't develop until way too late in my career. And I eventually did develop it, I eventually came to realize the importance of reflection of introspection of taking a mental inventory of what I've accomplished I didn't accomplish and what I can learn from it. But it was sadly something that I didn't do as much as I should have. And I didn't do it as early, I was really, really bad at assuming well, because the unit needs this right now. I can't take care of this thing that I need to take care of that will that will allow me to be the leader that I need to be you know, I get in a car, someone slams on my car, and I need to get them to take care of it. Why don't have time unit Scott has to have me We gotta move on. Well, I've got six screws in my left hand and my left shoulder right now because I was always too busy to listen to the physical therapist and take care of myself, you know, the unit needs me the unit needs me the men need me. And so it, it was a hard, hard learned lesson. The importance of sitting back and reflecting is something I wish I would have learned much sooner. But once I did, it served me well. And it's a discipline that I still practice now.   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:46 Yeah, yeah, it's, I think a very important thing. And a lot of things can can stem from that. What's the best position your favorite position in the army and why?   Chase Spears ** 1:03:59 The best thing I ever got to do is company command. And it's hard to say that because it's really it's really closely tied with being a brigade director of communication. And t

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Dr. Wayne “Mike” Hall discusses his latest capstone book: the Moral Imperative of Our Time-Purposeful Intellectual Growth. According to Mike, America's intellect is sharply declining; he implores national security leaders to address this problem immediately by: 1) improving individual learning, 2) promoting organizational learning, and 3) encouraging intellectual mentoring. Satisfying these callings is the moral imperative. Mike also discusses other important themes such as: will, incorporating information and cognition as warfighting domains, how to think in today's fight, non-linearity and complex systems, anticipation compared to prediction, and the importance of initial conditions, and unity of effort. Research Question: Mike Hall suggests interested students examine:  How does this fit into DOTMLPF? How do we get politicians to understand Clausewitz? Recording Date: 21 June 2024 Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #47 Yaneer Bar-Yam on Complex Systems and the War on Ideals #72 Noah Komnick on Cybernetics and the Age of Complexity Mike Hall's website Chinese Military Targeting Future Wars And Fighting The Five Cognitive Battles The Moral Imperative of Our Time-Purposeful Intellectual Growth: Developing and Using the Human Mind To Outthink America's Enemies and To Stay Abreast of Changing Technologies by Ed D Wayne Michael Hall Whispers from the Arrow of Time: Essays from an Evolving Mind on How to Think about National Security in the Information Age by Wayne Michael Hall Stray Voltage: War in the Information Age by Wayne Michael Hall Intelligence Analysis: How to Think in Complex Environments by Wayne Michael Hall and Gary Citrenbaum The Power of Will in International Conflict: How to Think Critically in Complex Environments by Wayne Michael Hall and Patrick M. Hughes Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio:  Wayne Michael “Mike” Hall, Brigadier General, US Army (Retired), is a career U.S. Army intelligence officer with over 50 years of experience in intelligence operations. In the Army, Brigadier General Hall served in four infantry divisions: 2d, 1 st , 4 th , and 82d. He commanded intelligence units at the company (337 th ASA Company), battalion (313 th MI Bn, 82d Airborne Division), and brigade (501 st MI Brigade in the Republic of Korea). BG Hall was an infantry battalion S-2 in the 1 st Infantry Division, an infantry brigade S-2 while in Korea in the 2d Infantry Division, and an infantry brigade S-2 in the 1 st Infantry Division. He was the G-2 of the 82d Airborne Division, and as a general officer, the J-2 US Forces Korea. After retiring from the Army in 1999, he worked with military and private corporations providing consulting services in intelligence-related matters for more than 12 years. He also created a two-week intensive seminar for intelligence analysts and collections specialists, centering on his book Intelligence Analysis: How to Think in Complex Environments. Brigadier General Hall led the strenuous two-week seminars from 2008-2014 and helped ~1250 intelligence analysts and collection people learn “how to think” in complex environments. Brigadier General Hall has written six books: Stray Voltage War in the Information Age (2003); Intelligence Analysis How to Think in Complex Environments(2009); Intelligence Collection How to Plan and Execute Intelligence Collection in Complex Environments (2012); The Power of Will in International Conflict (2018); Whispers From the Arrow of Time (2023); and The Moral Imperative of Our Time—Purposeful Intellectual Growth. Brigadier General Hall holds a BS from the University of Nebraska, an MS from Kansas State University, an MMAS from the US Army CGSC, and an EdD from The George Washington University. Brigadier General Hall is a graduate of the US Army's Command and General Staff College, School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), and the National War College. Brigadier General Hall is a Senior Parachutist and a Ranger School graduate from the US Army's Ranger School, February 1973. Brigadier General Hall lives with his wife near Denton Texas. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

This episode is long overdue. Spencer Posey is an all star that anyone involved in military health and fitness should be following. As a sergeant and infantryman in the Old Guard he is having an absolutely massive impact far beyond his unit. His passion for health and fitness first led him to becoming the Old Guard's Regimental H2F Lead. Pulling that off as a specialist would be a huge achievement for most people, but Spencer was just getting started. His work - and more importantly his results - got the attention of the commanding general, and he is now also the Human Performance Lead for the Military District of Washington. On top of this he's also working with the Air Force, Walter Reed, and the Command and General Staff College. As a bonus, you might have also seen him starring in an Army recruiting ad on national television. We start this episode with the personal and professional history that brought Spencer to where he is now. If you're out there across the force trying to improve your unit's culture of performance, his store will absolutely help point you in the right direction. And if that's not enough, he's so willing to help that he said to put his email in these show notes so here it is: spencer.w.posey.mil@army.mil Check out Spencer's national commercial featured on NBC here Check out Spencer's feature in Muscle & Fitness here

As an Enforcement Agent at the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission (KRGC), Tom Alber monitors and investigates gaming activities and gaming related crimes, ensuring compliance with state laws and regulations. He has over 30 years of law enforcement experience, including 24 years in the military, where he served in various roles such as Military Police Officer, Intelligence Officer, and Psychological Operations Officer. Tom has completed several executive level law enforcement training programs, such as the FBI National Academy, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, The Southern Police Institute's Chief Executive Leadership Course, and the FBI Central States Regional Command College. He is also a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator and has expertise in crypto investigations, money laundering, and human trafficking. Tom is passionate about protecting the public interest and maintaining the integrity of the gaming industry. He is also proficient in Arabic and English and has a strong network of contacts in the law enforcement community. Tom Alber has expertise as an Enforcement Agent @ Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission | TRM-ACI | Money Laundering | Human Trafficking | Crypto Crimes | Gaming Related Crimes | TRM-CCS.

Buy gear, support our mission! [Original airdate: 8/4/23] PETE GARCIA is a retired military combat veteran and aviator, writer, researcher, speaker, and teacher of Bible prophecy and apologetics with a BA in International Relations and a graduate of the US Army's prestigious Command and General Staff College. He was called by the Lord to start writing at the age of 33 and wrote for Jack Kinsella's The Omega Letter from 2011-2018. He has since branched out to create this website under the banner of rev310. To date, he has written over 600 articles that are carried out on numerous websites and platforms. He has contributed written chapters to three Terry James published books (Discerners, Lawless, and Trajectory), co-wrote two non-fiction books (The Disappearing and the New World Order), and published three of his own Christian fiction novels Hobo Vol I and II, and Kingdom of the Ring. Pete is happily married to his wife of 16 years and has five wonderful children. Mary Danielsen chats with Pete Garcia of Rev 310 ministry about the peaks and valleys of prophecy over history, and how the timing of certain prophecies can allow for some pretty interesting conversation since we cannot see even 1 minute into the future.  When expectations meet with fulfillment, God is the One with all the answers. The community of those who are watching regularly is probably quite small and shrinking regularly but God still commands us to watch regardless of what is swirling around us.  Don't let the sheer volume of prophecies and cultural hurricanes throw you! The blessed hope is not to be feared. Watch Stand Up For The Truth on YouTube !

Text a Message to the ShowToday's guest is a West Point Graduate and an Army combat veteran who came back from Afghanistan to then went to Med School and become an Army doctor.  Major Cordell Hachinsky is a friend of mine who I regularly had lunch with while he was attending the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. I split the interview into two parts:  This first part talks a lot about leadership and training and why we need to allow our subordinates to fail if we really want the best for them.  Part two includes some lessons from Med School and the War in Afghanistan that drive home the point about humility and making career decisions.Music is by PineApple Music, by Alexander Nakarada, and by Chris HaugenHey Chaplain Podcast Episode 086Tags:Army, Accountability, Discipline, Failure, Learning, Leadership, Police, Standards, Training, Leavenworth, Kansas, LouisianaSupport the Show.Thanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city.Subscribe/Follow here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CGK9A3BmbFEUEnx3fYZOY Email us at: heychaplain44@gmail.comYou can help keep the show ad-free by buying me a coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/heychaplain

Hey there, listeners! Have you ever wondered what it takes to shape the leaders of tomorrow? Or how a military school experience can impact a young man's life beyond just preparing him for armed service? Well, you're in for a treat with Episode 117 of the "Carlsbad: People, Purpose, and Impact" podcast!This time around, we sit down with an exceptional guest, Lieutenant Colonel Roland Miraco, commandant of cadets at the prestigious Army Navy Academy. Roland isn't just a decorated military veteran with tours in Iraq and Bosnia Herzegovina under his belt; he's also a proud alumnus of the academy and has been instrumental in nurturing the next generation of changemakers.In this episode, we'll dive into the academy's rich history, its mission to mold young men of character, and the diverse futures its cadets pursue—from Ivy League halls to innovative industries. Roland will share how the school's unique all-boys boarding model, small class sizes, and new programs like culinary arts and aviation are setting students up for success.But that's not all! Roland gets personal, sharing his own journey from cadet to commandant, and how his family is continuing the legacy. Plus, we'll bust some myths about military schools and hear heartwarming success stories of students who've thrived under the academy's guidance.Curious to learn more? Roland extends an invitation to explore the Army Navy Academy's offerings. Tune in to this insightful conversation and discover a community dedicated to excellence right here in Carlsbad. Don't forget to check out the academy's website or call the Admissions Department at 760-729-2385 for more info. Listen, learn, and be inspired—right here on "Carlsbad: People, Purpose, and Impact."Roland Miraco's Bio:Lieutenant Colonel Miraco graduated from Army and Navy Academy in 1990. After attending the Academy, he moved on to New Mexico Military Institute. He received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army.Roland served in the United States Army for 29 years. He was an Artillery Officer in Germany, Bosnia, and Fort Sill. He taught ROTC at the University of Southern California and was an Academic Chair at the Naval Postgraduate School. As an Information Operations Officer, Roland served with the Department of the Army Staff, and the Undersecretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict at the Pentagon, Division Staff at Fort Bliss, TX, and Branch Manager at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He also completed two tours in Iraq, from 2005-2006 and 2009-2010.He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from California State University Long Beach. His military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms Service Staff School, the Basic Cyber Planners Course, the Electronic Warfare Planners Course, the Military Deception Planners Course, and the US Army Command and General Staff College. Roland's awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three stars, the Office of the Secretary of Defense Staff Badge and the Army Staff Badge. He also earned the Joint Meritorious Unit Award with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Army Superior Unit Award with Oak Leaf Cluster. Did this episode have a special impact on you? Share how it impacted youCarlsbad Podcast Social Links:LinkedInInstagramFacebookXYouTubeSponsor: This show is sponsored and produced by DifMix Productions. To learn more about starting your own podcast, visit www.DifMix.com/podcasting

Ilana Rachel Daniel sat with Robert Spencer for a fascinating discussion on Jihad in Islam. Here we covered aspects of Muslim theology well outside the radar of the Western mindset that are rarely, if ever, discussed. You will find this conversation as compelling as did we. We are living in a world where Islamic Terrorism threatens nine million people and the entirety of the state of Israel - but hardly us alone. It threatens the 90 million Iranians who roar out of their chokehold with the death of the Butcher of Iran, former President Ebrahim Raisi this week. And it threatens the free world in its entirety and the civilization on which it was built. That means you and me both. The religious ideology that defines the Islamic Republic of Iran for example, along with their proxies in Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and their many various branches is foreign to us on an elemental level. In increasing frequency, we witness acts of savagery that we do not wish upon our worst enemy - acts that go against not only our myriad of cultures but go against the humanity which we believed to be shared by us all. Robert Spencer is the director of Jihad Watch and a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center. He is the author of twenty-eight books, including the New York Times bestsellers "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)" and "The Truth About Muhammad" and the bestsellers "The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS" and "The Critical Qur'an: Explained from Key Islamic Commentaries and Contemporary Historical Research". His forthcoming book is "Muhammad: A Critical Biography".Spencer has led seminars on Islam and jihad for the FBI, the United States Central Command, United States Army Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Army's Asymmetric Warfare Group, the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), the Justice Department's Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council and the U.S. intelligence community. He has discussed jihad, Islam, and terrorism at a workshop sponsored by the U.S. State Department and the German Foreign Ministry. He is a senior fellow with the Center for Security Policy.* https://www.jihadwatch.org/* https://x.com/jihadwatchRS* https://www.amazon.com/s?k=robert+spencer&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=2O6LYQQHW09RT&sprefix=robert+sp%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C380&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_9 Get full access to Ilana Rachel Daniel at ilanaracheldaniel120.substack.com/subscribe

Lt. Colonel Michael Aquino Joined the program, for a rare & insightful interview. Michael A. Aquino is a Lt. Colonel, Psychological Operations, U.S. Army (Ret.). He is a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University; Defense Intelligence College, Defense Intelligence Agency; Foreign Service Institute, Department of State; U.S. Army Special Warfare Center (Special Forces (“Green Beret”)/Psychological Operations/Civil Affairs/Foreign Area Officer); U.S. Army Command & General Staff College; U.S. Army Intelligence School, and U.S. Army Space Institute.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaeldecon/support

In this episode, NAWL Board Member, Chair of the NAWL Women in Military and Government Service Affinity Group, and Retired Lieutenant Colonel, Mary Card Mina, speaks with Sean Watts, a Professor in the Department of Law at the United States Military Academy at West Point. This is the final part of a series of three episodes and is offered in response to current world events and international conflicts, it informs on applicable laws in these conflicts for listeners who wish to learn about this highly specialized area of the law and to better understand the conflicts taking place in our world from a legal perspective.Sean Watts is a Professor in the Department of Law at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he co-directs the Lieber Institute for the Law of Land Warfare. He serves as co-editor-in-chief of the law of war blog Articles of War.Professor Watts is also the James L. Koley '54 Professor of Constitutional Law at Creighton University Law School. He co-founded of the annual Creighton Law School Nuremberg to The Hague Summer Program in international criminal law. He serves as a Senior Fellow with the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Center of Excellence in Tallinn, Estonia. He is a Visiting Professor at the School of Law, University of Reading, United Kingdom.From 2010-2016 Professor Watts participated in drafting both volumes of The Tallinn Manual on International Law Applicable to Cyber Warfare. From 2009-2011 he served as a defense team member in Gotovina et al. at the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia. In December 2017, he testified as an expert in the law of war at the Military Commissions at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.Prior to teaching, Professor Watts served as an active-duty U.S. Army officer for fifteen years in legal and operational assignments as a military lawyer and as an Armor officer in a tank battalion. He later served in Army Reserve billets at the Army JAG School, West Point, and U.S. Strategic Command.Watts holds an LL.M. from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School, a J.D. from the College of William & Mary School of Law, and a B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He earned his commission as an Army R.O.T.C. distinguished military graduateMary Card Mina is the Supervisory Senior Financial Disclosure Counsel, at the Office of General Counsel, Ethics Division, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Before this position, Mary served on active duty for more than 22 years in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. She served as Assistant Legal Advisor, Department of Defense, Office of Military Commissions, and as the Staff Judge Advocate for Aberdeen Proving Ground.  She served as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as the Chief of Judge Advocate Recruiting at the United States Army Legal Services Agency, and as an Executive Officer for the Assistant Judge Advocate General for Law and Military Operations. Her deployments include serving as the Command Judge Advocate for Task Force Falcon, with duty at Camp Monteith, Kosovo, and as a Brigade Judge Advocate for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, with duty at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq. Mary also served with the 1st Armored Division in Germany and at Camp Humphreys, Korea. Her areas of practice include government ethics, administrative law, military justice, and the law of armed conflict.Mary holds a Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; an L.L.M in Military Law from The Judge Advocate General's School, U.S. Army; a Juris Doctor from the Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America; and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor in philosophy, from The Catholic University of America. Mary has served as an adjunct faculty member with the University of Maryland and with the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University.She is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Court of Appeals for the United States Armed Forces, and the Court of Federal Claims, and is licensed to practice in the State of Connecticut. Mary's awards include an HHS Office of General Counsel Leadership Award, a Legion of Merit and Bronze Star from the Army JAGC, and a Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Mary is currently serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Catholic University of America Alumni Association as well as on the Board of the National Association of Women Lawyers.

Special Guest, the legendary, Mr. Herman Bulls, joins our Host, Mr. Gerald Hector on #ItsEasySon! "Herman Bulls is Vice Chairman, Americas, as well as an International Director and the founder of JLL's highly acclaimed Public Institutions Division, which specializes in delivering comprehensive real estate solutions to federal, state and local governments, nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions. Mr. Bulls works with the firm's largest public and corporate clients to devise and implement integrated real estate strategies to lower occupancy costs and increase productivity. During over 35 years at JLL, Mr. Bulls has worked in the areas of development, investment management, asset management, facilities operations and business development/retention. He provides thought leadership and strategic guidance to senior level executives. Mr. Bulls has served as an expert witness on real estate matters in court and testified before Congressional committees on real estate issues. Mr. Bulls co-founded and served as President and CEO of Bulls Capital Partners, a multi-family financing company. Additionally, he founded Bulls Advisory Group, LCC, a management and real estate advisory firm. Prior to joining JLL, Mr. Bulls completed almost 12 years of active-duty service with the United States Army. His last active-duty assignments were working in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management at the Pentagon and as an Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance at West Point. He has completed the Army's Airborne, Ranger and Command and General Staff College courses and served overseas in the Republic of Korea. He retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves in 2008. Mr. Bulls received a BS degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA in finance from Harvard Business School. Mr. Bulls serves on several public, private and not for profit boards. He is Chairman of Fluence Energy (NASDAQ: FLNC) and Vice Chairman of USAA. He is Vice Chairman of the West Point Association of Graduates and serves on the Department of Defense Policy Board. He also serves on the boards of Host Hotels (NASDAQ: HST), Comfort Systems, USA (NYSE: FIX) Collegis Education, the American Red Cross National Board of Governors, the Real Estate Advisory Committee for New York State Teachers' Retirement System. He is director emeritus of the Military Bowl, a NCAA sanctioned football bowl game played in the nation's capital each December. Mr. Bulls former board service includes Tyco International, Exelis, Inc., Computer Sciences Corporation, American Campus Communities, and Rasmussen, Inc. Mr. Bulls has received various awards including: 2023 Alabama Business Hall of Fame Award 2022 Marriott School of Business Brigham Young University International Executive of the Year 2020 Executive Leadership Council Achievement Award 2020 Savoy Magazine Most Influential Black Directors in Corporate America 2018 Savoy Magazine Most Influential Black Directors in Corporate America 2017 USAA National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Top 100 2017 USAA National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Fellow 2015 Morgan State University Apex Award 2009 Washington Business Journal Minority Business Leader Award 2008 Global Real Estate Diversity Conference Trail Blazer Award 2007 Commercial Real Estate News & Commercial Property News National Minority Leader of the Year 2007 African American Real Estate Professionals (AAREP) Passing the Torch Award courtesy of https://www.us.jll.com/en/people/herman-bulls

In this episode, NAWL Board Member, Chair of the NAWL Women in Military and Government Service Affinity Group, and Retired Lieutenant Colonel, Mary Card Mina, speaks with Sean Watts, a Professor in the Department of Law at the United States Military Academy at West Point. This episode is part two of a series of three episodes and delves deeper with specific examples and how the law of war applies. This podcast series is offered in response to current world events and international conflicts and informs on applicable laws in these conflicts for listeners who wish to learn about this highly specialized area of the law and to better understand the conflicts taking place in our world from a legal perspective.Sean Watts is a Professor in the Department of Law at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he co-directs the Lieber Institute for the Law of Land Warfare. He serves as co-editor-in-chief of the law of war blog Articles of War.Professor Watts is also the James L. Koley '54 Professor of Constitutional Law at Creighton University Law School. He co-founded of the annual Creighton Law School Nuremberg to The Hague Summer Program in international criminal law. He serves as a Senior Fellow with the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Center of Excellence in Tallinn, Estonia. He is a Visiting Professor at the School of Law, University of Reading, United Kingdom.From 2010-2016 Professor Watts participated in drafting both volumes of The Tallinn Manual on International Law Applicable to Cyber Warfare. From 2009-2011 he served as a defense team member in Gotovina et al. at the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia. In December 2017, he testified as an expert in the law of war at the Military Commissions at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.Prior to teaching, Professor Watts served as an active-duty U.S. Army officer for fifteen years in legal and operational assignments as a military lawyer and as an Armor officer in a tank battalion. He later served in Army Reserve billets at the Army JAG School, West Point, and U.S. Strategic Command.Watts holds an LL.M. from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School, a J.D. from the College of William & Mary School of Law, and a B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He earned his commission as an Army R.O.T.C. distinguished military graduateMary Card Mina is the Supervisory Senior Financial Disclosure Counsel, at the Office of General Counsel, Ethics Division, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Before this position, Mary served on active duty for more than 22 years in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. She served as Assistant Legal Advisor, Department of Defense, Office of Military Commissions, and as the Staff Judge Advocate for Aberdeen Proving Ground.  She served as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as the Chief of Judge Advocate Recruiting at the United States Army Legal Services Agency, and as an Executive Officer for the Assistant Judge Advocate General for Law and Military Operations. Her deployments include serving as the Command Judge Advocate for Task Force Falcon, with duty at Camp Monteith, Kosovo, and as a Brigade Judge Advocate for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, with duty at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq. Mary also served with the 1st Armored Division in Germany and at Camp Humphreys, Korea. Her areas of practice include government ethics, administrative law, military justice, and the law of armed conflict.Mary holds a Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; an L.L.M in Military Law from The Judge Advocate General's School, U.S. Army; a Juris Doctor from the Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America; and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor in philosophy, from The Catholic University of America. Mary has served as an adjunct faculty member with the University of Maryland and with the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University.She is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Court of Appeals for the United States Armed Forces, and the Court of Federal Claims, and is licensed to practice in the State of Connecticut. Mary's awards include an HHS Office of General Counsel Leadership Award, a Legion of Merit and Bronze Star from the Army JAGC, and a Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Mary is currently serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Catholic University of America Alumni Association as well as on the Board of the National Association of Women Lawyers.

In this episode, NAWL Board Member, Chair of the NAWL Women in Military and Government Service Affinity Group, and Retired Lieutenant Colonel, Mary Card Mina, speaks with Sean Watts, a Professor in the Department of Law at the United States Military Academy at West Point. This episode is part one of a series of three episodes offered in response to current world events and international conflicts and informs on applicable laws in these conflicts for listeners who wish to learn about this highly specialized area of the law and to better understand the conflicts taking place in our world from a legal perspective.Sean Watts is a Professor in the Department of Law at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he co-directs the Lieber Institute for the Law of Land Warfare. He serves as co-editor-in-chief of the law of war blog Articles of War.Professor Watts is also the James L. Koley '54 Professor of Constitutional Law at Creighton University Law School. He co-founded of the annual Creighton Law School Nuremberg to The Hague Summer Program in international criminal law. He serves as a Senior Fellow with the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Center of Excellence in Tallinn, Estonia. He is a Visiting Professor at the School of Law, University of Reading, United Kingdom.From 2010-2016 Professor Watts participated in drafting both volumes of The Tallinn Manual on International Law Applicable to Cyber Warfare. From 2009-2011 he served as a defense team member in Gotovina et al. at the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia. In December 2017, he testified as an expert in the law of war at the Military Commissions at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.Prior to teaching, Professor Watts served as an active-duty U.S. Army officer for fifteen years in legal and operational assignments as a military lawyer and as an Armor officer in a tank battalion. He later served in Army Reserve billets at the Army JAG School, West Point, and U.S. Strategic Command.Watts holds an LL.M. from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School, a J.D. from the College of William & Mary School of Law, and a B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He earned his commission as an Army R.O.T.C. distinguished military graduateMary Card Mina is the Supervisory Senior Financial Disclosure Counsel, at the Office of General Counsel, Ethics Division, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Before this position, Mary served on active duty for more than 22 years in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. She served as Assistant Legal Advisor, Department of Defense, Office of Military Commissions, and as the Staff Judge Advocate for Aberdeen Proving Ground.  She served as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as the Chief of Judge Advocate Recruiting at the United States Army Legal Services Agency, and as an Executive Officer for the Assistant Judge Advocate General for Law and Military Operations. Her deployments include serving as the Command Judge Advocate for Task Force Falcon, with duty at Camp Monteith, Kosovo, and as a Brigade Judge Advocate for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, with duty at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq. Mary also served with the 1st Armored Division in Germany and at Camp Humphreys, Korea. Her areas of practice include government ethics, administrative law, military justice, and the law of armed conflict.Mary holds a Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; an L.L.M in Military Law from The Judge Advocate General's School, U.S. Army; a Juris Doctor from the Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America; and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor in philosophy, from The Catholic University of America. Mary has served as an adjunct faculty member with the University of Maryland and with the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University.She is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Court of Appeals for the United States Armed Forces, and the Court of Federal Claims, and is licensed to practice in the State of Connecticut. Mary's awards include an HHS Office of General Counsel Leadership Award, a Legion of Merit and Bronze Star from the Army JAGC, and a Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Mary is currently serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Catholic University of America Alumni Association as well as on the Board of the National Association of Women Lawyers.

In this episode, my very special guest Dr. John Hosler draws upon the research he undertook for his book Jerusalem Falls: Seven Centuries of War and Peace (Yale University Press, 2022) to discuss what Jerusalem meant in the thought and imagination of Christians and Muslims in the twelfth century, and the role the city played in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. As John is a professor at the Army's Command and General Staff College, we also chat a bit about teaching military history to military officers. This episode contains a short sound bite from the movie "Kingdom of Heaven"Listen on Podurama https://podurama.com Intro and exit music are by Alexander NakaradaIf you have questions, feel free to contact me at richard.abels54@gmail.com

In this episode, Dr. Thomas Bradbeer talks to me about the Royal Air Force raid on Nuremberg at the end of March in 1944. He also details some of the tactics these pilots and aircrews used, as well as the challenges they faced with the Luftwaffe, and towards the end of the episode we talk a bit about his work with the US Army's Command and General Staff College in the Department of Command and Leadership. Links Books by Dr. Thomas Bradbeer (https://www.amazon.com/Books-Thomas-G-Bradbeer/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AThomas+G.+Bradbeer) Army University Press SMEs (https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Experts/) Mother of Tanks website (www.motheroftanks.com) Why We Fight Bonus Content (https://www.patreon.com/motheroftanks) One of the photos in the title graphic was downloaded from the British Imperial War Museum: ©IWM(CH12598) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mother-of-tanks/message

Mary Danielsen chats with Pete Garcia, retired military combat veteran and aviator, writer, researcher, speaker, and teacher of Bible prophecy and apologetics. He has a BA in International Relations and is a graduate of the US Army's prestigious Command and General Staff College. Bible Prophecy clearly states that at the end of the age, the world will experience a significant increase in geopolitical turmoil, including at least three named wars, rumors of war, international distress, and three major military conflicts as outlined in Psalm 83, Ezekiel 38-39, and Revelation 19. Combine all that with the other "birth pangs" which are all seemingly converging within a single generation. According to Jesus, these signs of the times would signal the end of the current age. It surely seems some things - no, all things -  are in the "winding down" stage on different levels. Pete helps us understand the times in relation to the nations of the earth and how God is maneuvering things into place. Shameless plug for swag for our listeners/donors! https://www.redpillprints.com/stand-up-for-the-truth - Thanks for YOUR Support!

 Ever wondered what an "8X" in contracting really means? Contracting in the Medical Service Corps? LTC Owen Roberts II joins us to unravel this mystery and shed light on the pivotal role of contracting within the realm of Army medicine.LTC Roberts, with his vast experience and knowledge, navigates us through the intricacies of procurement processes, highlighting the critical importance of efficient and effective contracting in ensuring that our medical services remain top-notch.LTC Owen L. Roberts II is the Joint Product Manager for Chemical Defense Pharmaceuticals. In this role, he is responsible for providing the research, development, acquisition management, and joint service integration for products transitioning from the technology base through full life cycle management of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medical countermeasures against chemical, radiological, and nuclear threats. Previously, LTC Roberts served as the Product Lead for Vaccines, Therapeutics, and Enablers for the Joint Program Executive Of­ficer for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND), Joint Assisted Acquisition (JA2). In this capacity, LTC Roberts was responsible for domestic and global vaccine requirements, and the $56 billion joint Department of Defense (DOD) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) program ensured the President's COVID-19 response effort was capable of developing and producing more than one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines, 19 million therapeutics doses, and over two billion needles and syringes. His work resulted in nearly 600 million doses being safely administered in the United States, and more than 200 million doses donated around the globe. LTC Roberts has served in the U.S. Army for 21 years in various command and staff level positions within the military health system, medical logistics, and acquisition communities. In the Republic of Korea with the U.S. Army, his various roles included Battalion Medical Platoon Leader, HHC, 2/72 Regiment, and Deputy SPO, 16th Medical Logistics Battalion. Upon completing his tour, he was assigned to the 45th Sustainment Brigade Schofi­eld Barracks, Hawaii, where he served as a Medical Operations Planner and later deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following deployment, LTC Roberts was assigned to Scho­field Barracks Health Clinic, serving as Chief of Logistics and subsequently selected to command, B Company, Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii. Following command, LTC Roberts attended the United States Army Medical Department's Acquisition and Procurement Internship Program (APIP) at Joint Base San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas, and was assigned to serve as the first-ever Chief of Contracting for the Defense Health Agency's National Capital Region. He has completed Command and General Staff College and is Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act-trained in Contracting and Program Management. LTC Roberts is also the Deputy Consultant for Medical Acquisitions to the Army Surgeon General. In 2020, he was selected by the Secretary of Defense to serve on the COVID-19 Presidential Task Force, formerly called “Operation Warp Speed.”Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are the guests and host's alone and do not reflect the official position of the Medical Service Corps, the Department of Defense, or the US Government. All information discussed is unclassified approved for public release and found on open cleared sources.For more episodes listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube @ Be All You Can Be MSC For more information, suggestions, or questions please contact: beallyoucanbemsc@gmail.com

In this final part of his interview, Kim talks about the Battle of Anzio, earning the Distinguished Service Cross, and his feelings about the war.  – Young Oak Kim was born in Los Angeles to a Korean family in 1919. He tried enlisting prior to World War II, but was denied due to his race. When war finally broke out in Europe, Congress passed the Selective Training Service Act of 1940, requiring all men between the ages of 21 and 45, regardless of race, to register for the draft. Kim was among the first group of men allied up, and he entered the Army in January 1941. Racism, exacerbated by Japan's role in the war, was commonplace both in and out of the military. Despite proving himself to be an exceptional shooter during training, Kim was initially denied the opportunity to fight in the war because he had the “wrong color skin and wrong color eyes”. Eventually, Kim's skill was recognized by his superiors and he was elected for Officer Candidate School, graduating in February 1943. From there, Kim was assigned as the second platoon leader of Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion. The 100th was a racially segregated unit composed mostly of second generation Japanese Americans (known as Nisei) from Hawaii. Following the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the 100th was removed from Hawaii and sent to the mainland for training.  Kim and the 100th Infantry Battalion were sent to Italy in September of 1943. They fought in the Battle of Monte Cassino and the Battle of Anzio, and earned the nickname “The Purple Heart Battalion” due their high casualty rate. Kim was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for an incredible midnight infiltration mission, which he talks about in the next episode.  After leaving Italy, the 100th Infantry Battalion became part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, another segregated Nisei regiment, and sent to France. Kim was injured by enemy fire at Biffontaine, and was sent back to the US, later earning a Silver Star and the French Croix de Guerre for his actions in France. Germany surrendered before he was able to return. Kim left the Army following World War II, but when war broke out in Korea, he rejoined. He commanded a South Korean guerrilla unit, and was awarded another Silver Star for his actions there.  Kim left Korea in 1952. He then worked as an instructor at Fort Benning, and at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. He retired in 1972 at the rank of colonel as one of the most highly decorated Asian American soldiers in U.S. history with a total of 19 medals.  The 100th also made history, becoming one of the most highly decorated units of World War II. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the forty-sixth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.' Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today's guest is a Foreign Exchange Officer serving as an Observer-Coach-Trainer Company Team Senior with Task Force 2 (Infantry Battalion), CPT Will Happel of the British Army. CPT Happel has since become a student Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and has since been promoted to the rank of Major.   In this episode we discuss how the British Ministry of Defense approached their expeditionary efforts during the Falklands War and how these same tenets would be applied to a multinational effort during large scale combat operations (LSCO).   The Falklands War, which took place in 1982, was viewed from the British perspective as a decisive conflict to reclaim the Falkland Islands from Argentine occupation. The UK considered the Argentine invasion of the islands a violation of sovereignty and responded with a military campaign. The British government, led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, sought to protect the rights of the islanders and reestablish British control. The eventual success of the British forces in retaking the Falklands bolstered national pride but also brought attention to geopolitical complexities in the South Atlantic.   Specifically, we discuss that when viewed through the lens of a multinational expeditionary operation during LSCO, reveals the collaborative efforts of the British-led task force. Nations like the United States provided intelligence support, while others offered political and logistical assistance. The conflict underscored the challenges and benefits of coordinating diverse military capabilities in a joint effort to achieve strategic objectives in a remote and contested theater. Additionally, the Falklands War highlighted the importance of interoperability and communication between allied forces, as well as the necessity of rapid deployment and sustained logistical support over long distances. The multinational nature of the operation demonstrated the strength of collective security efforts in addressing regional conflicts and upholding international norms of sovereignty and self-determination.   Additionally, we look at some of the case studies conducted on this conflict: “No Picnic: 3 Commando Brigade in the South Atlantic” by MG Julian Thompson; “Goose Green: The Decisive Battle of the Falklands War – by the British Troops Who Fought It” by Nigel Ely; “Not Mentioned in Despatches: The History and Mythology of the Battle of Goose Green” by Spencer Fitz-Gibbon.   Part of S12 “The JIIMs of JRTC: Working with Our Unified Action Partners” 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.

The 41st Chief of Staff of the Army, General Randy A. George makes his first appearance on the podcast for a great discussion about leadership, his vision, and the lessons he's learned over the course of his four-decade career. General George and Joe cover a lot of ground in this episode, discussing topics including:Encouraging professional discourseWhy leaders need to ask questionsThe training management program that's in the Chief's crosshairsWhy great leaders are great editorsWhat transforming in contact looks likeHow General George recharges his batteries after a long dayThe importance of professional boundariesWhat topics General George wants leaders to write about....and more!General Randy A. George assumed duties as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army on September 21, 2023.George commissioned from the U.S. Military Academy in 1988 as an infantry officer. He served as a lieutenant in the 101st Airborne Division and deployed in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm. George received his Master of Science in Economics in 1999 from Colorado School of Mines and then served at the National Simulation Center in Fort Leavenworth before attending the Command and General Staff College.In 2001 George went to Italy and served as the executive officer of 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was later executive officer and then deputy commander of the brigade, during which time he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Returning to the 101st Airborne Division in 2004, George commanded 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment and deployed a second time to Iraq. He then went to United States Naval War College as an instructor and then student. He deployed again as part of the initiatives group for the commanding general, Multi-National Corps-Iraq in 2007.In 2008 George returned to the 4th Infantry Division, where he commanded 4th Brigade Combat Team and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Following command, he was a fellow on the Council of Foreign Relations, chief of the strategic policy division for the Pakistan-Afghanistan coordination cell on the Joint Staff, executive officer to the 33rd Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. He later returned to Fort Carson as the deputy commanding general (maneuver) of 4th Infantry Division.George took command of the 4th Infantry Division in June 2017. In this role he deployed again to Afghanistan. His most recent command was of I Corps at Joint Base Lewis McChord, after which he served as the senior military assistant to the Secretary of Defense.He is married to his West Point classmate, Patty. They have two children, Grant and Andrea.Special thanks to this week's sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Connect Leadership With Action Across Distributed Formations With Mustr by Adyton. Mustr is your digital knife-hand for daily and rapid personnel accountability, real time response data visibility, and automated reporting. Learn more about what Mustr can do for your formation here! My favorite coffee is veteran-owned Alpha Coffee and I've been drinking it every morning since 2020! They make 100% premium arabica coffee. Alpha has donated over 22k bags of coffee to deployed units and they offer a 10% discount for military veterans, first responders, nurses, and teachers! Try their coffee today. Once you taste the Alpha difference, you won't want to drink anything else!  Learn more here.   

In this first part of his interview, COL Kim talks about joining the Army, serving as a Korean American in World War II, and the Battle of Monte Cassino – Young Oak Kim was born in Los Angeles to a Korean family in 1919. He tried enlisting prior to World War II, but was denied due to his race. When war finally broke out in Europe, Congress passed the Selective Training Service Act of 1940, requiring all men between the ages of 21 and 45, regardless of race, to register for the draft. Kim was among the first group of men allied up, and he entered the Army in January 1941. Racism, exacerbated by Japan's role in the war, was commonplace both in and out of the military. Despite proving himself to be an exceptional shooter during training, Kim was initially denied the opportunity to fight in the war because he had the “wrong color skin and wrong color eyes”. Eventually, Kim's skill was recognized by his superiors and he was elected for Officer Candidate School, graduating in February 1943. From there, Kim was assigned as the second platoon leader of Company B, 100th Infantry Battalion. The 100th was a racially segregated unit composed mostly of second generation Japanese Americans (known as Nisei) from Hawaii. Following the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the 100th was removed from Hawaii and sent to the mainland for training.  Kim and the 100th Infantry Battalion were sent to Italy in September of 1943. They fought in the Battle of Monte Cassino and the Battle of Anzio, and earned the nickname “The Purple Heart Battalion” due their high casualty rate. Kim was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for an incredible midnight infiltration mission, which he talks about in the next episode.  After leaving Italy, the 100th Infantry Battalion became part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, another segregated Nisei regiment, and sent to France. Kim was injured by enemy fire at Biffontaine, and was sent back to the US, later earning a Silver Star and the French Croix de Guerre for his actions in France. Germany surrendered before he was able to return. Kim left the Army following World War II, but when war broke out in Korea, he rejoined. He commanded a South Korean guerrilla unit, and was awarded another Silver Star for his actions there.  Kim left Korea in 1952. He then worked as an instructor at Fort Benning, and at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. He retired in 1972 at the rank of colonel as one of the most highly decorated Asian American soldiers in U.S. history with a total of 19 medals.  The 100th also made history, becoming one of the most highly decorated units of World War II.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Army Congressional Fellowship: An Opportunity of a Lifetime, as one of the Army Broadening Opportunities. Discover the unparalleled insights of serving as a Congressional Fellow, directly from the officers who are in it. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone interested in leadership, public service, and the unique intersection of military and legislative worlds. Our guest MAJ Joel Daly, currently assigned to the National Capitol Region as an Army Congressional Fellow. He was commissioned as a Medical Service Corps Officer in 2009 from the University of North Georgia, earning a bachelor's in Exercise Science. Joel served in a variety of operational assignments, including 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Evac PL, BN MEDO, BCT Med Planner); 528th Sustainment Brigade, USASOC (BN S4, BDE S4); 2nd Cavalry Regiment, USAREUR (SPO MEDLOG, FSC Commander); 75th Ranger Regiment, USASOC (Regimental MEDO); Joint Medical Unit, JSOC (OPSO, Dep Surgeon). He deployed for combat operations five times and in support of one no-notice crisis response.  Joel's military education includes the Action Officer Integration Course, Joint Medical Operations Course (Advanced), Iron Major Week, Command and General Staff Officer Course, Army Public Health Course, Joint Medical Planning Tool, Joint Medical Operations Course (Basic), Joint Special Operations Medical Orientation Course, Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 2, Military Assistance Course, Combined Logistics Captains Career Course, Airborne Course, Ranger Course, and Basic Officer Leadership Course. Joel earned a Master of Operational Studies from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and a Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University. He completed a Master of Professional Studies in Legislative Affairs through George Washington University in December 2023. Our guest CPT Kirk R. Proctor Jr. graduated from Northeast High School in Clarksville, Tennessee, and calls Houston, TX, home. He was very active in high school, leading his class as the Varsity Football Team Captain and a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps member. He enlisted in 2007 and deployed in support of OIF 08-09. In 2013, he was accepted into the U.S. Army's Green to Gold Program, graduated from the University of Hawaii as a Distinguished Military Graduate, and from Chaminade University of Honolulu Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Historical - Political Studies.  He was then commissioned into the Medical Service Corps in 2015. After completing the Officer Basic Course, Kirk was assigned as the Chief of Materiel and the Deputy Chief of Facilities for Bavaria Medical Activity at Vilseck, Germany. In 2017, he was selected as the Theater Chief of Medical Logistics for Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, in support Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2018, Kirk was selected as the Executive Officer for Dental Activity Bavaria. Next, Kirk served as the Commander for the 563rd Medical Logistics Company from December 2019 to June 2021. Kirk's most recent assignment was as a Department of Defense Fellow assigned to the office of Rep. Darrell E. Issa (CA-48). https://fromthegreennotebook.com/2021/03/18/congressional-fellowship-broadening-at-the-intersection-of-the-army-and-congress/Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are the guests and host's alone and do not reflect the official position of the Medical Service Corps, the Department of Defense, or the US Government. All information discussed is unclassified approved for public release and found on open cleared sources.For more episodes listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube @ Be All You Can Be MSC For more information, suggestions, or questions please contact: beallyoucanbemsc@gmail.com

The vulnerability of aircraft carriers is nothing new. They are vulnerable not just because of how they are designed - really just a thin hulled ship full of fuel and explosives - but because of what they do.At peace and at war, there is no other platform that can project power and national will on a global scale at sea than an aircraft carrier. As such, everyone either wants one, or wants to sink one - or both.While many people think of the Pacific wars of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam as places where the US Navy's aircraft carriers could operate at will and dominate everything, that really was not the case until late 1944.The reality was quite different before then. Proper use of carriers was mostly about husbanding carriers's limited resources while still getting max value out of them.That will be the topic of today's show with returning guest Dr. John T. Kuehn.John is Professor of Military History at the Army Command and General Staff College. He served in the US Navy as a naval flight officer flying in EP-3s and ES-3s, retiring in 2004. He has authored or co-authored seven books and was awarded a Vandevort Prize from the Society for Military History in 2023 for his article “Zumwalt, Holloway, and the Soviet Navy Threat Leadership in a Time of Strategic, Social, and Cultural Change.”His latest book from is Strategy in Crisis (Naval Institute, 2023).

In this episode we meet with Lieutenant General Milford "Beags" Beagle, Jr. to discuss a variety of topics to include fostering healthy work-life balance (Lamps Out Time), managing priorities (The One Thing), reflecting on key moments in his career, sharing leadership lessons learned, and more. Lt. Gen. Beagle is the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, KS; Commandant, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; and Deputy Commanding General for Combined Arms, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. Learn more about the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center: https://usacac.army.mil Lt. Gen. Beagle's reading list: -The Servant, by James C. Hunter -Crucial Conversations, by J. Grenny, K. Patterson, R. McMillan, A. Switzler, E. Gregory -The First 90 Days, by Michael D. Watkins -Make Your Bed, by William H. McRaven For questions, suggestions, or feedback, write us at usarmy.leavenworth.tradoc.mbx.armyu-amsc-podcast@army.mil To learn more about the Army Management Staff College, visit our website at https://armyuniversity.edu/amsc No DOD or U.S. ARMY ENDORSEMENT IMPLIED. Any references to commercially available products or works are used for research and educational purposes only. Mention of any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the U.S. Army, Department of Defense, or the United States Government. The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not state or reflect those of the United States Government and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. The mention of companies by name is solely for the purpose of representing educational framework and should not be implied as endorsement. Music: "Army Strong" composed by Mark Isham, arranged by Hector Munoz.

Explore the extraordinary journey of LTC Oak McCulloch, a seasoned Army veteran and accomplished leader, in this captivating video. Born in Loudon, Tennessee, and raised in Kirkland, Illinois, Oak's path led him through the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point, where he began his military journey.Over a 23-year career, LTC McCulloch served in various leadership roles in the Infantry and Armor branches, contributing to disaster relief efforts during Hurricane HUGO and Hurricane ANDREW. His operational deployments took him to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bosnia, and Kosovo, shaping his expertise in military strategy.Following his retirement from the Army in 2009, Oak transitioned to civilian life, making a significant impact as the Associate Director at the Bay Area Food Bank during the BP oil spill. His commitment to service extended to roles as Vice Chair for Military Affairs at the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Mobile Rotary International Club.In 2010, LTC McCulloch took on the role of Recruiting Officer for the Eagle Battalion Army ROTC program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Over 15 years, he transformed the program, earning recognition as the top recruiting officer in 2019 out of 274 recruiters.Beyond his achievements, Oak McCulloch is the author of "Your Leadership Legacy: Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be," published in February 2021. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in History from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Military Arts and Science from the United States Army Command and General Staff College.Throughout his military career, LTC McCulloch earned thirty-one military service awards, including the Bronze Star, eight Meritorious Service Medals, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. Join us in celebrating the remarkable life and accomplishments of LTC Oak McCulloch, a true leader and inspiration to many.

S3E17 Air Force Lt Col Owen Freeland My guest today is Air Force Lt Col Owen Freeland.  He attended high school in Biloxi, MS and joined the Air Force in 1997 as a Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory or PMEL Airman.  His first assignment was to Mountain Home AFB, ID in 1998.  In 2000, he cross-trained to communications, got married, went to tech school at Keesler AFB, MS and was then assigned to Peterson AFB, CO.  In 2003, he put a package in for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissioned as a 33S Communications Officer.  After attending OCS at Maxwell AFB, AL and Basic Comm Officer training back at Keesler, he was assigned to Offutt AFB, NE.  In 2008, he was deployed to Al Udeid and was promoted to Captain after his return.  He was next assigned to USAFCENT at Shaw AFB, SC.  In 2012, he deployed to Afghanistan for a year.  After returning in 2013, he was  assigned to Ft. Meade, MD.  There he was promoted to Major and was selected to attend Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth in 2016.  In 2017, he was selected to command a Cyber Detachment at Ft. Meade.  After command he was assigned to CYBERCOM Staff.  He was promoted to Lt Col in 2019 and was assigned to USSPACECOM at Peterson SFB in 2022.  LtCol Freeland is set to retire in 2024.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, John Davis recaps Four Operational Rules of the Road, which are intended to prevent miscalculation and unintended escalation. John synthesized these Rules based upon many years experience in military uniform and after many conversations with global leaders and academics. Briefly, they are: transparency, SOPs for oversight, sharing threat intelligence, and banning third party actors. We also revisit some of the topics from John's first Cognitive Crucible appearance. Research Question: John Davis asserts that there's been a lot of recent reporting about China's onslaught of disinformation oriented toward Taiwan and in the run up to the January elections. Reporting indicates that there may be important lessons in how Taiwan has handled this onslaught, including public education efforts with support from international media literacy partnerships as well as more active countermeasures by mature communities of fact-checkers, government investments and law enforcement investigations. He believes it would be a great research project to examine the techniques and capabilities employed by Taiwan and analyze the effectiveness, or lack thereof, to assist the U.S. in preparation for the 2024 presidential elections as well as our overall national effort to combat the information warfare efforts aimed at the country by Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and all of their surrogates. Resources: Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned #24 John Davis on Modern Warfare, Teamwork, and Commercial Cognitive Security #166 John Agnello on Information Advantage Army Doctrinal Publication 3-13 INFORMATION, Nov 2023 Cybersecurity First Principles: A Reboot of Strategy and Tactics by Rick Howard  Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Retired U.S. Army Major General John Davis is the Vice President, Public Sector for Palo Alto Networks, where he is responsible for expanding cybersecurity initiatives and global policy for the international public sector and assisting governments around the world to prevent successful cyber breaches. Prior to joining Palo Alto Networks, John served as the Senior Military Advisor for Cyber to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and also served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy.  Prior to this assignment, he served in multiple leadership positions in special operations, cyber, and information operations. John earned a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Master of Military Art and Science from U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and Bachelor of Science from U.S. Military Academy at West Point. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

How would the Allied forces have forced the surrender of Japan had they not dropped the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?Operation Downfall was the planned invasion of Japan. It was expected to be a massive two part operation; bigger than D-Day and enormously costly.To find out more about the proposed invasion, its projected outcomes and why it wasn't implemented, Don spoke to D. M. Giangreco, an award winning author who served as an editor at Military Review, US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, for 20 years. His book on this subject is 'Hell to Pay: Operation Downfall and the Invasion of Japan, 1945-1947'.Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Aidan Lonergan. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, James Holland, Mary Beard and more.Don't miss out on the best offer in history! Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 for 3 months with code AMERICANHISTORYHIT1 sign up now for your 14-day free trial https://historyhit/subscription/

In this episode, host Sarah Morgan is interviewing Thomas Colclough.  Thomas Colclough began his career with EEOC in 1988. He has held various positions such as Investigator, Enforcement Supervisor, Local Office Director of Greensboro, NC, Local Director of the Richmond, Va. Office and Area Director of the Raleigh Area Office.  A native of North Carolina, Thomas attended Saint Augustine's College in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He earned his master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He also earned a Certificate in Global Studies from UNCG. Mr. Colclough served in the military for 23 years (active and reserve). In 2005, Colclough retired from the North Carolina National Guard at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He is also a graduate of the Army's Command and General Staff College. Thomas currently serves as the Director of Field Management Programs for the EEOC Charlotte District.  In this role, he is responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient operations of Field Offices by providing operational oversight and monitoring of program implementation and coordination of administrative services.  Thomas identifies problem areas and appropriate corrective actions. The above responsibilities, including direct supervision of the EEOC's District Directors, are performed for 15 Districts and one Field Office. In 2019, Thomas was appointed to the Caucus on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys.  The bipartisan, 19-member Commission will include congressional lawmakers, executive branch appointees, issue experts, activists, and other stakeholders who will examine social disparities affecting black men and boys in America. Based on its findings, the commission will issue policy recommendations to Congress, the White House, and federal agencies. The bipartisan commission, founded and co-chaired by thee Congresswoman Fredricka Wilson of FL, will craft legislation to implement those recommendations. In this episode, Mr. Colclough shares:  a preview of the EEOC's new Strategic Enforcement Plan advice on finding daily inspiration in our work the importance of being a lifelong learner about culture thru stories    Connect with Thomas Colclough on LinkedIn. Read more about the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the EEOC's new Strategic Plan on their website HERE. Learn more about the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men & Boys on their website HERE.    

EPISODE #930 THE NEW WORLD ORDER AND THE ANTICHRIST SYSTEM The tell-tale signs of the impending collapse of Western civilization are all around us: out-of-control national debt; corruption at every level of governmental bureaucracy; every major city suffering from rampant crime and lawlessness; general breakdown of Western education systems; and open borders allowing a tsunami of illegal drugs and human trafficking to flood our nations. Everywhere we look, there is an existential danger just waiting to upend centuries of civilization-building. And it's not just the growing potential for nuclear war hanging over everyone's heads these days that is problematic. It's the general departure from common sense we see from top to bottom―stirring up confusion about even things like where life begins, what it means to be human, and how many actual genders there are―that does not bode well for our way of life. In other words, if we can't get the basic, common-sense things right, how do we expect to deal with the cataclysmic threats that seem to be multiplying by the day? Leading the charge are the political-left factions of progressives, liberals, and globalists. They are obsessed with merging ancient paganism into modern technology to excise God's created order via the Great Reset. Even the biological order the Creator determined is under assault from the human and demonic powers and principalities of Ephesians 6:12. GUEST: Pete Garcia is a retired military combat veteran and aviator, writer, researcher, speaker, and teacher of Bible prophecy and apologetics with a BA in International Relations and a graduate of the US Army's prestigious Command and General Staff College. He was called by the Lord to start writing at the age of 33 and wrote for Jack Kinsella's The Omega Letter from 2011-2018.  To date, he has written over 600 articles that are carried out on numerous websites and platforms. He has contributed written chapters to three Terry James published books (Discerners, Lawless, and Trajectory), co-wrote two non-fiction books (The Disappearing and the New World Order), and published three of his own Christian fiction novels Hobo Vol I and II, and Kingdom of the Ring.  WEBSITE: https://www.rev310.net BOOKS: New World Order: Worlds in Collision and The Rebirth of Liberty The Disappearing SUPPORT MY SPONSORS!!! FACTOR - America's #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit Fresh, Ready-Made Meals Delivered to Your Door America's Head to #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit Fresh, Ready-Made Meals Delivered to Your Door America's Head to https://factormeals.com/rssp50 and use code rssp50 to get 50% off. COPY MY CRYPTO https://copymycrypto.com/richard  Discover how over 2,800 people - many of who know nothing about crypto or how to invest - are building rapid wealth the cabal can never steal. "You don't need to know a thing about cryptocurrency if you copy someone who does." Gain Access for just $1 https://copymycrypto.com/richard BECOME A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm Use the discount code "Planet" to receive one month off the first subscription. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm/

Buy gear, support our mission! TODAY'S GUEST: PETE GARCIA is a retired military combat veteran and aviator, writer, researcher, speaker, and teacher of Bible prophecy and apologetics with a BA in International Relations and a graduate of the US Army's prestigious Command and General Staff College. He was called by the Lord to start writing at the age of 33 and wrote for Jack Kinsella's The Omega Letter from 2011-2018. He has since branched out to create this website under the banner of rev310. To date, he has written over 600 articles that are carried out on numerous websites and platforms. He has contributed written chapters to three Terry James published books (Discerners, Lawless, and Trajectory), co-wrote two non-fiction books (The Disappearing and the New World Order), and published three of his own Christian fiction novels Hobo Vol I and II, and Kingdom of the Ring. Pete is happily married to his wife of 16 years and has five wonderful children. Mary Danielsen chats with Pete Garcia of Rev 310 ministry about the peaks and valleys of prophecy over history, and how the timing of certain prophecies can allow for some pretty interesting conversation since we cannot see even 1 minute into the future.  When expectations meet with fulfillment, God is the One with all the answers. The community of those who are watching regularly is probably quite small and shrinking regularly but God still commands us to watch regardless of what is swirling around us.  Don't let the sheer volume of prophecies and cultural hurricanes throw you! The blessed hope is not to be feared. Watch Stand Up For The Truth on YouTube !