Podcast appearances and mentions of Sergeant major

Dusty Shultz is a highly accomplished senior military leader, renowned for her expertise in Army Cyber, Intelligence, and Space operations both in the U.S. and Latin America. Throughout her distinguished career, she has often been hand-picked for key leadership roles supporting the Department of Defense. In these roles, Dusty has developed strategic solutions to complex challenges, drawing on her extensive experience in international collaboration to achieve equitable outcomes. After years of dedicated government service, Dusty retired (2025) from her final role as Director of Intelligence at U.S. Southern Command. She holds multiple degrees in strategy and is committed to lifelong learning. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys spending time with her husband, David, their two children, and five grandchildren. Her hobbies include cooking and equestrian activities. “On one assignment an Admiral said to me, ‘You've got the skills. You are going to do this. I'm going to advocate for you, and I'm going to also hold you accountable for doing it.' Having leaders like him has been fundamental. I do not want to receive anything because I'm entitled or special. I want to receive it because I have worked hard to get where I am and because my skills are better than my peers'. “I laugh when I think of my first day with my first unit. It was a field artillery drill sergeant unit, and when I walked in, they literally looked at me and, although they were polite, they directly said something like, ‘Where's Dustin?' “I am Dustin.' “ ‘No. Where's the male, Dustin?' ‘Oh my gosh. I am the female Dustin. Here are the orders.' They didn't even have female restrooms. “So I went all the way from that to eventually taking a battalion to Iraq, where over one-third of the organization was females. Almost all of my seniors, minus my command Sergeant Major, were females. My XO's name was Hollis. My name was Dustin. So people always deferred to the fact that we were men. And then they would be shocked when we'd show up. We responded that we're fit, we're prepared, we're capable. We're going to do our job and we're going to do it well. And then we'd do just that.”

In this raw, inspiring, and unfiltered conversation, EJ Snyder—decorated Army Ranger, elite survivalist, and reality TV legend—shares the life journey that shaped his warrior mindset. From growing up in a tough New Jersey neighborhood and facing relentless bullying, to becoming a Sergeant Major with two Bronze Stars and the Legion of Merit, EJ's path is a testament to resilience, grit, and leading from the front.But his military service was just the beginning…You may know him from Naked and Afraid, Dual Survival, and First Man Out. What you may not know is how deeply personal his battles have been—and how those experiences fuel his mission to help others survive life, not just the wild.If you're looking to develop mental toughness, rediscover your inner fire, or understand what it truly means to be a badass—this episode is for you.In this episode:Why mindset—not muscle—is your greatest assetWhat Army Ranger School taught him about pain, pressure, and purposeHow surviving the wild mirrors surviving life's emotional battlesBehind the scenes of Naked and Afraid (including a moment that needed 8 stitches)What defines a true badass—and why it may look different than you thinkWhy humility, kindness, and honor are part of the warrior's code

Sean Hagerty is a retired Special Operations Soldier with over 25 years of experience. He spent his younger years training and conducting combat operations with the 1st of the 75th Ranger Regiment. After nine years, in 2005, he was selected for and assigned to a Special Operations unit at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. There he spent sixteen years and finished his military career, retiring as a Sergeant Major. He received several awards and decorations throughout his career including three Bronze Stars. Sean currently works for the Department of Defense Science Board as the Senior Advisor. “The Defense Science Board (DSB) is charged with solving tough, technical, national security problems for the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretaries of Defense, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other senior Department officials.” His wife Misty is an Executive Officer at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Their children Courtney, Travis, Samantha, and Delaney all live in the Washington D.C. area and are thriving, growing and traveling along their own paths. The grandchildren Rowen, Jameson, and Wren keep Sean and Misty busy. Sean Hagerty has combined over 25+ years of service in the Special Operations community and deep-rooted research instincts from years of academic pursuits in history to tell this story. This story was written mostly in the plush seats of the daily Tackett's Mill/Pentagon commuter bus and the shaky bucket seats of the Franconia Springfield/Largo blue metro line. However, a few chapters were written while traveling for work, taking advantage of uninterrupted thoughts on an airliner. One chapter was even written during an evening break while on a business trip aboard the USS Nimitz CVN 68 aircraft carrier out in the Pacific Ocean. Cabal all came together during evening edits in his home shared with Misty, in Lakeridge, Virginia. Jones Point was the first novel in the Dane Cooper series. Cabal is the second. The Department of Defense, Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review has cleared the publication of both novels. Review was required due to Sean's past and current security clearance. Jones Point was published by Blue Handle Publishing on April 15th, 2024. Cabal will be released June 6th, 2025.. Readers can learn more about Sean at authorseanhagerty.com and follow Sean.Hagerty.73 on Facebook/Instagram and @seanhagerty850 on TikTok.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Spartan Leadership, Josh Kosnick sits down with Pat McNamera—retired Sergeant Major, Special Operations veteran, elite performance coach, and the mind behind “Basic Dude Stuff.” Introduced by Dr. Trevor Wilkins, Pat unpacks decades of hard-earned wisdom on building strength, living intentionally, and refusing to play the victim.We cover everything from tactical readiness and civilian training to emotional control, faith, and legacy. Pat's delivery is unfiltered, but his message is clear: real leadership requires action, not talk.00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:27 - Welcome to Spartan Leadership00:01:42 - Guest Introduction: Pat McNamara00:02:54 - Pat's Childhood and Early Life00:06:14 - Transition to Military00:10:50 - Overcoming Challenges and Failures00:11:11 - Perseverance and Self-Motivation00:12:45 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs00:15:32 - The Importance of Feedback and Sanity Checks00:16:22 - The Power of Ideas and Protecting Them00:19:37 - The Use of Technology in Capturing Ideas00:20:40 - Reflections on Military Culture and Leadership00:27:56 - Transition to Teaching and Building a Brand00:31:32 - Financial Struggles and Lessons Learned00:33:12 - Multiple Revenue Streams and Business Sustainability00:34:49 - Building a Business Through Discipline00:37:49 - Adapting to Market Changes and Giving Back00:39:39 - Supporting the Community During Hard Times00:39:54 - Training Law Enforcement Officers00:42:00 - Current State of Law Enforcement00:44:55 - The Importance of Adaptability00:46:49 - Discussion on Media Influence and Consumption00:51:30 - Introduction to Basic Dude Stuff00:51:40 - The Influence and Impact of Basic Dude Stuff00:59:19 - Reflections on Modern Culture and Masculinity01:03:17 - Reconnecting with Our Primal Being01:04:11 - Critique on Modern Dependence on Technology01:04:36 - Closing Remarks and Gratitude01:04:48 - How to Follow Pat McNamara01:05:33 - Closing Message to Spartans 

A discussion with Carrie Olaje, a survivor of ritual abuse and trauma-based mind control. Carrie provides names, dates, and locations, as she describes how she was primed from a young age for Monarch slavery, with a former Sergeant Major of the US Army as her handler. She and Brett talk about the nature and history of the cryptocratic cult, as well as the question of possible intentional disinfo within the testimony of certain Monarch survivors. Fantasy themes and imagery featured heavily within the mind control abuse Carrie underwent, so we analyze four strange animated fantasy films that she reports were used as tools by programmers. Thomas talks to Carrie about Rankin and Bass Studio's animated films The Hobbit (1977) and Return of the King (1980), as well as Ralph Bakshi's infamous The Lord of the Rings (1978), before Brett gives a detailed analysis of the Monarch film The Last Unicorn (1982). Thomas also provides some thoughts on the spiritual pitfalls of the fantasy genre, the psy-op function of different kinds of fantasy films, and the surprising ideological agenda behind these animated movies. Carrie's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@carrieolaje CORRECTION: In the discussion of the origins of the term "Monarch," the name of the person that Brett refers to as Mark Reynolds is actually Mark PhillipsIf you enjoy Psyop Cinema, check out Cultural Engineering Studies magazine - https://decoding-culture.com/cultural-engineering-studies-issue-2/https://twitter.com/CinemaPsyophttps://www.patreon.com/PsyopCinemahttp://psyop-cinema.com/ https://linktr.ee/psyopcinemathomas-psyopcinema@protonmail.combrett-psyopcinema@protonmail.com

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trailblazing lead trumpeter Liesl Whitaker, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Liesl Whitaker trumpet interview"   About Liesl Whitaker: Liesl Whitaker is an American lead and commercial trumpeter based in the New York City metropolitan area. She currently plays lead trumpet in the pit orchestra of the hit Broadway musical Death Becomes Her (2024). Her other lead trumpet Broadway credits include Mr. Saturday Night - starring Billy Crystal (2022); Some Like it Hot (2023) and Suffs (2024). Off Broadway credits include Tappin' Thru Life – starring Maurice Hines (2016). Liesl is a twenty-one year veteran of the United States Army: In 2000, she won a national audition and became the first female lead trumpet player to be selected by any premier military unit when she won the lead chair with the US Army Blues. In 2012, she repeated this feat when she won the lead chair in the US Army Jazz Ambassadors, a second premier unit - something not done by anyone (male or female), prior or since. Liesl deployed twice with the Sergeant Major of the Army and the Third Army to Afghanistan and Iraq (2002; 2004). Additionally, Liesl was the lead trumpet player for the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra in Washington, D.C. (2004 – 2022).  She is a charter member of the all-woman big band The Diva Jazz Orchestra (1993 – present) based in New York City.  Liesl attended college at both Appalachian State University (Boone, NC) and The University of Cincinnati—College Conservatory of Music (Cincinnati, OH). She studied trumpet with Bill Adam, Pat Harbison and Joe Phelps. In 2004 and 2005, Liesl performed with the WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany, recording with the ensemble and Conductor/Chief Arranger Michael Abene and guest artist Joe Lovano.  Additionally, she has performed on various recordings including projects by the Army Blues and Jazz Ambassadors, Sherrie Maricle and the Diva Jazz Orchestra, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Victor Goines Big Band, Ed Palermo Big Band, various original Broadway cast recordings, as well as many others. Liesl currently resides in upstate, New York with her husband, Kenny Rampton, and her daughter, Lauren. When not performing or touring, she spends her free time honing her skills as an amateur writer.   Episode Links:   Blog: lieslwhitaker.wordpress.com Liesl Whitaker on Instagram (@lieslwhitaker) William Adam Trumpet Festival, June 19-22, Clarksville, Tennessee. williamadamtrumpet.com    Podcast Credits: “A Room with a View“ - composed and performed by Howie Shear Podcast Host - John Snell Cover Art - courtesy of Liesl Whitaker Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

We're joined today by IDF Sergeant Major Doron Keidar, and AMEPA Media advisor Warren Cohn in Tel Aviv, for the latest updates directly from Israel.► SUPPORT HENRIK BECKHEIM PODCASTIf you wish to support the work of this podcast, please become a subscriber. Also feel free to donate an amount of your choosing:➡ ⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠➡ ⁠Vipps⁠ (Norway only) donér til: Vippsnummer: #823278► Advertise on The Henrik Beckheim Podcast post@henrikbeckheim.no ► Shop Merch here -  https://henrikbeckheim.com/store► Review/rating:Please feel free to leave a review on ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠. ► Links:⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ | Official website | ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Podimo⁠ | ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠

In today's episode of Malicious Compliance, we've got six stories where following orders to the letter leads to total chaos and some well-deserved karma. From military food service gone wrong to corporate policies backfiring in spectacular fashion, these tales show what happens when leadership underestimates the people below them. Whether it's a software uninstall that crashes the phones or a boss who gets publicly embarrassed in front of command, you're in for some seriously satisfying moments. Let's get into it.Submit your own stories to KarmaStoriesPod@gmail.com.Karma Stories is available on all major Podcasting Platforms and on YouTube under the @KarmaStoriesPodcast handle. We cover stories from popular Reddit Subreddits like Entitled Parents, Tales From Tech Support, Pro Revenge and Malicious Compliance. You can find new uploads here every single day of the week!Rob's 3D Printing Site: https://Dangly3D.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/karma-stories--5098578/support.

The Army physical training test has long been a measure of a soldier's fitness for duty and for combat. For decades it's been used as the benchmark upon which all other physical fitness has been evaluated. And for decades it has been hotly debated, modified and enhanced to best represent the current mission of the US Army. SGM Chris Mullinax has been charged with developing the Army Fitness Test; the newest version of the PT test that now replaces the Army Combat Fitness Test and its predecessor, the Army Physical Fitness Test. From the Pentagon's US Army Broadcasting Studio, and with a cameo from Sergeant Major of the Army Mike Weimer, Fran Racioppi sat down with SGM Mullinax to breakdown the changes in the test, why combat MOS's are being held to different sex-neutral standards, and how the grading scale is designed to enhance and enforce a standard that ensures warfighting is at the forefront of every soldier's fitness. As a career 75th Ranger Regiment leader, SGM Mullinax also shares why America's national security is reliant on Rangers, and why Ranger School remains the premier leadership standard in the military. Watch, listen or read our conversation as SMA Weimer updates us on the Army's Blue Book and how enforcing the fitness standard is increasing Army readiness. Highlights0:00 Introduction1:36 Welcome to the Pentagon2:52 Why change the PT test?4:52 SMA Weimer drops in5:33 Distributing the Blue Book6:33 Upholding Army standards10:44 Implementing a Warfighting Culture14:53 AFT now five exercises19:14 Combat vs Supporting MOSs20:43 AFT Evaluation Metrics21:56 Gender-neutral standard in Combat MOSs22:41 Fitness is America's Advantage26:14 Ranger Regiment Standards29:23 Leadership Through Ranger School32:28 Is the Army Ready?33:43 Preparing the Army for combat35:50 Culture of Will37:56 Daily HabitsQuotes:“Changing the PT test is not a new idea. We're always assessing our physical standards.”“I don't like to start from the minimum standard. That to me is not a place you start any conversation, especially warfighters.”“You should be trying to exceed any standard.”“You can't put competition on a pedestal.”“Right now we're crushing retention. Soldiers want to continue to serve.” “This is a hard life. This is not easy. You chose the path that needs a machete.”“We exist to fight and win. We are not a jobs program.” "Your ability to recover in between them is the true test of your fitness.”“When we have physically fit leadership, it inspires our ranks.” “Our ability to fight and win our wars relies heavily on our fitness.”“As I look at my time in the Ranger Regiment..clear set of standards.” “Things have evolved, but the standard is still the same.”“The most important part about Ranger School is you learn a lot about yourself.”“We're in a space right now where we're transforming as an institution.”“PT might not be the most important thing we do today, but it's the most important thing we do every day.”“We have to be ready. That's just the bottom line.”“Service is hard. It wouldn't be service if it wasn't hard.” The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by University of Health & Performance, providing our Veterans world-class education and training as fitness and nutrition entrepreneurs. Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation.

 Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer shares how failure, realism in training, and ruthless self-assessment shaped his leadership journey and what the Army must do now to prepare for tomorrow. In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer joins Moments in Leadership to talk about what it truly takes to lead in today's military—and why the journey never ends. From his early days as a driven, overconfident PFC to becoming the Army's senior enlisted leader, SMA Weimer reflects candidly on his own formative moments, including failure during pre-scuba and the lessons that followed. He offers real talk on leadership, humility, building trust with junior leaders, and why “empathy isn't soft—it's tactical.”We dive deep into what makes leadership in special operations uniquely difficult, the myth of the “gold-plated lesson,” and the difference between mission command and micromanagement. You'll hear his take on complacency, the pitfalls of artificial readiness, and what leaders can do—right now—to reclaim white space, raise standards, and forge the kind of disciplined, lethal teams the future demands.This is a must-listen episode for anyone serious about servant leadership, readiness, and building winning teams.Support the Show & Stay Connected:

Send us a textThis week's guest is Randall Surles—a retired Sergeant Major with over 40 years of experience bridging elite military service and the literary world. From leading missions as an infantryman in the 75th Ranger Regiment and a Green Beret, to crafting bestselling books as a Story Grid Certified Editor, Randy's journey is nothing short of extraordinary.

The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs Part 2, narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠The following morning, on a sunny Winter's day, the rooms seems bright and cheerful after the previous evening's events. Mrs. White comments on how silly the Sergeant-Major's story was, and Herbert jokes that the only way the 200 pounds could do any harm would be if it dropped out of the sky onto his father's head. Mr. White states that people often confuse coincidences for wishes. Herbert then leaves for work. Later that day, Mrs. White sees a strange man seemingly hesitating to enter the gate through the window. After a few minutes he enters and knocks the door where Mrs. White goes to let him in. He states that he is a representative for Maw and Meggins, Herbert's work place. Mrs. White asks if her son is okay, and the man says that he is hurt, but not in pain. Mrs. White is momentarily relieved until the gravity of his words hit her... The representative says that their son was caught in the machinery. Embarrassed, the representative says that he is only obeying orders, and states that the company takes no responsibility for the accident, but would none the less like to compensate the family with a cheque, for 200 pounds... Mrs. White Screams and her husband feints. SEO Stuff that I don't want to do lol...Victorian Literature, Gothic Audiobook, Classic Literature

In this moving standalone tribute, Jan Gorski-Mescir (“Fydsy”) honours the life and legacy of Ronnie Moran — player, captain, coach, caretaker manager, and the very heartbeat of Liverpool Football Club for nearly half a century. From his humble beginnings in 1930s Crosby to lifting trophies as both player and coach, the episode traces Moran's journey through Liverpool's most storied decades. With warmth, humour, and deep respect, Jan reflects on Ronnie's fierce standards, his legendary voice across Melwood, and his guiding influence on generations of Liverpool greats — from Dalglish and Keegan to Gerrard and Owen. Known as “Bugsy” and “The Sergeant Major,” Moran left a mark no one else could replicate. This episode closes with an emotional rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, fittingly honouring a man who truly never did. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs Part 1, narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :Dhttps://ko-fi.com/theessentialreadshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/joinOn a dark and stormy night, the white family are sitting inside their cozy home. Herbert White and his father are playing chess while Mrs White knits. Mr White complains about the dreary weather. A family friend, Sergeant-Major Morris arrives to visit them, and over a some Whisky, he tells stories about his time in India and overseas. Mr White expresses interest in going to India, but the Sergeant-Major urges him against it. Mr White asks him about the Monkey Paw that he brought up the last time they saw each other. He takes it out of his pocket, and explains that a Fakir placed a spell on it to prove that people are ruled by fate, and that one shouldn't mess with it. Apparently the paw allows 3 men to make 3 wishes on the paw. The Sergeant-Major claims that he has made his 3 wishes, and another man used his 3rd to wish for death. The Sergeant-Major throws it into the fire, and Mr White leaps after it. Morris warns Mr White against using the paw, but eventually explains how a wish is made. Sergent-Major Morris eventually understands that the White's are going to use the paw, so he tells them to use common sense before making a wish, and then leaves. Mr White claims that he already has everything he wants, and doesn't know what to wish for. His son suggests 200 pounds to allow him to pay off the house. He makes his wish and suddenly screams, claiming that the paw moved like a snake over his hand. After Mr and Mrs White go to bed, their son sits watching the fire. He sees faces in it, and when the face turns to that of a monkey, he startles and throws water over the fire. Then taking the paw, he goes to bed.

Readiness is the ability to close with and destroy any enemy, anywhere, anytime. The role of the Sergeant Major of the Army is to ensure readiness. Command Sergeant Major Dan Dailey was the 15th Sergeant Major of the Army and the youngest Soldier to ever hold the position. Today, he is the Vice President of Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier Programs at the Association of the United States Army.SMA Dailey joined Creator and Host Fran Racioppi to define what it really means for the United States Army to be “ready” to fight and win our nation's wars. To do so, they went deep on each of the components of readiness, including: Manning and the impacts of the recruiting crisis the Army has endured over the past several years. Training and the importance of the Combat Training Centers and our combined exercises across the components and with our allies.Equipping for the next fight and why the current procurement processes must change if America expects to remain ahead in the innovation race.Leader Development including why softening the messaging of warfighting hurts mission focus and how the Army is closing the experience gap as the Global War on Terror generation of Soldiers retire. They also cover the important mission of the Association of the United States Army and how as the largest organization supporting our Soldiers their work only continues to grow. Watch, listen or read our conversation from the AUSA headquarters and don't miss the rest of our AUSA series.The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by University of Health & Performance, providing our Veterans world class education and training as fitness and nutrition entrepreneurs. Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation.QUOTES“Individual readiness is when a soldier themself feels capable to accomplish their mission.”“If you had one hour before your soldiers went to combat what would you train on.” “The high percentage of people who serve today come from families who have served in the past….that funnel is getting smaller and smaller.” “We have lost the value of service to our nation…is it actually a way to achieve the American dream?”"If we send everybody to college, who's going to do those jobs?” “I think there's a lot of young Americans out there who are fully capable to fight and win, they're just not inspired.” “If you create a standard that nobody in America can achieve, it's not a standard.” “This nation's going to have an Army. America, not the Army, is going to decide how we do that.” “The only more expensive thing than fighting a war is losing one.”“Our first mission as the United States Military is to deter. Then to defeat.” “Most people look at war as armed conflict between two entities. War is a conflict of wills.”HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Introduction4:44 Becoming SMA5:57 Readiness Defined9:55 How does the Army train at each echelon?11:49 Why become a Soldier?13:21 Can the Army bring the American Dream?19:53 Everyone can't go to college22:11 Is recruiting college athletes the answer?25:14 Is there a reduction in standards?30:22 Changing the Army's message34:13 Are we close to a draft?36:05 Technology & Force Modernization42:22 Is China ahead of America?48:17 Training for every threat52:48 Interoperability with Allies55:17 Loss of combat experience1:01:32 Next Generation Is Ready1:05:20 Leading AUSA1:11:01 Daily HabitsThe opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of guests and host Fran Racioppi. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy,

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the ninety-fourth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.' Hosted by COL Ricky Taylor, the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today's guest is a familiar face on The Crucible, the former Command Sergeant Major of Ops Group (CSMOG), CSM Michael Hall.   This episode explores the evolving role of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in large-scale combat operations (LSCO), with a special emphasis on the sergeant major's critical influence on unit discipline, readiness, and execution. Discussions highlight the transition from counterinsurgency to LSCO, emphasizing how the Army is adapting to the realities of high-intensity warfare. The conversation underscores the importance of disciplined formations, accountability, and a strong combat mindset, which sergeant majors play a central role in fostering. The episode also delves into leadership at echelon, emphasizing the need for NCOs to hold each other accountable and build a culture of excellence through rigorous training and adherence to the fundamentals.   A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the involvement of sergeant majors in planning and execution, particularly in mitigating risk, ensuring mission success, and developing junior leaders. The conversation explores how NCOs can better integrate into mission analysis, wargaming, and staff planning to enhance operational effectiveness. Additionally, the importance of battlefield circulation, command presence, and real-time decision-making is emphasized, with insights on how sergeant majors can alleviate command anxiety by identifying and addressing points of friction. The episode concludes with a strong call for NCOs to instill a combat-ready culture through meticulous training, trust-building, and fostering pride in the profession, ensuring formations are prepared for the challenges of LSCO.     Part of S02 “If I Would Have Only Known” 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.

Serving in Special Forces isn't supposed to be easy. In fact, becoming a Green Beret is rewarding because it's supposed to be hard. If it was easy, anyone could do it; but not everyone can, or should, be considered elite. Retired Sergeant Major John McPhee is one of America's most distinguished and experienced Special Operators. For decades he led America's most lethal units in the Army's elite Delta Force. The self proclaimed Sheriff of Baghdad, John tells it like it is and leaves nothing up to interpretation.The Jedburgh Podcast, the Jedburgh Media Channel and the Green Beret Foundation are proud to announce our partnership with the University of Health and Performance outside of Bentonville, Arkansas. UHP is dedicated to building the world's most elite fitness and nutrition entrepreneurs out of our Veterans. To kick off our partnership, John and Host Fran Racioppi climbed into the back of an armored Humvee to reminisce about the impact of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, what America did right, what we did wrong, and why the counter-terrorism battle is far from over. John also shares his thoughts on the Army today, how to fix recruiting, the Israeli pager war, and why we must never forget that a Special Operator's job is to close with and destroy the enemy.Watch, listen or read our conversation from a vehicle many of us spent too much time in. Don't miss our full Veterans Day coverage from UHP. Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Introduction1:50 Welcome to UHP2:39 Rangers to Green Beret4:00 Special Forces in the 90s5:57 How 9/11 changed Special Forces10:16 Legacy of Afghanistan13:12 Sheriff of Baghdad15:35 Disbanding the Iraqi government18:20 The difference in Syria19:42 Israel-Iran Pager War25:30 Army Recruiting Challenges27:05 Is the Army woke?29:55 Next generation of NCOs32:35 The PTSD debate37:18 Wear yourself out everydayQUOTESWe had no bullets. No money to go train. The Army didn't have a budget. The 90s Special Forces sucked.”“This is where nations go to die. What did we think was going to happen?”“You can't do that. You can't just get rid of the whole army like that.”“We had enough money to buy where Saddam was without ever firing a shot.”“Syria can never be tamed and it will always be a problem for us.”“War is only a failure of politicians and politics.”“We didn't have an Army before WWII. We fielded 6 million men quick. When America gets pissed off, you're done.”“The Army needs to do two things only. Kill the bad guys and break their shit.” “I would tell anybody to try to be the smartest guy in the room because generally the smartest guy in the room is going to be the best Commando.”“I personally don't believe in PTSD. You get stuck in the same chapter of your book.”“Every human being should be taking an hour to two hours a day on themselves.”The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation.The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of my guests and myself. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy, nor does Green Beret Foundation endorse any political candidate or any political party.

The Blasters & Blades PodcastWe dove into the trenches with the fine folks behind the Pogue One Anthology by Raconteur Press. We had on America's Sergeant Major, Spearman Burke and the infamous Authors DiNote. That would be Christopher DiNote and Jaime DiNote (aka Liska McCabe). It was a lot of fun talking about the unsung heroes behind the armed forces. We call them REMFs, POGUEs or POGs. However you wanna say it, those who support the fighting men had value. They had stories to tell, and this anthology is chalk full of them! I can't wait to see what you guys think, so join the discussion. Seriously, lend us your eyes and ears, you won't be sorry!! Click the link and check out this episode.Join us for a fun show! We're just a couple of nerdy Army veterans geeking out on things that go "abracadabra," "pew," "zoom," "boop-beep" and rhyme with Science Fiction & Fantasy. Co-Hosts: JR Handley (Author) (Grunt)Nick Garber (Comic Book Artist) (Super Grunt)Madam Stabby Stab (Uber Fan) (Horror Nerd)We work for free, so if you wanna throw a few pennies our way there is a linked Buy Me A Coffee site where you can do so. Just mention the podcast in the comments when you donate, and I'll keep the sacred bean water boiling!Support the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AuthorJRHandley Our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/blastersandbladespodcast Today's SponsorPogue One, A Raconteur Press Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Pogue-Raconteur-Press-Anthologies-Book-ebook/dp/B0DSLW39X3 Coffee Brand Coffee Affiliate Support the Show: https://coffeebrandcoffee.com/?ref=y4GWASiVorJZDb Discount Code: PodcastGrunts Coupon Code Gets you 10% offFollow Christopher DiNote on social mediaChristopher's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Dinote/e/B07QPTWCMV Christopher's Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/DiNotesAuthors Christopher's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopherdinote/Christopher's Twitter: https://x.com/CRDINOTE_Author Christopher's Substack: https://substack.com/@christopherrdinote Christopher's Book Reviews: https://upstreamreviews.substack.com/ Follow Jaime DiNote on social mediaJamie's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jaime-DiNote/e/B0942K4L6V/ Jaime's Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/DiNotesAuthors/ Follow Spearman Burke on social mediaSpearman's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Spearman-Burke/author/B0CPT1ZQ6Q Spearman's Twitter: https://x.com/AmericasSgtMaj Spearman's Substack: https://spearmanburke.substack.com/ Follow Raconteur Press on social mediaRaconteur's Anthologies: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BWSD2G7B Raconteur's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089257312358 Raconteur's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raconteur.press Raconteur's Substack: www.raconteurpress.substack.com Raconteur's Recommended Reading: https://books2read.com/rl/RaconteurPressSeries #scifishenanigans #scifishenaniganspodcast #bbp #blastersandblades #blastersandbladespodcast #podcast #scifipodcast #fantasypodcast #scifi #fantasy #books #rpg #comics #fandom #literature #comedy #veteran #army #armyranger #ranger #scififan #redshirts #scifiworld #sciencefiction #scifidaily #scificoncept #podcastersofinstagram #scificons #podcastlife #podcastsofinstagram #scifibooks #awardwinningscifi #newepisode #podcastersofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcast #scifigeek #scifibook #sfv #scifivisionaries #firesidechat #chat #panel #fireside #religionquestion #coffee #tea #coffeeortea #PogueOne #RaconteurPress #Anthology #ChrisDiNote #ChristopherDiNote #Mogs #JaimeDiNote #LiskaMcCabe #MikeSpearmanBurke #MikeBurke #starwars #jedi #georgelucas #lucasfilms #startrek #trekkie #firefly #serenity #browncoat #wheeloftime #wot #robertjordan #brandonsanderson #gameofthrones #got #grrm #georgerrmartin #ChroniclesofNarnia #CSLewis #TheExpanse #TheExpanseByJamesSACorey #Conan #ConanTheBarbarian #ThundarTheBarbarian #Fang #Primal #DuffelBlog

On the Road to Aya.Cael becomes the Amazon's Unorthodox Global DiplomatBy FinalStand. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.For me, the diplomacy revolved around Delilah and Virginia, I had already fallen on my knees and begged Odette to let me go see Aya 'alone'. A few sexual-charged hours later, she agreed. That left four choices for the role of my two agents. They wanted to go 'as is'. Rachel informed them they would be murdered in-flight and their bodies tossed out over a convenient body of water.Rachel felt that the only reasonable course of action was for them to not come. That way the two could live a few more weeks. However, she would settle for stripping them down, doing a full body scan and then sealing them naked in airtight coffins (with a suitable amount of oxygen) for the journey. I suspected they might still slip out the baggage compartment somewhere between takeoff and landing.I cut through the clash of egos and made the final decision. Delilah and Virginia would be stripped and thoroughly examined. Initially I had the chore. Rachel was deeply suspicious of my true intentions. Freed of any electronic devices and with their weaponry in my keeping during the trip, they would be blindfolded as we made it to Aya without bloodshed.They applauded my wisdom by roundly refusing my decision. Pamela was of no help. Ten minutes into it, I informed them I was going alone, completely alone. They laughed, snorted and chuckled. Rachel reminded me that I didn't know where to go. I lied and told her that Katrina had given me the coordinates for the super-secret juvenile, all-feline [yes, I meant cats], survival training school.Fine, they would just keep me under constant surveillance. I responded by assuring them that despite my lack of spy-like abilities, I would escape and get to relive my Summer Camp experience with the only woman who respected my Demigod-like combat status. Their laughter hurt my feelings. Pamela stepped up and told the room they could either respect my compromise, or she would help me evade them.It was even more depressing to see the room full of women who had previously been mocking me suddenly 'snap to' and quickly agree to my earlier suggestions."It is okay," Pamela told me softly as the actual mechanics of my vacation were figured out by others. "I didn't want to play Bill Munny to your Ben Logan."Pamela's eyes flared brighter than any phoenix's rebirth. She'd stumped me."The Unforgiven, my Son," she patted my cheek. "It is a western made in 1992 starring Clint Eastwood, recast masterfully by 'Yours Truly' and, we need to work on you making a convincing Morgan Freeman.""Doesn't Freeman end up in a pinewood box in the first third of the movie?" Virginia mused."I didn't want to dishearten him," Pamela grinned. To me. "He ran off alone and got himself killed.""I was what, not even a year old when that movie came out," I responded with indignation."You've never heard of Block Busters, Netflix, Redbox, Dish, Hulu, or late night, Spanish language television?" Pamela snickered."I only watch Univision for their sports coverage," I countered."You mean for those sexy female sports announcers," Delilah chuckled. That earned her a 'well duh' look from all the other women."Before I consent to the strip search and inevitable follow-up anal probe, are we really going to be in a situation that requires us to fight this time?" Virginia asked."We should be perfectly safe," Rachel responded."Check, bring extra ammo," Virginia nodded."Good for you, Ms. Maddox," Pamela winked. "One day there is hope your life will have some meaning to me.""Great," Special Agent Maddox muttered, "now I have to think of what to get her for Christmas." We all laughed. Christmas was such a long way away.We packed up, rode to a private airfield near Doebridge, learned that SD was smarter than the rest of us, boarded our flight, and then finally entered US airspace from there. Around Ohio, a thought occurred to Maddox."If we were somehow forced to land and have the plane searched, how bad would it be?" she requested of Rachel."Bad enough that we have a better chance of fighting our way free than seeing freedom before dying in prison," Rachel answered calmly."Hmm, Rachel, if something like that happened, how many parachutes do we have?" Delilah joined in."Enough. Mona rides down with Cael because he's a virgin," Rachel stated."Oh! Come on Rachel," I fell down on my knees. "Can't I bungee jump it?""Luv," Delilah snorted. "If the drop didn't kill ya, the bounce back would snap you in two.""Cáel, we are at thirty thousand feet," Tiger Lily giggled. "You are more likely to end as a streamer than a pancake." An Amazon giggle, a most joyous noise."Rachel, I have been unkind," Virginia confessed. "Cáel is so personable and so dead set on getting himself killed. I had no idea your assignment was so herculean.""Acknowledged," Rachel said, "and we don't use 'that' word." Hercules was Greek too."We have it worse," Delilah patted Maddox on her shoulder. "We must obey some sort of legal code that doesn't allow us to preemptively save him.""We must too," Rachel gave a depressive sigh. "Her," she pointed at Pamela."Hey," Pamela pouted. "I'm more a force for vigilante justice than a team player. I ride alone.""Alone?" I took a quick headcount and added our Amazon pilot. "I count ten, Lone Phaser.""Am I included in that count?" Miyako yawned from under her blanket. "This jet lag is killing me.""Where did she come from?" Virginia hopped up."She was here when we boarded," I told her. "I searched her, I swear.""Yes he did," Miyako gave a sleepy, Hello Kitty smile. She'd 'searched' me too."I bet you did," Rachel glared at me, then Pamela, then me again since I was the titular boss.Thankfully we all 'bought a vowel', played a card in Clue, and shared an Inspector Clouseau moment. The gang settled down for a nap. Sleeping was not complicated. Rachel, as my bodyguard, slept beside me. The airplane's touchdown was so flawless I had to be shaken to alertness. Did I fall asleep? More on that later.It would have been better if Virginia hadn't figured out our pilot had violated numerous FAA regulations, like dropping below radar at one remote airport then sailing along for an unknown number of kilometers at nape of the Earth until we reached our final destination (This is great in date flicks, btw. It convinces the girl that we should 'live in the moment'/screw as much as possible.)We weren't there yet, of course. That level of un-convoluted thinking would have been an Amazon indicator of senility. Being a male Amazon, I was immune to such considerations, that meant I was always nuts in their regard, but they chose to humor me. Our plane had to park in a camouflaged hangar before we were allowed to disembark.I concluded we must be getting close to our desert gulag/re-education center as the sharp glare of sunlight was accompanied by an equally heartless glare of hostility rolling forth from our waiting all-terrain vehicle caravan. Thank goodness Rachel had the foresight to bring sunscreen for the passel of us. I swallowed the bitter realization I'd lost a $1000 bet concerning our landing zone with Virginia (a Temperate Rainforest) and Delilah (the American Southwest). In retrospect, betting on the site of 'Camp Rock' wasn't my smartest wager.The Brit made off with $2000 of our money and she wanted to be paid in Euros. That's €778 from me, you offspring of those who didn't have the courage to cross the Atlantic 100 years ago. Neither Virginia nor I really cared. With the level of violence about to escalate, it was all looking like 'funny' money to us. I didn't share my misery. Our Welcome Wagon ladies hardly looked sympathetic, or all that opposed to utilizing scalping as a valid debating tool.They didn't view this moment as just a bad thing, me showing up. My arrival was apocalyptic: #1, a man. #2, with a member of another secret society. #3, #2 was a professional assassin. #4 and #5, two more outsider women. #6, an unscheduled visit, as in 'the camp guardians hadn't been given six months to plan out all contingencies'. And you think your daycare takes its security seriously?"Cáel Ishara," the curt, mega-harsh bitch addressed me in English. As the other seven women dismounted from the four Jeep Wranglers (Delilah enlightened us), it was obvious they were well armed and armored, right and ready to provide some extra-curricular para-military fun. "Welcome," and 'oh please tear out one or two of my fingernails you Ginormous Pain in my ass' she greeted the exalted me. We spoke in Hittite;"I am”, then I used a phrase which I hoped meant 'I had shed blood in battle with sister Aya'. "No other name means more to me right now." Ah, the lovely jerk that full-blooded Amazons gave the first time they heard a male speak their tongue. The slot machine of her intellect kicked into high gear. No arm grasp was coming my way. I almost forgot."The outsiders are to remain armed as guests of House Ishara." That command was crucial. When/if I got my way with my first request, I was going to be rendered 'one of the girls'."If that is your wish. (Evil grin) Grab your bags and make it snappy," the woman ordered. "I don't like any extended activity at this airfield.""Ladies, let's hurry up and get our bags," Pamela barked in English. "You too, you hairless ape." That would be me, if there was any question. The Super-friendly camp counselors, with their slung FN P90's, didn't lift a finger to help us. Miyako flounced around without a care in the world. Pamela, eh, there were only eight of them. Three of my SD group were cautious while the pilot was already effecting her refueling and departure.Rachel shot one of the guardians a look I perceived to be friendly. A double-take elucidated things. She was Rachel's younger sister and had already been updated on my bona fides. Then in Hittite;"Male, you are agreeable to the eye," Rachel's sister fired off. Three whole seconds."Why thank you. I run faster than you would think, thankfully heal even faster and have the venerated outdoor skills of Bigfoot," I smiled.The seven other ladies weren't sure what to make of that jocularity."A very, very young Bigfoot," Rachel corrected."There is nothing wrong with the size of his feet," Tiger Lily added to the fun. And then all the homicidal fanatics chuckled.Pamela's whispered translation brought a subdued, yet similar reaction from the non-Amazon contingent. Sure, the new group knew about the New Directive, my fun encounters which I equated to my life and death struggle in those earlier days, my rise to house leadership, Constanza's blinding, the grenade launcher episode and the totality of my last confrontation with Hayden. Amazons are some hard-ass bitches.As we were loading up the jeeps, the leader tapped me on the shoulder with some force, in the same way a teacher catches an unruly student's attention."What was sex with an augur like? My name is Caprica Mielikki.""Out of respect for your authority, I will answer this personal question that is really none of your business," I looked down a good ten centimeters at her. No fear."It was beautiful, like every other woman I have had the treasured pleasure to have sex with," I continued. My reply's undercurrent was simple: I am not a House Head while I'm here. I am an Amazon, not a slave, or outsider male."Did you suffer stigmata?""Yes. To be fair, I was also having intercourse with her personal guardian at the same time. I'm not sure where to lay the blame, or importance," I inhaled her rugged fragrance."Both?" a different camp counselor questioned."As I told you, he has a really big and craftily-wielded foot," Tiger Lily teased, then Pamela said in Hittite;"And he is banned from having sex with any Amazon women for fifty more days," Pamela reminded them. Miyako, Delilah and Maddox weren't involved so were left uninformed of that detail. That bludgeoning innuendo dealt with, off to camp we went. Our journey was a pleasant diversion, punctuated by our trail, or lack thereof.The jeeps split up once we hit the aerial cover of the desert pines. At that point, every rock, shrub, tree and loose bit of debris revealed its God-given mission in life was to kill us. I kept telling myself that surely our Amazon driver abhorred suicide as much as I frowned on vehicular manslaughter as a means of me dying.Failing to believe that left me with tuck, duck and roll and that death-defying move would leave me lost and waterless, somewhere. I would have thought 'somewhere without cell reception', but none of our mobile devices had made the trip, despite a valiant effort at skullduggery by Special Agent Maddox and some highly creative types back at the Hoover Building.See, after we dutifully packed all our gear, the troupe got to watch Rachel's team toss everything into a cargo bin set to be loaded onto a flight to, the ticket said Banjul, Gambia. Woot! My ten ton armored long coat was going to Africa without me. It would have undoubtedly have tried to kill me in this heat. I was lured into acceptance by hoping this was going to be a 'birthday suit' flight.Yay! (Sarcasm) We got all new undies, shirts, shoes, pants, shorts, jackets, ponchos (I was beginning to suspect duplicity on that one), and a variety of other gear, including guns. They were nice enough to replace our weapons with the exact same production models. The sole exceptions were my trusty axes and I trembled at the scrutiny they must have endured.Meanwhile, back to my archaic, misogynistic inspiration that women shouldn't be allowed to drive: after the third skirting of what must have been a ten meter drop, I realized I was looking at this journey in the wrong light. I raised my hands over my head and began screaming like a fool. I was on the best rollercoaster ride ever!!The hobnail boot was on the other foot. My driver really wanted to know what the fuck I was up to, but couldn't take her concentration off the terrain. One massive lurch planted us in an arroyo (that's a dry riverbed for those of us who aren't freaked out every time it rains). Rachel and I were sitting in the back. Turning around in the front seat, Pamela grinned at me."I dare you to surf the hood," she laughed. Sweet Mother Ishara, that was the best mixing of 'you must be a redneck'/'immortal high schooler madness' I'd ever heard. I unbuckled milliseconds before Rachel could stop me. Her look said it all. 'Please, you Moron, don't do this to me. I've been a good little guardian and really don't deserve this, now do I?'I gave her a deep French kiss. She moaned, just not in a sexual manner. One of these days Rachel was going to start running around with a needle and fast acting sedative to keep me safe from myself. Understand, my driver was racing down this dirt, well, "pathway" was being generous. Her first warning that something wasn't right was me hand-standing on the roll bar and flipping onto the dashboard.Considering I was up against a 70 kilometer headwind, I felt I pulled off that maneuver rather well. She grabbed my closest ankle with one hand while keeping the other on the wheel. Our eyes were masked with goggles, but my smile said it all. No, I hadn't been thrown forward, and no, I wasn't running away from something in the back seat.I shook free, stepped over the windshield, braced my right heel against its base and leaned into the torrent of air. I was surfing a jeep. Then I was flying above the jeep, but only for a second. We'd hit a rock the size of an armadillo, or maybe it was an actual armadillo. I wasn't looking back to check. Why was I doing this? It was a tad complex. I gave Psych 101 a shot.My life was not where I had envisioned it would be when I kissed Dr. Kimberly Geisler, and my last two Bolingbrook girlfriends, who had been unaware of each other until that moment, good-bye before leaving college forever. I proudly considered myself amoral. No social contract would keep me from some good cunt, and since I found all cunt to be good if you worked at it, I slept with every girl I could, married, committed, bored, desperate, I didn't care.I held no relationship sacred. I had already proved I could do any girl's mother, daughter, aunt, roommate, childhood friend and total stranger. I hadn't cared. I knew I was going to cause multiple women emotional pain and I did it anyway. Sure, I regretted the agony I left in my wake.I never considered myself a sadist, but I had been a pretty horrible person by ignoring the inevitable consequences of my actions. Then Havenstone. Suddenly people were doing bad stuff to people I didn't know and it mattered to me. I was talking to women without the end goal being a sexual encounter.Hell, I had been honest to women without them using pain, or the threat of pain, on me. I didn't stop being me. I nailed four women at Loraine's, Europa's and Aya's school. I nailed Nicole while waiting for Trent to toss me his social table scraps, Libra. A whole army of women engaged in murder, slavery and infanticide on a regular basis, and I cared for them.I cared for them in a way that confronted damnation, not sexual adventurism. I had graduated from 'Dude, don't do that to the lady' at some bar to 'do this and I'll have you killed' and meaning it, and making it happen. I hadn't learned my lesson. I'd gone on to kill Hayden and Goddess-knows how many other women who Hayden had placed on that list.Yep, dead, dead, dead and it was all on me. Worse, I would do it all over again because deep down, tearing up my insides, was morality. To me that boiled down to caring about someone else without reward. And all that led me to surfing the hood of a jeep on my way to meet my lodestone of this transformation, Aya.My laughter was drowned out by the noises of the engine, tires, rocks, wind and sand. It resonated all the more. The driver didn't slow down. I sincerely doubted she understood my lunacy. That was okay. Pamela did and Aya would. She'd want to go jeep surfing too. Man, for a jackass and dastardly betrayer, I was accumulating a sizable heart-load of people I could honestly say I loved.Kimberly had once told me that the pain of knowledge is never being able to forget it. Good, or bad, it is an affliction for which there is no cure. That was where I was, pained by the creeping advancement of my soul and unable to turn back now that the door to familial affection had been opened.My thoughts of Dad dying and of a thunderstorm burst in my noggin weren't being terribly helpful to my mental state either. The horn blew and I snuck a quick peek back. The driver was making a sharp, forward jabbing motion with her right hand, then thrusting to the left. We were getting ready to exit the arroyo and that probably required some hellish footwork far beyond my ability.I made a hasty, less dignified, yet safer return to my seat. Rachel quickly buckled me in before a rapid turn up and over the bank of the river bed had us heading for another forested area."What was that all about?" Rachel asked once we were back into the tree cover. She'd have asked earlier but she was too busy clenching and unclenching her jaw in frustration.

EPISODE 496 - Sean Hagerty - Retired Special Operations Soldier and Author of JONES POINTAbout the author Sean Hagerty is a retired Special Operations Soldier with over 25 years of experience. He spent his younger years training and conducting combat operations with the 1st of the 75th Ranger Regiment. After nine years, in 2005 he was selected for and assigned to a Special Operations unit at Fort Belvoir Virginia. There he spent sixteen years and finished his military career, retiring as a Sergeant Major. He received several awards and decorations throughout his career to include three Bronze Stars. His love for writing began in the cold mountains of Afghanistan, the dusty deserts of Iraq, and the plains of Africa. He would write short stories for his daughters, so they knew he was thinking of them while he was far away from home. Over the years, those playful fairy tales were complete, and it was time for him to tell a more grown-up story for a wider audience. Sean Hagerty has combined over 25+ years of service in the Special Operations community and deep-rooted research instincts from years of academic pursuits in history to tell this story. A story that was written on the back of a daily Washington D.C. commuter bus heading to the Pentagon, during plane flights, car rides, and even on his pontoon boat drifting along the Potomac River. It all came together during evening edits in the small river town of Occoquan Virginia.Book - Jones Point: Written by a Special Operations SoldierTHIRD PLACE winner of The BookFest Awards - Thriller - Pyschological DivisionSean Hagerty is a retired Special Operations Soldier with over 25 years of experience. This gave him a unique perspective for a fiction series about saving missing children. While this story is fiction...the knowledge behind the missions is based on real experience and teachings.By day, we're your neighbors. Your boss. Your teacher. By night, we hunt the monsters who hunt our children.As a Special Operations soldier, Dane Cooper was trained and tested to handle the toughest, most dangerous situations around the world. He was not, however, prepared for the abduction of his daughter.That kidnapping sends him into a downward spiral, the depths of which are unknown even to Dane. But a lifeline is thrown to him by a mysterious cabal, which sees his skills as paramount to helping others.Now investigating other grieving parents' cases, Dane must conceal his efforts from the zeal of an FBI agent hot on the trail of the vigilante cabal, a dedicated Virginia Bureau of Investigation team, and an elusive network of monsters at the center of it all. Punishing the wicked while searching for his little angel, Dane must also overcome the struggle with his own demons.https://authorseanhagerty.com/https://www.instagram.com/sean.hagerty.73/https://a.co/d/5u37JEh___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

"But, at the bottom line, if a Soldier needs financial assistance, come to AER [Army Emergency Relief], and we'll find a way to help them out," said Tony Grinston, director of Army Emergency Relief and 16th Sergeant Major of the Army, when he visited Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield. Public Affairs Specialist, Kelsie Steber, sat down with him to discuss his new role with AER and the importance of asking questions. Listen now by searching "The Marne Report" wherever you get your podcast.

The United States Army invaded Europe in 1944 and has never left. America's forward projection of its military was instrumental in the stabilization of Europe and the establishment of the world order that has existed since the end of World War II. A critical piece of American power is US Army Europe-Africa; a command responsible for over 37,000 soldiers, 104 countries, 10 units and 9 garrisons. Over 70,000 US military personnel operate across Europe and Africa in either permanent positions or deployed in support of national security objectives. To explain why US Army Europe-Africa is so important, Fran Racioppi sat down with Command Sergeant Major Jeremiah Inman, the command's senior enlisted advisor. Sergeant Major Inman breaks down the command's mission to deter aggression and provide stability in some of the world's most complicated and dynamic regions. He explains the magnitude of the command's responsibilities; and also shares his biggest leadership lessons learned from his time in Ranger Regiment and how they prepared him to lead no matter the challenge. Join our conversation from the bunkers of Pointe Du Hoc in Normandy, France. Follow us on social media, read the full episode on our website, then head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform for all our D-Day Coverage including our first documentary Unknown Heroes: Behind Enemy Lines at D-Day, the story of Operation Jedburgh.HIGHLIGHTS0:00 Introduction1:42 Welcome to Pointe Du Hoc3:20 The mission of US Army Europe-Africa4:10 Guidance to the force4:40 Joint exercises5:00 The differences between Europe and Africa6:22 Supporting Ukraine7:23 Developing young NCOs8:49 USAREUR-AF Lines of Effort12:02 The Next Fight12:52 The role of the Combat Training Centers14:23 Special Operations & conventional force integration14:47 Sergeant Major's lessons learned16:30 Daily Habits for successQUOTES“Our vision is to get up, show up and be ready to assist our partners. Continue to train and maintain that combat readiness in the event we do have to get into something.”“If we can continue to train and work with our allies and partners now, when we do have to fight, we'll already have those sets and reps and be a much more lethal force.”“The young NCOs now are so much smarter than I'll ever be.”“We're only empowered if our officers empower us.”“We just got to be ready for anything. You don't know what that next fight is.”“Colonel Ralph Puckett's like ‘I didn't go to ranger school to be better than the next guy, I went to ranger school to be better than myself.'”“When you show up, show up. Be present. Get after it. 100% and then some.”“Physical training, marksmanship, battle drills, medical training. Then we added developing leaders of character. I think that's kind of how I've been my entire career, is after those five aspects.”The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are official programs of the Green Beret Foundation.

Falling into automotive without a plan, Gary Haugley has made a career of buggies, cars, and off-road. From building to appraising, car show judging and building stories. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.7:52 – I had no clue, no clue what was going on… 13:33 – I walked into B&R Buggy, the guy who owns it says, “you've got to buy this place;” he goes, I got in trouble with a little side job, I'm leaving.             21:22 – I need to know what I need to do to be an appraiser, Tony was real quiet, then he goes, “no, you don't have questions for me, I got questions for you.”27:12 – I thought this guy was going to take me out, he goes, “I own a lot of cars. I have a lot of money. I pay a lot of people a lot of money to make sure it's perfect. You're the first one to notice it's not.” He put out his hand and said, thank you.35:41 – We got him a brand new car, big four-seater, and donated it to him, that's how I got involved with Warfighter Made 41:18 – The Sergeant Major hated me because I was non-military, he called me out of the blue one day, “I need some help.”54:39 – they busted their butts with side jobs, and got to keep the buggy, it's a great storySpecial thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app. Support the show

Andy McNab faced the IRA in Northern Ireland, served on numerous SAS covert operations around the world, and was captured behind enemy lines in Iraq.But he tells Kate Gerbeau the real moment that made him was reading a Janet & John children's book at the age of 16.It unlocked the Army career which took him away from a life of teenage crime, and eventually led him to becoming a bestselling author of more than 50 books, all thanks to a Sergeant Major who he thought was “the world's oldest soldier”.

Sergeant Major Roy Lewis is a retired Army Sergeant Major and a professional speaker specializing in intentional leadership and personal development. Roy has a relentless passion for empowering individuals and organizations to reach their full potential through transformative leadership. 0.00:    Roy's background leading to the military 6.00:    Leaders make other leaders 12.00:  Why effort is more important than results 18.00:  Why kids today need better leadership examples 25.00:  Problem of today's “Microwave society” - wanting results without putting in the work 34.00:  Raising money and the dangers of technology 40.30:  Worries about his son serving abroad in the Middle East 47.00:  How Military Services provides a Rite of Passage for young men 56.00:  Why married couples should be a cohesive team 1.02.00:  Marriage Tips from Roy        Book an online coaching session with Roy here: https://speaksgtroy.com/  Check out the latest episode here: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/enter-the-lionheart/id1554904704 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4tD7VvMUvnOgChoNYShbcI

What kind of a reaction should you expect when you start a bar fight with your Sergeant Major present? Is it possible for the Combat Engineers to work on underground wires without issues?  Find out, the answers to these questions and more on this weeks "sode" of The Cammo Comedy Show Podcast! If you have any funny military stories of your own that you would like to share, drop us a line at:stories@cammocomedy.com  or  Leave a voicemail at (531) 222-6146  Sadly, the voicemail will only record in 2 minute blocksWe are here to make you laugh, but behind this there is the imbedded philosophy of, "No One Left Behind." Sadly, 22 vets per day commit suicide, approximately 67,500 vets are homeless and thousands struggle with everyday life after service.  What we hope to accomplish is providing a fun place to gather that will have a similar feel to the conversations that happen at the VFW or American Legion between vets.  Since the latest generations of vets are not really going to these places anymore, we are making it happen online.  We believe that the sense of community will help some who struggle, while providing stories about the good times that we can all laugh at!An additional part of this show is capturing the oral history of the military over the past few decades, so if you happen to know a veteran who served during WW2, Korean War or Vietnam eras, we would love to hear from them.  Obviously, we want to hear stories from all eras, but we have special respect for the older generations.  Give Send Go Fundraiser: https://givesendgo.com/VeteransLaughterTherapy?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=VeteransLaughterTherapyWe took great pleasure in animating these short videos with fresh new music and some fun character models. We hope that you will enjoy them and share this message with your friends and loved ones.Animated Video Sympathetic:https://rumble.com/v5a3ujh-cammo-comedy-community-outreach.htmlAnimated Video Bad Ass:https://rumble.com/v5a69h9-cammo-comedy-rocken-outreach.html

In this episode, Dana Dykema talks with Seb Lavoie, a retired Sergeant Major with a rich background in military and law enforcement. They discuss Seb's journey through adversity, including a significant health challenge that led to an elective amputation. Seb shares insights on personal growth, the importance of ethical hunting, and the philosophy of embracing discomfort as a pathway to growth. The conversation highlights Seb's commitment to service, resilience, and the lessons learned from his experiences. In this conversation, Seb Lavoie shares his transformative journey from urban life in British Columbia to a rural lifestyle in Alberta. He discusses the profound impact of this change on his family, the importance of mentorship in hunting, and the spiritual connections he feels with nature. The conversation also touches on the significance of raising children in a rural environment, the challenges of victimhood in society, and the value of community and personal growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textWhat if exploring alcoholic beverages was as personalized and effortless as streaming music?Meet Mike Waskewich Jr., a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major turned entrepreneur, who, alongside his wife, created the Bar Book mobile app. In this episode of Unarmored Talk Podcast, Mike shares their journey from military service to launching an app that uses flavor-matching technology to recommend personalized cocktails, beers, and spirits.Explore the challenges and rewards of transitioning to civilian entrepreneurship, the camaraderie among veterans in the alcohol industry, and the power of networking and mentorship. Join us for an inspiring conversation about innovation, adaptability, and passion.Guest Link:https://thebarbook.app/Support the show Watch: Unarmored Talk Playlist Mario's Socials: Parade Deck Support My Nonprofit: Still Serving, Inc. Email: host@unarmoredtalk.com

Yung-Star devises a way to make the Cubes more powerful by combining them. Zelda forms a group of them into a gun and threatens to destroy a newly constructed dam. Meanwhile, Tiger finally loses patience with the Zeroids and orders Zero to give them a new, 'standardised voice', but regrets his decision when all the Zeroids speak with the Sergeant Major's voice.

On this episode of The Resilient Life, Ryan Manion sits down with the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sergeant Major Carlos Ruiz, a leader whose dedication and service has shaped the lives of countless Marines and whose wisdom continues to inspire the Corps.With over 30 years of service, SgtMaj Ruiz has navigated the complexities of modern warfare, championed the values of honor, courage, and commitment, and has remained a steadfast pillar in the Marine Corps community. From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of enlisted leadership, his journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and unwavering patriotism.Listen in as Ryan and SgtMaj Ruiz explore the advice that he gives to new recruits, insights that have guided his leadership, lessons learned from the frontlines, and the vision for the future of the Marine Corps.CONNECT with The Resilient Life Podcast:Instagram SUBSCRIBE Get the latest video podcast on YouTubeGet the latest audio podcastCONNECT Ryan Manion on Social Media:Facebook - Twitter - Instagram - LinkedIn  LEARN about Travis Manion FoundationMEET Sergeant Major of the Marine CorpsInstagram

Rev. Noah and Becky Rogness join Steph to talk about how parents, teachers, and youth workers can talk to kids about the election, encourage civic involvement, and model calm when the nation is anxious.   Bio: Rev. Noah Rogness is the pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Tomah, WI. Prior to his call to Good Shepherd, Rogness served parishes in Fergus Fall, MN, and Alexandria, VA. He also served in the United States Army, achieving the rank of Sergeant Major and retiring with 24 years of service. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Minnesota–Duluth, and he earned his M.Div from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. He is married to Becky and they are raising their six children. Becky Rogness is owner of Rogness Communications, a small business specializing in public relations for pro-life policy makers and non-profit organizations. Becky's clients have included national and regional pro-life organizations and policy makers including Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch. Becky received her undergrad from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN, and she holds a Master of Arts in Communication from Johns Hopkins University. A former Capitol Hill staffer, Rogness lives in Warrens, WI, with her husband, Noah, an LCMS pastor, and six children.  Resources: Email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org LCMS Life, Health and Family Ministries: lcmslife.org For resources on the family: lcmslife.org/family Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Tune in here to this Tuesday's edition of the Brett Winterble Show!   Brett kicks off the program by talking about The Army's top enlisted leader has removed key guidance that required diversity to be considered when selecting individuals to serve in upper-level noncommissioned officer positions, Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer, the top enlisted leader of the force, recently issued new guidance on selecting command sergeants major that was essentially copy-and-pasted from his predecessor -- with one exception. It removes a line directing that a command sergeant major candidate's diversity be considered. Advertisement  and Later in the Show Brett Discusses Sean ‘Diddy' Combs accused of ‘violently' raping woman and filming attack in 2001 following sex trafficking arrest Another woman filed a lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, accusing the disgraced rapper of “violently” raping her in 2001.According to court documents obtained by Page Six Tuesday, Thalia Graves claimed the “I'll Be Missing You” musician and his head of security, Joseph Sherman, lured her to the Bad Boy Records studio in New York City, where they sexually assaulted her. Graves, who was 25 at the time, detailed that she was dating one of Combs' employees when the music mogul asked her to meet up at his studio.  We're joined by Caleb Door to talk about the upcoming election. They focus on key issues impacting voters, particularly inflation, economic conditions, and the performance of the Biden administration. Door emphasizes the stark contrast between the current situation and the previous Trump administration, arguing that people are struggling financially and that the American dream feels out of reach. Door  critiques Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming her policies have not led to tangible improvements. He mentions specific statistics, such as rising costs for everyday items, and argues that open borders under the current administration are negatively affecting the economy.  Beth Troutman from Good Morning BT is also here for this Tuesday episode of Crossing the Streams. Brett and Beth discuss the challenges leading up to the elections and explore the controversial backgrounds of Trump and Harris, highlighting the growing disconnect many voters feel with these figures.  Beth also shares what She and Bo Thompson have coming up Wednesday on Good Morning BT!   Listen here for all of this and more on The Brett Winterble Show!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John "Shrek" McPhee is a distinguished former Army Ranger and served as a Sergeant Major in the Army's elite tier one unit, Delta Force. His military career was marked by intense training and high-stakes operations, earning him a reputation for leadership and effectiveness in counter-terrorism and special reconnaissance. During the Global War on Terror, McPhee became known as "the Sheriff of Baghdad," where he played a crucial role in stabilizing the region and rebuilding local governance. His hands-on approach and ability to engage with local communities helped foster trust and order in a challenging environment. After retiring from the military, McPhee founded SOB Tactical, a company that provides tactical training and consulting services for military, law enforcement, and civilians. His extensive experience informs the training programs offered, focusing on practical skills and crisis management. Through SOB Tactical, McPhee continues to share his expertise and influence in the field of tactical training and public safety. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://preparewithshawn.com https://shopify.com/shawn https://trueclassic.com/srs https://bubsnaturals.com/shawn - USE CODE "SHAWN" https://hillsdale.edu/srs https://moinkbox.com/srs https://ShawnLikesGold.com | 855-936-GOLD #goldcopartner John "Shrek" McPhee Links: Website - www.sobtactical.com SOB TV App - https://watch.sobtactical.com FB - https://www.facebook.com/sobtactical IG - https://instagram.com/sobtactical X - https://x.com/sobtactical Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@sobtactical Please leave us a review on Apple & Spotify Podcasts. Vigilance Elite/Shawn Ryan Links: Website | Patreon | TikTok | Instagram | Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to another compelling episode of Mick Unplugged. Today, we have the honor and privilege of hosting an exceptional guest, Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans, a decorated U.S. veteran with over 27 years of service. Known for her incredible resilience and inspiring journey, Sergeant Major Evans has transformed the trauma and challenges she faced in combat into a powerful mission of hope and advocacy for veterans. In this episode, we dive deep into her story of overcoming life-altering injuries, finding purpose beyond adversity, and her unwavering commitment to giving back. From her military career to her work as a motivational speaker and leader of Team Unbroken, Sergeant Major Evans' insights on resilience, grit, and living a life in service of others will leave you inspired and motivated. So sit back, relax, and get ready to be moved by the extraordinary tale of Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans.TakeawaysAcknowledge and process pain and trauma before moving forwardEmbrace failure as a stepping stone to successForm a supportive community and help othersLive a life without regrets and pursue your purposeSound Bites"I had a couple of days of the whimy and a little bit of a pity party""I'm not gonna let what happened to me define who I am""Failure is not the end of the story. Failure is just another chapter in the book"Connect and Discover: ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

I'll start these notes off by providing you some important information about my guest this week, Sergeant Major Aaron Stone, US Army, Retired. This information is taken directly from Aaron's website, 18 Winters – Shattering the silence I am a retired Combat Medic in the United States Army, and I have completed multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia; none of those experiences affected me as much as the trauma I suffered at age 15 at the hands of a male teacher who methodically groomed and raped me. I choose the word “rape” deliberately, because it conveys the reality of that man's actions so many years ago. For over 17 years, 18 winters, I became a silent sufferer of depression and PTSD. The cost of keeping that shameful secret caught up with me in 2010 through a nervous breakdown. Thankfully, I finally realized I needed help and, for the first time in my life, I told my story. It was an act of liberation. Over the last eight years I have spoken over 100 times to numerous military organizations across the U.S., Germany, and South Korea spreading my message of pain, redemption, and hope. My goal is to be an inspiration for those who may be suffering through the same mental anguish as I once did. I reassure survivors that sexual assault is never their fault, they are never alone, and help is here. With social stigmas and victim blaming, most male victims who never report a sexual assault. Public awareness and education of male-on-male sexual violence and the horrifying impact it can have on one's life must increase. For me, the most amazing aspect of interviewing Aaron was how his personality and conversation style is both calm and collected, yet commanding and powerful while telling his story. It's no wonder Aaron is so incredibly sought after as a speaker. Our conversation is insightful and comprehensive. It was a true honor to speak with Aaron and learn about both his rape story and his healing journey, and how he looks at telling his experience as his therapy. I share in Aaron's belief that telling our own rape or sexual assault experience is one of the first steps in our healing journey. If your organization or agency is looking for an inspirational presenter as a way of educating your employees or colleagues on the solution to the stigmas of rape and sexual assault, Aaron is the person you need to bring aboard. I feel no doubt that you will be impressed with the results! Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode…Please hit the subscribe button on whatever podcast platform you found this show, and leave a review, if you would…it helps more than you know! Also, don't forget to do your part to help bring justice to victims and survivors of rape or sexual assault. A great way to do this is to Start By Believing! Please take a look at these sites, and pass them on to others who may find the information helpful:  

Army Emergency Relief, the official nonprofit of the United States Army, has been Supporting Soldiers and their Families Since 1942 through grants, interest-free loans, and scholarships. Learn more about the important work that AER does to support our Army Family on this week's all new #SoldierForLifePodcast as we talk with Tony Grinston, the Chief Executive Officer of AER and the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army (Ret.). Get more information and donate to AER at https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org.

In this powerful episode, Terry Wilson Jr., a retired Green Beret with over 20 years of service in the Special Forces, shares his incredible journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming a Sergeant Major and finding his true purpose beyond the military. Terry opens up about the sacrifices he made during his time in the military and the critical role his supportive spouse played in his success. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing family and faith over career achievements, offering valuable insights into what it means to be an authentic masculine leader. Dive into the warrior mindset with Terry as he explores the qualities that define an effective Green Beret—stoicism, empathy, humility, and self-awareness. He also delves into the significance of brotherhood, the power of giving and receiving feedback, and the vital role of self-awareness in leadership. The conversation takes an emotional turn as Terry recounts the profound challenges of family leadership, particularly after the heartbreaking loss of his son. He candidly discusses the struggles of rebuilding his life post-retirement and finding renewed purpose, highlighting the importance of self-care to better serve others. As the episode unfolds, Terry reflects on the healing power of therapy, the need to focus on positivity and gratitude, and the pivotal role faith and community have played in his journey. His story is a testament to resilience, self-reflection, and the strength found in a supportive community. Don't miss this inspiring episode filled with valuable lessons on overcoming trauma, finding purpose, and leading with love and humility. Follow Terry on IG: https://www.instagram.com/terry.m.wilson.jr/ Follow Terry on X: https://x.com/Trailer7233

On this week's session of, The Bird & The Bear … Our hosts, Sammy Ray and Daryl Lazer, ease into the political commentary with a quick chat about their favorite crime drama films before covering a few new stories about JD Vance … Starting with Vance's connection to a failed startup, followed by Jesse Ventura's reaction to Vance's attacks on Tim Walz, and rounding off with Vance's CNN interview with Dana Bash … Then, our hosts will close out this session with their reactions to Elon Musk interviewing Trump … Let's sort through it together!   (0:00) - Intro - “There's a fire hydrant involved … That's all I say.” (6:57) - Discussing the failed startup, AppHarvest, and its connection to JD Vance - “This man has gone out of his way to s**t on this community he's 'from.'” (23:58) - Discussing class traitors and the problem with using class denominations in society - “I can fit five fingers in between your eyebrows and your hairline … Shut up.” (28:53) - Discussing Jesse Ventura's reaction to JD Vance's attacks on Tim Walz military service - “Private, why are you talking s**t to the Sergeant Major?” (49:06) - Reacting to JD Vance's interview on CNN with Dana Bash - “As Obama's preacher would say, ‘JD Vance's chickens coming home to roost.'” (1:01:15) - Reactions to Elon Musk interviewing Donald Trump on X - “Two very neurodivergent billionaires.” (1:14:19) - Outro - “Nest for the best and hibernate for health.”   Please, remember to share, rate, and review this podcast … Follow us on Tik Tok, X, Instagram, and Facebook @dimesinthedozen … Thank you for listening!

For decades the Middle East has been America's top national security challenge.From terrorism, to war, to regional instability, it takes more than a military effort to find solutions.As America navigates one of the most volatile times in history, Fran Racioppi sat down with retired General Joseph Votel, one of America's most influential leaders and scholars in Middle East policy. General Votel served as Commander of United States Special Operations Command, US Central Command, Joint Special Operations Command and 75th Ranger Regiment; organizations critically responsible for America's Middle East operations. General Votel unpacked the reasons why Hamas chose to attack Israel, Iran's malign influence, and the responsibility of the other Gulf states in preventing regional instability. He also broke down the opportunities the United States has across the diplomatic, information, military and economic spectrum; including America's ability to mobilize for a peer-to-peer fight. Plus he talked all things Ranger Regiment, the officer-NCO relationship, and keys to effective leadership. Take a listen, watch, or read our conversation with one the Army's most respected leaders then head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform to catch up on our entire national security series from Washington, DC and Fort Liberty, NC. Highlights:0:00 Welcome to Odgers Berndtson3:07 The rise of China and Russia13:47 Why is Iran on the offensive?21:14 Using the elements of National Power24:34 The impacts of the Israel-Gaza War32:55 General Votel's call to serve42:35 Advice to new leaders47:42 How the NCO corps separates the US military 56:46 The role of Special Forces in the peer-to-peer fight1:05:09 Solving the recruiting challenge1:13:28 General Votel's Three Daily FoundationsQuotes: “In a word, they've had it and they're trying to reassert themselves.” “Putin has pretty much told us what he wants to do. He wants to eclipse the United States.” “The Gulf partners, the other Arab states, aren't that keen on having a new Palestinian state in the region.”“We have over-militarized a lot of our foreign policy in these areas. We need to be leading with diplomacy.”“If you open these humanitarian corridors, are you arming your adversary?” “When I showed up to West Point…instant buyer's remorse.” “To me, leadership has really become about the basics.” “I had a Sergeant Major. Bill Thetford. We were together for eight plus years; longer than the average American marriage.” The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation. Learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. Watch the full video version on YouTube.Special thanks to Odgers Berndtson for hosting this conversation.

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the sixty-fifth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.' Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today's guest is the Sergeant Major of the Army, SMA Michael Weimer.   SMA Michael Weimer was sworn in as the 17th Sergeant Major of the Army on Aug. 4, 2023. His previous assignment was serving as the Command Sergeant Major for U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. Throughout his career he has served in a variety of positions from team member to Command Sergeant Major of Special Operations Joint Task Force Afghanistan, to Command Senior Enlisted Leader of U.S. Special Operations Command Central.   As the Sergeant Major of the Army, SMA Weimer is the Army chief of staff's personal adviser on matters affecting the enlisted force. He devotes the majority of his time traveling throughout the Army to observe training and interact with Soldiers and their Families. SMA Weimer is the public face of the U.S. Army's Noncommissioned Officer Corps, representing the NCO Corps to the American people in the media and through business and community engagements.   In this episode we discuss warfighting and preparing leaders to lead troops in combat with the US Army's most senior enlisted soldier, SMA Weimer. Army leaders must be true masters in the art of war, embodying action with confidence and resolve. While warfare is inherently a profession of deep thought, it also requires individuals who excel in the fundamentals and leaders who are experts in their craft. Non-commissioned officers are the backbone of the US Army and thus are responsible for ensuring their troops are ready for war. They do this through rigorous, realistic, and relevant training, which generates forces ready to win America's wars.  It is imperative that Army leaders, particularly our NCOs, understand the gravity of their responsibility to the soldiers they lead in combat, recognizing that their most critical resource is human lives. Training programs should be designed progressively, building upon previous training and should include multi-echelon opportunities to train at all levels concurrently. Home-station must incorporate the “fog of war,” stress, and the clash of opposing wills as seen at the Combat Training Centers.   Part of S01 “The Leader's Laboratory” series.   Don't forget to check-out the SMA's social media pages, their handles are ‘US Army' on Facebook, ‘US Army SMA' on X, and ‘US Army SMA' on Instagram.   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.

This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute.    Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer, that service's top enlisted soldier, recently declared, “I have never been to war.”    To be sure, over his decades of decorated service, that veteran special operator has fought in many of our nation's military actions, including the so-called “Global War on Terror.”   The senior Sergeant Major's comment was followed by this vital clarification: “Not war like we're talking about, large-scale combat operations with a near-peer….This has the potential to change the American way of life.”    The “near-peer” enemy, of course, is the Chinese Communist Party. And the “People's War” against America that it declared publicly five years ago could “go kinetic” at any moment.    Given the stakes, SMA Weimer's warning – and what we must do to deter the CCP and, failing that, to defeat it – should be the most important issue in this fall's election.    This is Frank Gaffney.            

Sit back, grab your canteen cup and enjoy this episode with SFC Leyton Summerlin. Avid listener of the Infantry Podcast, MCoE DSOY, and currently working for the Chief of Staff of the Army and Sergeant Major of the Army on the Harding Project. Learn more about the Harding Project, Leyton's experiences being told "No" and why we love CSM Chris Lewis. Follow Me!This is not an official DOD or Army product. While some guests may still be in uniform, their appearance on this show is in no way tied to their job. The intent of this podcast is to secure the living histories of these warriors.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gqj8HusS4M"I Left My Home" DH Beats Trap Remix used with permission given National Infantry Museum Foundation and National Infantry Association via Infantry Podcast.Please visit and support their work.To support the Infantry Podcast, go to https://infantryassn.org/donate/ and enter Podcast in the "In Honor Of" space.Follow Me!

The responsibility for recruiting, training and retaining US Army soldiers sits on the shoulders of the Sergeant Major of the Army; a job in which there is no training course and where experience is the defining factor. To break down what the Sergeant Major of the Army does, the current state of the Army, and where the Army is headed, Fran Racioppi traveled deep into the center of the Pentagon for a conversation with Sergeant Major Mike Weimer, the 17th Sergeant Major of the Army and the first Green Beret selected for the role. The SMA defined professional warfighting and the importance of an all volunteer force. He broke down the art and science relationship between commissioned and non-commissioned officers. He shared how his experience in the Special Forces shadows prepared him for the limelight of the SMA role. And they talked about the future, including his vision for solving the recruiting challenge, how warfare is evolving from the kill chain to the kill web, how he's planning to retain the right people, and how the integration of Special Operations and the regular Army is more important now than ever. Highlights:0:00 Introduction2:53 The Army is busy 3:52 The Professional Warfighter11:40 People are the Army's weapons system 15:53 The relationship between Commanders and NCOs22:24 SMA Weimer's transition from the shadows25:55 The Army's recruiting challenges34:51 CTCs and the Kill Web40:12 Retaining the best and brightest43:50 Integrating Special Forces and the regular Army50:36 The Army's biggest opportunity52:17 Daily Foundations to SuccessQuotes: “Those that are committed, I remind them; the audio and video has got to match.” “All of the services are platform centric. The Army's platform is its people.” “The non-commissioned officer is the asymmetric advantage.” “The things that are usually the hardest in life are the things that are usually the most rewarding.” “Whatever you've done prior to coming into this seat is how you've prepared.” “We're on track to make our numbers this year….We need those numbers to be higher in upcoming years.” “I have a fair amount of combat…I've never been to war.” “You don't necessarily get do-overs in the fight that we're preparing for now.”“It's not just about retaining people; it's about retaining the right people.”“Standards and discipline can't just be some whimsical thing we throw around.”Take a listen, watch, or read our conversation with the Army's most senior non-commissioned officer, then head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform to catch up on our entire national security series from Washington, DC and Fort Liberty, NC. The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation. Learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media.

We reached out to our guest for this week's episode after he testified before Congress and used the opportunity to repeatedly highlight military human performance programs. He was also our first guest to tune in from the Pentagon Briefing Room. Troy Black is the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, making him the most senior NCO in the entire United States military. We were particularly interested in having him on when we saw that the #2 priority on his strategy document is Holistic Human Performance. SEAC Black assumed his current post as the 5th SEAC on Nov. 3rd, 2023 following his selection and service as the 19th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, he attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., in April of 1988 and attended the School of Infantry and Marine Corps Security Force School. Throughout his career, SEAC Black has been assigned numerous duties to include: Machine Gunner, Machine Gun Squad and Section Leader; Weapons Platoon Sergeant and Weapons Platoon Commander; Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST) Platoon Sergeant and Operations Chief, Series Gunnery Sergeant, DI School Instructor, and RTR Drill Master; First Sergeant, Sergeant Major, 3d Bn, 7th Marines, Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and Manpower and Reserve Affairs. He has deployed in support of Operation Just Cause, Operation Sea Soldier, Desert Storm/Desert Shield, and Sea Angel; Operation Iraqi Freedom II (OIF), Operation Bright Star, Operation Iraqi Freedom IV (OIF) ; Operation Enduring Freedom in 2010; WESTPAC 14.2 and Operation Inherent Resolve. SEAC Black has a Bachelor of Science in Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies from National American University and graduated from the Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy December of 2011.

Host Bill Hamblet talks with Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos A. Ruiz about recruiting, retention, and the Marine Corps warfighting culture.

What happens when a ninth-grade civics teacher decides to switch careers and becomes an attorney, CPA, or campaigns for an appointment to district court judge?Attorney and CPA Kimberly A. Herrick gives us a backstage pass into her dynamic career and journey as a Cabarrus County, NC, 2024 District 25 Court Judge - Seat 3 candidate who is redefining justice with empathy. This segment underscores the crucial role of empathy in judicial decisions, affecting not just the defendants but the entire community. She shares heartfelt personal stories and family influences that have shaped an intrinsic understanding of people. We also explore the challenges and triumphs of campaigning for judicial office, including innovative strategies for community engagement through social media and public appearances.  Listen in to learn why empathy is an indispensable quality for judges, and how this candidate's commitment to fair adjudication is making waves in the community.Support the Show. Watch: Unarmored Talk Playlist Mario's Socials: Parade Deck Support My Nonprofit: Still Serving, Inc. Email: host@unarmoredtalk.com

What does it take to escape post-war Vietnam and become a decorated Marine Sergeant Major?Listen to Retired Sergeant Major Chuong Nguyen share the final moments of his inspiring journey from Vietnam to America. Discover how his family's unwavering support fueled a life of resilience and service.A story of courage and hope!This episode offers a raw and intimate look at the challenges Chuong faced in his early life and how his military career profoundly shaped him.Guest Link:Part 1: https://youtu.be/Sp51OXySV8cLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuongnguyen1/Watch: https://youtu.be/Sp51OXySV8cSupport the Show. Watch: Unarmored Talk Playlist Mario's Socials: Parade Deck Support My Nonprofit: Still Serving, Inc. Email: host@unarmoredtalk.com

What does it take to escape post-war Vietnam and become a decorated Marine Sergeant Major?Get ready to witness the resilience, courage, and resourcefulness required in the relentless quest for freedom. From navigating treacherous seas to finding refuge on a remote island, retired Sergeant Major Chuong Nguyen joins me to recount his extraordinary journey.Experience the tension and desperation of Chuong's first escape attempt, the relief of reaching land, and the makeshift survival strategies on an island devoid of modern comforts. Feel the heartbreak of a shattered dream as Chuong and others are imprisoned for their efforts, only to be inspired by a second, daring escape plan orchestrated by his determined father.This episode offers a raw and intimate look at the challenges Chuong faced in his early life and how his military career profoundly shaped him.Guest Link:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuongnguyen1/Watch: https://youtu.be/Sp51OXySV8cSupport the Show. Watch: Unarmored Talk Playlist Mario's Socials: Parade Deck Support My Nonprofit: Still Serving, Inc. Email: host@unarmoredtalk.com

In this inspiring episode, our hosts Robert and Kyle, meet with Jake Stockdill, a Sergeant Major in the United States Army, at the Pearl and Pine Brewery, Sonoia, Georgia. Jake takes us along his Army journey, becoming a beacon for military leadership and camaraderie, while sharing valuable insights about successful team dynamics, the balance between an army senior enlisted while also being a parent of soldiers in the Army. Tracing Jake's military experiences and personal anecdotes, the episode emphasizes the essence of treating each other with maturity in a team environment and adhering to realistic expectations. Further talks center around how recreational activities foster a healthy, competitive spirit and bonding among soldiers, leading to improved unit effectiveness. Discussions also touch upon the impact of mentorship and societal readiness on the military life, and how pressure and accountability shape the serviceman's career and personal growth. Jake's narration provides a candid perspective on how leadership dynamics, accountability, and internal relationships shape the military journey. This episode also explores the interplay of training, readiness, and leadership within the military. It discusses how to maintain readiness standards and the significance of robust military leaders. Listen to this compelling journey of a Command Sergeant Major, shedding light on military culture, discipline, camaraderie, and responsibility in a challenging, ever-changing environment. Explore how the military life dovetails with personal experiences, molding individuals into effective leaders while leaving indelible marks on their lives and careers. _____________ Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-for-military-podcast/id1072421783 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3w4RiZBxBS8EDy6cuOlbUl #leadership #jakestockdill #Jake Stockdill - Leadership, Unity and the Evolution of Military Life #mentors4mil  #mentorsformilitary Mentors4mil Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mentors4mil Patreon Support: https://www.patreon.com/join/Mentors4mil  Intro music "Long Way Down" by Silence & Light is used with permission. Show Disclaimer: https://mentorsformilitary.com/disclaimer/