092 S01 Ep 32 – The Backbone of the Battlefield: Command Sergeants Major in Large-Scale Combat w/CSM Oracio Pena and CSM Michael Hall

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the ninety-second episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Task Force Senior for the BDE Command & Control (BCT HQ), LTC Timothy Price on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today’s guests are two senior command sergeants major, CSM Oracio Pena and CSM Michael Hall. CSM Pena is the Post Command Sergeant Major for the Joint Readiness Training Center. And CSM Hall is the former Command Sergeant Major of Operations Group (CSMOG) at the JRTC.

 

In this episode, delve into the critical role of Command Sergeants Major (CSMs) in large-scale combat operations (LSCO), emphasizing how their responsibilities have shifted significantly from previous counterinsurgency conflicts. Unlike the Global War on Terror (GWOT) era, where CSMs frequently engaged directly in tactical-level fights, LSCO demands that they operate at the brigade and division levels to ensure synchronization of sustainment, logistics, and mission execution. The discussion highlights how CSMs serve as key advisors to their commanders, focusing on maintaining operational tempo, enforcing discipline, and ensuring sustainment operations keep pace with maneuver elements. This episode stresses that effective CSMs must actively engage with their staff, understand logistical constraints, and provide mentorship to ensure that friction points—especially in sustainment and medical evacuation—are addressed before they become mission failures.

A significant theme throughout the conversation is the importance of proactive leadership and presence. CSMs are not simply battlefield observers but are expected to shape unit culture, mentor leaders at echelon, and enforce standards that directly impact combat effectiveness. The episode underscores the need for CSMs to actively participate in staff planning, particularly during the military decision-making process (MDMP), rehearsals, and sustainment operations. Another key takeaway is the role of CSMs in refining unit training at home station to prepare soldiers for the scale and complexity of LSCO. The discussion concludes by emphasizing that CSMs must move beyond their traditional comfort zones, focusing less on small-unit leadership and more on the broader operational picture, ensuring their units remain combat-ready and function effectively within a larger joint and coalition force.

 

Part of S01 “The Leader’s Laboratory” series.

 

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“The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.