The Crucible - The JRTC Experience Podcast

008 S02 Ep 03 – Preparing Brigade Combat Teams for Success in Large Scale Combat Operations w/COL Sharp

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the eighth 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 commander of 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), COL Kevin Sharp. 1/101 ABN has an extensive and illustrious history dating back to trench-warfare in the Moselle River valley in 1917 and became one of the original members of the 101st Airborne in 1942 as their glider infantry regiment. They are easily identified by the clubs (not shamrocks) patches on their helmets dating back to preparation for the invasion of France in World War II and has the Hollywood call-sign of “Bastogne.”
 
In this episode they discuss some of the things that the Bastogne Brigade would have liked to have known prior to the start of their rotation as well as some of the keys to success they embodied. Specifically, Bastogne’s training glidepath that focused on re-honing their squads and platoons to be able to fire and maneuver during large scale combat operations while their staffs conducted concurrent deliberate planning for future operations. Additionally, they address being able to sustain the fight and how light infantry needs to plan to close the last 100 meters to their units for tactical resupply.
 
Part of S02 “If I Would Have Only Known” series.

007 S01 Ep 02 – Long Term Trends at Echelon within the Brigade Combat Team w/BG(R) Lehr

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the seventh 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 senior mentor at the Leader Training Program at the JRTC, BG(R) Jon Lehr. Coach Lehr was previously the JRTC COG from 2008 to 2010 and his last posting on active duty was as the commander of Joint Task Force North from 2013 to 2015. During his numerous times as part of the JRTC Team, he has seen the Army transition from air-land battle to counter-insurgency operations during mission readiness exercises to full-spectrum operations to unified land operations and now to large scale combat operations across multiple domains with decisive action.
He has been with the Leader Training Program for the last five years. The Leaders Training Program at the JRTC is a ten-day planning conference providing commanders and staff an opportunity to hone their military decision-making process skills and systems. The program is facilitated by retired, senior military planning coaches giving units best practices and lessons learned from previous iterations.
In this episode they discuss the various long-term trends at echelon within a brigade combat team and some recommendations to rectify some of the deficiencies.
 
Part of S01 “The Leader’s Laboratory” series.
 
For additional information and insights from this episode, please checkout 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
 
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.

006 S03 Ep 01 - Warfighting as a Ranger w/CSM Masters & MSG Bailey

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the fifth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today’s guests are the command sergeant major of 3rdBattalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, CSM Christopher Masters and the operations sergeant major, MSG Patrick Bailey. 3/75 RGR has a distinguished record since the battalion’s formation in 1984 but can trace its lineage back to Roger’s Rangers during the French and Indian War and later back to the creation of 3rdBattalion during the North African Campaign of World War II.
It was during D-Day of WWII that their unofficial motto of “Rangers Lead the Way” as they spearheaded the landing on Dog White Sector. Keeping with their heritage of often finding themselves alone, behind enemy lines, their official Regimental motto is “Sua Sponte” or “Of Their Own Accord.” Known as the world’s premier light infantry fighting force, Ranger Regiment specializes in joint special operations raids and joint forcible entry operations deep inside enemy territory in support of our country's policies and objectives.
In this episode they discuss the employment of light infantry warfighters in large scale combat operations and training for combat on the modern battlefield.
Part of S03 “Lightfighter Lessons” series.
 
For additional information and insights from this episode, please checkout 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
 
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.

005 S08 Ep 01 - Rotary-Wing Aviation in LSCO w/LTC Blanton & LTC Fuscellero

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the fourth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman and is joined by LTC Jesse Blanton, the Senior Trainer for Task Force Aviation. Today’s guest is the commander of 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, LTC Tony Fuscellero. 2-17 CAV has a long and notable lineage dating back to the train-up for World War I and was one of the first units in the U.S. Army to employ rotary-wing aircraft. 2-17 CAV has the Hollywood call-sign of “Out Front.” In this episode they discuss the employment of rotary-wing aviation in large scale combat operations and the evolution of tactics to be successful on the modern battlefield. Part of S08 “Aviator’s Corner” series. 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.
 
For additional information and insights from this episode, please checkout our Instagram page: https://instagram.com/the_jrtc_crucible_podcast
 
Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc
 
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.

004 S02 Ep 02 - Meet the Devil Brigade (1/82 ABN) w/COL Kleisner

JRTC is pleased to present this episode of ‘The Crucible.’ Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today’s guest is the commander of 1st IBCT, 82nd ABN, COL Theodore Kleisner. In this episode they discuss some of the things that the Devil BDE would have liked to have known prior to the start of this LTP as well as how the CTCs prepare BCTs to succeed in modern warfare. 

003 S02 Ep 01 - Meet Task Force Thunderbolt, 79th IBCT (CA ARNG) w/COL Lau

The JRTC is pleased to present the third 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 commander of 79th IBCT (CA ARNG), COL Randy Lau.  In this episode they discuss some of the things that the Thunderbolt Team would've liked to have known prior to the start of their rotation as well as some of the differences between an active duty rotation versus an ARNG rotation.

002 S11 Ep 01 - Meet the Army’s Premier OPFOR & Common Myths of Geronimo w/LTC Fitzgerald

The JRTC is pleased to present the second episode to air on ‘The Crucible.'  Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today’s guest, LTC Brendan Fitzgerald, is the commander of 1st Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment, the infamous “Geronimo.” In this episode they discuss Geronimo’s primary mission as well as some of the common myths surrounding Geronimo.

001 S01 Ep-01 What is JRTC & The Evolution of Training w/BG David Gardner

The JRTC is pleased to present the first episode to air on ‘The Crucible.’ Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today’s guest is the Commanding General & former COG, BG David Gardner. In this episode they lay the foundation for the episodes to come as they talk about the purpose of the Joint Readiness Training Center and the evolution of training requirements in recent history to meet the requirements to win on the battlefield of tomorrow.