The Crucible - The JRTC Experience Podcast

063 S01 Ep 21 – Developing Leaders for Combat at the Brigade through Corps Echelons w/LTG Stephen Smith

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the sixty-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 Deputy Commanding General of United States Army Forces Command, Lieutenant General Stephen Smith.
 
Forces Command is the largest United States Army command and provider of expeditionary, regionally engaged, campaign-capable land forces to combatant commanders. FORSCOM trains and prepares a combat ready, globally responsive total force in order to build and sustain readiness to meet combatant command requirements. The vision of Forces Command is to provide combat ready and globally responsive total Army forces that are well led, disciplined, trained, and expeditionary that will win in a complex world. Its organizations are expeditionary, campaign focused, and tailorable to provide combatant commanders the required capabilities to be decisive across the range of military operations. They have the Hollywood call-sign of “Freedom” and the motto of “Freedom’s Guardian.”
 
In this episode we discuss the necessity for our leaders and their formations to receive realistic, rigorous, and relevant training for combat across multiple domains as it’s key for success on tomorrow’s battlefields. Specifically, we look at the battalion through corps echelons requirement for such training as it is essential to prepare soldiers for the complexities of modern warfare across multiple domains. Battalions should focus on integrating small unit tactics with real-time intelligence and cyber capabilities, while brigades emphasize combined arms operations and interoperability with joint and coalition forces. Corps-level training should prioritize strategic planning, large-scale maneuver coordination, and multi-domain command and control to ensure dominance in a contested environment.
 
In testifying to Congress to justify the expense of a large-scale maneuver just prior to our entry into WWII, General George Marshall stated, “My God, Senator, that’s the reason I do it. I want the mistakes down in Louisiana, not over in Europe.” Today we continue this legacy of realistic, rigorous, and relevant training at the DoD’s combat training centers, such as the Joint Readiness Training Center. At home-station, this is done through the divisions managing their intensive training cycles and at the battalion and brigade echelons through becoming predictable, through synchronizing the warfighting functions, and set the conditions for subordinate units to succeed.
 
Part of S01 “The Leader’s Laboratory” series.
 
Don’t forget to check-out FORSCOM’s social media pages, their handles are ‘U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM)’ on Facebook, ‘FORSCOM’ on X, and ‘US Army FORSCOM’ 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.

062 S02 Ep 12 – Developing BDEs & Their Leaders for the Next Fight w/a Pre-BCT CMD & a Current BCT CDR

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the sixty-second episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today’s guests are a pre-command and incoming commander for 2nd Brigade Combat Team of 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), COL Anthony Gore and the current commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), COL Trevor Voelkel.
 
You may notice that this episode may look and sound different than our regular episodes. That’s because this was filmed expeditionary while the team was down at the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Ft. Moore, GA (formerly Ft. Benning, GA).
 
Established during the build-up of US forces in the Cold War, 2nd BCT / 10th MTN has been continually deployed in support of various contingencies around the world as well as six deployments during the Global War on Terror. They have the Hollywood call-sign of “Commando” and the motto of “Courage & Honor.” 1st BCT / 101st ABN started life as 327th Infantry Regiment in WWI and then came to the 101st ABN as a Glider Infantry Regiment. They are one of the most storied infantry brigades in the US Army, having fought in WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Op Desert Storm / Gulf War, and continuously during the GWOT. They have the Hollywood call-sign of “Bastogne” and the motto of “Honor & Country.”
 
In this episode we discuss developing leaders at echelon within our brigade combat teams for the next looming fight. Developing leaders at echelon within BCTs is essential for preparing our force to effectively navigate the complexities of large-scale combat operations across multiple domains. This development begins with comprehensive training programs that emphasize the integration of multi-domain capabilities, ensuring leaders understand how to coordinate and leverage assets across these domains. Leaders must be proficient in multi-domain operational planning and execution, capable of making informed decisions in high-pressure environments. Training scenarios at home-station should replicate the intensity and unpredictability of LSCO as seen at the CTCs, fostering adaptability, resilience, and innovative problem-solving skills. Additionally, leadership development must focus on enhancing communication and collaboration skills, enabling leaders to work seamlessly with joint and coalition forces. By investing in robust leadership training and fostering a culture of continuous learning, BCTs can cultivate a cadre of leaders who are well-prepared to face the dynamic challenges of modern warfare and effectively command operations across multiple domains.
 
Part of S02 “If I Would Have Only Known” 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.
 
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.

Large Scale Combat Operations Symposium of '24 Teaser 01

Please join us for the Large Scale Combat Operations Symposium of ’24 on Thursday, 8 August ‘24 at 0900-1100 CST. Hosted by the incoming Commanding General, BG Jason Curl and the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman on 8 August ‘24. Their guests are several majors and captains observer-coach-trainers with over 125 decisive action training environment rotations between them. The panel will discuss large scale combat operations executed at the company level, offering perspectives on a variety of topics including combined arms maneuver, transparent battlefield, fires, and contested logistics.
 
This panel will later air as an episode of ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience,’ with two additional episodes airing immediately following the symposium.  
  
Here's the hyperlink for the event: https://tinyurl.com/JRTC-LSCO-Symposium-24(CAC authentication required, unless prior coordination has been made for alternative dial-in options.)

061 S02 Ep 11 – Setting the Conditions for the BDE & BNs to Succeed in LSCO thru Staff Overmatch w/Devil 03, MAJ Tony Formica

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the sixty-first episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by MAJ James “Jim” Lee is the Brigade Executive Officer Observer-Coach-Trainer for the BDE Command & Control Task Force (BCT HQ) on behalf of the Commander of Operations Group. Today’s guest is the Brigade S-3 Operations Officer for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, MAJ Anthony “Tony” Formica. (MAJ Formica is a repeat offender of The Crucible, as he was on episode 13, titled “Field Grade Lessons Learned from Good Geronimo, 2-501st PIR.”)
 
Established during the fierce fighting in the Italian campaigns of World War II, 1st BDE / 82nd ABN was employed in multiple brush wars throughout the Cold War as well as in Operation Desert Storm and later as part of Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo before deploying in support of the Global War on Terror. They have the Hollywood call-sign of “Devil” and the motto of “Strike and Hold.”
 
In this episode we discuss setting the conditions for the BDE and BNs to succeed during large scale combat operations through staff overmatch. Leaders at all echelons must understand the amount of control and influence leaders must exert to be effective, grasping what you can’t control and not wasting resources in pursuit of it, understanding your area of operations and your sphere of influence within it, and lastly understanding the systems which drive all of these is critical. There’s a common “eureka” moment at the JRTC, when leaders realize that time is your number one “enemy” or concern, not the opposing force. The goal for leaders at all echelons must be to ensure that you’re not creating problems than you’re solving for your subordinates as well as your higher headquarters.
 
Part of S02 “If I Would Have Only Known” 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.
 
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.

060 S12 Ep 06 – Special Operations within Large Scale Combat Operations w/JRTC's Special Operations Training Detachment

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the sixtieth 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 Commander of the Special Operations Training Detachment for US Army Special Operations Command, COL Nathanael Joslyn and one of their special operation forces mentor, Mr. Tom Vogel.
 
The Special Operations Training Detachment (SOTD) at the Joint Readiness Training Center is crucial for preparing special operations forces and conventional forces for integrated combat operations. Responsible for orchestrating training rotations at both JRTC and the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, CA, the SOTD provides realistic, immersive training environments that replicate the complexities of modern warfare. By focusing on interdependence, integration, and interoperability (I3), the SOTD ensures that SOF and CF units can operate seamlessly together. Key aspects of their training include joint mission planning, execution of combined operations, and honing of specialized tactics and techniques, which are essential for mission success in diverse and challenging operational landscapes. The JRTC team’s call-sign is “Sierra” and NTC’s team is “Burro.”
 
In this episode we discuss special operations during large scale combat operations and the “SOF-CF I3” dynamic. Special operations forces-conventional forces interdependence, integration, and interoperability refers to the collaborative efforts between special operations forces and broader conventional forces, specifically the brigade combat team and any multi-national partners at JRTC and NTC. This framework aims to combine the unique capabilities of SOF, such as agility, precision, and specialized skills, with the larger-scale, sustained power and logistical support of conventional forces. The keys to success in SOF-CF I3 include clear communication, mutual understanding of capabilities and limitations, joint training exercises to build cohesion, and a unified command structure to ensure seamless coordination and effective mission execution.
 
Part of S12 “The JIIMs of JRTC: Working with Our Unified Action Partners” 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.
 
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.

059 S03 Ep 07 – The Life of a Grunt Leader: From a Ranger PFC to an Infantry Colonel w/COL Matthew Leclair

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the fifty-ninth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today’s guest is senior Army fellow at the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies. Following his current assignment, COL Matthew Leclair. Following his current assignment, he will assume command of the 196th Infantry Brigade, the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center at Ft. Shafter Hawaii.
 
The Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) is a premier training facility designed to enhance the readiness and interoperability of U.S. and allied military forces. Headquartered in Hawaii, it provides a realistic and challenging environment for joint and multinational training exercises. The center focuses on preparing forces for operations across the Indo-Pacific region, incorporating complex scenarios that address contemporary security challenges. By fostering collaboration among various military branches and international partners, the JPMRC plays a critical role in strengthening regional stability and preparedness. It hosts two major combat training center rotations per year, one in Alaska focused on arctic warfare and one in Hawaii focused on either jungle warfare or island hopping operations.
 
In this episode we discuss leadership lessons from a senior army leader that has risen from a private in 75th Ranger Regiment to a brigade combat team commander. COL Leclair’s journey highlights the importance of continuous self-improvement, mentorship, and the ability to lead by example, demonstrating that perseverance and commitment to excellence can pave the way for significant leadership roles. Specifically, we emphasize the crucial role that junior leaders—lieutenants, staff sergeants, and sergeants first class—play in the broader Army. They are the standard bearers, setting the tone and maintaining the standards for their units. These leaders are often on the front lines of implementation, ensuring that policies and procedures are followed and adapted as necessary. We also discuss the recurring themes of standard operating procedures and the use of standardized tools, such as pre-combat checks and pre-combat inspections. These systems and processes not only establish benchmarks for performance but also provide a framework that allows leaders to maintain operational effectiveness, even under the challenging conditions of sleep deprivation and high stress. By adhering to these established standards, junior leaders help ensure consistency, reliability, and preparedness across the force, reinforcing the Army's overall mission readiness and cohesion.
 
Part of S03 “Lightfighter Lessons” 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.

058 S11 Ep 06 – Spectre Team's Best Practices & Innovations w/Geronimo's Info War Cell

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the forty-sixth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by LTC Mason Thornal, the Battalion Commander of 1-509th IN (OPFOR) on behalf of the Commander of Operations Group. Today’s guests are members of Geronimo’s infamous Spectre Team, their information warfare team. MAJ Michael Wright, the Info War Cell Chief or officer-in-charge; CPT James Gardiner, the Deputy Chief and their space operations expert; and CW2 Christian Lehr, their electronic warfare expert.
 
1-509th IN BN is the opposing forces unit for the Joint Readiness Training Center, the infamous “Geronimo.” The information warfare cell focuses on leveraging information to achieve strategic objectives, often within military or intelligence operations. This includes activities such as cyber operations, psychological operations, and the dissemination of propaganda to influence, disrupt, or deceive adversaries. The cell analyzes and exploits data to gain a tactical advantage, protect critical information, and undermine enemy capabilities. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in countering misinformation and ensuring the integrity of its own communications and operations.
 
In this episode we focus on the employment of information warfare across multiple domains and various innovations that are helping transform our forces while in contact. We define innovation as our ability to turn ideas into valued outcomes and solutions with the goal of staying ahead of determined, and increasingly capable enemies on the modern battlefield. Specifically, we discuss the Joint Readiness Training Center’s new Innovations Initiative Program (I2P) to rapidly share the emerging trends and best practices for the employment of developing technologies into unit systems and processes through a controlled learning environment that is the crucible of the JRTC experience. The I2P includes JRTC’s budding innovations laboratory, which includes multiple 3D printers, drone pilot simulators, and other tools of the OPFOR trade.
 
Here’s why your team should consider volunteering to partner with JRTC’s I2P:
JRTC offers a comprehensive operational environment that is conducive to trying innovative solutions to realistic tactical problem sets.
Units are able to plan, execute, assess, and refine at operational speed against determined opponents.
Real-time OPFOR & OCT feedback from professionals that facilitate nine or more rotations per year on average.
Access to the innovations lab that offers the equipment, material, and most importantly the space to work.
 
Part of S11 “Conversations with the Enemy” 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.

057 S1 Ep 20 – Training to Fight and Win in Tomorrow's Fight w/MG Buzzard of the Maneuver Center of Excellence

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the fifty-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 Commanding General of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, MG Curtis Buzzard.
 
The Maneuver Center of Excellence was established in September 2011 when the US Army Armor Center and School moved from Ft. Knox, KY to Ft. Benning, GA (now Ft. Moore) in addition to the US Army Infantry Center and School. Fort Moore supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees and civilian employees on a daily basis. Established in 1918 as Camp Benning and in 1922 Camp Benning became Fort Benning. In 2023 the name was changed to honor LTG Hal Moore and his wife Julia Compton Moore.
 
In this episode we focus on training and leader development, an area that the Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) specializes in as it offers over 60 courses, ranging from Basic Combat Training to Ranger School to the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course (MCCC). We also discuss some of the modernization efforts being undertaken as the MCoE is the proponent for force modernization for brigade and below formations. Specifically discussed is the deliberate refocusing on brilliance of the basics of small unit tactics, seen especially during Infantry, armor, and cavalry soldiers’ One Station Unit Training that combines basic training with advanced individual training for a twenty-two-week program. Over the last two years, MCoE has striven to incorporate emerging trends and technologies into their courses offered so that Soldiers and leaders alike are able to successfully fight and win any conflict that the US finds itself in tomorrow. This includes incorporating the employment of small UAS and basic EW capabilities into OSUT as well as having guest speakers from current ongoing conflicts at MCCC.
 
Part of S01 “The Leader’s Laboratory” 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.