The Crucible - The JRTC Experience Podcast

052 S06 Ep 02 – Preparing US Army Engineers for LSCO w/Commandant of the US Army Engineer School, COL Clete Goetz & CSM Zach Plummer

 
The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the fifty-second episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Executive Officer Observer-Coach-Trainer for Task Force 5 (BDE Engineer BN), MAJ David Beale on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group. Today’s guests are the Commandant and Regimental Sergeant Major for the US Army’s Engineer School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, COL Joseph "Clete" Goetz and CSM Zachary Plummer. COL Goetz is the 100th Commandant at the USAES and coincidentally this episode will air in time for Regimental Week for the combat engineer community.
 
The US Army’s Engineer School was founded as the School of Engineering by General Headquarters Orders at Valley Forge on 9 June 1778. The USAES’ mission is to synchronize and integrate the doctrine, organization, training, material, leader development, personnel, and facilities (DOTMLPF) domains to ensure the Engineer Regiment is prepared to provide engineer support now and into the future. Their vision to field Regiments of tactically and technically competent Engineer warriors and leaders of character serving the commander and committed to overcome any challenge to the success of the team’s mission. The US Army Engineer School provides training that develops a wide variety of engineering skills including combat engineer, bridging, construction, geospatial, topography, diving, and firefighting. Their motto is “Essayons” or “Let Us Try.”
 
In this episode we discuss how the US Army Engineer Schoolhouse prepares US Army engineers for large-scale combat operations. Specifically, we talk how USAES coordinates with the JRTC team to incorporate lessons learned there into the curriculum at the schoolhouse. A timeless observation is that leaders usually arrive full of confidence and depart humbled with a leader book full of areas to sustain and areas to improve their craft. Leaders are shown the importance of getting “sets & reps” through multi-echelon training at home-station coupled with deliberate mission preparation, which requires efficient planning and specified priorities of rehearsals. Additionally, we discuss some of the major changes coming to the engineer community with the Joint Force of 2030 concept as well as breaching best practices as seen at the JRTC.
 
Part of S06 “Sappers Up…Into the Breach” 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.

JRTC COG & CSMOG Offer Congrats to Alumni & Current OCTs for Making the Centralized Selection List

Congratulations to our commissioned officers that are alumni and current serving Observer - Coach - Trainers for making the centralized selection list from the JRTC Team. The Commander of Operations Group, COL Matthew Hardman, and the CSM of Operations Group, CSM Michael Hall, send their warmest wishes. Your dedication and hard work have truly paid off, showcasing your exceptional leadership skills. Here's to continued success and making a positive impact in all your endeavors.

051 S01 Ep 17 – Developing Leaders for Combat w/Two Seasoned Command Sergeant Majors, CSM(R) Nash & CSM(R) Donaldson

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the fifty-first episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today’s guests are two seasoned, former command sergeant majors, CSM(R) Adam Nash and CSM(R) Curt Donaldson. CSM(R) Nash is the former 4th Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major. CSM(R) Donaldson is the former 75th Ranger Regiment Command Sergeant Major, known as the Regimental Sergeant Major.
 
The 4th Infantry Division is a division of the United States Army based at Fort Carson, Colorado and was established in 1917 as a key member of the American Expeditionary Force for World War I. They have the Hollywood call-sign of “Iron Horse,” but are commonly called “Ivy Division,” and the motto of “Steadfast & Loyal.” The 75th Ranger Regiment, also known as Army Rangers or simply as Ranger Regiment, is the premier light infantry unit and special operations raid force within the United States Army Special Operations Command. Their lineage dates back to Roger’s Rangers during the French and Indian War in the 18th Century. Their motto is “Sua Sponte” or “Of Their Accord,” with their daily greeting of “Rangers Lead the Way.”
 
In this episode we discuss warfighting on the modern battlefield, the process of developing junior leaders, and the need to focus leaders on combat mindset. Specifically we talk changing our units’ fighting spirit from focused on garrison life to preparing for war. The modern Soldier’s mindset must embrace the warrior spirit as it is vital to success on the battlefield. Every Soldier from the individual rifleman in a fire team through to the staff at brigade, must change their mindset from “going to JRTC” or “going to the range” to “going to war” because that mindset is what’s going to win the day. Senior leaders have to prioritize establishing and maintaining a leader development program within their units. This includes mentorship between non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers, especially as it applies to standards.
 
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.

050 S01 Ep 16 - Using Technology as a Combat Multiplier on the Modern Battlefield w/DR Robert Semmens of the Army Research Laboratory

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the fiftieth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today’s guest is a Senior Research Fellow for the Army Research Laboratory at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Dr. Robert Semmens. He has a PhD from Stanford University in how people learn with technology.
 
The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL) is the U.S. Army's foundational research laboratory. The United States Military Academy (USMA) is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort during the Revolutionary War, as it sits on strategic high ground overlooking the Hudson River 50 miles (80 km) north of New York City. It is the oldest of the five American service academies and educates cadets for commissioning into the United States Army.
 
In this episode we discuss warfighting on the modern battlefield, the incorporation of technology as a combat multiplier, and preparing the force for AI centric warfare of the future. The science and technology team from ARL had four major take-aways for Army robotics of the future based on their observation of the rotation:
Time-scale matters, especially when comparing combat units to combat support units.
How are we going to man these units that oversee autonomous unmanned systems? How much training and education do these individuals need?
What does the Army needs manufactured vs. what does the Army need to train for proficiency as it applies to robotics?
How do we sustain this new force? What does the supply chain look like, especially as it pertains to contested logistics in LSCO?
 
The science and technology team from ARL usually doesn’t have very much interaction with the end-user, the warfighter, but were afforded the opportunity to spend nearly a week with the rotational training unit as they worked through the crucible that is the JRTC experience. This provided the team with invaluable insights into the actual needs of the warfighter as they work towards a variety of autonomous unmanned systems that can operate in groups effectively across a wide variety of support functions.
 
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.

049 S01 Ep 15 – Preparing the Army for the Next Fight w/GEN Andrew Poppas (Freedom 06)

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the forty-nineth 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 United States Army Forces Command, General Andrew Poppas.
 
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.”
 
General Andrew Poppas is the 24th commander of United States Army Forces Command at Fort Liberty, N.C. A native of Wisconsin, General Poppas graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned in 1988. He spent most of his career within XVIII Airborne Corps as well as numerous years on the joint staff.
 
In this episode we discuss warfighting, building lethality, and combat readiness of our formations. Specifically, we look at how = adopting a “fight tonight” mindset while simultaneously keeping an eye towards modernization will enable us to win the next fight. Combat training centers are critical for building lethality into our formations; leaders develop critical skills as they work through the friction of simulated combat. An area that is incredibly difficult, but equally important for leaders is master, is shifting from focusing “down and in” to “up and out” to assist your higher headquarters as well as adjacent unit coordination.
 
GEN Poppas states that his predecessor, GEN Garrett, identified that a gap in the Army’s preparations for large scale combat operations was preparing squads and platoons to win their first fight by getting back to the basics. He hopes that in his tenure the Army can collectively better prepare for transitions between phases of operations through staffs identifying multiple planning horizons. Battalions and brigades must become more predictable, synchronize operations across 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.

048 S12 Ep 04 – Combat Advisor Teams from Security Force Assistance Brigades Integrating US and Multi-National Partners in Large Scale Combat Operations w/ SFC Escalante & SFC Kelley

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the forty-eighth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today’s guests are part of a combat advisor team with 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, SFC Joseph Escalante and SFC Shelby Kelley.
 
Security force assistance brigades (SFABs) are specialized US Army units with the core mission to conduct advise, support, liaise and assess operations with allied and partner nations. These combat advisors are highly trained and among the top tactical leaders in the Army. Their work strengthens our allies and partners capacities and capabilities while supporting America's security objectives and the combatant commanders' warfighting needs.
 
The 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade is regionally aligned with the African continent partnered with U.S. Africa Command. The SFAB is a strategic game changer for the United States in Africa, providing hand-selected advisors capable of establishing an enduring presence in key countries and operating in any environment—enabling them to develop enduring relationships from the tactical to the strategic level. Simply put, the SFAB provides the United States with a capability no adversary can match. They have the Hollywood call-sign of “Saber” and the motto of “Everyone Fights” while they have the unofficial motto of “Ready for Crisis and Conflict.”
 
This episode explores the function of security force assistance brigades (SFABs) in large-scale combat operations across various domains. We delve into the challenges of operating as a small-unit that’s been given strategic objectives and the necessity that the team must function cohesively to achieve these critical objectives. Specifically, we address the integration of US forces and multinational partners to coordinate efforts against the enemy in large-scale combat operations. Notably, SFABs typically comprise 40% personnel with maneuver experience, while the remainder possess diverse capabilities, making SFABs highly versatile formations.
 
Part of S12 “The JIIMs of JRTC: Working with Our Unified Action Partners” series.
 
Don’t forget to check-out SFAC’s social media pages, their handles are ‘ArmySFAC’ on Facebook, ‘armysfabs’ on Twitter / X, and ‘armysfabs’ 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.

047 S12 Ep 03 – Multinational Expeditionary Operations during Large Scale Combat Operations w/CPT Will Happel of the British Army

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

046 S02 Ep 10 – TF Strike’s Large-Scale, Long-Range Air Assault w/COL Stultz, 2nd IBCT, 101st ABN DIV (AASLT)

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 guest is the Brigade Commander for 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), COL James Stultz.
 
The 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), which was activated on 1 July 1941 at Ft. Benning (now Ft. Moore), GA. The IBCT draws its infantry battalions primarily from the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment. They have the Hollywood call-sign of “Strike,” but commonly called “Five oh Duece,” and the motto of “Strike.” (The rest of the motto is “I fight where I am told, and win where I fight.”) They are easily identified by the black heart patches on their helmets dating back to preparation for the invasion of France in World War II and have been known by the enemy as the “Black Hearts Brigade.”
 
In this episode we discuss how leaders should prepare for large scale combat operations from an air assault perspective. Specifically, we discuss how the brigade with division assets was able to conduct the first large-scale, long-range air assault for nearly thirty years. Strike was able to lift an entire infantry battalion and various enablers simultaneously. The air assault task force then flew over seven hundred miles, utilizing several forward arming and refueling points (FARPs) before arriving at their area of operation.
 
Additionally, we look at how commanders and their staffs build training plans, standard operating procedures, and conduct countless rehearsals, staff exercises, and various field problems in preparation for conducting effective air assaults under combat conditions.
 
Part of S02 “If I Would Have Only Known” series.
 
Don’t forget to check-out the 101st Airborne Division’s social media pages for more information on large-scale, long-range air assaults, their handles are ‘101st Airborne’ on Facebook, ‘101stAASLTDIV’ on X, and ‘101stabndivaa’ 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.