Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Off the Radar, Special Operations Training Detachment

In this episode of OTR, MAJ Casey Phillips, a career SOF Logistician and past NTC Observer, Coach, and Trainer, shares his experiences from the SOF community. We explore how special operations logistics operate, balancing speed, knowledge, and flexibility. From improvised resupply in austere environments to integrating with conventional forces during large-scale operations, SOF logisticians ensure that elite units—and the broader joint force—can sustain momentum in complex missions. Whether it’s supporting a small team deep behind enemy lines or enabling large-scale operations alongside conventional units, the logistics professionals working behind the scenes prove that sometimes the most critical part of the mission is the part no one sees.

As the calendar turns and a new training year begins, Special Operations Training Detachment is sharpening the force for the challenges ahead. In the vast training environment at NTC, Fort Irwin, CA, innovation and fundamentals are not competing priorities — they are pillars of readiness.

This episode dives into how the detachment is setting the tone for the year by strengthening ARSOF integration, accelerating modernization, and recommitting to the core skills that define elite performance and success.

In the episode of OTR, MAJ Matt Song (Burro Team OIC) and Keegan (Special Forces Field Team OIC) join us as we discuss some recent rotational unit rends and the current state of SOF at the National Training Center (NTC).

We continue our discussion in part two with MAJ Weston Rich as he gives his opinions on ARSOF in LSCO at NTC and his final takeaways from his time at SOTD-West.

In this episode, we chat with MAJ Weston Rich, a former Burro alumni and creator of the OTR podcast. He shares his perspective of where SOF and CTCs are and how he envisions the future. We also talk about the genesis of OTR and how it has evolved to what it is now.

This is the follow up from our initial discussion with the Goldminer Command Team. Here we continue discussing ARSOF CFI3 (Integration, Interoperability, and Interdependence) while also getting unique insight on the challenges that a CSSB and BSB face here at NTC.

Goldminer 07 and 40 discuss the opportunities for future collaboration between ARSOF and Logisticians at NTC and how that relationship can be transferred to real world operations.

This is part one of a two part discussion with Goldminer 07 and 40, the lead Logistician Trainers at NTC. Both LTC Eric Shockley and CSM Krista Peterson are career logisticians with a vast amount of knowledge and experience at both NTC and Army sustainment operations.

In this episode of Off the Radar, we dive into the unique role Army logisticians play in supporting Special Operations Forces (SOF) at the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin. As the battlefield becomes increasingly complex and multi-domain, the demands on sustainment professionals grow sharper and more critical.

Join us as we talk with Goldminer 07 and 40, LTC Eric Shockley and CSM Christa Petersen about how logistics directly impacts mission success in high-intensity, joint-force training environments. From logistic distribution in denied terrain to expeditionary maintenance and austere medical support, this episode explores how logisticians adapt, innovate, and execute under the toughest simulated combat conditions in the Army.

Whether you're a seasoned sustainment leader or a new 92-series Soldier, this conversation sheds light on the behind-the-scenes efforts that keep SOF and Conventional Forces ready, responsive, and resilient at the point of friction.

This is part two of a two-part episode focused on Special Operations Force Integration Interoperability and Interdependence, lessons learn at the Detachment and Company level, educating the National Training Center Operations Group on SOF capabilities and SOF’s role in Large Scale Combat Operations. SOF units, chiefly Special Forces Companies (Advanced Operating Base or AOB) conducted numerous rotations annually at the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center working along side of conventional forces. In this episode SFC Gilgenast shares his experiences working as the Burro Team Operations NCO and later Sergeant Major. . About the Guest: SFC Erik Gilgenast: Grow up in a military family. His father a 33-year Army aviator, allowed Erik to grow up in various locations around the world. Having enlisted in the delayed entry program, upon graduation from high school in Germany, Erik entered service. Calling Colorado home, and meeting his wife in Colorado. Erik has operational experience in CENTCOM, EUCOM, and AFRICOM. He has served both as a conventional infantryman and a Special Forces communications sergeant. About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is the of SOF Plans Chief at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command This episode covers:

- understanding your regimental history, SF history through knives: V-42, Fairbairn, Yarbrough

- knowing OSS, 1SSF, and other Special Operations forces that came before Special Forces

- appreciating SOF/SF history and the people and families that came before the current generation

- work life balance in SF, understanding what is important and knowing when to devote time to your family and when you need to devote time to work

- know when you need to take care of ourselves and family, so you don’t get burnt out

- re-charging through a hobby to be a better Soldier and Leader

- using a hobby or business to increase time management and leadership abilities

- prepare yourself for when you will leave the military

- continue to develop your knowledge and skills of being a Soldier and Leader through self study Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part one of a two-part episode focused on Special Operations Force Integration Interoperability and Interdependence, lessons learn at the Detachment and Company level, educating the National Training Center Operations Group on SOF capabilities and SOF’s role in Large Scale Combat Operations. SOF units, chiefly Special Forces Companies (Advanced Operating Base or AOB) conducted numerous rotations annually at the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center working along side of conventional forces. In this episode SFC Gilgenast shares his experiences working as the Burro Team Operations NCO and later Sergeant Major. About the Guest: SFC Erik Gilgenast: Grow up in a military family. His father a 33-year Army aviator, allowed Erik to grow up in various locations around the world. Having enlisted in the delayed entry program, upon graduation from high school in Germany, Erik entered service. Calling Colorado home, and meeting his wife in Colorado. Erik has operational experience in CENTCOM, EUCOM, and AFRICOM. He has served both as a conventional infantryman and a Special Forces communications sergeant. About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is the of SOF Plans Chief at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command. This episode covers:

- Dealing with being a geo-bachelor while serving at Fort Irwin and taking care of the soldiers within your formation

- Roles and responsibilities as the Burro Team Operations Sergeant, and the Burro Team Sergeant Major fo

- appropriate use of SOF units within LSCO

- SOF-CF I3 with NTC OPS GRP and ensuring NYC scenario design makes sense for SOF training

- comparing what is focused on for SOF training versus conventional units training at NTC

- SOF area of operations compared to conventional, SOF bringing mass and supporting the joint fight

- Coaching points from Burro OPS SGT- analog products such as synch matrix, decision matrix, logstat, etc ; should have digital and analog

- OC/Ts learn from training units

- Positive mental attitudes increases the training value, engaged leadership that sets the standard

- understand the basics and execute the basics, use your Ranger handbook Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part two of a two-part episode focused on Special Operations Psychology Operations executing Combat Training Center rotations specially the National Training Center. SOF PSYOP’s role in Large Scale Combat Operations, executing multiple domain operations and integrating with ARSOF and conventional forces. SOF PSYOP executing information operations ins training environment. . About the Guest: SSG Phil Smith: SOF PSYOPer from First PSYOP Group. Prior to that he served as an Infantryman and then before that an Air Force C-17 mechanic. Phil has SOF PSYOP operational experience in SOUTHCOM and has served as a PSYOP OC/T for 2 years. Phil went ARSOF to work in a career field that allowed him to make a difference in support of the Nation’s Objectives. About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is the of SOF Plans Chief at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command This episode covers:

- methods to influence the information domain: print media, social media, broadcast media, etc

- influence operations are trainable at NTC, role players can be influence to support opposing force or coalition force

- NTC constantly changes and improves and training becomes more realistic and challenging every rotation

- integration early and often is key to success when working with other units, MOSs, branches, etc

- SOF Civil Affairs and SOF PSYOP should work hand in hand, they mutually supporting roles

- SOF and Conventional Forces, must share information and understand each others objectives so that they don’t accidentally degrade each other but instead support each other

- risk to force and risk to mission can be decreased through effective use of influence operations to increase likelihood of mission success

- PSYOPers of all ranks need to be able to speak to a Commander and outline what PSYOP can do for them

- PSYOPers embedding with SFOD-A, when it makes sense, they need to be prepare for austere conditions and provide PSYOP input to the detachment level

- fundamentals of a PSYOPer, understand how to read an OPROD, find the PSYOP tasks and authorities and develop plan to execute those tasks, understand the modalities of information operations, train on offensive and defensive information operations

- understand your operational area

- blacksmith bbq, having a hobby to improve your performance at work, and potentially grow into a business Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part one of a two-part episode focused on Special Operations Psychology Operations executing Combat Training Center rotations specially the National Training Center. SOF PSYOP’s role in Large Scale Combat Operations, executing multiple domain operations and integrating with ARSOF and conventional forces. SOF PSYOP executing information operations ins training environment. . About the Guest: SSG Phil Smith: SOF PSYOPer from First PSYOP Group. Prior to that he served as an Infantryman and then before that an Air Force C-17 mechanic. Phil has SOF PSYOP operational experience in SOUTHCOM and has served as a PSYOP OC/T for 2 years. Phil went ARSOF to work in a career field that allowed him to make a difference in support of the Nation’s Objectives. About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is the of SOF Plans Chief at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command. This episode covers:

- comparing training for PSYOP to operational PSYOP

- PSYOP integrating into SF AOB at a CTC, give a capabilities brief and build rapport

- add value to the AOB staff by getting involved in the staff functions and working groups, leverage special skill sets and knowledge you have to provide value

- Tactical Deception (TAC-D) vs Deception in Support of Operations (DISO): TAC-D creates an action in the enemy force, DISO used to protect OPSEC

- use information operations to create effects now (in near real time)

- SOF direct action raid example: DISO- protects planning and execution of raid, TAC-D influence enemy to move away from objective area

- deception mine field example

- NTC has pre-approved information operations series, don’t reinvent the wheel, use what is already available, share information and ensure AOB knows what you know

- messaging can get approved through higher In 24-48hours at NTC, messaging must be forecasted

- measures of performance and effectiveness must be identified prior to the message going out, have a baseline understand of environment and decision points for messaging and information operations Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part two of an episode focused on rotation 25-06 at the National Training Center where 7th SFG (A) sent 3 SF Soldiers to serve as the Special Operation Forces Liaison Element (SOFLE). This was not a typical rotation but still enabled Special Operation Forces – Conventional Forces Integration Interoperability and Interdependence. SOF builds mass and produces outsized effects from it’s formation size. This is true even from a SOFLE, demonstrating credibility and value to the conventional force. About the Guest: MAJ Matthew Song: Served at a Lieutenant with 10th Mountain Division before becoming Special Forces. Served as a Detachment Commander in 1st BN, 1st SFG (A) in Okinawa, Japan and as a SF Company Commander in 2nd BN, 1st SFG (A) in Joint Base Lewis McChord. Sent the last year as the SOTD AOB-W “Burro Team” exercise control director and J3, his next assignment is the Burro Team OIC. About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is the of SOF Plans Chief at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command This episode covers:

- What are the DIV and BDE CDR focused on? BDE CDR – combining arms in the close fight; DIV CDR – providing intelligence, integrating fires, forecasting logistics; SOF fits neatly into the priorities of the DIV CDR

- SOF holistically can answer the mail for the CJSOTF CDR and DIV CDR simultaneously through multi-layered mutually supporting lines of effort

- SOFLE must understand what Command level cares about what information at what time

- SOF provides the most value to the Joint Force through focusing efforts on DIV level objectives and targeting; SOF actions have limited effects on BDE close fight

- SOF is interdependent on conventional forces for logistics and medical support

- BDE become comfortable to conduct kinetic fires on behalf of SOF when SOF requested fires with non-standard observations

- SOFLE splitting between BDE TOC and TAC, managing communications equipment and personnel between multiple footprints

- SOFLE SITREP enabled AOB and SOTF to understand situation and communicate requirements

- Sharing Common Operating Picture; SOFLE used digital COP to share BDE information to AOB, manpower is critical to maintain these multiple systems and must be balanced with other demands Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part one of an episode focused on rotation 25-06 at the National Training Center where 7th SFG (A) sent 3 SF Soldiers to serve as the Special Operation Forces Liaison Element (SOFLE). This was not a typical rotation but still enabled Special Operation Forces – Conventional Forces Integration Interoperability and Interdependence. SOF builds mass and produces outsized effects from it’s formation size. This is true even from a SOFLE, demonstrating credibility and value to the conventional force. About the Guest:

MAJ Matthew Song: Served at a Lieutenant with 10th Mountain Division before becoming Special Forces. Served as a Detachment Commander in 1st BN, 1st SFG (A) in Okinawa, Japan and as a SF Company Commander in 2nd BN, 1st SFG (A) in Joint Base Lewis McChord. Sent the last year as the SOTD AOB-W “Burro Team” exercise control director and J3, his next assignment is the Burro Team OIC. About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is the of SOF Plans Chief at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command. This episode covers:

- Informing for the force via this podcast, USASOC lessons learned, and written After Action Reviews

- SOFLE – what capabilities need to be in that element and the type of personnel to consider

- Producing SOF actions through constructed / simulated effects since there was no live SOF elements taking part on the ground during the rotation

- Communications architecture for SOFLE to communicate with higher SOF headquarters and how to interplays with conventional communications

- Digital force protection considerations, inclusion in the written AARs, camouflage

- Building systems that can survive in a comms denied environment, through use of a TACSOP

- SOFLE can integrate with the CF BDE and assist in their military decision-making process and get SOF capabilities to the forefront of CF CDR’s mind, feeding the BDE’s OODA loop

- Understanding command relationships, SOFLE is a coordinating relationship; SOFLE must monitor operations, coordinate, advise, and assist the conventional force; beyond those duties SOFLEs should build rapport, demonstrate creditably, and provide value Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part 2 of a 2-part of the collaboration with Pineland Underground podcast where MAJ Maicke and SFC Coach interview MAJ Ficken, CPT Rich, and SFC Wade of Burro Team, the SOF Observer Coach Trainer team at the National Training Center. This interview focused on training combat ready and lethal Special Operations Forces highlighting the value of training at a Combat Training Center through lessons learned and describing trends observed by OC/Ts. Additionally, giving insight in ways to prepare for a rotation, what Large Scale Combat in a Multi-Domain environment might look like, and more. Off the Radar thanks PU and USAJFKSWC for supporting SOTD’s push to educate and inspire the force. About the Guest:

MAJ Phil Ficken commissioned into the Infantry and found his way to Special Forces. He served in 5th SFG (A) with operational experiences in CENTCOM as SOF and conventional. MAJ Ficken has overseen 12 ARSOF rotations at NTC and JRTC. CPT Weston Rich commissioned into the Infantry later switching to Special Forces. He served in 1st SFG (A) and worked at NTC as both an OC/T and SOF planner. Weston has operational experience in INDOPACOM and CENTCOM with SOF and conventional forces. SFC Keith Wade is a Team Sergeant OC/T for Burro Team. He is an 18C Engineer Sergeant from 1st SFG (A) and has operational experience in INDOPACOM and CENTCOM. Keith has served on multiple SFOD-As and as a sniper instructor for 1st SFG (A). About the Hosts:

MAJ James Maicke commissioned in the Infantry then became Special Forces serving in 3rd SFG (A) as a CPT and 5th SFG (A) as a MAJ. He has served in multiple theaters both in the conventional and SOF. He is currently finishing his time as a Special Operations Recruiter. SFC Clay Coash is currently a Psychological Operations Senior Leader’s Course instructor. He has operational experience in multiple theater across the world. Prior to being a PSYOP NCO, Clay served in the Marine Corps during the 1990s and during a break in service as a country radio DJ. This episode covers:

- Comparing CTCs for ARSOF training value to the ARSOF Training Center at WSMR, NM; biggest difference is CTCs have dedicated OPFOR, larger backside support

- SOF training enables creativity through allowing SOF units to choose from multiple training venues and methods: including RMT

- ARSOF units train outside of CTC training areas: conducting infrastructure assessments, simple sabotage, influence operations, etc.

- Basics: off site comms shots, terrain masking, shoot, move, communicate, sustain, medicate, principles of patrolling; vehicle load out SOPs, camouflage, rehearsals on maneuver, planning, etc; integrating fires (call for fire), issuing guidance

- Lessons learned and trends: understanding digital force protection, teams improve over time, simple tasks become harder as rotation goes on and fatigue sets in, understanding the environment and taking prudent risks

- Doing the hard right over the easy wrong, make decisions that make tactical sense and don’t hit the easy button

- Understanding environment and what is required in that environment and how to best maneuver

- Don’t get compliance or get comfortable, that is what gets Soldiers killed

- Successes at NTC: long range dismounted winter mountain movement, tandem free fall infiltration of Space Soldier, drone grenade drops, passing control of loitering munition, downed drone example of synchronizing SOF and CF to mutually support each other

- ARSOF trains as the opposing force every rotation

- CTCs provides training on SOF-CF I3 to help conventional force and SOF understand each other and aid in recruiting future ARSOF Soldiers Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part 1 of a 2-part of the collaboration with Pineland Underground podcast where MAJ Maicke and SFC Coach interview MAJ Ficken, CPT Rich, and SFC Wade of Burro Team, the SOF Observer Coach Trainer team at the National Training Center. This interview focused on training combat ready and lethal Special Operations Forces highlighting the value of training at a Combat Training Center through lessons learned and describing trends observed by OC/Ts. Additionally, giving insight in ways to prepare for a rotation, what Large Scale Combat in a Multi-Domain environment might look like, and more. Off the Radar thanks Pineland Underground and USAJFKSWC for supporting SOTD’s push to educate and inspire the force. About the Guest: MAJ Phil Ficken commissioned into the Infantry and found his way to Special Forces. He served in roles from Detachment Commander, AOB Commander, and Staff Officer in 5th SFG (A) with operational experiences in CENTCOM as SOF and conventional. MAJ Ficken served as Burro Team’s J3 for one year and as the OIC for one year overseeing over 12 ARSOF rotations at NTC and JRTC. CPT Weston Rich commissioned into the Infantry later switching to Special Forces. He served as a Detachment Commander in 1st SFG (A) and worked at NTC as both an OC/T and SOF planner. Weston has operational experience in INDOPACOM and CENTCOM with SOF and conventional forces. SFC Keith Wade is a Team Sergeant OC/T for Burro Team. He is an 18C Engineer Sergeant from 1st SFG (A) and has operational experience in INDOPACOM and CENTCOM. Keith has served on multiple SFOD-As and as a sniper instructor for 1st SFG (A). About the Hosts: MAJ James Maicke commissioned in the Infantry then became Special Forces serving in 3rd SFG (A) as a CPT and 5th SFG (A) as a MAJ. He has served in multiple theaters both in the conventional and special operations. He is currently finishing his time as a Special Operations Recruiter. SFC Clay Coash is currently a Psychological Operations Senior Leader’s Course instructor. He has operational experience in multiple theater across the world. Prior to being a PSYOP NCO, Clay served in the Marine Corps during the 1990s and during a break in service as a country radio DJ. This episode covers:

- SOTD task organization, role of an OC/T and value of training at a CTC

- Interoperability of SOF with CF and partners forces (PF) through shared training experiences

- LSCO: CF against a peer/near peer advisory of equivalent size and how SOF fits into these operations by deep sensing, targeting high priority targets, and enable MDO in the Division deep areas by with and through partners

- CTCs: 10 rotations a year, 8 focused on Brigade and SOF Companies, 1 focused on Division level and SOF Battalion (SOTF), and 1 focused on SOF Group leave (CJSOTF)

- Training the basics: teams that do the most planning and preparation are the most successful; be off natural lines of drift, camouflage, use micro terrain, principles of maneuver are the same mounted or dismounted

- Trends: over reliance on phones / ATAK for planning or communicating, analog products increase shared understanding

- Don’t train PF on unsustainable platform (weapon system, planning system, etc). Use what the PF as accessible

- Understanding the operational environment and adversary’s capabilities, night vision, thermals, sensors of all kinds, etc

- SOF integration with PF and role players, PF plays as host nation forces and role players are that unit’s leadership; role players fulfilling roles in the host nation government, as local civilians, etc

- SOF integration with CF happens at the AOB level and through a liaison element at the Brigade Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part 2 of a 2-part of the collaboration with WarDocs podcast where MSgt (R) Steve Cum and COL (R) Doug Soderdahl interview SFC Mondrian Bogert. This interview focuses on Special Operations Medical training, specifically Special Forces, at the Combined Training Centers: The National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). Combat medicine saves lives and requires non-medics as well as medics. From care under fire through evacuation the skills, equipment, and knowledge needed to be successful at treating patients and getting your fellow service members home.

About the Guest:

SFC Mondrian Bogert: Mo is a Special Forces 18D or medical sergeant. He served in the 82nd Airborne as an infantryman prior to graduating the SF Qualification Course. He served as a medical sergeant in 10th SFG (A) conducting multiple training and operations in EUCOM. Mo has nearly 2 years of experience as an SF Observer Coach, Training with over a dozen rotations at NTC and JRTC overseeing multiple medical scenarios including MASCAL and prolonged causality care.

This episode covers:

- Partner force treatment and transportation, dilemma when to stop treatment on a patient to conserve resources for patients that can be care for

- Non-standard CASEVAC examples: use of partner force, use of civilian networks, use of non-medical transportation asset at risk of losing that asset

- Actions to take when you cannot get to friendly lines, find alternative means to treat patients including locations to hold and care for patient

- Understand all options to accomplish a task such as CASEVAC, create a PACE for transport and understand risks and consequences for using each of those options

- Non-medics providing assistance to medics: understanding Care Under Fire = priority security and massing fires, Tactical Combat Casualty Care = knowing MARCH and how to conduct interventions until 18D is available take and record vitals, understand when to stay out of the 18Ds way, familiarity with medical equipment and interventions

- Medical cross training is paramount so all Soldiers are prepared to execute combat trauma medicine, this includes understanding where equipment is in an aide bag, truck box, prolonged care bag, etc.

- Replication of wounds from indirect fire, small UAS, airborne munitions, RAID

- Challenge the SOF medics to motivate them to leave the CTC with a desire to self-study and cross train their Detachment to be more combat ready

- Resilience is extremely important for combat medics, ability to be calm in a stressful situation, grit to not quit and push through for your team, being mentally prepared for those situations beforehand

- Flexibility and foresight: being able to forecast what medical equipment is needed and flexible enough to execute with what you have on hand

- Integration with conventional forces and plan for tactical ground CASEVAC with link up with conventional M113s at a predetermined Ambulance Exchange Point

- Field expeditated medicine Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part 1 of a 2-part of the collaboration with WarDocs podcast where MSgt (R) Steve Cum and COL (R) Doug Soderdahl interview SFC Mondrian Bogert. This interview focuses on Special Operations Medical training, specifically Special Forces, at the Combined Training Centers: The National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). Combat medicine saves lives and requires non-medics as well as medics. From care under fire through evacuation the skills, equipment, and knowledge needed to be successful at treating patients and getting your fellow service members home. About the Guest:

SFC Mondrian Bogert: Mo is a Special Forces 18D or medical sergeant. He served in the 82nd Airborne as an infantryman prior to graduating the SF Qualification Course. He served as a medical sergeant in 10th SFG (A) conducting multiple training and operations in EUCOM. Mo has nearly 2 years of experience as an SF Observer Coach, Training with over a dozen rotations at NTC and JRTC overseeing multiple medical scenarios including MASCAL and prolonged causality care. This episode covers:

- Depth of training for a Special Forces Medic (18D) compared to a conventional Combat Medic (68W), 68Ws learn trauma care to get patient to higher care; 18Ds are trained in trauma care, to prolong care, and conduct preventive care

- Wound sets 18Ds can handle and how that is trained at the CTCs, multi-system trauma, burns (electrical, chemical, or thermal), head injuries, unstable patients

- 18Ds are trained to be medical managers and cross train their team, the Detachment members conduct the treatment and inventions on the patient while the 18D manages the overall care

- Prolonged causality care scenarios: important skills to extend care 24-72 hours, early vitals tracking and watching signs and symptoms; this should be accomplished by the non-18Ds on the team and managed by the 18Ds; and understanding mechanism of injury

- Integration of Telemedicine into CTCs: telemedicine is available but not dictated as a requirement, helps break out from subjectivity of treatment of patient

- Vital trends lead medical professionals to diagnoses which leads to treatment plans

- Interoperability of medics from joint force especial joint SOF medics; this is limited at CTCs to when joint SOF elements attend CTCs which is not often; most joint SOF medics attend same medical training as 18Ds but not all

- USSOCOM Directive 350-29 SOF standards of SOF medical interoperable for the joint force

- Requirement to explain to the conventional force what a SOF medic provides to demonstrate value to the conventional force, cross training on medicine with conventional forces including 68Ws Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part 2 of a 2-part interview focused on the Targeting Process and Joint Fires. Targeting is not only a means for putting indirect fire or air support onto a specific target at a specific time. Targeting is a holistic approach to bring effects at the right time and place to achieve a desired outcome. This includes lethal and non-lethal as well as kinetic and non-kinetic means to effect the enemy or the civil component. The outcome of the targeting process is used to drive operations and move personnel, equipment, and or capabilities to the right location at the right time to achieve the desired endstate. The Targeting Process and integration of Joint Fires is trained in a Multi-Domain Large Scale Combat scenario at the Combat Training Centers to prepare Special Operation and the Army for the first battle of the next war. 

About the Guest:

SFC Dillon Luedtke: Dillon grow up watching his father, an Airborne Artilleryman, deploying multiple times, ultimately leading Dillon to seek out a life of service as well with a passion for the Airborne and fires community leading him to Special Forces. Dillon is an 18C Engineer SGT with training in Joint Firepower Course and Joint Fires and Effects Course. Dillion has operational experience in CENTCOM and AFRICOM with 3rd SFG (A).

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Joint targeting: land, air, maritime, and SOF components work together to allocate resources to targets in time and space with specific desired effects; this process can be replicated at the Detachment level

- Convergence windows: Joint/conventional force identifies time and space on battlefield for each supporting effort to execute operation to support main effort

- D3A: decide, detect, deliver, assess: SOF adds value in the assessment phase by being able to provide collateral damage or battle damage assessments, or confirm those assessments, including CA and PSYOPs roles

- Challenges for ARSOF regarding targeting and fires, generally SF AOBs target working groups do not have all ideal elements integrated into the targeting process, needs to at a minimum have all war fighting functions represented

- Requesting fires at the appropriate time and place with the right resources to mitigate risk to mission and force

- Consider sustainability for elements providing fire or air support

- Understanding the enemy MLCOA and MDCOA when desired effects occur, will the terrain you are on be targeted by enemy as suspected FO position

- ARSOF must integrate as early as possible with conventional and joint force, building rapport and being seen as a team member

- Prepare for CTCs and improve understanding of targeting by reading doctrine, send people to get institutionally trained  

- Building relationships with conventional forces, air component and maritime components to develop training opportunities

- targeting includes all domains: air, land, maritime, cyber, and space

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part 1 of a 2-part interview focused on the Targeting Process and Joint Fires. Targeting is not only a means for putting indirect fire or air support onto a specific target at a specific time. Targeting is a holistic approach to bring effects at the right time and place to achieve a desired outcome. This includes lethal and non-lethal as well as kinetic and non-kinetic means to effect the enemy or the civil component. The outcome of the targeting process is used to drive operations and move personnel, equipment, and or capabilities to the right location at the right time to achieve the desired endstate. The Targeting Process and integration of Joint Fires is trained in a Multi-Domain Large Scale Combat scenario at the Combat Training Centers to prepare Special Operations and the Army for the first battle of the next war. About the Guest:

SFC Dillon Luedtke: Dillon grow up watching his father, an Airborne Artilleryman, deploying multiple times, ultimately leading Dillon to seek out a life of service as well with a passion for the Airborne and fires community leading him to Special Forces. Dillon is an 18C Engineer SGT with training in Joint Firepower Course and Joint Fires and Effects Course. Dillon has operational experience in CENTCOM and AFRICOM with 3rd SFG (A). About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University. This episode covers:

- How a Detachment conducts the targeting process, who is involved, who should be involved, what is the outcome of the targeting process

- Differences in SOF targeting since the end of the Global War on Terror and what the future looks like; SOF no longer main effort and now is supporting effort for Division / Corps; dynamic targeting will not be the norm; airspace will be denied or contested

- Understanding the High Priority Target List for the Div/Corps or Joint components (land, air, or maritime components)

- HATS: High Priority Target List, Attack Guidance Matrix, Target Selection Standards, Target Synch Matrix (using Decide Detect Deliver, Assess methodology)

- Base principles and fundamentals learned from training and previous operations still apply to Multi-Domain Large Scale Combat Operations

- Div/Corps work off 96 hour targeting cycle – assess execution of day prior, delivering / executing effects for day of, conducting conditions checks for tomorrow, 48 hours out they are doing meat and potatoes of targeting and product making (detect), 72-96 hours out target nominations based of HPTL (decide)

- SF Detachments infiltrate prior to conventional units and must be integrated with BDE/DIV/CORPS targeting process prior to infil so that the Detachments can nominate targets and prosecute targets prior to conventional forces infil

- How OC/Ts and role players coach Detachments to conduct bottom up targeting process, starts with Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield, developing Named Areas of Interest, analyzing HPTL and determining what is likely in their area of operations and what they can effect

- Theater Air Control System: method to request air component resources and request air assets in the Air Tasking Order, also working through BDE Aviation Element

- Targeting is not just kinetic / lethal it is also non-kinetic / non-lethal; requires analysis (i.e. CRAVER or other methodologies ); simple sabotage Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part 2 of a 2-part interview focused on Fighting Products that are useful and essential to the planning and execution of Multi-Domian Large Scale Combat Operations with the Joint and Combined Force. A fighting product is a visual product that doctrine desires created by a staff to enable the commander to visualize the battlefield, understand the operational environment, and synchronize action in time and space. This supports the commander’s decision-making process and ensures common understanding throughout the unit. This interview covers the core fighting products that ARSOF Company staffs and above should be producing, additional products that are highly useful, and methods of displaying and sharing these products to increase shared understanding at the headquarters and up and down the chain of command. These fighting products have value at the Combat Training Centers and across the spectrum of operations from competition to conflict. About the Guest:

MAJ Philip Ficken: Phil Ficken is the current Special Operations Training Detachment AOB-West Officer in Charge aka Commander. Prior to the he served as the Exercise Control Officer and J3 Operations Officer for SOTD AOB-W. Prior to that He served in various roles in 5th Special Forces Group including Company Commander, Staff positions, and Detachment Commander. About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is the of SOF Plans Chief at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command. This episode covers:

- Displaying fighting products: digital versus analog the pros and cons of both

- Digital is great for sharing, especially up the chain of command but becomes more difficult sending down the chain of command; requires connectivity, consistent electricity, and access to digital workspace / system

- Analog is for everyone: allow for immediate common access to the information to those present, reduces digital signature and increases protection to force, unable to be jammed

- Staff must reproduce products on both digital and analog to ensure redundancy and understanding; digital products need to be reduced in size to allow transmission over systems with minimal bandwidth, staff must dedicate time and personnel to conduct these actions

- Down trace units must be able to receive textual information and transform it into visual products such as a common operating picture

- Methods to display analog products: battle board- large or small – center map with overlays, left side enemy, right side friend bottom center timelines; tabletop page protectors; shower curtain white board

- Staff handover / commander update drills – when conducting shift changes or commander returns after an extended time away

- Digital products allow only one person to look at them at one time (computer or cell phone screen), it is difficult to display multiple products at the same time

- Risk to force and mission by producing a digital signature in a contested or denied environment, especially for units in front of the forward line of troops (FLOT)

- Sand tables, map overlays, and other means of analog products enable faster, more collaborative, and more iterative planning and shared understanding

- Take away: Detachments and Companies should utilize those 6 essential fighting products to enable visualization and understanding of the environment and synchronization of actions Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil

This is part 1 of a 2-part interview focused on Fighting Products that are useful and essential to the planning and execution of Multi-Domian Large Scale Combat Operations with the Joint and Combined Force. A fighting product is a visual product that doctrine desires created by a staff to enable the commander to visualize the battlefield, understand the operational environment, and synchronize action in time and space. This supports the commander’s decision-making process and ensures common understanding throughout the unit. This interview covers the core fighting products that ARSOF Company staffs and above should be producing, additional products that are highly useful, and methods of displaying and sharing these products to increase shared understanding at the headquarters and up and down the chain of command. These fighting products have value at the Combat Training Centers and across the spectrum of operations from competition to conflict. About the Guest:

MAJ Philip Ficken: Phil Ficken is the current Special Operations Training Detachment AOB-West Officer in Charge aka Commander. Prior to the he served as the Exercise Control Officer and J3 Operations Officer for SOTD AOB-W. Prior to that He served in various roles in 5th Special Forces Group including Company Commander, Staff positions, and Detachment Commander. About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is the of SOF Plans Chief at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command. This episode covers:

- MAJ Ficken conducted an NTC rotation as an AOB Commander and was coached on producing these same fighting products

- Fighting products => enable commanders to visual / understand the operational environment and synchronize actions

- 6 essential fighting products: Common Operating Picture / Common Intelligence Picture (COP / CIP), Execution Matrix, Information Collection Matrix (ICM), High Pay Off Target List (HPTL), Target Sync Matrix / Fire Support Execution Matrix (TSM / FSEM), Logistics Status Report (LOGSTAT)

1. COP / CIP: military symbols drawn over top of a map sheet or satellite imagine depicting friendly units, enemy units, obstacles, maneuver, significant actions/events, critical infrastructure etc.

2. Execution Matrix: graphs operations along time, y-axis is list of operations, x-axis is time, map out operations out 72 hours at a minimum, update constantly as battlefield changes, improve synchronization, identify decision points

3. ICM: maps out how friendly forces will answer intelligence requirements by time and method of collection

4. HPTL: prioritize list of targets whose loss will significantly contribute to friendly success, must be able to be acquired and engaged by your unit

5. TSM / FSEM: outlines how to Decide Detect Deliver and Assess on targets

6. LOGSTAT: report that provides the current on hand supply and forecasted future logistical requirements by commodity

- Additional useful fighting products: Execution Checklist, Air Hope Timelines, Light and Weather Data, Information Requirements (CCIR, FFIR, PIR), Task Organization, Combat Power Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part 2 of our 2-part conversation focused on communications, mission command, digital force protection, and SOF tactical cyber and space operation. During rotations at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) the Special Operations training units must efficiently and effectively communication within their own formations, across to conventional, host nation, and Joint forces, and out to other governmental agencies. Communication is a challenge in and of itself but when operating across a vast geographic area with forces in a simulated contested or denied environment actively been hunted by the opposing force communicating clearly and timely likely means the difference between victory and defeat. Additional consider the implications to mission command and digital force protection. About the Guest: SGT Kai Ramirez: SOTD AOB-W signal NCO. He is a 25S SATCOM systems operator and maintainer with over 6 years in the Army and signals experience ranging from tactical to strategic communications. He has been stationed in CENTCOM. About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command. This episode covers:

- SOF will be collected on; even if you aren’t completely dark in terms of tactical communication Ms, you are emitting signature of some kind

- SOF digital force protection doesn’t depend on better encryption or better equipment, but instead smarter tactics and procedures. Timing is very important, if the enemy is tired, degraded, or preoccupied then it is safer for the SOF units to technically communicate. Also, off setting communication from planning and preparation areas on the battlefield

- At the CTCs SOF units are collected on across the electromagnetic spectrum for administrative reason to educate the SOF training unit on what they look like on in terms of EMS

- Target team to runs the planned targets for the and controls the opposing force on objective

- Kai and the target team gather signals data throughout the rotation and conduct analysis to determine what signals are conventional forces versus SOF

- Camouflage and physical protection for signals equipment

- Power consumption for signals/communications equipment

- thermal considerations for personal and equipment

- Practice practice practice with your equipment, know what your zero drill is and when to use it, crypto roll over and frequency roll over drill

- detection of a message versus interception and decryption of a message Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part 1 of our 2-part conversation focused on communications, mission command, digital force protection, and SOF tactical cyber and space operation. During rotations at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) the Special Operations training units must efficiently and effectively communication within their own formations, across to conventional, host nation, and Joint forces, and out to other governmental agencies. Communication is a challenge in and of itself but when operating across a vast geographic area with forces in a simulated contested or denied environment actively been hunted by the opposing force communicating clearly and timely likely means the difference between victory and defeat. Additional consider the implications to mission command and digital force protection. About the Guest:

SGT: Kai Ramirez: SOTD AOB-W signal NCO. He is a 25S SATCOM systems operator and maintainer with over 6 years in the Army and signals experience ranging from tactical to strategic communications. He has been stationed in CENTCOM. About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command. This episode covers:

- SOF and Conventional communication systems integration, Leadership Training Program is too late for training units to integrate their communications architecture, recommend working that integration even earlier like at the initial planning conference

- SOF units should work with conventional units at homesteading to integrate communication systems

- SOF units do have successes during rotations in terms of communications with conventional forces

- SOF training units have been successful by getting tactical radio keys/fills and being able to operate on the conventional units on tactical comms, additionally using the same equipment that the conventional unit uses such as a JBCP (joint battle command platform)

- training, experience, and willingness to try new things with the equipment enables success in terms of communication systems, practice practice, practice

- understanding command guidance and when to accept risk to communicate or not communicate

- High Frequency: might be the answer to most of the digital force protection dilemmas presented at NTC; but comes with its own challenges and limitations; fishing pole antenna gives you up to 500 miles; voice and data

- digital force protection must be balanced with risk to force and risk to mission

- SOF companies and below have limited understanding of tactical space and cyber but are working through what that looks like in the dirt at the Combat Training Centers; does it require specialized personnel or just specialized equipment?

- SOF operations including space and cyber don’t have to be enacted by SOF personal, SOF units work by, with, and through partners to achieve mission success Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part 2 or our 2-part interview focused on training of Special Operations Battalions and Groups at the Mission Command Training Program (MCTP), how MCTP augments the Combat Training Centers (CTCs), and the differences between Warfighters and Training Centers. During specific rotations at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) the Army shifts its focus from Brigade Combat Teams to Divisions or Special Forces Groups as the main training audience. These rotations demonstrate the difference between a computer exercise and real in the dirt training allowing Division and Group staffs to experience the challenging and realistic training that comes with maneuvering a large force over a large area against a free-thinking opposition force. About the Guests: LTC Ben Shumaker: From his upbringing in South Dakota went through ROTC to join the Army and see the world. Commissioned as a Chemical Officer and deployed in the invasion of Iraq prior to becoming a Special Forces Officer in 5th SFG. Multiple operational deployments with conventional and SOF primarily in CENTCOM. MAJ Frank Schwandt: From Missouri enlisted in the Army Reserves while in high school as a Military Police Officer then entered college and participated in ROTC. Commissioned as an Armor Officer and transitioned to Civil Affairs. He has multiple SOF deployments to EUCOM. About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command. This episode covers:

- Does an SF BN (SOTF) with a Conventional Division, is that the right match up?

- Large Scale Combat vs Global War on Terror; SOF enables Conventional/Joint Force versus the other way around; coordination authorities and need for synchronization of efforts and effects, no captain chaos

- Risk calculation/ mitigation will be different in LSCO

- Warfighters and CTCs are limited in the battle space and operational environment, whereas a real conflict there will be operations or potential influence outside of the conflict zone(s) and in third party countries – deterrence or influence operations

- SOF is looking further in the physical domain (battlefield geometry) and in time

- SOF has been in the operational area prior to conflict breaking out, there will reporting from prior to conflict there will be known personalities

- CTCs provide real training challenges that warfighters don’t have; for example equpiment breaking down

- AOB serving as a sustainment node rather than a mission command node to enables detachments, detachments may have direct communication with the SOTF or CJSOTF for mission approval

- Division is the future fighting unit of the conventional Army; Brigades will be more mobile and agile

- decision making process = MDMP doctrinally, in stride while receiving indirect fires, assume any maneuver element may never come back up on comms

- time, resource you cannot get more of, everything using the time resource

- sleep is a weapon

- know SOF history and doctrine Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part 1 of a 2 part interview focused on training ofSpecial Operations Battalions and Groups at the Mission Command Training Program (MCTP), how MCTP augments the Combat Training Centers (CTCs), and the differences between Warfighters and Training Centers.  During specific rotations at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) the Army shifts its focus from Brigade Combat Teams to Divisions or Special Forces Groups as the main training audience. These rotations demonstrate the difference between a computer exercise and real in the dirt training allowing Division and Group staffs to experience the challenging and realistic training that comes with maneuvering a large force over a large area against a free thinking opposition force.

About the Guests:

LTC Ben Shumaker: From his upbringing in South Dakota went through ROTC to join the Army and see the world. Commissioned as a Chemical Officer and deployed in the invasion of Iraq prior to becoming a Special Forces Officer in 5th SFG.  Multiple operational deployments with conventional and SOF primarily in CENTCOM.

MAJ Frank Schwandt: From Missouri enlisted in the ArmyReserves while in high school as a Military Police Officer then entered college and participated in ROTC. Commissioned as an Armor Officer and transitioned to Civil Affairs. He has multiple SOF deployments to EUCOM.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC andformer member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- 2004 Iraq deployment with 5th SFG comparison tocurrent NTC scenario design as Large Scale Combat Operations; similarities and differences; key difference was the conventional maneuver quickly slowed down while SOF operations ramped up

- What the Mission Command Training Program is, focus onDivision and Corps level training through Warfighter exercise, the Army is transitioning from Brigade focused to Division focused

- Limitations to systems during warfighter exercises becauseof dated technology, Divisions and Corps staff focus on planning and executing mission command, twice a year Corps level partnered with a SF Group as a Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force (CJSOTF)

- MCTP SOF team serves as Observe Coach Trainers when aCJSOTF is executing a Warfighter, and serves as the CJSOTF when there is not a SF Group executing the exercise, MCTP also serves as the planners for the SOF portion of each Warfighter

- live training versus constructive training; CTCsuse constructed units and scenario information

- MCTP Warfighters also stress staffs on logistics and communication not just mission command

- Warfighters incorporation of Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations; synthetic internet for information domain, interagency and host nation are included into the exercise for civil affairs

- SOF-CF I3 at the Division level, SOF effects which will likely be fires heavy, so that integration is important to shorten that kill chain  

- Large Scale Combat Operations requires SOF integration with conventional force to maximize effects from both elements

- Integrating at the Division level is capability focused, selecting the people with the right skill set, knowledge, and interpersonal skill; understanding how the conventional or joint force maneuvers is important

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp ofSalty Sounds

This is the third and final part of our interview focused on how Civil Affairs serves as the connective tissue between the military and civil government during military operations. Civil Affairs engage and leverage the civil component or population of an area, region, or country. Civil Affairs operates during peace time operations, competition, crisis, and conflict by providing guidance and support to both the military and civil government. During rotation 25-02 at the National Training Center (NTC) a Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC), a Company level CA entity, executed SOF operations along side a conventional Brigade. This three part episode discusses the experiences that the CMOC had during that rotation. About the Guests:

Jessica Lauder: MAJ Lauder is the CMOC Chief. Jess was an Chemical Officer in the National Guard prior to switching to active duty Air Defense Officer prior to becoming SOF Civil Affairs. As a CA Officer, she has operational experience across CENTCOM. Kevin: Kevin is the operations Sergeant for the CMOC. He has over eight years of SOF Civil Affairs experience. Prior to becoming SOF CA, Kevin was a fueler. He has multiple conventional and SOF deployments to CENTCOM and AFRICOM. About the OC/T:

Pat McCluskey: CPT McCluskey is the lead Civil Affairs Observer Coach-Trainer for Burro team. He served as the lead OC/T for this CMOC only rotation. Pat has operational experience in EUCOM. About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command. This episode covers:

- CA serving as the sole ARSOF entity during a CTC rotation, CMOC fulfilling all staff functions and being the sole SOF entity integrating with a conventional brigade

- The importance of Intel and having the right people working on Intel, Intel war fighting function in the targeting cycle

- integration through physically being co-located versus integrating and interoperating while displaced

- Commanders guidance; specifying what the limits might be and the criteria that needs to be met by the unit if action

- Prolonged Casualty Care scenario; using non-standard medical network and planning evacuation; passing of information from adjacent unit missions to get unit faction the required information in a timely manner

- Balancing operations and resources ins resource constrained environment, managing battle rhythm with rhythm of battle

- Deliberate method for planning, communication, and executing the plan

- Civil Affairs in Large Scale Combat: consolidation of gains (more USACAPOC task), creating opportunities beyond the FLOT and creating operational time for the maneuver force, horizontal escalation: actions in third countries or separate regions that effect the combat zone, influencing the Division deep and extended deep areas

- Commander’s role to visualize the battlefield, commander serving as plans officer to push the planning process further forward and visualize the future battlefield to make decisions now to drive end state

- biggest lessons learned: fundamentals: PCC/PCIs, comms, taking training seriously, systems and processes, mentally towards training Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This episode is focused on how Civil Affairs serves as the connective tissue between the military and civil government during military operations. Civil Affairs engage and leverage the civil component or population of an area, region, or country. Civil Affairs operates during peace time operations, competition, crisis, and conflict by providing guidance and support to both the military and civil government. During rotation 25-02 at the National Training Center (NTC) a Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC), a Company level CA entity, executed SOF operations along side a conventional Brigade. This three part episode discusses the experiences that the CMOC had during that rotation. About the Guests: Jessica Lauder: MAJ Lauder is the CMOC Chief. Jess was an Chemical Officer in the National Guard prior to switching to active duty Air Defense Officer prior to becoming SOF Civil Affairs. As a CA Officer, she has operational experience across CENTCOM. Kevin: Kevin is the operations Sergeant for the CMOC. He has over eight years of SOF Civil Affairs experience. Prior to becoming SOF CA, Kevin was a fueler. He has multiple conventional and SOF deployments to CENTCOM and AFRICOM. About the OC/T: Pat McCluskey: CPT McCluskey is the lead Civil Affairs Observer Coach-Trainer for Burro team. He served as the lead OC/T for this CMOC only rotation. Pat has operational experience in EUCOM. About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command. This episode covers:

- Translating CA operations onto graphics and products; link analysis, overlays, common operating picture (depicting human terrain on top of physical terrain)

- Coordinating and communicating with the conventional Brigade; using the conventional CA component; attending Brigade battle rhythm events; commander to commander dialog

- Handling civilians on the battlefield / displaced civilians; influence the environment to reduce civilian movement through battlefield; balancing risk to networks and capabilities through changes in operational environment

- Messaging why the environment is shifting; gas to operational area is shut off to civilians, narrative of who is responsible and why, is Coalition or host nation government delivering gas to civilians during this time

- Passing off responsibilities and resources to the conventional CA as the battlefield changes and the SOF focuses shifts farther forward

- CA generates options for Special Operations Forces and conventional forces

- Understanding authorities and permissions to reduce the approval time for operations

- Understanding issuing guidance and allowing down trace units to develop the how, the military decision making process; requesting and speaking in effects Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This episode is focused on how Civil Affairs serves as theconnective tissue between the military and civil government during military operations. Civil Affairs engage and leverage the civil component or population of an area, region, or country. Civil Affairs operates during peace time operations, competition, crisis, and conflict by providing guidance and support to both the military and civil government. During rotation 25-02 at the National Training Center (NTC) a Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC), a Company level CA entity, executed SOF operations along side a conventional Brigade. This three part episode discusses the experiences that the CMOC had during that rotation.

About the Guests:

Jessica Lauder: MAJ Lauder is the CMOC Chief. Jess was anChemical Officer in the National Guard prior to switching to active duty Air Defense Officer prior to becoming SOF Civil Affairs. As a CA Officer, she has operational experience across CENTCOM.

Kevin: Kevin is the operations Sergeant for the CMOC. He hasover eight years of SOF Civil Affairs experience. Prior to becoming SOF CA, Kevin was a fueler. He has multiple conventional and SOF deployments to CENTCOM and AFRICOM. 

About the OC/T:

Pat McCluskey: CPT McCluskey is the lead Civil Affairs Observer Coach-Trainer for Burro team. He served as the lead OC/T for this CMOC only rotation.  Pat has operational experience in EUCOM.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC andformer member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- How the CMOC prepared for their NTC rotation, through training at home station, using realistic military training, and operational deployments; starting to prepare as earlier as possible

- Training basics, such as convoy briefs to go to a team dinner,training focused on shoot, move, communicate, and medicate

- Managing operations when the headquarters is split

- Testing systems, processes, and set-ups through varioustraining and operations; seting up a TOC: figuring out what tents, vehicles, etc are needed to execute a mobile operations center

- Task organization of a CA Company

- SOF CA conducting non-kinetic / non-lethal targeting

- Reporting; reducing ambiguity in writing, issues clearguidance, ensuring down trace units understand guidance, and training down trace units to report in a clear concise manner

- Learning from the mentorship of the retired SOF role players

- Creating a shared understanding; getting the information out of your head and into a digestible format for others to understand and initiate action

- Communicating capabilities and intent and demonstrate value to conventional unit  

- Providing recommendations not just data

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, atweston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp ofSalty Sounds

This episode is focused on Special Operation Forces and Conventional Forces Integration, Interoperability, and Interdependence (SOF-CF I3). As defined by FM 6-05: integration is the ability to synchronize capabilities and actions. Interoperability is the ability to act coherently to exchange information and services. Interdependence is reliance on one another. Army SOF and Conventional Forces depend on one another to accomplish strategic, operational, and tactical objectives. Here at the National Training Center (NTC), ARSOF and Conventional Forces work together and train together to prepare for real world operations and the future of warfare.

About the Guest:

COL Ethan Diven: Ethan Diven is the current Commander of Operations Group at the National Training Center. Ethan Diven is a husband and father and warrior. He graduated the New Mexico Military Institute and Texas Tech prior to entering active duty. As an Armor Officer, COL Diven has served in multiple formation types including Armor, Infantry, Airborne, and Special Operations with 75th Ranger Regiment. Multiple deployments to CENTCOM and EUCOM.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Special Operations Forces and Conventional Forces Integration, Interoperability, and Interdependence

- NTC in 1998 conducting air land battle and similarities to multiple domain operations in large scale combat

- Comparing deployments with Ranger Regiment (as a staff officer) to conventional deployments as a Company commander

- Conducting a Division level rotation at NTC as a Brigade Commander prior to conducting a EUCOM rotation; describing SOF-CF I3 during the rotation; conducting Leader Training Program to begin that integration

- Advising in integrating with NATO partners in EUCOM to conduct training exercises and at the Joint Multi-national Readiness Center

- Outlaw 01; as the Commander of Operations Group; responsible for integrating all the branches within the Army, all the war fighting functions, across all domains from the individual soldier level up to the Division level

- Leadership factor: Observers Coaches / Trainers are professionals that improve the Army

- SOF-CF I3 is imperative, enables the joint force through creation of mass and leveraging effects across all domains

- Brigades expectations of SOF, understanding that SOF and CF need to work together and bring value to one another

- Brigade’s perspective of SOF actions deep or extended deep; related to how effective the SOF Liaisons to the BDE or DIV are

- REDSOF from the COG’s perspective; REDSOF gets great training from the experience including SF, CA, and PSYOP

- Operations outside of the NTC Box that SOF executes

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

is episode is focused on Critical Factors Analysis. Army Special Operations Forces use Critical Factors Analysis at the Battalion or SOTF level and above to identify center(s) of gravity of an enemy force or target. This is taught at the SOF Operational Design Course. This framework of analysis is a tool for analysis and targeting that can be leveraged at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels. At the National Training Center (NTC) MAJ Ficken

and all Burro Observer Coach Trainers coaches and mentors SF AOBs to use doctrinal planning and analysis tools such as Critical Factors Analysis. Rotations at NTC and JRTC highlight the validity of our SOF, Army, and Joint Doctrine.

About the Guest:

MAJ Philip Ficken: Phil Ficken is the current Special Operations Training Detachment AOBWest Officer in Charge aka Commander. Prior to the he served as the Exercise Control Officer and J3 Operations Officer for SOTD AOB-W. Prior to that He served in various roles in 5th Special Forces Group including Company Commander, Staff positions, and Detachment Commander.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Analysis for targeting: CRAVER, Critical Factors Analysis

- Joint Publications 5-0: Chapter 3:

- Centers of Gravity: source of power or strength that enables a force to achieve its objective

- Critical Factors Analysis: framework to identify center(s) of gravity

- Critical Capabilities: primary abilities that are essential to the accomplishment of the mission – example: Maneuver for a combined arms force

- Critical Requirements: “are the conditions, resources, and means that enable a critical capability to become fully operational” – fuel for a armored force

- Critical Vulnerabilities: “are those aspects or components of critical requirements that are deficient or vulnerable to direct or indirect attack in a manner achieving decisive or significant results.”

- When analyzing vulnerabilities consider the following: accessibility, redundancy, resiliency, and impact,

- If the enemy’s capability is not degraded through the removal or a requirement, then you have misidentified the critical requirement

- Conduct analysis on analog via a white board or similar, on left critical capabilities, middle critical requirements, circle the requirements you can target and that is the critical vulnerabilities for you to target

- Can be used to target non-kinetic, non-lethal, intangible targets

- Christmas leave example to demonstrate critical factors analysis

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This the fourth and final episode of a four-part series focused on how Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations integrate and interoperate at the team/Detachment level. During a recent rotation, a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, Civil Affairs Team, and Tactical PSYOP Detachment conducted operations at the National Training Center (NTC) as Opposing Force (OPFOR). This cross functional team approach to REDSOF was the first iteration of its kind and yield effective results on the rotational conventional unit and Special Operations unit. During this interview, the leaders of each element will describe how each ARSOF Tribe integrated and interoperated to achieve their endstate.

About the Guests:

Spencer: Detachment Sergeant for the Tactical PSYOP Detachment (TPD) on REDSOF. He has over 15 years of Army experience, 8 of which are SOF PSYOP. Multiple operational rotations in both conventional and SOF units.

Michael: Team Leader of the REDSOF Civil Affairs Team (CAT). Former Infantry officer with e multiple CTC rotations both on BLUEFOR and REDFOR. Andrew: SFOD-A Detachment Commander for REDSOF SFOD-A. From 10th Special Forces Group, SOF operational experience in SOCEUR. Former Infantry officer.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- what is a target? Or who? Looking at the population as a non-kinetic target

- creativity in problem solving; creating a non-governmental organization on the enemy side to drive the narrative

- recognizing the players in the information domain, identifying their purpose and audience then leverage that to your advantage

- layering effects; information operations timed with non-kinetic operations (delivering food in an area denied to you by using your networks); swaying the populace to your cause

- the power of credibility or the detriment of losing credibility

- treat everything as a tactical objective

- be creative; use authorities or lack there of to your advantage

- CA and PSYOP take bandwidth off of SF and fill and support War Fighting Functions

- go full scenario (push the I believe button) mentality towards training Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This part three for a four-part series focused on how Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations integrate and interoperate at the team/Detachment level. During a recent rotation, a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, Civil Affairs Team, and Tactical PSYOP Detachment conducted operations at the National Training Center (NTC) as Opposing Force (OPFOR). This cross functional team approach to REDSOF was the first iteration of its kind and yield effective results on the rotational conventional unit and Special Operations unit.

During this interview, the leaders of each element will describe how each ARSOF Tribe integrated and interoperated to achieve their endstate.

About the Guests:

Spencer: Detachment Sergeant for the Tactical PSYOP Detachment (TPD) on REDSOF. He has over 15 years of Army experience, 8 of which are SOF PSYOP. Multiple operational rotations in both conventional and SOF units.

Michael: Team Leader of the REDSOF Civil Affairs Team (CAT). Former Infantry officer with e multiple CTC rotations both on BLUEFOR and REDFOR.

Andrew: SFOD-A Detachment Commander for REDSOF SFOD-A. From 10th Special Forces Group, SOF operational experience in SOCEUR. Former Infantry officer.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- OC perspective on the integration of the ARSOF tribes as a cross functional team

- Special Operations integrating with conventional forces; REDSOF integration and interdependence with Task Force Reaper of Blackhorse; nesting operations and objectives across the domains

- The importance of interpersonal skills and building relationship to enhance integration; establishing creditability

- How integration breaks down barriers and enables decision makers to remove roadblocks for down trace units

- Overview of an operation from concept through execution to accessing the effect on the “enemy”; utilizing the cross functional team to leverage resources across the domains to create a layered effect

- Using the information domain (with physical and non-physical methods and products) to control the narrative to maintain tempo and momentum

- Describes effects of Special Operations to the conventional force to build creditability

- Balance risk to force, risk to mission, risk to nation

- Understanding initial commander’s intent and being creative to achieve that intent and more

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part two for a four-part series focused on how Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations integrate and interoperate at the team/Detachment level. During a recent rotation, a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, Civil Affairs Team, and Tactical PSYOP Detachment conducted operations at the National Training Center (NTC) as Opposing Force (OPFOR). This cross functional team approach to REDSOF was the first iteration of its kind and yield effective results on the rotational conventional unit and Special Operations unit.

During this interview, the leaders of each element will describe how each ARSOF Tribe integrated and interoperated to achieve their endstate.

About the Guests:

Spencer: Detachment Sergeant for the Tactical PSYOP Detachment (TPD) on REDSOF. He has over 15 years of Army experience, 8 of which are SOF PSYOP. Multiple operational rotations in both conventional and SOF units.

Michael: Team Leader of the REDSOF Civil Affairs Team (CAT). Former Infantry officer with e multiple CTC rotations both on BLUEFOR and REDFOR.

Andrew: SFOD-A Detachment Commander for REDSOF SFOD-A. From 10th Special Forces Group, SOF operational experience in SOCEUR. Former Infantry officer.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Cross functional team mentality; not drawing lots for ground force commander, but working together, effectiveness was measured off creating dilemmas in the enemy’s rear area across the civil and informational dimensions

- Interdependence and interoperability especially between CA and PSYOP, linking the human dimension to the information dimension then bringing that to the cross functional team enabling lethal and non-lethal targeting

- Cross functional targeting, task organizing the cross functional team, split team operations increased speed but degraded integrated planning

- Communication architecture issues within SOF tribe integration, integrating SOF tribes in garrison to enhance SOF tribe integration at tactical and operational levels

- Integrating with conventional forces, building trust and developing a network with everyone you can, “always be (re)cruiting “

- Staff processes approached by war fighting function, CA and PSYOP fill in with war fighting functions

- You look at the picture from your foxhole, meaning each person sees the situation differently and identifies different things as important

- Speed of decision-making process and ability to maintain tempo enables momentum and stay on the offensive, “If you’re not first, you’re last” layered narrative building  

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is the introductory episode for a four-part seriesfocused on how Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations integrate and interoperate at the team/Detachment level. During a recent rotation, a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, Civil Affairs Team, and Tactical PSYOP Detachment conducted operations at the National Training Center (NTC) as Opposing Force (OPFOR). This cross functional team approach to REDSOF was the first iteration of its kind and yield effective results on the rotational conventional unit and Special Operations unit.

During this interview, the leaders of each element will describe how each ARSOF Tribe integrated and interoperated to achieve their endstate.

About the Guests:

Spencer: Detachment Sergeant for the Tactical PSYOPDetachment (TPD) on REDSOF. He has over 15 years of Army experience, 8 of which are SOF PSYOP. Multiple operational rotations in both conventional and SOF units. Former combat engineer.

Michael: Team Leader of the REDSOF Civil Affairs Team (CAT).Former Infantry officer with e multiple CTC rotations both on BLUEFOR and REDFOR.

Andrew: SFOD-A Detachment Commander for REDSOF SFOD-A. From 10th Special Forces Group, SOF operational experience in SOCEUR. Former Infantry officer.

OC/TS:

SFC Keanu Caroline: Civil Affairs Team Sergeant. Former CAmedic. Operational experience in INDOPACOM and AFRICOM.

SFC Cody: PSYOP Detachment Sergeant. FormerInfantrymen from 82nd Airborne. SOUTHCOM and CENTCOM operational experience.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC andformer member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Differences between BLUEFOR and REDFOR, the challenges and benefits of both

- Identifying targets that are SOF specific; communicatingthat with the conventional force, if it isn’t SOF specific then chances are the conventional force should do it not SOF

- Train up prior to the rotation, trying to build the crossfunctional team before arrival at NTC

- “Everyone wants to be the prettiest girl at the party” –understand what your role is and what it is not, fulfill your role and allows others to fulfill theirs, building the team is better than building your ego

- Leader Training Program, best way to integrate with theconventional unit

- Be prepared to execute the mission both physically and equipment wise, don’t go into a mission with negative biases, let the bias be that together you will be the best team on the field

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp ofSalty Sounds

In this episode, MAJ Sam Pavolko discusses the changes to Special Operations Civil Affairs Doctrine with a focus towards SOF CA conducting Large-Scale Combat emphasizing multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human). MAJ Pavolko observed a rotation at the National Training Center (NTC) to see firsthand how SOF CA is approaching LSCO and MDO at the tactical and operational levels in the dirt.

About the Guest:

MAJ Sam Pavolko is the current United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWC) Civil Affairs Branch Proponent Doctrine Chief. This role focuses on reviewing and revising doctrine to ensure current tactics, techniques and procedures are captured in doctrine as well as the lessons from recent trainings and operations are reflected in doctrine. Prior to this role, MAJ Pavolko has served in various leadership positions in CA to include Company Command, Detachment Command, and roles in the conventional Army.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- SOF CA working with conventional forces; Civil Affairs in competition during the annexation of Crimea in 2014

- The importance of doctrine; improving one’s branch through enhancing and revising doctrine

- Flash to bang inception of a concept to written in doctrine: 21-24 months but requires three successful tests or experiments overseen by USASOC force modernization

- Specific Branch Doctrine must be nested within Joint publications, Army publications, and USASOC publications

- NTC scenario is deep and wide enough for CA to really dive into and get significant training from

- The interaction of SOF CA and conventional CA; how important that is to SOF-CF I3; how that interaction and integration looks on the ground

- CA in LSCO: creates multiple dilemmas for the enemy through our civil networks

- The handoff of CA responsibilities and governance between SOF and CF CA; as the battlefield geometry changes and the areas of focus shift responsibilities shift as well

- value of civil information; the criticalness of analyzing and synthesizing information into intelligence that can feed commander’s decision-making process; displaying civil information graphically

- The CTCs, specially NTC, provide valuable and realistic training to SOF CA and ARSOF holistically

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is the fourth and final section of a four-part series focused on mentorship of Special Forces Companies (Advance Operation Bases, AOBs) conducting Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizing multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). This mentorship and coaching is conducted in role and out of role from retired Special Operations Officers and NCOs. About the Guests:

Tom Vogel: COL(R) Vogel is from Chicago, IL. He graduated from West Point where he was commissioned into the Infantry, and became Special Forces. He spent the bulk of his SF career in 10th SFG(A). Kelly Smith: COL(R) Smith grew up in Montana and attended Montana State University. Started his Army career as an enlisted military policeman in the reserves. While in ROTC, Kelly switched from reserves to 19th SFG(A) in the National Guard. He was commissioned as an active-duty Infantry Officer and later became Special Forces. He spent time in 10th SFG(A), JSOC, USASOC, and 3rd SFG(A) Both Tom and Kelly have multiple Combat deployments and training experiences at the Combat Training Centers. About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command. This episode covers:

- Battlefield geometry: where does the AOB go? Where do the Civil Affairs Teams, PSYOP teams and detachments go? Are the ODAs only supposed to be in the deep/extended deep?

- recognize there are multiple options for battlefield geometry and for operational focus of each ARSOF tribe. It’s a risk based decision and in training we maximize training value

- high payoff target list doesn’t have to mirror what is seen at a CTC rotation for a real world operation. There are options for things that are equally relevant to the Joint Combined Force.

- similarities and differences between JRTC and NTC. Terrain, weather, unit formation (light infantry versus armor), civil population (real world and scenario).

- train an AOB by placing them into a complex environment and separating them from their down trace units

- ARSOF units should be attending CTCs. Tom and Kelly share their opinions about how ARSOF units should approach and view CTCs. How important commander’s emphasis is on specific events.

- How CTCs best prepare units for the break glass encase of emergency going to war moment. To execute a theater opening operation in LSCO.

- Preparing for a CTC starts with rehearsals. Especially at the staff level. Rehears planning and battle rhythm events. Have Commander to Commander dialogs and brainstorming sessions to prepare for what it’s going to be like to be displaced and operate in a comms degraded austere environment.

- read, read, read. Prepare yourself and learn from other’s experiences.

- moral imperative for leaders to ensure units are trained. Importance of flat and clear comms. Can your unit walk the walk? Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is the third of a four-part series focused on mentorship of Special Forces Companies (Advance Operation Bases, AOBs) conducting Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizing multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). This mentorship and coaching is conducted in role and out of role from retired Special Operations Officers and NCOs.

About the Guests:

Tom Vogel: COL(R) Vogel is from Chicago, IL. He graduated from West Point where he was commissioned into the Infantry, and became Special Forces. He spent the bulk of his SF career in 10th SFG(A).

Kelly Smith: COL(R) Smith grew up in Montana and attended Montana State University. Started his Army career as an enlisted military policeman in the reserves. While in ROTC, Kelly switched from reserves to 19th SFG(A) in the National Guard. He was commissioned as an active-duty Infantry Officer and later became Special Forces. He spent time in 10th SFG(A), JSOC, USASOC, and 3rd SFG(A) 

Both Tom and Kelly have multiple Combat deployments and training experiences at the Combat Training Centers.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Forecasting requirements, visualization, and being able to put a picture into word. Having a sounding board that will be honest and tell you when something isn’t good enough, when there is still ambiguity

- Using graphic control measures and communicate in phase lines; sending and receiving communications within organic unit and with external units; disciplined and concise communication using reporting formats; message logs

- Advice on Commander’s Intent; reducing gap between Commander’s understanding and the down trace units

- Using planning tools to frame the problem and make a decision, such as a modified combined obstacle overlay; or using a narrative to tell a story of the situation; communicating the situation in a short concise manner

- How training and operations from the 1990’s prepared SF for the War on Terror

- The changes in Doctrine over 30+ years from Air Land Battle, Combined Arms Maneuver, and Multi-Domain Operations; integrating Joint and Combined militaries as well as emerging technologies (space and cyber)

- Special Operations are warriors who are masters in irregular partnered operations, executing operations in the deep and extended deep (whether physically there or through partners) to achieve operational and strategic objectives

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is the second of a four-part series focused on mentorship of Special Forces Companies (Advance Operation Bases, AOBs) conducting Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizing multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). This mentorship and coaching is conducted in role and out of role from retired Special Operations Officers and NCOs.

About the Guests:

Tom Vogel: COL(R) Vogel is from Chicago, IL. He graduated from West Point where he was commissioned into the Infantry, and became Special Forces. He spent the bulk of his SF career in 10th SFG(A).

Kelly Smith: COL(R) Smith grew up in Montana and attended Montana State University. Started his Army career as an enlisted military policeman in the reserves. While in ROTC, Kelly switched from reserves to 19th SFG(A) in the National Guard. He was commissioned as an active-duty Infantry Officer and later became Special Forces. He spent time in 10th SFG(A), JSOC, USASOC, and 3rd SFG(A) 

Both Tom and Kelly have multiple Combat deployments and training experiences at the Combat Training Centers.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Weapon systems of importance in LSCO: Anti-Armor

- Battle rhythm, targeting cycle, doctrine processes and systems, benefits of getting skilled enablers to augment the AOB staff; ie Military Intelligence

- OC/Ts and mentor role players have to met the rotation training unit where they are at with respect to knowledge and skill

- Doing something “by the book” or just doing a brainstorming session to get a “good enough answer”; white board planning sessions

- SOF is LSCO: warriors using partnered forces in irregular warfare in support of Division and Corps high payoff targets.

- ARSOF in LSCO having more centralized control? Top down control to ensure the right thing is down at the right time. Ensuring Threshold of violence isn’t crossed too early, and the right action is taken at the right place at the right time. This is NOT the 500 mile screwdriver aka micromanaging.

- AOB’s role is to squeeze out all the ambiguity of orders/commander’s intent

- The Teams and Detachments still have latitude on the how when it comes to executing missions during LSCO.

- Initial LSCO, you are the first unit on the ground, you have to start from zero, there are only so many resources to be shared with all the coalition forces

- Risk calculus in LSCO. Kinetic and non-kinetic target approval and risk authority will ebb and flow.

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

is the first of a four-part series focused on mentorship of Special Forces Companies (Advance Operation Bases AOBs) conducting Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizing multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). This mentorship and coaching is conducted in role and out of role from retired Special Operations Officers and NCOs. About the Guests: Tom Vogel: COL(R) Vogel is from Chicago, IL, graduated from West Point where he commissioned into the Infantry, and became Special Forces. He spent the bulk of his SF career in 10th SFG(A). Kelly Smith: COL(R) Smith grew up in Montana and attended Montana State University. Started his Army career as an enlisted military policemen in the reserves. While in ROTC, Kelly switched from reserves to 19th SFG(A) in the National Guard. He commissioned as an active duty Infantry Officer and later became Special Forces. He spent time in 10th SFG(A), JSOC, USASOC, and 3rd SFG(A) Both Tom and Kelly have multiple Combat deployments and training experiences at the Combat Training Centers. About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command. This episode covers:

- Comparing CTC Training pre 9/11 to CTC training today

- The importance of fundamentals and principles in both training and combat regardless of the mission set

- What it means to give back to the force through the role of mentor/role player. Using their experiences as Group level leadership to mentor ARSOF Companies and Detachments.

- Companies and above balancing requirement to support subordinate units with training for war time mission (preparing staffs and headquarters).

- How Detachments and Companies can approach collective training.

- The value of training at a CTC and how leaders need to emphasize training at CTCs

- AOBs have to be able to integrate disciplines other than itself. The AOB will have shortfalls in knowledge and experience in these other areas. Have the humility to know your gaps and have a methodology to overcome those gaps.

- Opening the theater, going expeditionary. Start point zero.

- The importance of creating a network of people to leverage expertise from across the force. Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is the second and final part of our conversation with CPT Dylan Wendt discussing Special Operations approach to Military Intelligence during a Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizes multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC).

CPT Dylan Wendt is a Military Intelligence (MI) Officer with a background in maneuver. Dylan started his Army career as an Infantry Officer in 3-509th IN (ABN). Following that, Dylan attended the MI Captains Career Course. His next assignment was to 173rd Airborne  where he served in various assignments as an MI Officer. Then Dylan attended Ranger Assessment and Selection Program and was selected for service in the 75th Ranger Regiment (RR). Dylan has held various MI positions in the 75th RR.

Throughout this conversation, Dylan shares his experiences as a MI Officer and relates real-world operational experience to training he received at CTCs. Highlighting insights on what MI, primarily focused on SOF MI, looks like in LSCO and recommendations on how to prepare for an upcoming CTC rotation as a Military Intelligence professional.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Training that the RR especially the intelligence practitioners did to prepare for a 75th RR rotation at NTC, developing the Ranger Operating Concept, ROC. Managing intelligence and analysis from the ground unit of action all the way up the chain of command

- Signature management: physical and electromagnetic. How signature management can impact intel conducting analysis. Where is the best place on the battlefield for intel professionals to be. Potential impact on time and communication of intel products and analysis.

- Lessons learned during 75th RR NTC rotation Spring 23 and lessons learned from JRTC 7th SFG (A) rotation augmented by 75th RR during Spring 24.

- Preparing your unit and your position for the next person. Ensuring not just you but also the unit has learned the lessons from a CTC and doesn’t have to relearn those same lessons with new leadership.

- Working with SOF Plans at either JRTC or NTC to develop a scenario that incorporates the training objectives your unit has. Attending Leadership Training Program (LTP) to begin that integration piece with not only the Planners but also the other units taking part in the rotation.

- Deploying with as much Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) done as possible.  

- Developing convergence windows to mass effects in time and space on the battlefield to generate relative advantage and enable maneuver, degrade the enemy, and achieve a specific objective. 75th RR uses these convergence windows to penetrate deep into enemy lines to conduct surgical strike operations or establish a foothold for the conventional force to expand lodgment from.

- Advice to those seeking to attend RASP. 1. Physical Fitness. 2. Igo to Ranger School first. 3. know your strengths and weaknesses and own up to them.

- The Abrams charter: RR improves the regular Army through NCOs and Officers cycling back to the CF, developing TTPs or procuring equipment that the CF adopts.

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part third and final-part conversation with SFC Mondrian Bogert (or Mo) discussing Special Forces approach to prolonged casualty care in austere and resource constrained environments during a Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizes multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC).

SFC Bogert is an Observer Coach / Trainer (OC/T) on the the Burro Team; Special Operations Training Detachment AOB-W at Fort Irwin and NTC.

SFC Bogert has over 16 months experience as an SOF (SF) OC/T, he has planned, resourced, coordinated, and supervised the execution of multiple prolong casualty care scenarios at NTC.  Mo shares his experiences observing and supervising the execution of prolonged casualty care at NTC. Highlighting insights on how what prolong casualty care might look like in LSCO, the differences in planning and approach to MASCAL versus prolonged casualty care, and recommendations on how to prepare for an upcoming CTC rotation.

SFC Bogert is the type of OC/T that wants to see the training unit improve and he consistently goes above and beyond during rotation and outside of rotation to train Soldiers both in and outside of ARSOF. The Off the Radar team want to thank Mo for his time, dedication to the profession, and willingness to help improve the force through sharing the lessons he learns as an OC/T.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Day to day operations for an 18D Special Forces Medic at a Combat Training Center: medical status tracking, tracking medical logistics, taking the team and attachments and partner force, real world and in scenario medical needs

- 18Ds interpersonal skills and key leader engagements; using 18Ds to help built trust and rapport with the partner force, learning about the operational environment from the partner force

-  tailoring your medical equipment and load out to your operational environment

- identifying problems, recommending solutions to the Detachment leadership

- Cross talking within the Detachment to share information with relative parties and ensure a shared understanding of the partner force capabilities, operational environment, medical network, medical logistics so that the Commander can make decisions and assume prudent risk, and understand the locations and capabilities of friendly medical assets

- Developing a medical Common Operating Picture that can be an overlay in analog and digital form. Including conventional forces medical assets, partnered or host national medical assets, civilian assets (hospitals, clinics, vets, midwives, animal services, schools, pharmacies, etc.)

- Medical equipment to bring and what not to bring

- Cross training to ensure each member of the Detachment knows where all the medical supplies are packed, knows what they look like, and can find them under pressure in low light conditions, having a Standing Operational Procedure (SOP)

- Bringing extra class VIII (medical supplies) to build individual first aid kits (IFAKs) for your partner force. Immediately build rapport and gain the ability to train them or assess their level of training on tactical combat casualty care

- Identifying the overmatch a Special Force Operational Detachment-Alpha will face in a denied area across all war fighting functions and ways to mitigate and eventually overcome that overmatch

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part two of a three-part conversation with SFC Mondrian Bogert (or Mo) discussing Special Forces approach to prolonged casualty care in austere and resource constrained environments during a Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizes multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC). SFC Bogert is an Observer Coach / Trainer (OC/T) on the the Burro Team; Special Operations Training Detachment AOB-W at Fort Irwin and NTC. SFC Bogert has over 16 months experience as an SOF (SF) OC/T, he has planned, resourced, coordinated, and supervised the execution of multiple prolong casualty care scenarios at NTC. Mo shares his experiences observing and supervising the execution of prolonged casualty care at NTC. Highlighting insights on how what prolong casualty care might look like in LSCO, the differences in planning and approach to MASCAL versus prolonged casualty care, and recommendations on how to prepare for an upcoming CTC rotation. SFC Bogert is the type of OC/T that wants to see the training unit improve and he consistently goes above and beyond during rotation and outside of rotation to train Soldiers both in and outside of ARSOF. The Off the Radar team want to thank Mo for his time, dedication to the profession, and willingness to help improve the force through sharing the lessons he learns as an OC/T.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- medical planning including examples of PACE (primary, alternate, contingency, emergency) plans. Blood PACE, who from the team or partner force are you pulling blood from. Where in country X can you secure medical supplies when needed? Midwives, animal husbandry services, etc.

- Cross training for the Detachment and for your partner force. Layering medical training into other training. SOPs for simple things like place of tourniquets.

- what does a rotation at NTC look like from the medical perspective. Recommendations on medical load out: personal aid bag, truck bag, MASCAL bag, pro-longed field care bag, contingency kits (crush kit, burn kit, envenomation kit, etc). Recommendations on equipment and medicine to bring. Consider your partner force as well as the Detachment.

- Medical field craft – functional tourniquet, stretchers, etc.

- personnel management in MASCAL and pro-longed field care. The moral dilemma of discontinuing treatment on a casualty that will not make it to save another casualty or discontinuing treatment based on limited resources.

- medical load out and sustainment balanced with load out and sustainment of the other MOSs and war fighting functions

- detailed medical planning, developing a medical common operation picture (what does SOF have, what does the conventional force have, what does the partner force have, what exists in the environment / with the local population)

- medical overmatch. Know what phase you are in and understand how to bring medical overmatch or mitigate the adversaries overmatched in critical moments in time and space on the battlefield.

- approach as a observer coach trainer overseeing pro-longed casualty care. Ensuring the 18D, special forces medic, understands the basics of medical treatment and resource management. Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part one of a two-part conversation with CPT Dylan Wendt discussing Special Operations approach to Military Intelligence during a Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizes multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC).

CPT Dylan Wendt is a Military Intelligence professional with a background in maneuver. Dylan started out his Army career as an Infantry Officer in 3rd BN 509th IN (ABN) in Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Following his time as an Infantry Officer, Dylan attended the Military Intelligence Captains Career Course where he became a Military Intelligence Officer. His first assignment as an MI Officer was to 173rd Airborne Infantry Brigade where he served in various assignments as an MI Officer. Following his time in 173rd Airborne, Dylan attended Ranger Assessment and Selection Program and was selected for service in the 75th Ranger Regiment (RR). Dylan has held various MI positions in the 75th RR.

Dylan has attended nearly every Combat Training Center venue during his Army career. As an Infantry Platoon Leader, he conducted a JRTC rotation and served as a guest Observer Coach Trainer at the National Training Center. During his time as a Military Intelligence Officer in the 173rd Airborne, Dylan executed a rotation at Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Germany. As a Military Intelligence Officer in 75th Ranger Regiment, Dylan participated in a Joint Readiness Training Center exercise and the first 75th RR regimental rotation at the National Training Center.

Throughout this conversation, Dylan shares his experiences as a Military Intelligence professional and relates real-world operational experience to training he received at Combat Training Centers. Highlighting insights on what Military Intelligence, primarily focused on SOF MI, looks like in LSCO and recommendations on how to prepare for an upcoming CTC rotation as a Military Intelligence professional.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Realism of Military Intelligence: converting raw data into a percent of certainty of an outcome

- Basics of how intelligence assessments are generated / intelligence cycle

- How Intelligence professionals plan a key role in security in garrison and what a front line leader needs from a MI professional

- Brief overview of Ranger Regiment and Ranger Assessment and Selection Program

- The fundamental things intelligence Soldiers and Leaders should focus on during training

- Compare and contrast conventional Airborne Infantry (173rd Airborne) rotation at Joint Multinational Readiness Center to SOF (75th RR) rotation at the National Training Center

- Role of conventional versus Special Operations Forces; holding terrain or targeting high priority targets, close fight versus deep fight, prioritization of resources

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part one of a three-part conversation with SFC Mondrian Bogert (or Mo) discussing Special Forces approach to prolonged casualty care in austere and resource constrained environments during a Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizes multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC).

SFC Bogert is an Observer Coach / Trainer (OC/T) on the the Burro Team; Special Operations Training Detachment AOB-W at Fort Irwin and NTC. SFC Bogert has over 15 months experience as an SOF (SF) OC/T, he has planned, resourced, coordinated, and supervised the execution of multiple prolong casualty care scenarios at NTC.  Mo shares his experiences observing and supervising the execution of prolonged casualty care at the NTC. Highlighting insights on what prolong casualty care might look like in LSCO, the differences in planning and approach to MASCAL versus prolonged casualty care, and recommendations on how to prepare for an upcoming CTC rotation.

SFC Bogert is the type of OC/T that wants to see the training unit improve and he consistently goes above and beyond during rotation and outside of rotation to train Soldiers both in and outside of ARSOF. The Off the Radar team want to thank Mo for his time, dedication to the profession, and willingness to help improve the force through sharing the lessons he learns as an OC/T.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- similarities and differences between medicinal care in the desert versus arctic

- how coming from the Conventional Force helps you be a better Special Operations Forces Soldier

- the Special Forces Medical Sergeant Training pipeline/experience

- training in trauma and training on long term patient care (SOAP notes: subjective, objective, analysis, and prescriptions of care)

- Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) versus prolonged field care (PFC) versus prolonged casualty care (PCC): overview of MARCH algorithm; PFC name focuses on environment, PCC focused on patient

- real world example of how medical evacuations are being conducted in Ukraine

- conventional medic capabilities versus a Special Forces Medic’s capabilities

- 18D’s as the medical manager during treatment in prolonged care

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is the second part of a two-part conversation with CPT John Sinclair and MSG Wes Gatewood discussing Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha’s (SFOD-A) conducting Opposing Force or RED Force operations against a US Army Brigade Combat Team Augmented by US Army Special Operations Forces in a Large Scale Combat Training scenario across all domains (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC).

CPT Sinclair and MSG Gatewood share their experience executing REDSOF (RED SF) at the National Training Center. Highlighting insights on how they prepared for this rotation, what worked and what did not work for their Detachment, and their biggest take-aways from the rotation.

CPT Sinclair and MSG Gatewood have the distinct honor of being the first non-Burro Team members to be guests on the podcast and the Off the Radar team thank them for their time, dedication to the profession, and willingness to help improve the force through attending a Combat Training Center (CTC) rotation and sharing their lessons learned.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- the risk and potential rewards of not bringing enablers with the maneuver force; cost analysis on enablers and capabilities depending on mission set and area of operations

-  balancing mission accomplishment and survivability

-  thoughts on SF in LSCO prior to the rotation versus thoughts after the rotation

- tactical targets versus operational or strategic targets; what types of missions and targets are appropriate for SOF and what is appropriate for conventional maneuver forces

- recommendations for preparing for a CTC rotation

-  recommendations for ways to improve REDSOF

- lessons learned from an SFOD-A leadership team; SOF in LSCO and MDO, working with a conventional force and partner force; refreshing the basics especially planning

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is the first part of a two-part conversation with CPT John Sinclair and MSG Wes Gatewood discussing Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha’s (SFOD-A) conducting Opposing Force or RED Force operations against a US Army Brigade Combat Team Augmented by US Army Special Operations Forces in a Large Scale Combat Training scenario across all domains (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC).

CPT Sinclair and MSG Gatewood share their experience executing REDSOF (RED SF) at the National Training Center. Highlighting insights on how they prepared for this rotation, what worked and what did not work for their Detachment, and their biggest take-a-ways from the rotation.

CPT Sinclair and MSG Gatewood have the distinct honor of being the first non-Burro Team members to be guests on the podcast and the Off the Radar team thank them for their time, dedication to the profession, and willingness to help improve the force through attending a Combat Training Center (CTC) rotation and sharing their lessons learned.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Preparing for REDSOF rotation at home station

- Highlighting the importance of training the fundamental / basics

- Integrating with 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment “Black Horse” and Task Force Reaper

- What functions can REDSOF leverage from TF Reaper: Intel, Fires, Information Operations, Electronic Warfare

- Working by, with, and through a partner force; partnered leadership and soldiers; role players filling other roles

- Value of NTC; training on intelligence cycle, targeting cycling, visualization of the battlefield, mission command, forecasting operations, and developing commander’s intent

- Training against a live free-thinking enemy and having to adjust to the battlefield as it changes

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is the third and final part of a three-part conversation with CPT Grant Cook discussing Special Operations Forces (SOF) Civil Affairs (CA) Teams and Civil Military Operations Centers (CMOC) conducting training in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) across multi-domains at the National training Center (NTC) and across Combat Training Centers (CTCs).

CPT Grant Cook shares his experiences and observations on how best to approach a CTC rotation as a SOF CA professional. Through describing his personal experiences in both training and real-world operations; Grant illuminates how SOF CA is organized, how SOF CA functions operationally on its own and with Special Forces and Psychological Operations, and what SOF CA does for the Joint Force.

CPT Grant Cook recently finished his tour at the National Training Center as the lead Observer Coach / Trainer (OC/T) for Special Operations Forces Civil Affairs. As the lead SOF CA OC/T Grant took part in 6 rotations at the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center coaching and mentoring CA teams, CMOCs, and SF AOB leadership and staff from across US Army Special Operations Command.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Differences between SOF CA and conventional CA

- directive 2000.13, directs al commanders to conduct civil affairs

- USASOC authorities 525-38 Civil Military Engagement directive

- Understanding what roles SOF CA and convention CA but recognizing that when you’re the only CA element at the point on the battlefield, you need to able to full either role

- Value of the CTC when it comes to training the human and information dimensions

- SOF CA and SOF PSYOP integration

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is the second part of a two-part conversation with CPT Eric Plummer discussing Special Operations Forces (SOF) Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Teams conducting training in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) across multi-domains at the National training Center (NTC) and across Combat Training Centers (CTCs).

CPT Eric Plummer shares his experiences and observations on how best to approach a CTC rotation as a SOF PSYOP professional. Through describing his personal experiences in both training and real-world operations; Eric illuminates how SOF PSYOP is organized, how SOF PSYOP functions operationally on its own and with Special Forces and Civil Affairs, and what SOF PSYOP does for the Joint Force.

CPT Eric Plummer is a seasoned Observer Coach / Trainer (OC/T) at the National Training Center. He serves as the lead OC/T for Special Operations Forces Psychological Operations. As the lead SOF PSYOP OC/T Eric has taken part in 8 rotations at the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center coaching and mentoring PSYOP teams and Detachments, and SF AOB leadership and staff from across US Army Special Operations Command.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Value proposition of PSYOP at CTCs especially NTC

- PSYOP integration with SF Company staff / non-kinetic targeting

- Authorities and permissions competition vs conflict  

- SOF PSYOP integration with Conventional PSYOP (USACAPOC)

- Staff approval process and HICOM injects (or lack thereof)

- Measures of performance and effectiveness; and how to gauge those

- PSYOP’s role in LSCO

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Production, editing, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is the second part of a three-part conversation with CPT Grant Cook discussing Special Operations Forces (SOF) Civil Affairs (CA) Teams and Civil Military Operations Centers (CMOC) conducting training in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) across multi-domains at the National training Center (NTC) and across Combat Training Centers (CTCs).

CPT Grant Cook shares his experiences and observations on how best to approach a CTC rotation as a SOF CA professional. Through describing his personal experiences in both training and real-world operations; Grant illuminates how SOF CA is organized, how SOF CA functions operationally on its own and with Special Forces and Psychological Operations, and what SOF CA does for the Joint Force.

CPT Grant Cook recently finished his tour at the National Training Center as the lead Observer Coach / Trainer (OC/T) for Special Operations Forces Civil Affairs. As the lead SOF CA OC/T Grant took part in 6 rotations at the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center coaching and mentoring CA teams, CMOCs, and SF AOB leadership and staff from across US Army Special Operations Command.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.  

This episode covers:

- How Observe Coach / Trainer approach coaching and mentoring Civil Affairs Teams

- What a CAT / CMOC experiences during a CTC rotation leading up to the rotation and once they hit the ground

- CA building rapport and demonstrating value to the AOB Leadership and PSYOP team

-  Recommendation on prioritization of action for CA upon training scenario starting

- Examples of how civil reconnaissance plays an important role in the whole of ARSOF’s understanding of the operational environment

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.   

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is the first part of a two-part conversation with CPT Eric Plummer discussing Special Operations Forces (SOF) Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Teams conducting training in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) across multi-domains at the National training Center (NTC) and across Combat Training Centers (CTCs).

CPT Eric Plummer shares his experiences and observations on how best to approach a CTC rotation as a SOF PSYOP professional. Through describing his personal experiences in both training and real-world operations; Eric illuminates how SOF PSYOP is organized, how SOF PSYOP functions operationally on its own and with Special Forces and Civil Affairs, and what SOF PSYOP does for the Joint Force.

CPT Eric Plummer is a seasoned Observer Coach / Trainer (OC/T) at the National Training Center. He serves as the lead OC/T for Special Operations Forces Psychological Operations. As the lead SOF PSYOP OC/T Eric has taken part in 8 rotations at the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center coaching and mentoring PSYOP teams and Detachments, and SF AOB leadership and staff from across US Army Special Operations Command.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Eric describes his personal experiences in PSYOP and the Army

- How PSYOP achieves dominance in the information dimension both in real-world operations and in training

- PSYOP integration in the ARSOF Tribes

- Regional versus Tactical PSYOP alinement structure

- PSYOP task organization and home-station training

- What the information environment looks like at the National Training Center

- How to prepare for an upcoming rotation at the National Training Center

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Production, editing, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds