In today's episode we speak with Lt Col Amos Fox about attrition as an effect of war, not as a type of war, and why there doesn't appear to be any "modern" military theorists. Article Discussed: https://warontherocks.com/2024/01/setting-the-record-straight-on-attrition/ Suggestions for Additional Listening/Reading: Thinking In Systems: A Primer: Donella H. Meadows https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3828902-thinking-in-systems The Scientific Way Of Warfare: Order and Chaos on the Battlefields of Modernity: Antoine J. Bousquet https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6576413-the-scientific-way-of-warfare Amos Fox's Upcoming or Recent Writings: Revolution in Military Affairs Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/63ZhWg6UUWUiTNEfSknGzF?si=fe1ef17606c4420d De Gruyter Handbook of Drone Warfare, Book Chapter https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204879648-de-gruyter-handbook-of-drone-warfare https://twitter.com/AmosFox6 https://www.linkedin.com/in/amoscfox/

In this episode we discuss the role of a commander integrating the staff solving complex problems, fostering collaborative organizations, and utilizing components two and three with Lieutenant General Jon Jensen, director of the Army National Guard. Book Recommendations: If You Survive: From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of World War II, One American Officer's Riveting True Story: George Wilson - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/227026.If_You_Survive Lieutenant General Herbert R. Temple, Jr., ARNGUS, Retired [interview] From Texas to Rome: Fighting World War II and the Italian Campaign with the 36th Infantry Division - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22854737-from-texas-to-rome

In today's episode we start our first of two episodes discussing Napoleon and some myths and beliefs about him as a military genius.

We discuss the rise of Napoleon and his actions as the leader of the French Military and the changes Napoleon implemented on the military.

Check out Dr. Abel's Podcast @ https://open.spotify.com/show/4umHPpMClIU6Oi6eGIKPMv

The views and expressions heard here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of SAMS, the US Army or the US government.

Today we have Doctor Dan Cox of SAMS, focused on the future of warfare, including future information warfare adaptations, the role of cost and emerging trends and capabilities, reemerging trends like trench warfare and implications for our future force. Dr. Cox's Books: Terrorism, Instability, and Democracy in Asia and Africa (Northeastern Series on Democratization and Political Development) Human Terrain Systems and the Moral Prosecution of Warfare Population-Centric Counterinsurgency: A False Idol? Stability Economics: The Economic Foundations of Security in Post-conflict Environments https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2959825.Dan_G_Cox Book Suggestions: Red Team Handbook: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50436277-the-red-team-handbook---the-army-s-guide-to-making-better-decisions?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=Vaa7l9G1aM&rank=1 The Hundred-Year Marathon : Michael Pillsbury https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20696000-the-hundred-year-marathon?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=472MucSVFL&rank=1 LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media: P.W. Singer, Emerson T. Brooking https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38242140-likewar?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_7 Networks of Rebellion: Paul Staniland https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18848754-networks-of-rebellion?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_21 The Logic of Violence in Civil War: Stathis N. Kalyvas https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/275420.The_Logic_of_Violence_in_Civil_War?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_17 Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100: Michio Kaku https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8492907-physics-of-the-future?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_21 Cyber Persistence Theory: Redefining National Security in Cyberspace: Michael P Fischerkeller, Emily O. Goldman, Richard J. Harknett, etc. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60371210-cyber-persistence-theory?ref=nav_sb_ss_2_13 The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity: Byron Reese https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35297413-the-fourth-age The J Curve: A New Way to Understand Why Nations Rise and Fall: Ian Bremmer https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/125226.The_J_Curve?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_11 The views and expressions heard here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of SAMS, the US Army or the US government.

On Episode 16 of the Operational Arch, Major General Costanza provides insight and perspective for future division planners and discusses what he learned from his time leading the Third Infantry Division. When we discussed operational art, Major General Costanza highlighted the utility of time and space and future operations. We hope you enjoy the conversation

 

Book Recommendations

 Paris, 1919: Six Months that Changed the World (Margaret MacMillan, Casey Hampton) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26348.Paris_1919

 

War Transformed (Mick Ryan) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59810166-war-transformed

 

Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Paul Scharre) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61089453-four-battlegrounds

 

The Russo-Ukrainian War: The Return of History (Serhii Plokhy) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63326676-the-russo-ukrainian-war

 

Mahan, Corbett, and the Foundations of Naval Strategic Thought (Kevin D. McCranie) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57141105-mahan-corbett-and-the-foundations-of-naval-strategic-thought

 

Airpower Reborn (John Andreas Olsen) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25365163-airpower-reborn

The views and expressions heard here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of SAMS, the US Army or the US Government.

Security Assistance is a big topic to cover in 30 minutes. BG Nicholson provides comments on how the US does it, and how it applies to Operational Art. Covering topics from Foreign Military Sales to how do we recruit and retain talent.

Links to Book Recommendations:

Lakota America: A New History of Indigenous Power Pekka Hämäläinen

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44310208-lakota-america?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=VqTk7VxRkv&rank=1

Podcast: How I built this: The Tetris Company: Henk Rogers

(Link below to Spotify, but can be found on your favorite Podcast Platform)

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f66cfb2-1d79-4d4b-b9b1-ddbde6a77bcf/episodes/aadc6906-4381-49a9-9ef3-7dcf8329d1de/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz-the-tetris-company-henk-rogers

In this episode we say goodbye to last year's hosts, and introduce our new hosts. We also briefly go over what you as our listener can expect for content over the next year.

New Hosts: J.D. Corless, Active Duty Air Force

Tom Haydock, Army National Guard

Sheila Holder. Active duty Army Military

Brian Lander.  active-duty Marine Officer

Jesse Valles, Army National Guard

Aaron Warren, Active-duty Space Force

Season 1, Episode 14 of the Operational Arch. This is part two of our conversation with guest Mr. Sebastian Bae where he talks about Wargaming and its utility to military planning and training. In this episode, Sebastian explains how to integrate board games into your units training. He also talks about the processes of incorporating moral, ethical, and diverse decision making into board game design. Mr. Bae is an adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Strategic Studies. He serves as the co-chair of the Military Operation Research Society (MORS) Wargaming Community of Practice. Formerly Sebastian served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps infantry and deployed to Iraq in 2009. He is the developer of the game Littoral Commander, and has been published in War on the Rocks, Strategy Bridge, Task and Purpose, The Diplomat, and Georgetown Security Studies Review. His professional focus is wargaming, emerging technologies, future warfighting concepts, and strategy and doctrine for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. Links to Mr. Bae’s Publications: - Put Educational Wargaming in the Hands of the Warfighter. https://shorturl.at/dqsGH - Promise Unfulfilled: A Brief History of Educational Wargaming in the Marine Corps. https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/JAMS_Fall2021_12_2_web.pdf - Forging Wargamers. https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/Forging%20Wargamers_web.pdf MAJs Josh Bedingfield, Kesley Kurtz, and Dan Warner are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have. School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/us.sams/ Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Season 1, Episode 13 of the Operational Arch. This is part one of our conversation with guest Mr. Sebastian Bae where he talks about Wargaming and its utility to military planning and training. Sebastian argues that Wargaming is useful as an educational tool, not necessarily as an outcome generator or simulator. Sebastian also talks about where and how he believes wargaming should be used in the military planning process and how scope and focus influence the creation of a board game.

 

Mr. Bae is an adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Strategic Studies. He serves as the co-chair of the Military Operation Research Society (MORS) Wargaming Community of Practice. Formerly Sebastian served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps infantry and deployed to Iraq in 2009. He is the developer of the game Littoral Commander, and has been published in War on the Rocks, Strategy Bridge, Task and Purpose, The Diplomat, and Georgetown Security Studies Review. His professional focus is wargaming, emerging technologies, future warfighting concepts, and strategy and doctrine for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.

 

Links to Mr. Bae’s Publications:

- Put Educational Wargaming in the Hands of the Warfighter. https://shorturl.at/dqsGH

- Promise Unfulfilled: A Brief History of Educational Wargaming in the Marine Corps. https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/JAMS_Fall2021_12_2_web.pdf

- Forging Wargamers. https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/Forging%20Wargamers_web.pdf

MAJs Josh Bedingfield, Kesley Kurtz, and Dan Warner are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS

Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/us.sams/

Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Season 1 episode 12 of the Operational Arch is part two of our conversation with guest Dr. Ben Zweibelson where he talks all things Center of Gravity. Ben argues that Centers of Gravity insufficiently prepare us to understand the emergent systems spawned when two opposing forces collide, and offers some alternative constructs we might use to make sense of increasingly complex systems.

Dr. Zweibelson is the Director for the U.S. Space Command’s (USSPACECOM) Strategic Initiatives Group (SIG). Previously, Ben was the lead design educator/facilitator for U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) through the Joint Special Operations University. A retired U.S. Army Infantry officer and veteran of multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Ben has an undergraduate degree (BA in Fine Arts) in Graphic Design from the University of Connecticut, three different master’s degrees (Louisiana State University, Air Command and Staff College, US Army School of Advanced Military Studies) and a doctorate in Philosophy from Lancaster University (UK). Ben is also the author of the recently released book "Understanding the Military Design Movement: War, Change, and Innovation."

Through the month of July '23, use code SMA35 to get 20% off physical and digital copies of his book "Understanding the Military Design Movement." https://www.routledge.com/Understanding-the-Military-Design-Movement-War-Change-and-Innovation/Zweibelson/p/book/9781032481784

Links to Dr. Zweibelson's Publications:

- Understanding the Military Design Movement: War, Change, and Innovation https://a.co/d/eotFjmb

- "Rhizomes: In Paradox to ‘Centers of Gravity’ and Centralized Hierarchies in War" https://aodnetwork.ca/rhizomes-in-paradox-to-centers-of-gravity-and-centralized-hierarchies-in-war/

- Part 1 and Part 2 of the "Looking to the Future" section in JAMS Vol 13, no. 2 https://www.usmcu.edu/Outreach/Marine-Corps-University-Press/MCU-Journal/JAMS-vol-14-no-1/

MAJs Josh Bedingfield, Kesley Kurtz, and Dan Warner are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams

Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Season 1 episode 11 of the Operational Arch is part one of our conversation with guest Dr. Ben Zweibelson where he talks all things Center of Gravity. Ben offers a deconstruction of COGs by taking a look at the models the concept is born from, and why those models might explain why COG analysis may be becoming less relevant as the systems around us become increasingly complex.

Dr. Zweibelson is the Director for the U.S. Space Command’s (USSPACECOM) Strategic Initiatives Group (SIG). Previously, Ben was the lead design educator/facilitator for U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) through the Joint Special Operations University. A retired U.S. Army Infantry officer and veteran of multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Ben has an undergraduate degree (BA in Fine Arts) in Graphic Design from the University of Connecticut, three different master’s degrees (Louisiana State University, Air Command and Staff College, US Army School of Advanced Military Studies) and a doctorate in Philosophy from Lancaster University (UK). Ben is also the author of the recently released book "Understanding the Military Design Movement: War, Change, and Innovation."

Links to Dr. Zweibelson's Publications:

- Understanding the Military Design Movement: War, Change, and Innovation https://a.co/d/eotFjmb

- "Rhizomes: In Paradox to ‘Centers of Gravity’ and Centralized Hierarchies in War" https://aodnetwork.ca/rhizomes-in-paradox-to-centers-of-gravity-and-centralized-hierarchies-in-war/

- Part 1 and Part 2 of the "Looking to the Future" section in JAMS Vol 13, no. 2 https://www.usmcu.edu/Outreach/Marine-Corps-University-Press/MCU-Journal/JAMS-vol-14-no-1/

MAJs Josh Bedingfield, Kesley Kurtz, and Dan Warner are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams

Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Season 1 episode 10 of the Operational Arch is part two of our conversation with guest Dr. Jim Greer as he takes us on a deep dive into John Boyd and his Patterns of Conflict. We continue our conversation on how we should engage Boyd, and explores how John Warden's Five Rings theory collates with Boyd's theories. Boyd and Warden's theories remain complimentary in that they take a systems approach to understanding warfare, and may well be last pair of military theorists whose ideas substantively impacted how the U.S. Army conducts operations.

Dr. Greer is currently a professor at the Advanced Military Studies Program. He served thirty years in the US Army, commanded at all levels from platoon through Brigade, is a prior director of SAMS, and is a veteran of six combat tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and the Balkans. Dr. Greer retired as a COL and holds a Doctorate in Education from Walden University.

Link to Boyd's Patterns of Conflict slide deck: http://www.projectwhitehorse.com/pdfs/boyd/patterns%20of%20conflict.pdf

MAJs Kesley Kurtz and Josh Bedingfield are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

In this Episode we have a discussion with Major General David Doyle, US Army, Discuss challenges and opportunities in leading a division emphasizing training, multi-domain operations, and operational art. This Kind of War: A Study in Unpreparedness, T.R. Fehrenbach https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/118690.This_Kind_of_War Causality: Models, Reasoning, and Inference, Judea Pearl https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/174276.Causality Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard: Chip Heath, & Dan Heath https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6570502-switch

Season 1 episode 9 of the Operational Arch is part one of our conversation with guest Dr. Jim Greer as he takes us on a deep dive into John Boyd and his Patterns of Conflict. He explains how we tend to get caught up in Boyd's OODA loop, often at the expense of Boyd's other insights into the nature and character of conflict. He explores the concept of the OODA loop as a point of departure and offers a perspective we should think about and employ Boyd's theories in a more complete way to help make sense of complexity and find advantage.

Dr. Greer is currently a professor at the Advanced Military Studies Program. He served thirty years in the US Army, commanded at all levels from platoon through Brigade, is a prior director of SAMS, and is a veteran of six combat tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and the Balkans. Dr. Greer retired as a COL and holds a Doctorate in Education from Walden University.

Link to Boyd's Patterns of Conflict slide deck: http://www.projectwhitehorse.com/pdfs/boyd/patterns%20of%20conflict.pdf

MAJs Kesley Kurtz and Josh Bedingfield are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Season 1 Episode 8 of the Operational Arch is the final episode in our limited series exploring the pillars of operational art. Our guests this week are COL Andrew Morgado, the Director of the School of Advanced Military Studies, and Dr. Bruce Stanley, the Director of the Advanced Military Studies Program. They explore the relationship between practice and experience, how history, doctrine, and theory inform the practitioner, and how operational art remains ever the same even as our understanding of it changes in light of our experiences. Moreover, they offer an inside look on what the future of SAMS holds and some insight into what they are looking for in future students of the program. Below is a list of sources that provide some further reading for topics discussed in this episode.

Norman Maclean's "Young Men and Fire:" https://a.co/d/ehMQT03

MAJs Ksley Kurtz and Josh Bedingfield are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Season 1 Episode 7 of the Operational Arch is the third episode in our limited series exploring the pillars of operational art. We peel back the unique role doctrine plays in conducting operational art and training operational artists. Our guest, COL (Ret.) Rich Creed, discusses how history and theory informs doctrine, which theorists and history were key in developing "Multi-Domain Operations," the U.S. Army's new operating concept, and why a common language is so important when dealing with complex problems. COL (Ret.) Creed is the Director of the Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate, or CADD, at Fort Leavenworth. While serving, COL Creed was an armor officer and commanded at the company, battalion, and brigade levels. He is a 2002 graduate of the Advanced Military Studies Program at SAMS, and a 2011 graduate of the US Army War College. **Disclaimer: We experienced some technical difficulties while recording this episode and the audio is not as clean as we would like, or our audience expects. We published the episode in the best form possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Below is a list of sources that provide some further reading for topics discussed on this episode.

Combined Arms Directorate: https://usacac.army.mil/organizations/mccoe/cadd

Army Publishing Directorate: https://armypubs.army.mil/default.aspx

"Deep Operations: Theoretical Approaches to Fighting Deep," https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/combat-studies-institute/images/LSCO%20DeepOps%20book%20interactive%20with%20cover%20spread%2012Nov21.pdf.

MAJs Josh Bedingfield and Dan Warner are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Season 1 Episode 6 of the Operational Arch inspects the human dimension of the U.S. Army's multi-domain operating concept. Our guest, LTC Nate Finney, frames the discussion against the complex INDOPACOM operational environment and offers techniques on how planners and leaders should think about the human dimension to create relative advantage. LTC Finney is the creator and co-founder of The Strategy Bridge, a founder of the Military Writers Guild, and a founding member of the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum. He is the co-editor and author of Redefining the Modern Military: The Intersection of Profession and Ethics and the editor and an author of On Strategy: A Primer. He regularly contributes to the Project on International Peace & Security, Military Strategy Magazine, the Military Writers Guild, and the Council on Foreign Relations. LTC Finney is a graduate of the SAMS ASP3 program and recently earned his PhD in history from Duke University. LTC Finney also holds masters degrees in History from Duke University and Public Administration from Harvard University and the University of Kansas.

MAJs Kelsey Kurtz, Josh Bedingfield, and Dan Warner are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

On Strategy: A Primer https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/combat-studies-institute/csi-books/on-strategy-a-primer.pdf

Redefining the Modern Military: The Intersection of Profession and Ethics https://www.amazon.com/Redefining-Modern-Military-Intersection-Profession/dp/1682473635

School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Season 1 Episode 5 of the Operational Arch focuses on how irregular warfare fits into the operational level of war and operational art. Our guest, COL (Ret.) Derek Jones, representing the Irregular Warfare Center, discusses how irregular warfare is just one aspect of an irregular approach to campaigning and provides insights on how to perceive and frame irregular operations across the range of military operations. COL Jones is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer, special plans officer for the Irregular Warfare Center, Chief Strategy Officer of Valens Global, a 2009 graduate of the Advanced Military Studies Program at SAMS, and 2017 graduate of the U.S. Army War College. He is a well-respected subject matter expert in irregular and unconventional warfare with decades of operational experience spanning the globe. Derek holds four master's degrees from the U.S. Army CGSC, American Military University, SAMS, and the U.S. Army War College.

MAJs Josh Bedingfield and Jonathan Janos. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

Irregular Warfare Center: https://irregularwarfarecenter.org

School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS
Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams
Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Season 1 Episode 4 of the Operational Arch is the second in a limited series examining the pillars of operational art. In this episode, we dive into the role theory plays in conducting operational art and training operational artists. Our guest, Dr. Scott Gorman, provides insights on how planners can leverage theory to understand how the world works and frame options to achieve desired endstates. Dr. Gorman is the Director of the Advanced Strategic Leadership Studies Program (ASLSP) at the School of Advanced Military Studies. He is a retired USAF Colonel, a career pilot, whose last assignment before retiring from active duty was Commandant and Dean, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He holds a B.S. in Engineering from the USAF Academy, an M.A. in Russian History from Indiana University, an M.M.A.S. from the School of Advanced Military Studies, and a Ph.D. in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

MAJs Josh Bedingfield, Dan Warner, and Kelsey Kurtz are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS
Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams
Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Season 1 Episode 3 of the Operational Arch is the first in a limited series examining the pillars of operational art. In this episode, we dive into the role history plays in conducting operational art and training operational artists. Our guest, Dr. Dean Nowowiejski, discusses the U.S. Army's interesting relationship with history, how leaders can become historically minded, and the value history plays in planning and executing current and future operations. Dr. Nowowiejski is the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Ike Skelton Distinguished Chair for the Art of War and director of the Art of War Scholars program. He is an alumni of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as an Armor officer for over thirty years, retiring as a Colonel in 2009. He is a 1995 graduate of SAMS, a 2001 graduate of the U.S. Army War college, holds a PhD in history from Princeton, and is the author of “Success Against the Odds: The American Army in Germany, 1918-1923.” 

MAJs Josh Bedingfield, Dan Warner, and Kelsey Kurtz are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have. 

School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS
Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams Intro and Outro
Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Season 1 Episode 2 of the Operational Arch examines the evaluation and assessment of operational art to determine how students of war may glean lessons, good or bad, on how forces employ operational art. Our guest, Australian Army Major General (Ret.) Mick Ryan, provides insights on the relationship between design and operational art, the strategy of corrosion in relationship to attrition or annihilation, how we can prepare ourselves to understand when intangible aspects of war such as culmination or operational reach are occurring, in addition to the influence design plays on execution. Australian Army Major General (Ret.) Mick Ryan is a world-respected strategist with service in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, author of War Transformed: The Future of Twenty First Century Great Power Competition and Conflict, and is a 2003 graduate of the US Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting. MAJs Josh Bedingfield, Dan Warner, and Kelsey Kurtz are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have. School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Season 1 Episode 1 of the Operational Arch examines the value of operational art to the joint force and what commanders expect from their operational artists and planners.  Our guest is the Commander of the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, LTG Milford H. Beagle. LTG Beagle discusses his experiences as a planner, the concept of courage in planning, and how planners can use their skills to accomplish the mission and provide returns to their superiors, peers, and subordinates. LTG Milford H. Beagle commissioned as an infantry officer in 1990 and recently finished his command of the historic 10th Mountain Division (Climb to Glory!). He is a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan whose career assignments have spanned the globe and is a 2003 graduate of the Advanced Military Studies Program at SAMS. MAJs Josh Bedingfield, Dan Warner, and Kelsey Kurtz are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have. School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Greetings and welcome to the Operational Arch, the official podcast of the School of Advanced Military Studies, dedicated to bridging the gap between tactics and strategy through the study of operational art and the operational level of war.

This episode will establish the foundation for this podcast by exploring who we are and what we are about. Meet your hosts as they introduce themselves, offer a brief explanation of SAMS, describe the mission and purpose of the Operational Arch, and look into what they have in store for you, the listener, this upcoming year.

School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS
Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams

Intro and Outro Music: "On and On v3" by Christian Bedingfield

In this episode, the team discusses the importance of narrative, operational art, and the role of museums in military professional development with Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Nikki Dean. Ms. Dean is a military history interpreter at the World War I Museum located in Kansas City, MO. Reading Suggestions Wayne Sandholtz: Prohibiting Plunder https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2901356-prohibiting-plunder Frankline D. Vagone and Deborah E Ryan: The Anarchist’s Guide to Historic House Museums https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/25759565 Liddell Hart: The Real War 1914-1918 https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/148842 George T. Raach: A Withering Fire https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34323467-a-withering-fire?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_14 Podcasts: Meet Me at the Museum from Art Fund https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-me-at-the-museum/id1439186876 Conflict of Interest from Imperial War Museums https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conflict-of-interest/id1566841158 Side Door from Smithsonian Institution https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sidedoor/id1168154281 A Frame of Mind from The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/a-frame-of-mind/id1600732900

In this Episode we have a Discussion with Lt Gen Milford H. Beagle, US Army, and Mr. Creed about US Army doctrine, specifically FM 3-0 and trace its concepts and applications to MDO. Book Recommendations: Full-Spectrum Thinking: How to Escape Boxes in a Post-Categorical Future: Bob Johansen https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49918684-full-spectrum-thinking

The Liberation Trilogy Boxed Set: Rick Atkinson https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18077742-the-liberation-trilogy-boxed-set

Pacific Theater Reading: John C McManus https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61883943-to-the-end-of-the-earth https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57631501-island-infernos https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42656387-fire-and-fortitude

In this episode the team discusses urban warfare with Professor John Spencer, the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern Warfare Center. If you liked Professor Spencer's points and want to learn more about Urban Warfare check out his podcast or book below, along with some other books he suggests. John Spencer's Podcast: Urban Warfare Project Podcast https://mwi.westpoint.edu/category/podcasts/urban-warfare-project-podcasts/ Book Recommendations: Understanding Urban Warfare: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63133593-understanding-urban-warfare Block by Block: The Challenges of Urban Operations https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14611374-block-by-block Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/83814899-conflict

In this episode we discuss Space Operations with LTC Jerry Drew one of the principal authors on a new book titled "The Battle Beyond: Fighting and Winning the Coming War in Space" Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199444232-the-battle-beyond?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=fAQSRO9bAC&rank=1

The team speaks with Dr. James Platte about Deterrence Theory.

LTC Broyles discusses his "Counter-Punch" Theory of warfare and how we can use it as a offensively minded, but defensively postured military force.

The subject of this episode was published in the November to December issue of Military Review. Check it out at the following link. https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/English-Edition-Archives/November-December-2023/Counterpunching-to-Win/

Guest Book Recommendation:

4th and Goal Every Day: Alabama's Relentless Pursuit of Perfection (Phil Savage, Ray Glier, et al)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34996158-4th-and-goal-every-day?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=Q48rgtEDpo&rank=1

We continue to explore the topic of Napoleon as a historical figure as well as our thoughts on the upcoming movie. If you have not listened to episode 18, we encourage you to do so before listening to this one. In this episode we discuss the movie and what we hope to see visualized for audiences. We also discuss the influences that Napoleon has had on modern operational thought, as well as the differences that the military finds itself in today's security environment. Book Recommendation: Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century (P.W. Singer) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6098718-wired-for-war Podcast Recommendations: A Confused Heap of Facts (Dr Abel's Podcast) @ https://open.spotify.com/show/4umHPpMClIU6Oi6eGIKPMv Age of Napoleon @ https://open.spotify.com/show/6xbzk3HMnP0pRohjm6hBvz The views and expressions heard here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of SAMS, the US Army or the US government.

Dr. Nick Prime, Associate Professor at the School of Advanced Military Studies focuses on the maritime domain and the impacts of Naval theorists such as Alfred Mahan, Julian Corbett, JC Wylie, and Bernard Brodie as they relate to strategy and operational art. Henry Eccles: Logistics in the National Defense https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2927937-logistics-in-the-national-defense Hew Strachan: The Direction of War: Contemporary Strategy in Historical Perspective https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/18555040

COL Andrew Morgado, Director of the US School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), joins the Season 2 Operational Arch podcast team on their season finale to discuss how SAMS develops joint leaders, the impacts SAMS has on global security challenges, and operational art.

MG David Doyle, 4ID Commanding General, and Command Sergeant Major Alex Kupratty join the Season 3 podcast team for their season debut to discuss human capital management, organizational culture, and preparing for multi-domain operations. They also discuss 4ID’s upcoming MDO Symposium – for more information go to https://qrcc.io/sjeyouwlcfqa.

Rear Admiral (RET) Matthew Bell and Dr. Christine Duprow, both with the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, Anchorage, Alaska, discuss the unique security challenges in the Arctic and what considerations operational planners need to take into account when planning and executing Arctic operations.

Dr. Jacob Stoil, an expert on the Israel/Hamas conflict, joins the Operational Arch to reflect on the opening of the conflict one year ago. This is the first installment of a multi-episode run discussing the start of the war and the lessons that the United States should be learning from it.

Dr. Stoil is also the Chair of Applied History at West Point Modern War Institute, an Associate Professor of Military History at the US Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), Senior Fellow of 40th ID Urban Warfare Center, Assistant Director of the Second World War Research Group (North America), and Trustee of the US Commission on Military History, and a founding member of the International Working Group on Subterranean Warfare. Dr. Stoil received his doctorate in History from the University of Oxford. He holds a BA in War Studies and an MA in History of Warfare from the Department of War Studies at King’s College London.

GEN (retired) Vince Brooks, former Commanding General of US Forces-Korea and US Army Pacific, joins us to discuss the value of SAMS in preparing senior military leaders for strategic engagements across the globe.

Dr. Jacob Stoil, an expert on the Israel/Hamas conflict, joins the Operational Arch to reflect on the opening of the conflict one year ago. This is the second installment of a multi-episode run discussing the start of the war and the lessons that the United States should be learning from it. Check out The Israel & Hamas Conflict w/Dr. Stoil Part 1 (E33) released on November 15, 2024 to catch up on the conversation.

Colonel (retired) Kevin Benson joins us to discuss the campaign planning efforts for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and the initial invasion of Iraq in 2002. His experiences are captured in his recently published book Expectation of Valor: Planning for the Iraq War.

Jennifer Dunn and Scott Pettigrew from the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) G2 Operational Environment Integration Directorate join the podcast and delve into the concept of the transparent battlefield—a high-tech environment characterized by ubiquitous multi-domain sensors, deception, jamming, and camouflage in modern warfare. They discuss challenges posed by China’s advanced ISR capabilities and the implications for U.S. military strategies, citing the ongoing Russo-Ukraine conflict and its lessons on adaptation, electronic warfare, and operational surprise.

Dr. Jacob Stoil, an expert on the Israel/Hamas conflict, joins the Operational Arch to reflect on the opening of the conflict one year ago. This is the third and final installment of a multi-episode run discussing the start of the war and the lessons that the United States should be learning from it.

Check out The Israel & Hamas Conflict w/Dr. Stoil Part 1 (E33), released on November 15, 2024, and The Israel & Hamas Conflict w/Dr. Stoil Part 2 (E36), released January 1, 2025, to catch up on the conversation.

COL Estee Pinchasin joins the show to share about her time as Commander of the Baltimore District of the Corps of Engineers and the role she played during the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in March 2024. COL Pinchasin discusses her experience during this crisis and draws out several key lessons from the incident. These lessons include the importance of collaboration, pre-established agreements, and maintaining a collaborative environment to handle complex interagency operations effectively.

Mr. Peter Wood joins the Operational Arch to deep dive into China's counter-intervention strategy. This episode explores how this strategy fits into China's broader military doctrine as well as examining the nuances of China's approach to regional and global strategic competition.

Lieutenant General (Retired) Tony Aguto discusses the US-NATO partnership, the importance of multinational collaboration, and the role of strategic military planning in modern warfare. He highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by national caveats, interoperability issues, and the rapid adaptation required on today’s battlefield, particularly in light of lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Aguto emphasizes the changing nature of air superiority, the need for improved command and control systems, and the balance between mass production and modularity in military technology. He underscores the critical thinking skills of SAMS graduates in solving complex problems and urges planners to be adaptable, collaborative, and ready for unforeseen challenges in coalition and joint operations.

Dr. Scott Gorman, director of the Advanced Strategic Leadership Studies Program at SAMS, joins the Operational Arch to discuss the complexities of civil-military relations and the nuances of providing best military advice. The conversation touches on the importance of the military being politically informed rather than partisan and the critical nature of maintaining trust and dialogue between military and civilian leaders.

Dr. Peter Mansoor, retired Army Colonel and professor of military history at the Ohio State University, joins the Operational Arch to discuss his new book, Redemption: MacArthur in the Campaign for the Philippines (Cambridge University Press, August 2025), which covers the arc of MacArthur's controversial return to the Philippines, providing both a master class and cautionary tale on the application of operational art. The group covers a wide variety of topics including theater logistics, the incorporation of friendly guerilla forces, organizational leadership, joint operations, and strategic decision-making.

In this episode of the Operational Arch, Major we welcome Dr. James Greer, an expert in operational art, military design, and leader development with over 30 years of Army service. We discuss the concept of convergence within Army doctrine, as outlined in FM 3-0, emphasizing its differences from past doctrines such as the AirLand Battle. Dr. Greer provides insights into how convergence involves accumulated effects over time against systems, formations, and decision-makers across multiple domains, rather than mere synchronization. He also addresses the need for doctrinal clarity and the importance of understanding the science of warfare. Examples from the Ukraine conflict highlight practical applications of convergence. The discussion concludes with advice for listeners on the importance of continual teaching and learning within the military profession.

01:25 Defining Convergence in Army Doctrine

02:05 Historical Context of Army Doctrine

05:27 Understanding Convergence as an Outcome

05:50 Challenges and Misconceptions in Convergence

07:14 Examples and Applications of Convergence

15:23 Barriers to Achieving Convergence

22:15 Future of Convergence in Military Operations

35:20 Practical Steps for Implementing Convergence

00:22 Final Thoughts and Advice in Military Operations

35:20 Practical Steps for Implementing Convergence

00:22 Final Thoughts and Advice

In this episode of The Operational Arch, host Major DJ Taylor hands the mic over to three key SAMS leaders: Mr. Kirk Dorr (Deputy Director of the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS)), Dr. Bruce Stanley (Director of the Advanced Military Studies Program (AMSP)), and Colonel Paul Godson (Deputy Director of AMSP). Together, they pull back the curtain on the Advanced Military Studies Program, covering what it is, what it produces, and exactly how officers can go from being curious about the program to becoming a competitive applicant. They dispel myths about AMSP as merely a "planners' school" and show how the program develops leaders to meet the Army's most demanding missions as experts in Army and joint doctrine, leading diverse operational planning teams, and enabling senior leaders. The ten-month program focuses on warfighting, operational art, and the critical and creative thinking required to anticipate and adapt to rapid change on the modern battlefield.

0:00 Intro and Guest Introductions

4:20 How Has AMSP Changed Over the Years?

8:48 What Does the Operational Force Expect from Graduates?

10:16 What Attributes Define a Strong AMSP Student?

14:25 The Flow of the Academic Year (June–May)

19:52 How to Get Competitive / The Application Process

23:36 The AMSP Exam and Interview

27:19 Selection , the HRC Marketplace, & Recent Process Changes

35:22 How to Prepare / Tips for Applicants

44:40 "What If I Don't Want to Be a Planner?"

46:10 Family Considerations

49:57 What Should Every Graduate Take With Them?

52:51 Closing Remarks

In this episode of the Operational Arch podcast, Major Joanna Van Engel interviews Colonel (Retired) Dwayne Wagner,a seasoned Army planner and educator. They delve into the critical topics of mentorship, coaching, and counseling within military leadership, emphasizing the importance of developing junior leaders for long-term success. COL Wagner discusses the shifting dynamics of mentorship post-9/11, the distinct roles of coaching and mentoring, and the symbiotic relationship between officers and NCOs. He also addresses the challenges leaders face in the modern era, influenced by social media and constant scrutiny. Practical insights into creating effective leader development programs and reflections on personal experiences enrich this compelling conversation.

 

01:03 Introduction and Guest Welcome

02:37 Coaching vs. Mentoring

04:28 Challenges in Mentorship

07:20  Cross-Gender and Cross-Branch Mentorship

09:20 Leadership Development and Self-Improvement

12:57 Officer and NCO Relationships

18:46  Attributes of a Well-Rounded Officer

21:38 Allowing Leaders to Grow and Learn from Mistakes

25:39 Effective Leader Development Programs

31:05 Final Thoughts and Messages

In this episode of The Operational Arch, hosts Spencer Bates and DJ Taylor sit down with Steven Box, founder and CEO of Vanguard Tactics and a top-ranked competitive Warhammer coach, alongside SAMS professor Matt Yandura. The conversation explores how Box's "IDEA" framework — developed over years of competitive tabletop wargaming and coaching — maps surprisingly well to military decision-making: gathering the right information under time pressure, making rapid decisions, executing with composure, and assessing outcomes to adapt. The episode also digs into why SAMS invited an outside expert from a non-traditional field and what operational planners can learn from embracing failure, coaching others, and considering future operating environments.

Content:

0:00 — Intro & episode overview

2:31 — Steven Box's background: from Royal Navy aptitude tests to volleyball, bodybuilding, and Warhammer

7:42 — What is Warhammer? A layman's explanation

9:03 — Why SAMS brings in outside experts: Professor Yandura on SAMS' mandate to experiment

11:31 — Introducing the IDEA framework (the "Box Method")

12:10 — I — Information: Gathering the right info under time pressure; SWOT analysis on the battlefield

15:05 — D — Decision: Translating information into decisive action; identifying priorities and trade-offs

18:47 — E — Execution: Resource allocation, composure under pressure, managing variance

21:14 — A — Assessment: What went well, what didn't, and when to pivot

23:57 — Coaching philosophy: meeting people where they are and building from there

25:31 — The value of purposeful failure and learning from losses

32:41 — SAMS' Future Operating Environment course: forecasting, futures thinking, and speculative scenarios

45:32 — Closing takeaways & acknowledgments (CGSC Foundation shoutout)

Major Spencer Bates sits down with Colonel Ethan Diven, the US Army Command and General Staff College Commandant, and former Commander of Operations Group at the NationalTraining Center, to explore the evolving challenges facing the operational force. From multi-domain competition to professional military education reform, COL Diven draws on a career spanning NTC, Afghanistan, Operation Octave Quartz,and Operation Allies Refuge to deliver hard-won lessons on planning, leadership, and the responsibility of field-grade officers.

Colonel Diven's key take-aways?

1.    Ruthlessly protect your time to think while in PME — it is the point.

2.    Leadership is always required in an operational planning team, from any position.

3.    Army University exists to accelerate observations from the contemporary environment and reimagine how education is delivered — with war fighting always at the core.

 Timestamps

0:50 — Introduction & Guest Background

2:13 — Current Challenges Facing the Operational Force

6:11 — Building Better Divisions: Evolving from Brigade-Centric to Division-Level War Fighting

9:19 — Multi-Domain Operations: NTC Initiatives & Incorporating MDO Challenges

12:16 — Building Jointness: Initiatives Across the Services

14:02 — Army University's Role in Developing Future Leaders

16:25 — What the Force Expects from Field Grade Graduates

19:40 — Building the Operational Artist: The Transformative Experience of PME

21:22 — Humility, Responsibility & Self-Awareness as a Leader

23:16 — Value-Added from Day One: What Graduates Must BeUpon Returning to the Force

25:43 — How PME Translates to Real-World Campaigning

26:47 — Operation Octave Courts: Repositioning fromSomalia Under Constraints

30:32 — Bridging Strategy to Execution: Critical Transitions in Joint Operations

32:21 — Operation Allies Refuge: Planning in a Contested & Rapidly Evolving Environment

35:48 — Planning Across Distributed Teams: Managing Time, Space & Coordination

37:39 — The Power of Assumptions in Operational Planning

39:53 — Key Takeaways & Closing Thoughts