The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the twentieth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today’s guest is the S-2 intelligence officer for 1st Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment, CPT Benjamin Branower.  

1-509th IN BN is the opposing forces unit for the Joint Readiness Training Center, the infamous “Geronimo.” Geronimo’s primary mission is to help units see their selves clearly in order to rectify any deficiencies through rigorous, realistic, and relevant training with an aggressive opposing force (OPFOR). Besides functioning as a traditional S-2, CPT Branower also coordinates for the employment of Geronimo’s Special Purpose Forces, electromagnetic /cyber warfare team, and information warfare cell.

In this episode we discuss means in which Geronimo regularly prepares to engage each brigade combat team through the analytical process of searching for vulnerabilities and then exploiting said vulnerabilities, commonly called “red teaming.” What is repeatedly emphasized is that the Geronimo staff isn’t given any “insider” knowledge to each training rotation but instead conducts traditional Army staff work, such as information preparation of the battlefield, followed by aggressive, high-tempo operations against BCTs.

Part of S11 “Conversations with the Enemy” series.

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