In this powerful episode of The Backbone Leader Exchange, Sergeant Cashe and Staff Sergeant Jones tackle one of the hardest truths in today’s Army, the accountability gap. Inspired by Capt. Tanner Swanner’s thought-provoking article “Accountability Is Needed at All Leadership Echelons” (Army Magazine, Nov 2025), this conversation takes a deep dive into how uneven standards across ranks are eroding trust and shaping unit culture.

Cashe and Jones unpack what real accountability looks like, not the kind written in policy, but the kind lived in daily decisions. They challenge leaders to self-reflect, confront double standards, and rebuild trust through consistency, transparency, and integrity. From the motor pool to brigade HQ, this episode calls on every echelon to hold the line and lead with fairness, courage, and moral clarity.

Because when accountability becomes optional, excellence becomes negotiable.