Reading as a family is proven to aid children in developing key language and literary skills. But what happens when a family member is away on leave for extended periods of time? Thirty-three years ago, a military spouse created United Through Reading to create a system that would help bring families together through books. Host Holly Dailey talks to United Through Reading’s Molly Haskin to talk about the program, how they have adapted to the latest phone technology, and whether it’s possible to develop mind powers like Roald Dahl’s Matilda.

• Guest: Molly Haskin, Director of Army, Air Force, and Space Force Programs for United Through Reading

• Host: Holly Dailey

Resources: 

Morale, Welfare, Recreation (MWR) Library 

Website: https://unitedthroughreading.org/read-beyond-the-beaten-path-this-summer/

Reading App Challenge June 15 – August 31

Website: https://unitedthroughreading.org/join-our-2022-summer-reading-app-challenge/

Mobile Van and Joining Forces

Audio Clip Credits:

Reading for the Record with UTR - SMA Dan Dailey, US Army. YouTube. YouTube, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oebaBTMvL_Y.

When people think of Formula One racing, they imagine fast cars, exotic locales, and millions of fans. When former Acting Secretary of the Army John Whitley thinks of F1, he sees the future for the Army and other organizations. Host Colonel (retired) Dan Roper sits down with Whitley to talk about racecar driving, digital twins, and how someone who originally enrolled in agricultural studies worked his way towards overseeing a $700 billion military budget. 

Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at [email protected]. 

• Guest: John Whitley, former Acting Secretary of the Army; Researcher and Advisor, Institute for Defense Analyses

• Host: COL (Ret) Dan Roper

Cadet Command is perhaps the most important initiative of the U.S. Army, overseeing more than 30,000 ROTC cadets that could become the next generation of officers and this country’s leaders. Host Colonel (retired) Scott Halstead sits down with his old friend, Major General Johnny Davis, to find out more about the program and the General’s role in overseeing it. The two discuss the role of mentorship, what today’s cadets have on their minds and – perhaps most importantly – the right way to drink coffee.

Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at [email protected].

• Guest: MG Johnny K. Davis, Commanding General, U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, Kentucky

• Host: COL (Ret) Scott Halstead

Resources:

U.S. Army Cadet Command

Web: https://www.cadetcommand.army.mil/

In December 2011, American E.O.D. tech Aaron Hale was immediately blinded by an explosion in Afghanistan. But rather than feel sorry for himself, he decided to make the rest of his life an adventure. Host Sergeant Major of the Army (retired) Dan Dailey sits down with Aaron as part of his series about entrepreneurship to talk about whitewater kayaking, how he overcome an even bigger disability, and how he re-discovered joy – and a successful business start-up – in making fudge with his wife Kayla.   

• Guest: Aaron Hale, Co-Founder, E.O.D. Fudge and former Army Staff Sergeant

Resources: 

E.O.D. Fudge 

AUSA’s NCO & Soldier Programs 

Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at [email protected]. 

General George S. Patton is one of the most famous American military leaders of all-time, with an outsized personality and even-bigger reputation. But what really drove his World War II successful campaigns? Host Joe Craig sits down with Stephen L. Moore, the author of the just-released book Patton’s Payback: The Battle of El Guettar and General Patton’s Rise to Glory to discuss the man, the conditions he faced in North Africa in the early days of the war, and how he motivated his men to fight and find victory.

Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at [email protected]. 

• Guest: Stephen Moore, author of Patton’s Payback: The Battle of El Guettar and General Patton’s Rise to Glory

• Host: Joe Craig

Resources: 

Penguin Random House:

Patton’s Payback: The Battle of El Guettar and General Patton’s Rise to Glory

Credits

Opening Dramatization:

Narrator: Gina Cavallaro

Script: Anthony Del Col

Sound Design: Andy Bosnak

Book:

Moore, Stephen L. Patton's Payback: The Battle of El Guettar and General Patton's Rise to Glory. New York, NY: Caliber, an imprint of Penguin Random House, 2022.

Let’s face it: Life is stressful. Life in the military perhaps even more so. Add a worldwide pandemic and it has become even more overwhelming. On this episode host Holly Dailey (along with co-hosts Maria McConville and Alexandra Grinston) talk to Chaplain (MG) Thomas Solhjem and COL Samuel Preston about the Army’s holistic health and fitness program, how Covid shines a spotlight on problems that already exist, and get some practical tips on what to do when life feels unmanageable. 

• Guests: 

• Chaplain (Major General) Thomas L. Solhjem, U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains

• Holly Dailey, AUSA’s Director of Family Readiness 

Resources: 

Army Chaplain Corps

Chaplain – Army Recruiting

Social Media Handles:

YouTube: @US Army Chaplain Corps

Chaplin Podcast:

Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at [email protected]. 

It seems obvious but is so often overlooked: Trust is perhaps the most important element of any organization’s culture. Host Colonel (retired) Scott Halstead sat down with Colonel Brian Ducote and Command Sergeant Major Mark Eckstrom of the fabled 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division just prior to their departure to Iraq and Syria to discuss how to create a strong culture, how the analogy of building a river is what leaders should aim for, and... what it would take to coax Scott to come out of retirement to join their mission.

• Guests from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, U.S. Army:
  • COL Brian Ducote, Commander

Resources:

1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at [email protected].

It’s a question every NCO asks themselves at some point: What can I actually do to make a difference? Sgt. 1st Class Aaron M. Welch, stationed in Valencia, Spain, answered that question and his subsequent efforts have led to him being named NATO’s Soldier of the Year. Command Sergeant Major (Ret) Troy Welch interviews Aaron about his work in helping to set up Spain’s first sniper school, sharing his experiences at conferences, and how Aaron’s view of NATO has changed during his time in Spain. (And yes, Aaron is Troy’s nephew, so expect many “proud uncle” moments.)

• Guest: SFC Aaron M. Welch, 2021 NATO Force Structure Top Soldier of the Year

Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at [email protected].

After years of planning and consultation, the Army has just implemented a brand-new Army Combat Fitness Test for everyone across all levels. SMA Michael Grinston visits to describe the new plan to Army Matters host SMA (retired) Dan Dailey, detail how it will make the Army ready for the future, and also explain the most important thing that he believes separates the U.S. military from the Russian one. 

• Guest: SMA Michael Grinston, 16th Sergeant Major of the Army

Resources:

Sergeant Major of the Army

AUSA’s NCO & Soldier Programs

Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at [email protected].

In his years as the Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe, Ben Hodges was known to be candid and unafraid to tell the truth. In today’s episode, host Colonel (Ret) Dan Roper speaks to Hodges about why most experts – including himself – overestimated the strength of the Russian Army.  They also assess the impact of US military training of Ukrainian troops, and how this conflict is likely to shape the future of the U.S. Army, NATO, and the ongoing strategic competition with China.

• Guest: LTG (Ret) Ben Hodges, former Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe and Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies, Center for European Policy Analysis
  

Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at [email protected].