AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast

Throughout Master Sergeant (Ret.) Cedric King’s Army career he always faced challenges head on. His biggest obstacle, however, took place in 2012 when he was injured by an IED device and lost his legs. But rather than feeling sorry for himself, he accepted it and is now a triathlete, author and motivational speaker. Host Colonel (Ret.) Scott Halstead talks to Cedric about the superheroes that inspired him at Fort Bragg, how hard it is to learn to walk again, and how a trip to a mini-mall changed his life.

Guest: MSG Cedric King, United States Army Retired

Host:  COL Scott Halstead, United States Army Retired

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In celebration of NCOs and Soldiers at AUSA’s 2022 Annual Meeting, 10-12 October in Washington, DC, SMA Michael Grinston swung by AUSA’s headquarters to talk about the exciting events: the Army Ten-Miler is in person; the new award for Best Squad will be presented; and the next Honorary Sergeant Major of the Army will be revealed. In addition, SMA Grinston provided a preview of his upcoming initiatives for his final year as Sergeant Major of the Army. The initiatives include reducing harmful behaviors throughout the force, modernizing recruitment, telling stories that remind us why we’re proud of our Army and more. Be sure to join us for his Initiatives Briefing in October!

Resources:

AUSA 2022 Annual Meeting & Exposition

Sergeant Major of the Army

AUSA’s NCO & Soldier Programs

When Frank Dolberry was a teenager thinking of joining the Army, an acquaintance dismissed the notion, thinking it was an unrealistic dream for someone like him.  Major Frank Dolberry sits down with host Colonel (Ret.) Dan Roper to discuss how this motivated him to succeed, other inspirations he found along the way including the tremendous legacy of service in his family, and how he thinks the Army could improve its recruiting outcomes. 

• Guest:  MAJ Frank Dolberry, AUSA Army Fellow

• Host: COL (Ret) Dan Roper

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

When people are at their lowest point, sometimes something as simple as a note or small gift can make a world of difference. Major General (Ret.) James Johnson, the head of Operation Gratitude, an organization that sends gift packages to service members overseas, speaks with host Holly Dailey and co-host Maria McConville about the power of gratitude. And then social scientist Dr. Alaina Hansom joins to discuss research that proves the benefits of showing gratitude.

(In the spirit of this show… THANK YOU for listening to this episode!)

• Hosts:

• • • Holly Dailey, AUSA’s Director of Family Readiness

• Guests: 

• MG (Ret.) James Johnson, President and CEO, Operation Gratitude

Opening Credits:

Narrators: Kevin Irwin, Carrie Varouhakis, LaSherryn Duncan

Script: Anthony Del Col

Sound Design: Andy Bosnak

Resources:

Operation Gratitude

Human Performance Resources by CHAMP (HPRC)

Website: https://www.hprc-online.org/

Human Performance Resources by CHAMP (HPRC) – #GotMySix Campaign

Website: https://www.hprc-online.org/total-force-fitness/gotmysix

Military intelligence leaders generally work behind the scenes and are trained to shun the spotlight, but they play vital leadership roles in every single part of the Army. Major General Michelle Schmidt talks with host Colonel (Ret.) Scott Halstead about her 30-year career, including being at the Pentagon on 9/11 to saying goodbye to friends in the final days of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan in 2021, and whether the book Fast After 50 should be considered fictional…  

• Guest: MG Michelle A. Schmidt, Director, Force Development, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, U.S. Army
  

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

When military people hear about the U.S. Army Pacific area, they think about the ocean and the inevitable Navy presence there. But the region contains sixty percent of the world’s population and land patrol is the key to the region’s stability. Host Sergeant Major of the Army (retired) Dan Dailey sits down with General Charles Flynn, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Pacific, to talk about the region’s importance, training opportunities there for young officers, and some of the leaders that have inspired him over the years. 

• Guest: GEN Charles Flynn, Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific

Resources:

U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC)

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

Whether it’s during a snowstorm, pouring rain or a heat wave, a devoted group of volunteers show up for every single Army funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, there to represent the Chief of Staff and the entire Army family. Cindy Risch, the current Senior Spouse of the U.S. Army JAG Corps, is one of those ladies and speaks to host Holly Dailey about how powerful her experience as an Arlington Lady has been, the highs and lows of being a military spouse and how some people just really love their cookies.

• Guest: Cindy Risch, Senior Spouse of the U.S. Army JAG Corps
  

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

Most people believe it’s not a question of if China will invade Taiwan, but “when”. So can this be prevented? Host Joe Craig sits down with Elbridge Colby to discuss his 2021 book The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, as well as how a possible war might play out, how the Chinese forces could be neutralized before that happens, and what allies could surprisingly play the biggest roles.

·       Guest: Elbridge Colby, author of Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict

·       Host: Joe Craig 

Resources: 

Yale University Press: 

Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict

Credits

Opening Dramatization:

Narrator: Carrie Varouhakis

Script: Anthony Del Col

Sound Design: Andy Bosnak

Book:

Colby, Elbridge A. Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2022.

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

There have been countless analyses of the Ukrainian-Russian War since it began earlier this year. The most effective of these have been from experts who have witnessed the conflict firsthand.  Colonel (Ret.) Dan Roper speaks with Dr. Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow for Land Warfare at the Royal United Services Institute about what he’s observed from the battlefields of Ukraine, explains the four stages of the war thus far, and describes how Ukraine could not only survive but defeat the Russians.

·         Guest: Dr. Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow, Land Warfare – Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)

·         Host: COL (Ret.) Dan Roper 

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

In October 2001, then-Captain Jim Wanovich parachuted into Afghanistan to begin the American invasion of the country. Twenty years later, in August 2021 Jim’s son, First Lieutenant Andrew Wanovich deployed to Afghanistan to assist with the evacuation of the country. Host Colonel (Ret.) Scott Halstead sits down with the Wanovich family – Jim, his wife Kim and Andrew – to discuss what these operations were like, how Kim felt watching both her husband and son go into these dangerous missions, and the best place to learn how to drive stick shift.

• Guests:

• COL (Ret.) Jim Wanovich

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