This is part one of a two part discussion with Goldminer 07 and 40, the lead Logistician Trainers at NTC. Both LTC Eric Shockley and CSM Krista Peterson are career logisticians with a vast amount of knowledge and experience at both NTC and Army sustainment operations.

In this episode of Off the Radar, we dive into the unique role Army logisticians play in supporting Special Operations Forces (SOF) at the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin. As the battlefield becomes increasingly complex and multi-domain, the demands on sustainment professionals grow sharper and more critical.

Join us as we talk with Goldminer 07 and 40, LTC Eric Shockley and CSM Christa Petersen about how logistics directly impacts mission success in high-intensity, joint-force training environments. From logistic distribution in denied terrain to expeditionary maintenance and austere medical support, this episode explores how logisticians adapt, innovate, and execute under the toughest simulated combat conditions in the Army.

Whether you're a seasoned sustainment leader or a new 92-series Soldier, this conversation sheds light on the behind-the-scenes efforts that keep SOF and Conventional Forces ready, responsive, and resilient at the point of friction.

This is part two of a two-part episode focused on Special Operations Force Integration Interoperability and Interdependence, lessons learn at the Detachment and Company level, educating the National Training Center Operations Group on SOF capabilities and SOF’s role in Large Scale Combat Operations. SOF units, chiefly Special Forces Companies (Advanced Operating Base or AOB) conducted numerous rotations annually at the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center working along side of conventional forces. In this episode SFC Gilgenast shares his experiences working as the Burro Team Operations NCO and later Sergeant Major.

- understanding your regimental history, SF history through knives: V-42, Fairbairn, Yarbrough

- knowing OSS, 1SSF, and other Special Operations forces that came before Special Forces

- appreciating SOF/SF history and the people and families that came before the current generation

- work life balance in SF, understanding what is important and knowing when to devote time to your family and when you need to devote time to work

- know when you need to take care of ourselves and family, so you don’t get burnt out

- re-charging through a hobby to be a better Soldier and Leader

- using a hobby or business to increase time management and leadership abilities

- prepare yourself for when you will leave the military

- continue to develop your knowledge and skills of being a Soldier and Leader through self study

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part one of a two-part episode focused on Special Operations Force Integration Interoperability and Interdependence, lessons learn at the Detachment and Company level, educating the National Training Center Operations Group on SOF capabilities and SOF’s role in Large Scale Combat Operations. SOF units, chiefly Special Forces Companies (Advanced Operating Base or AOB) conducted numerous rotations annually at the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center working along side of conventional forces. In this episode SFC Gilgenast shares his experiences working as the Burro Team Operations NCO and later Sergeant Major. About the Guest: SFC Erik Gilgenast: Grow up in a military family. His father a 33-year Army aviator, allowed Erik to grow up in various locations around the world. Having enlisted in the delayed entry program, upon graduation from high school in Germany, Erik entered service. Calling Colorado home, and meeting his wife in Colorado. Erik has operational experience in CENTCOM, EUCOM, and AFRICOM. He has served both as a conventional infantryman and a Special Forces communications sergeant. About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is the of SOF Plans Chief at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command. This episode covers:

- Dealing with being a geo-bachelor while serving at Fort Irwin and taking care of the soldiers within your formation

- Roles and responsibilities as the Burro Team Operations Sergeant, and the Burro Team Sergeant Major fo

- appropriate use of SOF units within LSCO

- SOF-CF I3 with NTC OPS GRP and ensuring NYC scenario design makes sense for SOF training

- comparing what is focused on for SOF training versus conventional units training at NTC

- SOF area of operations compared to conventional, SOF bringing mass and supporting the joint fight

- Coaching points from Burro OPS SGT- analog products such as synch matrix, decision matrix, logstat, etc ; should have digital and analog

- OC/Ts learn from training units

- Positive mental attitudes increases the training value, engaged leadership that sets the standard

- understand the basics and execute the basics, use your Ranger handbook Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part two of a two-part episode focused on Special Operations Psychology Operations executing Combat Training Center rotations specially the National Training Center. SOF PSYOP’s role in Large Scale Combat Operations, executing multiple domain operations and integrating with ARSOF and conventional forces. SOF PSYOP executing information operations ins training environment.

- methods to influence the information domain: print media, social media, broadcast media, etc

- influence operations are trainable at NTC, role players can be influence to support opposing force or coalition force

- NTC constantly changes and improves and training becomes more realistic and challenging every rotation

- integration early and often is key to success when working with other units, MOSs, branches, etc

- SOF Civil Affairs and SOF PSYOP should work hand in hand, they mutually supporting roles

- SOF and Conventional Forces, must share information and understand each others objectives so that they don’t accidentally degrade each other but instead support each other

- risk to force and risk to mission can be decreased through effective use of influence operations to increase likelihood of mission success

- PSYOPers of all ranks need to be able to speak to a Commander and outline what PSYOP can do for them

- PSYOPers embedding with SFOD-A, when it makes sense, they need to be prepare for austere conditions and provide PSYOP input to the detachment level

- fundamentals of a PSYOPer, understand how to read an OPROD, find the PSYOP tasks and authorities and develop plan to execute those tasks, understand the modalities of information operations, train on offensive and defensive information operations

- understand your operational area

- blacksmith bbq, having a hobby to improve your performance at work, and potentially grow into a business

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part one of a two-part episode focused on Special Operations Psychology Operations executing Combat Training Center rotations specially the National Training Center. SOF PSYOP’s role in Large Scale Combat Operations, executing multiple domain operations and integrating with ARSOF and conventional forces. SOF PSYOP executing information operations ins training environment.

- comparing training for PSYOP to operational PSYOP

- PSYOP integrating into SF AOB at a CTC, give a capabilities brief and build rapport

- add value to the AOB staff by getting involved in the staff functions and working groups, leverage special skill sets and knowledge you have to provide value

- Tactical Deception (TAC-D) vs Deception in Support of Operations (DISO): TAC-D creates an action in the enemy force, DISO used to protect OPSEC

- use information operations to create effects now (in near real time)

- SOF direct action raid example: DISO- protects planning and execution of raid, TAC-D influence enemy to move away from objective area

- deception mine field example

- NTC has pre-approved information operations series, don’t reinvent the wheel, use what is already available, share information and ensure AOB knows what you know

- messaging can get approved through higher In 24-48hours at NTC, messaging must be forecasted

- measures of performance and effectiveness must be identified prior to the message going out, have a baseline understand of environment and decision points for messaging and information operations

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part two of an episode focused on rotation 25-06 at the National Training Center where 7th SFG (A) sent 3 SF Soldiers to serve as the Special Operation Forces Liaison Element (SOFLE). This was not a typical rotation but still enabled Special Operation Forces – Conventional Forces Integration Interoperability and Interdependence. SOF builds mass and produces outsized effects from it’s formation size. This is true even from a SOFLE, demonstrating credibility and value to the conventional force.

- What are the DIV and BDE CDR focused on? BDE CDR – combining arms in the close fight; DIV CDR – providing intelligence, integrating fires, forecasting logistics; SOF fits neatly into the priorities of the DIV CDR

- SOF holistically can answer the mail for the CJSOTF CDR and DIV CDR simultaneously through multi-layered mutually supporting lines of effort

- SOFLE must understand what Command level cares about what information at what time

- SOF provides the most value to the Joint Force through focusing efforts on DIV level objectives and targeting; SOF actions have limited effects on BDE close fight

- SOF is interdependent on conventional forces for logistics and medical support

- BDE become comfortable to conduct kinetic fires on behalf of SOF when SOF requested fires with non-standard observations

- SOFLE splitting between BDE TOC and TAC, managing communications equipment and personnel between multiple footprints

- SOFLE SITREP enabled AOB and SOTF to understand situation and communicate requirements

- Sharing Common Operating Picture; SOFLE used digital COP to share BDE information to AOB, manpower is critical to maintain these multiple systems and must be balanced with other demands

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part one of an episode focused on rotation 25-06 at the National Training Center where 7th SFG (A) sent 3 SF Soldiers to serve as the Special Operation Forces Liaison Element (SOFLE). This was not a typical rotation but still enabled Special Operation Forces – Conventional Forces Integration Interoperability and Interdependence. SOF builds mass and produces outsized effects from it’s formation size. This is true even from a SOFLE, demonstrating credibility and value to the conventional force.

MAJ Matthew Song: Served at a Lieutenant with 10th Mountain Division before becoming Special Forces. Served as a Detachment Commander in 1st BN, 1st SFG (A) in Okinawa, Japan and as a SF Company Commander in 2nd BN, 1st SFG (A) in Joint Base Lewis McChord. Sent the last year as the SOTD AOB-W “Burro Team” exercise control director and J3, his next assignment is the Burro Team OIC.

CPT Weston Rich is the of SOF Plans Chief at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

- Informing for the force via this podcast, USASOC lessons learned, and written After Action Reviews

- SOFLE – what capabilities need to be in that element and the type of personnel to consider

- Producing SOF actions through constructed / simulated effects since there was no live SOF elements taking part on the ground during the rotation

- Communications architecture for SOFLE to communicate with higher SOF headquarters and how to interplays with conventional communications

- Digital force protection considerations, inclusion in the written AARs, camouflage

- Building systems that can survive in a comms denied environment, through use of a TACSOP

- SOFLE can integrate with the CF BDE and assist in their military decision-making process and get SOF capabilities to the forefront of CF CDR’s mind, feeding the BDE’s OODA loop

- Understanding command relationships, SOFLE is a coordinating relationship; SOFLE must monitor operations, coordinate, advise, and assist the conventional force; beyond those duties SOFLEs should build rapport, demonstrate creditably, and provide value

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part 2 of a 2-part of the collaboration with Pineland Underground podcast where MAJ Maicke and SFC Coach interview MAJ Ficken, CPT Rich, and SFC Wade of Burro Team, the SOF Observer Coach Trainer team at the National Training Center. This interview focused on training combat ready and lethal Special Operations Forces highlighting the value of training at a Combat Training Center through lessons learned and describing trends observed by OC/Ts. Additionally, giving insight in ways to prepare for a rotation, what Large Scale Combat in a Multi-Domain environment might look like, and more. Off the Radar thanks PU and USAJFKSWC for supporting SOTD’s push to educate and inspire the force.

- Comparing CTCs for ARSOF training value to the ARSOF Training Center at WSMR, NM; biggest difference is CTCs have dedicated OPFOR, larger backside support

- SOF training enables creativity through allowing SOF units to choose from multiple training venues and methods: including RMT

- ARSOF units train outside of CTC training areas: conducting infrastructure assessments, simple sabotage, influence operations, etc.

- Basics: off site comms shots, terrain masking, shoot, move, communicate, sustain, medicate, principles of patrolling; vehicle load out SOPs, camouflage, rehearsals on maneuver, planning, etc; integrating fires (call for fire), issuing guidance

- Lessons learned and trends: understanding digital force protection, teams improve over time, simple tasks become harder as rotation goes on and fatigue sets in, understanding the environment and taking prudent risks

- Doing the hard right over the easy wrong, make decisions that make tactical sense and don’t hit the easy button

- Understanding environment and what is required in that environment and how to best maneuver

- Don’t get compliance or get comfortable, that is what gets Soldiers killed

- Successes at NTC: long range dismounted winter mountain movement, tandem free fall infiltration of Space Soldier, drone grenade drops, passing control of loitering munition, downed drone example of synchronizing SOF and CF to mutually support each other

- ARSOF trains as the opposing force every rotation

- CTCs provides training on SOF-CF I3 to help conventional force and SOF understand each other and aid in recruiting future ARSOF Soldiers

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part 1 of a 2-part of the collaboration with Pineland Underground podcast where MAJ Maicke and SFC Coach interview MAJ Ficken, CPT Rich, and SFC Wade of Burro Team, the SOF Observer Coach Trainer team at the National Training Center. This interview focused on training combat ready and lethal Special Operations Forces highlighting the value of training at a Combat Training Center through lessons learned and describing trends observed by OC/Ts. Additionally, giving insight in ways to prepare for a rotation, what Large Scale Combat in a Multi-Domain environment might look like, and more. Off the Radar thanks Pineland Underground and USAJFKSWC for supporting SOTD’s push to educate and inspire the force.

- SOTD task organization, role of an OC/T and value of training at a CTC

- Interoperability of SOF with CF and partners forces (PF) through shared training experiences

- LSCO: CF against a peer/near peer advisory of equivalent size and how SOF fits into these operations by deep sensing, targeting high priority targets, and enable MDO in the Division deep areas by with and through partners

- CTCs: 10 rotations a year, 8 focused on Brigade and SOF Companies, 1 focused on Division level and SOF Battalion (SOTF), and 1 focused on SOF Group leave (CJSOTF)

- Training the basics: teams that do the most planning and preparation are the most successful; be off natural lines of drift, camouflage, use micro terrain, principles of maneuver are the same mounted or dismounted

- Trends: over reliance on phones / ATAK for planning or communicating, analog products increase shared understanding

- Don’t train PF on unsustainable platform (weapon system, planning system, etc). Use what the PF as accessible

- Understanding the operational environment and adversary’s capabilities, night vision, thermals, sensors of all kinds, etc

- SOF integration with PF and role players, PF plays as host nation forces and role players are that unit’s leadership; role players fulfilling roles in the host nation government, as local civilians, etc

- SOF integration with CF happens at the AOB level and through a liaison element at the Brigade

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].

This is part 2 of a 2-part of the collaboration with WarDocs podcast where MSgt (R) Steve Cum and COL (R) Doug Soderdahl interview SFC Mondrian Bogert. This interview focuses on Special Operations Medical training, specifically Special Forces, at the Combined Training Centers: The National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). Combat medicine saves lives and requires non-medics as well as medics. From care under fire through evacuation the skills, equipment, and knowledge needed to be successful at treating patients and getting your fellow service members home.

About the Guest:

SFC Mondrian Bogert: Mo is a Special Forces 18D or medical sergeant. He served in the 82nd Airborne as an infantryman prior to graduating the SF Qualification Course. He served as a medical sergeant in 10th SFG (A) conducting multiple training and operations in EUCOM. Mo has nearly 2 years of experience as an SF Observer Coach, Training with over a dozen rotations at NTC and JRTC overseeing multiple medical scenarios including MASCAL and prolonged causality care.

This episode covers:

- Partner force treatment and transportation, dilemma when to stop treatment on a patient to conserve resources for patients that can be care for

- Non-standard CASEVAC examples: use of partner force, use of civilian networks, use of non-medical transportation asset at risk of losing that asset

- Actions to take when you cannot get to friendly lines, find alternative means to treat patients including locations to hold and care for patient

- Understand all options to accomplish a task such as CASEVAC, create a PACE for transport and understand risks and consequences for using each of those options

- Non-medics providing assistance to medics: understanding Care Under Fire = priority security and massing fires, Tactical Combat Casualty Care = knowing MARCH and how to conduct interventions until 18D is available take and record vitals, understand when to stay out of the 18Ds way, familiarity with medical equipment and interventions

- Medical cross training is paramount so all Soldiers are prepared to execute combat trauma medicine, this includes understanding where equipment is in an aide bag, truck box, prolonged care bag, etc.

- Replication of wounds from indirect fire, small UAS, airborne munitions, RAID

- Challenge the SOF medics to motivate them to leave the CTC with a desire to self-study and cross train their Detachment to be more combat ready

- Resilience is extremely important for combat medics, ability to be calm in a stressful situation, grit to not quit and push through for your team, being mentally prepared for those situations beforehand

- Flexibility and foresight: being able to forecast what medical equipment is needed and flexible enough to execute with what you have on hand

- Integration with conventional forces and plan for tactical ground CASEVAC with link up with conventional M113s at a predetermined Ambulance Exchange Point

- Field expeditated medicine Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds