By USAJFKSWCS, Ash Holzmann, Derek Riley, Jason Gambardella
4.9
8585 ratings
The podcast currently has 86 episodes available.
Did you know we can trace the Psychological Operations Regiment to a single person?
Did you know PSYOP played a role in the Office of Strategic Services?
They were there at the landings of Normandy, in the planning for Desert Storm, and remain a critical component to military victory in the modern age.
Join us as we host Dr. Jared Tracy, the Army Special Operations Forces' Deputy Command Historian, as he dives deep with us on the nuances and facts of the PSYOP Regiment and its history.
About the guest:
Dr. Jared M. Tracy, PhD served six years in the U.S. Army, and became a historian at the US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) in December 2010. He earned an MA in History from Virginia Commonwealth University, an MDiv in Theology from Liberty University, and a PhD in History from Kansas State University. Dr. Tracy is now the deputy command historian for USASOC at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. He previously concentrated on PSYOP history, but now he researches and writes on a wide range of ARSOF-related topics. His writing has appeared in Military Review, NCO Journal, Southern Historian, and Veritas: Journal of Army Special Operations History.
About the hosts:
Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Operations Officer who served within the re-established PSYWAR School at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School. He is now transitioning to attend grad school at Arizona State University with a follow-on assignment at West Point's Army Cyber Institute where he will research misinformation.
Sgt. Maj. Derek Riley is one of the most experienced Civil Affairs Non-commissioned Officers in the Army Special Operations Regiment. He has incredible deployment experience and serves within the Civil Affairs Proponent at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
From the episode:
Victory Through Influence (Dr. Tracy's first book):
https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781648430343/victory-through-influence/
The ARSOC History website:
https://arsof-history.org/about.html#tracy
Dr. Tracy's dissertation is publicly available here:
https://krex.k-state.edu/items/333a90d2-6c98-4ac2-aa90-0e33a46c9e3f
His writing on the history of PSYOP and PSYWAR has even been posted to the main army website:
https://www.army.mil/article/199431/100_years_of_subterfuge_the_history_of_army_psychological_operations
Article on rebuilding the PSYWAR capability:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v7n2_intro_page_1.html
Is Taylor Swift a PSYOP (featuring Dr. Tracy)?
https://www.wired.com/story/taylor-swift-psyop-conspiracy/
The Guardian article referenced about Panama (featuring Dr. Tracy):
https://www.theguardian.com/music/audio/2021/feb/03/reverberate-episode-2-rick-astley-versus-the-dictator-of-panama-podcast
What did PSYOP do during Operation Just Cause in Panama. Ash disappointedly was not able to find the interview of the captain, but the ARSOF Historians have covered this exact operation in detail:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/21feb_psyop_just_cause_page_1.html
From that article:
"Then, LTG Stiner (with Thurman’s approval) ordered a PSYOP-led “sound barrier” around the Nunciature after Christmas to prevent media eavesdropping on negotiations between MG Marc A. Cisneros, Commander, USARSO, and José Sebastían Laboa, the Papal Nuncio (Vatican diplomatic representative). Deafening, round-the-clock music from cassette tapes and local radio stations blared through 450-watt loudspeakers mounted on HMMWVs."
The art and science of PSYOP has been written about at length:
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA030140
Heber Blankenhorn's story is even more interesting in detail:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-6563.1983.tb01579.x
The ARSOF Historian's office has also covered multiple articles that mention Blankenhorn:
https://arsof-history.org/icons/blankenhorn.html
The Committee on Public Information (CPI) is a rabbit hole unto itself:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/the-great-war-master-of-american-propaganda/
Lippmann wrote the first book on Public Opinion:
https://www.amazon.com/Public-Opinion-Walter-Lippmann/dp/B099G6S24P/ref=sr_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.uCSJpfoI3vI2Iv8MR449ZCjuaVyRTA3QZ-grEOo-5EOiZYbL8mci1OiMEfmyOzPHFC6acuxTTevKTq2jjgkeGWXccFMnkYkRIHJEOyJOR6OGTB4x9r0YHHP5CjNSJzgHhkQDDHzHOJOIRwlXyZhFPGROmrUxCD-aKDmRwK0SdzQoBq-9vRTUhziliA6pq0OvmaG-bHwQBnBlWyaTUjORLX4SFN-Tizrr5V8c_vWKqd8.5U0CbgjyyhXy9E5E_bJnGfS21HAxqUiQwc-I-2W6NDU&dib_tag=se&keywords=public+opinion&qid=1729801247&sr=8-3
Bernays re-wrote the book on Public Opinion:
https://www.amazon.com/Crystallizing-Public-Opinion-Edward-Bernays/dp/107827326X/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.uCSJpfoI3vI2Iv8MR449ZCjuaVyRTA3QZ-grEOo-5EOiZYbL8mci1OiMEfmyOzPHFC6acuxTTevKTq2jjgkeGWXccFMnkYkRIHJEOyJOR6OGTB4x9r0YHHP5CjNSJzgHhkQDDHzHOJOIRwlXyZhFPGROmrUxCD-aKDmRwK0SdzQoBq-9vRTUhziliA6pq0OvmaG-bHwQBnBlWyaTUjORLX4SFN-Tizrr5V8c_vWKqd8.5U0CbgjyyhXy9E5E_bJnGfS21HAxqUiQwc-I-2W6NDU&dib_tag=se&keywords=public+opinion&qid=1729801247&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
Book - The Averaged American:
https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674027428
The modern definition of PSYOP:
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/specialty-careers/special-ops/psychological-operations
The Smith-Mundt Act:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/5736
Morale Operations within the Office of Strategic Services (OSS):
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v3n4_oss_primer_page_1.html
Public Records on the Office of War Information:
https://www.archives.gov/research/foreign-policy/related-records/rg-208
Declassified records regarding The Psychological Warfare Division of Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (PWD SHAEF) from the CIA's website:
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP78-01634R000400120001-4.pdf
The First Motion Picture Unit:
https://www.archives.gov/files/calendar/know-your-records/handouts-presentations/sept19-presentation.pdf
Razzle Dazzles ships:
https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/episode-65-razzle-dazzle/
The Ghost Army of World War II:
https://ghostarmy.org/
A book on the history of the Information Control Division:
https://nonstopsystems.com/radio/pdf-hell/article-hell-rwnlst.pdf
The United States Information Agency:
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/united-states-information-agency
Gen Schwarzkopf and PSYOP:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/21oct_psyop_in_operation_ds_pt1_page_1.html
Army Special Operations Recruiting:
SOF Recruiting Page (soc.mil)
https://www.soc.mil/USASOCHQ/recruiting.html
GoArmySOF Site:
https://www.goarmysof.army.mil/
The Official Podcast of the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School!
USAJFKSWCS selects and trains all Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations soldiers.
Please visit our website at: https://www.swcs.mil
Be sure to check us out and follow us at:
Please like, subscribe, and leave a review! If you enjoyed this, join the underground by sharing it with someone else. Word-of-mouth is how movements like this spread.
"Without sustainment, you're just camping with guns."
Did you know it takes quite a lot to sustain an organization like the Special Warfare Center & School? Join us as we discuss sustainment for the organization, sustainment for Special Operations, and how logistics wins wars.
About the guest:
Lt. Col. Pete Van Howe served as the G4 for SWCS and previously served as executive officer of the 407th BSB, 82nd Airborne Division. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree from Troy University. He is a graduate of the Theater Sustainment Planner’s Course, Joint Operation Planning and Execution System Action Officer and Support Personnel Courses, Air Assault School, and Jumpmaster School. He is the current Brigade Support Battalion Commander within the 3rd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division.
About the hosts:
Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Operations Officer who served within the re-established PSYWAR School at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School. He is now transitioning to attend grad school at Arizona State University with a follow-on assignment at West Point's Army Cyber Institute where he will research mis/disinformation.
Sgt. Maj. Derek Riley is one of the most experienced Civil Affairs Non-commissioned Officers in the Army Special Operations Regiment. He has incredible deployment experience and serves within the Civil Affairs Proponent at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
Bull Halsey quote (on page 16):
https://www.moore.army.mil/infantry/magazine/issues/2005/SEP-OCT/pdfs/SEP-OCT2005.pdf
Baltimore Bridge Collapse:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/26/us/key-bridge-collapse-baltimore-what-to-know.html
Ship stuck in the Panama Canal:
https://www.businessinsider.com/traffic-jam-outside-panama-canal-hundreds-ships-2023-8
The cost of the Suez Canal obstruction in 2021:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56559073
Setting a Theater:
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/English-Edition-Archives/May-June-2018/Setting-the-Theater-Effective-Resourcing-at-the-Theater-Army-Level/
Talent management for Special Operations logistics:
https://www.army.mil/article/179943/joint_special_operations_forces_logistics_talent_management
Additional Reading:
Lt. Col. Van Howe has been previously published (page 51):
https://alu.army.mil/alog/ARCHIVE/PB700201902FULL.pdf
Army Special Operations Recruiting:
SOF Recruiting Page (soc.mil)
https://www.soc.mil/USASOCHQ/recruiting.html
GoArmySOF Site:
https://www.goarmysof.army.mil/
The Official Podcast of the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School!
USAJFKSWCS selects and trains all Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations soldiers.
Please visit our website at: https://www.swcs.mil
Be sure to check us out and follow us at:
Please like, subscribe, and leave a review! If you enjoyed this, join the underground by sharing it with someone else. Word-of-mouth is how movements like this spread.
Did you know the Special Forces Operation Detachment Alpha hasn't always had twelve people in it?
Did you know only 1% of the first official Special Forces organization was made up of members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)?
The history of Special Forces is a tapestry, weaving together organizations like Merrill’s Marauders (or Unit Galahad), the Philippine resistance movements in WWII, the original PSYWAR School, and the Ranger Regiment's early days.
Join us as we host Dr. Troy J. Sacquety, the Army Special Operations Forces' Command Historian, as he dives deep with us on the nuances and facts of the impetus and history of the Special Forces Regiment.
And listen through the end to hear the controversial history of the green beret!
About the guest:
Dr. Sacquety earned an MA from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and a PhD in Military History from Texas A&M University. Prior to joining the USASOC History Office staff in August 2006, he worked several years for the Central Intelligence Agency. His research interests include Army and Office of Strategic Services special operations during World War II, and U.S. Army Civil Affairs.
About the hosts:
Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Operations Officer who served within the re-established PSYWAR School at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School. He is now transitioning to attend grad school at Arizona State University with a follow-on assignment at West Point's Army Cyber Institute where he will research mis/disinformation.
Sgt. Maj. Derek Riley is one of the most experienced Civil Affairs Non-commissioned Officers in the Army Special Operations Regiment. He has incredible deployment experience and serves within the Civil Affairs Proponent at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
From the episode:
Brief biography of Brig. Gen. Evans Carlson:
https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/People/Whos-Who-in-Marine-Corps-History/Abrell-Cushman/Brigadier-General-Evans-F-Carlson/
All Special Forces Groups in the 1st Special Forces Regiment trace their official U.S. Army lineage and honors to the FSSF activation on 9 July 1942:
https://arsof-history.org/first_special_service_force/legacy.html
The Coordinator of Information (COI), which became the Office of Strategic Services (OSS):
https://www.soc.mil/OSS/the-beginning.html
The origins of the OSS and its relationship with modern Army Special Operations:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v3n4_oss_primer_page_1.html
British Special Operations Executive:
https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/SOE
The French Bureau Central de Renseignements et d’Action (BCRA):
https://www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr/en/bcra-dgse
The OSS also required immense amounts of coordination and logistics to be successful:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v3n1_supplying_resistance_page_1.html
Jedburghs (including their epically great patch):
https://www.soc.mil/OSS/jedburghs.html
The Green Berets, written by Robin Moore, was the book mentioned from the Vietnam era:
https://www.specialforceshistory.info/books/the-green-berets-robin-moore.html
Detachment 101:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v4n3_myitkyina_part_2_page_1.html
Special Forces in the Korean War:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v2n2_catch_as_catch_page_1.html
Special Operations in the Korean War:
https://www.army.mil/article/268487/army_special_operations_in_the_forgotten_war_commemorating_the_70th_anniversary_of_the_korean_armistice
The Alamo Scouts:
https://www.army.mil/article/214389/the_alamo_scouts
The Alamo Scouts have been recognized as Distinguished Members of the Special Forces Regiment:
https://www.swcs.mil/Portals/111/sf_alamo-scouts.pdf
A diary of the Alamo Scouts:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v4n3_alamo_scouts_page_1.html
Maj. Gen. McClure:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v7n2_mcclure_page_1.html
Brig. Gen. Russel Volckmann:
https://arsof-history.org/icons/volckmann.html
Col. Wendell Fertig:
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/MR-Book-Reviews/January-2017/Book-Review-011/
Lt. Col. Melvin R. Blair:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v7n1_smoke_bomb_hill_page_1.html
Lt. Martin Waters:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v4n1_myitkyina_part_1_page_1.html
Col. Aaron Bank:
https://arsof-history.org/icons/bank.html
Colombian Lanceros:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/pdf/v2n4_colombian_sof.pdf
8240:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v3n3_wolfpack_donkeys_page_1.html
Formation of the Rangers:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v2n3_rangers_wwii_page_1.html
The history of Special Operations Command (not to be confused with 1st SOCOM):
https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/1800521/
The history of 1st SOCOM:
https://arsof-history.org/1stsocom/index.html
The Lodge Act:
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP57-00384R001000010010-1.pdf
Program of Instruction (POI) is essentially the syllabus for Army instruction.
The Special Forces tab was approved in 1983:
https://web.archive.org/web/20000510192433/http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/airborne/sf_tab.htm
History of the ODA and its size over time:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v19n1_evolution_of_the_special_forces_oda_page_1.html
The history of the green beret:
https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2023/10/10/how-the-green-beret-became-the-symbol-of-us-army-special-forces/
Edson Raff's involvement:
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-22-me-passings22.1-story.html
95th Civil Affairs patch:
https://www.shopmyexchange.com/army-unit-patch-95th-civil-affairs-brigade-ocp-/7048045
Want a deeper dive on the conflict in Burma? Dr. Sacquety did another interview at the following link:
https://www.fpri.org/multimedia/2024/06/an-american-irregular-warfare-success-story-oss-detachment-101-in-burma-during-wwii/
Detachment 101 and John Ford:
http://www.easaul.com/oss-detachment-101.html
The Range of Military Operations (ROMO):
https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/concepts/joc_deterrence.pdf?ver=2017-12-28-162015-337
Recommended Civil Affairs reading:
The Hunt Report:
https://www.civilaffairsassoc.org/post/2018/05/08/civil-affairs-centennial-ca100-the-hunt-report
Civil Affairs articles from the ARSOF Historian's Office:
https://arsof-history.org/pdf/handbook_civil_affairs.pdf
Recommended Special Forces reading from the episode:
The Green Berets by Robin Moore:
https://www.amazon.com/Green-Berets-Robin-Moore/dp/0312984928
From OSS to Green Berets:
https://www.amazon.com/Oss-Green-Berets-Special-Forces/dp/0891412719
Dr. Sacquety is also the author of the book The OSS in Burma: Jungle War against the Japanese:
https://us.amazon.com/OSS-Burma-against-Japanese-Studies/dp/0700619097/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Army Special Operations Recruiting:
SOF Recruiting Page (soc.mil)
https://www.soc.mil/USASOCHQ/recruiting.html
GoArmySOF Site:
https://www.goarmysof.army.mil/
The Official Podcast of the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School!
USAJFKSWCS selects and trains all Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations soldiers.
Please visit our website at: https://www.swcs.mil
Be sure to check us out and follow us at:
Please like, subscribe, and leave a review! If you enjoyed this, join the underground by sharing it with someone else. Word-of-mouth is how movements like this spread.
Corie Weathers is a licensed professional counselor, speaker, consultant, and author focusing her career for the last 20 years as a clinician specializing in marriage, military and first responders, the service culture, and its impact on families. We sat down with her to speak about the challenges of communication within military families and relationships, returning home after conflict, retention, recruitment, and more.
About the hosts:
Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Operations Officer who served within the re-established PSYWAR School at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School. He is now transitioning to attend grad school at Arizona State University with a follow-on assignment at West Point's Army Cyber Institute where he will research mis/disinformation.
Sgt. Maj. Derek Riley is one of the most experienced Civil Affairs Non-commissioned Officers in the Army Special Operations Regiment. He has incredible deployment experience and serves within the Civil Affairs Proponent at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
From the episode:
Ms. Corrie Weathers has been featured on a variety of media platforms. You can learn more about her work by visiting her website:
https://www.corieweathers.com/
The Socrates quote mentioned: (469–399 B.C. ) "The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households."
The quote, "was crafted by a student, Kenneth John Freeman, for his Cambridge dissertation published in 1907." You can read more about it here:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/01/misbehave/
Most service members are the children of veterans:
https://download.militaryonesource.mil/12038/MOS/Reports/2022-demographics-report.pdf
Army Special Operations Recruiting:
SOF Recruiting Page (soc.mil)
https://www.soc.mil/USASOCHQ/recruiting.html
GoArmySOF Site:
https://www.goarmysof.army.mil/
The Official Podcast of the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School!
USAJFKSWCS selects and trains all Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations soldiers.
Please visit our website at: https://www.swcs.mil
Be sure to check us out and follow us at:
Please like, subscribe, and leave a review! And if you enjoyed this, become a member of the underground by sharing with at least one other person. Word-of-mouth is how movements like this spread.
Did you know Civil Affairs Soldiers were on the beaches of Normandy and tasked with addressing the cattle killed from the combat operations so that disease outbreaks could be mitigated? Or that Civil Affairs prevented cholera outbreaks during the Korean War?
Combat is only one aspect of conflict and war.
We dive deep in this episode where we cover the history of Civil Affairs.
The Civil Affairs Branch predates the Psychological Operations and Special Forces branches, and even predates the Army Aviation and Military Intelligence branches. The history of Civil Affairs is important for Special Operations practitioners and leaders throughout the military to learn.
Join us as we host Dr. Troy J. Sacquety, the Army Special Operations Forces' Command Historian, and recently named Honorary Member of the Civil Affairs Regiment.
About the guest:
Dr. Sacquety earned an MA from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and a PhD in Military History from Texas A&M University. Prior to joining the USASOC History Office staff in August 2006, he worked several years for the Central Intelligence Agency. His research interests include Army and Office of Strategic Services special operations during World War II, and U.S. Army Civil Affairs.
About the hosts:
Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Operations Officer who served within the re-established PSYWAR School at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School. He is now transitioning to attend grad school at Arizona State University with a follow-on assignment at West Point's Army Cyber Institute where he will research mis/disinformation.
Sgt. Maj. Derek Riley is one of the most experienced Civil Affairs Non-commissioned Officers in the Army Special Operations Regiment. He has incredible deployment experience and serves within the Civil Affairs Proponent at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
From the episode:
Brief biography of Col. Irwin L. Hunt, author of the Hunt Report:
https://arsof-history.org/icons/hunt.html
Derek mentioned the famous General, Gen. Lucius D. Clay:
https://www.army.mil/article/216006/gen_lucius_d_clay_a_brilliant_administrator
Information on the European Civil Affairs Division and Civil Affairs history:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-D101-PURL-gpo128986/pdf/GOVPUB-D101-PURL-gpo128986.pdf
Col. Charles R. Munske, who began his career as Coast Artillery:
https://arsof-history.org/icons/munske.html
Brigadier General Crawford F. Sams:
https://arsof-history.org/articles/v6n1_crawford_sams_page_1.html
CORDS:
https://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/civil-operations.html
The Ring Road of Afghanistan:
https://www.vox.com/world/2018/1/11/16878056/afghanistan-us-fail-war-taliban
Recommended reading from the episode:
The Hunt Report:
https://www.civilaffairsassoc.org/post/2018/05/08/civil-affairs-centennial-ca100-the-hunt-report
American Military Government of Occupied Germany:
https://arsof-history.org/icons/pdf/american_military_government_of_occupied_germany_1918-1920.pdf
Dr. Sacquety is also the author of the book The OSS in Burma: Jungle War against the Japanese:
https://us.amazon.com/OSS-Burma-against-Japanese-Studies/dp/0700619097/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Army Special Operations Recruiting:
SOF Recruiting Page (soc.mil)
https://www.soc.mil/USASOCHQ/recruiting.html
GoArmySOF Site:
https://www.goarmysof.army.mil/
The Official Podcast of the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School!
USAJFKSWCS selects and trains all Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations soldiers.
Please visit our website at: https://www.swcs.mil
Be sure to check us out and follow us at:
Please like, subscribe, and leave a review! If you enjoyed this, join the underground by sharing it with someone else. Word-of-mouth is how movements like this spread.
Preserving and capturing the lessons learned from the Global War on Terror; what is keeping the newest generation of Army Special Operations Forces (SOF) up at night; how can we continue to develop professional military writing in Army SOF; how to we modernize such efforts? We tackle all of that and more in this episode with two great Special Operations practitioners and recent graduates of the National Defense University.
Spread the word! We have two (the very first!) Harding Project Fellows who will now be leading the Special Warfare Magazine.
P.S. -- We have a new season! Fear not, Ash is in a better place and will still be featured in several episodes, as we recorded a ton of content prior to his departure. We will have a future transition episode to discuss the end of "Season 2".
About the guests:
Sgt. 1st Class Ben. Ben is originally from Apex, North Carolina and enlisted in 2012. He completed the Special Force Qualification Course in 2013 as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a Master of Arts in International Strategic Security Studies from the National Defense University.
Maj. Emily Lopez. Emily enlisted in the Army Reserves in 2008 and was commissioned from Oklahoma State University as an Ordnance officer in 2013. In 2019, Lopez graduated from the Civil Affairs Qualification Course. Lopez holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Promotion from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Arts in Strategic Security Studies from the National Defense University.
About the hosts:
Lt. Col. Bobby Tuttle is a Green Beret and co-founder of the Pineland Underground. A proven leader who is currently serving as the Special Warfare Center & School's Strategic Communicator. He is a graduate of both Texas A&M and the Naval Postgraduate School.
Sgt. Maj. Derek Riley is one of the most experienced Civil Affairs Non-commissioned Officers in the Army Special Operations Regiment. He has incredible deployment experience and serves within the Civil Affairs Proponent at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
From the episode:
What is the Harding Project:
https://www.hardingproject.com/p/welcome-to-the-harding-project
The Harding Project Fellowship Program:
https://www.army.mil/article/278222/first_harding_fellows_strengthen_the_armys_professional_journals
How to submit an article to the Special Warfare Magazine:
https://www.swcs.mil/Special-Warfare/Article-Submissions/
How to write a book review from Military Review:
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/journals/military-review/online-exclusive/2024-ole/how-to-write-a-book-review/
Recommended reading from the episode:
The Special Warfare Magazine Archive:
https://www.swcs.mil/Special-Warfare/Special-Warfare-Archive/
More information about SWCS's involvement in the Harding Project:
https://www.swcs.mil/Special-Warfare/Harding-Project/
And keep an eye out for Line of Depature!
Army Special Operations Recruiting:
SOF Recruiting Page (soc.mil)
https://www.soc.mil/USASOCHQ/recruiting.html
GoArmySOF Site:
https://www.goarmysof.army.mil/
The Official Podcast of the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School!
USAJFKSWCS selects and trains all Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations soldiers.
Please visit our website at: https://www.swcs.mil
Be sure to check us out and follow us at:
Please like, subscribe, and leave a review! If you enjoyed this, join the underground by sharing it with someone else. Word-of-mouth is how movements like this spread.
Did you know the entire Joint Force engages in Irregular Warfare? Often defined differently depending on the individual or organization you speak to, we have Doug Livermore on to help define and discuss Irregular Warfare, the nature of conflict, and how our named adversaries also apply it across the globe. Listen in to learn how Irregular Warfare is not only a job for Special Operations.
About the guest:
Doug Livermore formerly served as the Director of Special Operations, Irregular Warfare, Special Programs, and Sensitive Activities for the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy. He is also a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard serving as the Deputy Commander of Special Operations Detachment – X. Previously, Doug served as a sensitive activities advisor to both the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict and the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security.
Multiple international affairs and security studies journals have distributed Doug’s works, including many publications in War on the Rocks, Small Wars Journal, and the Military Times. Doug is the National Director for External Communications for the Special Forces Association and is also the Director of Communications with West Point’s Irregular Warfare Initiative. Additionally, he is on the Board of Directors for both No One Left Behind and the Special Operations Association of America where he has been instrumental in the ongoing evacuation and resettlement of Afghan interpreters and their families.
Doug earned his undergraduate degree in Military History at West Point, his graduate degree in International Security Affairs from Georgetown University; he excelled in the Army Command and General Staff Officer Course.
About the hosts:
Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Operations Officer serving in the re-established PSYWAR School at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
Sgt. Maj. Derek Riley is one of the most experienced Civil Affairs Non-commissioned Officers in the Army Special Operations Regiment. He has incredible deployment experience and serves within the Civil Affairs Proponent at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
From the episode:
To read more about Irregular Warfare, visit the following websites and articles:
https://irregularwarfarecenter.org/
Did you know Congress authorized the development of the Irregular Warfare Center?
https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2022/11/the-congressionally-authorized-irregular-warfare-functional.html
Here's the Irregular Warfare Annex to the National Defense Strategy:
https://media.defense.gov/2020/Oct/02/2002510472/-1/-1/0/Irregular-Warfare-Annex-to-the-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.PDF
The Joint Definition of Irregular Warfare:
https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/concepts/joc_iw_v2.pdf?ver=2017-12-28-162021-510
The definition has been discussed by many:
https://mwi.westpoint.edu/redefining-irregular-warfare-legitimacy-coercion-and-power/
Pirates vs. Privateers:
https://www.nps.gov/articles/privateers-in-the-american-revolution.htm
The Peninsular War:
https://www.britannica.com/event/Peninsular-War
Korean War White Tigers:
https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/potomac-books/9781574886054/
Doug's article It’s Time for Special Operations to Dump ‘Unconventional Warfare’:
https://warontherocks.com/2017/10/its-time-for-special-operations-to-dump-unconventional-warfare/
National Security Presidential Memorandum - 3: Presidential Memorandum Plan to Defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-memorandum-plan-defeat-islamic-state-iraq-syria/
The instruments of national power (aka, DIME):
https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/2106566/putting-the-fil-into-dime-growing-joint-understanding-of-the-instruments-of-pow/
China's Three Warfares:
https://warontherocks.com/2018/01/chinas-three-warfares-perspective/
Russia's Six Phases of New Generation Warfare:
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/English-Edition-Archives/September-October-2020/Derleth-New-Generation-War/
Iran's military doctrine:
https://www.mei.edu/publications/upgrading-irans-military-doctrine-offensive-forward-defense
Security Cooperation:
https://www.dsca.mil/foreign-customer-guide/security-cooperation-overview
National Guard State Partnership Program:
https://www.nationalguard.mil/leadership/joint-staff/j-5/international-affairs-division/state-partnership-program/
Recommended reading from the episode:
Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare:
https://www.amazon.com/Ministry-Ungentlemanly-Warfare-Churchills-Warriors/dp/1681443929
Wild Bill Donnovan:
https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Bill-Donovan-Spymaster-Espionage-ebook/dp/B003UV8TF4?ref_=ast_author_mpb
White Tigers:
https://www.amazon.com/White-Tigers-Secret-North-Memories-ebook/dp/B01HFUS53G?ref_=ast_author_mpb
The Secret War Against Hanoi:
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-War-Against-Hanoi-Saboteurs/dp/0060932538/ref=sr_1_1?
Special Forces Berlin:
https://www.amazon.com/Special-Forces-Berlin-Clandestine-Operations/dp/1612008437/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Army Special Operations Recruiting:
SOF Recruiting Page (soc.mil)
https://www.soc.mil/USASOCHQ/recruiting.html
GoArmySOF Site:
https://www.goarmysof.army.mil/
The Official Podcast of the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School!
USAJFKSWCS selects and trains all Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations soldiers.
Please visit our website at: https://www.swcs.mil
Be sure to check us out and follow us at:
Please like, subscribe, and leave a review! If you enjoyed this, join the underground by sharing it with someone else. Word-of-mouth is how movements like this spread.
Did you know the nation's oldest and largest continuously held ultramarathon was launched as a national challenge by President John F. Kennedy? On today's podcast, we are fortunate enough to have Mike Spinnler as our guest and SWCS's very own Command Sergeant Major, Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Strong.
It is the only remaining 50-mile event of several held around the country as part of President John F. Kennedy’s push to bring the country back to physical fitness. After the Kennedy assassination, many of these events were never held again, but the JFK 50 lived on.
About the guests:
The JFK 50 was founded in 1963 by William Joseph “Buzz” Sawyer Jr. (1928-2019). In 1993, he passed the duties of directing the race to Mike Spinnler, who had well-earned his position. Spinnler had participated in the race from 1971 (when he was 12 years old) until 1990 and won in 1982 and 1983.
Command Sergeant Major Lionel A. Strong is a native of Fort Myers, Florida, and enlisted in the United States Army on July 9, 1998, as a 63B Light-Wheel Vehicle Mechanic. Upon completing Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training, Command Sgt. Maj. Strong was assigned to Schofield Barracks Hawaii from December 1998 through March 2001. Command Sgt. Maj. Strong attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection in September 2000 and the Special Forces Qualification Course from June 2001 through December 2002.
Sergeant First Class Anthony “Tony” Camps is our bonus guest. He has served in multiple Special Forces Groups, as well as within the Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the Special Warfare Center & School. He is a champion of the JFK 50, having competed and completed the event.
About the hosts:
Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Operations Officer serving in the re-established PSYWAR School at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
Sgt. Maj. Derek Riley is one of the most experienced Civil Affairs Non-commissioned Officers in the Army Special Operations Regiment. He has incredible deployment experience and serves within the Civil Affairs Proponent at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
From the episode:
Although open to the public, the JFK 50 Mile is, in spirit, a military race. The initial inspiration behind the event came from then President John F. Kennedy challenging his military officers to meet the requirements that Teddy Roosevelt had set for his military officers at the dawn of the 20th Century. Roosevelt's requirement was for all military officers to be able to cover 50 miles on foot in 20 hours to maintain their commissions. When word got out about the “Kennedy Challenge,” non-commissioned military personnel also wanted to take the test themselves, as did certain robust members of the civilian population.
Of the many awards presented at the JFK 50 Mile each year, the most prestigious is the Kennedy Cup, awarded to the top-finishing military team. Each military team can have a maximum of 10 participants, and the finishing times from the top five finishers are combined for the team time.
Mike Spinnler is a national treasure and has been at the forefront of distance running for most of his life. To read more about him, visit the following websites and articles:
https://www.outsideonline.com/%22https:/www.outsideonline.com/running/racing/races/jfk-50-ultra-legacy/
Mike has done many other interviews over the years. To include this interview on the official JFK 50 website:
https://www.jfk50mile.org/meaning/mike-spinnler/
Hayden Hawks (5:18:40) for men and Sarah Biehl (6:05:42) for women hold the current course records.
To register for the race, go here:
https://www.jfk50mile.org/details/registration/
Army Special Operations Recruiting:
SOF Recruiting Page (soc.mil)
https://www.soc.mil/USASOCHQ/recruiting.html
GoArmySOF Site:
https://www.goarmysof.army.mil/
The Official Podcast of the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School!
USAJFKSWCS selects and trains all Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations soldiers.
Please visit our website at: https://www.swcs.mil
Be sure to check us out and follow us at:
Please like, subscribe, and leave a review! If you enjoyed this, join the underground by sharing it with someone else. Word-of-mouth is how movements like this spread.
Trailblazer does not begin to define Brigadier General Sara Dudley, who is truly undefinable. Finance officer by trade, Brig. Gen. Dudley is the Counter Threat Finance expert currently serving within the United States Army. From deployments in the Middle East to serving within the Special Operations Command, Brig. Gen. Dudley is a true testament to dedication to service, a true voice within the Department of Defense, and an absolute innovator.
About our guest:
Brigadier General Sara Dudley was commissioned in 1998 as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Finance Corps. Prior to her current assignment in U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS), she served in the Army Budget Office as the Director, Operations and Support within the Army Secretariat. Before heading to that position in the Pentagon, she held the position of Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). Also within USASOC, she held the position as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Comptroller.
About the hosts:
Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Operations Officer serving in the re-established PSYWAR School at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
Sgt. Maj. Derek Riley is one of the most experienced Civil Affairs Non-commissioned Officers in the Army Special Operations Regiment. He has incredible deployment experience and serves within the Civil Affairs Proponent at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
From the episode:
Brig. Gen. Dudley's official bio:
https://www.swcs.mil/Portals/111/DUDLEY_bios_Current_JAN2024.pdf
Read more about the Money As A Weapon System (MAAWS) Concept:
https://www.dau.edu/sites/default/files/Migrated/CopDocuments/MAAWS%20CJTF%20OIR%20Final%2010202017.pdf
Read more about Army Financial Management and Comptrollers:
https://www.asafm.army.mil/
North Korea may have sub-contracted with multiple animation studios:
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-koreans-may-have-helped-create-western-cartoons-report-says-2024-04-22/
Joint Knowledge Online Courses for Counter Threat Finance (for those with Common Access Card):
https://jkosupport.jten.mil/html/COI.xhtml?identifier=SOC-CTF
She has written about the application of Counter Threat Finance in her article about engaging in conflict beyond Direct Action approaches:
https://www.thekcis.org/publications/insight-13
She has also been featured in other discussions on other podcasts discussing digital assets and national security:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47zJEqsnFq4
She has also been interviewed throughout her career. Here is an article from when she was still a Lt. Col., making an impact wherever she was assigned:
https://www.army.mil/article/185720/finance_officer_recounts_how_life_lessons_have_made_a_difference
Army Special Operations Recruiting:
SOF Recruiting Page (soc.mil)
https://www.soc.mil/USASOCHQ/recruiting.html
GoArmySOF Site:
https://www.goarmysof.army.mil/
The Official Podcast of the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School!
USAJFKSWCS selects and trains all Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations soldiers.
Please visit our website at: https://www.swcs.mil
Be sure to check us out and follow us at:
Please like, subscribe, and leave a review! And if you enjoyed this, become a member of the underground by sharing with at least one other person. Word-of-mouth is how movements like this spread.
It's not every day you get to interview your boss's boss's boss. We review the main mission of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, how the organization has continued to evolve and uphold standards through the past two years, and what is on the horizon.
About the guests:
Brigadier General Guillaume “Will” Beaurpere has served for the last two years as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, the Special Operations Center of Excellence. He previously served as the Deputy Commanding General for Operations at Army Space and Missile Defense Command; and before that as Commanding General for Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve.
Command Sergeant Major Lionel A. Strong is a native of Fort Myers, Florida and enlisted in the United States Army July 9, 1998 as a 63B Light-Wheel Vehicle Mechanic. Upon completion of Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training, Command Sgt. Maj. Strong was assigned to Schofield Barracks Hawaii from December 1998 thru March 2001. Command Sgt. Maj. Strong attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection in September 2000 and the Special Forces Qualification Course from June 2001 through December 2002.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Gary Ostrander was the Command Chief Warrant Officer for 2nd Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School from 2021 to 2023. He most recently served as chief operations warrant at the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) from 2020 to 2021.
For more about the command team, visit:
https://www.swcs.mil/About-Us/Command-Group/
About the hosts:
Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Operations Officer serving in the re-established PSYWAR School at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
Sgt. Maj. Derek Riley is one of the most experienced Civil Affairs Noncommissioned Officers in the Army Special Operations Regiment. He has incredible deployment experience and serves within the Civil Affairs Proponent at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
From the episode:
The CG mentioned "continuous transformation"; you can read more about the Army's efforts here:
https://www.army.mil/article/275040/army_futures_command_general_lays_out_continuous_transformation_plan
FM 3-0: Operations:
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN36290-FM_3-0-000-WEB-2.pdf
The tenants of Army modernization:
https://www.ausa.org/publications/tenets-army-modernization
The re-establishment of the PSYWAR School and PSYOP Commandant:
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-psywar-school/
The establishment of the Irregular Warfare Academy:
https://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/special-warfare-magazine-january-2024-psywar-school-and-irregular-warfare-academy
Information Advantage:
https://www.army.mil/article/271932/army_publishes_first_doctrinal_manual_dedicated_to_information
If you want to learn more about the Robotics Unmanned Systems Integrator Course (RUSIC), check out our episode covering the course:
https://pineland-underground.simplecast.com/episodes/rusic-NNFqsUWn
The Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center (JSOMTC), previously known as Special Warfare Medical Group (SWMG):
https://www.swcs.mil/Schools/SWMG-A/
The SWCS Language Center is the 2nd largest in the DoD:
https://www.army.mil/article/275805/starting_from_beginning_part_3_second_largest_language_school_in_dod_strengthen_foreign_partnerships
Moving the Total Army School System's 6th Brigade to Fort Liberty and co-locating them with SWCS:
https://www.swcs.mil/SWCS-2030/
SWCS's Heritage Week is an annual event:
https://www.army.mil/article/275724/swcs_celebrates_2nd_annual_heritage_week_honoring_past_present_future
SWCS partnered with National Defense University's College of International Security Affairs (CISA), and the Irregular Warfare Center to host the Spring Symposium Irregular Warfare (IW) Forum in May:
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/471706/do-you-do-with-idea-swcs-cisa-co-host-irregular-warfare-forum
The SWCS Newcomer's Guide mentioned information about CAC-SOD:
https://www.swcs.mil/Portals/111/NewcomersGuide.pdf
National Defense University, a fully funded Master's program for officers (which is Intermediate Level Education qualifying) and NCOs:
https://cisa.ndu.edu/jsoma/
Army Special Operations Recruiting:
SOF Recruiting Page (soc.mil)
https://www.soc.mil/USASOCHQ/recruiting.html
GoArmySOF Site:
https://www.goarmysof.army.mil/
The Official Podcast of the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School!
USAJFKSWCS selects and trains all Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations soldiers.
Please visit our website at: https://www.swcs.mil
Be sure to check us out and follow us at:
Please like, subscribe, and leave a review! And if you enjoyed this, become a member of the underground by sharing with at least one other person. Word-of-mouth is how movements like this spread.
The podcast currently has 86 episodes available.
1,047 Listeners
757 Listeners
600 Listeners
197 Listeners
134 Listeners
372 Listeners
200 Listeners
904 Listeners
377 Listeners
62 Listeners
344 Listeners
1,242 Listeners
2,811 Listeners
315 Listeners
194 Listeners