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.

In this episode of The Backbone Leader Exchange, SGT Cashe and SSG Jones dig into what makes leaders great, not titles or talent, but consistency, discipline, and mastery of the basics. Inspired by the training mindset of Olympic legend Michael Phelps, the duo explores how the unseen hours define professional excellence. They unpack complacency, discipline gaps, and the call for NCOs to reclaim the brilliance in Army fundamentals that once made the Corps legendary.

In this episode of The Backbone Leader Exchange, SGT Cashe and SSG Jones dive into The Tone Range Fan, a framework developed by COL Ed Arntson and LTC Erik Miller (From the Green Notebook, 2025). Tone is more than sound, it’s leadership presence in action. The way you speak shapes how Soldiers trust, follow, and perform.

Together, they break down the three positive tones—best tone, coaching tone, and compassionate tone, and expose the danger tones that erode credibility and create toxic climates. Along the way, they share personal stories of when tone built trust, when it destroyed it, and how NCOs can deliberately practice tone awareness to master influence.

This isn’t just theory, it’s a call to leaders to choose tone with intention, because mastering how you speak may be the key to unlocking how your Soldiers perform.

After a pause, a break, or even a burnout, how do leaders come back stronger?

In this powerful comeback episode, SGT Cashe and SSG Jones dig deep into what it really means to reboot as a leader. Whether you've been off the grid due to PCS, personal challenges, or just the heavy weight of the mission, this conversation is for you. We talk about why leaders need to reset, signs that it’s time for a reboot, and how to return with purpose, presence, and power. This episode reminds every NCO that restarting isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.

Because of you, our Army is better. Let’s lead from the front, again.

In this powerful episode of Backbone Leader Exchange, Sergeant Cashe and Staff Sergeant Jones tackle one of the most urgent challenges facing today’s Army: suicide. But this isn’t just another conversation on prevention, it’s a call to reframe the entire model. Drawing from previous episodes and firsthand experience, they introduce a proactive approach focused on Preservation of Life, where leadership, connection, and culture take center stage. You’ll hear about what today’s Soldiers are really facing, why the current model is outdated, and how NCOs at every echelon can shift the narrative. If you believe leadership is more than metrics, this one’s for you.

What happens when leaders stop leading themselves? In this hard-hitting episode of Backbone Leader Exchange, Sergeant Cashe and Staff Sergeant Jones take on a growing concern in today’s Army: the erosion of personal discipline among leaders. From daily habits to presence in the formation, we explore how small lapses become cultural fractures, and how NCOs can reset the standard from the inside out. This episode offers practical strategies, honest reflection, and a motivating challenge to every leader: fix yourself first, and your formation will follow. Because the discipline gap isn’t just about appearances, it’s about trust, readiness, and legacy.

As technology reshapes the modern battlefield, the role of the NCO remains irreplaceable. In this powerful episode of Backbone Leader Exchange, Sergeant Cashe and Staff Sergeant Jones break down how NCOs can lead, adapt, and thrive in the era of artificial intelligence. From using AI tools to improve admin and training, to staying grounded in presence and purpose, this episode challenges every leader to grow with the Army, not against it. The future belongs to those who can evolve without losing their edge. Lead smart. Lead strong. Lead now.

As the Army continues its transformation to face the challenges of large-scale combat operations and global uncertainty, the role of the Noncommissioned Officer has never been more critical. In this episode, SGT Cashe and SSG Jones dive deep into what it really means to prepare Soldiers for the future fight, not just with reps and drills, but with judgment, adaptability, and trust. From balancing tradition and transformation, to being brilliant at the basics, to leading change without losing the culture, this episode is a call to action for leaders at every echelon. If you're serious about building lethal, thinking, resilient Soldiers, this conversation is your blueprint.

In this powerful episode of the Backbone Leader Exchange, Sergeant Cashe and Staff Sergeant Jones unpack one of the most defining traits of any unit: command climate. But this isn’t just a buzzword, it’s your presence, your tone, and your ownership as a leader. Together, they challenge NCOs to stop waiting on higher and start shaping the culture from the ground up. From addressing toxic microcultures to building daily trust through micro-actions, this conversation is a raw, honest look at what it truly means to lead in today’s Army. Because at the end of the day, the climate you allow is the legacy you leave. And if you’re close to the formation, you’re responsible for its heartbeat.

In celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday, this episode of Backbone Leader Exchange dives deep into the legacy, values, and leadership that have carried our force through every conflict, crisis, and campaign. Join Sergeant Cashe and Staff Sergeant Jones as they explore what it means to be an NCO in this historic moment, how to honor the past without getting stuck in it, how to lead through change, and how to carry the torch with character and clarity. This episode is a rallying cry for today’s leaders to rise up, reflect, and recommit. Because the future of the Army isn’t just about modernization, it’s about mentorship, morale, and the example we set today. Because of you, our Army is better!