In this episode of the Backbone Leader Exchange, SGT Cashe and SSG Jones address what it means to lead during one of the most pivotal times in the Army’s history, transformation in contact.

As missions continue and commands realign, Soldiers are looking for leaders who remain steady, clear, and focused. This conversation explores how leaders at echelon can be the calm in the chaos, modeling adaptability, presence, and mindset over mood.

From anchoring in the basics to cutting through rumor mills, Cashe and Jones issue a direct charge to every NCO: your leadership is the message in this moment.

If you want to set the tone and stabilize your formation during change, this one’s for you.

In this episode of the Backbone Leader Exchange, SGT Cashe and SSG Jones unpack one of the most powerful but underrated tools a leader can wield, presence.

More than just showing up, presence is about being emotionally engaged, consistently visible, and trustworthy in the moments that matter most. From missed opportunities to legacy-shaping leadership moments, this conversation dives deep into what happens when leaders go “missing”... and what greatness looks like when they truly show up.

Through raw storytelling, personal failure, and hard-earned wisdom, this episode challenges every NCO and officer to stop leading on autopilot—and start leading with presence.

Because of you, our Army is better. Let’s lead like it.

In this episode of Backbone Leader Exchange, SGT Cashe and SSG Jones take a hard look at one of the most dangerous threats to unit cohesion: toxic microcultures.

They explore how small pockets of favoritism, silence, or unchecked behavior can quietly shape a squad’s identity, and derail a unit’s discipline, morale, and trust. From red flags to real-life experiences, this episode equips NCOs with the tools to correct dysfunction before it spreads.

Listeners will learn:

* How microcultures form—and why they’re hard to detect

* Signs that your team might be off course

* What “right looks like” in a healthy team culture

* The NCO’s role in identifying, resetting, and restoring standards

* Why “that’s just how they are” should never be tolerated

If you want to protect your formation from within, this episode is for you. Because leadership isn’t just about the mission, it’s about the environment that makes the mission possible.

In this episode of the Backbone Leader Exchange, SGT Cashe and SSG Jones tackle a topic that hits close to home for leaders across the Army, burnout.

What does it look like when a leader is running on empty? Why do so many feel it, yet so few talk about it? And how do we restore ourselves without losing momentum or credibility?

This episode pulls back the curtain on the emotional toll of leadership, the silence surrounding burnout, and the impact it has on trust, discipline, and the formation itself. Through personal reflections, tactical advice, and a strong call to action, Cashe and Jones challenge every leader to lead with honesty, restore with purpose, and remember, even the strongest need time to reset.

Because of you, our Army is better. Now let’s talk about how to keep it that way.

In this episode of the Backbone Leader Exchange, SGT Cashe and SSG Jones break down the leadership lessons behind "Creating a Culture of Excellence: Incentive-Based Leadership", a powerful article written by CPT Brennan Deveraux and 1SG Christopher Castignanie. Recorded straight from the field, this conversation explores how building a system that rewards excellence, not just punishes failure, can transform the culture of any unit. They break down the Bulldog Incentive Program and how its smart, intentional rewards led to real results: higher PT scores, sharper leaders, stronger cohesion, and fewer discipline issues. Whether you’re leading a squad or commanding a company, this episode offers insight you can apply immediately to build your own culture of excellence.

Article Link: https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/NCO-Journal/Archives/2019/January-2019/Culture-of-Excellence/

Step into the world of Army Drill Sergeants with this raw and real conversation that pulls no punches. In this episode of the Backbone Leader Exchange, SGT Cashe and SSG Jones go beyond the hat to explore the emotional, mental, and leadership challenges that shape the NCOs who shape the Army. From family sacrifice to mental resilience, legacy, and hard-earned wisdom, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who wears, or aspires to wear, the round brown. Whether you're leading trainees, supporting a DS, or reflecting on your own trail experience, this conversation will leave you informed, inspired, and ready to lead with purpose.

In this episode of Backbone Leader Exchange, SGT Cashe and SSG Jones unpack a powerful white paper written by Major Borchardt, LCSW, an Army Behavioral Health Officer whose work is reshaping the conversation on leadership, identity, and suicide prevention in the force.

We explore the VALOR Program, Values Added Leadership Origins Revitalized, a transformative leadership initiative designed to help Soldiers and leaders reconnect with their personal values, develop emotional resilience, and lead with purpose.

This isn’t just another training block. It’s a call to re-center the force. The program blends warrior tradition, psychology, and Army values into a scalable model that could be implemented across formations, from PME environments to battalion-level resets.

Most importantly, it offers a path forward in the fight against suicide, not through policy, but through authentic connection, reflection, and growth.

Because of you, our Army is better. Now go lead with VALOR.

The NCO Creed isn’t just something we recite, it’s a contract for how we lead, train, and influence Soldiers every single day. But are NCOs truly living it, or just saying the words?

In this episode of Backbone Leader Exchange, SGT Cashe and SSG Jones take a deep dive into what it means to embody the NCO Creed in real leadership. They discuss how true influence goes beyond authority, why competence is essential for credibility, and how effective NCOs develop disciplined, lethal, and well-trained Soldiers.

This isn’t just a discussion, it’s a challenge. Are you leading by example? Are you earning the respect of your Soldiers? If not, it’s time to step up.

Because of you, our Army is better. Now go be the NCO your Soldiers deserve.

The Army NCO Guide isn’t just a manual, it’s the foundation of what it means to be an NCO. It defines our role, responsibilities, and the standards we must uphold. Yet, too many leaders skim through it without fully understanding how to apply its principles in daily leadership. In this episode of Backbone Leader Exchange, SGT Cashe and SSG Jones take a deep dive into the core themes of the guide, breaking down leadership, training, mission command, and professional development. They also highlight the often-overlooked appendices, including the Change of Responsibility script, the NCO Induction Ceremony, Leadership Philosophy development, and the Army Training Information System (ATIS). This discussion emphasizes the importance of owning your role as an NCO, using available resources, and continuously developing yourself and your Soldiers. Are you just wearing the rank, or are you truly earning it every day? Tune in now and take the challenge, be the NCO your Soldiers deserve.

Leadership is more than just a position, it’s a responsibility to shape the future of the Army, one Soldier at a time. In this powerful episode of Backbone Leader Exchange, Sergeant Cashe and Staff Sergeant Jones dive deep into how NCOs transform lives through mentorship, discipline, and leadership that lasts far beyond their time in service. They discuss how one moment of leadership can change a Soldier’s life forever, the difference between simply managing Soldiers and truly leading them, and how mentorship and accountability shape the Army’s future generations.

They also explore the “Ripple Effect” of leadership, explaining why the standards you set today will define tomorrow’s Army. The episode closes with a challenge to every NCO: Are you being the leader that once shaped you? Every day, you have a choice—to push your Soldiers toward greatness or let them settle into mediocrity. The legacy of the Army depends on the example you set now. Tune in and accept the challenge: Are you building an Army of excellence, or are you just passing time?