The Indigenous Approach

In this episode, Lt. Col. Thomas Gaines and Dr. Angus Fletcher discuss creativity and leadership. Lt. Col. Gaines is the command's G6 and Dr. Fletcher is a Story Science Professor from Ohio State University. Together the two have done quite a bit of research on creativity and leadership. Enjoy the episode. It's a great one and an interesting conversation

We're back! It's another episode of the Indigenous Approach. This time we sit down with the command team and have a candid conversation on vision and ARSOF Integration.

We're back! It's another episode of the Indigenous Approach, the official podcast of the Army's 1st Special Forces Command. In this episode the command team talks command vision and the ARSOF Integration Initiative. This is the first of quarterly updates from the command team. The intent is to be real, candid, and personable with command team. For comments and feedback email us at [email protected]. 

The Indigenous Approach returns! We're back with another series of episodes. In this episode, an OPSEC violation was trending on social media. Next, it's Veterans Day time. Salute to all those who served. Lastly, it's coming up on the 60th Anniversary of the passing of President John F. Kennedy. We discuss his legacy and what it means for Special Operations today in 2023. 

New episodes every two weeks! 

In this episode, the command's Chaplain and Psych speak with Dr. Harold Koenig on moral injury.  The episode intertwines health and spirituality on how to treat moral injury related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

May is mental health awareness month and in this episode, we talk to Staff Sergeant Amanda Baker, mother, spouse, and an outstanding NCO in the command. She’s an advocate using behavioral health and she’ll share her real life experience.

In this episode, Staff Sgt. Amanda Baker discusses Black History Month with Col. Tavi Brunson and Lt. Col Burton Furlow, the brigade commander and special troop battalion commander of 528th Sustainment Brigade Special Operations Airborne. Listen as these two leaders explore what Black History Month means to them and several key insights on leadership serving in Special Operations. 

In this episode of the Indigenous Approach, we are joined by Dr. Sean McFate, author of the 2019 book The New Rules of War. Sean is currently a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and a professor at National Defense University, Georgetown University, and Syracuse University. We discuss with Sean the role of SOF in Irregular Warfare and Strategic Competition. 

Master Sgt. Chris Copper, Master Sgt. Jim Rooney, and Sergeant First Class (Retired) Bill O'Brian discuss transition from military service to civilian life. Navigation from military service to civilian life can be a struggle for some, and this discussion will hopefully enlighten those who need guidance and direction moving forward. Your transitioning phase will be determined by what you want out of it.

In this episode, Staff Sgt. Thomas sits with Major Christopher Pierce, Performance and Wellness Sleep Program Manager  and Mr. Ryan Carroll, HPW Coordinator,  to discuss how the lack of adequate sleep can affect mental health, physical fitness, and critical thinking.  They also discuss programs and technologies utilized within 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) to monitor and optimize sleep habits.

Major Pierce is also author of "Self-Health Andragogy: Self-Directed Learning Approach to Mental and Physical Self-Care." His book can be found on Google books or Amazon.

If you have suggestions for topics or guests please let us know through the survey link below.

1SFC(A) - Indigenous Approach Podcast Survey (surveymonkey.com)