The Jedburgh Podcast

Modern warfare is no longer defined by who has the biggest force, but by who can adapt the fastest. The battlefield is changing in real time through artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cyber capabilities, and the speed of information. But even in the most advanced operating environments, victory still comes down to disciplined leaders, trusted teams, and soldiers prepared to make decisions under pressure when everything is on the line.

The responsibility for America’s rapid response to any crisis belongs to the Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps.

From their headquarters at Fort Bragg, NC, Fran Racioppi sat down with Lieutenant General Greg Anderson, Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps, to discuss how he is preparing America’s Contingency Corps for combat in an increasingly dangerous world.

Leading more than 80,000 soldiers across the 3rd Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division, 82nd Airborne Division, and 101st Airborne Division, and other subordinate commands, LTG Anderson explains how the Corps balances readiness, speed, and innovation while maintaining the fundamentals that have always defined military success.

Our conversation explores the role of Noncommissioned Officer, the importance of mastering the basics, and why leadership development remains America’s greatest asymmetric advantage. We also discuss the integration of conventional and special operations forces, the concept of compound warfare, and the difference between interoperability and true integration on the battlefield.

LTG Anderson breaks down the Corps’ push toward innovation through initiatives like the Joint Innovation Outpost and experimental exercises that incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven decision-making into operational planning. But even as technology changes warfare, he makes one thing clear; there must always be a human in the loop.

Highlights

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:17 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
• 4:01 The role of XVIII Airborne Corps
• 9:57 Empowering NCOs
• 14:58 Joint Innovation Outpost
• 19:00 Speeding the Acquisition Timeline
• 22:53 Keeping A Human in the Loop
• 25:41 Integration vs Interoperability
• 29:13 Guiding the Tactical Level Leader
• 32:48 Compound Warfare Today
• 37:22 Generational Warfighting Differences
• 42:00 The XVIII Airborne Corps Formation
• 45:04 Daily Habits

Quotes

• “What operational problems do they expect us to solve for them?”
• “If I’ve got a strong team…we’ll typically prevail.”
• “Certainly what I’ve learned of any value has come from non-commissioned officers that raised me up.”
• “The role of the non-commissioned officer is to become the technical tactical experts in the application of violence at the tactical level.”
• “What are we doing to get the NCO corps to that point where they are the Army?”
• “How do we use advanced computing to allow us to make decisions more informed and faster than our opponents?”
• “The advantage of war fighting is not replacing humans with machine decision making. It’s now creating superhumans that are enabled by it.”
• “Interoperability is our ability to work together in an efficient, effective manner.”
• “Compound Warfare is the blending of regular and irregular capabilities to create a host of dilemmas for your enemy.”
• “You’ll never be able to tell that tactical level leader when things are going to change and shift if you haven’t done the operational level rigor.”
• “My role as the general is not to solve the problem or be the hero that comes in, but to think and understand the problem we’re trying to solve.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

Some people don’t just pass through your life. They leave a mark that stays with you long after they’re gone. Not because of what they did in a single moment, but because of how they lived every day, how they showed up for people, and how they made others feel.

From the 2nd Annual Stars and Stripes Classic, Fran Racioppi sat down with Pam Patton and Tom Schneider to honor the life of Major Jeff Toczylowski, a Green Beret whose impact on the people around him is still felt nearly two decades later. A letter Jeff left to his family and friends in the event of his death defines the character of a Green Beret; a warrior and a man who cared more about others than himself. Jeff’s last wish…take everyone to Vegas to celebrate his life.

Today, his legacy lives on through the annual memorial golf outing in his honor, now approaching its 20th year. What started as a way to cope with loss has become something much bigger. A reunion. A celebration. A community built around a single person who continues to be the common thread connecting hundreds of people who gather not to mourn, but to celebrate a life well lived.

Join the Green Beret Foundation and all of Toz’s family and friends this August 1st, at the Five Ponds Golf Course in Warminster, PA to celebrate his service and support all Green Berets past, present and future.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:48 Welcome to the Stars & Stripes Classic
• 2:27 Who was MAJ Jeff Toczylowski
• 5:47 The 20th Annual Memorial Golf Tournament
• 8:51 Vegas Time
• 13:19 Honoring Toz’s Legacy

QUOTES

• “He literally lived every day like it was his last…to the fullest.”
• “He impacted a lot of people.”
• “It really is like a reunion.”
• “The celebration of life is really why everybody comes back.”
• “It changed him forever.”
• “No matter what’s going on in life, be good to the people around you and live each day to the fullest because today could be it.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

Green Berets are built over time. Special Operations Truth #3: SOF cannot be mass produced. America’s most elite warriors are developed through experience, through leadership, and through the responsibility of developing others. This is the job of the Special Forces Noncommissioned Officer.

In this episode, Fran Racioppi sat down with retired Command Sergeant Major Rob Abernethy to dissect the evolution of the Green Beret NCO, and their officer counterparts, to show how that development shapes the effectiveness of Army Special Operations and national strategy.

CSM Abernethy served nearly four decades in the Army and across special operations from a junior 18E communications sergeant, to the Command Sergeant Major of US Army Special Operations Command and United States European Command. Rob breaks down the role of the NCO as the backbone of the Regiment, the importance of regional alignment in building partner forces, and where Special Forces fits into military strategy from the pre-9/11 period, through the Global War on Terror and into today’s Large Scale Combat Operations.

We also explore the rapid evolution of technology and the challenge of integrating new tools without losing the fundamentals of leadership and warfighting. From artificial intelligence to modern battlefield systems, Rob emphasizes that technology must support the force, not replace the mindset that defines it.

Finally, after retiring as one of the longest serving Green Berets in the Army, CSM Abernethy shares his perspective on transition after service and his current role continuing to develop soldiers through his work at AUSA.

This is a conversation about leadership, evolution, and the responsibility to prepare the next generation of Green Berets for the fight ahead.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:00 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
• 5:20 From junior to senior NCO on an ODA
• 15:31 Role of the Team Sergeant
• 18:52 The culture of a Special Forces team
• 25:02 Importance of Regional Alignment
• 32:08 Bridging the generation gap
• 43:14 American Military Technological Advantage
• 49:00 Biggest Threat to America
• 52:18 Remembering Service

QUOTES

• “The average age on the teams was much older.”
• “Nobody says, ‘Hey, I’m going to join the Army and my goal is to be a sucky soldier.’”
• “The Team Sergeant is one of the most critical parts of the team.”
• “Over time, what you do is build confidence with the team.”
• “The Officer’s success is really the Team’s success and the Team’s success is based on the Officer.”
• “Our confidence as a Team Sergeant needs to be projected through the team leader.”
• “You have to have a lot of confidence in the team you’re selecting.”
• “The administrative stuff makes a difference.”
• “The little things absolutely matter.”
• “The more astute you are to the environment in which you’re going to operate, the better you’re going to be.”
• “In the next 10 years, it’s going to be phenomenal what we actually bring to the battlefield because AI is going to make us that much better.”
• “The Department of War is crushing the acquisition process now.”
• “Our relationship with our NATO allies has been strong and needed, and still will be needed.”
• “One thing that stayed consistent was my desire to be good, to be an expert, and lead by example.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

The conditions service members live in directly affect Military readiness and national security. It’s the responsibility of Congress to authorize military funding to ensure the warfighter has what they need in combat and at home. Every decision impacts the strength of the force and their families.

In this episode, Fran Racioppi sat down with Representative Mike Levin, who serves California’s 49th District and sits on the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs to discuss the policies and decisions shaping today’s military bases. From investments in infrastructure at Camp Pendleton to broader oversight of Veterans Affairs, Congressman Levin outlines why improving living conditions, facilities, and support systems is essential to maintaining a ready and capable force.

Our conversation explores the responsibility of leadership to develop a culture where reporting substandard conditions is encouraged. We also discuss the broader role of Congress in overseeing military operations, and the importance of transparency, strategy, and accountability when American forces are deployed.

Congressman Levin shares his perspective on the war with Iran, his views on the need for checks and balances, and the growing divide that has made bipartisan governance more difficult. He emphasizes that strong institutions require leaders willing to put mission over politics and to ensure that the constitutional framework guiding military action is upheld.

This is a conversation about leadership, accountability, and the systems that support those who serve. It is about ensuring readiness not just on the battlefield, but across the entire force.

Highlights:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:53 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
• 3:19 California’s 49th District
• 6:34 Improving Military Housing
• 14:25 Status of the Iran War
• 19:37 Is Iran A Direct Threat To The US?
• 22:08 Iran’s State Sponsorship of Terrorism
• 25:20 Negotiating with Iran
• 28:41 Bridging the Gap

Quotes:

• “It is imperative that we treat our veterans and military families with absolute respect.”
• “We’ve got real issues with barracks.”
• “We’re not looking for the Ritz Carlton. We’re just looking for a decent place.”
• “The average member of the military needs a decent place where they can live.”
• “The challenge is the lack of clarity about what they’re being asked to do.” 
• “They didn’t brief us on what the plan was going to be.”
• “It’s a war that is unauthorized. It is a war without a clear exit plan.”
• “What damage have we done to our allies around the world? A lot.”
• “We know less today than we did before the war began.”
• “The question is whether or not the military has actually made it a worse problem or has it actually ameliorated the problem.”
• “The Iranians have been a horrible regime.”
• “I don’t think the President has enough people around him telling him what he needs to hear, not what he wants to hear.”
• “Use of military force should be last resort always.”
• “I am personally never going to see the other side as my enemy. I see them as my political opponent.”
• “Running the United States is not an easy challenge.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of guests and host Fran Racioppi. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy, nor does Green Beret Foundation endorse any political candidate or any political party.

There is a steady stream of headlines shaping how Veterans view the Department of Veterans Affairs. Disability benefits are being cut. The VA is being privatized. Programs are disappearing. That is the narrative. But is it the reality?

In a social media environment driven by clicks, likes, and engagement, information spreads fast, and too often no one stops to ask whether it is actually true. When it comes to healthcare, benefits, and the systems Veterans rely on, the facts matter.

In this episode, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins joins Fran Racioppi to address those concerns directly and bring clarity to what is actually happening inside the VA. This is not a surface level conversation. It’s a direct response to the questions Veterans are asking right now.

We break down the proposed disability rating regulation enforcement that rocked the Veteran community, what it was intended to do, how it was misinterpreted, and why it was withdrawn within days. We discuss the rollout of the VA’s electronic health record modernization, what’s working, what still needs to improve, and how it will impact care moving forward.

Secretary Collins also addresses the reality of community care and the claims surrounding privatization, clarifying how the VA will always deliver and fund care for Veterans. We talk about workforce challenges, hiring, and the responsibility to ensure Veterans are receiving timely and effective support with a right-sized VA staffing level.

The conversation also focuses on one of the most critical issues facing the Veteran community: suicide prevention. With the majority of Veterans not currently engaged with the VA, the approach must evolve. Outreach must expand, accountability must increase, and programs must show measurable results.

Finally, we cover housing stability through VA home loan programs and the responsibility to ensure Veterans have real options to maintain their homes, but also understand they have a personal responsibility for the financial decisions they make.

This conversation is about clarity and accountability. Because at the end of the day, the mission is simple - deliver results for Veterans.

Highlights

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:31 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
• 3:31 Dispelling Disability Rating Misconceptions
• 10:43 Running A Wartime VA
• 16:24 Electronic Health Record Modernization
• 20:09 Is the VA Privatizing Healthcare?
• 27:51 VA Employee Moral
• 34:22 Cutting the VASP Program
• 39:06 Preventing Fraud
• 43:13 Veteran Suicide Prevention

Quotes

• “No one that already had a disability rating was ever going to lose anything.”
• “I take full responsibility.”
• “Nobody’s getting judged differently.”
• “We’re the largest integrated healthcare system in the country. We don’t act like it.”
• “There’s no plan for privatization.”
• “80% of all new doctors go through the VA in some form.”
• “Privatization is thrown around to scare employees and veterans.”
• “We’re never going to privatize. Definitely not under my watch. And there’s no mechanism to privatize.”
• “There are people invested in a broken system.”
• “I have to compete for doctors and nurses with every hospital in the country.”
• “Our problem was we had too many people in the wrong places.”
• “What are you doing that’s stupid?”
• “60% of death by suicide by Veterans have not had any contact with the VA.”
• “The VA many times was more concerned about itself than we were about actually finding metrics for the veteran.”
• “Capitol Hill has become more driven by the five minute YouTube clip.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

99% of all US businesses and almost 46% of American employees are, or work for, a small business. Although a small business is defined as having less than 500 employees, American small businesses are responsible for over 88% of net job growth. That means that America's economy, and the world's economy, rest on the backs of small businesses.  

The Small Business Administration plays a critical role in the success of small businesses; including those owned and operated by American Veterans. From business planning, strategy design, funding and specialty certification programs the SBA is one of the primary pillars creating and supporting economic impact.

In this episode, Fran Racioppi sat down with Bill Briggs, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, to break down the SBA’s 3C’s and a D: Capital, Counseling, Contracting and Disaster. Deputy Administrator Briggs explained the real challenges business owners face, especially around cash flow, capital access, and navigating competitive marketplaces. He shared the history of the SBA and its grounding in the Small Business Act of 1953, when the post war period identified that small businesses are not only important to the global economy, but they are crucial to America’s national defense. 

200,000 service members transition each year from the military into the civilian sector. Some will start businesses as entrepreneurs. Others will enter the workforce. All will need counseling, support and a system designed to give Veterans access to opportunity and the chance to succeed post service. 

Finally,  we address how the SBA is improving accountability, cracking down on fraud, and ensuring programs are delivering real results for those they are designed to support.

Highlights

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:16 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
• 4:01 Small biz is big biz
• 4:57 SBA Team
• 8:13 Access to Capital
• 11:58 Counseling Resources
• 16:14 Access to Contracts
• 22:01 Disaster Loans
• 25:33 The Formation of the SBA
• 27:16 Made in America Loans
• 29:54 Working Families Tax Cut Bill
• 33:10 Stopping Fraud
• 35:51 Importance of Service
• 39:08 Boots to Business
• 52:02 Daily Habits

Quotes

• “We’re taking it to the next level in terms of right sizing, streamlining, and improving the overall performance of the agency because the mission is so important.”
• “Access to capital is one of the top three issues that are always facing small businesses.”
• “What we’re trying to do under this administrator and this President is trying to improve our systems to scale and deploy more capital effectively with our lending partners and investors.”
• “I always say to people you have to have that education before you walk in to try to get that loan.”
• “Your job is to compete to solve the mission, not to say ‘I’m a certification, I deserve something.’”
• “Having a competitive, innovative national small business ecosystem is not only part of our economic security but our national security.”
• “We’re trying to bring back American manufacturing .”
• “Our priorities are manufacturing, critical technology, and food production and technology.”
• “Our economic agenda is centered on fair trade, tax cuts, deregulation, and energy dominance.”
• “There’s something for everyone in the Working Families Tax Cut Bill.”
• “We have a zero tolerance policy for fraud.”
• “The day you start your business is not the day you get paid.”
• “We’re overhauling how we deliver our boots to business.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

Service is an honor and a burden carried by more than just those who don the Green Beret. Service is borne by the family that stands in the shadows every step of the way. Through training, deployments, uncertainty, the highest highs and the lowest lows, it’s the family that waits for their Green Beret to return. 

From the 2nd Annual Stars and Stripes Classic, Fran Racioppi sat down with Bianca Baldwin and Fran Wesseling, the spouse and mother of Major Darren Baldwin; a Green Beret who came home from combat, but was never the same. 

Darren’s journey began at the United States Military Academy, where he played lacrosse and built the foundation of discipline, teamwork, and commitment that would carry him into Special Forces. 

During a deployment, Darren was forced to return home early due to what initially seemed like minor health issues. Further evaluation revealed lesions on his brain, marking the beginning of a long and uncertain fight. Diagnosed with Progressive Traumatic Brain Injury, Bianca and Fran answered a family’s hardest call to service. 

They shared with me the critical role a family plays in the success of a Green Beret, why strength is important, and how caregiving gives hope to the wounded and their loved ones. 

Darren passed away from his combat-related illness, and to honor his life, Bianca and Fran carry forward his legacy through the MAJ(R) Darren Baldwin Silver Star Families Support Fund and through the support of the Green Beret Foundation, ensuring that other families will never fight alone.

This episode is about the service of a family during, and after that of their Green Beret. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:51 Welcome to the Stars & Stripes Classic
• 3:38 Who was MAJ Darren Baldwin
• 10:14 Silver Star Families Fund
• 15:02 Progressive Traumatic Brain Injury
• 22:20 Resources Available

QUOTES

• “Both of my boys slept with a lacrosse stick.”
• “He had a dedication and grit that goes beyond most.”
• “Ultimately deeply grateful that his legacy and memory lives on.”
• “It was like trying to make a right of a wrong.”
• “That’s kind of how our story started and my story as a caregiver.”
• “I was always his wife but became his 24/7 caregiver.”
• “The vast majority of people, including the military, don’t even know what Silver Star families are.”
• “The fund provides all kinds of medical equipment and new technologies.”
• “It’s difficult and thankless work to be a caregiver.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

Cars aren’t just a mode of transportation. They’re a passion. An image. A lifestyle. For many families, they are the bond that brings together father and son. For Frank Viola, cars are the legacy of his son, Green Beret SSG Alex Viola.  

Alex graduated as a Green Beret in 2011 and then went on to get his Combat Dive Certification. In September 2013, his team deployed to Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom. On November 17, 2013 Alex lost his life to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while on dismounted patrol.

After the loss of their son, Frank and his family faced the unimaginable challenge of how to move forward. The answer came from something Alex loved deeply: cars. Alex was a true car guy, and restoring vehicles with his dad was one of the ways they spent time together.

What began as a simple idea to honor Alex’s memory turned into the SSG Alex Viola Memorial Car Show. The first event was held in freezing weather with modest expectations, but the community showed up, raising twenty thousand dollars that first year alone.

Today the event has grown into something far greater than anyone imagined. Nearly four hundred cars fill the lot each year, and the show has raised nearly seven hundred thousand dollars to support charitable causes, including the families of Green Berets through the Green Beret Foundation.

Host Fran Racioppi sits down with Frank Viola to share how this fundraiser is more than impressive horsepower and jaw-dropping donations. It’s a powerful story of resilience, community, and how one family's determination not only honors a fallen hero but has also remarkably reunited their own distant family members and created a new, unbreakable bond with Alex’s former Green Beret teammates.

Highlights

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:57 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
• 2:22 Who was SSG Alex Viola?
• 6:11 Why a Car Show?
• 10:05 How loss brought the family together
• 12:34 Alex’s Team
• 16:03 The 2025 Show
• 17:02 Working with the Foundations
• 18:36 Advice for Future Green Berets

Quotes

• “Alex was a father’s dream of a son.”
• “His whole thing was to be out there in the ditches with the guys.”
• “Alex was a car guy.”
• “In a million years, we never expected anything like it.”
• “We have a goal of reaching $1,000,000 in donations.”
• “There’s been some of my cousins that I’ve never met, but because of this, now we’re really close.”
• “They’re like our own kids.”
• “Losing Alex was probably the worst thing that could ever happen to any parent.”
• “It’s just been a win win all the way around.”
• “They know we’re always going to do the right thing.”
• “The whole theme of both organizations is supporting the families of fallen and wounded warriors’ families.”
• “I don’t think that anyone can just become a Green Beret. You have to be a special kind of person.”
• “It’s either you have it or you don’t.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

In August 2021, the world watched in disbelief as Afghanistan collapsed, leaving two decades of sacrifice, hope, and war in question. America’s longest war, forged in the aftermath of 9/11 and costing thousands of lives and billions of dollars, ended in chaos, confusion, and the swift return of the Taliban. But what truly happened in those final, frantic days? Who held the line until the line was irrevocably gone?

In this exclusive interview, host Fran Racioppi sat down with General Haibatullah Alizai, the final Chief of the Afghan National Army, now living in exile. General Alizai offers a raw, firsthand account of the challenges, the political decisions, and the human cost that led to the nation’s swift downfall. From the initial hope sparked by the post-9/11 intervention to the crushing weight of the Taliban's propaganda machine, he confronts the harsh realities faced by Afghan forces and the devastating decisions that altered the course of history.

Discover the candid perspective of a warrior who fought for a country that no longer exists. General Alizai speaks on loyalty, the pervasive impact of corruption, the strategic failures that enabled the Taliban's resurgence, and his powerful message to the American service members who served alongside him.

War provides Warriors perspective. Is it possible to reclaim what was lost? And was the 20-year commitment truly worth the cost? Dive into the complexity of war, the human reality behind America’s longest conflict, and the future of a nation still searching for stability in the shadow of the Taliban. This is the untold story of the Afghan Army's last stand.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:51 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
• 5:11 Afghanistan, 2001
• 19:23 America’s Goal In Afghanistan
• 28:51 Afghan Sentiment
• 30:00 Taliban Propaganda
• 36:39 Taliban Today
• 43:30 US Soldiers in Afghanistan
• 49:29 Can Afghanistan be reclaimed?
• 52:51 Leaving Family
• 59:20 Future of Afghanistan

Quotes:

• “You have to have a steel-made ass to be in the Army.”
• “Kunduz collapsed in September 2015 because coordination was poor.” 
• “We are not going to sit. We are going to solve the problem.”
• “In the last five days of collapse, I became the Chief of the entire Army.”
• “I believe the Americans came to Afghanistan to punish their enemies who coordinated the attack in New York.”
• “Who else has fought more than Afghans for freedom.”
• “They started with chopping heads.”
• “The poppies became popular during the first Taliban term.”
• “They all became strength points to the Taliban and weak points to us.” 
• “When we really understood what was going on, it was a bit too late.” 
• “The only thing the Taliban is still doing is brutality.”
• “Before the US came to Afghanistan, there was a civil war.”
• “Now we have thousands of warlords in Afghanistan.”
• “We lost thousands of people and all those lives were dedicated to support the humanity and democracy the right way."
• “Have we left something unfinished?”
• “We should find a way to finish the unfinished business.”
• “The Taliban has destroyed the Afghan history and honor.”
• “The Taliban are 10 times more vulnerable than 2001.”
• “Next is change. It has to happen.”
• “It will be a question that will bring hesitation.”
• “I believe we are just a whistle away from bringing the change in Afghanistan.”
• “What country in the world can do everything on their own?”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by Onebrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

Unified Special Operations commands are critical for allied nations to maintain the advantage over our adversaries. A single command structure enables interoperability at every level, from communications and equipment to tactics and acquisition, ensuring partner forces can train together, fight together, and answer to a common mission.

From the Global Special Operations Foundation Symposium in Athens, Greece, Fran Racioppi sat down with retired Command Sergeant Major Warren Soeldner, a 10th SFG legend who now lives and works in Greece supporting the Global SOF community. 

Warren brought home the central tenet of modern allied warfare explaining that Special Operations Forces across nations solve problems together, build trust, and operate as one.

He spoke about the importance of standing up capable national SOF commands, the evolving NATO environment and the realities of today’s threat landscape. From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the long-term strategic pressure posed by China and Iran, Warren emphasized that modern conflict cannot be viewed through a single lens. War now spans diplomatic, informational, military, and economic domains, and Special Forces play a critical role in shaping outcomes long before conflict becomes visible.

This discussion returns to what Green Berets have always done best: building capability in partners, understanding history and culture, maintaining discipline and professionalism, and quietly shaping global security in ways few ever see.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:41 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
• 2:48 Building Relationships Across SOF Allies
• 5:38 Joint Unified Command
• 9:15 Defining “By, With, and Through”
• 12:38 Russia-Ukraine War Impact on NATO
• 15:08 NATO Interoperability Gaps
• 17:28 NATO’s Biggest Threat
• 23:14 Students of History
• 27:50 Special Forces in LSCO
• 32:38 US Army Generations
• 41:38 Defining the Green Beret

Quotes

• “The whole theme for the week has been strength and unity.”
• “The dollar or euro goes a lot further for them when it’s a unified command.” 
• “The threat isn’t waiting on 30 nations and their parliaments.”
• “It’s important that NATO know, fight, train together.”
• “When one country is using one standard and the rest of the countries are using another standard, resupply becomes a lot harder for that country.”
• “At the end of the day, we’re all out on the same battlefield and they’re seeing what we’re doing, we’re seeing what they’re doing.”
• “Russia is a huge threat right now. We may be getting to hyperfocused on that and forgetting other threats like China and Iran.”
• “We’ve lost that edge with the adversary. They have a long term plan. We don’t.”
• “It requires our Green Berets to be students of history.”
• “I came up in an era where we did two things: Unconventional Warfare and Foreign Internal Defense.”
• “First you had to learn the culture.”
• “When I look at Large Scale Combat Operations, do we need artillery anymore?”
• “In that isolation is where you finetune the skills that you need for that mission.”
• “There’s nothing special about being a Green Beret.”
• “I’ve always been a believer that the Green Beret is a symbol and it attracts greatness.”
• “At the end of the day, the Army’s job is to close with and kill the enemy.”

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.