In May 2007, Colonel Greg Gadson found himself face-up on a Baghdad street, having been blown out of his vehicle by a powerful roadside bomb. He was bleeding profusely from both legs, which he eventually lost. As a battalion commander, that day he was returning from a memorial service for two Soldiers from a sister unit who lost their lives...and now Colonel Gadson's Soldiers were trying desperately to save his.

Retired Colonel Greg Gadson played football at West Point before becoming a Field Artillery Officer in 1989. He saw every major conflict until that fateful day in 2007, when he lost both his legs to an Improvised Explosive Device. In the years following his injury, he recovered and continued to serve, eventually becoming the Garrison Commander at Fort Belvoir and retiring in 2015.

In this interview, he shares details of the IED attack and how his unit's pre-deployment training directly saved his life. COL Gadson also describes his decade-long partnership with the New York Giants and how he came to hold two Super Bowl Rings as a double amputee.

Colonel Gadson is a powerful presence and an inspiration to be around. Please enjoy the conversation and lead well!

In August of 2012, Army Captain (Ret) Florent Groberg found himself face to face with an enemy suicide bomber. He didn't have time to think, he simply moved towards the threat. Then in 2015, he found himself standing on a stage with President Barack Obama, receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions that day. 

In this extensive interview, Captain Groberg recounts the details of the fatal attack on his dismounted patrol in Asadabad, Afghanistan, then shares his lessons on life and leadership.

You can watch his Medal of Honor ceremony here: https://youtu.be/wHoOZEfUwwI 

And be sure to grab a copy of his book, 8 Seconds of Courage

Before he departed Fort Irwin to become the current Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division, Major General Jeffrey Broadwater and I sat down in his office to chat about leadership, combat, the National Training Center, and how to personally manage the highs and lows of command. 

As a company commander in 2007, I was fortunate to be attached to 3-7 Cavalry as then LTC Broadwater led the squadron in counterinsurgency operations in the Adamiyah area of Baghdad, Iraq. As a clear indicator of his leadership approach, MG Broadwater treated us like one of his own organic companies. He was inclusive, empowering, and led from a coaching mindset…a characteristic that continues today and that you can get a true sense of in this chat.   MG Broadwater is an Armor Officer and proud graduate of the University of Kentucky, has served in the 82nd Airborne, the 1st Infantry Division, the 3rd Infantry Division, commanded 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team at Fort Riley, and served as the Deputy Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division.    Notably though, are his three assignments to the National Training Center. Through 70 rotations as an Observer/Coach/Trainer and as a rotational unit, MG Broadwater has more time in the Fort Irwin desert than just about anyone. As a LTC, he coached Armored and Infantry Battalions then led the Brigade O/C team. As a COL, he commanded Operations Group, mentoring brigade commanders and shaping the conduct of NTC rotations. And most recently, he served as the Commanding General of NTC and Fort Irwin, responsible for the Fort Irwin tenant units and every echelon of support for NTC rotations.   I hope you enjoy this episode and visit www.themilitaryleader.com and subscribe to receive updates about future episodes, as well as tons of leader development content.
Thanks for listening and lead well!

Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and renown author Dave Grossman essentially created the field of killology. His books On Killing and On Combat have made an entire generation of military, law enforcement, and first responders more ready for the stressful, sometimes violent situations they face. Long after his active duty career, Dave has continued to teach the stress-response techniques outlined in his books, traveling to hundreds of bases, posts, and precincts over the years.

In this episode, you discover what happens in the body during combat. Visual distortion, auditory exclusion, memory distortion, vasoconstriction, and loss of bladder control are all physiological effects that Soldiers and law enforcement personnel experience in extreme stress but rarely prepare for. Dave Grossman's books and instruction prepare combatants and protectors for the challenge of face-to-face violent stress and infuse confidence in those who have never experienced it before.

If you have a team who might face violent stress one day, they need to hear this conversation.

Personally, I can tell you that reading On Killing and On Combat made me more prepared for my own combat experience. I invite you to do the same. 

Read more about Dave Grossman's work at Killology Research Group and check out his books On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society and On Combat, The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace.

Remember, the view expressed here do not represent the Department of Defense or the US Government in any way.

Thanks for listening and lead well.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a leader who is more dedicated to the profession of arms than LTC Matt Hardman. His recent experience as Battalion Task Force and then Brigade Trainer at the National Training Center has made him one of the most tactically competent leaders in our Army today. He has a high standard for what it takes to make a unit ready for war and demands commitment.

Still, he recognizes that it's not all about the mission. People matter. And in this conversation, you'll see that LTC Hardman genuinely cares about "the man behind the rank." I met Matt over VTC almost two years ago and finally in person at my own NTC rotation, where I put into practice the pile of lessons he shared with me prior to battalion command. I hope you enjoy this chat with a friend and leader who I credit with much of my own development. 

If you're not on The Military Leader email list yet, be sure to visit www.themilitaryleader.com to sign up.

If you would like to show your support for The Military Leader Podcast, please leave a rating and comment in iTunes.   The views expressed in this podcast do not officially represent the views of the US military or the United States Government. The music for The Military Leader Podcast was composed by Iliya Ryakhovskiy, who made a custom piece for the podcast.   Thanks for listening and lead well!

People who have worked with CSM Schroeder know he is a Soldier’s Soldier. His 34 years in the Army spanned from his Germany days as an Electronics Mechanic to Command Sergeant Major of US Army Forces Command, a 4-star level command of over 750,000 Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve Component Soldiers.    In this chat, CSM Schroeder shares the story from the beginning of his career, where he survived UCMJ then reenlisted to become an Infantryman. Through varying leadership positions at multiple echelons, CSM Schroeder grew into the iconic NCO leader that the Army is designed to grow. He is passionate about reclaiming the role of the NCO and advises that NCOs should leverage the authority and responsibility inherent in their rank.    Though he retired last year, his transition to civilian life hasn’t stopped him from continuing to influence the Army. He stays tightly connected to his Army network and is putting to paper his well-developed thoughts on Army leadership, which will likely find their way to bookshelves before long. Regardless of whether you are an officer or an NCO, Infantryman or cook, CSM Schroeder’s insight will make you a better leader.   If you would like to show your support for The Military Leader Podcast, please leave a rating and comment in iTunes. Thank you so much for the very kind ratings and comments that many of you have left. I'm flattered to know that the podcast is making an impact!   The views expressed in this podcast do not officially represent the views of the US military or the United States Government.   The music for The Military Leader Podcast was composed by Iliya Ryakhovskiy, who made a custom piece for the podcast.   Thanks for listening and lead well!

This third bonus episode on the topic of luck features an article by Nate Finney, founder of The Strategy Bridge and co-founder of The Military Writers Guild. Just like Steve Leonard in the last episode, Nate says that you can make your own luck. But Nate goes a step further to recommend deliberately shaping that luck, as one would in a military operation. Get the right education, meet the influential people, attend the key events. 

In the military profession, however, this approach may seem careerist and self-serving. To that, Nate has some great recommendations to help success-seeking leaders stay grounded.

Take 3 minutes to enjoy "Proactive Luck" by Nathan Finney and be sure to share it with your team!

If you would like to show your support for The Military Leader Podcast, please leave a rating and comment in iTunes. Thank you so much for the very kind ratings and comments that many of you have left. I'm flattered to know that the podcast is making an impact!

The views expressed in this podcast do not officially represent the views of the US military or the United States Government.

The music for The Military Leader Podcast was composed by Iliya Ryakhovskiy, who made a custom piece for the podcast.

In this bonus episode, I share Steve Leonard's response to "The Role of Luck in Becoming a Successful Officer." In "Luck Be a Lady," Steve reminds us that there is no luck without the team and that the team must make its own luck from time to time.

If you're not yet a Doctrine Man fan, head over to Facebook and Twitter to get Steve Leonard's critical, sometimes snarky look at current events and military news.

Some people say that their success arose because they "just got lucky." Others say they made their own luck. No matter how we view luck, none of us can deny that luck has played a role in whatever success we've been able to achieve. 

Here is a bonus episode about the role of luck in a military career and be sure to look for a couple more episodes on the topic before I share my conversation with Command Sergeant Major Scott Schroeder.

Thanks for listening and lead well!

Every once in a while in your career, you'll work for a leader whose nature simply inspires motivation and action. Colonel Eric Lopez is one of those leaders. He is passionate, candid, and committed to building the team. You can't help but get fired up when you listen to him speak, which you'll really sense in this interview.

Colonel Lopez just took command of the 3rd Recruiting Brigade and took a moment to share his thoughts on vision, leadership, and turning America's best citizens into Soldiers.

Lead well!

If you would like to show your support for The Military Leader Podcast, please leave a rating and comment in iTunes. Thank you so much for the very kind ratings and comments that many of you have left. I'm flattered to know that the podcast is making an impact!   The views expressed in this podcast do not officially represent the views of the US military or the United States Government.   The music for The Military Leader Podcast was composed by Iliya Ryakhovskiy, who made a custom piece for the podcast.