In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Pauline Shanks Kaurin and Capt. Ben Ordiway to discuss moral reasoning and ethical leadership.  Dr. Pauline Shanks Kaurin is professor and Admiral James B. Stockdale Chair in Professional Military Ethics. She holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Temple University and specializes in military ethics, “just war theory” and philosophy of law and applied ethics. She is author of “On Obedience: Contrasting Philosophies for Military, Community and Citizenry” and...

Our Candid Conversations Team is back with a great conversation on Moral Injury / Moral Guilt and how an understanding of those concepts could help us deal with past transgressions and become better teammates and leaders. Our next episode will bring in Professor Pauline Shanks-Kaurin and CPT Ben Ordiway to talk about Ethics from a more academic approach, which complements our Candid Conversations team very well. 

In this episode, we sit down with Command Sgt. Maj. Chris King, CSM of 2nd Bn, 1st SFG (A), to discuss Menton Week and other things going on in 1st Special Forces Group. For more about Menton Week, check out this article: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/384616/1st-sfg-celebrates-legacy-elite-forces-during-menton-week

In this episode, we sit down with Maj. Gen. Richard Angle to discuss the command's new Vision: a one-page document titled "Who We Are." You can find the new Vision document here: https://www.soc.mil/USASFC/HQ.html

"The challenge of this old but new form of operations is a real one, and I know that you and the members of your Command will carry on for us and the free world in a manner which is both worthy and inspiring. I am sure that the Green Beret will be a mark of distinction in the trying times ahead." - President John F. Kennedy In this special episode, we take you to the annual Wreath Laying Ceremony honoring President John F. Kennedy, who established the distinctive headgear of Special...

In the latest episode of our Candid Conversations series, Master Sgt. Chris Copper and Col. Brian O'Leary sit down with author and filmmaker Sebastian Junger (Perfect Storm, Restrepo, War, Korengal, Tribe, Freedom) and Col. Dan Kearny for an incredible conversation on the importance of being part of a Tribe when it comes to reintegration following combat deployments. Master Sgt. Chris Copper is a Green Beret with 8 combat deployments as a Ranger and Special Forces NCO. Col. Brian O'Leary is...

In the second episode of this two-part series, Maj. Dan Lessard continues a conversation with MACV-SOG veteran John Stryker Meyer, AKA "Tilt", to talk about  his experiences as a Green Beret within SOG in Vietnam. For more information on the Studies and Observations Group and Meyer's experiences in Vietnam, check out his 2003 memoir titled "Across the Fence: The Secret War in Vietnam" 

*The original audio file uploaded had an issue that has now been corrected. Sorry for the inconvenience.* In this two-part series, Maj. Dan Lessard sits down with MACV-SOG veteran John Stryker Meyer, AKA "Tilt", for a conversation on his experiences as a Green Beret within SOG in Vietnam. For more information on the Studies and Observations Group and Meyer's experiences in Vietnam, check out his 2003 memoir titled "Across the Fence: The Secret War in Vietnam"

In Part 2 of this two-part series, Master Sgt. Chris Copper returns with  Maj. Larry Royer, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) behavioral health officer; Master Sgt. John, Team Sergeant from 19th SFG(A); and Georgia Harrison, United States Army Special Operations Command HPW Suicide Prevention Coordinator to have a candid conversation on issues that are affecting the force today. 

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Master Sgt. Chris Copper returns with  Maj.  Larry Royer, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) behavioral health officer; Master Sgt. John, Team Sergeant from 19th SFG(A); and Georgia Harrison, United States Army Special Operations Command HPW Suicide Prevention Coordinator to have a candid conversation on issues that are affecting the force today. 

In today's episode, we bring on the LREC program managers and a current Special Forces officer to discuss the command's language and culture program. Francis "Rusty" Restituyo is a retired Green Beret and is the LREC Director. Jorge Sanchez is a retired Green Beret and runs the Advanced Language Training portion of the LREC. Scott McDonough is the program manager for Yorktown Systems Group, the company that manages the contractor and database portion of the LREC. Ian Edgerly is a former...

The Army Special Operations Forces community has a lot on our minds after shouldering the burden of 20 years of war.  The hardships, trials, struggles we face, have faced, and will continue to face affect us in one way or another.  Master Sgt. Chris Copper, the 1st Special Forces Command Human Performance and Wellness NCO, joins Master Sgt. Josh Thompson, former U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Sgt., to discuss the...

In Part 2 of our series on Resistance, we examine what Resistance looks like in the INDOPACOM AoR with the past, present and future commanders of our forward-stationed battalion in the region. Guests for this episode: Lt. Col. Erik Davis is the current commander of 1st Bn, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Okinawa, Japan. Lt. Col. Ron Garberson works in the Operations Directorate at Special Operations Command - Pacific (SOCPAC) and is the next commander of 1st Bn, 1st Special Forces...

The concept of resistance is foundational to Army Special Operations Forces, as our mission is generally to partner with forces to either support or defeat resistance movements. In this two-part series, we pair experts on resistance with our forward-stationed battalion commanders in Germany and Japan to discuss what resistance is and how it’s applied in today’s operational environment.  *To join the conversation, navigate to the 1SFC CAG page on the SIPR portal, where you will find a button...

In this episode, Maj. Dan Lessard sits down with the command team and battalion commanders of the 528th Special Operations Sustainment Brigade to discuss what makes their brigade so unique. Col. Mike Summers is the commander of the 528th. Command Sgt. Maj. Dejarius Jones is the command sergeant major. Lt. Col. Al Davis is the commander of the 528th STBn (has since changed command). Lt. Col. Brian Wong is the commander of the 112th Signal Bn. Lt. Col. Sapriya Childs is the commander of...

In this episode Col. Jamie Riesberg sits down with Maj. Gen. John Brennan, Command Sgt. Maj. Ted Munter, Col. Brian O'Leary and Lt. Col. Chris Ford to discuss how transitioning from COIN/CT to Great Power Competition affects the force, identifying mental health concerns, and the importance of seeking help. Maj. Gen. John Brennan is the commander of 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) Command Sgt. Maj. Ted Munter, Command Sergeant Major of 1st SFC (A) Col. Jamie Riesberg, 1st SFC (A)...

In this episode, Maj. Gen. Brennan sits down with Lt. Gen (R) Michael Nagata and Maj. Ryan Min to talk their unique backgrounds and experiences as our command concludes our observance of Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month.  Lt. Gen. Nagata retired in 2019 after serving more than 37 years in the Army. His time in Special Operations Forces includes service in 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Special Missions Units, and as commander of SOCCENT. He concluded his career as the...

In this episode, Chaplain (COL) Chris Dickey talks with Jeff Struecker about dealing with loss and grief following the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. Their conversation is pointed and powerful, as Mr. Struecker describes his journey and what made other Rangers turn to him for guidance when the smoke cleared.   For more information about Jeff Struecker, visit https://jeffstruecker.com/

In this episode, Brig. Gen. Steve Marks talks about what he’s been reading and how it’s impacted his thinking. Then he discusses his time as the USAG-Italy Commander and how that job impacted him as a leader.  Since recording, Brig. Gen. Marks has moved up to his new role as the Deputy Commanding General of the US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). We wish him the best, and we want to thank him for his tremendous leadership and mentorship while serving in 1st Special Forces Command...

CW5 Scott Gronowski, 1st SFC(A) Command Chief Warrant Officer, reflects on multiple deployments to Afghanistan in light of the recent withdrawal announcement. 

In this Command Team Corner episode, Maj. Gen. John Brennan sits down with Lt. Col. Eric Johnson and Lt. Col. Chris Ford to discuss Extremism, Disinformation, and Permissible Online Conduct. What we hear is that there are two parts to addressing these problems - shoring up the foundation of our Soldiers' professional military ethic and inoculating the force against disinformation intended to polarize our society. Maj. Gen. John Brennan is the commander of 1st Special Forces Command...

In this episode of the Command Team Corner, we sit down with Maj. Gen. John Brennan, Col. Jamie Riesberg, Lt. Col. Ryan Schloesser, and Lt. Col. Eric Johnson to discuss the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines, given the recent changes in...

Show OverviewIn this episode, MAJ David Thompson, commander of Alpha Company, 96th Civil Affairs Battalion and Mr. James Fleming, Office Director for Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean in the new Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) at the...

Maj. Gen. John Brennan and Command Sgt. Maj. Ted Munter share their thoughts on the value of our people and the role they play in making the command the most relevant organization in the Army. 

Show OverviewIn this episode, COL Eric Kreitz, the 1st SFC(A) Director of Information Warfare sits down with the 1st SFC Chaplain COL Chris Dickey. They discuss COL Kreitz's very personal story - one of fear, addiction, and hitting rock bottom...but...