Off the Radar, Special Operations Training Detachment

Latest Episodes:

Sharpening the Edge: CMOC Training & Tactical Lessons Pt 1 (Ep. 28) Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

This episode is focused on how Civil Affairs serves as theconnective tissue between the military and civil government during military operations. Civil Affairs engage and leverage the civil component or population of an area, region, or country. Civil Affairs operates during peace time operations, competition, crisis, and conflict by providing guidance and support to both the military and civil government. During rotation 25-02 at the National Training Center (NTC) a Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC), a Company level CA entity, executed SOF operations along side a conventional Brigade. This three part episode discusses the experiences that the CMOC had during that rotation.

About the Guests:

Jessica Lauder: MAJ Lauder is the CMOC Chief. Jess was anChemical Officer in the National Guard prior to switching to active duty Air Defense Officer prior to becoming SOF Civil Affairs. As a CA Officer, she has operational experience across CENTCOM.

Kevin: Kevin is the operations Sergeant for the CMOC. He hasover eight years of SOF Civil Affairs experience. Prior to becoming SOF CA, Kevin was a fueler. He has multiple conventional and SOF deployments to CENTCOM and AFRICOM.

About the OC/T:

Pat McCluskey: CPT McCluskey is the lead Civil Affairs Observer Coach-Trainer for Burro team. He served as the lead OC/T for this CMOC only rotation. Pat has operational experience in EUCOM.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC andformer member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- How the CMOC prepared for their NTC rotation, through training at home station, using realistic military training, and operational deployments; starting to prepare as earlier as possible

- Training basics, such as convoy briefs to go to a team dinner,training focused on shoot, move, communicate, and medicate

- Managing operations when the headquarters is split

- Testing systems, processes, and set-ups through varioustraining and operations; seting up a TOC: figuring out what tents, vehicles, etc are needed to execute a mobile operations center

- Task organization of a CA Company

- SOF CA conducting non-kinetic / non-lethal targeting

- Reporting; reducing ambiguity in writing, issues clearguidance, ensuring down trace units understand guidance, and training down trace units to report in a clear concise manner

- Learning from the mentorship of the retired SOF role players

- Creating a shared understanding; getting the information out of your head and into a digestible format for others to understand and initiate action

- Communicating capabilities and intent and demonstrate value to conventional unit

- Providing recommendations not just data

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, atweston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp ofSalty Sounds

Bridging SOF and Conventional Forces with Outlaw 01: Training, Integration, and Warfighting (Ep. 27) Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

This episode is focused on Special Operation Forces and Conventional Forces Integration, Interoperability, and Interdependence (SOF-CF I3). As defined by FM 6-05: integration is the ability to synchronize capabilities and actions. Interoperability is the ability to act coherently to exchange information and services. Interdependence is reliance on one another. Army SOF and Conventional Forces depend on one another to accomplish strategic, operational, and tactical objectives. Here at the National Training Center (NTC), ARSOF and Conventional Forces work together and train together to prepare for real world operations and the future of warfare.

About the Guest:

COL Ethan Diven: Ethan Diven is the current Commander of Operations Group at the National Training Center. Ethan Diven is a husband and father and warrior. He graduated the New Mexico Military Institute and Texas Tech prior to entering active duty. As an Armor Officer, COL Diven has served in multiple formation types including Armor, Infantry, Airborne, and Special Operations with 75th Ranger Regiment. Multiple deployments to CENTCOM and EUCOM.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Special Operations Forces and Conventional Forces Integration, Interoperability, and Interdependence

- NTC in 1998 conducting air land battle and similarities to multiple domain operations in large scale combat

- Comparing deployments with Ranger Regiment (as a staff officer) to conventional deployments as a Company commander

- Conducting a Division level rotation at NTC as a Brigade Commander prior to conducting a EUCOM rotation; describing SOF-CF I3 during the rotation; conducting Leader Training Program to begin that integration

- Advising in integrating with NATO partners in EUCOM to conduct training exercises and at the Joint Multi-national Readiness Center

- Outlaw 01; as the Commander of Operations Group; responsible for integrating all the branches within the Army, all the war fighting functions, across all domains from the individual soldier level up to the Division level

- Leadership factor: Observers Coaches / Trainers are professionals that improve the Army

- SOF-CF I3 is imperative, enables the joint force through creation of mass and leveraging effects across all domains

- Brigades expectations of SOF, understanding that SOF and CF need to work together and bring value to one another

- Brigade’s perspective of SOF actions deep or extended deep; related to how effective the SOF Liaisons to the BDE or DIV are

- REDSOF from the COG’s perspective; REDSOF gets great training from the experience including SF, CA, and PSYOP

- Operations outside of the NTC Box that SOF executes

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

Decoding Critical Factors: How to Identify and Exploit Vulnerabilities in Complex Targets (Ep. 26) Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

is episode is focused on Critical Factors Analysis. Army Special Operations Forces use Critical Factors Analysis at the Battalion or SOTF level and above to identify center(s) of gravity of an enemy force or target. This is taught at the SOF Operational Design Course. This framework of analysis is a tool for analysis and targeting that can be leveraged at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels. At the National Training Center (NTC) MAJ Ficken

and all Burro Observer Coach Trainers coaches and mentors SF AOBs to use doctrinal planning and analysis tools such as Critical Factors Analysis. Rotations at NTC and JRTC highlight the validity of our SOF, Army, and Joint Doctrine.

About the Guest:

MAJ Philip Ficken: Phil Ficken is the current Special Operations Training Detachment AOBWest Officer in Charge aka Commander. Prior to the he served as the Exercise Control Officer and J3 Operations Officer for SOTD AOB-W. Prior to that He served in various roles in 5th Special Forces Group including Company Commander, Staff positions, and Detachment Commander.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Analysis for targeting: CRAVER, Critical Factors Analysis

- Joint Publications 5-0: Chapter 3:

- Centers of Gravity: source of power or strength that enables a force to achieve its objective

- Critical Factors Analysis: framework to identify center(s) of gravity

- Critical Capabilities: primary abilities that are essential to the accomplishment of the mission – example: Maneuver for a combined arms force

- Critical Requirements: “are the conditions, resources, and means that enable a critical capability to become fully operational” – fuel for a armored force

- Critical Vulnerabilities: “are those aspects or components of critical requirements that are deficient or vulnerable to direct or indirect attack in a manner achieving decisive or significant results.”

- When analyzing vulnerabilities consider the following: accessibility, redundancy, resiliency, and impact,

- If the enemy’s capability is not degraded through the removal or a requirement, then you have misidentified the critical requirement

- Conduct analysis on analog via a white board or similar, on left critical capabilities, middle critical requirements, circle the requirements you can target and that is the critical vulnerabilities for you to target

- Can be used to target non-kinetic, non-lethal, intangible targets

- Christmas leave example to demonstrate critical factors analysis

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

REDSOF Cross Functional Team: Enhancing Interoperability in Special Operations Part 4 (Ep. 25) Jan 16, 2025

Show notes

This the fourth and final episode of a four-part series focused on how Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations integrate and interoperate at the team/Detachment level. During a recent rotation, a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, Civil Affairs Team, and Tactical PSYOP Detachment conducted operations at the National Training Center (NTC) as Opposing Force (OPFOR). This cross functional team approach to REDSOF was the first iteration of its kind and yield effective results on the rotational conventional unit and Special Operations unit. During this interview, the leaders of each element will describe how each ARSOF Tribe integrated and interoperated to achieve their endstate.

About the Guests:

Spencer: Detachment Sergeant for the Tactical PSYOP Detachment (TPD) on REDSOF. He has over 15 years of Army experience, 8 of which are SOF PSYOP. Multiple operational rotations in both conventional and SOF units.

Michael: Team Leader of the REDSOF Civil Affairs Team (CAT). Former Infantry officer with e multiple CTC rotations both on BLUEFOR and REDFOR. Andrew: SFOD-A Detachment Commander for REDSOF SFOD-A. From 10th Special Forces Group, SOF operational experience in SOCEUR. Former Infantry officer.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- what is a target? Or who? Looking at the population as a non-kinetic target

- creativity in problem solving; creating a non-governmental organization on the enemy side to drive the narrative

- recognizing the players in the information domain, identifying their purpose and audience then leverage that to your advantage

- layering effects; information operations timed with non-kinetic operations (delivering food in an area denied to you by using your networks); swaying the populace to your cause

- the power of credibility or the detriment of losing credibility

- treat everything as a tactical objective

- be creative; use authorities or lack there of to your advantage

- CA and PSYOP take bandwidth off of SF and fill and support War Fighting Functions

- go full scenario (push the I believe button) mentality towards training Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

REDSOF Cross Functional Team: Enhancing Interoperability in Special Operations Part 3 (Ep. 24) Jan 09, 2025

Show notes

This part three for a four-part series focused on how Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations integrate and interoperate at the team/Detachment level. During a recent rotation, a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, Civil Affairs Team, and Tactical PSYOP Detachment conducted operations at the National Training Center (NTC) as Opposing Force (OPFOR). This cross functional team approach to REDSOF was the first iteration of its kind and yield effective results on the rotational conventional unit and Special Operations unit.

During this interview, the leaders of each element will describe how each ARSOF Tribe integrated and interoperated to achieve their endstate.

About the Guests:

Michael: Team Leader of the REDSOF Civil Affairs Team (CAT). Former Infantry officer with e multiple CTC rotations both on BLUEFOR and REDFOR.

Andrew: SFOD-A Detachment Commander for REDSOF SFOD-A. From 10th Special Forces Group, SOF operational experience in SOCEUR. Former Infantry officer.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- OC perspective on the integration of the ARSOF tribes as a cross functional team

- Special Operations integrating with conventional forces; REDSOF integration and interdependence with Task Force Reaper of Blackhorse; nesting operations and objectives across the domains

- The importance of interpersonal skills and building relationship to enhance integration; establishing creditability

- How integration breaks down barriers and enables decision makers to remove roadblocks for down trace units

- Overview of an operation from concept through execution to accessing the effect on the “enemy”; utilizing the cross functional team to leverage resources across the domains to create a layered effect

- Using the information domain (with physical and non-physical methods and products) to control the narrative to maintain tempo and momentum

- Describes effects of Special Operations to the conventional force to build creditability

- Balance risk to force, risk to mission, risk to nation

- Understanding initial commander’s intent and being creative to achieve that intent and more

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

REDSOF Cross Functional Team: Enhancing Interoperability in Special Operations Part 2 (Ep. 23) Jan 02, 2025

Show notes

This is part two for a four-part series focused on how Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations integrate and interoperate at the team/Detachment level. During a recent rotation, a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, Civil Affairs Team, and Tactical PSYOP Detachment conducted operations at the National Training Center (NTC) as Opposing Force (OPFOR). This cross functional team approach to REDSOF was the first iteration of its kind and yield effective results on the rotational conventional unit and Special Operations unit.

During this interview, the leaders of each element will describe how each ARSOF Tribe integrated and interoperated to achieve their endstate.

About the Guests:

Michael: Team Leader of the REDSOF Civil Affairs Team (CAT). Former Infantry officer with e multiple CTC rotations both on BLUEFOR and REDFOR.

Andrew: SFOD-A Detachment Commander for REDSOF SFOD-A. From 10th Special Forces Group, SOF operational experience in SOCEUR. Former Infantry officer.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Cross functional team mentality; not drawing lots for ground force commander, but working together, effectiveness was measured off creating dilemmas in the enemy’s rear area across the civil and informational dimensions

- Interdependence and interoperability especially between CA and PSYOP, linking the human dimension to the information dimension then bringing that to the cross functional team enabling lethal and non-lethal targeting

- Cross functional targeting, task organizing the cross functional team, split team operations increased speed but degraded integrated planning

- Communication architecture issues within SOF tribe integration, integrating SOF tribes in garrison to enhance SOF tribe integration at tactical and operational levels

- Integrating with conventional forces, building trust and developing a network with everyone you can, “always be (re)cruiting “

- Staff processes approached by war fighting function, CA and PSYOP fill in with war fighting functions

- You look at the picture from your foxhole, meaning each person sees the situation differently and identifies different things as important

- Speed of decision-making process and ability to maintain tempo enables momentum and stay on the offensive, “If you’re not first, you’re last” layered narrative building

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

REDSOF Cross Functional Team: Enhancing Interoperability in Special Operations Part 1 (Ep. 22) Dec 26, 2024

Show notes

This is the introductory episode for a four-part seriesfocused on how Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations integrate and interoperate at the team/Detachment level. During a recent rotation, a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, Civil Affairs Team, and Tactical PSYOP Detachment conducted operations at the National Training Center (NTC) as Opposing Force (OPFOR). This cross functional team approach to REDSOF was the first iteration of its kind and yield effective results on the rotational conventional unit and Special Operations unit.

During this interview, the leaders of each element will describe how each ARSOF Tribe integrated and interoperated to achieve their endstate.

About the Guests:

Spencer: Detachment Sergeant for the Tactical PSYOPDetachment (TPD) on REDSOF. He has over 15 years of Army experience, 8 of which are SOF PSYOP. Multiple operational rotations in both conventional and SOF units. Former combat engineer.

Michael: Team Leader of the REDSOF Civil Affairs Team (CAT).Former Infantry officer with e multiple CTC rotations both on BLUEFOR and REDFOR.

Andrew: SFOD-A Detachment Commander for REDSOF SFOD-A. From 10th Special Forces Group, SOF operational experience in SOCEUR. Former Infantry officer.

OC/TS:

SFC Keanu Caroline: Civil Affairs Team Sergeant. Former CAmedic. Operational experience in INDOPACOM and AFRICOM.

SFC Cody: PSYOP Detachment Sergeant. FormerInfantrymen from 82nd Airborne. SOUTHCOM and CENTCOM operational experience.

About the Host:

This episode covers:

- Differences between BLUEFOR and REDFOR, the challenges and benefits of both

- Identifying targets that are SOF specific; communicatingthat with the conventional force, if it isn’t SOF specific then chances are the conventional force should do it not SOF

- Train up prior to the rotation, trying to build the crossfunctional team before arrival at NTC

- “Everyone wants to be the prettiest girl at the party” –understand what your role is and what it is not, fulfill your role and allows others to fulfill theirs, building the team is better than building your ego

- Leader Training Program, best way to integrate with theconventional unit

- Be prepared to execute the mission both physically and equipment wise, don’t go into a mission with negative biases, let the bias be that together you will be the best team on the field

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp ofSalty Sounds

Adapting Civil Affairs for LSCO: Insights from Doctrine to Battlefield (Ep. 21) Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, MAJ Sam Pavolko discusses the changes to Special Operations Civil Affairs Doctrine with a focus towards SOF CA conducting Large-Scale Combat emphasizing multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human). MAJ Pavolko observed a rotation at the National Training Center (NTC) to see firsthand how SOF CA is approaching LSCO and MDO at the tactical and operational levels in the dirt.

About the Guest:

MAJ Sam Pavolko is the current United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWC) Civil Affairs Branch Proponent Doctrine Chief. This role focuses on reviewing and revising doctrine to ensure current tactics, techniques and procedures are captured in doctrine as well as the lessons from recent trainings and operations are reflected in doctrine. Prior to this role, MAJ Pavolko has served in various leadership positions in CA to include Company Command, Detachment Command, and roles in the conventional Army.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- SOF CA working with conventional forces; Civil Affairs in competition during the annexation of Crimea in 2014

- The importance of doctrine; improving one’s branch through enhancing and revising doctrine

- Flash to bang inception of a concept to written in doctrine: 21-24 months but requires three successful tests or experiments overseen by USASOC force modernization

- Specific Branch Doctrine must be nested within Joint publications, Army publications, and USASOC publications

- NTC scenario is deep and wide enough for CA to really dive into and get significant training from

- The interaction of SOF CA and conventional CA; how important that is to SOF-CF I3; how that interaction and integration looks on the ground

- CA in LSCO: creates multiple dilemmas for the enemy through our civil networks

- The handoff of CA responsibilities and governance between SOF and CF CA; as the battlefield geometry changes and the areas of focus shift responsibilities shift as well

- value of civil information; the criticalness of analyzing and synthesizing information into intelligence that can feed commander’s decision-making process; displaying civil information graphically

- The CTCs, specially NTC, provide valuable and realistic training to SOF CA and ARSOF holistically

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

Building Stronger AOBs: Mentorship, Multi-Domain Ops, and Lessons Learned from the CTCs Pt4 (Ep. 20) Dec 12, 2024

Show notes

This is the fourth and final section of a four-part series focused on mentorship of Special Forces Companies (Advance Operation Bases, AOBs) conducting Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizing multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). This mentorship and coaching is conducted in role and out of role from retired Special Operations Officers and NCOs. About the Guests:

Tom Vogel: COL(R) Vogel is from Chicago, IL. He graduated from West Point where he was commissioned into the Infantry, and became Special Forces. He spent the bulk of his SF career in 10th SFG(A). Kelly Smith: COL(R) Smith grew up in Montana and attended Montana State University. Started his Army career as an enlisted military policeman in the reserves. While in ROTC, Kelly switched from reserves to 19th SFG(A) in the National Guard. He was commissioned as an active-duty Infantry Officer and later became Special Forces. He spent time in 10th SFG(A), JSOC, USASOC, and 3rd SFG(A) Both Tom and Kelly have multiple Combat deployments and training experiences at the Combat Training Centers. About the Host:

- Battlefield geometry: where does the AOB go? Where do the Civil Affairs Teams, PSYOP teams and detachments go? Are the ODAs only supposed to be in the deep/extended deep?

- recognize there are multiple options for battlefield geometry and for operational focus of each ARSOF tribe. It’s a risk based decision and in training we maximize training value

- high payoff target list doesn’t have to mirror what is seen at a CTC rotation for a real world operation. There are options for things that are equally relevant to the Joint Combined Force.

- similarities and differences between JRTC and NTC. Terrain, weather, unit formation (light infantry versus armor), civil population (real world and scenario).

- train an AOB by placing them into a complex environment and separating them from their down trace units

- ARSOF units should be attending CTCs. Tom and Kelly share their opinions about how ARSOF units should approach and view CTCs. How important commander’s emphasis is on specific events.

- How CTCs best prepare units for the break glass encase of emergency going to war moment. To execute a theater opening operation in LSCO.

- Preparing for a CTC starts with rehearsals. Especially at the staff level. Rehears planning and battle rhythm events. Have Commander to Commander dialogs and brainstorming sessions to prepare for what it’s going to be like to be displaced and operate in a comms degraded austere environment.

- read, read, read. Prepare yourself and learn from other’s experiences.

- moral imperative for leaders to ensure units are trained. Importance of flat and clear comms. Can your unit walk the walk? Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

Building Stronger AOBs: Mentorship, Multi-Domain Ops, and Lessons Learned from the CTCs Pt3 (Ep. 19) Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

This is the third of a four-part series focused on mentorship of Special Forces Companies (Advance Operation Bases, AOBs) conducting Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizing multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). This mentorship and coaching is conducted in role and out of role from retired Special Operations Officers and NCOs.

About the Guests:

Tom Vogel: COL(R) Vogel is from Chicago, IL. He graduated from West Point where he was commissioned into the Infantry, and became Special Forces. He spent the bulk of his SF career in 10th SFG(A).

Kelly Smith: COL(R) Smith grew up in Montana and attended Montana State University. Started his Army career as an enlisted military policeman in the reserves. While in ROTC, Kelly switched from reserves to 19th SFG(A) in the National Guard. He was commissioned as an active-duty Infantry Officer and later became Special Forces. He spent time in 10th SFG(A), JSOC, USASOC, and 3rd SFG(A)

Both Tom and Kelly have multiple Combat deployments and training experiences at the Combat Training Centers.

About the Host:

This episode covers:

- Forecasting requirements, visualization, and being able to put a picture into word. Having a sounding board that will be honest and tell you when something isn’t good enough, when there is still ambiguity

- Using graphic control measures and communicate in phase lines; sending and receiving communications within organic unit and with external units; disciplined and concise communication using reporting formats; message logs

- Advice on Commander’s Intent; reducing gap between Commander’s understanding and the down trace units

- Using planning tools to frame the problem and make a decision, such as a modified combined obstacle overlay; or using a narrative to tell a story of the situation; communicating the situation in a short concise manner

- How training and operations from the 1990’s prepared SF for the War on Terror

- The changes in Doctrine over 30+ years from Air Land Battle, Combined Arms Maneuver, and Multi-Domain Operations; integrating Joint and Combined militaries as well as emerging technologies (space and cyber)

- Special Operations are warriors who are masters in irregular partnered operations, executing operations in the deep and extended deep (whether physically there or through partners) to achieve operational and strategic objectives

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

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