Off the Radar, Special Operations Training Detachment

Latest Episodes:

The Art of Combat Medicine: Prolonged Casualty Care Unpacked Part 2 (Ep. 14) Oct 31, 2024

This is part two of a three-part conversation with SFC Mondrian Bogert (or Mo) discussing Special Forces approach to prolonged casualty care in austere and resource constrained environments during a Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizes multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC). SFC Bogert is an Observer Coach / Trainer (OC/T) on the the Burro Team; Special Operations Training Detachment AOB-W at Fort Irwin and NTC. SFC Bogert has over 16 months experience as an SOF (SF) OC/T, he has planned, resourced, coordinated, and supervised the execution of multiple prolong casualty care scenarios at NTC. Mo shares his experiences observing and supervising the execution of prolonged casualty care at NTC. Highlighting insights on how what prolong casualty care might look like in LSCO, the differences in planning and approach to MASCAL versus prolonged casualty care, and recommendations on how to prepare for an upcoming CTC rotation. SFC Bogert is the type of OC/T that wants to see the training unit improve and he consistently goes above and beyond during rotation and outside of rotation to train Soldiers both in and outside of ARSOF. The Off the Radar team want to thank Mo for his time, dedication to the profession, and willingness to help improve the force through sharing the lessons he learns as an OC/T. This episode covers:

- medical planning including examples of PACE (primary, alternate, contingency, emergency) plans. Blood PACE, who from the team or partner force are you pulling blood from. Where in country X can you secure medical supplies when needed? Midwives, animal husbandry services, etc.

- Cross training for the Detachment and for your partner force. Layering medical training into other training. SOPs for simple things like place of tourniquets.

- what does a rotation at NTC look like from the medical perspective. Recommendations on medical load out: personal aid bag, truck bag, MASCAL bag, pro-longed field care bag, contingency kits (crush kit, burn kit, envenomation kit, etc). Recommendations on equipment and medicine to bring. Consider your partner force as well as the Detachment.

- Medical field craft – functional tourniquet, stretchers, etc.

- personnel management in MASCAL and pro-longed field care. The moral dilemma of discontinuing treatment on a casualty that will not make it to save another casualty or discontinuing treatment based on limited resources.

- medical load out and sustainment balanced with load out and sustainment of the other MOSs and war fighting functions

- detailed medical planning, developing a medical common operation picture (what does SOF have, what does the conventional force have, what does the partner force have, what exists in the environment / with the local population)

- medical overmatch. Know what phase you are in and understand how to bring medical overmatch or mitigate the adversaries overmatched in critical moments in time and space on the battlefield.

- approach as a observer coach trainer overseeing pro-longed casualty care. Ensuring the 18D, special forces medic, understands the basics of medical treatment and resource management. 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

SOF Military Intelligence at Combat Training Centers Part 1 (Ep. 13) Oct 24, 2024

This is part one of a two-part conversation with CPT Dylan Wendt discussing Special Operations approach to Military Intelligence during a Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizes multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC).

CPT Dylan Wendt is a Military Intelligence professional with a background in maneuver. Dylan started out his Army career as an Infantry Officer in 3rd BN 509th IN (ABN) in Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Following his time as an Infantry Officer, Dylan attended the Military Intelligence Captains Career Course where he became a Military Intelligence Officer. His first assignment as an MI Officer was to 173rd Airborne Infantry Brigade where he served in various assignments as an MI Officer. Following his time in 173rd Airborne, Dylan attended Ranger Assessment and Selection Program and was selected for service in the 75th Ranger Regiment (RR). Dylan has held various MI positions in the 75th RR.

Dylan has attended nearly every Combat Training Center venue during his Army career. As an Infantry Platoon Leader, he conducted a JRTC rotation and served as a guest Observer Coach Trainer at the National Training Center. During his time as a Military Intelligence Officer in the 173rd Airborne, Dylan executed a rotation at Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Germany. As a Military Intelligence Officer in 75th Ranger Regiment, Dylan participated in a Joint Readiness Training Center exercise and the first 75th RR regimental rotation at the National Training Center.

Throughout this conversation, Dylan shares his experiences as a Military Intelligence professional and relates real-world operational experience to training he received at Combat Training Centers. Highlighting insights on what Military Intelligence, primarily focused on SOF MI, looks like in LSCO and recommendations on how to prepare for an upcoming CTC rotation as a Military Intelligence professional.

This episode covers:

- Realism of Military Intelligence: converting raw data into a percent of certainty of an outcome

- Basics of how intelligence assessments are generated / intelligence cycle

- How Intelligence professionals plan a key role in security in garrison and what a front line leader needs from a MI professional

- Brief overview of Ranger Regiment and Ranger Assessment and Selection Program

- The fundamental things intelligence Soldiers and Leaders should focus on during training

- Compare and contrast conventional Airborne Infantry (173rd Airborne) rotation at Joint Multinational Readiness Center to SOF (75th RR) rotation at the National Training Center

- Role of conventional versus Special Operations Forces; holding terrain or targeting high priority targets, close fight versus deep fight, prioritization of resources

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

The Art of Combat Medicine: Prolonged Casualty Care Unpacked Part 1 (Ep. 12) Oct 17, 2024

This is part one of a three-part conversation with SFC Mondrian Bogert (or Mo) discussing Special Forces approach to prolonged casualty care in austere and resource constrained environments during a Large-Scale Combat Training scenario emphasizes multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC).

SFC Bogert is an Observer Coach / Trainer (OC/T) on the the Burro Team; Special Operations Training Detachment AOB-W at Fort Irwin and NTC. SFC Bogert has over 15 months experience as an SOF (SF) OC/T, he has planned, resourced, coordinated, and supervised the execution of multiple prolong casualty care scenarios at NTC. Mo shares his experiences observing and supervising the execution of prolonged casualty care at the NTC. Highlighting insights on what prolong casualty care might look like in LSCO, the differences in planning and approach to MASCAL versus prolonged casualty care, and recommendations on how to prepare for an upcoming CTC rotation.

SFC Bogert is the type of OC/T that wants to see the training unit improve and he consistently goes above and beyond during rotation and outside of rotation to train Soldiers both in and outside of ARSOF. The Off the Radar team want to thank Mo for his time, dedication to the profession, and willingness to help improve the force through sharing the lessons he learns as an OC/T.

This episode covers:

- similarities and differences between medicinal care in the desert versus arctic

- how coming from the Conventional Force helps you be a better Special Operations Forces Soldier

- the Special Forces Medical Sergeant Training pipeline/experience

- training in trauma and training on long term patient care (SOAP notes: subjective, objective, analysis, and prescriptions of care)

- Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) versus prolonged field care (PFC) versus prolonged casualty care (PCC): overview of MARCH algorithm; PFC name focuses on environment, PCC focused on patient

- real world example of how medical evacuations are being conducted in Ukraine

- conventional medic capabilities versus a Special Forces Medic’s capabilities

- 18D’s as the medical manager during treatment in prolonged care

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

Opposing Force: REDSOF at NTC Part 2 (Ep. 11) Oct 10, 2024

This is the second part of a two-part conversation with CPT John Sinclair and MSG Wes Gatewood discussing Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha’s (SFOD-A) conducting Opposing Force or RED Force operations against a US Army Brigade Combat Team Augmented by US Army Special Operations Forces in a Large Scale Combat Training scenario across all domains (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC).

CPT Sinclair and MSG Gatewood share their experience executing REDSOF (RED SF) at the National Training Center. Highlighting insights on how they prepared for this rotation, what worked and what did not work for their Detachment, and their biggest take-aways from the rotation.

CPT Sinclair and MSG Gatewood have the distinct honor of being the first non-Burro Team members to be guests on the podcast and the Off the Radar team thank them for their time, dedication to the profession, and willingness to help improve the force through attending a Combat Training Center (CTC) rotation and sharing their lessons learned.

This episode covers:

- the risk and potential rewards of not bringing enablers with the maneuver force; cost analysis on enablers and capabilities depending on mission set and area of operations

- balancing mission accomplishment and survivability

- thoughts on SF in LSCO prior to the rotation versus thoughts after the rotation

- tactical targets versus operational or strategic targets; what types of missions and targets are appropriate for SOF and what is appropriate for conventional maneuver forces

- recommendations for preparing for a CTC rotation

- recommendations for ways to improve REDSOF

- lessons learned from an SFOD-A leadership team; SOF in LSCO and MDO, working with a conventional force and partner force; refreshing the basics especially planning

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

Opposing Force: REDSOF at NTC Part 1 (Ep. 10) Oct 03, 2024

This is the first part of a two-part conversation with CPT John Sinclair and MSG Wes Gatewood discussing Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha’s (SFOD-A) conducting Opposing Force or RED Force operations against a US Army Brigade Combat Team Augmented by US Army Special Operations Forces in a Large Scale Combat Training scenario across all domains (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC).

This episode covers:

- Preparing for REDSOF rotation at home station

- Highlighting the importance of training the fundamental / basics

- Integrating with 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment “Black Horse” and Task Force Reaper

- What functions can REDSOF leverage from TF Reaper: Intel, Fires, Information Operations, Electronic Warfare

- Working by, with, and through a partner force; partnered leadership and soldiers; role players filling other roles

- Value of NTC; training on intelligence cycle, targeting cycling, visualization of the battlefield, mission command, forecasting operations, and developing commander’s intent

- Training against a live free-thinking enemy and having to adjust to the battlefield as it changes

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

SOF CA at NTC Part 3 (Ep. 9) Sep 26, 2024

This is the third and final part of a three-part conversation with CPT Grant Cook discussing Special Operations Forces (SOF) Civil Affairs (CA) Teams and Civil Military Operations Centers (CMOC) conducting training in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) across multi-domains at the National training Center (NTC) and across Combat Training Centers (CTCs).

CPT Grant Cook shares his experiences and observations on how best to approach a CTC rotation as a SOF CA professional. Through describing his personal experiences in both training and real-world operations; Grant illuminates how SOF CA is organized, how SOF CA functions operationally on its own and with Special Forces and Psychological Operations, and what SOF CA does for the Joint Force.

CPT Grant Cook recently finished his tour at the National Training Center as the lead Observer Coach / Trainer (OC/T) for Special Operations Forces Civil Affairs. As the lead SOF CA OC/T Grant took part in 6 rotations at the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center coaching and mentoring CA teams, CMOCs, and SF AOB leadership and staff from across US Army Special Operations Command.

This episode covers:

- Differences between SOF CA and conventional CA

- directive 2000.13, directs al commanders to conduct civil affairs

- USASOC authorities 525-38 Civil Military Engagement directive

- Understanding what roles SOF CA and convention CA but recognizing that when you’re the only CA element at the point on the battlefield, you need to able to full either role

- Value of the CTC when it comes to training the human and information dimensions

- SOF CA and SOF PSYOP integration

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

SOF Psychological Operations at NTC Part 2 (Ep. 8) Sep 20, 2024

This is the second part of a two-part conversation with CPT Eric Plummer discussing Special Operations Forces (SOF) Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Teams conducting training in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) across multi-domains at the National training Center (NTC) and across Combat Training Centers (CTCs).

CPT Eric Plummer shares his experiences and observations on how best to approach a CTC rotation as a SOF PSYOP professional. Through describing his personal experiences in both training and real-world operations; Eric illuminates how SOF PSYOP is organized, how SOF PSYOP functions operationally on its own and with Special Forces and Civil Affairs, and what SOF PSYOP does for the Joint Force.

CPT Eric Plummer is a seasoned Observer Coach / Trainer (OC/T) at the National Training Center. He serves as the lead OC/T for Special Operations Forces Psychological Operations. As the lead SOF PSYOP OC/T Eric has taken part in 8 rotations at the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center coaching and mentoring PSYOP teams and Detachments, and SF AOB leadership and staff from across US Army Special Operations Command.

This episode covers:

- Value proposition of PSYOP at CTCs especially NTC

- PSYOP integration with SF Company staff / non-kinetic targeting

- Authorities and permissions competition vs conflict

- SOF PSYOP integration with Conventional PSYOP (USACAPOC)

- Staff approval process and HICOM injects (or lack thereof)

- Measures of performance and effectiveness; and how to gauge those

- PSYOP’s role in LSCO

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.

Production, editing, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

SOF Civil Affairs at NTC Part 2 (Ep. 7) Sep 12, 2024

This is the second part of a three-part conversation with CPT Grant Cook discussing Special Operations Forces (SOF) Civil Affairs (CA) Teams and Civil Military Operations Centers (CMOC) conducting training in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) across multi-domains at the National training Center (NTC) and across Combat Training Centers (CTCs).

This episode covers:

- How Observe Coach / Trainer approach coaching and mentoring Civil Affairs Teams

- What a CAT / CMOC experiences during a CTC rotation leading up to the rotation and once they hit the ground

- CA building rapport and demonstrating value to the AOB Leadership and PSYOP team

- Recommendation on prioritization of action for CA upon training scenario starting

- Examples of how civil reconnaissance plays an important role in the whole of ARSOF’s understanding of the operational environment

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

Special Operations Psychological Operations at NTC (Ep. 6) Sep 06, 2024

This is the first part of a two-part conversation with CPT Eric Plummer discussing Special Operations Forces (SOF) Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Teams conducting training in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) across multi-domains at the National training Center (NTC) and across Combat Training Centers (CTCs).

This episode covers:

- Eric describes his personal experiences in PSYOP and the Army

- How PSYOP achieves dominance in the information dimension both in real-world operations and in training

- PSYOP integration in the ARSOF Tribes

- Regional versus Tactical PSYOP alinement structure

- PSYOP task organization and home-station training

- What the information environment looks like at the National Training Center

- How to prepare for an upcoming rotation at the National Training Center

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.

Production, editing, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

Special Operations Civil Affairs at NTC (Ep. 5) Aug 29, 2024

This is the first part of a three-part conversation with CPT Grant Cook discussing Special Operations Forces (SOF) Civil Affairs (CA) Teams and Civil Military Operations Centers (CMOC) conducting training in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) across multi-domains at the National training Center (NTC) and across Combat Training Centers (CTCs).

This episode covers:

- How SOF CA is Task Organized and roles: Civil Affairs Teams, Civil Military Operations Centers, Company

- The COMREL formal and informal that SOF CA typically works under operationally

- Overview of the Military Occupation Specialties on a Civil Affairs Team

- CA is preventative medicine, doing your job throughout competition, crisis, and conflict

- Value of CA participating in Combat Training Centers

Please like, subscribe, comment 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.

Production, editing, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

Beyond the Battlefield: Special Forces Training Innovations the National Training Center Pt 2 (Ep. 4) Aug 16, 2024

This is part two of a two-part conversation with MAJ Michael Hitzner discussing Special Forces (SF) Companies (AOBs) and Teams (ODAs) conducting training in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) across multi-domains at the National Training Center (NTC). He shares his extensive experience and observations on how best to approach a Combat Training Center (CTC) rotation and what he has learned from his time here at NTC.

MAJ Hitzner recently finished his two-year tour at the National Training Center, spending a year as the Special Operations Training Detachment AOB-West Operations Officer/Exercise Control. Then his final year as the Officer in Charge of AOB-W. During this time, he conducted over 12 rotations, at NTC, JRTC, and JPMRC, observing and coaching SF AOBs and ODAs.

This episode covers:

- How training for LSCO prepares you for competition missions

- Should NTC or a CTC be used a certification / validation event or a pre-mission training (PMT)?

- A recommendation for using a CTC as a certification / validation event.

- When AOBs and Teams should start to prepare for a CTC rotation.

- How to approach multi-domain operations, including suggested enablers to have with you

- How tactical SOF actions effect the operational and strategic levels

Please like, subscribe, comment 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.

Production, editing, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

Beyond the Battlefield: Special Forces Training Innovations the National Training Center Pt 1 (Ep.3) Aug 02, 2024

This is the first part of a two part conversation with MAJ Michael Hitzner discussing Special Forces (SF) Companies (AOBs) and Teams (ODAs) conducting training in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) across multi-domains at the National Training Center (NTC). He shares his immense experience and insights on how best to approach a Combat Training Center (CTC) rotation and what he has learned from his time here at NTC.

MAJ Hitzner recently finished his two year tour at the National Training Center, spending a year as the Special Operations Training Detachment AOB-West Operations Officer/Exercise Control, then his final year as the Officer in Charge of AOB-W. During this time he conducted over 12 rotations observing and coaching SF AOBs and ODAs.

This episode covers:

- Difference between home-station training and training at NTC

- The value of SF AOBs and ODAs conducting a rotation at NTC

- The unique and expansive resources that are brought in for a rotation at NTC

- Where and how SF AOBs integrate with conventional forces

- The focus of ARSOF training at NTC on the AOB and the value that SFOD-As receive from NTC

- What it takes to survive and operate in the desert

Please like, subscribe, comment 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.

Production, editing, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

Army Special Operations Insights: Training for Large Scale Combat at NTC Pt 2 (Ep. 2) Jul 19, 2024

This is the conclusion of the interview with MSG Steven Connor focusing on what Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) can gain from training at the National Training Center (NTC).

In this episode we discuss:

- Lessons learned from current real world conflicts

- What winning and loosing at NTC look like

- Working by, with, and through partnered forces both US and host nation

- How training for Large Scale Conflict Operations (LSCO) helps ARSOF prepare for operations during competition / operations other than conflict

- Training staff functions at the Detachment and Company level

- Whether or not MSG Connor would volunteer to bring his future SF Company to NTC for a rotation

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

To provide feedback please look up the host, CPT Rich, on global and send an email.

Please like, subscribe, comment 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.

Production, editing, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

Army Special Operations Insights: Training for Large Scale Combat at NTC Pt 1 (Ep. 1) Jul 05, 2024

In this debut episode of Off the Radar the Special Operations Training Detachment podcast. We discuss the value proposition of Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) training Large Scale Conflict Operations (LSCO) in support of Conventional Forces. CPT Weston Rich interviews MSG Steven Connor to discuss how training at the National Training Center (NTC) and other Combat Training Centers (CTCs) prepares ARSOF units for LSCO and for operations across the full spectrum of operations. Topics covered during this episode: -Is ARSOF prepared for the next conflict? -How does ARSOF train for the next conflict? -Describe what a NTC is/isn’t. -Role of an observer, coach, trainer. -Describe key differences and similarities between LSCO and COIN. -What can ARSOF get at NTC they can’t get elsewhere? There is no other training environment that has this dynamic, challenging, and near real-world as the National Training Center. In the next episode we will take a deeper look at incorporating real world lessons learned from current conflicts, success at NTC, and more.

Please like, subscribe, comment 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.

Production, editing, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

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