The Operational Arch

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Government
**The Operational Arch**

The official podcast of the School of Advanced Military Studies, dedicated to bridging the gap between tactics and strategy through the study of operational art and the operational level of war.

Latest Episodes:

Deterrence w/ Dr. James Platte Jan 15, 2024

Show notes

The team speaks with Dr. James Platte about Deterrence Theory.

Counter-Punch Theory, w/ LTC Craig Broyles Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

LTC Broyles discusses his "Counter-Punch" Theory of warfare and how we can use it as a offensively minded, but defensively postured military force.

The subject of this episode was published in the November to December issue of Military Review. Check it out at the following link. https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/English-Edition-Archives/November-December-2023/Counterpunching-to-Win/

Guest Book Recommendation:

4th and Goal Every Day: Alabama's Relentless Pursuit of Perfection (Phil Savage, Ray Glier, et al)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34996158-4th-and-goal-every-day?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=Q48rgtEDpo&rank=1

Napoleon, Military versus Movies, w/ Dr. Jonathan Abel, Part 2 Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

We continue to explore the topic of Napoleon as a historical figure as well as our thoughts on the upcoming movie. If you have not listened to episode 18, we encourage you to do so before listening to this one. In this episode we discuss the movie and what we hope to see visualized for audiences. We also discuss the influences that Napoleon has had on modern operational thought, as well as the differences that the military finds itself in today's security environment. Book Recommendation:Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century (P.W. Singer)https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6098718-wired-for-warPodcast Recommendations:A Confused Heap of Facts (Dr Abel's Podcast) @ https://open.spotify.com/show/4umHPpMClIU6Oi6eGIKPMv Age of Napoleon @ https://open.spotify.com/show/6xbzk3HMnP0pRohjm6hBvzThe views and expressions heard here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of SAMS, the US Army or the US government.

Napoleon, Man & Myth, w/ Dr. Jonathan Abel, Part 1 Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

In today's episode we start our first of two episodes discussing Napoleon and some myths and beliefs about him as a military genius.

We discuss the rise of Napoleon and his actions as the leader of the French Military and the changes Napoleon implemented on the military.

Check out Dr. Abel's Podcast @ https://open.spotify.com/show/4umHPpMClIU6Oi6eGIKPMv

The views and expressions heard here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of SAMS, the US Army or the US government.

Future of Warfare with Dr. Daniel Cox Oct 15, 2023

Show notes

Today we have Doctor Dan Cox of SAMS, focused on the future of warfare, including future information warfare adaptations, the role of cost and emerging trends and capabilities, reemerging trends like trench warfare and implications for our future force.Dr. Cox's Books:Terrorism, Instability, and Democracy in Asia and Africa (Northeastern Series on Democratization and Political Development)Human Terrain Systems and the Moral Prosecution of WarfarePopulation-Centric Counterinsurgency: A False Idol? Stability Economics: The Economic Foundations of Security in Post-conflict Environmentshttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2959825.Dan_G_CoxBook Suggestions: Red Team Handbook: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50436277-the-red-team-handbook---the-army-s-guide-to-making-better-decisions?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=Vaa7l9G1aM&rank=1The Hundred-Year Marathon : Michael Pillsburyhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20696000-the-hundred-year-marathon?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=472MucSVFL&rank=1LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media: P.W. Singer, Emerson T. Brookinghttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38242140-likewar?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_7Networks of Rebellion: Paul Stanilandhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18848754-networks-of-rebellion?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_21The Logic of Violence in Civil War: Stathis N. Kalyvashttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/275420.The_Logic_of_Violence_in_Civil_War?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_17Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100: Michio Kakuhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8492907-physics-of-the-future?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_21Cyber Persistence Theory: Redefining National Security in Cyberspace: Michael P Fischerkeller, Emily O. Goldman, Richard J. Harknett, etc. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60371210-cyber-persistence-theory?ref=nav_sb_ss_2_13 The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity: Byron Reesehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35297413-the-fourth-age The J Curve: A New Way to Understand Why Nations Rise and Fall: Ian Bremmerhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/125226.The_J_Curve?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_11 The views and expressions heard here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of SAMS, the US Army or the US government.

Leading a Division into the Future Fight - MG Costanza Oct 01, 2023

Show notes

On Episode 16 of the Operational Arch, Major General Costanza provides insight and perspective for future division planners and discusses what he learned from his time leading the Third Infantry Division. When we discussed operational art, Major General Costanza highlighted the utility of time and space andfuture operations. We hope you enjoy the conversation

Book Recommendations

Paris, 1919: Six Months that Changed the World (Margaret MacMillan, Casey Hampton) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26348.Paris_1919

War Transformed (Mick Ryan) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59810166-war-transformed

Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Paul Scharre) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61089453-four-battlegrounds

The Russo-Ukrainian War: The Return of History (Serhii Plokhy) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63326676-the-russo-ukrainian-war

Mahan, Corbett, and the Foundations of Naval Strategic Thought (Kevin D. McCranie) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57141105-mahan-corbett-and-the-foundations-of-naval-strategic-thought

Airpower Reborn (John Andreas Olsen) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25365163-airpower-reborn

The views and expressions heard here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of SAMS, the US Army or the US Government.

Security Assistance and Foreign Military Sales with BG Nicholson Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

Security Assistance is a big topic to cover in 30 minutes. BG Nicholson provides comments on how the US does it, and how it applies to Operational Art. Covering topics from Foreign Military Sales to how do we recruit and retain talent.

Links to Book Recommendations:

Lakota America: A New History of Indigenous Power Pekka Hämäläinen

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44310208-lakota-america?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=VqTk7VxRkv&rank=1

Podcast: How I built this: The Tetris Company: Henk Rogers

(Link below to Spotify, but can be found on your favorite Podcast Platform)

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f66cfb2-1d79-4d4b-b9b1-ddbde6a77bcf/episodes/aadc6906-4381-49a9-9ef3-7dcf8329d1de/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz-the-tetris-company-henk-rogers

Passing the Torch: Season 2 Introduction Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

In this episode we say goodbye to last year's hosts, and introduce our new hosts. We also briefly go over what you as our listener can expect for content over the next year.

New Hosts: J.D. Corless, Active Duty Air Force

Tom Haydock, Army National Guard

Sheila Holder. Active duty Army Military

Brian Lander. active-duty Marine Officer

Jesse Valles, Army National Guard

Aaron Warren, Active-duty Space Force

Integrating Wargaming into Military Training w Mr. Sebastian Bae Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

Season 1, Episode 14 of the Operational Arch. This is part two of our conversation with guest Mr. Sebastian Bae where he talks about Wargaming and its utility to military planning and training. In this episode, Sebastian explains how to integrate board games into your units training. He also talks about the processes of incorporating moral, ethical, and diverse decision making into board game design. Mr. Bae is an adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Strategic Studies. He serves as the co-chair of the Military Operation Research Society (MORS) Wargaming Community of Practice. Formerly Sebastian served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps infantry and deployed to Iraq in 2009. He is the developer of the game Littoral Commander, and has been published in War on the Rocks, Strategy Bridge, Task and Purpose, The Diplomat, and Georgetown Security Studies Review. His professional focus is wargaming, emerging technologies, future warfighting concepts, and strategy and doctrine for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.Links to Mr. Bae’s Publications:- Put Educational Wargaming in the Hands of the Warfighter. https://shorturl.at/dqsGH - Promise Unfulfilled: A Brief History of Educational Wargaming in the Marine Corps. https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/JAMS_Fall2021_12_2_web.pdf - Forging Wargamers. https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/Forging%20Wargamers_web.pdf MAJs Josh Bedingfield, Kesley Kurtz, and Dan Warner are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have.School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_samsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/us.sams/Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield

Wargaming’s Utility in Military Planning w Mr. Sebastian Bae Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

Season 1, Episode 13 of the Operational Arch. This is part oneof our conversation with guest Mr. Sebastian Bae where he talks about Wargaming and its utility to military planning and training. Sebastian argues that Wargaming is useful as an educational tool, not necessarily as an outcome generator or simulator. Sebastian also talks about where and how he believes wargaming should be used in the military planning process and how scope and focus influence the creation of a board game.

Mr. Bae is an adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Strategic Studies. He serves as the co-chair of the Military Operation Research Society (MORS) Wargaming Community of Practice. Formerly Sebastian served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps infantry and deployed to Iraq in 2009. He is the developer of the game Littoral Commander, and has been published in War on the Rocks, Strategy Bridge, Task and Purpose, The Diplomat, and Georgetown Security Studies Review. His professional focus is wargaming, emerging technologies, future warfighting concepts, and strategy and doctrine for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.

Links to Mr. Bae’s Publications:

- Put Educational Wargaming in the Hands of the Warfighter. https://shorturl.at/dqsGH

- Promise Unfulfilled: A Brief History of Educational Wargaming in the Marine Corps. https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/JAMS_Fall2021_12_2_web.pdf

- Forging Wargamers. https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/Forging%20Wargamers_web.pdf

MAJs Josh Bedingfield, Kesley Kurtz, and Dan Warner are the hosts for this episode. You can contact them at operationalarch@gmail.com with any questions you may have.

School of Advanced Military Studies: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMS

Twitter: https://twitter.com/us_sams

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/us.sams/

Intro and Outro Music: "On and On" by Christian Bedingfield