This is part two of an episode focused on rotation 25-06 at the National Training Center where 7th SFG (A) sent 3 SF Soldiers to serve as the Special Operation Forces Liaison Element (SOFLE). This was not a typical rotation but still enabled Special Operation Forces – Conventional Forces Integration Interoperability and Interdependence. SOF builds mass and produces outsized effects from it’s formation size. This is true even from a SOFLE, demonstrating credibility and value to the conventional force. About the Guest: MAJ Matthew Song: Served at a Lieutenant with 10th Mountain Division before becoming Special Forces. Served as a Detachment Commander in 1st BN, 1st SFG (A) in Okinawa, Japan and as a SF Company Commander in 2nd BN, 1st SFG (A) in Joint Base Lewis McChord. Sent the last year as the SOTD AOB-W “Burro Team” exercise control director and J3, his next assignment is the Burro Team OIC. About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is the of SOF Plans Chief 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 are the DIV and BDE CDR focused on? BDE CDR – combining arms in the close fight; DIV CDR – providing intelligence, integrating fires, forecasting logistics; SOF fits neatly into the priorities of the DIV CDR

- SOF holistically can answer the mail for the CJSOTF CDR and DIV CDR simultaneously through multi-layered mutually supporting lines of effort

- SOFLE must understand what Command level cares about what information at what time

- SOF provides the most value to the Joint Force through focusing efforts on DIV level objectives and targeting; SOF actions have limited effects on BDE close fight

- SOF is interdependent on conventional forces for logistics and medical support

- BDE become comfortable to conduct kinetic fires on behalf of SOF when SOF requested fires with non-standard observations

- SOFLE splitting between BDE TOC and TAC, managing communications equipment and personnel between multiple footprints

- SOFLE SITREP enabled AOB and SOTF to understand situation and communicate requirements

- Sharing Common Operating Picture; SOFLE used digital COP to share BDE information to AOB, manpower is critical to maintain these multiple systems and must be balanced with other demands 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

This is part one of an episode focused on rotation 25-06 at the National Training Center where 7th SFG (A) sent 3 SF Soldiers to serve as the Special Operation Forces Liaison Element (SOFLE). This was not a typical rotation but still enabled Special Operation Forces – Conventional Forces Integration Interoperability and Interdependence. SOF builds mass and produces outsized effects from it’s formation size. This is true even from a SOFLE, demonstrating credibility and value to the conventional force. About the Guest:

MAJ Matthew Song: Served at a Lieutenant with 10th Mountain Division before becoming Special Forces. Served as a Detachment Commander in 1st BN, 1st SFG (A) in Okinawa, Japan and as a SF Company Commander in 2nd BN, 1st SFG (A) in Joint Base Lewis McChord. Sent the last year as the SOTD AOB-W “Burro Team” exercise control director and J3, his next assignment is the Burro Team OIC. About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is the of SOF Plans Chief 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:

- Informing for the force via this podcast, USASOC lessons learned, and written After Action Reviews

- SOFLE – what capabilities need to be in that element and the type of personnel to consider

- Producing SOF actions through constructed / simulated effects since there was no live SOF elements taking part on the ground during the rotation

- Communications architecture for SOFLE to communicate with higher SOF headquarters and how to interplays with conventional communications

- Digital force protection considerations, inclusion in the written AARs, camouflage

- Building systems that can survive in a comms denied environment, through use of a TACSOP

- SOFLE can integrate with the CF BDE and assist in their military decision-making process and get SOF capabilities to the forefront of CF CDR’s mind, feeding the BDE’s OODA loop

- Understanding command relationships, SOFLE is a coordinating relationship; SOFLE must monitor operations, coordinate, advise, and assist the conventional force; beyond those duties SOFLEs should build rapport, demonstrate creditably, and provide value 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

This is part 2 of a 2-part of the collaboration with Pineland Underground podcast where MAJ Maicke and SFC Coach interview MAJ Ficken, CPT Rich, and SFC Wade of Burro Team, the SOF Observer Coach Trainer team at the National Training Center. This interview focused on training combat ready and lethal Special Operations Forces highlighting the value of training at a Combat Training Center through lessons learned and describing trends observed by OC/Ts. Additionally, giving insight in ways to prepare for a rotation, what Large Scale Combat in a Multi-Domain environment might look like, and more. Off the Radar thanks PU and USAJFKSWC for supporting SOTD’s push to educate and inspire the force. About the Guest:

MAJ Phil Ficken commissioned into the Infantry and found his way to Special Forces. He served in 5th SFG (A) with operational experiences in CENTCOM as SOF and conventional. MAJ Ficken has overseen 12 ARSOF rotations at NTC and JRTC. CPT Weston Rich commissioned into the Infantry later switching to Special Forces. He served in 1st SFG (A) and worked at NTC as both an OC/T and SOF planner. Weston has operational experience in INDOPACOM and CENTCOM with SOF and conventional forces. SFC Keith Wade is a Team Sergeant OC/T for Burro Team. He is an 18C Engineer Sergeant from 1st SFG (A) and has operational experience in INDOPACOM and CENTCOM. Keith has served on multiple SFOD-As and as a sniper instructor for 1st SFG (A). About the Hosts:

MAJ James Maicke commissioned in the Infantry then became Special Forces serving in 3rd SFG (A) as a CPT and 5th SFG (A) as a MAJ. He has served in multiple theaters both in the conventional and SOF. He is currently finishing his time as a Special Operations Recruiter. SFC Clay Coash is currently a Psychological Operations Senior Leader’s Course instructor. He has operational experience in multiple theater across the world. Prior to being a PSYOP NCO, Clay served in the Marine Corps during the 1990s and during a break in service as a country radio DJ. This episode covers:

- Comparing CTCs for ARSOF training value to the ARSOF Training Center at WSMR, NM; biggest difference is CTCs have dedicated OPFOR, larger backside support

- SOF training enables creativity through allowing SOF units to choose from multiple training venues and methods: including RMT

- ARSOF units train outside of CTC training areas: conducting infrastructure assessments, simple sabotage, influence operations, etc.

- Basics: off site comms shots, terrain masking, shoot, move, communicate, sustain, medicate, principles of patrolling; vehicle load out SOPs, camouflage, rehearsals on maneuver, planning, etc; integrating fires (call for fire), issuing guidance

- Lessons learned and trends: understanding digital force protection, teams improve over time, simple tasks become harder as rotation goes on and fatigue sets in, understanding the environment and taking prudent risks

- Doing the hard right over the easy wrong, make decisions that make tactical sense and don’t hit the easy button

- Understanding environment and what is required in that environment and how to best maneuver

- Don’t get compliance or get comfortable, that is what gets Soldiers killed

- Successes at NTC: long range dismounted winter mountain movement, tandem free fall infiltration of Space Soldier, drone grenade drops, passing control of loitering munition, downed drone example of synchronizing SOF and CF to mutually support each other

- ARSOF trains as the opposing force every rotation

- CTCs provides training on SOF-CF I3 to help conventional force and SOF understand each other and aid in recruiting future ARSOF Soldiers 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

This is part 1 of a 2-part of the collaboration with Pineland Underground podcast where MAJ Maicke and SFC Coach interview MAJ Ficken, CPT Rich, and SFC Wade of Burro Team, the SOF Observer Coach Trainer team at the National Training Center. This interview focused on training combat ready and lethal Special Operations Forces highlighting the value of training at a Combat Training Center through lessons learned and describing trends observed by OC/Ts. Additionally, giving insight in ways to prepare for a rotation, what Large Scale Combat in a Multi-Domain environment might look like, and more. Off the Radar thanks Pineland Underground and USAJFKSWC for supporting SOTD’s push to educate and inspire the force. About the Guest: MAJ Phil Ficken commissioned into the Infantry and found his way to Special Forces. He served in roles from Detachment Commander, AOB Commander, and Staff Officer in 5th SFG (A) with operational experiences in CENTCOM as SOF and conventional. MAJ Ficken served as Burro Team’s J3 for one year and as the OIC for one year overseeing over 12 ARSOF rotations at NTC and JRTC. CPT Weston Rich commissioned into the Infantry later switching to Special Forces. He served as a Detachment Commander in 1st SFG (A) and worked at NTC as both an OC/T and SOF planner. Weston has operational experience in INDOPACOM and CENTCOM with SOF and conventional forces. SFC Keith Wade is a Team Sergeant OC/T for Burro Team. He is an 18C Engineer Sergeant from 1st SFG (A) and has operational experience in INDOPACOM and CENTCOM. Keith has served on multiple SFOD-As and as a sniper instructor for 1st SFG (A). About the Hosts: MAJ James Maicke commissioned in the Infantry then became Special Forces serving in 3rd SFG (A) as a CPT and 5th SFG (A) as a MAJ. He has served in multiple theaters both in the conventional and special operations. He is currently finishing his time as a Special Operations Recruiter. SFC Clay Coash is currently a Psychological Operations Senior Leader’s Course instructor. He has operational experience in multiple theater across the world. Prior to being a PSYOP NCO, Clay served in the Marine Corps during the 1990s and during a break in service as a country radio DJ. This episode covers:

- SOTD task organization, role of an OC/T and value of training at a CTC

- Interoperability of SOF with CF and partners forces (PF) through shared training experiences

- LSCO: CF against a peer/near peer advisory of equivalent size and how SOF fits into these operations by deep sensing, targeting high priority targets, and enable MDO in the Division deep areas by with and through partners

- CTCs: 10 rotations a year, 8 focused on Brigade and SOF Companies, 1 focused on Division level and SOF Battalion (SOTF), and 1 focused on SOF Group leave (CJSOTF)

- Training the basics: teams that do the most planning and preparation are the most successful; be off natural lines of drift, camouflage, use micro terrain, principles of maneuver are the same mounted or dismounted

- Trends: over reliance on phones / ATAK for planning or communicating, analog products increase shared understanding

- Don’t train PF on unsustainable platform (weapon system, planning system, etc). Use what the PF as accessible

- Understanding the operational environment and adversary’s capabilities, night vision, thermals, sensors of all kinds, etc

- SOF integration with PF and role players, PF plays as host nation forces and role players are that unit’s leadership; role players fulfilling roles in the host nation government, as local civilians, etc

- SOF integration with CF happens at the AOB level and through a liaison element at the Brigade 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

This is part 1 of a 2-part of the collaboration with WarDocs podcast where MSgt (R) Steve Cum and COL (R) Doug Soderdahl interview SFC Mondrian Bogert. This interview focuses on Special Operations Medical training, specifically Special Forces, at the Combined Training Centers: The National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). Combat medicine saves lives and requires non-medics as well as medics. From care under fire through evacuation the skills, equipment, and knowledge needed to be successful at treating patients and getting your fellow service members home. About the Guest:

SFC Mondrian Bogert: Mo is a Special Forces 18D or medical sergeant. He served in the 82nd Airborne as an infantryman prior to graduating the SF Qualification Course. He served as a medical sergeant in 10th SFG (A) conducting multiple training and operations in EUCOM. Mo has nearly 2 years of experience as an SF Observer Coach, Training with over a dozen rotations at NTC and JRTC overseeing multiple medical scenarios including MASCAL and prolonged causality care. This episode covers:

- Partner force treatment and transportation, dilemma when to stop treatment on a patient to conserve resources for patients that can be care for

- Non-standard CASEVAC examples: use of partner force, use of civilian networks, use of non-medical transportation asset at risk of losing that asset

- Actions to take when you cannot get to friendly lines, find alternative means to treat patients including locations to hold and care for patient

- Understand all options to accomplish a task such as CASEVAC, create a PACE for transport and understand risks and consequences for using each of those options

- Non-medics providing assistance to medics: understanding Care Under Fire = priority security and massing fires, Tactical Combat Casualty Care = knowing MARCH and how to conduct interventions until 18D is available take and record vitals, understand when to stay out of the 18Ds way, familiarity with medical equipment and interventions

- Medical cross training is paramount so all Soldiers are prepared to execute combat trauma medicine, this includes understanding where equipment is in an aide bag, truck box, prolonged care bag, etc.

- Replication of wounds from indirect fire, small UAS, airborne munitions, RAID

- Challenge the SOF medics to motivate them to leave the CTC with a desire to self-study and cross train their Detachment to be more combat ready

- Resilience is extremely important for combat medics, ability to be calm in a stressful situation, grit to not quit and push through for your team, being mentally prepared for those situations beforehand

- Flexibility and foresight: being able to forecast what medical equipment is needed and flexible enough to execute with what you have on hand

- Integration with conventional forces and plan for tactical ground CASEVAC with link up with conventional M113s at a predetermined Ambulance Exchange Point

- Field expeditated medicine 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

This is part 1 of a 2-part of the collaboration with WarDocs podcast where MSgt (R) Steve Cum and COL (R) Doug Soderdahl interview SFC Mondrian Bogert. This interview focuses on Special Operations Medical training, specifically Special Forces, at the Combined Training Centers: The National Training Center (NTC) and Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). Combat medicine saves lives and requires non-medics as well as medics. From care under fire through evacuation the skills, equipment, and knowledge needed to be successful at treating patients and getting your fellow service members home. About the Guest:

SFC Mondrian Bogert: Mo is a Special Forces 18D or medical sergeant. He served in the 82nd Airborne as an infantryman prior to graduating the SF Qualification Course. He served as a medical sergeant in 10th SFG (A) conducting multiple training and operations in EUCOM. Mo has nearly 2 years of experience as an SF Observer Coach, Training with over a dozen rotations at NTC and JRTC overseeing multiple medical scenarios including MASCAL and prolonged causality care. This episode covers:

- Depth of training for a Special Forces Medic (18D) compared to a conventional Combat Medic (68W), 68Ws learn trauma care to get patient to higher care; 18Ds are trained in trauma care, to prolong care, and conduct preventive care

- Wound sets 18Ds can handle and how that is trained at the CTCs, multi-system trauma, burns (electrical, chemical, or thermal), head injuries, unstable patients

- 18Ds are trained to be medical managers and cross train their team, the Detachment members conduct the treatment and inventions on the patient while the 18D manages the overall care

- Prolonged causality care scenarios: important skills to extend care 24-72 hours, early vitals tracking and watching signs and symptoms; this should be accomplished by the non-18Ds on the team and managed by the 18Ds; and understanding mechanism of injury

- Integration of Telemedicine into CTCs: telemedicine is available but not dictated as a requirement, helps break out from subjectivity of treatment of patient

- Vital trends lead medical professionals to diagnoses which leads to treatment plans

- Interoperability of medics from joint force especial joint SOF medics; this is limited at CTCs to when joint SOF elements attend CTCs which is not often; most joint SOF medics attend same medical training as 18Ds but not all

- USSOCOM Directive 350-29 SOF standards of SOF medical interoperable for the joint force

- Requirement to explain to the conventional force what a SOF medic provides to demonstrate value to the conventional force, cross training on medicine with conventional forces including 68Ws 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

This is part 2 of a 2-part interview focused on the Targeting Process and Joint Fires. Targeting is not only a means for putting indirect fire or air support onto a specific target at a specific time. Targeting is a holistic approach to bring effects at the right time and place to achieve a desired outcome. This includes lethal and non-lethal as well as kinetic and non-kinetic means to effect the enemy or the civil component. The outcome of the targeting process is used to drive operations and move personnel, equipment, and or capabilities to the right location at the right time to achieve the desired endstate. The Targeting Process and integration of Joint Fires is trained in a Multi-Domain Large Scale Combat scenario at the Combat Training Centers to prepare Special Operation and the Army for the first battle of the next war.

About the Guest:

SFC Dillion Luedtke: Dillion grow up watching his father, an Airborne Artilleryman, deploying multiple times, ultimately leading Dillion to seek out a life of service as well with a passion for the Airborne and fires community leading him to Special Forces. Dillion is an 18C Engineer SGT with training in Joint Firepower Course and Joint Fires and Effects Course. Dillion has operational experience in CENTCOM and AFRICOM with 3rd SFG (A).

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:

- Joint targeting: land, air, maritime, and SOF components work together to allocate resources to targets in time and space with specific desired effects; this process can be replicated at the Detachment level

- Convergence windows: Joint/conventional force identifies time and space on battlefield for each supporting effort to execute operation to support main effort

- D3A: decide, detect, deliver, assess: SOF adds value in the assessment phase by being able to provide collateral damage or battle damage assessments, or confirm those assessments, including CA and PSYOPs roles

- Challenges for ARSOF regarding targeting and fires, generally SF AOBs target working groups do not have all ideal elements integrated into the targeting process, needs to at a minimum have all war fighting functions represented

- Requesting fires at the appropriate time and place with the right resources to mitigate risk to mission and force

- Consider sustainability for elements providing fire or air support

- Understanding the enemy MLCOA and MDCOA when desired effects occur, will the terrain you are on be targeted by enemy as suspected FO position

- ARSOF must integrate as early as possible with conventional and joint force, building rapport and being seen as a team member

- Prepare for CTCs and improve understanding of targeting by reading doctrine, send people to get institutionally trained

- Building relationships with conventional forces, air component and maritime components to develop training opportunities

- targeting includes all domains: air, land, maritime, cyber, and space

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

This is part 1 of a 2-part interview focused on the Targeting Process and Joint Fires. Targeting is not only a means for putting indirect fire or air support onto a specific target at a specific time. Targeting is a holistic approach to bring effects at the right time and place to achieve a desired outcome. This includes lethal and non-lethal as well as kinetic and non-kinetic means to effect the enemy or the civil component. The outcome of the targeting process is used to drive operations and move personnel, equipment, and or capabilities to the right location at the right time to achieve the desired endstate. The Targeting Process and integration of Joint Fires is trained in a Multi-Domain Large Scale Combat scenario at the Combat Training Centers to prepare Special Operations and the Army for the first battle of the next war. About the Guest:

SFC Dillion Luedtke: Dillion grow up watching his father, an Airborne Artilleryman, deploying multiple times, ultimately leading Dillion to seek out a life of service as well with a passion for the Airborne and fires community leading him to Special Forces. Dillion is an 18C Engineer SGT with training in Joint Firepower Course and Joint Fires and Effects Course. Dillion has operational experience in CENTCOM and AFRICOM with 3rd SFG (A). 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. This episode covers:

- How a Detachment conducts the targeting process, who is involved, who should be involved, what is the outcome of the targeting process

- Differences in SOF targeting since the end of the Global War on Terror and what the future looks like; SOF no longer main effort and now is supporting effort for Division / Corps; dynamic targeting will not be the norm; airspace will be denied or contested

- Understanding the High Priority Target List for the Div/Corps or Joint components (land, air, or maritime components)

- HATS: High Priority Target List, Attack Guidance Matrix, Target Selection Standards, Target Synch Matrix (using Decide Detect Deliver, Assess methodology)

- Base principles and fundamentals learned from training and previous operations still apply to Multi-Domain Large Scale Combat Operations

- Div/Corps work off 96 hour targeting cycle – assess execution of day prior, delivering / executing effects for day of, conducting conditions checks for tomorrow, 48 hours out they are doing meat and potatoes of targeting and product making (detect), 72-96 hours out target nominations based of HPTL (decide)

- SF Detachments infiltrate prior to conventional units and must be integrated with BDE/DIV/CORPS targeting process prior to infil so that the Detachments can nominate targets and prosecute targets prior to conventional forces infil

- How OC/Ts and role players coach Detachments to conduct bottom up targeting process, starts with Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield, developing Named Areas of Interest, analyzing HPTL and determining what is likely in their area of operations and what they can effect

- Theater Air Control System: method to request air component resources and request air assets in the Air Tasking Order, also working through BDE Aviation Element

- Targeting is not just kinetic / lethal it is also non-kinetic / non-lethal; requires analysis (i.e. CRAVER or other methodologies ); simple sabotage 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