The Crucible - The JRTC Experience Podcast

• 092 S01 Ep 32 – The Backbone of the Battlefield: Command Sergeants Major in Large-Scale Combat w/CSM Oracio Pena and CSM Michael Hall

  The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the ninety-second episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Task Force Senior for the BDE Command & Control (BCT HQ), LTC Timothy Price on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today’s guests are two senior command sergeants major, CSM Oracio Pena and CSM Michael Hall. CSM Pena is the Post Command Sergeant Major for the Joint Readiness Training Center. And CSM Hall is the former Command Sergeant Major of Operations Group (CSMOG) at the JRTC.   In this episode, delve into the critical role of Command Sergeants Major (CSMs) in large-scale combat operations (LSCO), emphasizing how their responsibilities have shifted significantly from previous counterinsurgency conflicts. Unlike the Global War on Terror (GWOT) era, where CSMs frequently engaged directly in tactical-level fights, LSCO demands that they operate at the brigade and division levels to ensure synchronization of sustainment, logistics, and mission execution. The discussion highlights how CSMs serve as key advisors to their commanders, focusing on maintaining operational tempo, enforcing discipline, and ensuring sustainment operations keep pace with maneuver elements. This episode stresses that effective CSMs must actively engage with their staff, understand logistical constraints, and provide mentorship to ensure that friction points—especially in sustainment and medical evacuation—are addressed before they become mission failures. A significant theme throughout the conversation is the importance of proactive leadership and presence. CSMs are not simply battlefield observers but are expected to shape unit culture, mentor leaders at echelon, and enforce standards that directly impact combat effectiveness. The episode underscores the need for CSMs to actively participate in staff planning, particularly during the military decision-making process (MDMP), rehearsals, and sustainment operations. Another key takeaway is the role of CSMs in refining unit training at home station to prepare soldiers for the scale and complexity of LSCO. The discussion concludes by emphasizing that CSMs must move beyond their traditional comfort zones, focusing less on small-unit leadership and more on the broader operational picture, ensuring their units remain combat-ready and function effectively within a larger joint and coalition force.   Part of S01 “The Leader’s Laboratory” series.   For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast   Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.   Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format.   Again, we’d like to thank our guests for participating. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.   “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.

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• 091 S01 Ep 31 – Planning in a Whirlwind - Myths, Realities, and the Need to Do Military Decision Making Process in Large Scale Combat Operations w/the JRTC BC2 Team

  The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the ninety-first episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the LTC Westly “West” LaFitte, the Brigade Executive Officer Observer-Coach-Trainer for Brigade Command & Control on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today’s guests are two other senior members of BC2, MAJ David Pfaltzgraff and MAJ Marc Howle. MAJ Pfaltzgraff is the BDE S-3 Operations OCT and MAJ Howle is the Senior Engineer / Protection OCT for BDE C2 (BDE HQ).   In this episode, we focus on the military decision-making process (MDMP) and the common pitfalls that units encounter when executing it during large-scale combat operations (LSCO). A central theme is the misconception that skipping or abbreviating MDMP steps saves time, when in reality, it creates gaps in mission analysis, weakens course of action (COA) development, and leads to incomplete wargaming. The discussion highlights how units often struggle due to a lack of experience, insufficient staff training, and the failure to apply MDMP rigorously before arriving at combat training centers (CTCs). The speakers emphasize that effective planning is not just about following doctrine but also about ensuring that the process remains disciplined and repeatable under stress. Additionally, they discuss the importance of parallel planning and how mismanaging transitions between planning and execution can derail operations.   The episode also explores the integration of staff members across warfighting functions to improve MDMP execution. It stresses that commanders must empower their staffs to conduct deliberate planning rather than relying on directed COAs that bypass critical analysis. A key takeaway is the role of noncommissioned officers in the planning process—often overlooked, their experience and tactical awareness are invaluable in refining mission details and ensuring feasibility. The conversation highlights the need for clear transition points between planning and current operations, ensuring that staff handoffs are seamless and do not disrupt tempo. Ultimately, the discussion underscores that MDMP is a leadership challenge requiring constant refinement, disciplined adherence to doctrinal steps, and a commitment to training at home station to build the repetitions necessary for success in LSCO.   Part of S01 “The Leader’s Laboratory” series.   For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast   Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.   Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format.   Again, we’d like to thank our guests for participating. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.   “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.

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• 090 S10 Ep 03 – Breaking Down the Battlefield: Intel’s Role in Targeting and Decision-Making within the Brigade Combat Team w/the JRTC Intel Team

  The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the ninetieth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Task Force Senior for the BDE Command & Control (BCT HQ), LTC Timothy Price on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today’s guests are three seasoned Observer-Coach-Trainers across the intelligence warfighting function at the JRTC. LTC Cory Reiter is the TF Senior of the Intelligence Task Force and senior OCT for the brigade intelligence staff section as well as any division echelon intelligence assets at the JRTC. He has over fourteen rotations as a TF Senior. MAJ Kassie Thompson mentors the brigade S-2 intelligence officer as part of the BDE Command & Control (BCT HQ) TF. CW2 Jon Delima is the BDE All-Source Analyst OCT for the BDE Command & Control (BCT HQ) TF.   In this episode, we delve into the critical role of military intelligence in large-scale combat operations (LSCO) and how the intelligence warfighting function supports commanders in decision-making. The discussion emphasizes the importance of intelligence support across four key tasks: force generation, situational awareness, targeting, and information collection. The shift in Army force structure, particularly the removal of brigade-level military intelligence companies and the redistribution of assets to division-level intelligence organizations, is explored in depth. This change presents new challenges for brigade and battalion S2 sections, forcing them to adapt to a leaner structure while maintaining effective intelligence processes. Additionally, we highlight the need for improved synchronization between intelligence and maneuver elements to ensure accurate assessments of enemy courses of action, targeting priorities, and operational planning. The conversation also addresses the importance of integrating intelligence efforts within the broader staff functions, ensuring that the S2 section does not operate in isolation but instead collaborates closely with fires, operations, and sustainment elements. The necessity of refining standard operating procedures (SOPs) and implementing rigorous home-station training for intelligence personnel is emphasized as a way to mitigate the impact of staff turnover and maintain continuity in planning processes. The episode stresses the significance of commander-to-intelligence officer relationships, ensuring that intelligence is presented in a way that informs and influences decision-making effectively. The discussion concludes with a focus on the evolving battlefield, the integration of intelligence assets from higher echelons, and the importance of timely, actionable intelligence in shaping battlefield success in LSCO.   Part of S10 “Out-Thinking the Enemy” series.   For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast   Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.   Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format.   Again, we’d like to thank our guests for participating. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.   “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.

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• 089 S05 Ep 02 – Sustainment as a Warfighting Function: Keeping Combat Power in the Fight w/Three JRTC Sustainers

  The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the eighty-ninth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by COL Ricky Taylor, the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today’s guests are three JRTC sustainers, LTC Bruce Roett, CPT Darrius Chisholm, and CPT Chad Lipe. LTC Roett is the Task Force Senior for the TF Sustainment (BSB / CSSB). CPT Chisholm is the Deputy Support Operations (SPO) OCT and CPT Lipe is the Forward Support Company OCT for TF-2 (IN BN).   In this episode we delve into the critical role of sustainment operations in large-scale combat operations, emphasizing the need for logisticians to adopt a combat mindset. We discuss the numerous sustainment and logistical challenges and best practices encountered during operations at the JRTC. Sustainers must integrate with maneuver units to ensure survivability and operational effectiveness. The panel explores lessons learned from Combat Training Center (CTC) rotations, stressing the importance of disciplined sustainment practices, from base cluster dispersion to signature management. Units are increasingly recognizing that LSCO differs significantly from counterinsurgency operations, necessitating a shift in sustainment posture. We also address how sustainment leaders are refining techniques to conceal logistics hubs, maintain operational security, and leverage combat service support assets effectively.   Another key topic is the synchronization of sustainment efforts with maneuver operations. We also highlight several best practices in logistics planning, the role of base clusters, and the integration of dig assets to enhance survivability. Communication challenges in sustainment operations are also a focal point, with insights into improving command and control (C2) across dispersed sustainment nodes. Additionally, the discussion covers medical evacuation planning and the importance of maintaining a well-structured casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) process to support prolonged combat engagements. Emphasis is placed on sustainment rehearsals, ensuring that sustainers operate as an integral part of the combined arms fight rather than a separate entity. Ultimately, the episode underscores that sustainment is not just about delivering supplies—it’s about ensuring that warfighters remain combat-effective in a highly contested environment.   Part of S05 “Beans, Bullets, Band-Aids, Batteries, Water, & Fuel” series.   For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast   Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.   Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format.   Again, we’d like to thank our guests for participating. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.   “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.

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• 088 S01 Ep 30 – Lessons Learned from Two Infantry Officers at the Maneuver Captain's Career Course w/CPT Wilson & 1LT Hoover

  The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the eighty-eighth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the MAJ(P) Westly “West” LaFitte, the Brigade Executive Officer Observer-Coach-Trainer for Brigade Command & Control on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today’s guests are two Infantry Officers at the Maneuver Captain's Career Course, CPT Joe Wilson and 1LT Jack Hoover.   The Maneuver Captains’ Career Course (MCCC or MC3), hosted by the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Moore, Georgia, is a 22-week program designed primarily for U.S. Army infantry and armor officers, with participants also including U.S. Marine Corps captains and officers from allied nations. The course’s mission is to equip these officers with the skills necessary for effective company command and to fulfill tactical planning duties as battalion S-3 operations staff officers. MCCC has its roots in the former Infantry and Armor Officer Advanced Courses, which prepared captains for command and staff roles within their respective branches. Since 2008, MCCC has merged these curricula into a unified “maneuver” focus, reflecting the integrated requirements of modern warfare. The course is organized into three teams, each led by a senior major and divided into 12 seminars of about 15 officers, guided by a senior captain or major. Offered six times annually, MCCC runs three classes concurrently, supporting a student body of approximately 400 to 600 officers at any given time.   In this episode, we discuss the role of infantry formations during large-scale combat operations. The discussion highlights the importance of preparing for LSCO by refining individual and unit-level competencies, particularly through rigorous training cycles leading up to CTC rotations. We emphasize the value of properly developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) at the platoon and company levels, ensuring that units arrive at training events with well-rehearsed systems rather than creating them on the fly. We also stress the necessity of fostering a mindset that embraces the challenges of JRTC or NTC as culminating events designed to validate training rather than as administrative burdens. Additionally, the conversation touches on the role of junior leaders in setting the tone for their formations, ensuring that battle drills, reporting procedures, and sustainment operations are ingrained long before units step onto a high-intensity training environment.   A significant portion of the discussion is dedicated to the staff experience and the importance of mastering the military decision-making process (MDMP) at the battalion and brigade levels. Our guests recount their initial challenges in grasping MDMP’s complexity, particularly from the perspective of sustainment and logistical planning. We highlight how exposure to staff processes at earlier stages in their careers, including serving as S4s or executive officers, provided them with invaluable insights into how different warfighting functions interact to support maneuver. The importance of pace planning, redundancy in communications, and maintaining a clear logistics picture were recurring themes, with examples of how failures in these areas created friction during their CTC rotations. We also discuss the need for self-development beyond formal education, encouraging peers to actively seek mentorship, read doctrine, and engage in professional discussions outside of duty hours to build a more holistic understanding of the battlefield.   Part of S01 “The Leader’s Laboratory” series.   For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast   Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center.   Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format.   Again, we’d like to thank our guests for participating. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.   “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.

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