Professional Military Education

This interview was a discussion with Olivia Garard. Olivia annotated and edited Carl von Clausewitz’s Theory of the Combat. This is a lesser-known work by the great Prussian military writer, who is best known for his book On War. In this work, we see where Clausewitz’s theories about tactics and combat took shape. Olivia’s Annotated Guide is meant to provide military thinkers with a useful tool to work through Clausewitz’s theories. She says reading Clausewitz is like a “mental field exercise.”  About Olivia: She served in the Marine Corps for six years as a UAS officer. She finished her service in the Marine Corps as a Captain. Prior to the Marine Corps, she received a BA from Princeton University and an MA from King’s College in London. She is a writer at War on the Rocks and at Strategy Bridge. The best way to keep up with her work is by following her on Twitter @teaandtactics.  In the interview, we discuss: Olivia’s motivation to join the Marines. How she became interested in Clausewitz Who is Clausewitz

My guest today is an infantry Master Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. He has led Marine infantry units on multiple combat deployments. Since he was a young Marine, he has been working on marksmanship and striving for weapons proficiency. We talk about his career from Marine Corps Weapons Training Battalion in Quantico, Virginia to Infantry Unit Leader’s Course (IULC) in Camp Pendleton, CA. Throughout his time in the operational forces and Marine Corps schoolhouses, MSgt Reilly has provided thousands of hours of instruction on marksmanship and trained thousands of Marine leaders and infantrymen.  Topics we cover include: How MSgt Reilly became interested in Marine Corps marksmanship and his experience in the Marine Corps The fundamentals of marksmanship How the Marine Corps marksmanship program evolved over the last two decades Breaking institutional ways of thinking and training for combat effectiveness We discuss different weapons systems and their evolution Ballistics and the science behind how

Dr. Victor Davis Hanson joins me to discuss the state of military education. Throughout the interview, we touch on a lot of issues from the current state of military readiness to the lack of military education in colleges and universities. Dr. Hanson is a military historian, classicist, and author of numerous books on military history. It was good to let him speak his mind on a variety of important topics. I appreciate his candor and willingness to share his insight that comes from a lifetime dedicated to studying history.  Key Topics include: How to get people interested in military history The importance of military history to understanding human nature Epaminondas and the downfall of Sparta A discussion of leaders to study including General Ulysses S. Grant and General William T. Sherman A discussion on the causes of war  Why is military history neglected by most colleges and universities? Dr. Hanson’s candid assessment of today’s military and the issues that it faces What the heck is postmodernism?  Boo

In this interview, I spoke with The Honorable Juan Zarate. The topic: Money!  Juan was the first-ever assistant secretary of the treasury for terrorist financing and financial crimes. We speak about his work at the Treasury Department in the post-9/11 period. During this time, Juan played a critical role in using the Treasury’s resources to go after terrorist financing. Additionally, the Treasury assisted in tracking down money that Saddam Hussein and his cronies had moved and hid outside of Iraq. Additionally, Treasury’s role became much more expansive beyond the Global War on Terror. In fact, we discuss how the Treasury became a much more formidable influencer of foreign policy against countries like Iran and North Korea. The legacy of these policy shifts continues to this day.  Key Topics include: Juan’s background and his work at the Treasury Department Historical examples of financial leverage being used tactically Treasury’s evolving role after 9/11 Pursuing terrorist financing and making it harder and

In this episode of the PME Podcast, I speak with General Robert Spalding (USAF- Ret.). General Spalding wrote a book called Stealth War: How China Took Over While America’s Elite Slept.  General Spalding’s knowledge of China stretches back to his early years as a Major in the Air Force when he lived and studied in China. In recent years, he served in the National Security Council (NSC) where he was the Senior Director for Strategy. His work at the NSC included crafting the 2017 National Security Strategy and initiatives on 5G technology to protect what General Spalding considers America’s most vital resource... data!   In this interview, we discuss a wide range of topics including: The nature of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and how their ideas of warfare span across the domains of politics, economics, higher education, technology, and communications. A look at the book Unrestricted Warfare published by two People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Colonels in the late 1990s  Why China advocates for an “open” econo

What are the chances that China invades Taiwan? Do they plan on invading soon? If so, how would they do it?  My guest is Ian Easton, the author of The Chinese Invasion Threat. In the interview, we talk at length about the possibility of a Chinese invasion. Ian is well-versed in the issue having spent many years living and studying in Taiwan. He possesses a wealth of knowledge. In his book, he dives deep into the details of what an invasion would look like. Among the many topics we cover are the following: The nature of Taiwan’s democratic government and advanced economy  The Chinese Civil War between the Communists and Nationalists that caused the current day split  How America’s diplomatic relations toward Taiwan evolved throughout the Cold War How equipped and ready is Taiwan to defend itself from an invasion The many domains in which China is seeking to lay the groundwork for an invasion Why an invasion is extremely difficult, and lessons learned from World War II How China under Xi Jinping was able to be

“Marine, get packed. You’re going to the field,” the Gunny says. The Marine shudders. The last time he went to the field his gear got wet and he spent days soaked and cold. When the rain stopped, the wind picked up, and he spent the night shivering so hard that he thought his teeth would fall out. On the final movement back to civilization, his pack dug into his shoulders and caused him to fall behind and the Company Gunnery Sergeant screamed at him to keep up or else... Back in the barracks, his feet remained blistered and he spent the weekend getting over an illness that he developed toward the tail end of the field op. This Devil Dog needs some guidance.  Going to the field can be daunting if one does not understand fieldcraft. Many infantry schools spend a lot of time in the field, but fieldcraft does not receive a lot of formal training. My guest, Staff Sergeant Skaggs, has spent years taking the best tips and techniques and compiling them into a useful “how-to” guide. He has consulted with dozens of Mar

In this two-part episode, I speak with LtCol Scott Cuomo (USMC). He is the author of an article that appeared in the Marine Corps Gazette called, Not Yet Openly at War, But Still Mostly at Peace. He wrote the article with a team of Marines that include: Captain Olivia Garard, Major Jeff Cummings, and LtCol Noah Spataro.   The purpose of the article was to re-think what the Marine Corps should be doing in 2019 and beyond. The co-author team suggests that the Marine Corps needs to implement a “new big idea.” The “big idea” looks beyond the Marine Corps’ historical mission of Joint Forcible Entry Operations (JFEO) through traditional amphibious assault.  LtCol Cuomo references a report that came out of the Senate Armed Services Committee and an article called “SASC Seeks Sweeping ‘Roles & Missions’ Report: Wither the Marines?”. This article served as a call to action to the Marine Corps to re-think their role in the modern defense era. We look at the Marine Corps’ mission in the context of the 2017 National

Robert Coram is the author of an excellent biography called American Patriot: The Life and Wars of Colonel Bud Day. Colonel Day is a larger than life figure. He is one of the most decorated veterans in American military history. This interview with Mr. Coram spans the course of Colonel Day’s life from his small-town upbringing in Iowa to his service as an Air Force pilot and prisoner of war (POW) in North Vietnam.  Colonel Day is best known for his time during the Vietnam War because he was shot down and imprisoned in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. In fact, he was roommates with the late Senator John McCain. The two men served as POWs for five years until their release in the Spring of 1973. As a result of his steadfast commitment to resisting and upholding the Code of Conduct, Colonel Day was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1976 by President Gerald Ford.  A recurring theme of Colonel Day’s legacy is honor. Colonel Day constantly repeated the phrase “return with honor” while being tortured by his Nort

Today’s guest is Lt. Col Thiele (USMC-Ret.). He is the co-author of 4th Generation Warfare Handbook, which he wrote with William (“Bill”) Lind.  In the interview, Lt. Col Thiele explains that while he was working as an instructor at the Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Warfighting School (EWS), he met Bill Lind, who introduced him to some of the ideas of 4th Generation Warfare. Together they began to collaborate on the 4th Generation Warfare Handbook.  Lt. Col Thiele mentions that he was motivated by the question, “What does victory look like?” He had this question after returning from deployment to Iraq where he saw that even though the violence was decreasing, the U.S. still seemed far from victory.  In the interview, Lt. Col Thiele focuses on the evolution of warfare through what he describes as three generations. The bulk of the fighting in the previous three generations occurred between state actors. That is nation state fought nation state. However, his theory is that in 4th Generation of Warfare, states wil

Today’s guest is Hampton Sides. He is the author of On Desperate Ground: The Marines at the Reservoir, the Korean War’s Greatest Battle.  The topic is the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. This battle took place in the Fall and Winter of 1950 during the Korean War. Marines were surrounded at the Chosin Reservoir by over 100,000 of Mao’s Red Army forces. With their backs to the wall and facing total annihilation, they fought back with tenacity and determination. The fighting took place in sub-zero temperatures on unforgiving terrain. The Chinese attacked the Marines at night with wave after wave of soldiers storming the Marines positions. The fighting became hand to hand quickly. Marines used knives, bayonets, canteens, and helmets to repel the Chinese attackers.  In the end the Marines and Allied forces were able to execute a withdrawal from the Chosin Reservoir. They were surrounded by an overwhelming force and against all odds managed to execute a complicate maneuver to avoid destruction.  In the interview, H

My guest is Dr. Leonard Wong a research professor at the U.S. Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute. In February 2015, he co-authored a paper with Stephen Gerras called “Lying to Ourselves: Dishonesty in the Army Profession.” The interview explores how a culture of “ethical laziness” has spread throughout military branches like the U.S. Army. The essential question is whether the Army system has eroded virtues like integrity. Dr. Wong argues that through overtasking and too many training requirements, military leaders will consciously report inaccuracies. But, is this malicious? Is it a new phenomenon? What can military leaders do now to recover the core values that make the profession of arms so widely respected? This conversation will stir a lot of passionate debates and emotions, but that is a good thing. I applaud Dr. Wong for taking on this topic. It will only challenge military leaders to think and improve our profession.  Be sure to follow Dr. Wong’s current and future work by finding him onli

In this interview, I talk to Sebastian Junger. Sebastian wrote Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging. Sebastian is also the author of The Perfect Storm, which was made into a major film. His films include the award-winning documentaries Restrepo and Korengal. Sebastian Junger began his career as a journalist in war town countries such as Bosnia and Afghanistan. Through his own struggles with PTSD and his study of units on the battlefield, Sebastian dives deep into what it is like for someone to return from war. What are the struggles of returning to modern society where life is easy, and people are separated from each other? How has the loss of community hurt veterans returning from battle?   Sebastian takes on difficult topics, and challenges us to think about issues related to the state of American society.   Be sure to check out Sebastian’s website: http://www.sebastianjunger.com/

MCDP1: Warfighting is four chapters, and the total length is around 100 pages. The book is affectionately termed a "two crapper", which means that a person can finish it in two-bathroom trips. Warfighting describes a way of thinking about war. It is not a checklist or a technical manual. It gives a mental framework that provides the basis for the Marine Corps’ conception of war. More importantly it is a launching point for future studies. Warfighting should be the starting point for further scholarship. It is simple to read and enjoyable. The themes and points of discussion in Warfighting could be discussed for many hours. In Part Two of this interview with Major Ian Brown, we dive into the specific chapters in MCDP1: Warfighting that include the nature of war, the theory of war, preparing for war, and the conduct of war. Maj Brown highlights many of the key themes of the book and reflects on the history and evolution of these themes. Check out the interview and share it!   For copies of Maj Brown’s book, A N

What is “maneuver warfare”? Who is Air Force Colonel John Boyd, who throughout the late 1970s and 1980s found a captive audience in the Marine Corps leadership? In Episode 11, Major Ian Brown discusses the evolution of the Marine Corps' doctrinal publication, MCDP-1: Warfighting. Furthermore, he focuses on the contribution of Air Force Colonel John Boyd, who developed a brief called “Patterns of Conflict.” This brief combined Boyd’s study of military history with his earlier technical development of Energy-Maneuverability (E-M) theory. The result was a transformational concept of warfare by maneuver, which the Marine Corps released in 1989 in a publication called “Fleet Marine Force Manual 1” (FMFM 1). FMFM 1 was later revised and updated under the direction of General Krulak, 31st Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1997, Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication 1 was published under the name Warfighting. Maj Brown wrote a book entitled, A New Conception of War: John Boyd, the U.S. Marines, and Maneuver Warfar

In episode 10 of the Professional Military Education podcast, we talk to B.A. Friedman, author of On Tactics: A Theory of Victory in Battle. The conversation focuses on tactics and its relationship to strategy. Mr. Friedman discusses what he calls the three tactical tenets- physical, mental, and moral. He discusses how he developed his theory of tactics, and how that theory can be applied by military thinkers.  Be sure to follow Mr. Friedman on Twitter @BA_Friedman Like On Tactics on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ontactics/  HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like this interview, and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. For any requests for additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com On Tactics: A Theory of Victory in Battle

In the following interview, Dr. Bruce Bechtol discusses the threat of North Korea. North Korea has made headlines for their ICBM tests and nuclear tests. We discuss the threat that they pose as well as dive into the details of their regime, their current leader, past provocations, weapons systems, and options that the U.S. and its allies have to deal with them. Dr. Bechtol is Associate Professor of political science at Angelo State University in Texas. He is a retired U.S. Marine, and wrote the lead article in the December 2016 edition of the Marine Corps Gazette. The article was called "A Marine's Guide to North Korea." North Korea Threat Synopsis We begin the interview discussing the current situation between the U.S. and North Korea. North Korea recently threatened to fire ICBMs at Guam. But, Kim Jong-un backed down... for now. Dr. Bechtol talks about the different types of missiles that the North Koreans have including Musadan, KN-08, and KN-14 missiles. The Washington Post reported North Korea's advancem

Dr. Kori Schake co-authored, "Restoring Our National Security", with Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis and James O. Ellis Jr. The chapter appeared in the book, Blueprint for America, which was published by Stanford Universities Hoover Institute. Dr. Schake is a professor of history at Stanford, and is a research fellow at the Hoover Institute. She also co-edited a book with Secretary Mattis called, Warriors and Citizens: American Views of our Military. Key Takeaways: Schake describes working with Secretary of Defense James Mattis. She says, "We are both argumentative." Dr. Schake claims that since meeting Secretary Mattis, they have had many long running debates specifically about the political composition of the Middle East. I asked Dr. Schake about her definition of strategy. She defines it as, "The way you connect political objectives to their execution. How you identify the means and array them so you have the highest likelihood of being able to carry out your objectives." Schake’s nephew Captain Barr

Sir Lawrence Freedman is Professor of War Studies at King’s College and the author of numerous books and publications to include Strategy: A History. In Episode 7 of the PME podcast, we talk about strategy. What is strategy and what it is not? We trace its historical roots, and discuss how traditional views of strategy still apply or do not apply to today’s conflicts and future conflicts. Additionally, Sir Lawrence Freedman was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1995 and awarded the CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in 1996. He was appointed Official Historian of the Falklands Campaign in 1997. He was awarded the KCMG (Knight Commander of St Michael and St George) in 2003. Finally, he was appointed in June 2009 to serve as a member of the official inquiry into Britain and the 2003 Iraq War.   Key Takeaways:  “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” -Mike Tyson •What is strategy? Strategy involves making decisions when faced with “other people with their own plans and interests.”

Jay Solomon is a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and the author of The Iran Wars: Spy Games, Bank Battles, and the Secret Deals That Reshaped the Middle East. In Episode 6 of the PME podcast, the history of the conflict between the U.S. and Iran is covered along with the events and negotiations that led to the nuclear agreement of July 2015. Mr. Solomon talks about how pressure was exerted on Iran to bring them to negotiate, and observes how the model of economic sanctions might be used against countries like North Korea. The interview also highlights the complexity of foreign policy in the Middle East. Mr. Solomon also talks about Iran’s use of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and their Quds force to achieve their strategic objectives.   Key Takeaways:  The U.S. historically supported Iran as an ally in the region against the Soviet Union. Iran is a Shiite dominated country. They view themselves as the historical great power in the region upholding the legacy of the Persian Empire. The Isla