The 13th Commander of US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) U.S. Army Gen. Bryan P. Fenton discusses the journey that brought him to Special Operations, USSOCOM’s priorities, People – Win – Transform, and his steadfast belief that USOCOM can achieve any mission "because of the people". Don't miss this season’s finale!

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Note: This episode was previously recorded January 21, 2023.

SOFcat host SGM Matt Parrish talks with Lt. Col. Chris Michele and Cpt. Ricky Garcia about the USSOCOM Ghost Program, a unique iniative under Special Operations Force's Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SOF AT&L) that bridges the gap between SOF operators and the acquistion power they need to accomplish their missions.

The Commander of SOCNORTH, Maj. Gen. Shawn R. Satterfield, discusses his unorthodox beginnings in Special Forces, how SOCNORTH is getting into the heads of our adversaries, the evolution of SOF training in the Arctic, and homeland defense. All that and more on this episode of SOFcast!

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*Since this recording Brig. Gen Satterfield was promoted to the rank of Major General.*

Climbing Mt. Everest wasn't enough for Special Forces SFC Jason Howell. He set out to do it without using any supplemental oxygen! From becoming a Marine to donning a Green Beret, running Ultra Marathons, and becoming a Special Forces mountaineering instructor, tackling the toughest things in life is just part of SFC Howell's ethos.

Find out how he approaches these physically and mentally challenging events and what really happened on the peak of the world's talles mountain! All that and more on this episode of SOFcast.

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USSOCOM welcomes back former Deputy Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, Retired Admiral Sean A. Pybus and his wife Patty. In this episode we discuss Vice Admiral Pybus's storied military career, life as the military spouse of a Navy SEAL, and the tragic loss of their son Christopher to suicide. This is an emotionally packed episode that honors both the illustrious career of a father, love of family from a mother, and the memory of their son. Subscribe Today!

To start the new year USSOCOM is focused on the "First Truth", humans over hardware. SOFcast presents this special episode.

Bob Delaney is no stranger to stress and trauma. In this episode he discusses how he's coped with both as an undercover police officer working to take down the New Jersey mob, reffing Michael Jordan games in the NBA, and his work destigmatizing PTSD. All this and more on a special episode of SOFcast. Subscribe Today!

Mike Sarraille and Andy Stumpf talk about lessons learned from their time as US Navy SEALs, finding their own paths from breaking world records to writing books, and giving back to the families of fallen heroes. All that and more on this episode of SOFcast!

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Zack Garner is a medically retired US Army Green Beret who's found himself repeatedly fighting serious heatlh issues. Zack shares the harrowing stories of coming back from the edge of giving up, from regretting waking up, and how he came back from those dark places. All that and more!

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SGM (R) Mark Stephens is a Commando Hall of Fame inductee, former SMU Operator, and now the Chairman of the Executive Board at Task Force Dagger providing assistance to wounded, ill, or injured US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) members and their families. Mark talks about his career in Army Special Operations, fighting in Somalia, striking back at Al Qaeda after 9/11, and his continued service to his Special Operations community. All that and more on this episode of SOFcast!

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From the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School's hit podcast Pineland Underground, SOFcast welcomes hosts MAJ Bobby Tuttle and SGM Chuck Ritter. We talk about the show's success, dirty deeds done right and cheap, and how podcasts are opening a whole new world of dialogue. All that and more on this episode of SOFcast!

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Lieutenant General Antonio Fletcher discusses his journey into Army Special Forces, the importance of NATO SOF, and the current state of the world. With the war in Ukraine evolving daily, the NATO alliance stands ready to meet the challenges of a complex security environment.

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Dan Rayburn is a successful entrenpreneur and business expert who's made it part of his mission to help SOF veterans maneuver the world of civilian job placement. Dan takes a no-nonsense approach to matching the best company's in the world with uniquely talented Special Operations servicemembers. This isn't your typical "transitioning" talk, this is practical advice you can use right now!

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Retired Chaplain Jeff Struecker recounts his experiences during Gothic Serpent, the military operation depicted in the film "Blackhawk Down". He and fellow members of Task Force Ranger endured some of the most intense and brutal fighting since Vietnam, suffered terrible loss, but ultimately proved to the world the strength of it's SOF members and why Rangers Lead the Way!

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On August 20, 2013 during a change of command ceremony on FOB Ghazni, Green Beret Earl Plumlee found himself facing a complex attack by a determined enemy force that had breached the perimeter and was approaching fast. Armed with his "super cool sniper rifle" and a side arm, MSG (then SFC) Plumlee took the fight to the enemy and miraculously survived nearly unscathed. This is the story of how MSG Plumlee and a handful of SOF warriors pushed back a devastating attack and the events that lead to MSG Plumlee being awarded the Medal of Honor.

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SOFcast host SGM Matt Parrish welcomes the 11th USSOCOM Command Senior Enlisted Leader CSM Shane Shorter. They discuss CSM Shorter's career, leadership philosophy, and how he's reinforcing the "team" concept and values at USSOCOM. All that and more, on this episode of SOFcast.

Amy Master Sergeant Ivan Morera is a Special Forces medic, the DoD's only military freefall qualified upper-body amputee, and a competitor at this year's Warrior Games! MSG Morera sits down with SOFcast host SGM Matt Parrish to talk about the day that changed his life, his road to recovery, and what it takes to prove all the naysayers wrong!

SOFcast talks with a PSYOP Det recently deployed to Europe. They share their experience, lessons learned, and what exactly is PSYOP.

SOFcast co-host and Command Senior Enlisted Leader for US Special Operations Command; Greg Smith shares his journey through the US Air Force and Special Operations. From operating out of hangars in Pakistan days after 9/11 and battling Leukemia, to becoming the senior enlisted leader in USSOCOM, CCM Greg Smtih shares the ups and downs of a spectacular 32-year career.

Matt Hesse is a US Army Veteran, entrepreneur, and the founder of the University of Health and Performance. Matt and SGM Parrish talk about the importance of physical fitness and how it contributes to a healthy transition and supports mental and spiritual well-being. They also discuss Matt's passion for helping SOF Veterans by providing a world-class retreat venue where they can implement their own "Purpose Blueprint".

INDOPACOM is comprised of 36 nations, home to 50% of the world's population, and 3,000 different languages! CMDCM (SEAL) David Isom shares some of the unique challenges he faces as the Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) Senior Enlisted Leader and why SOF is critical to the mission in the Indo-Pacific region.

Have you ever had an idea to fix a problem from deployment or training but didn't know how to make that solution a reality? Northeastern University Program Director for the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel John Griffin talks about how NSIN is meeting the needs of the DoD with problem solvers from academia, business, and from within the ranks of our service members! Find out how you can bring your innovation to life and still retain the rights to your idea. All that and more on this episode of SOFcast. Subscribe to SOFcast today! Also available on YouTube!

Lyla Kohistany is a former U.S. Navy Intelligence Officer who supported SOF through much of the GWOT and now serves as a cultural consultant for the command. As a child Lyla was brought to the U.S. as a refugee from the Soviet War on Afghanistan in the 1980's. Her familiarity with the Afghan culture made her an invaluable asset to SOF's efforts in Afghanistan, but it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing Lyla. From almost becoming a child bride to becoming the CEO of a non-profit, Lyla Kohistany embodies the SOF tenet "Humans are more important than hardware"!

Promote Leadership
Email: lyla@promoteleadership.org
Website: www.promoteleadership.org

Honor the Promise
Email: lyla@honorthepromise.vet
Website: www.honorthepromise.vet

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Fostering and maintaining relationships with our allies and partners is an integral part of USSOCOM's SOF Strategy. That's why USSOCOM hosts the largest gathering of international SOF personnel outside of NATO, known as J3-I and why this year's SOF Week is even more important as it includes the ISOF Commander's Conference. Our guest for this episode is an operations officer from Czech Republic's SOF, whom we'll call Igor. Igor shares his motivation for serving his country, joining his nation's SOF, and talks about how partnerships with USSOCOM directly influenced him on the battlefield as well as his time stateside as part of USSOCOM's J3-I.

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SOF Truth: Most special operations require non-SOF assistance.

Ms. Kelly N. Hughes is a Senior Acquisition Analyst, with the Program, Budget and Acquisition Team, Secretariat for Special Operations (SSO), ASD-SOLIC. What does all that mean? It means she has a unique insight into the process of getting the best technology and equipment into the hands of SOF operators across the command.

As we prepare for SOF Industry Conference, Kelly takes us behind the curtain of what it takes to support USSOCOM and why it is so important for the individual operator and our national security!

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Winners of the 2022 Best Ranger Competition, from the 75th Ranger Regiment CPT Joshua Corson and CPT Tymothy Boyle join the hosts of SOFcast to talk about what it took to not only complete the three-day grueling event but to beat 50 other teams. Tenacity, endurance, and faith, these Rangers indeed lead the way!

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Detecting and treating brain injuries continues to be a high priority for USSOCOM. That's why ReBlast is so important. ReBlast is a pilot study researching the long-term effects of repetitive, low-level blast exposure (RLLBE) on Special Operations Forces service members.

In this episode, SOFcast is on the road again, this time to Massachusetts General Hospital's Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging. SOCOM Senior Enlisted Leader Command Chief Master Sergeant Greg Smtih sat down with ReBlast study researchers Dr. Yelena Bodien and Dr. Brian Edlow, and the Master Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Navy Russell Smith to talk about how ReBlast is helping researchers better understand the effects career-long repetitive blast exposure has on brain health and function.

"Optimal cognitive performance and brain health are more important than ever to ensure that SOF can achieve the mission successfully that they need to achieve in the future"
- Dr. Brian Edlow

SFC Doug Kiesewetter is a Special Forces Engineer and Weapons Sergeant with the US Army National Guard 20th Special Forces Group and the Chief Content Officer at SOFLETE.

In this episode, host SGM Matt Parrish and SFC Kiesewetter talk about the changing culture within SOF that encourages physical, mental, and spiritual health and wellbeing. "...it doesn't make sense if you're building a house one day, and the next...you're breaking [it down]. It's just it doesn't make any sense."

In June of 2018, the world held its breath as news of 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped in a cave slowly filling with water hit the headlines. SMSgt Derek Anderson, an Air Force Pararescueman, was part of the team tasked with saving them. Faced with pouring rains threatening to flood the entire cave system, SMSgt Anderson and his team were faced with a seemingly impossible task of conducting a rescue never before performed with 13 lives hanging in the balance. "Show me the impossible..."

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US Cyber Command's Senior Enlisted Leader Cheryl D. Lyon and US Space Command's Senior Enlisted Leader MGySgt Scott H. Stalker join SOFcast to to discuss their organizations respective roles in future combat, safeguarding our country's interests, and where SOF fits in their missions.

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The Commander of USSOCOM GEN Richard D. Clarke returns to SOFcast for our season finale! General Clarke discusses leadership and accountability, the evolving global role of SOCOM, and why "we can't take our foot off the gas" in taking care of SOF servicemembers.

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SSgt Nick Jones is only the 8th Marine Raider to receive the Navy Cross for valor, an award second only to the Medal of Honor. SSgt Jones take us into the ISIS-occupied tunnels of Northern Iraq and into the battle that changed his life. Leadership in the face of danger, selfless determination, and what it takes to be "Always Faithful, Always Forward"!

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Resilience isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” solution. It’s different for everyone and figuring out where to start can be overwhelming. Air Force Special Operations Command Division Chief for the integration of Air Force resiliency programs and Special Operations Command’s Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program’s, Lt. Col. Onnie Retkofsky talks with SOFcast about tapping into her own spiritual drive that helped her accomplish becoming a 5x Ironman All World Athlete and 12x Ironman finisher. Lt. Col. Retkofsky also shares some ways to help you find your own focus for resilience.

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SOFcast goes to Washington! Hosts CCM Greg Smith and SGM Parrish sat down with representatives from both sides of the aisle during last year's SOF Caucus to discuss their support for SOF operations, family, and what they’re doing for SOF’s readiness.

Guests
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL)
Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA)
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC)

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Brad Thomas is one of those people you can’t put into a box. He’s an Army Ranger who fought in Gothic Serpent (aka Black Hawk Down), became an SMU Commando, and now makes music alongside other SOF veterans in the band Silence and Light. SOFcast hosts CCM Greg Smith and SGM Matt Parrish talked with Brad about his experience in SOF, finding his tribe, and how music connects him to fellow veterans.

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The last 20 years of GWOT and counter-insurgency has dramatically shaped today’s force. Dr. David Kilcullen has been at the forefront of those shaping policies and strategies. Dr. Kilcullen joins the hosts of SOFcast to discuss how the lessons learned from GWOT (the good and the bad) will be applied to the future of SOF and where those lessons fit in Strategic Competition.

Dr. David Kilcullen is the former senior counter-insurgency advisor to General David Patreus and former Chief Strategist in the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the US State Department. He’s also the author of The Accidental Guerrilla, Counterinsurgency, Out of the Mountains, Blood Year, and The Dragons and the Snakes: How the Rest Learned to Fight the West

The Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, SEAC Ramón Colón-López, joins SOFcast to talk about the role of SOF in Great Power Competition, getting the record straight on diversity in the ranks, and what he’s doing to preserve the mission of special operations at the highest levels of decision-making.

SEAC Ramón Colón-López is the 4th Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman and a USAF Pararescueman.

Women have long had a place in Special Operations, but recent changes in policies has broadened the opportunities for women to serve in SOF positions previously offered only to men. These opportunities have come with it’s share of criticism regarding culture, standards, and equality.

Maj Carly Costello and CPT Julia Pleasants join the hosts of SOFcast to discuss the role of Women in SOF; how these new roles are critical to the future of SOCOM and how do we ensure these trailblazers get a fair shot at doing their job without being hindered by a spotlight.

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Fresh out of JRTC and a training event overseas working with partner forces, members of the US Army’s 10th Special Forces talk with SOFcast about what’s gone right, wrong, and everything in between. This isn’t an “everything’s great” conversation. This is a candid, “no-holds-barred” discussion about their experience training alongside conventional forces, the growing pains of re-balancing to strategic competition, and why working with partner forces is imperative to the mission readiness of SOF units.

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Members of today’s US Special Operations Forces are often regarded as heroes, but there are those that today’s elite operators look up to and regard as their own heroes. John Stryker “Tilt” Meyer is one of those men!

As a member of the clandestine MAC-V SOG operating in the midst of the Vietnam War, Tilt recounts his combat experiences, some very close calls, and how close partnership with indigenous forces along with coordinated joint operations lead to successful missions in places where American troops “officially” never were.

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Motivation, drive, and patriotism! We’re talking about Special Forces MSG Tim Kennedy!
From lessons learned in the cage, to the ups and downs of running businesses, and living the life of an influencer; Tim Kennedy and SOFcast hosts CCM Greg Smith and SGM Matt Parrish talk about what it takes to stay motivated, driven, and always striving for the next challenge.

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Although they barely knew each other, when Scott Light heard that fellow air commando Brian Kimber needed a kidney, he answered the call. CCM Greg Smith and SGM Matt Parrish talk with Scott and Brian about what it’s like to find out you have a disease that won’t just end your career but could end your life, and how discovering a donor match would lead to a new lease on life for both of them.

SOFcast hosts CCM Greg Smith and SGM Matt Parrish discuss the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 and have a candid conversation about the recent withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

From the GridIron to the battlefield; team cohesion, resilience, and the drive for excellence are the cornerstones of the elite. The percentage of college football players that make it to the NFL is comparable to the number of servicemembers who make it to SOF. We talk with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Center Ryan Jensen and Navy Academy graduate, now NFL undrafted free agent, Cameron Kinley about what it takes to work with an elite Super Bowl winning team, overcoming adversity, and what kind of work ethic it takes to get to the top and stay there. All that and more on this bonus episode of SOFcast!

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While we wait for Season 2 to kick off, we’re releasing a BONUS episode!

SOFcast host SGM Matt Parrish talks with his former team leader and Active Duty SF Officer “Nate” about their time working together. What does it take to lead a team of diverse experiences and personalities? What’s the right way to think of training? How do you build trust?

All that and more on this BONUS episode of SOFcast!

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For SOFcast’s season finale, we take your “Shots from the Field” questions straight to the top of SOCOM’s chain of command, General Richard D. Clarke, USSOCOM’s Commanding General. CCM Smith, SGM Parrish and General Clarke discuss the evolving mission of SOF, the unique challenges of SOCOM leadership, and how the command is working towards a more robust and lethal force.

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Love it or hate it, every great career must come to an end. The real question is, are you prepared for life after the military?

Retired Navy SEAL Matt Stevens and Marine Raider Michael “Halty” Halterman share their challenges of transitioning from the world of Special Operations to the civilian sector. What translates, what doesn’t, and how you can prepare now for the inevitable. Make your transition a smooth ramp to success and not a cliff to disaster!

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What would you do if the one thing you’ve worked harder for than anything else, was suddenly taken away from you?

CW4 Bradley Palm, a 160th SOAR pilot, woke up 15 days after his Chinook crashed during a daring night-time mission. He would awake to injuries that should have permanently ended his flight career. Even worse, he found out the crash had claimed the life of his co-pilot CW3 Jake Sims and caused injury to every member of his flight crew.

SGM Matt Parrish and CCM Greg Smith talk with CW4 Palm about what it takes to not only to become an elite Night Stalker, but how family, faith, and a ‘Don’t Quit’ mindset helped him overcome life-changing adversity.

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What can you learn from someone who led a team of Afghan commandos up a mountainside under enemy fire to save wounded comrades? How about someone who helped rescue hostages from a burning building under hostile fire?

US Army Sergeants Majors Matt Williams and Pat Payne both earned the Medal of Honor for their heroic deeds respectively, but not only did they earn the Nation’s highest medal, they both decided to stay in the Army serving their country while passing their experience on to the next generation of Special Operations warfighters.



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How does a warrior find the balance between fight and faith? Chad Robichaux is a Recon Marine, MMA champion, and family man who found himself trapped in a dark place in his life. Chad takes you through his personal journey of almost losing everything including his family, coming to terms with his PTSD, and discovering the balance between being a warrior and a man of faith. All that and more on this episode of SOFcast.

Join Iowa Senator Joni Ernst with Senior Enlisted Leader CMSgt Greg Smith and Green Beret SGM Matt Parrish as they discuss a range of topics like motivation for service, leadership, and navigating the challenges of being a female commander in combat.

Senator Ernst is the Senate’s first female combat veteran, on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and is a strong advocate for the military. She discusses how she still uses the military decision-making process in her personal and professional life. Additionally, she explains her connection to the Ranger Regiment and her work focusing on the health and resiliency of the Warrior and their families. We know you’ll enjoy hearing this important conversation about leadership and the well-being of Special Operations Forces.

Advancing international partnerships is a key component to success across our many global requirements throughout the #SOF enterprise. In this episode of #SOFcast, our USSOCOM J3 International liaison from New Zealand, LTC Bryan Dill-Russell, joins us to share his experiences and perspectives in both conventional and special operations forces along with his time here at USSOCOM.

Lateral to #SOF Truth III: Competent Special Operations Forces cannot be created after emergencies occur, nor can successful partnerships be built after emergencies occur. Listen today as we discuss creating mutually supportive partnerships and opportunities, how we can remain the #SOF partner of choice, and more in today’s episode.

Rate, review, and subscribe to #SOFcast to get each new episode - out every other Tuesday!

When you are not at war are you at war with yourself? Are you a quiet professional or a silent professional? Join Green Beret MSG Geoff Dardia and Chelsey Poisson, an emergency room nurse and Army veteran, with Green Beret SGM Matt Parrish, as they discuss the pace of operations and its effect on health and families. Also, they discuss the environment the military operates in and conditions like repetitive blast exposure, toxin exposure and their long-term effects.

Listen to the trio discuss admitting to a vulnerability is a sign of strength and being “ahead of the bang” is an important tenet to good health. They advocate taking ownership of health and action with individual responsibility should be life-long philosophy. We know you’ll enjoy hearing this important conversation about taking care of yourself. 

What is the best way to lead? Do you learn from a bad leader? Join retired LCDR Jocko Willink, a former SEAL, New York Times best-selling author and entrepreneur, with Senior Enlisted Leader CMSgt Greg Smith and Green Beret SGM Matt Parrish as they discuss leadership perspectives. A veteran of SEAL Teams ONE, TWO and THREE, his operational experience includes participation in the seizure of the Russian tanker Volga-Neft-147 in the Gulf of Oman when the tanker was in violation of a U.N. economic embargo and commanding Task Unit Bruiser conducting operations in the Iraqi city of Ramadi in 2006.

Listen to Jocko explain how his outlook on leadership was impacted by a leader he calls “Delta Charlie” and how extreme ownership is the foundation of good top-down leadership. Jocko’s leadership style is based on building relationships, asking good questions, being humble and empowering people. He talks about how he used these principles during combat operations in Ramadi. We know you’ll enjoy hearing this compelling conversation from this charismatic and inspirational leader.

Developing our people is our most important responsibility as a leader or instructor. Are we doing enough to develop those who will be leaders 20 years from now? Join Dr. Preston Cline, who has been a consultant on all the SOF Assessment and Selection courses, with Senior Enlisted Leader CMSgt Greg Smith and Green Beret SGM Matt Parrish as they discuss whether we teach our people to navigate uncertainty properly, whether SOF is transactional or transformational, and whether SOF has a gatekeeping mentality.  

Listen to Dr. Preston describe the dynamics of highly-functioning teams, argue why women have and should always be part of special operations, guard against placing cultural fitness above all else, and challenge the special operations community to build cognitive, social and family resilience throughout your career and not wait until the end of it. We know you’ll enjoy hearing this compelling conversation about leadership, resiliency, and the cognitive domain within the special operations community. 

What happens to the operator when he becomes badly injured while deep in the jungle of a foreign country? Join retired Air Force Colonel John Alvarez with Senior Enlisted Leader CMSgt Greg Smith and Green Beret SGM Matt Parrish as they discuss the formation of “Special Forces with wings,” counter-narcotics missions in the 1990s, and John’s experience surviving a catastrophic helicopter crash in a piranha-infested Ecuadorian river.

John describes his challenging journey back to the cockpit after becoming the first amputee to return to full combat flying status. He credits his family, teammates and generous civilian benefactors for his successful return to the Special Operations community. Today, he is a strong advocate for USSOCOM’s Warrior Care Program chartered with advocacy for the command’s wounded, ill, or injured service members and their families. We know you’ll enjoy hearing this compelling conversation about resiliency and the support network within the Special Operations community.

Do we need to fail forward as part of innovation? Is AFSOC the air arm of SOCOM or the SOF arm of the Air Force? Join SOFWERX director and retired MC-130 pilot Air Force Col. Leslie Babich with Senior Enlisted Leader CMSgt Greg Smith and Green Beret SGM Matt Parrish as they discuss SOFWERX’s mission of being a bridge for bringing industry-leading innovation to the warfighter.

Leslie explains the three pillars of SOFWERX's teamwork strategy; discovering new technology, engage and create solutions between industry and the warfighter, and accelerate the delivery of the technology to the operator. Additionally, she discusses transition strategies from military to civilian life. We know you’ll enjoy hearing this conversation about bringing cutting edge technology to the special operator.

Do you keep your best performers closest to you or do send them the farthest away? The COVID environment has forced us into a remote, advise and assist paradigm, but is it effective? Join CMSgt Jared “Peaches” Pietras as he explains how good leaders must have a “heart to give back.” The career combat controller discusses training as always evolving and the importance of putting out current, factual training information to potential to special operations candidates.

Additionally, SOCOM Command Chief Greg Smith, Green Beret SGM Matt Parrish and Pietras take shots from the field. They discuss work/life balance in the COVID environment, what makes a good officer in SOF, whether to let your best performers leave and is the SOF culture becoming risk adverse? We know you’ll enjoy hearing this conversation about these issues facing SOF.

What does it feel like when you are in a room and no one looks like you? Is the leader-follower relationship in an organization the singular most significant relationship to developing the organization’s culture? Join Green Beret COL Michael McLendon as he discusses the importance of mentorship both as a mentee and a mentor. McLendon emphasizes a diverse force will motivate the best and brightest from across the country to take the challenge and succeed in joining SOF.

The 25-year Army veteran talks about the need for establishing partnerships at home and abroad synchronizing readiness in the battlespace. He stresses being a positive ambassador for SOF is essential developing these relationships. We know you’ll enjoy hearing his perspectives on leadership, diversity and strengthening partnerships.

Do tactical actions have strategic implications? Indeed, they do. Join SOF legend Rick Lamb talking about his experiences preparing for the Iranian hostage rescue mission, participation in the firefight in the Korean demilitarized zone, the Panamanian invasion, being wounded in Somalia during the Blackhawk down rescue and finally being a warrior diplomat in Haiti. The former Army Command Sergeant Major also opens up about how multiple deployments affected his personal life.

The former Ranger and Green Beret is a member of the Ranger Hall of Fame, USSOCOM’s Commando Hall of Honor and the 2015 Bull Simons recipient for lifetime achievements in special operations. We know you’ll enjoy hearing his historical perspectives on the special operations community and as he delivers his “Soldiers Promise.”

Do we do enough to understand differing perspectives? Join Master Gunnery Sgt. Jay Root, a former Force Recon Marine who helped stand up Marine Forces Special Operations Command, explore leadership topics and competing perspectives. The MARSOC plank holder discusses the challenges navigating friction points, the importance of interoperability with International Special Operations Forces, and the battlefield injuries leading to his Purple Heart. We know you’ll enjoy hearing from one of the establishing members of MARSOC.

Air Force Colonel Allison Black, a pioneering aviator in Air Force Special Operations, is this episode’s guest. The former enlisted survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist became an officer and AC-130H navigator. She discusses what it is like being a leader in special operations today, how a “mission-first” philosophy is the foundation of her career, and what brought her into military service.

Black, alongside USSOCOM Command Senior Enlisted Leader Greg Smith and Green Beret Matt Parrish, take “shots from the field” about standards, diversity and inclusion, roles of the senior enlisted leaders, the importance of being apolitical, and whether the word “elite” is an appropriate way to describe Special Operations Forces. We know you’ll enjoy hearing their philosophies on these issues facing SOF.

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SOFcast is the U.S. Special Operations Command official podcast where we harness the power of storytelling to connect you directly to thought-provoking and unique perspectives from our force. Listen to members of America's elite special operations forces gather to discuss current issues. We believe that leadership is critically important at all levels, throughout every element of SOF and that leadership can be honed through hearing and understanding the trials and triumphs of others.
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#specialoperations #specialforces #military #sof #army #navy #marines #airforce #navyseal #sealteam #frogman #greenberet #ranger #marsoc #operator #tactical #theonlyeasydaywasyesterday #podcast

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing in the weeks following 9/11?  In October of 2001, Will Markham, one of the first Americans deployed into combat for the Global War on Terrorism, touched down in Afghanistan attached to a small Special Forces team. Listen to his first-hand account of how a joint team of adaptive special operators battled the Taliban.  

CMSgt (Ret) Will Markham served an incredible career as an Air Force Combat Controller and Senior Enlisted Leader, but he also continues to serve the community post-retirement.  He discusses what brought him to military service, then to special operations, and what motivates him to continue to serve others daily.  We know you’ll enjoy hearing his lessons learned, leadership ethos, and thoughts on mentorship and growth throughout this episode.



Thanks for listening and please like, subscribe, and review! Let us know in the comments who you’d like to hear from in future episodes!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SOFcast is the U.S. Special Operations Command official podcast where we harness the power of storytelling to connect you directly to thought-provoking and unique perspectives from our force. Listen to members of America's elite special operations forces gather to discuss current issues. We believe that leadership is critically important at all levels, throughout every element of SOF and that leadership can be honed through hearing and understanding the trials and triumphs of others.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

#specialoperations #specialforces #military #sof #army #navy #marines #airforce #navyseal #sealteam #frogman #greenberet #ranger #marsoc #operator #tactical #theonlyeasydaywasyesterday #podcast

Special Operations Forces Truth #5: Most special operations require non-SOF support
How does a female Naval flight officer describe her time working with Naval Special Warfare units?

“I felt like as soon as I went into Naval Special Warfare ‘Do you perform? Do you put in the effort? Do you care?’ and if you have the tenacity and grit to make it happen people will respect that and so I knew I had to earn my place... The door might be closed for certain things, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t open it.”

Our guest shares her experiences with NSW as special operations forces enabler and how the SOF community encompasses the support personnel that are behind the scenes.
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SOFcast is the U.S. Special Operations Command official podcast where we harness the power of storytelling to connect you directly to thought-provoking and unique perspectives from our force. Listen to members of America's elite special operations forces gather to discuss current issues. We believe that leadership is critically important at all levels, throughout every element of SOF and that leadership can be honed through hearing and understanding the trials and triumphs of others.
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#specialoperations #specialforces #military #sof #army #navy #marines #airforce #navyseal #sealteam #frogman #greenberet #ranger #marsoc #operator #tactical #theonlyeasydaywasyesterday #podcast

Would you give up a day of skydiving to be a guest on our podcast? Major Frank Anello, Marine Forces Special Operations Raider did just that for this episode.

“I was 100% sure either the bad guys were going to come back up the mountain and we were going to have a bad firefight or we were going to die of exposure. I was very sure we were in a bad place.” Challenges aren’t just downrange. They can be with a leader you don't agree with or dealing with mental health issues.

Hear how these special operators dealt with the mountain top battles and the battles that are on the inside.
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SOFcast is the U.S. Special Operations Command official podcast where we harness the power of storytelling to connect you directly to thought-provoking and unique perspectives from our force. Listen to members of America's elite special operations forces gather to discuss current issues. We believe that leadership is critically important at all levels, throughout every element of SOF and that leadership can be honed through hearing and understanding the trials and triumphs of others.
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#specialoperations #specialforces #military #sof #army #navy #marines #airforce #navyseal #sealteam #frogman #greenberet #ranger #marsoc #operator #tactical #theonlyeasydaywasyesterday #podcast

Shots from the field: Three special operations forces leaders take questions from SOF members from different units. Some of the topics we dive into include toxic leadership, how to navigate the grey, alcohol use within the SOF community and more in this episode of SOFcast.

Join Command Chief Greg Smith, Sergeant Major Matt Parrish, and Sergeant Major Nate Griffin as they talk about how senior enlisted tactical decisions have a strategic impact on the ability to gain and maintain access and placement in the new and future operational environment.

Do hands in your pockets really affect our ability to lead? Listen to find out...

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SOFcast is the U.S. Special Operations Command official podcast where we harness the power of storytelling to connect you directly to thought-provoking and unique perspectives from our force. Listen to members of America's elite special operations forces gather to discuss current issues. We believe that leadership is critically important at all levels, throughout every element of SOF and that leadership can be honed through hearing and understanding the trials and triumphs of others.
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#specialoperations #specialforces #military #sof #army #navy #marines #airforce #navyseal #sealteam #frogman #greenberet #ranger #marsoc #operator #tactical #theonlyeasydaywasyesterday #podcast

“Members of the special operations forces community only complain when we have things really good. It’s when things really suck... that you are miserable and getting shot at all the time that you don’t hear a complaint.” - Green Beret Nick Lavery.

Green Beret Nick Lavery, while deployed to Afghanistan sustained multiple injuries and continued to return to the fight until he lost his leg. He didn’t let that stop him! Nick worked his way back to an operational Special Forces team and returned to combat and then became the first above the knee amputee to graduate from combat dive qualification SCUBA course.

Listen in for the behind the scenes stories.
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SOFcast is the U.S. Special Operations Command official podcast where we harness the power of storytelling to connect you directly to thought-provoking and unique perspectives from our force. Listen to members of America's elite special operations forces gather to discuss current issues. We believe that leadership is critically important at all levels, throughout every element of SOF and that leadership can be honed through hearing and understanding the trials and triumphs of others.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

#specialoperations #specialforces #military #sof #army #navy #marines #airforce #navyseal #sealteam #frogman #greenberet #ranger #marsoc #operator #tactical #theonlyeasydaywasyesterday #podcast

Special Operations Forces Truth #1: Humans are more important than hardware. Guest Vice Admiral Timothy Szymanski shares how he made the difficult decision to go to the Naval Academy, almost was removed during an academic board, faced a conduct board his junior year for misbehavior, and then changed career goals from being a Navy pilot to answering the call to become a SEAL.

Vice Admiral Szymanski explains how his experiences built a foundation of resiliency and determination. The ability of special operations forces to persevere mentally through the BUD/S and later transitioning to a leadership role. Mistakes will be made, but accountability and the idea that “failure is not final”, and “no is not terminal” is the theme of his story.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SOFcast is the U.S. Special Operations Command official podcast where we harness the power of storytelling to connect you directly to thought-provoking and unique perspectives from our force. Listen to members of America's elite special operations forces gather to discuss current issues. We believe that leadership is critically important at all levels, throughout every element of SOF and that leadership can be honed through hearing and understanding the trials and triumphs of others.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

#specialoperations #specialforces #military #sof #army #navy #marines #airforce #navyseal #sealteam #frogman #greenberet #ranger #marsoc #operator #tactical #theonlyeasydaywasyesterday #podcast

Join U.S. Special Operations Command’s Command Chief Greg Smith and Preservation of the Force and Family Sergeant Major Matt Parrish as they kick-off our official podcast from the headquarters of all special operations forces in the U.S. military. In-depth stories of their military careers and how they answered the call to join the SOF community are powerful and inspiring.
Command Chief Smith tells his experiences battling leukemia from a deployment to Afghanistan after September 11th and being exposed to microwave radiation. His experiences helped him to understand the importance of SOCOM’s Warrior Care Program and Preservation of the Force and Family.

Sergeant Major Parrish describes how he initially looked at joining the Marines, SEALS and then ended up enlisting as an 18X Green Beret. He walked into the Army recruiting office with a ‘Pantera’ goatee because he wanted to test himself. He went to Ranger school after becoming a Green Beret.

Both of these senior enlisted leaders share their experiences with answering the call to special operations, injuries catching up to them and the lessons they have learned about themselves and the SOF community over their careers.
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SOFcast is the U.S. Special Operations Command official podcast where we harness the power of storytelling to connect you directly to thought-provoking and unique perspectives from our force. Listen to members of America's elite special operations forces gather to discuss current issues. We believe that leadership is critically important at all levels, throughout every element of SOF and that leadership can be honed through hearing and understanding the trials and triumphs of others.
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#specialoperations #specialforces #military #sof #army #navy #marines #airforce #navyseal #sealteam #frogman #greenberet #ranger #marsoc #operator #tactical #theonlyeasydaywasyesterday #podcast