Pineland Underground

The Pineland Underground Podcast team sits down with members of the Special Operations Training Detachment (SOT-D West) to discuss how ARSOF units train and prepare for Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) during National Training Center (NTC) rotations. The discussion centers on how ARSOF operators and units, alongside their conventional force partners, innovate & collaborate within a comprehensive training environment to address strategic threats. SOT-D West also has its own pretty cool podcast platform - Off the Radar.

In this episode, LTC Pete Guerdan (Special Operations Recruiting Battalion Commander) and MAJ Jim Maicke speak with Ambassador Andrew Young about the vital role our ARSOF Operators play in U.S. Embassies and how they enhance our strategic partnerships around the globe.

On this episode, we sit down with a recently graduated and qualified Special Forces officer and non commissioned officer. They will discuss their personal motivations to pursue a Special Forces career and their experiences during their time in Special Forces Assessment and Selection and the Special Forces Qualification Course.

This week we sit down with the Small Unit Tactics Command Team to discuss how operators shoot, move and communicate and gain experience for real word operations.

Did you know we can trace the Psychological Operations Regiment to a single person? Did you know PSYOP played a role in the Office of Strategic Services? They were there at the landings of Normandy, in the planning for Desert Storm, and remain a critical component to military victory in the modern age. Join us as we host Dr. Jared Tracy, the Army Special Operations Forces' Deputy Command Historian, as he dives deep with us on the nuances and facts of the PSYOP Regiment and its history.

Did you know the Special Forces Operation Detachment Alpha hasn't always had twelve people in it? Did you also know only 1% of the first official Special Forces organization was made up of members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)? The history of Special Forces is a tapestry, weaving together organizations like Merrill’s Marauders (or Unit Galahad), the Philippine resistance movements of WWII, the original PSYWAR School, and the Ranger Regiment's early days, as well as other organizations and influential figures. Join us as we host Dr. Troy J. Sacquety, the Army Special Operations Forces' Command Historian, as he dives deep with us on the nuances and facts of the impetus and history of the Special Forces Regiment. And listen through the end to hear the sometimes controversial history of the green beret!

Did you know Civil Affairs Soldiers were on the beaches of Normandy and tasked with addressing the cattle killed from the combat operations so that disease outbreaks could be mitigated? Or that Civil Affairs prevented cholera outbreaks during the Korean War? Combat is only one aspect of conflict and war. We dive deep in this episode where we cover the history of Civil Affairs. The Civil Affairs Branch predates the Psychological Operations and Special Forces branches, and even predates the Army Aviation and Military Intelligence branches. The history of Civil Affairs is important for Special Operations practitioners and leaders throughout the military to learn. Join us as we host Dr. Troy J. Sacquety, the Army Special Operations Forces' Command Historian, and recently named Honorary Member of the Civil Affairs Regiment.

Did you know the entire Joint Force engages in Irregular Warfare? Often defined differently depending on the individual or organization you speak to, we have Doug Livermore on to help define and discuss Irregular Warfare, the nature of conflict, and how our named adversaries also apply it across the globe. Listen in to learn how Irregular Warfare is not only a job for Special Operations.

Trailblazer does not begin to define Brigadier General Sara Dudley, who is truly undefinable. Finance officer by trade, Brig. Gen. Dudley is the Counter Threat Finance expert currently serving within the United States Army. From deployments in the Middle East to serving within the Special Operations Command, Brig. Gen. Dudley is a true testament to dedication to service, a true voice within the Department of Defense, and an absolute innovator.

Did you know Army Special Operations often deploy to U.S. Embassies across the globe? Did you know that some Special Operations personnel even move to those Embassies for years at a time to assist partner nations and coordinate Special Operations elements? Join us in a conversation with a U.S. Embassy-based Special Operations Liaison Officer (SOLO) as he discusses the SOLO program, and unique ways that Special Operations works with our partners. We discuss the importance of language training and immersion, cultural experiences, and networking so that individuals can make career decisions that empower both the organization and the individual.

How do Soldiers transition to become governors? Experts on the U.S. Army Civil Affairs Assessment and Selection (CAAS), join us in a conversation about how to best prepare for the mental and physical journey.

The Harding Project is an effort led by Zachary Griffiths and Leyton Summerlin as they strive to revitalize the professional military journals across the Army. This episode discusses "writing about writing," but also the efforts of The Harding Project and how Zach and Leyton are striving to both modernize and catalog the Army's professional military journals. Bonus guest Ms. Elvia Kelley also joins us to discuss the Special Warfare Magazine and the role of Public Affairs Officers.