Pineland Underground

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.

On this episode, we delve into the culminating exercise that is Robin Sage. This is the event all students must face in order to become a qualified operator. Here, students will be required to apply everything they have learned throughout their training to effectively work as a team in a simulated special operations mission.

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.

Meet the new Pineland Underground hosts. The crew will be discussing any and all things related to Army Special Operations this season!

In this episode MAJ Jim Maicke and LTC Pete Guerdan - Commander of the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion (SORB), sit down with a lifelong diplomat in Ambassador Andrew Young to discuss the value ARSOF operators and teams provide to a US Country Team. Ambassador Young shares some of his personal experiences working with ARSOF in foreign lands to build partner force capacity, promote regional stability, and expertly highlights what it takes to be successful in this line of work. 

In this Episode we meet Jim, Scott, Clay and Julio - the new team hosting the Pineland Underground Podcast's Season 4! Join the new crew as they introduce themselves and share with us their amazing journeys on how they became ARSOF leaders and a sneak peek into some of the content planned for this next season.

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.

About the g...

"Without sustainment, you're just camping with guns."

Did you know it takes quite a lot to sustain an organization like the Special Warfare Center & School? Join us as we discuss sustainment for the organization, sustainment for Special Operations, and how logistics wins wars.

About the guest:

Lt. Col. Pete Van Howe served as the G4 for SWCS and previously served as executive officer of the 407th BSB, 82nd Airborne Division. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a master’s degree from Troy University. He is a graduate of th...

Did you know the Special Forces Operation Detachment Alpha hasn't always had twelve people in it?

Did you 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 in WWII, the original PSYWAR School, and the Ranger Regiment's early days.

Join us as we host Dr. Troy J. Sacquety, the Army Special Operations Forces' Command Historian, as he dives deep wi...

Corie Weathers is a licensed professional counselor, speaker, consultant, and author focusing her career for the last 20 years as a clinician specializing in marriage, military and first responders, the service culture, and its impact on families. We sat down with her to speak about the challenges of communication within military families and relationships, returning home after conflict, retention, recruitment, and more.

About the hosts:

Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Operations Officer who served within the re-established PSYWAR School at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School. He i...

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...

Preserving and capturing the lessons learned from the Global War on Terror; what is keeping the newest generation of Army Special Operations Forces (SOF) up at night; how can we continue to develop professional military writing in Army SOF; how to we modernize such efforts? We tackle all of that and more in this episode with two great Special Operations practitioners and recent graduates of the National Defense University.

Spread the word! We have two (the very first!) Harding Project Fellows who will now be leading the Special Warfare Magazine.

P.S. -- W...

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.

About the guest:

Doug Livermore formerly served as the Director of Special Operations, Irregular Warfare, Special Programs, and Sensitive Activities for the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy. H...

Did you know the nation's oldest and largest continuously held ultramarathon was launched as a national challenge by President John F. Kennedy? On today's podcast, we are fortunate enough to have Mike Spinnler as our guest and SWCS's very own Command Sergeant Major, Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Strong.

It is the only remaining 50-mile event of several held around the country as part of President John F. Kennedy’s push to bring the country back to physical fitness. After the Kennedy assassination, many of these events were never held again, but the JFK 50 lived on.

A...

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.

About our guest:

Brigadier General Sara Dudley was commissioned in 1998 as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Finance Corps. Prior to h...

It's not every day you get to interview your boss's boss's boss. We review the main mission of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, how the organization has continued to evolve and uphold standards through the past two years, and what is on the horizon.

About the guests:

Brigadier General Guillaume “Will” Beaurpere has served for the last two years as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, the Special Operations Center of Excellence. He previously served as the D...

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 o...

Join us in today's episode covering the SOF / Cyber / Space Triad where we discuss how Space and Cyber integrate with Special Operations, but also how it is taught in the pipelines and courses here at the JFK Special Warfare Center & School. We cover some of the history and significance of Space and Cyber integrating in conflict, competition, and with Special Operations Forces.

About the hosts:

Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Operations Officer serving in the re-established PSYWAR School at the United States Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School. 

...

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.

Would you like to know more?

Go here to see if Civil Affairs is what you've been searching for (https://www.goarmysof.army.mil/CA/)

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-6xwphhI0s 

More videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scbTSLY_YpI&list=PL2GcfNIpMaK_roKmHBJ2NV4iY07oya6Kb&index=1

Roxanne Merritt is truly an institution within Army Special Operations. Her tenure as the Supervisory Curator at the JFK Special Warfare Museum predates the establishment of SOCOM, and even predates Special Forces becoming a branch in the Army. Join us as we interview her for her podcast debut! The JFK Special Warfare Museum was established in 1963 and has and continues to spotlight the history of Civil Affairs, Psychological Operations, and Special Forces, as well as Army Special Operations throughout the decades.

About the hosts:

Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is a Psychological Operations Officer w...

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.

About the hosts:

Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is a Psychological Operations Officer with operational experience in S...

Join us in today's episode as we have Jim Arp and Steve Mannino from the Human Performance organization within the United States Army Special Operations Center and School to discuss human performance in Army Special Operations. From physical therapists to registered dieticians. Interpersonal performance coaches, strength coaches, and athletic trainers.

About the hosts:

Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is a Psychological Operations Officer with operational experience in South / Central America, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East. He serves in the 1st Special Warfare Training Group at the United States Army Special Warfare Center and S...

Spc. Christian Sutton was at a punk rock concert when a random series of events propelled him to decide to change the entire Army. Chris is proof that a single Service Member can truly change the world. Join us and some of the members of his team (John, Brent, and Alex) as we discuss their grassroots efforts to save lives across the country.

About the hosts:

Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is a Psychological Operations Officer with operational experience in South / Central America, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East. He serves in the 1st Special...

This episode covers U.S. Army Special Operations recruiting. Join Lt. Col. Steven Crowe and Maj. Jim Maicke for an excellent conversation covering in-service recruiting for Special Forces, Civil Affairs, the Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Explosive Ordinance Disposal, and even Warrant Officers across the entire Army.

About the hosts:

Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is a Psychological Operations Officer with operational experience in South / Central America, the Into-Pacific, and the Middle East. He serves in the 1st Special Warfare Training Group at the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School. 

Sgt. Ma...

This episode covers modern drones as they are integrated into Special Operations training at the U.S. Army JFK Special Warfare Center & School. Maj. Steve Schuerman is the Charlie Company commander within the 6th Battalion, 2nd Special Warfare Training Group. His company is responsible for implementing 18F (the Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant Course), all three Joint Exploitation training courses, and the Robotics Unmanned Systems Integrator Course (RUSIC).

About the hosts:

Maj. Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is a Psychological Operations Officer with operational experience in South / Central America, the Into-Pacific, and the Middle East. He s...

"O.C.," an expert on the U.S. Army Psychological Operations Assessment and Selection (POAS), joins us in a conversation about how to best prepare for the mental and physical journey. O.C. answers the multitude of questions from Derek and Ash, including: 

About the hosts:

MAJ Ashley "Ash" Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Operations Officer serving in the 1st Special Warfare Training Group at th...

The leadership in charge of Army Special Forces Assessment and Selection takes us through what it is and how to best prepare for the best chances of being successful. They answer the question, "What is selection? How does someone prepare for physically and mentally? What are we looking for in candidates? Why try out for a life as a Green Beret?"

MAJ Ash Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Warfare Officer serving in the 1st Special Warfare Training Group at the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School. 

SGM Derek Riley is one of the m...

The Pineland team has the opportunity to sit down with Clyde Seepersad, the General Manager of the Linux Foundation. We dive deep into cooperative innovation and leadership and discuss how the principles for success transcend business and warfighting. Clyde Seepersad has decades of experience running successful companies and startups and shares his vast knowledge and lessons learned.  

MAJ Ash Holzmann is an experienced Psychological Warfare Officer serving in the 1st Special Warfare Training Group at the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School. 

SGM Derek Riley is one of the most experienced Civil Affairs No...

The must listen to final episode of the Pineland Underground Podcast with Major Bobby Tuttle and Sergeant Major Chuck Ritter as the hosts/producers of the show. What sets great leaders and noncommissioned officers apart from their peers? What's expected of officers when they arrive fresh out of the qualification course to a Special Operations Team? How do you stay relevant as you progress in rank? We dive deep into these topics and more. 

Special Operations Chess Theory digs deep into the question of "What is the power of a U.S. Army Noncomissioned Officer, and more s...

Pineland Underground welcomes the new hosts and producers to the show - SGM Derek Riley and MAJ Ash Holzmann. Bobby and Chuck sit down for a quick fifteen-minute conversation introducing the new hosts, covering what to expect in future episodes, and how to best use jorts at the beach. 

MAJ Ash Holzmann is a Psychological Operations officer with extensive experience in U.S. Army Psychological Operations. He currently serves as an operations officer in the 1st Special Warfare Training Group at the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Liberty, NC. H...

The United States Army Special Warfare Center and School Command Team sits down with the Pineland Underground Podcast to discuss their vision for Army Special Operations training and education geared towards the future. They highlight the current state of the schoolhouse and the pathway forward to achieve the ARSOF of 2030.  

The Official Podcast of the United States Army Special Warfare Center and School!

USAJFKSWCS selects and trains all Army Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations soldiers. 

Please visit our website at: https://www.swcs.mil

Be sure to check us ou...

We sit down with Medal of Honor Recipient Special Forces Master Sergeant Earl Plumlee and discuss his life as a Marine, coming into Special Forces,  his actions leading to receiving the nation's highest award, and how he continues to be a positive force of nature in life. From joining the military with a GED to overcoming impossible odds in combat, his story of perseverance and overcoming his story is truly humbling and inspiring. 

Crossover episode from the Irregular Warfare Initiative where the USASOC Commander LTG Braga, and author P.W. Singer discuss the future of Army Special Operations within the future operating environment of Multi-Domain Operations. 

Key themes from this episode:

• Army SOF - Small, autonomous teams with diverse sets of skills, competing and winning

• Building and defining a winning culture – Driving Performance Together – every day and inspire teams and colleagues to success.

• Discussion through the cycle of preparation, competition, and feedback

• Leadership Vision in HMS and Army SOF - Clarity, Simplicity, Alignment

• A team of teams working together, optimizing each team through intentional sharing and support

• The extremely competitive environment you are in, how to succeed amidst the chaos, stay focused, and manage secrets i...

Chuck and Bobby quickly cover their master plan for world domination, so you know what to expect from Pineland Underground in 2023. Prep yourself beforehand for the sheer awesomeness contained within this 15 minutes episode. 

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Sergeant Maj...

Green Beret Command Sergeant Major Chuy Almonte and Chief Warrant Officer Three Jay Connors discuss their views on how to lead effectively in the military and life in general. CSM Almonte served time in the 1st Special Forces Group as a wheel mechanic and then as a Special Forces soldier in the 7th and 3rd Special Forces Group. He currently serves as a CSM at the Army's Special Warfare Training Center and School at Fort Bragg, NC. CW3 Connors served in the 7th Special Forces Group as a Noncommission Officer and then a Warrant Officer. He currently serves as...

Special Forces COL Mike Sullivan, Chief of Staff of the Army Special Warfare Center, and former SFAB Commander, takes us on a magical journey discussing SFABs, Special Forces, and the art of advising foreign forces. We discuss the contentious beginning of the SFABs and the roles of Special Forces and SFABs in Security Forces Assistance and Foreign Internal defense setting. We also discuss the future of the Space, Cyber, and Special Operations "Triad."

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(Bonus Episode) As the world becomes more urban, planning for conventional and irregular warfare in the city becomes more important. SGM Chuck Ritter goes on the Irregular Warfare Initiative podcast to discuss the intricacies of urban combat with John Spencer, author of Connected Solders and Understanding Urban Warfare. This was previously released on multiple Modern War Institute platforms. We are releasing it on Pineland Underground because the principle discussed directly relates to Amy Special Operations students and those in force. John Spencer tackles the topics from the strategic and operational levels, while SGM Ritter discusses the pragmatic approach for...

SOCOM SOFcast host Matt Parrish risks everything to come on the Pineland Underground Podcast to profess to the world that we have the best podcast in the military. SGM Parrish not only runs the SOFcast Podcast, but he also runs the SOCOM Preservation of the Force and Families Program (POTFF). We discuss SOCOM, joining as an 18X, the POTFF program, and why Pineland Underground dominates SOFcast in terms of sheer awesomeness. 

bit.ly/SOFcast_Apple

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Two Special Forces Teams arrive in Nepal to conduct a training exercise with the host nation's military but immediately find themselves in the middle of leading crisis response efforts after a massive earthquake hits Nepal in 2015. Luckily, one of these teams was a special skills mountaineering team already acclimatized to extreme altitudes.

Dan Kurtenbach is a former Army Special Forces and Infantry officer with Special Operations and conventional assignments in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.  Notably, he led and Infantry platoon in Iraq, commanded the Special Forces “A” team responsible for conducting rescue operations during the 2015 Nepal...