AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast

U.S. Army Olympians, SFC Elizabeth Marks and SGT Samantha Schultz, joins us to discuss the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) on their way to represent Team USA in the 2020 Olympic Games. Listen as the soldier-athletes describe their accomplishments along their journey to the Olympics. Learn how WCAP offered them the opportunity to serve their country and pursue sports on an international level. To learn more about WCAP check out their website listed in the resource section below. 
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 
  
Guests: 
SGT Samantha Schultz, U.S. Army
SFC Elizabeth Marks, U.S. Army
 
Hosts: 
Nzinga Curry, AUSA’s Director of Education & Programs 
LTC Brittany Lloyd, AUSA’s U.S. Army Fellow
  
  
Resources: 
Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP)
Web: https://www.armywcap.com
 
Social Media Handles:
FB: @USArmyWCAP
Twitter: @usarmywcap
IG:@usarmywcap

Honoring the unknown and providing inspiration for the future, the 100th Anniversary Commemoration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier takes place throughout 2021.  Three Soldiers for Life with service at the Tomb join AUSA’s Dan Roper to describe these commemorative activities along with the Tomb’s enduring meaning.
Dedicated in 1921 as a “source of inspiration, reverence and love of country,” the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honors an unknown American warrior who “represents no section, creed or race . . . and typifies the soul of America and the supreme sacrifice of her heroic dead.” The 2021 Centennial, not only commemorates the dedication a century ago, but provides an opportunity for all Americans to reflect on the enduring meaning of the Tomb and its relevance to all citizens whether they have served in the military or not.
Guests:Richard Azzaro, President, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Foundation
COL (Ret) Joe Buche, Executive Director, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Foundation
SGM (Ret) Gavin McIlvenna, President, Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Host: COL (Ret) Dan Roper, AUSA’s Director of National Security Studies
 
Resources:
 
Society of the Honor Guard,Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (SHGTUS)Web: https://tombguard.org/Centennial: https://tombguard.org/centennial
 
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier FoundationWeb: https://www.tomboftheunknownsoldierfoundation.com/
 
The Old Guard – 3d U.S. Infantry RegimentWeb: https://oldguard.mdw.army.mil/
 
Arlington CemeteryTomb of the Unknown Soldier:https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Tomb-of-the-Unknown-SoldierTomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial (TUS-100):https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/TUS-100
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

What’s new at Army Futures Command? SMA(R) Dailey interviews CSM Michael A. Crosby, Command Sergeant Major, Army Futures Command. They give an overview of AFC, its modernization efforts, Project Convergence updates, key milestones and accomplishments that lie ahead, and how the Defense budget might negatively affect modernization efforts.
Guest: CSM Michael A. Crosby, Command Sergeant Major, Army Futures Command
Host: SMA (Ret) Daniel Dailey, AUSA’s Vice President for NCO and Soldier Programs
Resources:
Army Futures Command
Web: https://www.army.mil/futures
Web: https://www.armyfuturescommand.com/ 
 
AUSA’s NCO & Soldier Programs
Web: https://www.ausa.org/programs/nco-and-soldiers
Twitter (Dailey): @15thSMA
 

How does the Army’s FY 2022 Budget support people, readiness and modernization? The Army’s Budget Director, MG Paul Chamberlain, joins AUSA’s Mark Haaland to share his thoughts on the new budget request. They discuss how it meets the Army’s priorities for people, readiness and modernization while fulfilling requirements for the interim national security strategic guidance set by the current administration. They cover reductions in the FY 2022 budget, a different accounting method for other contingency operations (OCO), and the readiness of our Army to fight and win.
Guest: MG Paul A. Chamberlain, Director for Army Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management & Comptroller)
Host: Mark Haaland, AUSA’s Director of Government Affairs
Resources:
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller(ASA (FM&C))Web: https://www.asafm.army.mil/
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

How can the U.S. Army and NATO allies deter and defeat any threats to Europe? Today, LTG(R) Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. Army Europe, joins AUSA’s Joe Craig to discuss the new book, Future War and the Defence of Europe, which Hodges co-wrote with retired Marine Gen. John Allen and Julian Lindley-French. It offers a major new analysis of how peace and security can be maintained in Europe amid advances in technology and a rapidly shifting strategic environment.
Guest: LTG(R) Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. Army Europe and author of Future War and the Defence of Europe
Host: Joe Craig, AUSA’s Book Program Director
 
Resources:
Oxford University Press:Future War and the Defence of Europe
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

Join us to catch up with AUSA’s former Family Readiness Director, Patricia Barron, who is now the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community & Family Policy (MC&FP). Hear about her journey from an infantry spouse to her current role. Listen as she provides insight on what the Military Community & Family Policy does and their strategic imperatives to support the needs of the Total Force. To learn more please check out Military OneSource website linked in the resource section below. 
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 
 
Guest: Patricia Barron, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Military Community and Family Policy
 
Host: Holly Dailey, AUSA’s Director of Family Readiness
   
Resources: 
 
Military OneSource
Web: www.militaryonesource.mil
 
Social Media Handles
 
FB: @military.1source
Twitter/IG: @Military1Source
  

Today marks the U.S. Army's 246th birthday! LTG Gary Brito, DCS G-1 and Mr. Anselm Beach joins us to highlight how far our Army has come and its commitment to being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive force. Listen as they discuss the Army's work to build a culture of trust and inclusion. Learn about the progress the Army has made through efforts such as Project Inclusion, the People First Task Force, and Your Voice Matters listening tour. To learn more about Army G-1 and their efforts follow them at the social media platforms listed below. 
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.  
Guests: 
LTG Gary Brito, U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1
Mr. Anslem Beach, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army – Equity Inclusion Agency
 
Hosts: 
Nzinga Curry, AUSA’s Director of Education & Programs 
LTG (R) Patricia McQuistion, AUSA Senior Fellow
    
Resources: 
Army G-1
Web: http://www.army.mil/G-1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HQDAMRAG1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MRA_G1_PAO

The Texas National Guard is made up of community members – Texans serving Texans. SMA(R) Dailey interviews CSM Jason D. Featherston, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Texas Army National Guard. They discuss the makeup of the Texas National Guard and how its civilian soldiers respond to domestic emergencies, combat missions, counterdrug efforts, reconstruction missions and more—all with equal speed, strength and efficiency.
Guest: CSM Jason D. Featherston, Senior Enlisted Advisor, Texas Army National Guard
Host: SMA (Ret) Daniel Dailey, AUSA’s Vice President for NCO and Soldier Programs
 
Resources:
Texas Military DepartmentWeb: https://tmd.texas.gov/
AUSA’s NCO & Soldier ProgramsWeb: https://www.ausa.org/programs/nco-and-soldiersTwitter (Dailey): @15thSMA
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

This Memorial Day, we remember those who gave their lives, including the 36,574 U.S. Soldiers who died in the Korean War.  COL(R) Steve Lee of Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA) joins AUSA’s CSM(R) Troy Welch to highlight KDVA’s role as a connector and convener for anyone who wants to support the Republic of Korea (ROK)-U.S. Alliance, one of the United States’ closest allies in that region of the world.
 
With the motto “Together for the ROK-U.S. Alliance,” KDVA is the only professional organization whose sole purpose is to enhance, support, and advocate for the ROK-U.S. Alliance and our Veterans. 1.8 Million U.S. troops fought in the Korean War and 3.3 Million have served in Korea since the 1953 signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement. Membership with KDVA is free and includes professional networking, mentoring, volunteering, and researching opportunities.
 
Guest: COL (Ret) Steve Lee, Senior Vice President of Operations, Korea Defense Veterans Association
 
Host: CSM (Ret) Troy Welch, AUSA’s Director for NCO and Soldier Programs and Board Member, Korea Defense Veterans Association
 
This episode is brought to you by GEICO.
 
Resources:
 
Korea Defense Veterans AssociationsWeb: https://kdva.vet/
 
Korea-US Alliance FoundationWeb: http://kusaf.org/
 
Korean War Veterans Memorial – Wall of RemembranceWeb: https://koreanwarvetsmemorial.org/wall-of-remembrance/
 
AUSA’s NCO & Soldier ProgramsWeb: https://www.ausa.org/programs/nco-and-soldiersTwitter (Dailey): @15thSMA
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
 

For years, the war in Afghanistan has been fought almost exclusively by US Special Forces. Author Jessica Donati joins AUSA’s Joe Craig to discuss her book, Eagle Down: The Last Special Forces Fighting the Forever War, which delves into the lives of the Green Berets and other operators on the frontlines against the Taliban and the Islamic State group. Donati covers foreign affairs and national security for The Wall Street Journal in Washington. She joined WSJ as the bureau chief in Afghanistan, and previously worked for Reuters in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. She was part of the team that reported on the war in Libya, working on a series chosen as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in 2012.
 
Guest: Jessica Donati, National Security Reporter, The Wall Street Journal, and Author of Eagle Down: The Last Special Forces Fighting the Forever War
Host: Joe Craig, AUSA’s Book Program Director
 
This episode is brought to you by GEICO.
 
Resources:
PublicAffairs:Eagle Down: The Last Special Forces Fighting the Forever War
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.