AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast

Militaries anticipate what future wars will be like, but always get it wrong to some degree. Adaptability is the answer, according to LTG(R) David Barno and Dr. Nora Bensahel, authors of Adaptation Under Fire: How Militaries Change in Wartime.
They join us today to discuss what adaptability is and how it can be applied within our military to close the gap between what was planned for and what needs to be done. This is more important than ever since the challenges of the 21st century include increasing strategic uncertainty, operating in new domains like space and cyber, and constant technological change.
Guests: Authors of Adaptation Under Fire: How Militaries Change in WartimeLTG (Retired) David Barno, Visiting Professor and Senior Fellow, Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies, John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
Dr. Nora Bensahel, Visiting Professor and Senior Fellow, Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies, John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
Host: Joe Craig, Director, AUSA’s Book Program
 
Resources:
 
Adaptation Under Fire: How Militaries Change in Wartime by LTG (R) David Barno and Dr. Nora BensahelWeb: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/adaptation-under-fire-9780190672058Facebook: @OUPAcademicTwitter: @DWBarno78 @NoraBensahel @OUPAcademic
 
Philip Merrill Center for Strategic StudiesJohn Hopkins School for Advanced International StudiesWeb: https://www.merrillcenter.sais-jhu.edu/Facebook: @SAISStrategicStudiesTwitter: @SAISstrat
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

Many military families are sometimes a bit confused about voting. With the 2020 election less than two weeks away, some might think it is too late to vote, or perhaps that their vote won’t matter. Sarah Streyder, Director of the Secure Families Initiative, joins us today to reinforce why it’s important to vote as a family member and provides steps to ensure your vote counts.
Guest:Sarah Streyder, Director, Secure Families Initiative
Host:Patty Barron, AUSA’s Director of Family Readiness
Resources:
Secure Families InitiativeWeb: https://securefamiliesinitiative.org/Facebook: @SecureFamiliesTwitter: @Secure_Families
Foreign Policy for AmericaWeb: https://www.fp4america.org/Facebook/Twitter: @FP4America
Federal Voting Assistance ProgramFor Service members, their families and overseas citizensWeb: https://www.fvap.gov/Web: Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)
HomeFront RisingWeb: https://www.homefrontrising.org/
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

Families are not an afterthought, but are key to the overall health and success of the Total Army. Experts from the Army Public Health Center join us today to discuss the findings of their soon-to-be-released report: “The Health of the Army Family: What We Know, What We Don’t, and What’s Next.” The data supports what our Army Families already know from lived experience, and offers concrete recommendations for all touchpoints in the military family lifecycle. The report supports overall readiness since Soldiers with happy, supported families are more likely to be retained.
Guests:Laura Mitvalsky, Director, Health Promotion and Wellness at U.S. Army Public Health Center
Dr. Matthew Beymer, Principal Epidemiologist at U.S. Army Public Health Center, and Adjunct Assistant Professor at UCLA
Emily Warren, Program Evaluation Consultant - U.S. Army Public Health Center/ORISE Fellow at Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9 (Installations)
Host:Patty Barron, AUSA’s Director of Family Readiness
Resources:
 
Army Public Health CenterWeb: https://phc.amedd.army.mil/Web: Health of the Army FamilyFacebook: @ArmyPublicHealthTwitter: @USAPHC
 
Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9 (Installations), U.S. ArmyWeb: https://dcsg9.army.mil/Facebook: @soldierandfamilyreadinessTwitter: @dcs_g9
 
Army Community Resource GuidesWeb: https://crg.amedd.army.mil/
 
Army Community Services – a suite of family support servicesArmy Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR)Web: https://www.armymwr.com/programs-and-services/personal-assistanceFacebook/Twitter: @FamilyMWR
 
Joint Advertising Market Research and Studies (JAMRS)U.S. Department of DefenseWeb: https://jamrs.defense.gov/Facebook/Twitter: @DeptofDefense
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.

AUSA Now is happening this week! It is our Annual Meeting and Exposition featuring the U.S. Army, but we have taken it virtual for the first time in 2020. LTG(R) Patricia McQuistion, AUSA’s VP for Membership & Meetings, joins us today to discuss the decision to go virtual and to provide a sneak peek at what is in store. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss.
From 13-16 October, attendees will enter our virtual convention center to network, attend forums focused on the most current U.S. Army issues, and hear from top DoD and Army senior leaders from all major commands. There is something for all Army supporters, including all components, civilians and families.
Register for AUSA Now: https://meetings.ausa.org/annual/
Guest:
LTG Patricia E. McQuistion, USA Ret., AUSA’s Vice President of Membership & Meetings
Host:
Nzinga Curry, AUSA’s Director of Education & Programs
 
Resources:
AUSA Now Annual Meeting & Exposition13-16 October 2020Web: https://meetings.ausa.org/annual/
Association of the United States ArmyWeb: https://www.ausa.org/Facebook: @AUSA.orgTwitter: @AUSAorgLinkedIn: @Association of the United States Army

How is the U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) meeting the demands of the information age? A lot has happened in the 10 years since ARCYBER was formed. LTG Stephen Fogarty, ARCYBER’s Commanding General joins us today to describe their new facility at Fort Gordon, approach to talent management, harnessing the Army’s Total Force, information convergence and more.
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Guest: Lieutenant General Stephen G. Fogarty, Commanding General, U.S. Army Cyber Command
Host: General (Retired) Carter F. Ham, AUSA’s President & CEO
Resources:
U.S. Army Cyber CommandWeb: https://www.arcyber.army.mil/Twitter: @arcyberLinkedIn: @U.S. Army Cyber Command
Cyber Defense Review (27 July 2020): Enabling the Army in an Era of Information Warfare
 

Professional development of the Army’s enlisted force is a top priority, and our guest today, CSM (Ret.) John D. Sparks, has been influential in the advancement of their training and education. He has spent a lifetime serving our country as both a Soldier and as a Department of the Army Civilian in roles that support Soldier education. Today he tells us about his background, including his part in creating the Institute for Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development (INCOPD) and achieving accreditation for the United States Sergeant Majors Academy. Currently, CSM (Ret.) Sparks serves as Principal Advisor on Strategic Education for the Sergeant Major of the Army.
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Guest: Command Sergeant Major (Retired) John D. Sparks, Principal Advisor on Strategic Education for the Sergeant Major of the Army
Host: Sergeant Major of the Army (Retired) Daniel A. Dailey, AUSA’s Vice President for NCO and Soldier Programs
Soldier Today, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, focuses on what is important to Soldiers and NCOs.
 
Resources:
Institute for Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development (INCOPD)Web: About INCOPD
United States Army Sergeants Major AcademyWeb: About USASMA
NCO Leadership Center of ExcellenceWeb: https://www.ncoworldwide.army.mil/Facebook: @NCOLCoETwitter: @NCOL_CoELinkedIn: @The NCO Leadership Center of Excellence
Sergeant Major of the ArmyWeb: https://www.army.mil/leaders/sma/Twitter: @16thSMA
AUSA’s NCO & Soldier ProgramsWeb: https://www.ausa.org/programs/nco-and-soldiersTwitter (Dailey): @15thSMA

Urban warfare continued. Joining us today are experts in subterranean operations and urban operations, and of recent U.S. and Israeli urban combat experience. They focus on specific tactical challenges and best practices in urban operations.
 
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
 
Guests:  MAJ(R) John W. Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies, Co-Director, Urban Warfare Project, & Host, Urban Warfare Project podcast, Modern War Institute at West Point
Dr. Daphné Richemond-Barak, Assistant Professor, Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy, IDC Herzliya and Senior Researcher and Head of the International Law Desk, International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) 
Dr. Jeremiah Rozman, National Security Analyst, Association of the United States Army and Israel Defense Forces veteran
 
Host: COL(Ret) Dan Roper, AUSA’s Director of National Security Studies
 
Resources:
 
Modern War Institute
Web: https://mwi.usma.edu/
Facebook: @ModernWarInstitute
Twitter: @WarInstitute
LinkedIn: @Modern War Institute at West Point
Podcast: Urban Warfare Project
 
Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy, IDC Herzliya
Web: https://www.idc.ac.il/en/schools/government
Facebook: @IDC.Herzliya
Twitter: @Idc
LinkedIn: @IDC Herzliya
 
International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) 
Web: https://www.ict.org.il/Home
Facbook: @ICT.org.il
Twitter: @ICT_org
LinkedIn: @International Institute for Counter Terrorism

Urban warfare. What should the U.S. Army prepare for? Today we welcome thought leaders on urban operations from the DoD and Army to discuss the strategic importance of urban environments and how the U.S. Army trains, organizes and equips the force for this complex operating environment.
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Guests:  MAJ(R) John W. Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies, Co-Director, Urban Warfare Project, & Host, Urban Warfare Project podcast, Modern War Institute at West Point
Dr. Russell W. Glenn, Director, Plans and Policy, G-2, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
COL(R) Patrick J. Mahaney, Jr., Senior Advisor, DoD National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), co-founder and Director, National Center for Urban Operations, & Senior Mentor, Army Dense Urban Studies Strategic Broadening Seminar 
Host: COL(Ret) Dan Roper, AUSA’s Director of National Security Studies
 
Resources:
 
Modern War InstituteWeb: https://mwi.usma.edu/Facebook: @ModernWarInstituteTwitter: @WarInstituteLinkedIn: @Modern War Institute at West PointPodcast: Urban Warfare Project
 
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)Web: https://www.tradoc.army.mil/Facebook: @USArmyTRADOCTwitter: @TRADOCLinkedIn: @US Army TRADOC
 
National Security Innovation Network (NSIN)Web: https://www.nsin.us/Facebook: @NSINusTwitter: @NSIN_usLinkedIn: @NSIN – National Security Innovation Network
 
National Center for Urban OperationsWeb: https://ncuo.net/LinkedIn: @National Center for Urban Operations

How will COVID-19 impact the Military Health System (MHS) during and after the pandemic? LTG Ron Place and CSM Michael Gragg of the Defense Health Agency join us today to discuss MHS reform initiatives, progress on vaccine research and how enlisted staff are supporting. They provide insight into how NCOs enable readiness at the Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs), standardization of Exceptional Family Member healthcare across military services, and TRICARE updates including enrollment requirements for TRICARE Select.
Guests:LTG Ronald J. Place, Director, Defense Health Agency
CSM Michael L. Gragg, Senior Enlisted Leader, Defense Health Agency
Co-Hosts:Patty Barron, AUSA’s Director of Family Readiness
Mark Haaland, AUSA’s Director of Government Affairs
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Resources:
LTG Place was featured on a previous Army Matters episode:
4 March 2020: Special Edition: Military Health System Changes & Coronavirus Update
The Military Health System and the Defense Health AgencyWeb: https://www.health.mil/About-MHS/OASDHA/Defense-Health-AgencyTwitter: @militaryhealth @DoD_DHA @TRICAREFacebook @militaryhealth @DefenseHealthAgency @TRICAREInstagram: @militaryhealth
Nurse Advice Line – 24/7 health care support for TRICARE beneficiariesWeb: https://www.mhsnurseadviceline.com/home

What resources are available to Veterans? Today, our guest, Margarita Devlin, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits at the VBA, joins us to discuss the GI Bill, VA home loans, and transition programs like Solid Start and Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR&E). She also gives an update on how the VA is handling benefits payments and Veteran engagement during the pandemic.
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 
Guest: Margarita Devlin, MA, CRC, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs 
Co-Hosts:
Nzinga Curry, AUSA’s Director of Education & Programs
1SG (Ret) Stephen Canonico, AUSA's Assistant Director of Retired Soldiers, Veterans, and Army Civilian Affairs 
Army Real Talk, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, aims to help AUSA and the Army better connect with the younger generation.
 
Resources:
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)Web: https://www.benefits.va.gov/YouTube: Veterans Benefits AdministrationFacebook: @VeteransBenefitsTwitter: @VAVetBenefitsVeterans Benefits Administration Call Center Number: 1(800) 827-1000Education Benefits Number: 1(888)GIBILL-1Regional Loan Center Number: 1(877)827-3702
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)Web: https://www.va.gov/Facebook: @VeteransAffairsTwitter: @DeptVetAffairs