AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast

Today’s discussion with SMA Grinston covers a broad range of topics that are on the minds of our Soldiers, our leaders and our listeners.  These topics include: The loss of Army SPC Vanessa Guillen, racial inclusion and diversity in the Army, the impact of “This is My Squad,” an update on COVID-19 protection measures, and the new Army Combat Fitness Test 2 rollout. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Guest: Sergeant Major of the Army Michael A. Grinston, 16th Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA)
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:
Sergeant Major of the Army
Web: https://www.army.mil/leaders/sma/bio/
Twitter: @16thSMA
 
AUSA’s NCO & Soldier Programs
Web: https://www.ausa.org/programs/nco-and-soldiers
Twitter (Dailey): @15thSMA

How will the new U.S. Space Force (USSF) affect the Army? COL(Ret) Dan Roper, AUSA’s Director of National Security Studies, interviews LTG(Ret) Richard P. Formica about how the Defense Department should determine which space capabilities should be transferred to the USSF and which space-related capabilities should be retained by their respective service.  LTG Formica calls for a disciplined and thorough process and proposes three principles to guide the way forward to the mutual benefit of all services and combatant commands.
 
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Guest:  LTG(Ret) Formica, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, CALIBRE Systems
Host: COL(Ret) Dan Roper, AUSA’s Director of National Security Studies
Resources:
 
AUSA Spotlight: The U.S. Army and the U.S. Space Force
 
United States Space Force (USSF)
Web: https://www.spaceforce.mil/
Facebook: @USSpaceForceDoD
Twitter: @SpaceForceDoD

Everyone’s working hard to get medical measures out there to defeat COVID. What is the Army doing, and how can families stay physically and mentally healthy while we wait for a solution? COL Deydre S. Teyhen, DPT, PhD, OCS, Commander, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), joins us today for an update on the Army’s vaccine effort, emphasizing safety throughout the development process. She describes how academia, industry and government have all come together to fight COVID-19, and how we will defeat it together as a team and as a community. Since mind and body are so intertwined, COL Teyhen also provides tips for relieving COVID-related stress arising from things like social isolation, too much family togetherness, and dealing with our emotions. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org. 
Guest: Colonel Deydre S. Teyhen, Commander, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Host: Patty Barron, AUSA’s Director of Family Readiness
Family Voices, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, aims to connect Army families to speakers and issues that are important to their everyday lives.
Resources:
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)Website: https://www.wrair.army.mil/Facebook: @WRAIROfficialTwitter: @WRAIR
U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (MRDC)Website: https://mrdc.amedd.army.mil/Facebook/Twitter: @USAMRDC

Honoring those who served in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, a new memorial in Washington, D.C., is planned for 2021. Authorized by Congress for construction, the memorial will create a meaningful and deeply moving experience for visitors as it educates them about the historical significance and accomplishments of Desert Storm/Desert Shield. Despite its swift and successful completion, the war took the lives of many service people, and this new space, located downtown on the corner of 23rd and Constitution Avenue, will commemorate them.
Two DS/DS veterans join us today to share their enthusiasm about how the new memorial will honor our troops and connect with the American public. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Guest: Cee Freeman, Vice President and Deputy Associate Director of Planning & Design Team, National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial Association 
Co-Hosts:Nzinga Curry, AUSA’s Director of Education & Programs
CW3 (Retired) Steve Collins, Branch Chief, Materiel Fielding & Training, U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) 
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:
National Desert Storm and Desert Shield MemorialWebsite: http://www.ndswm.org/Facebook: @NationalDesertStormWarMemorialTwitter: @DesertStormMeml

Americans have elevated the discussion on race following the killing of Mr. George Floyd, and that includes the U.S. Army. Further discussions and the aftermath have revealed that there are still racial injustices seen in the workplace, organizations, as well as within the military. Thereby, AUSA along with the U.S. Army are having needed, yet uncomfortable, conversations in order to gain a better understanding and allow for voices to be heard. We hope that we can learn and grow from one another.
In this special edition episode, a group of former soldiers join us to discuss their experiences with race in the Army, and also touch on how the Department of Defense and the Army are already responding to diversity and racial concerns. This program follows two AUSA webinar events featuring current and retired Army leaders discussing the same topic. Links are included below.
Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Guests:LTC Frank Turner, USA Retired 
LTC Ivery Taylor, USA Retired 
MAJ Taunya Ford, USA Retired 
1SG Darrian Gailes, USA Retired 
 Host: Nzinga Curry, AUSA’s Director of Education & Programs
Army Real Talk, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, aims to help AUSA and the Army better connect with the younger generation.
Related AUSA Webinars on YouTube:
 17 June 2020: AUSA Noon Report - An ARMY Discussion on Race (Part 1) with James E. McPherson, Under Secretary of the Army and Gen. Joseph M. Martin, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army
 29 June 2020: AUSA Noon Report – An ARMY Discussion on Race (Part 2) with GEN (R) Dennis Via, GEN (R) Vincent K. Brooks, LTG (R) Nadja Y. West, and CSM (R) James K. Sims

CASAs are the connective fiber between the American people and Secretary of the Army. They are also Great Americans. Ken Wong, CASA for Pennsylvania-East, was born and raised in Philadelphia, and joins us today to describe why he became a CASA, and how he liaises with local community leaders to share the Army story.
Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army (CASAs) are business and community leaders appointed by the Secretary to advise and support Army leaders across the country. They assist with recruiting, connect with local National Guard and Army Reserve units, serve as a voice for Soldiers and Army Families, and speak at community events about the Army’s message. There are over 100 CASAs throughout the U.S. and its territories, and they all have agreed to serve without salary, wages or related benefits, and are afforded a 3-star protocol status. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Note: This episode was recorded 26 May 2020.
Guest: Ken Wong, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) for Pennsylvania-East and President, CIG Asia Ltd.
Host: Sergeant Major of the Army (Retired) Daniel A. Dailey, AUSA’s Vice President for NCO and Soldier Program
Soldier Today, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, focuses on what is important to Soldiers and NCOs.
Resources:
Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the ArmyWeb: https://casa.army.mil/
AUSA’s NCO & Soldier ProgramsWeb: https://www.ausa.org/programs/nco-and-soldiersTwitter (Dailey): @15thSMA

Today we honor all the extraordinary women who have served in the U.S. Military. Due to COVID-19, AUSA had to cancel its Women’s History Month program back in March, so we are hosting this Special Edition podcast to highlight the voices of women who have served. Joining us today are two remarkable women who chose Army careers, CW5(R) Phyllis Wilson, President of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, and CSM(R) Donna Brock, Executive Coach, Facilitator, Community Coach for Together With Veterans, and Treasurer for the Army Womens Foundation. They describe what motivated them to join the Army, their accomplishments and challenges, mentorship, and how their military experience has affected their life today. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
 Guests:
Chief Warrant Officer 5 (Retired) Phyllis Wilson, President, Women in Military Service for America (WIMSA) Memorial Foundation
Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Donna Brock, Executive Coach, Facilitator, Community Coach for Together With Veterans, and Treasurer for the Army Womens Foundation
Host: Nzinga Curry, AUSA’s Director of Education & Programs
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:
Women in Military Service for America (WIMSA) Memorial FoundationWeb: https://www.womensmemorial.org/Facebook: @MilitaryWomensMemorialTwitter: @wimsatweets
Army Womens FoundationWeb: https://www.awfdn.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Army-Womens-Foundation-98678409553/Twitter: @usawf
Together With Veterans: Rural Veterans Suicide Prevention ProgramWeb: https://togetherwithveterans.org/Twitter: @TogetherWVets

The goal is to bring in 10,000 new Soldiers. CSM Tabitha Gavia, the senior enlisted leader at the U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC), shares with us about the upcoming Army National Hiring Days, June 30 – July 2. This is an Army-wide virtual campaign showcasing the U.S. Army’s 150 full-time and part-time career options, training, benefits and education to inspire individuals to consider military service. USAREC’s mission is to recruit America's best and brightest volunteers that are able to deploy, fight, and win. The U.S. Army Recruiting Command is responsible for manning both the Active Army and the U.S. Army Reserve, ensuring security and readiness for our Nation. Recruiting operations are conducted throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and at U.S. facilities in Germany and Asia. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Army National Hiring Days, June 30 – July 2, 2020: www.goarmy.com/hiringdays
Community Partner Outreach Program: https://armystrong.goarmy.com/a/cp.html
Guest: Command Sergeant Major Tabitha A. Gavia, Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC)
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:
Army National Hiring Days, June 30 – July 2, 2020: www.goarmy.com/hiringdays
Community Partner Outreach Program: https://armystrong.goarmy.com/a/cp.html
U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC)Web: https://recruiting.army.mil/Twitter/Facebook: @USARECLinkedIn: @USAREC-HQ
AUSA’s NCO & Soldier ProgramsWeb: https://www.ausa.org/programs/nco-and-soldiersTwitter (Dailey): @15thSMA

How did field artillery lead to victory in Operation Desert Storm? Author COL (Retired) L. Scott Lingamfelter, former executive officer of the 1st Infantry Division Artillery, discusses his new book with us today. He describes how his fellow field artillerymen, known as “redlegs,” decimated enemy defenses and paved the way for the ground assault that defeated Iraqi forces in the First Gulf War. Lingamfelter gives us a boots-on-the-ground perspective on the largest US artillery bombardment since World War II. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Guest: COL(R) L. Scott Lingamfelter, Author, Desert Redleg: Artillery Warfare in the First Gulf War
Host: Joe Craig, Director, AUSA’s Book Program
 Resources:
Desert Redleg: Artillery Warfare in the First Gulf War by L. Scott LingamfelterWeb: https://www.kentuckypress.com/9780813179209/desert-redleg/Facebook/Twitter: @kentuckypress

Recently married into the military or have a son or daughter serving? AUSA’s new publication, Customs, Courtesies, and Traditions of the U.S. Army: A Primer for Family Members was created with you in mind! Join author, Ginger Perkins, for a discussion of what drives her passion for military customs. Available June 15 in AUSA’s online book shop, this is a comprehensive reference book aimed at bringing spouses, parents, siblings, extended family members and friends closer to the bigger Army family by explaining their soldier’s world. Perkins, an Army spouse for 38 years, and her husband, retired GEN David Perkins, are now Army parents. Recommendations for future topics are welcome via email at podcast@ausa.org.
Guest: Ginger Perkins, Author, Customs, Courtesies, and Traditions of the United States Army: A Primer for Family Members
Host: Patty Barron, AUSA’s Director of Family Readiness 
Family Voices, a segment of AUSA’s Army Matters Podcast, aims to connect Army families to speakers and issues that are important to their everyday lives.
Resources:
Customs, Courtesies, and Traditions of the United States Army: A Primer for Family MembersAvailable 15 June 2020AUSA Shop: https://shop.ausa.org/collections/books