Episode 5 What is SAMS? School of Advanced Military Studies Guest MAJ Brian Thorson

We unveil the remarkable insights of the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) and its renowned Advanced Military Studies Program (AMSP), straight from an insider who ran the gauntlet, MAJ Brian Thorson.  The SAMS program is dedicated to educating and shaping the future leaders of our Armed Forces, Allies, and Interagency partners. The graduate-level programs are designed to foster agile and adaptive leaders who excel in critical and creative thinking, solving operational and strategic challenges.MAJ Thorson is currently assigned to the Commanders Action Group, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Liberty, NC.  He commissioned through ROTC as a Second Lieutenant in 2009 from the University of Connecticut first assignment was Walter Reed Army Medical Center as a Medical Surgical Nurse.  Next, he served as the Assistant S4 and S4 with the 212th Combat Support Hospital. Later, Brian served as the Commander for 67th Forward Surgical Team (Airborne). Next, he was the Chief of Operations for 212th Combat Support hospital before serving as the Commander for HHC, 30th Medical Brigade. Brian then served as the S3 for 421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion. After completion of the Logistics Captains Career Course, Brian served as the Deputy Surgeon for 3rd Special Forces Group. Following graduation from Intermediate Level Education from the Command and General Staff College and Advanced Military Studies Program from the School of Advanced Military Studies, Brian was a Strategic Planner in the USASOC G5. Brian most recently served as the Executive Officer for 261st Multifunctional Medical Battalion.  Brian graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing in 2009. In 2020 he earned a Masters of Arts in Operational Studies from the Command and General Staff College and in 2021 he earned a Masters of Arts in Military Operations from the School of Advanced Military Studies. MAJ Thorson deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2019 and has multiple rotations through countries in Africa and Europe.  His military education includes: Basic Officer Leaders Course; Airborne School; Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape Course (SERE-C); Theater Sustainment Planners Course; Security Cooperation Planners Course; Plans, Operations, Intelligence, Security, and Training Course; Joint Medical Planners Course; Joint Medical Planning Tool Course; Logistics Captains Career Course; Command and General Staff College; Advanced Military Studies Program; and NATO SOF Medical Planners Course. MAJ Thorson’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Expert Field Medical Badge, Combat Action Badge, and Parachutist Badge. More Info on SAMS: https://armyuniversity.edu/CGSC/SAMS/SAMSBooks Referenced: https://www.amazon.com/Back-Napkin-Expanded-Problems-Pictures/dp/1591842697https://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-Soldiers-Generation-Officers-Revolutionized/dp/157488123X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4NJ53AYP5EZC&keywords=prodigal+soldier&qid=1694736481&s=books&sprefix=prodigal+soldier+%2Cstripbooks%2C108&sr=1-1 Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are the guests and host’s alone and do not reflect the official position of the Medical Service Corps, the Department of Defense, or the US Government. All information discussed is unclassified approved for public release and found on open cleared sources.For more episodes listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube @ Be All You Can Be MSC For more information, suggestions, or questions please contact: [email protected]