Go Bold #12: Maj. Ronald "JR" Valasek and U.S. Marine Corps M1A1 main battle tanks

In this episode we speak with United States Marine Corps (USMC) Major Ronald "JR" Valasek, who is a proud tanker.We discuss his journey in becoming a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, first as an enlisted member, and then as an officer in the tank community.The Marine Corps has a rich history of operating tanks which dates back to the early 1920s. Most recently, the Corps had three tank battalions which were comprised of the M1A1 Abrams main battle tank, which was developed by General Dynamics.USMC M1A1 tanks have been deployed in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, and have proved invaluable in supporting ground forces.Major Valasek describes the utility of the tank, and how the Marine Corps operated them in combat in line with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) philosophy in which Marines support other Marines on the ground. You'll hear how this is somewhat different from the way the U.S. Army fields their main battle tanks. As useful as a main battle tank is, the Marine Corps modernization plan calls for a lighter and more nimble force to orient the service to face complex threats in the maritime environment, and that has resulted in the service divesting itself of all its main battle tanks.U.S. Marine Corps tanks are now gone, but the proud tanker spirit lives on, so we hope you enjoy this episode which is meant to honor all USMC tankers past and present.Thanks to Major Valasek for this time and kindness in sharing his journey and that of U.S. Marine Corps tanks!Semper Fi and Go Bold!