PODCAST · education
Controversy & Clarity
by Damien O'Connell
A podcast of the Warfighting Society, Controversy and Clarity aims to generate critical discussion and honest debate on U.S. military matters. To support the Warfighting Society, please click on "Support" below or visit our Patreon page at www.patreon.com/thewarfightingsocietyAnd if you have questions, comments, or curses, don't hesitate to send them to [email protected].
Episodes
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#1--Jonathon Yenny_Part II
*The challenges of getting Weapons Co, 1/8, to HKIA *Weapons’ initial taskings and missions *The challenges of operating North and East Gates *Operating in support of the LAR company at East Gate *Frustrations working with allied and partner forces *Gunnery Sergeant Zachary Kapinus interacting…
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#9--Jonathon Yenny_Part I
In this episode, we discuss the following topics. *Jon’s experiences as a weapons platoon commander with 3/7 in Afghanistan. *His mindset and training approach for Weapons Company for the 24th MEU workup *Building trust as a weapons company commander with the battalion commander and operations...
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#8--James Sladden and Ben Connable
In this episode, we discuss: *The timeline of major events of the Battle for the Irpin *Three occasions where the Russians nearly won the battle *The role of Ukrainian volunteers and civilians *The role of small unit leaders *The artillery fight *The challenges of researching and writing...
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#7--Everett Kozlowski
In this episode, we discuss the following topics. *What a combat engineer platoon does as part of a battalion landing team *What it was like joining BLT 1/8 *Building trust between Everett’s platoon and BLT 1/8 *Everett’s advice to platoon commanders looking to build trust between units *His...
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#6--Joshua Jonesia (Part Two)
In this episode, we discuss the following topics. *Josh’s joining 1/8 *Differences in morale and culture between units in the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions *The current culture and unit pride in 1/8 *Recent controversies involving Third Battalion, Sixth Marines *The challenges and benefits of...
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#5--Joshua Jonesia (Part One)
In this episode, we discuss the following topics. *Josh’s experiences with squad leaders up to this point in his career *How these leaders influenced him *His experiences going through the reconnaissance training pipeline and serving with 3rd Recon Battalion *His decision to leave the recon...
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#4--Andres Rodriguez
In this episode, we discuss the following topics. *Andres’ operational experiences before joining 2/1 *The organization and strength of Weapons Company, 2/1, at the beginning of its deployment with the SP-MAGTF-CR *The company’s deployment prior to heading to HKIA *When the Afghanistan mission...
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#3--Fred Smith
In this episode, we discuss: *Mr. Smith joining 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, in Vietnam and assuming command of his platoon *His staff NCOs, especially SSgt Richard Jackson and Gunnery Sergeant Alan Sora, and other Marines and Sailors who deeply influenced him *Coping with the loss of subordinate...
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#2--Connor O'Brien
In this episode, we discuss: *Connor's time with Marine Security Forces *Corporals Course *Serving in 1/7 as a squad leader and overcoming the stigma of Security Forces NCOs *The Advanced Infantry Marine Course *Connor’s deployment to Darwin, Australia *Keeping Marines in a forward-deployed…
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#1--Matthew Melao
In this episode, we discuss: *Matt's decision to join the Marine Corps *His experiences at boot camp and the School of Infantry-East *His experiences with squad leaders up to this point in his career *How well the Marine Corps is preparing him to be a squad leader *The Advanced Infantry Marine...
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#19--David Glantz
In this episode, we discuss: *Col Glantz’s Vietnam service *How his experiences in Vietnam influenced him as a military historian and researcher *What led him to study the Nazi-Soviet War *The Army’s Art of War Symposia from 1984-1987 *How the Soviet Army and US Army defined doctrine (move???)…
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#18--Kendrick Kuo
In this episode, we discuss the following topics. *What drew Kendrick to study military innovation *How he defines military innovation *What conventional wisdom says about military innovation *How innovation differs from adaption *Some recent historical examples of military innovation *Whether...
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#17--Aaron Reep (Voices of HKIA Series)
Please visit: www.oarfoundation.org In this episode, we discuss the following topics. *Aaron’s thoughts on the two-year anniversary of Copperhead Company’s arrival at HKIA *His experiences as a rifle platoon commander with the 26th MEU and combat advisor with TF Southwest and how these influenced...
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#16--Lee Bowden (Voices of HKIA Series)
Link to Operation Allies Refuge (OAR) Foundation OAR Foundation’s Instagram handle: OARfoundation Lee’s Instagram handle: Leer_Bow In this episode, we discuss the following topics. *The skills and missions of EOD Marines *How Lee’s previous five deployments shaped the way he led and made…
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#15--Erik Villard
Erik's Social Media Links Twitter: https://twitter.com/Erikhistorian Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikthehistorian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikvillard/ In this episode, we discuss the following topics. *How Erik became a military historian *Roleplaying games as training…
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#14--Hayden Gamarra (Voices of HKIA Series)
In this episode, we discuss: *Hayden’s experiences in 2/10 before joining the 24th MEU *Becoming a battery XO as a second lieutenant *Easy Battery’s experiences with the 24th MEU prior to HKIA *Initial indicators that the MEU might head to HKIA *Easy Battery’s training and preparations for HKIA...
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#13--Nicholas Reynolds
In this episode, we discuss: -What drew Col Reynolds to studying history -The value of history for the military professional -Avoiding traps and pitfalls in studying and using history -Studying at Oxford -German General Ludwig Beck -Doctrine in the German army (1914-1945) -How the Marine Corps…
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#12--Tanner Champlin (Voices of HKIA Series)
In this episode, we discuss: -Tanner getting assigned his squad before deploying with the 24th MEU -What the deployment looked like before heading to HKIA -His reaction to the news that the MEU would deploy to Kabul -His understanding of the situation in Kabul before touching ground in HKIA...
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#11--Ben Connable
In this episode, we discuss the following: -Ben’s forthcoming book on modern ground combat -The lack of definitions of the terms “character of war” and “nature of war” -The “debate” on FD 2030 -The supposed massive changes touted in modern warfare, like drones -Ben's research methods and case...
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#10--Jordan Eddington (Voices of HKIA Series)
In this episode, we discuss: *What an infantry battalion operations officer does *How Jordan’s experiences at 2nd LAR, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, and 1/8 influenced how he fought the battalion prior to HKIA *The 24th MEU's deployment prior to heading to HKIA *The exercises done in...
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#9--Robert Neller
In this episode, we discuss: *The experimental and intellectual predecessors of FD 2030 *The frequency of structural change in the Marine Corps *General Neller's dislike of the term “near-peer” *Vertical vs. horizontal structural cuts within organizations *The removal of scout snipers from…
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#8--Richard Harrison
Amazon link to Richard's book: https://amzn.to/42bM9Lx In this episode, we discuss: *Where the idea of Soviet high commands came from *How they were structured *The commanders who led them *The role and influence of commissars in the high commands *The Soviet capture of the Kuril Islands and...
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#7--William Dean Long (Part 2)
-Dean’s experiences as a student at The Basic School (TBS) and Infantry Officer Course (IOC) -His time as a platoon commander and executive officer with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines -Dean’s deployment to Afghanistan -How the enemy in Afghanistan differed from those in Iraq -Some of his leadership...
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#6--William Dean Long (Part 1)
*Where Dean’s interests in military matters come from *How well the Marine Corps excites and educates Marines in military history, specifically Marine Corps history *How to interest Marines in military history *What led Dean to join the Marine Corps and serve in the infantry *Where Dean first...
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#5--Conner Fuller (Voices of HKIA Series)
In this episode, we discuss: *Connor’s Marine Corps career before joining the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit *What his deployment was like prior to the HKIA mission *The training Connor received in preparation for HKIA *The organization of CLB 24 *Connor’s reaction to learning about the HKIA...
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#4--Nick Rossovskij (Voices of HKIA Series)
In this episode, we discuss: *Bravo Company’s deployment with the 24th MEU prior to heading to HKIA *Its training and preparation for the HKIA NEO *The company’s reaction to hearing it would go to HKIA *Nick’s understanding of the situation on the ground before arriving at HKIA *Bravo Company’s...
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#3--Devon Sanderfield, Nathaniel Baker, and Michael Carreiro
In this episode, we discuss: *What the Infantry Battalion-Experiment (IBX) is *Alpha Company’s structure and rank-billet requirements *How the company is supposed to conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations *Grumbling from some of the enlisted leaders over the new rank-billet requirements…
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#2--Dustin Casey (Voices of HKIA Series)
In this episode, we discuss: *Dustin's deployment prior to heading to Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) including the training he received in preparation for the non-combatant evacuation operation there (NEO) *His reaction to the news that his company was heading to HKIA *His…
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#1--Samuel McGrury (Voices of HKIA Series)
In this episode, we discuss: *Alpha/1/8’s deployment prior to heading to Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) including the training it did in preparation for the non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) *Sam’s reaction to the news that his company was heading to HKIA and how his Marines…
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#13--Herman Stacy Clardy III
*The battalion commanders Clardy had as a company and field-grade officer and how they influenced him on how he views and practiced battalion command *What makes an ideal battalion commander. What makes a battalion commander from hell *The single most important thing battalion commanders do or...
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#12--Seth Folsom
Liner Notes *The battalion commanders Folsom served under and how they shaped the way he views and practices battalion command *What makes an ideal battalion commander *What makes a battalion commander from hell *The single most important thing battalion commanders do or should do for their unit...
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#11--Scott Helminski
In this episode, we discuss: *Scott’s enlisted experience and its effects on how he views on leadership, command, and warfighting *Scott’s experience as an artilleryman, his understanding of fire support, and how these things may influence how he commands his battalion *Scott’s two deployments…
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#10--Richard Harrison
In this episode, we discuss: *How the Germans and Soviets organized their forces in and near Ukraine on the eve of Operation Barbarossa and the principal senior commanders on each side *Why the Southwestern Front put up a stouter resistance against Army Group South than did its counterparts…
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#9--Prit Buttar
In this episode, we discuss: *Why Hitler wanted Ukraine *How the average Ukrainian viewed the Soviets and Germans on the eve of Operation Barbarossa and how these perceptions changed over the course of the war *How fighting in Ukraine went for the Soviets during Barbarossa *The First Battle of…
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#8--Gerald Nosich
In this episode, we discuss: *What is critical thinking and isn’t *Some of the most common misconceptions of critical thinking *The relationship between critical and creative thinking *How critical thinking relates to divergent and convergent thinking *The relationship between critical thinking,...
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#7--Michael Peznola
In this episode, we discuss: *Col Peznola’s education and training as a young officer *Col Peznola’s take on what “blocking and tackling” and “the basics” means in a tactical sense *His experience attending the Army’s Cavalry Leaders Course and what he learned from being around soldiers *When Col...
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#6--Lindsay Mathwick
In this episode, we discuss: *Lindsay’s experience as a student at The Basic School (TBS) *Her reaction to being assigned as a logistics officer *Her initial impressions of her first unit, 9th Communication Battalion *Her first year-long deployment to Iraq and experiences with “push” logistics...
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#5--Elizabeth and Robert Björk
Happy New Year, everyone! In this episode, we discuss *How the Björks define learning *The difference between learning and performance *The retrieval effect *The relationship between forgetting and learning *Some thoughts on why humans are terrible at predicting what they know vs what they don’t...
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The Ghost and General Smith: The Complete Story
It's finally here: The complete audio version of The Ghost and General Smith, a chilling look at one potential future for the U.S. Marine Corps.
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#4--Ryan Gilchrist
In this episode, we discuss: *Gunner Gilchrist’s advice to his past self, Private First Class Gilchrist *What Infantry Training Battalion-East was like when Ryan attended as a student in 2003-2004 *What Ryan’s first unit (Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines) was like *Ryan’s deployment to...
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The Ghost and General Smith - Chapter 5 and Epilogue
In this episode, we conclude the tale of The Ghost and General Smith.
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The Ghost and General Smith - Chapter 4
In this episode, we continue the tale of The Ghost and General Smith.
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The Ghost and General Smith - Chapter 3
We resume our tale of The Ghost and General Smith with chapter 3.
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#3--Dilan Swift
*What Dilan learned about company command from his time as a combined-anti-armor platoon commander and company executive officer *What he learned about company command from his company commanders *Dilan’s thoughts on what makes the ideal company commander and why *What makes the company commander...
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The Ghost and General Smith - Chapter 2
We continue "The Ghost and General Smith," a fictional--and frightening--look at the future of the U.S. Marine Corps.
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The Ghost and General Smith - Preface and Chapter 1
This episode includes the preface and chapter 1 of "The Ghost and General Smith," a fictional--and frightening--look at the future of the U.S. Marine Corps. For the written version, please visit:...
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#2--Zachary Schwartz
In this episode, we discuss: *What Zach learned about company command from his time as a platoon commander *What he learned about company command from his company commanders *Zach’s thoughts on what makes the ideal company commander and why *What makes the company commander from hell *How Zach’s...
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#1--Ryan Ayer
In this episode, we discuss: *Ryan’s experience with company commanders up to this point in his career *The factors that distinguished the good from the great company commanders in Ryan’s battalion *What Ryan learned about company command while serving as a rifle platoon commander, combined...
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#11--Rick Atkinson
In this episode, we discuss: *The role that Rick’s father played in his son's interest in the US Army and military history *The role that Rick’s time living in Germany had in his decision to write about World War II *Rick’s interest in a career in the Army and his declined appointment to West…
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#10--John Schmitt
In this episode, we discuss -The emphasis (or lack thereof) placed on self-study, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving during John’s time as a junior officer -The four priorities of lieutenants when John served in the 2nd Marine Division -On then-Major General Al Gray making maneuver...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A podcast of the Warfighting Society, Controversy and Clarity aims to generate critical discussion and honest debate on U.S. military matters. To support the Warfighting Society, please click on "Support" below or visit our Patreon page at www.patreon.com/thewarfightingsocietyAnd if you have questions, comments, or curses, don't hesitate to send them to [email protected].
HOSTED BY
Damien O'Connell
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How many episodes does Controversy & Clarity have?
Controversy & Clarity currently has 73 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Controversy & Clarity about?
A podcast of the Warfighting Society, Controversy and Clarity aims to generate critical discussion and honest debate on U.S. military matters. To support the Warfighting Society, please click on "Support" below or visit our Patreon page at www.patreon.com/thewarfightingsocietyAnd if you have...
How often does Controversy & Clarity release new episodes?
Controversy & Clarity has 73 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to Controversy & Clarity on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Controversy & Clarity?
Controversy & Clarity is created and hosted by Damien O'Connell.
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