A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast

When disaster strikes in the United States we are fortunate to have the National Guard available to bolster and support our civilian first responders. Experts in logistics and transportation, organization and construction as well as medical experts, the Guard is vital in supporting the long term recovery operations that follow any disastrous event. The Guard response to the current COVID-19 pandemic is very much like many other natural disasters that the U.S has endured in the last 50 years. But it's also very different. The pandemic hasn't struck a single region that allows help to arrive from safe staging areas outside the hot zone. The entire nation is vulnerable to this virus, and responders find themselves immersed in aiding citizens at a very personal level. With that level of interaction come the complications of diverse cultures, religious and political views, and a multitude of  multitude of languages other than English. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Michele Devlin and Steve Warnstadt to the studio to examine the navigation of the complex cultural terrain of our great American melting pot. They're joined by our Editor-In-Chief Jacqueline Whitt to discuss what the DoD, along with state level leadership, must do to ensure that Guard troops are best prepared to succeed amongst the diverse culture that is our national strength.

The DoD has [set] a precedent for using its service members for drug tests, for vaccines, for things that they think may be of benefit to the warfighter...I don't see that it would be too wild to also include CBD Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in both marijuana and hemp plants and it's the hot product in the health/self-care market. And it's the perfect topic for us to discuss in the studio at A BETTER PEACE on 4/20 dude. Tina Cancel joins podcast editor Ron Granieri to examine the potential for CBD use in the military health community. Not to be confused with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the other compound that produces the “high” sought with marijuana use, CBD is either the 21st century equivalent of snake oil or an actual wonder cure that can be found in nature. Advocates of CBD claim it treats anything from inflammation to anxiety to epilepsy. Critics point out that the majority of the "data" is anecdotal at best and more study is definitely required. The facts are that it's unregulated and untested by the FDA, and there are no guarantees when you buy a product containing CBD. And its use or even investing in CBD ventures is illegal for military members and federal employees. It can cost you your career, your clearance and possibly even lead to criminal charges. So Tina and Ron ask the question; should it be approved for use treating the ailments of military members and veterans? Tina Cancel is a U.S. Navy Civilian and the Lead Financial Management Analyst for the Navy Working Capital Management Fund Portfolio. She is a member of the AY20 Resident Class at the U.S. Army War College. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Credit:Photo by Washarapol D BinYo Jundang from Pexels

The key thing is relationships. When we build those relationships those are bridges that help us to go throughout all the situations we face in our career as military [members]. One of the finest aspects of the resident class each year at the U.S. Army War College is the cohort of International Fellows (IF). For the last 42 years the best and brightest from our allied nation's militaries have attended class alongside their U.S. counterparts. Bringing the perspectives and experiences of their nation's militaries and cultures they return home with the same from not only their U.S. classmates but the other IFs. In order to capitalize on those experiences and relationships the War College has recently developed the International Fellow Continuing Education Program (IFCEP). A BETTER PEACE welcomes Juan Carlos Correa, Brian Foster, and Jeffrey McDougall to explain the goals of the IFCEP and the outcomes of the first iteration in Mexico City this last year. They joined podcast editor Ron Granieri in the studio to discuss how IFCEP refreshes and enhances bonds that were built in classrooms on Carlisle Barracks and reinforces their importance in today's complex world. Juan Carlos Correa is a Brigadier General in the Colombian Army and the Director of J-7/9 at U.S. Southern Command. He is a graduate of the AY16 Resident Class of the U.S. Army War College.  Brian Foster is a Colonel in the U.S. Army and the Director of the International Fellows Office at the U.S. Army War College. Jeffrey McDougall is a Colonel in the U.S. Army and is the Director of the Defense Planners Course in the Department of Distance Education at the U.S. Army War college. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: AY20 Resident Class International Fellows Photo Credit: U.S. Army War College Photo Lab

It wasn't long before the aircraft were able to fly to much greater altitudes and at greater speeds and get into an environment where humans just could not function correctly and humans became sort of the weak link or the limiting factor Anyone who watches military aviation knows that many believe the F-35 will be the last manned fighter aircraft produced by the United States. Remotely piloted aircraft have been prevalent in the battlespace for at least a decade. Many of the most routine tasks in-flight are accomplished by a machine with a pilot monitoring. But the discussion about the "man in the can" far predates any of the debates that confront us now. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Tim Schultz to discuss the limitations that were placed on aviation development by the insistence that there be a human in the cockpit. Author of The Problem with Pilots: How Physicians, Engineers, and Airpower Enthusiasts Redefined Flight, Schultz lauds the engineers and scientists along with flight surgeons for all of the advancements they were able to make in the aviation industry in spite of the human crew members on board. He joins Senior Editor JP Clark as they look back at the trade offs that have been made in aircraft design to accommodate the pilot. Dr. Timothy Schultz is the Associate Dean of Academics for Electives and Research, U.S. Naval War College and the author of The Problem with Pilots: How Physicians, Engineers, and Airpower Enthusiasts Redefined Flight. COL JP Clark was the Deputy Director for Academic Engagement for the Strategic Studies Institute and a WAR ROOM Senior Editor as well as a student in the AY20 resident class at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Members of the 128th Air Refueling Wing, Milwaukee, Wisc. prepare to land a KC-135 Stratotanker after a training exercise Nov. 3, 2013. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jenna V. Hildebrand/Released

Burden sharing has been an issue in the alliance from the very beginning, from the drafting of the treaty when members of the U.S. Congress wanted to make sure that the Europeans were going to be able to hold up their end of the deal In discussing NATO and our European allies, burden sharing has been a hot topic for the last several years under the current administration. But the fact of the matter is that burden sharing has been an area of concern since the inception of NATO and throughout it's development. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Stanley Sloan to the studio to discuss the current state of NATO and a way ahead for the organization. Sloan, a subject matter expert on NATO and transatlantic relations, joins podcast host Ron Granieri to examine the history of U.S./NATO relations, the growth in membership and the current and future implications for all of its member nations as well as Russia. Stan Sloan is a Visiting Scholar in Political Science at Middlebury College, a Non-resident Senior Fellow in the Scowcroft Center of the Atlantic Council of the United States, and an Associate Fellow at the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy and is the founding Director of the Atlantic Community Initiative. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Press conference by President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. April 12 2017 Photo Credit: NATO Press Office

I think in a lot of ways our job...is to move the dialog out of the Pentagon and into the field. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Brian Linn, renowned student and historian of the U.S. Army as an institution. Linn joins Michael Neiberg in the studio to discuss how he began his work first looking at the counterinsurgency in the Philippines at the turn of the century. The author of eight books on the history of the U.S. Army, Linn's opinion is often sought by military officers trying to find understanding of present day issues in the historical actions of the service. In this episode both Linn and Neiberg share their thoughts on the purpose of historians, effective documentation and successful practices for writing books. Brian Linn is a Professor of History and the Ralph R. Thomas Professor in Liberal Arts, at Texas A&M University. He specializes in military history and war and society in the 20th century. Michael Neiberg is the Chair of War Studies at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: 17th Infantry moving to the front during the Philippine Insurrection. Photo Credit: War Department, B.W. Kilburn, Circa 1899-1900 Other releases in the "On Writing" series: BEYOND VIETNAM: SUNK COSTS IN PRESIDENTIAL STRATEGYEXPLOITING THE VOID: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MODERN PROPAGANDA(ON WRITING)COLONELS WRITING FOR COLONELS (RE-RELEASE)ON WRITING: MILITARY AUTHORS AND THE HARDING PROJECT (RE-RELEASE)FIGHTING TOGETHER: THE CANADIAN-AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP IN WORLD WAR II(ON WRITING)THE SCHOLAR AND THE STRATEGIST:SIR HEW STRACHAN(ON WRITING)COLONELS WRITING FOR COLONELSON WRITING: MILITARY AUTHORS AND THE HARDING PROJECTUNDERSTANDING RUSSIAN CULTURE: JADE McGLYNN(ON WRITING)CHINA’S SHIFTING HISTORY: STEPHEN PLATT (ON WRITING)UNDERSTANDING CHINA THROUGH ITS RECRAFTED PAST: RANA MITTER (ON WRITING)WRITING ON A DEADLINE: SHASHANK JOSHI (ON WRITING)REAGAN AS THE PEACEMAKER: WILL INBODEN(ON WRITING)RUSSIAN IMPERIAL HISTORY-THEN AND NOW: ALEXANDER MIKABERIDZE(ON WRITING)TAKING COMMAND: TAMI DAVIS BIDDLE(ON WRITING)HOW TO WRITE THE HISTORY THAT HASN’T ENDED: IAN ONA JOHNSON(ON WRITING)AS TIME GOES BY: UNDERSTANDING FREE & VICHY FRANCE (ON WRITING)SHIFTING MENTAL GEARS: PHILIP CAPUTO (ON WRITING)GENERAL HISTORY: H.R. McMASTER (ON WRITING)WHEN A GENERAL WRITES FOR THE GENERALIST (ON WRITING)THE VALUE OF WRITTEN THOUGHT: STEPHEN VOGEL (ON WRITING)TWO AUTHORS UNDER THE SAME ROOF (ON WRITING)THE MORE BEAUTIFUL QUESTION: ALEXANDRA RICHIE (ON WRITING)FACT AND FICTION: THE RECOUNTING OF WWII WITH JAMES HOLLAND (ON WRITING)LIBERATION FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE LIBERATED (ON WRITING)PARIS 1919: A CONVERSATION WITH MARGARET MACMILLAN (ON WRITING)THE CHALLENGES OF WRITING BIOGRAPHIES (ON WRITING)FINDING “WOW” MOMENTS (AND OTHER WRITING TIPS FOR SENIOR LEADERS) (ON WRITING)THE ART OF WRITING HISTORY (ON WRITING)

My abiding memory of colonels is that they really are the pivot between the engine room and the ultimate decision makers particularly, for example, in a corps headquarters. A BETTER PEACE welcomes General Timothy Radford of the British Army to the studio to discuss his perspectives on strategic leadership, vision and effect. Radford was in Carlisle to address the 2020 resident class of the U.S. Army War College as part of the annual Kermit Roosevelt Exchange Lecture series. He joins WAR ROOM Editor-In-Chief Jacqueline Whitt to consider the challenges ahead as he will soon move into his new role as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) in Apr 2020. General Timothy B. Radford, CB, DSO, OBE is a British Army officer who has served as Commander Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and as Deputy Commander Resolute Support Mission. He will assume the appointment as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) in Apr 2020. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Formal group portrait of members of the Maquis (3rd Section, Compagnie Louis) posing with weapons and banners at Luzy, France, September 1944. Kenneth Mackenzie and David Sillitoe of SOE are in the centre. Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Imperial War Museums, photographer unknown. Other releases in the "Senior Leader Perspectives" series: A CONVERSATION WITH THE HONORABLE MELISSA DALTON OF DEFENSE POLICYCAMPAIGNING IN THE PACIFIC: A CONVERSATION WITH GEN FLYNNA TRANSATLANTIC PERSPECTIVE ON NATO (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)OBSERVATIONS FROM NATO’S NORTHERN FRONT (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)ALLIES ARE MORE THAN FRIENDS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)THE CHALLENGES OF KEEPING SPACE SECURE (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)TENSIONS AND PARADOXES FACING SENIOR LEADERS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)LEADING AND WINNING IN GREAT POWER COMPETITION (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)LEARNING ABOUT LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE CLASSICS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)WHAT IT TAKES FOR COLONELS TO BE SUCCESSFUL (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)BALANCING BETWEEN CIVILIAN LIFE AND SERVICE IN THE NATIONAL GUARD“WHAT GOT YOU HERE WON’T GET YOU THERE” — AND OTHER CAUTIONARY TALES FOR LEADERSWHEN THE MILITARY IS NOT IN CHARGE: DEFENSE SUPPORT TO CIVIL AUTHORITIESWHAT DOES ‘SUCCESS’ MEAN AS A STRATEGIC LEADER?STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND CHANGING THE US ARMY IN EUROPETHE CHALLENGES OF SENIOR LEADER COMMUNICATIONTHE SENIOR NCO AS A STRATEGIC LEADERSTRATEGIC LEADERSHIP FROM AN AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVEWHAT DO THE BRITS THINK OF AMERICAN OFFICERS?PERSPECTIVES ON STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP — GEN. ROBIN RAND, U.S. AIR FORCE GLOBAL STRIKE COMMANDGROWING AFRICAN PEACEKEEPING CAPACITY

Martial Citizenship...is the concept that since soldiers serve the state the state therefore owes something back. The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service released its report "Inspired to Serve" on 25 March 2020. The Commission's two primary statutory charges were: (1) to "conduct a review of the military selective service process" and (2) to "consider methods to increase participation in military, national, and public service in order to address national security and other public service needs of the Nation." In concert with this release A BETTER PEACE welcomes Amy Rutenberg to the studio to discuss how the Vietnam-era draft affected society and how the U.S. transitioned to the all volunteer force. She joins our Editor-In-Chief Jacqueline Whitt to examine the unintended consequences and discriminations of draft policy, deferments and the evolution of what she calls the martial citizen. "Inspired to Serve" Final Report "Inspired to Serve" Executive Summary Amy Rutenberg is an Assistant Professor at Iowa State University. She researches the connections among war, U.S. society, citizenship, and gender. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: (L) Curtis W. Tarr, director of the Selective Service System, turns the drum containing capsules of draft numbers at the annual draft lottery, 1972  (Top Center) Draft-age Americans being counseled by Mark Satin (far left) at the Anti-Draft Programme office on Spadina Avenue in Toronto, August 1967. (R) Congressman Alexander Pirnie (R-NY) drawing the first capsule for the Selective Service draft, Dec 1, 1969. (Bottom Center) Front cover of the 25 Mar 2020 report released by The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. Photo Credit: (L) Library of Congress, Thomas J. O'Halloran, (TopCenter) Laura Jones and Bennett Jones Phillips, (R) Selective Service System, (Bottom Center) The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service

Don't just know the soldier in the uniform, know the man or the woman behind the uniform. Military members, law enforcement officers, and first responders are sadly no strangers to tragedy and trauma. How well individuals and organizations respond to those events, and just as importantly avoid future events, can be highly dependent on the leadership displayed during those trying times. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Drew Deaton to discuss effective leadership in the midst of and prior to trauma. He joins our podcast editor Ron Granieri in the studio to share his thoughts on effective leadership skills and techniques. Colonel Deaton's Article in Police Chief Magazine can be found here. Andrew Deaton is a Colonel and a Military Police officer in the U.S. Army. He is also a student in the AY20 Resident Class of the U.S. Army War College. Ronald Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE.  The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: As part of the Army family, you know your buddies to your left and right, and you may recognize early warning signs of distress that sometimes precede suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Be vigilant to buddy check and make sure your team is doing well. Reach Out, Talk & Listen, we are all a part of the team and need everyone to stay strong. Photo Credit: US Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Caleb Barrieau

I think the most important thing the public should know about classification is that there are rules. The Department of Defense does not just make up what they think is classified. No, NOTHING in this episode is classified. If you're a novice to the world of classification, have you ever wondered who classifies something and why they do it, and can it ever be declassified? A BETTER PEACE welcomes Alison Goldsmith to the studio to discuss the DoD's classification system with our podcast editor Ronald Granieri. The two address some of the rules and guidelines along with strengths and weaknesses of the process that produces Secret, Top Secret and even Special Access resources and programs. Alison Goldsmith is a member of the AY20 Resident class of the U.S. Army War College and a Program Security Manager for the Navy Engineering Logistics Office (NELO). Ronald Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Credit: DoD Documents and Labels, compiled by Buck Haberichter