Controversy & Clarity

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 first day at HKIA *Its role in clearing the airfield of civilians  *The enemy fire 1/8 received *Ni...

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 *Lt Carreiro’s experience in A/1/2 so far including what’s surprised him most *What it’s like having Sgt...

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 understanding of the situation at the airport before arriving  *A/1/8’s first day at HKIA, 14 August 2021 *The...

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 were informed *Sam’s use of TDGs set at HKIA in preparation of the NEO *His understanding of the situation...

*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 should do for their unit *How Clardy’s time teaching at The Basic School and Infantry Officer Course infl...

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 *Where the battalion commander’s place should be on the battlefield *Characteristics of the best and wo...

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 with Second Battalion, Eighth Marines, and how these experiences have influenced him as a leader *His tim...

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 against Army Groups North and Center *The Uman encirclement and what this defeat meant for the Soviets *The...

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 Kiev and the largest battle of encirclement and capture of prisoners in the history of warfare *The Enorm...

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, logic, and problem solving *Gerald’s take on the Dunning-Kruger Effect and whether critical thinking ca...

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 Peznola first heard about what would later be termed maneuver warfare *His time as an instructor at Th...

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 *What it was like working for a Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) *Lindsay’s unusual experience serving fi...

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 know and how well they think they’ll perform vs how they’ll actually perform *How accessing memories ch...

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.

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 Karma, Iraq—what the experience was like and what he learned from it *How Ryan attempted to get his Marine...

In this episode, we conclude the tale of The Ghost and General Smith.

In this episode, we continue the tale of The Ghost and General Smith.

We resume our tale of The Ghost and General Smith with chapter 3.

*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 from hell *The challenges and opportunities (leadership and otherwise) Dilan encountered in commanding...

We continue "The Ghost and General Smith," a fictional--and frightening--look at the future of the U.S. Marine Corps.

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: https://www.themaneuverist.org/post/the-ghost-general-smith-preface-and-chapter-1-by-scott-weibling-jordan-miller-and-matt-tweedy

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 experiences as an instructor at The Basic School shaped his view of company command, his preparations f...

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 anti-armor platoon commander, battalion assistant operations officer. and battalion operations officer *The...

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 Point *What led Rick to leave the Washington Post to pursue military history *What Rick means when he call...

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 warfare the official doctrine of the division -The Marine Corps’ approach to warfighting before it adopt...