Visiting Normandy and touring the beaches from D-Day, June 6, 1944, is a powerful experience. It is an experience that all American citizens should plan to do. There are incredible stories of American servicemembers that left their homes to serve and sacrifice for a cause greater than themselves. It is important to remember and honor these heroes. Many people do this every year as there are approximately 1.7 million people who visit the Normandy American Cemetery annually. In this podcast episode, I speak with a tour guide, Yannick Sterke, who gives tours of the Normandy battlefields. In the summer of 2022, I took a three day tour with Yannick. He is a wealth of knowledge. He showed our group significant places including Omaha beach, Utah beach, Point du Hoc, and Saint Lo. At each place, he told us about the history of D-Day and the invasion of Normandy with a lot of powerful stories. Yannick and I kept in touch and he agreed to do an interview to talk about the history of World War II, D-Day, the Battle of Normandy, and his work showing people (including World War II veterans) the battlefields. Check out Yannick's comapny: HQ Company TourVisit HQ Company Tour on Facebook, Instagram, or TripAdvisorCheck out the Normandy American Cemetery where approximately 1.7 million people visit each year. Additional Books to Read: Operation Jubilee: Dieppe, 1941: The Folly and the SacrificeThe Dead and Those About to Die: The Big Red One at Omaha Beach by John C. McManusOmaha Beach D-Day June 6 1944 by Joseph BalkoskiThe Bedford Boys by Alex Kershaw HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the show, subscribe in Apple podcasts, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. Visit the website. E-mail: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com  Check out our Tours: Alexandria History Tours provides guided tours of Old Town Alexandria with a focus on George Washington, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War. Use promo code “PMECOMPLETE” for a 10% discount.

In the year 1780, South Carolina was in the grip of violence and turmoil. On December 3, 1780, General Nathanael Greene assumed command of the southern department from General Horatio Gates. Gates, the hero of Saratoga, had struggled in the Carolinas most notably at the disastrous battle of Camden. The Continental Congress relented to General Washington’s preferred commander: Nathanael Greene. Thus, Greene left his post at West Point and traveled south. General Greene had a series of challenging decisions in front of him. How was he going to rebuild a nearly destroyed army? How was he going to recruit and train his forces to eventually challenge General Cornwallis? The task ahead of him was daunting. In the face of overwhelming odds, he made a militarily unorthodox decision: He split his army in half. In command of the other half of his army was General Daniel Morgan, a brawler from the Virginia backcountry. Morgan was a veteran of the French and Indian War. He was captured and held as a POW after the failed invasion of Quebec. He later distinguished himself as one of the heroes of the Saratoga campaign. In January 1781, Morgan was also faced with improbable odds. As he commanded General Greene’s “flying army”, Cornwallis sent Lt. Col. “Bloody Ban” Tarleton to pursue Morgan. On January 17, 1781, General Morgan made a stand in a local cow pasture in northwest South Carolina. We know this location as Cowpens. It was here that Morgan achieved one of the most tactically brilliant victories in American military history. We know Morgan as the “Old Wagoner”, but he could just as easily be called the American Hannibal. Check out part three of the series and learn more about what happened at the Battle of Cowpens! HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the show, subscribe in Apple podcasts, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. Visit the website. E-mail: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com  Check out our Tours: Alexandria History Tours provides guided tours of Old Town Alexandria with a focus on George Washington, the Revolutionary, and the Civil War. Use promo code “PMECOMPLETE” for a 10% discount.   Further Reading:  A Devil of a Whipping  William Washington, American Light Dragoon: A Continental Cavalry Leader in the War of Independence The Road to Guilford Courthouse Daniel Morgan: A Revolutionary Life Kings Mountain and Cowpens Nathanael Greene: A Biography of the American Revolution South Carolina and the American Revolution To the End of the World: Nathanael Greene, Charles Cornwallis, and the Race to the Dan

General Jason Q. Bohm (Maj. Gen., USMC) is the author of a recently published book entitled Washington’s Marines: The Origins of the Corps and the American Revolution, 1775-1777. In this interview, we discuss why and how the Marine Corps was founded on November 10, 1775. General Bohm explains that General Washington did not initially support the Marines. However, the Marines played a pivotal role during the “Ten Crucial Days.” This was the period from December 25, 1776, through January 3, 1777. It included key battles at Trenton, Assunpink Creek, and Princeton. The Marines’ heroic actions and fighting spirit helped General Washington during one of the lowest points of the Revolutionary War. Furthermore, it firmly established the Marines’ reputation as America’s premiere fighting force.  In this interview, we discuss the following: The Marines were supposed to be used for a naval campaign against the British in Halifax, Nova Scotia. General Bohm tells us why it never happened.  Samuel Nicholas. We know him as our first commandant. Was he really commandant though? Who was this Philadelphia Quaker?Recruiting and retention. Who were the young men that came to Tun Tavern? And why Tun Tavern?The first Marine Corps deployment was to the Bahamas. Sounds like a nice deployment! But did the Marines know anything about amphibious operations in March 1776?The New York campaign and the events that led to the Continental Armies’ low point in December 1776.The “Ten Crucial Days” included the Battles of Trenton, Assunpink Creek, and Princeton. The Marines played a critical role in helping Washington’s army snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Implications for the current Marine Corps. What lessons can we learn from our Marine forefathers? Washington's Marines can be purchased through  Savas Beatie or Amazon About the Author: General Jason Q. Bohm (Mag. Gen., USMC) is a Marine Corps infantryman with over 30 years of experience. General Bohm has served at every level from platoon commander to commanding general. His past assignments include strategic planner with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Director of the Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfighting School (EWS). He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing as well as master’s degrees in military studies and in national security studies. General Bohm has written award-winning articles for the Marine Corps Gazette. He is also the author of From the Cold War to ISIL: One Marine’s Journey (Naval Institute Press, 2019).  General Bohm’s first book is available on Amazon. Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com Revolutionary War and George Washington Tours in Alexandria, VA: www.alexandriahistorytours.com use promo code "pmecomplete" to get a 10% discount.  If you like the podcast, please rate and review on iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Don't forget to subscribe and be on the lookout for Part Three of the American Guerillas series.

The American Guerillas series continues with part two: “The Sword of the Lord and Gideon”. After the British invasion of South Carolina, American forces had their backs to the wall. But many Patriot militia units refused to give up. They fought valiantly using guerilla style tactics. In this episode, we discuss those tactics in depth.  This episode will cover the following:  The Battle of Musgrove’s MillThe Battle of Kings Mountain and the legend of the Over Mountain MenThe Swamp Fox, Francis Marion’s campaign in the low countryThe Battle of Blackstock’s PlantationKey leaders on the American side: Colonel Isaac Shelby, Colonel William Campbell as well as Thomas Sumter and Francis Marion Key leaders on the British side: Major Patrick Ferguson After listening to this episode, subscribe and stay tuned for American Guerillas Part Three.  Business update: My company, Alexandria History Tours, provides history tours in Old Town Alexandria, VA. We have a George Washington tour, a Revolutionary War tour, plus Civil War stops on our tours! Check out the website and learn more.   Podcast website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com to see maps and pictures.  HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the show and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth.  Check out the show on Twitter and Facebook To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com

This is the first episode in a series on the Revolutionary War in the Carolinas. The series is called “American Guerillas” and part one is titled “War in the Carolinas”. This episode will cover a lot of ground and begin with an overview of the American Revolution up until the British invasion of Charleston in 1780. After a summary of the major milestones of the Revolution, the episode will cover the following:  Why the British shifted their strategy to the CarolinasKey leaders on the British side: Cornwallis and TarletonKey leaders on the American side: William Moultrie and Horatio GatesSiege warfare tactics that the British used to take CharlestonThe massacre at the WaxhawsThe Battle of CamdenBattlefield tactics during the Revolutionary War After listening to this episode, check out “American Guerillas Part Two: The Sword of the Lord and Gideon”. Business Update: Alexandria History Tours is open for business, providing history tours in Alexandria, VA. We have a George Washington tour, a Revolutionary War tour, and Civil War history stops on our tours! Check out the website and learn more.  Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com to see maps and pictures.  HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the show and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth.  Check out the show on Twitter and Facebook To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com

Col. Grant Newsham (USMC-Ret.), has a warning for America: China is at war with us. It is time for Americans to understand that China does not believe war starts with the deployment of missiles, tanks, and infantry. From the perspective of the People's Republic of China (PRC), war has already begun. Furthermore, over the last several decades, China has used influence operations, economic policies, political warfare, and lawfare to cripple America. The results have left American communities jobless with rampant drug use, deaths of despair, and social disfunction. As one example, fentanyl related drug overdoses caused 70,000 American deaths in 2021. This number is higher than the number of Americans killed during the Vietnam War. The chemical components of fentanyl are manufactured in China.     After decades of economic growth and political warfare, China has undergone one of the most significant military build-ups during a period of "peace." What are their next moves? As China has trained, mobilized, and built up its army and navy, the obvious question is for what purpose?  In this interview, we discuss these questions and much more.  Interview topics include: China’s current military capabilities: Key strengths and weaknessesChina has a mission: To defeat the United States and they believe that war is already taking place.Does China believe they can successfully invade Taiwan?If China does attack Taiwan, what would the attack look like? How would the United States respond? Is nuclear war possible?What is military-civilian fusion?How does China think of Comprehensive National Power (CNP)How have American elites both in business and politics helped to facilitate China's rise to power.On the American business class and Wall Street, Grant says, "You can't expect to win if you're funding your enemies."  Check out the book: When China Attacks A Warning to America  Biography: Grant Newsham is a Senior Fellow with the Center for Security Policy. He is also a Research Fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies focusing on Asia-Pacific defense, political, and economic matters. Grant is a retired U.S. Marine Colonel and was the first U.S. Marine Liaison Officer to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. He also served as reserve head of intelligence for Marine Forces Pacific, and was the U.S. Marine Attaché, US Embassy Tokyo on two occasions. Check out Grant's work at the Center for Security Policy. Find Grant on Twitter: @NewshamGrant HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the interview and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com

On December 19, 1777, George Washington led the Continental Army onto a high plateau twenty miles northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After fighting the British at the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown, Washington entered camp with a little over 12,000 soldiers. By mid-February, that number had dropped in half. Disease ravaged camp. Soldiers starved. Many of them were down to their last shirt. Some walked into camp barefoot. As if the problems couldn’t get worse, most soldiers didn’t know if or when they would get paid for their service.  Despite the many difficulties, General Washington was determined to pull the army through the winter. He faced multiple threats to his command both from within the army and from Congress. Although Valley Forge did not involve any large battle, the army faced one of its toughest challenges of the Revolutionary War. If it could survive and hold together, then the American fight for independence would continue.   Through a combination of leadership and determination, Washington and his army were able to persevere. By the summer of 1778, the soldiers that survived the winter emerged hardened and ready for a fight. In this podcast episode, we will study what happened at Valley Forge with a focus on Washington’s leadership and the many decisions that he had to make.  We will begin the episode by imagining what order Washington might have given prior to occupying camp. Then we will focus on the following topics: How did Washington prevent a mutiny? What was the Conway Cabal and how did Washington overcome it?Who was the odd Prussian Captain that arrived at Valley Forge in February?How did the experience at Valley Forge shape Washington’s political mindset?What personnel decisions did Washington make? How was morale maintained?What caused death and desertion? Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com to see maps and pictures. The website will also have a list of sources and additional information to study what happened at Valley Forge.  HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the show and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth.  Check out the show on Twitter and Facebook To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com

Wake Island was the site of a famous battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II. By December 7, 1941, it was a small (but growing) naval air station (NAS). The construction and development of the island began in January 1941. As Pacific Fleet Commander, Admiral Kimmel, recognized the vulnerability of the island, Marines were brought in to defend it in August 1941. On December 8, 1941, the Japanese attacked Wake Island with a series of aerial bombardments. On December 11, the Japanese attempted their first invasion of the island. But they were soundly defeated. The Marine defenders bloodied a much larger Japanese task force. Additionally, the fighting men of Wake won the first tactical victory of the Pacific and gave America hope that it could fight back and win. This was a much-needed morale boost only a few days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It would take the Japanese task force another 12 days with two aircraft carriers and 1,000 more landing forces to overwhelm the Marines defending the island and finally take it.  In this solo podcast, I cover the battle from the point of view of the Marine Corps Commanding Officer, Major James P.S. Devereux. I also integrate the writing of Private First Class (PFC) John R. Himelrick. This is the story of how Marines, sailors, soldiers, and even civilians were able to defend the island for 16 days against nearly impossible odds. Without reinforcements, it was only a matter of time before the island fell.  The primary defenders of the island were Marines from First Defense Battalion and VMF 211. This episode explores how the Marines fought and what lessons can still be learned today. With a strong focus on Major Devereux’s decision making, this episode tries to challenge the listener to think about “What would you do?” “How would you react amidst the ‘fog of war’”? Wake Island’s American defenders did surrender on December 23, 1941. But the deck was stacked against them from day one. There are a lot of “what ifs” that surround its defenses? I cover these counterfactuals in the episode. Furthermore, this battle is good considering what the Marine Corps is hoping to accomplish with Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO). Wake Island was meant to be an EABO. Therefore, it can provide relevant lessons for today’s operating environment.    Check out the website to see maps, which are helpful to view while listening to the podcast.  Primary Sources: Major Devereux’s Book:  The Story of Wake IslandPFC Himelrick’s diary entries. Available through the Marine Corps History Division upon request.  The Defense of Wake by Lt. Col. R.D. Heinl, Jr. published in 1947“The Battle of Wake Island” article by Gregory J.W. Urwin   HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the interview and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com   Check out the show on Twitter and Facebook To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com

Is the United States Military weak? The Heritage Foundation has fired a shot across the bow with its “2023 Index of U.S. Military Strength.” The Index concludes that the U.S. military in its current posture is “weak.” The Pentagon might not like the report. But, my guest, Dakota Wood, is calling things as they are rather than the way people would like them to be.  “Nobody likes their baby being called ugly. But the facts are what they are.” -Dakota Wood The 2023 Index starts with an assessment of the operating environment from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. Dakota explains that the Index is looking at American military power within a two major-regional conflict (MRC) framework. The Index analyses enemy threats through the lens of “intent and capability.” The focus is on Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and terrorist groups like ISIS. The Index then shifts to a detailed overview of each U.S. military branch in terms of capacity, capability, and readiness. After grading each branch individually, the Index comes up with an aggregate grade of “weak.” This is not an indictment on any individual service member or unit. Dakota explains that this is a combination of years of underfunding, misuse of resources, and a “profound lack of seriousness.”  Topics of discussion: The purpose behind the Index and its target audienceHow two major-regional conflicts (MRCs) was developed as the framework for the IndexWhy the Index assesses the overall operating environment as “favorable”We dive into two specific “competitors”: Russia and ChinaBreaking down U.S. service branches: The Army is “marginal”; the U.S. Navy is “weak”; the Air Force is “very weak”; the Marine Corps is “strong”; the Space Force is “weak”; and nuclear capabilities are “strong” but trending toward “marginal” Find the “2023 Index of U.S. Military Strength” at www.Heritage.org/military  Connect with Dakota on LinkedIn and follow him at The Heritage Foundation About the guest: Dakota Wood is a Senior Research Fellow, Defense Programs, Center for National Defense at The Heritage Foundation. He served America for two decades in the U.S. Marine Corps. His research and writing focuses on programs, capabilities, operational concepts, and strategies of the U.S. Department of Defense and military services to assess their utility in ensuring the United States has the ability to protect and promote its critical national security interests. Mr. Wood originated and currently serves as the editor for Heritage’s “Index of U.S. Military Strength.” HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the interview and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com   Check out the show on Twitter and Facebook To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com

How did the U.S. recover from the devastation of Pearl Harbor and win one of the most epic battles in naval history? Was war in the Pacific inevitable or were there diplomatic off ramps? Why did Japan attack America on December 7, 1941? Did America really know in advance that an attack was coming? My guest Dale Jenkins helps answer these questions in his book, Diplomats and Admirals. We speak at length about these topics in our interview. I thought our deep dive into the Battle of Midway was especially fun. Additional topics include: Diplomatic breakdowns that led to war between the U.S. and JapanHow the Japanese were able to carry out the Pearl Harbor attack with “total surprise”U.S. intelligence that broke Japanese codes and learned about the Japanese plans at MidwayHow the U.S. won the Battle of Midway and nearly lost it allU.S. heroism at the Battle of MidwayLessons on leadership to include Admiral Nimitz’s battle plan The principles of carrier tactics and how carrier battles were fought and won Dale Jenkins spent five years reading and researching. This book is a culmination of his efforts. I am glad to release this interview as we mark the anniversary of Pearl Harbor and remember the day that will live in infamy on December 7, 1941.  Listen to the interview and then check out Dale’s book here and his website.  About the Author: Dale Jenkins is a former US Navy officer who served on a destroyer in the Pacific and for a time was home-ported in Yokosuka, Japan. Pacific Fleet commitments took him to the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore. While on active duty, he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal. His business career was primarily in international banking, and he was also a staff director at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. Dale currently serves on the Samuel Eliot Morison Committee of the Naval Order of the United Sates, New York, and as a Regional Director of the Naval War College Foundation. As a result of his active-duty experience and new revelations, Dale provides insight into the diplomacy and strategies of the Pacific region. He has degrees in history and business from Harvard and Columbia. HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the interview and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com   To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com

Stuart Scheller served in the Marine Corps as an infantry officer for seventeen years. His five deployments included combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. When he was a Lieutenant Colonel, Scheller served as a battalion commander at the Marine Corps School of Infantry (SOI). In the summer of 2021, U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan. The withdrawal was poorly planned and hastily executed. The Taliban took over the entire country and surrounded Kabul airport. As Marines scrambled to secure the airport, a suicide attack caused the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers. Frustrated by these events, Stuart Scheller felt compelled to speak out. He made a public video that criticized military leadership. Shortly after releasing the video, he was fired from his job as a battalion commander. He then publicly resigned from the Marine Corps and continued to be critical of both the military and Marine Corps leadership. As a result, he was placed in the brig and court-martialed before leaving the Marine Corps in December 2021. The public nature of his call for accountability stirred a lot of controversy.   In the interview, we discuss his call for accountability as well as the following: What motivated Stuart Scheller to join the Marine CorpsHow he became disillusioned with the overall strategy in Afghanistan Moral courage and when it’s time to speak upWhat was going through his head as he prepared to make his first public call for accountabilityHow the actions of General John K. Singlaub in the 1970s influenced his criticism of General McKenzieStuart Scheller’s contrarian views to include his thoughts on General MattisThe movie Black Hawk Dawn, the publication Task & Purpose, and books by Malcolm GladwellScheller’s current political causes to include his support for Senate candidate Don Bolduc in New Hampshire Check out the videos: Stuart Scheller’s first video, second video (from the bus), and third video  Stuart Scheller’s website: https://authenticamericans.com/  Follow him on Twitter: @stuartscheller and Facebook Check out his book: Crisis of Command: How We Lost Trust and Confidence in America’s Generals and Politicians Check out my recent article on accountability at The American Mind. Also, my book review of Angelo Codevilla’s book, America’s Rise and Fall among Nations. HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the interview and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com   To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com

In this interview, Grant Newsham discusses the state of the Japanese military as well as current events in the Indo-Pacific theater. Grant has first-hand experience helping develop the Japan Self-Defense Force’s (JSDF) amphibious capabilities. In this interview, we cover the following: An overview of the JSDF and why it has been underfunded and underappreciated for years.Why the Japanese needed to improve their amphibious capabilities and improve their joint operations. Shifting attitudes in Japan toward the militaryHow Grant and other American liaison officers worked to improve the JSDF Differences in American and Japanese approaches to training with a specific focus on Exercises Dawn Blitz and Iron Fist from 2013The current state of the JSDF and ability to work with U.S. armed forces nearly a decade later We also talk current events including: Analysis of China’s 20th Communist Party CongressHow China’s zero COVID policy is designed to condition the population for hardship and to eliminate resistance to Xi JinpingNorth Korea’s continued belligerence South Korea’s political situationAustralia and U.S. relations and ability to deter China Biography: Grant Newsham is a Senior Fellow with the Center for Security Policy. He is also a Research Fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies focusing on Asia-Pacific defense, political, and economic matters. Grant is a retired U.S. Marine Colonel and was the first U.S. Marine Liaison Officer to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. He also served as reserve head of intelligence for Marine Forces Pacific, and was the U.S. Marine Attaché, US Embassy Tokyo on two occasions. In March 2023, Grant is planning to publish a book called When China Attacks. Check out Grant's work at the Center for Security Policy. Find Grant on Twitter: @NewshamGrant HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the interview and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth.  To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com  Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com

On this episode of the PME podcast, I welcome back Ian Easton. Ian recently published a book called The Final Struggle: Inside China’s Global Strategy. Topics of discussion include: The prospect of China invading Taiwan and an update from Ian’s first book, The Chinese Invasion ThreatIs Xi Jinping on drugs? Hard to tell. But Ian does mention that his dad and sister were purged. He also spent seven years living in a cave.We discuss “Xi Jinping Thought” which is Marxism infused with Xi Jinping’s worldview and his political philosophy.How China and Xi Jinping use euphemisms to promote dark ideas. For example, the idea of constructing “A Community of Common Destiny for all Mankind.” U.S. policies toward China and how previous administrations have and have not recognized threats from the PRCHow TikTok poses a direct threat to U.S. national securityChina’s social credit system which uses big data analytics and mass surveillanceHow China uses predatory economic policies to its benefit while hurting the U.S.   Biography: Ian Easton is a Senior Director at the Project 2049 Institute, where he studies defense and security issues involving the People's Republic of China. Previously, he was a visiting fellow at the Japan Institute for International Affairs, a China analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses, and a researcher for the Asia Bureau of Defense News. Ian holds an M.A. in China Studies from National Chengchi University in Taiwan and a B.A. in International Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He studied Mandarin at Fudan University in Shanghai and National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei.   Buy the book: The Final Struggle Ian’s first book: The Chinese Invasion Threat Follow him on Twitter @Ian_M_Easton and at the Project 2049 Institute   HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the interview and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth.    I recently started a Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/pmecomplete Please consider showing your support for the show by becoming a patron.    To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com  Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com

Former Navy officer, Thibaut Delloue, has seen firsthand the problems that have plagued the US surface Navy for years. His book, The Wardroom, begins as a memoir. However, it turns into a straightforward assessment of issues that have led to several high-profile accidents, which included the collisions of the USS John S. McCain and USS Fitzgerald. Both warships crashed in 2017 and resulted in the deaths of 17 sailors.  We discuss Thibaut’s experience as a surface warfare officer (SWO) to include his training and lack thereof. Thibaut served on the destroyer USS Carney. His experience included tracking Russian submarines and battling ISIS in Libya. Topics of discussion also include:  An overview of the surface Navy and the areas of operations known as “fleets”How a Navy officer becomes a SWOWhy the current training and readiness pipeline is insufficientThe inability of the surface Navy to be ready for future wars unless changes are madeThe leadership and command climate within the surface Navy that prioritizes bureaucracy over real leadershipThe recent spate of high-profile accidents and the many causes that led to themThe difference between the US surface Navy and other Navies including the Chinese Navy Thibaut has written about the military for publications like Task & Purpose, the US Naval Institute, War on the Rocks, and The War Horse. He now works in education in Nashville, Tennessee.  Check out his website to see more of his writings and background: https://thibautdelloue.com/ His book can be found on Amazon.    HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the interview and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth.    I recently started a Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/pmecomplete Please consider showing your support for the show by becoming a patron.    To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com  Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com

In this interview with Professor Kerry Gershaneck, we discuss his book, Political Warfare: Strategies for Combating China’s Plan to ‘Win without Fighting’. The book was published in 2020 by the Marine Corps University (MCU) press. Topics include: The history of “political warfare” and its roots going back to Vladimir Lenin and the Soviet UnionUnited Front Work and its use as a political warfare toolChinese Communist Party (CCP) ideology and the character of China’s regimeChina’s overall strategy and tactics to “win without fighting”How America used political warfare during the Cold War and then abandoned it in the 1990sChina’s influence in American business, film, education, and mediaThe origins of “One China” policy and how China is applying it to influence geopolitics A brief history of Taiwan after the Chinese civil war America’s changing diplomatic relations with China and Taiwan during the Cold War Current events related to China and Taiwan and the near term prospect for an invasion Check out the book: Political Warfare ABOUT THE AUTHOR Professor Gershaneck is currently a Visiting Scholar (Taiwan Fellow) at the Graduate Institute of East Asian Studies, College of International Affairs, National Chengchi University, with special focus on the People’s Republic of China and their use of political warfare. For a total of seven years, Professor Gershaneck was the Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Royal Thai Naval Academy and the Distinguished Visiting Professor at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, Kingdom of Thailand. Professor Gershaneck has extensive regional security and academic experience in the Asia-Pacific Region. He has consulted for the U.S. government, HQ North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United Nations Command (UNC) in the Republic of Korea, the American Bar Association, and various Asia-Pacific-based organizations.  In academia, he has taught at the university level for more than 25 years, primarily in topics related to National Defense & Regional Security, International Relations, Strategic Communication, Crisis Communication, Leadership Development, and Journalism. A "Mustang" Marine Corps officer, Professor Gershaneck's military experience includes Special Warfare, Counterintelligence, Intelligence, Infantry, Armor, and Strategic Communications and Public Affairs assignments during combat and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.  His awards include the Department of Defense Superior Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.   HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the interview and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth.    I recently started a Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/pmecomplete Please consider showing your support for the show by becoming a patron.    To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com  Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com

In this episode of the PME Podcast, I interview Wesley Morgan. Wes is a journalist and author, who wrote a book called The Hardest Place: The American Military Adrift in Afghanistan’s Pech Valley. The book draws on hundreds of interviews and firsthand accounts from former commanding officers to the soldiers that spent months in the field. The Hardest Place provides a unique insight into many of the mistakes that drew the American military deeper into eastern Afghanistan as well as the country more broadly. In reflecting on and learning from 20 years of war in Afghanistan, this book is a must read. Topics of discussion include: How the U.S. got involved in the Pech Valley and how operations grew larger over timeThe evolution of American strategy from a counterterrorism mission to counterinsurgencyThe difficulty of obtaining accurate and reliable intelligenceHow the military got caught in the middle of tribal disputesChallenges with command and control The U.S. experience in the Pech vs. the Soviet experienceThe arrival of ISIS in the Pech Valley and how their presence changed operationsHow the complexity of the operational environment hindered U.S. efforts in the Pech and Afghanistan overall Follow Wes on Twitter: @wesleymorgan Check out the book  The Hardest Place HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the interview and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth.  I recently started a Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/pmecomplete Please consider showing your support for the show by becoming a patron.  To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com  Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com

This episode of the PME Podcast focuses on the U.S. Navy. My guest is Dr. Henry “Jerry” Hendrix, and he is the author of a book called To Provide and Maintain a Navy. In this interview, we discuss the many challenges that the U.S. Navy faces. Dr. Hendrix thinks that America needs to get serious about the threats from Russia and China in the maritime domain. He argues U.S. defense policy has been too land focused and neglected maritime strategy.    Additional topics include the following: The link between the concept of the “free sea”, natural law, and individual libertyCurrent laws of the sea to include the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) How America’s strategic outlook has shifted from being Naval focused to “continental” focusedThe evolution of both China and Russia’s ambitions from territorial to maritime The development of China’s Navy and their goal to become a “blue water” NavyThe decline of the U.S. Navy in the post-Cold War era U.S. shipbuilding infrastructure relative to China’s shipbuilding infrastructure How the U.S. industrial base consolidated in the post-Cold War era and the impact that the shrinking industrial base has had on America’s ability to re-build a NavyDr. Hendrix sees our Naval policy and America’s overall national security policy as being fundamentally “unserious” The tactical and strategic challenge that the Navy faces specifically as it relates to Anti-Access Aerial Denial (A2AD) weapons Dr. Hendrix book is To Provide and Maintain a Navy Dr. Hendrix has a Twitter account @jerryhendrixII and can also be found at the Sagamore Institute  Two of his recent articles can be found at National Review and Foreign Policy.  HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the interview and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth.  I recently started a Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/pmecomplete Please consider showing your support for the show by becoming a patron.  To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com  Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com

Michael Gordon is the author of Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State. He is currently a National Security Correspondent with The Wall Street Journal. He has covered wars and conflicts for over 35 years with The Wall Street Journal and previously with The New York Times.  In this interview, we discus the last decade of conflict against the Islamic State in which the United States applied a “by, with and through” strategy. This strategy supported Iraqi Security Forces and Syrian Democratic Forces with U.S. advisors in the field as well as multiple intelligence and air assets. Topics covered include the following:  The conditions that allowed ISIS to capture territory in Iraq and SyriaThe capture of Mosul followed by the U.S. developing a strategy to respondThe “By, With and Through” strategy that the U.S. employed based on a Special Forces concept to back local forces in the field of combatWhere the term “Degrade and Destroy” came from and the strategic implications of how it shaped into “Operation Inherent Resolve”Michael discusses his frontline view of the conflict while embedded with Iraq’s Counterterrorism Service (CTS) and Kurdish Peshmerga forcesThe early struggle to take back Mosul and how it led to Lieutenant General Townsend’s “Tactical Directive One” The difference between the Battle of Mosul and the Battle of Raqqa How the U.S. and Russia faced off in SyriaThe current state of “Operation Inherent Resolve” and the current disposition of the Islamic StateLessons learned from “Operation Inherent Resolve” Michael Gordon Bibliography: Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State The Endgame: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Iraq, from George W. Bush to Barack Obama COBRA II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq The Generals’ War Article: “How the War Against ISIS Was Won”  Follow and contact Michael Gordon:  Twitter: @mgordonwsj  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgordonwsj/  E-mail: Michael.gordon@wsj.com and mgwsj@protonmail.com    HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the interview and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com  Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com

In this interview, I speak with Dave Palka. Dave is an artillery officer in the United States Marine Corps. When he was a Captain, he commanded Echo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines out of Camp Lejeune, NC. In March 2016, Echo Battery was inserted into northern Iraq. They formed Task Force Spartan and were given the mission of providing artillery fires to support Iraqi Security Forces preparing for the Battle of Mosul. Over the course of 67 days, Echo Battery endured indirect fire from enemy rockets as well as complex combined arms attacks. In the process, they fought back and fired over 2,000 artillery rounds that set the initial stages for the battle that would lead to ISIS losing Mosul and eventually all their territorial claims to parts of Iraq and Syria.  Echo Battery was one of the first combat units to fight on the ground in Iraq since U.S. forces left in 2011. Echo Battery fought hard as the enemy rocketed their position with 122mm Katyusha rockets. Due to enemy fire, the unit sustained nine casualties including one Marine KIA. That Marine was the Howitzer Section Chief, Staff Sergeant Louis Cardin from Temecula, CA. This episode is dedicated to Staff Sergeant Cardin’s life and legacy. As Palka explains in the interview, SSgt Cardin was a great Marine leader and a great man. Semper Fi! Please check out the website to see pictures of Echo Battery, 2/10 and videos of the pre-deployment training as well as the deployment. www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com   HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like this interview, and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon podcasts. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com  Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com

After 20 years of war in Afghanistan, the United States has pulled out all military forces. The pullout was a debacle. Thirteen Americans tragically lost their lives due to improper planning.  There is no proper way to describe the withdrawal from Afghanistan other than one of the worst foreign policy failures in American history. But there were many years of groundwork leading up to the failure. Now lessons must be learned from our experience in Afghanistan. America needs to study them quick. My guest, Mike Nelson, quotes the late, great Charles Krauthammer who said, “Decline is a choice.” We must choose to be better, and we can start by learning from 20 years of war. My interview with Mike is a crucial step to learning from the last 20 years. In doing so, we firmly commit to restoring American national pride and strategic competence.   About the guest. Mike Nelson is a Visiting Fellow at George Mason University’s National Security Institute and an Army Special Forces veteran with multiple deployments to Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). Topics Covered:  - The rise of the Taliban in the 1990s after the Soviet Union’s defeat - The Taliban’s relationship with Al-Qaeda and the influence of the Haqqani Network - How the U.S. got involved in Afghanistan and why the U.S. decided to overthrow the Taliban - Task Force Dagger and how early success was counterproductive - Why some of the democracy efforts failed. Mike says, “We confused democracy with legitimacy.” - How lessons from the Iraq War were misapplied in Afghanistan specifically the “Surge” strategy - Why negotiations with the Taliban were flawed from the start - How Pakistan enabled the Taliban and worked against U.S. interests  - The power dynamics in the region that include Russian and Chinese interests  - The future of Afghanistan to include how terrorist groups might use the country for operations - Strategy at the national level and how it has failed and will continue to fail unless change occurs  Additional Readings and Resources:  Mike’s article here “It Was the Best of COIN, It Was the Worst of COIN”  Soldiers of God Soldiers of God: With Islamic Warriors in Afghanistan and Pakistan Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History Afghanistan: A Cultural and Political History (Princeton Studies in Muslim Politics Book 45) How Wars End: Why We Always Fight the Last Battle How Wars End: Why We Always Fight the Last Battle Blood Year: The Unraveling of Western Counterterrorism Blood Year: The Unraveling of Western Counterterrorism The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One The Looming Tower The Looming Tower Publisher: Vintage