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The Jedburgh Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Fran Racioppi
The Jedburgh Podcast empowers leaders to achieve success on their journey to transform themselves and their organizations. Creator, Host and Special Forces Green Beret Fran Racioppi interviews the world’s most prominent visionaries, drivers of change, and those dedicated to winning. Each episode is an in-depth discussion with trailblazers who’ve earned success through a dedication to talent development, preparation, introspection, and the drive to get things done. Our conversation will empower listeners to define success and operate at an elite level, regardless of the task at hand. In May 1943 the Allied Forces determined a new type of leader was required to win World War II. Operation Jedburgh parachuted three-man teams deep behind enemy lines to win no matter the challenge. Jedburghs lived by the mantra “how you prepare today, determines success tomorrow.” Today's leaders are no different. Fran speaks with leaders in public service, business, athletics, and academics about their personal leadership stories of success, failure, and the road to continuous improvement. Our discussions focus on the character traits of elite performance used by Special Operations Forces to recruit, assess, select and retain elite performers. Through this lens, we show listeners that success in any field must be earned every day. We strive for each listener to take valuable lessons learned and concrete action steps to improve themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Although developed and used by US Special Operations Forces, these characteristics are inherently applicable to building resilient and successful organizations in any sector or industry, as well as in the betterment of our personal and professional lives. The Nine Characteristics of Elite Performance: - Drive: Growth mindset, be better than yesterday, continuous self-improvement - Resiliency: Perseverance in the face of challenges - Adaptability: Adjust one’s behavior to the situation - Humility: Recognize that you do not have all the answers; a willing learner maintains accurate self-awareness - Integrity: Understand what is legal and correct and align actions and words to both - Effective Intelligence: apply one’s experience and knowledge to the situation - Team Ability: Prioritize organizational needs ahead of oneself, work as a cohesive unit - Curiosity: Exploring the unknown, questioning the status quo in pursuit of better - Emotional Strength: Emotional control in stressful situations brings calm to chaos Fran Racioppi is the Founder & CEO of FRsix where he leads operations in critical infrastructure projects. He served 13 years in the US Army Special Forces as a Green Beret. Fran is passionate about building the world's best leaders and the impact our special operators have in service
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- 3 days ago59 min
#211: Influencing Human Behavior - US Army Special Operations Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs Colonels Steve Santucci, Jeff Uherka & Bob Cusick
The battlefield is more than guns, aircraft, ships and vehicles. Sometimes the most important weapon is an adversary’s perception. Since inception, US Army Special Forces have been central to shaping human behavior and enemy perspective; still the most important factors in military decision making. The objective isn’t always to change what someone believes. Sometimes we only need to change what they do, where they go, or the decision they make long enough to create an advantage. That’s the battlefield of Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs. From the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum at Fort Bragg, I sat down with Colonel Steve Santucci, Colonel Jeff Uherka, and Colonel Bob Cusick to go inside two of the most misunderstood capabilities in Army Special Operations and examine how Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs are shaping today’s battlefield. For these units, the mission is about precision influence. Identify the decision maker. Understand how they think. Force a decision. Create time and space. Then give commanders an opportunity to exploit it. Artificial intelligence, large language models, cyber capabilities, drones, and the digital information environment are creating new ways to understand and influence an audience. But on a battlefield where communications can be degraded and the electromagnetic spectrum contested, some of the answers may come from the past. Information warfare is also being consolidated under Army Special Operations, and the Army is building a more unified approach to how it trains and employs information professionals across the force. On today’s battlefield, destroying the enemy may not always be the most powerful option. If we can influence what they see, shape what they understand, and change the decisions they make, we may never have to fire a shot.Highlights:00:00 - Introduction02:59 - Defining PSYOPs and Civil Affairs Missions07:50 - Behavior vs. Mindset10:57 - Delivery Mechanisms13:25 - Language and Culture17:25 - Recruitment21:07 - Qualification Course Pipelines27:18 - Decentralization to Special Forces Groups31:31 - Consolidation of Army Information Operations39:53 - Future Operating Capabilities44:58 - Daily HabitsQuotes"“At the end of the day, it's about providing influence and deception’s word of commanders, to provide them time, space, and advantage on the battlefield.”“Can we change their mind just for a couple minutes, to divert, to deceive, to create opportunity for blue forces.”“Influence the influencers, and through an indigenous approach, they are able to change the minds of the population for our mutual objectives.”“We have to pull back on the history machine and relearn the things that we've forgotten about over the years.”“Technology can't replace the human to human eye to eye contact to influence a key leader.”“They don't want us to do anything other than offer ideas and solutions that they just hadn't considered.”<span style="background-color: tra
- 2 weeks ago24 min
#210: Strength & Honor - America's Response Monument LTG(R) John Mulholland & Longtab Brewing Founder Dave Holland
On September 11, 2001, America was attacked. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost. As night fell, the world waited as America planned their response. Within weeks, a small force of Green Berets, CIA Paramilitary Case Officers, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment flight crews and Army Rangers would launch one of the most extraordinary unconventional warfare campaigns in military history.The first Special Forces units who touched down in Afghanistan would forever become known as the Horse Soldiers.Twenty-five years later, their legacy stands at Ground Zero, where a lone Green Beret on horseback remains in permanent overwatch of the Twin Towers, their memory and the legacy of all those lost.From the base of the Horse Soldier statue in New York City’s Liberty Park, Fran Racioppi sat down with retired Lieutenant General John Mulholland, who commanded 5th Special Forces Group on September 11 and led America into Afghanistan. LTG Mulholland shares his firsthand account of the attacks, the mission into Afghanistan, and the extraordinary effort to bring America’s Response Monument to Ground Zero.Also joining us is Dave Holland, Green Beret and founder of Longtab Brewing, whose personal connection to 9/11 and service in Afghanistan inspired Strength And Honor, an American Strong Ale honoring the Horse Soldiers and their legacy.This is America’s response, a tribute to the men who achieved the impossible, and a promise that their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Strength and Honor! De Oppresso Liber!Highlights:00:00 Introduction02:00 General Mulholland’s 9/11 Response05:41 The First Infiltrations into Afghanistan08:37 The Horse Soldiers’ Legacy10:02 The Story Behind the Statue14:13 Bringing the Monument to Ground Zero18:40 The “Strength and Honor” Beer Tribute22:05 Supporting the Green Beret FoundationQuotes:"We're going to war in Afghanistan."“This will be an unconventional war.""Smoking a hole in the mountainside doesn't do me any good. We can't replace the hook. We can't replace you. We damn sure can't replace that A-team.""We are here. We are here with you. Get us up there where we can do some damage.""It took an entire team working together.""That needs to be on Ground Zero in permanent overwatch of the Twin Towers."</l
- 3 weeks ago40 min
#209: Delivering Lethality, Survivability & Mobility - XVIII Airborne Corps Joint Innovation Outpost Colonel Tom Monaghan
Speed of innovation will be the deciding factor on today’s battlefields. The technology soldiers need to survive and win cannot take years to field. For generations, one of the Army’s greatest challenges has been closing the distance between the soldier who identifies a need and the acquisition system responsible for delivering the solution.At Fort Bragg, the XVIII Airborne Corps is attacking that problem head on.Colonel Tom Monaghan, has a mission - build the Joint Innovation Outpost - putting soldiers, acquisition professionals, industry, funding, testing, and Army program offices together to accelerate the development of solutions. No red tape. No delays. No endless discussion about contract vehicles. Just lethality, survivability, and mobility.Colonel Monaghan joins Fran Racioppi to discuss the theory behind the JIOP, Dragon’s Lair, artificial intelligence, and why some of the Army’s best innovations are coming directly from soldiers closest to the problem; including counter-drone and unmanned systems. For Monaghan, the leadership philosophy behind that mission is just as important as the technology: provide clarity, listen to the soldier, and solve problems. The JIOP is proving that acquisition does not always have to begin thousands of miles from the operational force. Sometimes the person with the answer is already standing on the drop zone, sitting inside the vehicle, or carrying the equipment that needs to change.Innovate. Accelerate. Dominate. The Joint Innovation Outpost is building a model designed to ensure that when America's soldiers identify the battlefield need, the Army can move fast enough to solve it.HIGHLIGHTS:00:00 Introduction1:58 Welcome to The Jedburgh Podcast3:10 Building the Joint Innovation Outpost5:52 Closing the Gap8:10 Army Acquisition12:11 Soldier-Driven Innovation16:57 Prioritizing Battlefield Innovation17:01 The Immediate Response Force18:46 Dragon’s Lair and Accelerating New Ideas19:22 Why Army Innovation Takes So Long21:02 The Smartest Generation of Soldiers23:28 Turning Soldier Ideas Into Battlefield Solutions26:15 Artificial Intelligence and Human Decision-Making27:28 Cost, Technology and Scalability31:14 Innovate, Accelerate, Dominate32:12 Measuring the JIOP’s Success33:09 The Future of Army Innovation34:25 Solving Problems35:04 Three ThingsQuotes“We concentrate on anything that improves soldier lethality, survivability, mobility.” “We imagine a world where we close that time gap. We actually get rid of that valley of death.” “The normal process that I just talked about, that should have taken three to five years.” “There’s always a human in the loop.”“No piece of software is going to answer every question available.”“From an acquisition perspective, we always say cost, schedule, and performance. You never get all three.”“Solve problems. Support the soldier. Get them what they need.”“There’s nothing I ca
- Sep 24, 202658 min
#208: Small, Light, Fast, Agile...Lethal - 1st Special Forces Command BG Joseph Wortham, CSM Lee Strong, CW5 Jerry Brown
The battlefield is changing faster than ever before. Drones can find you. Technology can expose you. America’s adversaries are adapting in weeks instead of years. For U.S. Army Special Forces, rapid evolution while maintaining the people, partnerships, and culture that have made Special Forces effective for generations is the key to success on today’s battlefield.From the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum at Fort Bragg, Fran Racioppi sat down with the command team of 1st Special Forces Command: Brigadier General Joseph Wortham, Command Sergeant Major Lee Strong, and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jerry Brown. Together, they lead the US Army’s Green Berets, Civil Affairs, Psychological Operations, and the soldiers who enable them. Their mission - prepare, train and equip Army Special Operations Forces to win against an increasingly complex global threat.We discuss whether the legendary 12-man ODA is still the right formation for the wars of 2030 and 2040, and why the future may not require changing its core, but building new capabilities around it. Robotics and unmanned systems are rapidly becoming part of that evolution, including the development of specialized technical expertise designed to keep pace with technology that can change in a matter of weeks.But technology alone will never define Special Forces. We examine where Green Berets are supporting large-scale combat operations, how Special Forces can shape the deep fight for conventional commanders, and why Psychological Operations, Civil Affairs, and trusted partner forces become even more important against peer adversaries. The battlefield may look different from the one this generation fought throughout the Global War on Terror, but the requirement remains the same: create options, influence the fight, and give the joint force an advantage before the enemy ever knows we’re there.The next generation of Army Special Operations will fight with tools its predecessors could never have imagined. But its greatest advantage will remain the same: exceptional people, trusted partners, and a culture built to take on the missions others cannot.Highlights:0:00 Introduction 2:23 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast 4:05 Importance of Partnerships 8:07 Command Priorities and Readiness 11:41 Evaluating the ODA Structure 20:02 Incorporating Robotics and Unmanned Systems 33:34 Special Forces in LSCO 47:28 Culture of the RegimentQuotes: “We don’t like to do anything by ourselves. We do everything with a partner.”“Those partnerships have to be genuine, they have to be authentic.”“It starts by being a genuine, authentic, good partner, not transactional.”“Humans are more important than hardware.”“When you take really good people that are fit, intelligent, of high character, and you assign them a mission, it doesn’t really matter what their MOS is."“How much demand can we put on them before they reach the point of saturation?”“It’s the smallest package we can get all of the warfighting functions in.”“It cannot be an additional task or an additional hat for
- Sep 11, 202643 min
#207: No Place to Hide - 18th Field Artillery Brigade Colonel Andy Hercik & Command Sergeant Major George Cabrera
Before ground forces can advance, the battlefield has to be shaped. Air defenses have to come down. Enemy weapons have to be destroyed. And the adversaries' will to combat America has to be lessened. This is the job of field artillery; a branch of the US Army where speed, distance, precision, and results determine who controls the battlefield before ground forces ever make contact.From Fort Bragg, NC, the 18th Field Artillery Brigade leads the Army’s rapidly deployable artillery units. As the largest HIMARS brigade, its soldiers must be prepared to deploy anywhere in the world within 10 days of notification and deliver long-range precision fires in support of the XVIII Airborne Corps, its divisions, and Special Operations Forces.Fran Racioppi sat down with the command team of Colonel Andy Hercik and Command Sergeant Major George Cabrera, to talk about what it takes to maintain readiness as the battlefield rapidly changes. After two decades of counterinsurgency, field artillery is now leading in large-scale combat operations where kilometers matter, ammunition and logistics can determine operational reach, and the ability to shoot, move, communicate, and survive has become unforgiving.Drones have made the battlefield increasingly transparent. A cell phone can expose a position. A lingering electromagnetic signature can make a HIMARS crew a target. The answer isn't abandoning the fundamentals. It's executing them better, while using lessons from today's conflicts to change how soldiers train and how the Army develops the capabilities required for tomorrow.We also discuss what true integration between conventional forces and Special Operations looks like, why the targeting process has to bring every capability together from the beginning, and the responsibility of NCOs and officers to build a formation that doesn't simply comply with standards, but understands why those standards keep soldiers alive and make them lethal.When the call comes, there won't be time to prepare. 18th Field Artillery Brigade has to be ready.Highlights00:00 Introduction01:12 Mission of the 18th Field Artillery Brigade04:16 NCO Leadership and Force Readiness05:38 Subordinate Units and Capabilities09:55 Refocusing on Core Field Artillery Basics13:49 Passing Down Lessons Learned14:40 Interoperability and Special Operations Forces Integration22:31 What Separates the 18th FA Brigade24:58 Joint Force Integration26:15 Modernization, Innovation, and Ammunition Investment30:15 Drone Warfare and Signature Management36:02 Culture of Commitment and the Warrior Mindset41:15 Driving Decision-Making and Warfighting ReadinessQuotes<span styl
- Sep 2, 20261h 8m
#206: Building The World's Best Special Operators - USAJFKSWCS Command Team MG Jason Slider, CSM Jeff Bochey, CW5 Gary Ostrander
Every Green Beret, Civil Affairs soldier, and Psychological Operations soldier starts somewhere. Before they can operate in the world’s most complex environments, they have to prove they can think, adapt, lead, and perform when the standard is uncompromising. At the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, the mission is simple to say and extraordinarily difficult to execute: build the world’s best special operators, then continue making them better.In this episode, Fran Racioppi travelled to the center of the universe, Fort Bragg, NC, to sit down with the command team responsible for that mission: Major General Jason Slider, Command Sergeant Major Jeff Bochey, and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Gary Ostrander. Together, they lead the organization responsible for assessing, selecting, training, and educating the next generation of Army Special Operations Forces while ensuring today’s operators remain prepared for tomorrow’s fight.The battlefield is changing rapidly. After more than two decades dominated by counterterrorism, SWCS is adapting its training for large-scale combat operations and peer adversaries capable of contesting American forces across every domain. That means integrating robotics and autonomous systems, preparing operators for the digital and information fight, and understanding how artificial intelligence can enhance the force without allowing technology to replace mastery of the fundamentals.But modernization also raises a harder question: how much can we ask one operator to do? As new capabilities emerge, SWCS has to determine what belongs in the baseline skill set, what requires specialized expertise, and how to give operational units new capabilities without adding another burden. From the development of robotics expertise to the evolution of Psychological Operations and information warfare, the institution itself has to adapt as quickly as the battlefield.We also examine the relationship between SWCS, 1st Special Forces Command, and USASOC, and why lessons from operational formations must move rapidly back into the schoolhouse. Training cannot prepare soldiers for the war we just fought. It has to produce leaders who can arrive at their teams on day one, contribute immediately, and adapt to a fight none of us can completely predict.Technology will change. The enemy will change. The battlefield will change. The standard cannot. The responsibility of SWCS is to ensure that whoever earns the right to join Army Special Operations has the competence, character, discipline, and adaptability to carry its legacy into whatever fight comes next. Highlights:0:00 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast4:25 The Mission of SWCS9:36 The Army Special Operations Center of Excellence11:40 Staying Humble & Evolving the Force16:45 Defining the Standard for Lethality19:27 Preparing for Large-Scale Combat Operations24:51 Collaboration Across Army Special Operations29:21 Robotics & the Future of Warfare36:12 Psychological Operations & Information Warfare40:09 Recruiting the Next Generation of Special Operators51:39 Warrant Officer Recruiting & Retention52:29 Preparing Special Operators for Their Hardest Day56:07 Technology Without Losing the Fundam
- Aug 7, 202648 min
#205: Training For Victory - Retired Colonel Frank Sobchak
Building partner forces capable of securing their own future is one of the most enduring and critical missions in Special Forces. In Training For Victory, retired Green Beret Colonel Frank Sobchak shares the core principles of his latest book, offering a deep dive into the strategies that enable Special Operations teams to build trust, cultural understanding, and strategic empathy. This conversation moves beyond conventional narratives, highlighting how consistent advisor pairing and strong alliances are the true combat multipliers that determine mission success. Frank Subject, a professor at the US Naval War College, provides a nuanced look at modern warfare—from Cold War 2.0 dynamics to the importance of the human domain—challenging us to rethink how we define success on the battlefield and how American leadership can continue to make a lasting, positive impact.
- Jul 24, 202624 min
#204: Are Green Berets America's Best Entrepreneurs? Retired Green Beret Ben Harrow
Retired Green Beret Captain Ben Harrow joins the Jedburgh Podcast to discuss how the unique skills honed in the Special Forces translate to business success. We explore how adaptability, resilience, and disciplined execution serve as the foundation for both elite military teams and scalable organizations. Ben shares his journey from recovering from catastrophic injuries to building a successful firm, offering lessons on leadership and empowering others. This conversation provides practical strategies for veterans transitioning to entrepreneurship. We also highlight the importance of the Stars and Stripes classic in preserving the Brotherhood and team culture.
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About The Jedburgh Podcast
The Jedburgh Podcast empowers leaders to achieve success on their journey to transform themselves and their organizations. Creator, Host and Special Forces Green Beret Fran Racioppi interviews the world’s most prominent visionaries, drivers of change, and those dedicated to winning. Each episode is an in-depth discussion with trailblazers who’ve earned success through a dedication to talent development, preparation, introspection, and the drive to get things done. Our conversation will empower listeners to define success and operate at an elite level, regardless of the task at hand. In May 1943 the Allied Forces determined a new type of leader was required to win World War II. Operation Jedburgh parachuted three-man teams deep behind enemy lines to win no matter the challenge. Jedburghs lived by the mantra “how you prepare today, determines success tomorrow.” Today's leaders are no different. Fran speaks with leaders in public service, business, athletics, and academics about their personal leadership stories of success, failure, and the road to continuous improvement. Our discussions focus on the character traits of elite performance used by Special Operations Forces to recruit, assess, select and retain elite performers. Through this lens, we show listeners that success in any field must be earned every day. We strive for each listener to take valuable lessons learned and concrete action steps to improve themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Although developed and used by US Special Operations Forces, these characteristics are inherently applicable to building resilient and successful organizations in any sector or industry, as well as in the betterment of our personal and professional lives. The Nine Characteristics of Elite Performance: - Drive: Growth mindset, be better than yesterday, continuous self-improvement - Resiliency: Perseverance in the face of challenges - Adaptability: Adjust one’s behavior to the situation - Humility: Recognize that you do not have all the answers; a willing learner maintains accurate self-awareness - Integrity: Understand what is legal and correct and align actions and words to both - Effective Intelligence: apply one’s experience and knowledge to the situation - Team Ability: Prioritize organizational needs ahead of oneself, work as a cohesive unit - Curiosity: Exploring the unknown, questioning the status quo in pursuit of better - Emotional Strength: Emotional control in stressful situations brings calm to chaos Fran Racioppi is the Founder & CEO of FRsix where he leads operations in critical infrastructure projects. He served 13 years in the US Army Special Forces as a Green Beret. Fran is passionate about building the world's best leaders and the impact our special operators have in service
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