The Jedburgh Podcast

Modern warfare is no longer defined by who has the biggest force, but by who can adapt the fastest. The battlefield is changing in real time through artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cyber capabilities, and the speed of information. But even in the most advanced operating environments, victory still comes down to disciplined leaders, trusted teams, and soldiers prepared to make decisions under pressure when everything is on the line.

The responsibility for America’s rapid response to any crisis belongs to the Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps.

From their headquarters at Fort Bragg, NC, Fran Racioppi sat down with Lieutenant General Greg Anderson, Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps, to discuss how he is preparing America’s Contingency Corps for combat in an increasingly dangerous world.

Leading more than 80,000 soldiers across the 3rd Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division, 82nd Airborne Division, and 101st Airborne Division, and other subordinate commands, LTG Anderson explains how the Corps balances readiness, speed, and innovation while maintaining the fundamentals that have always defined military success.

Our conversation explores the role of Noncommissioned Officer, the importance of mastering the basics, and why leadership development remains America’s greatest asymmetric advantage. We also discuss the integration of conventional and special operations forces, the concept of compound warfare, and the difference between interoperability and true integration on the battlefield.

LTG Anderson breaks down the Corps’ push toward innovation through initiatives like the Joint Innovation Outpost and experimental exercises that incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven decision-making into operational planning. But even as technology changes warfare, he makes one thing clear; there must always be a human in the loop.

Highlights
0:00 Introduction
2:17 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
4:01 The role of XVIII Airborne Corps
9:57 Empowering NCOs
14:58 Joint Innovation Outpost
19:00 Speeding the Acquisition Timeline
22:53 Keeping A Human in the Loop
25:41 Integration vs Interoperability
29:13 Guiding the Tactical Level Leader
32:48 Compound Warfare Today
37:22 Generational Warfighting Differences
42:00 The XVIII Airborne Corps Formation
45:04 Daily Habits

Quotes
“What operational problems do they expect us to solve for them?”
“If I’ve got a strong team…we’ll typically prevail.”
“Certainly what I’ve learned of any value has come from non-commissioned officers that raised me up.”
“The role of the non-commissioned officer is to become the technical tactical experts in the application of violence at the tactical level.”
“What are we doing to get the NCO corps to that point where they are the Army?”
“How do we use advanced computing to allow us to make decisions more informed and faster than our opponents?”
“The advantage of war fighting is not replacing humans with machine decision making. It’s now creating superhumans that are enabled by it.”
“Interoperability is our ability to work together in an efficient, effective manner.”
“Compound Warfare is the blending of regular and irregular capabilities to create a host of dilemmas for your enemy.”
“You’ll never be able to tell that tactical level leader when things are going to change and shift if you haven’t done the operational level rigor.”
“My role as the general is not to solve the problem or be the hero that comes in, but to think and understand the problem we’re trying to solve.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

Some people don’t just pass through your life. They leave a mark that stays with you long after they’re gone. Not because of what they did in a single moment, but because of how they lived every day, how they showed up for people, and how they made others feel.

From the 2nd Annual Stars and Stripes Classic, Fran Racioppi sat down with Pam Patton and Tom Schneider to honor the life of Major Jeff Toczylowski, a Green Beret whose impact on the people around him is still felt nearly two decades later. A letter Jeff left to his family and friends in the event of his death defines the character of a Green Beret; a warrior and a man who cared more about others than himself. Jeff’s last wish…take everyone to Vegas to celebrate his life.

Today, his legacy lives on through the annual memorial golf outing in his honor, now approaching its 20th year. What started as a way to cope with loss has become something much bigger. A reunion. A celebration. A community built around a single person who continues to be the common thread connecting hundreds of people who gather not to mourn, but to celebrate a life well lived.

Join the Green Beret Foundation and all of Toz’s family and friends this August 1st, at the Five Ponds Golf Course in Warminster, PA to celebrate his service and support all Green Berets past, present and future.

HIGHLIGHTS
0:00 Introduction
1:48 Welcome to the Stars & Stripes Classic
2:27 Who was MAJ Jeff Toczylowski
5:47 The 20th Annual Memorial Golf Tournament
8:51 Vegas Time
13:19 Honoring Toz’s Legacy

QUOTES
“He literally lived every day like it was his last…to the fullest.”
“He impacted a lot of people.”
“It really is like a reunion.”
“The celebration of life is really why everybody comes back.”
“It changed him forever.”
“No matter what’s going on in life, be good to the people around you and live each day to the fullest because today could be it.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

Green Berets are built over time. Special Operations Truth #3: SOF cannot be mass produced. America’s most elite warriors are developed through experience, through leadership, and through the responsibility of developing others. This is the job of the Special Forces Noncommissioned Officer.

In this episode, Fran Racioppi sat down with retired Command Sergeant Major Rob Abernethy to dissect the evolution of the Green Beret NCO, and their officer counterparts, to show how that development shapes the effectiveness of Army Special Operations and national strategy.

CSM Abernethy served nearly four decades in the Army and across special operations from a junior 18E communications sergeant, to the Command Sergeant Major of US Army Special Operations Command and United States European Command. Rob breaks down the role of the NCO as the backbone of the Regiment, the importance of regional alignment in building partner forces, and where Special Forces fits into military strategy from the pre-9/11 period, through the Global War on Terror and into today’s Large Scale Combat Operations.

We also explore the rapid evolution of technology and the challenge of integrating new tools without losing the fundamentals of leadership and warfighting. From artificial intelligence to modern battlefield systems, Rob emphasizes that technology must support the force, not replace the mindset that defines it.

Finally, after retiring as one of the longest serving Green Berets in the Army, CSM Abernethy shares his perspective on transition after service and his current role continuing to develop soldiers through his work at AUSA.

This is a conversation about leadership, evolution, and the responsibility to prepare the next generation of Green Berets for the fight ahead.

HIGHLIGHTS
0:00 Introduction
2:00 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
5:20 From junior to senior NCO on an ODA
15:31 Role of the Team Sergeant
18:52 The culture of a Special Forces team
25:02 Importance of Regional Alignment
32:08 Bridging the generation gap
43:14 American Military Technological Advantage
49:00 Biggest Threat to America
52:18 Remembering Service

QUOTES
“The average age on the teams was much older.”
“Nobody says, ‘Hey, I’m going to join the Army and my goal is to be a sucky soldier.’”
“The Team Sergeant is one of the most critical parts of the team.”
“Over time, what you do is build confidence with the team.”
“The Officer’s success is really the Team’s success and the Team’s success is based on the Officer.”
“Our confidence as a Team Sergeant needs to be projected through the team leader.”
“You have to have a lot of confidence in the team you’re selecting.”
“The administrative stuff makes a difference.”
“The little things absolutely matter.”
“The more astute you are to the environment in which you’re going to operate, the better you’re going to be.”
“In the next 10 years, it’s going to be phenomenal what we actually bring to the battlefield because AI is going to make us that much better.”
“The Department of War is crushing the acquisition process now.”
“Our relationship with our NATO allies has been strong and needed, and still will be needed.”
“One thing that stayed consistent was my desire to be good, to be an expert, and lead by example.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

The conditions service members live in directly affect Military readiness and national security. It’s the responsibility of Congress to authorize military funding to ensure the warfighter has what they need in combat and at home. Every decision impacts the strength of the force and their families.

In this episode, Fran Racioppi sat down with Representative Mike Levin, who serves California’s 49th District and sits on the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs to discuss the policies and decisions shaping today’s military bases. From investments in infrastructure at Camp Pendleton to broader oversight of Veterans Affairs, Congressman Levin outlines why improving living conditions, facilities, and support systems is essential to maintaining a ready and capable force.

Our conversation explores the responsibility of leadership to develop a culture where reporting substandard conditions is encouraged. We also discuss the broader role of Congress in overseeing military operations, and the importance of transparency, strategy, and accountability when American forces are deployed.

Congressman Levin shares his perspective on the war with Iran, his views on the need for checks and balances, and the growing divide that has made bipartisan governance more difficult. He emphasizes that strong institutions require leaders willing to put mission over politics and to ensure that the constitutional framework guiding military action is upheld.
This is a conversation about leadership, accountability, and the systems that support those who serve. It is about ensuring readiness not just on the battlefield, but across the entire force.

Highlights:
0:00 Introduction
1:53 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
3:19 California’s 49th District
6:34 Improving Military Housing
14:25 Status of the Iran War
19:37 Is Iran A Direct Threat To The US?
22:08 Iran’s State Sponsorship of Terrorism
25:20 Negotiating with Iran
28:41 Bridging the Gap

Quotes:
“It is imperative that we treat our veterans and military families with absolute respect.”
“We’ve got real issues with barracks.”
“We’re not looking for the Ritz Carlton. We’re just looking for a decent place.”
“The average member of the military needs a decent place where they can live.”
“The challenge is the lack of clarity about what they’re being asked to do.”
“They didn’t brief us on what the plan was going to be.”
“It’s a war that is unauthorized. It is a war without a clear exit plan.”
“What damage have we done to our allies around the world? A lot.”
“We know less today than we did before the war began.”
“The question is whether or not the military has actually made it a worse problem or has it actually ameliorated the problem.”
“The Iranians have been a horrible regime.”
“I don’t think the President has enough people around him telling him what he needs to hear, not what he wants to hear.”
“Use of military force should be last resort always.”
“I am personally never going to see the other side as my enemy. I see them as my political opponent.”
“Running the United States is not an easy challenge.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.

The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of guests and host Fran Racioppi. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy, nor does Green Beret Foundation endorse any political candidate or any political party.

There is a steady stream of headlines shaping how Veterans view the Department of Veterans Affairs. Disability benefits are being cut. The VA is being privatized. Programs are disappearing. That is the narrative. But is it the reality?

In a social media environment driven by clicks, likes, and engagement, information spreads fast, and too often no one stops to ask whether it is actually true. When it comes to healthcare, benefits, and the systems Veterans rely on, the facts matter.

In this episode, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins joins Fran Racioppi to address those concerns directly and bring clarity to what is actually happening inside the VA. This is not a surface level conversation. It’s a direct response to the questions Veterans are asking right now.

We break down the proposed disability rating regulation enforcement that rocked the Veteran community, what it was intended to do, how it was misinterpreted, and why it was withdrawn within days. We discuss the rollout of the VA’s electronic health record modernization, what’s working, what still needs to improve, and how it will impact care moving forward.

Secretary Collins also addresses the reality of community care and the claims surrounding privatization, clarifying how the VA will always deliver and fund care for Veterans. We talk about workforce challenges, hiring, and the responsibility to ensure Veterans are receiving timely and effective support with a right-sized VA staffing level.

The conversation also focuses on one of the most critical issues facing the Veteran community: suicide prevention. With the majority of Veterans not currently engaged with the VA, the approach must evolve. Outreach must expand, accountability must increase, and programs must show measurable results.

Finally, we cover housing stability through VA home loan programs and the responsibility to ensure Veterans have real options to maintain their homes, but also understand they have a personal responsibility for the financial decisions they make.

This conversation is about clarity and accountability. Because at the end of the day, the mission is simple - deliver results for Veterans.

Highlights
0:00 Introduction
2:31 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast
3:31 Dispelling Disability Rating Misconceptions
10:43 Running A Wartime VA
16:24 Electronic Health Record Modernization
20:09 Is the VA Privatizing Healthcare?
27:51 VA Employee Moral
34:22 Cutting the VASP Program
39:06 Preventing Fraud
43:13 Veteran Suicide Prevention

Quotes
“No one that already had a disability rating was ever going to lose anything.”
“I take full responsibility.”
“Nobody’s getting judged differently.”
“We’re the largest integrated healthcare system in the country. We don’t act like it.”
“There’s no plan for privatization.”
“80% of all new doctors go through the VA in some form.”
“Privatization is thrown around to scare employees and veterans.”
“We’re never going to privatize. Definitely not under my watch. And there’s no mechanism to privatize.”
“There are people invested in a broken system.”
“I have to compete for doctors and nurses with every hospital in the country.”
“Our problem was we had too many people in the wrong places.”
“What are you doing that’s stupid?”
“60% of death by suicide by Veterans have not had any contact with the VA.”
“The VA many times was more concerned about itself than we were about actually finding metrics for the veteran.”
“Capitol Hill has become more driven by the five minute YouTube clip.”

The Jedburgh Podcast is brought to you by OneBrief; enabling military leaders to make innovative, informed and deliberate decisions faster than ever before. Superhuman command wins wars.

Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform, read on our website, and watch the full video version on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.