Insights from the Fight Podcast

In this episode of Insights from the Fight, Transformation and Lessons Learned Manager - Army (TLLM-Army) Director Colonel Paul Godson, and Lieutenant Colonel Dave Forsha, Lessons Learned Division Chief, detail the evolution of the Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) into TLLM-Army. In July 2026 under the Combined Arms Command (CAC) and the Transformation and Innovation Directorate (TID), TLLM-Army represents a deliberate transition toward synchronizing collections across Centers of Excellence (COEs) helping CAC drive change. TLLM-Army focus efforts to identifying Level 2 and 3 integration issues that span multiple warfighting functions and COEs. By shortening the feedback loop between active combat training centers, home station training, and ongoing operations like Operation Epic Fury, TLLM-Army rapidly translates observations into synchronized DOTMLPF-P solutions to keep pace with modern battlefield dynamics. Complementing this structural realignment is emphasis on technological modernization. TLLM-Army is leveraging artificial intelligence and the Vantage-enabled "Quick Fire" repository to conduct rapid, human-in-the-loop trend and root-cause analyses. These analytical efforts culminate in high-impact publications, like the quarterly Trend Line, delivering immediate, highly readable tactical solutions on pressing issues, such as small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) operations, counter-UAS training, and digitized power management. Specifically tailored to be accessible to the modern warfighter, these resources are available in the field on platforms and the TLLM-Army website to provide leaders with actionable insights to master combat fundamentals, optimize leader development, and enhance unit readiness. TLLM-Army continues to support collections from major training events and operations to share insights with the operational and institutional Army on best practices for the fight today.

In Episode 12 of the Insights from the Fight Podcast, we talk with Colonel Joseph Serowik, military analyst forward with the Security Assistance Group Ukraine (SAG-U), and Lieutenant Colonel Rachel Roberts, the Ukraine Lessons Learned Task Force at U.S. Army Europe Africa (USAREUR-AF). They discuss vital insights emerging from the conflict in Ukraine and how their respective organizations collaborate vertically and horizontally with NATO and Ukrainian partners to capture and disseminate rapid tactical adaptations. They describe an integrated, AI-enabled lessons-learned repository that bridges theater-level developments directly to the warfighter where tactics adapt every six to nine weeks. For military professionals, this discussion provides a critical framework for understanding how joint and multinational structures are evolving to absorb these hard-won lessons at speed. The conversation addresses the lethal realities of a modern transparent battlefield, highlighting developments in electronic warfare (EW), unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and persistent surveillance that speeds an adversary’s kill chain to under three minutes. Additionally, discussion considers re-evaluation of the medical golden hour—where unmanned ground casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) systems and drone-delivered telemedicine change how we look at taking care of Soldiers on the battlefield. This episode challenges leaders to move beyond historical assumptions, foster a bottom-up culture of innovation, and design training to understand how to win in the next peer-level conflict.

In this episode of Insights from the Fight, Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Shawn Carns, of the Combined Arms Command (CAC), discusses CAC’s pivotal role as the intellectual center of the Army and the driving force of modernization, doctrine, and leader development. CSM Carns highlights forward-looking initiatives designed to streamline training and lessons-learned integration, most notably Project Victor and the Army Training Information System (ATIS). CSM Carns amplifies the necessity of maintaining a "human in the loop" to validate AI-generated outputs and the role of AI in professional military education (PME). Transitioning from technical systems to the human dimension, CSM Carns articulates a vision for the modern Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Corps, emphasizing the foundational role of the NCO as the guardian of standards and master trainers. He challenges senior leaders to cultivate "influential communication" over mere compliance. CSM Carns describes how CAC continues to prepare the next generation of strategic-minded NCOs to lead, train, and maintain operational readiness for future fights.

In this episode of the Insights from the Fight podcast, Command Sergeant Major Christopher Prosser of First Army discussed the critical role of First Army as the premier training and validation command for the Army National Guard (Compo 2) and Army Reserve (Compo 3), which collectively represent 52 percent of the Total Army. CSM Prosser outlines First Army’s complex operational mandates, spanning the Global Force Management Allocation Plan (GFMAP), large-scale mobilization operations, and the vital "on-order" missions of constitution and forward-deployed reconstitution. First Army employs an elite cadre of Observer Controller/Trainers (OC/Ts) who are deeply grounded in doctrine and masters of unit training management (UTM). First Army is spearheading cutting-edge, data-driven modernization initiatives. Developing platforms which integrate multi-source readiness and maintenance data from systems of record to inform trainers on unit readiness and an AI-enabled "Novel Training Pipeline" designed to automate resource scheduling, range reservations, and logistics, enabling commanders to focus exclusively on execution and decision-making. Complementing these technological innovations, CSM Prosser emphasizes that the human dimension, NCO expertise, and disciplined initiative remain the ultimate arbiters of battlefield success. He challenges noncommissioned officers and senior leaders to “embrace ambiguity” as a vehicle for creative tactical problem-solving. To maintain the highest standard of advisory capability, First Army aggressively invests in the professional development of its own cadre, ensuring that over 25 percent of its personnel attend Additional Skill Identifier (ASI) producing schools annually to foster return-on-investment expertise for the broader operational force. CSM Prosser also offers critical insights on contemporary leadership.

In this episode of the "Insights from the Fight" Podcast, Lieutenant Colonels Aaron Childers and Chad Corbin to discuss the 10th Mountain Division’s deployment to establish Joint Task Force (JTF) Southern Border. The guests discuss the complexities involved in setting the theater within the continental United States, navigating strict intelligence oversight constraints, and forging critical partnerships with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), interagency partners, and the Mexican military. This episode highlights the value of mastering foundational doctrinal processes, such as the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP), design, and establishing an operational framework to enable innovation in an austere, interagency environment. Listeners will gain insights into the operationalization of intelligence at echelon, the real-world testing of emerging technologies like Counter-UAS, rapid adaptation, and synchronizing operations across a vast joint operations area. This dialogue serves as an essential resource for Army officers and NCOs seeking to understand the nuances of homeland defense operations, interagency coordination, and the continuous evolution of large-scale maneuver doctrine applied to complex, non-traditional threats.

This episode of the "Insights from the Fight" podcast features a discussion with key leaders from the 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, following their successful rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). The team details their innovative approach to massing all brigade Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into a single, battalion-level specialty platoon, a decision that profoundly enhanced their sensor-to-shooter capabilities. They provide a detailed account of how they simplified their kill chain, managed a target-rich environment to prosecute a high volume of targets. The conversation delves into the critical lessons learned from operating in a contested environment against a near-peer adversary. The guests discuss the immense challenges of processing vast amounts of sensor data, the limitations of analog communication systems, and the constant threat of enemy electronic warfare. Looking forward, they offer compelling recommendations for the wider Army, including the development of multi-functional UAS platoons with organic strike and EW capabilities, the urgent need for AI-enabled digital fire solutions, and crucial talent management considerations for selecting and training the next generation of UAS operators.

In this episode of the CALL Insight from the Fight Podcast, Chief Warrant Officer Two Nathan Shea—winner of the 2026 Army Best Drone Innovation Competition—shares his frontline experience and insights on the rapidly evolving role of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in modern Army operations. Drawing from his extensive background working with shadow UAS platforms, multinational training with Ukrainian forces, and innovative drone-on-drone defeat tactics, CW2 Shea highlights the critical shift in how Soldiers must adapt and modify UAS in dynamic threat environments. He provides valuable perspectives on the importance of innovation, realistic training with opposing UAS forces, and rapid adaptation to electronic warfare threats. This episode highlights the growing necessity for Army leaders to invest in talent management, integrated UAS and maneuver training, and networked collaboration to maintain tactical understanding of the common operations picture.

In this podcast, two Army Civilian Professionals from the Deployment Process Modernization Office, Stacey Lee and James Swenson, share their extensive experience preparing and executing military deployment operations. The discussion delves into practical advice and resources available to units to enhance their deployment readiness. The "Deployer's Toolbox" and the "Command Deployment Discipline Program (CDDP)" are highlighted as essential tools for commanders and unit movement officers (UMOs). These resources provide checklists, best practices, and a framework for preparing, exercising, and ultimately excelling at deployment operations. The conversation emphasizes a crucial mindset: commanders and units cannot view deployment as a logistical task owned solely by specialists. Instead, deployment ops must be treated as a core operational competency, integrated into daily battle rhythms and training exercises.

On this episode, Colonel Matthew P. Leclair, the Commander for the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) and the 196th Infantry Brigade, provided a comprehensive overview of lessons from the Army's newest combat training center. He emphasized JPMRC's primary functions are leadership development and the validation of new organizations and equipment within the Indo-Pacific region. Unlike traditional training centers, JPMRC is designed to be exportable, bringing realistic, multi-domain training to diverse environments such as the jungles of Hawaii and the arctic conditions of Alaska. This approach allows for training alongside regional allies and partners, directly supporting the U.S. Army Pacific's (USARPAC) Operation Pathways and enhancing interoperability. Colonel Leclair detailed the complexities of planning and executing training across such wide and varied operating environments. He highlighted the importance of mastering fundamental warfighting skills regardless of the environment, including reconnaissance, security, and the effective use of fires.

In this episode of the Center for Army Lessons Learned Podcast, host Mr. Jeremy Stermer engages with Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Daniel Harrison, Command Sergeant Major Kirby Odom, and Staff Sergeant John Barsanti of 1-12 Infantry to discuss their experiences and lessons learned during their mission along the southern border. The discussion begins with an overview of the initial challenges faced when the unit received orders to support the border mission, including logistical hurdles, and the need for rapid planning. The leaders emphasize the importance of building relationships with local law enforcement, particularly the Border Patrol, to facilitate effective operations. Key Highlights: Insights into the complexities of military operations in support of homeland security, the significance of interagency collaboration, and the ongoing need for adaptability and effective communication in achieving mission success. See CALL’s JTF Southern Border Mission Support Report, and CALL 25-957 DSCA and the Targeting Working Group: Lessons from the North Carolina National Guard’s Hurricane Helene Response.