070 S02 Ep 13 – Now and Then: Experiences and Lessons Learned Over Time at the JRTC as an Observer-Coach-Trainer w/CPT Whitney Strong & CPT Joshua Kent

The Crucible - The JRTC Experience Podcast

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the seventieth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the former Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today’s guests are two seasoned Observer-Coach-Trainers, CPT Whitney Strong and CPT Joshua Kent. This episode is special because it is a compilation of their insights when they first arrived at the Joint Readiness Training Center as well as now towards the end of their assignment. CPT Whitney Strong is an engineer platoon and company OCT for TF-5 (BDE Engineer BN). CPT Joshua Kent is the lead OCT an administrative / logistics ops center OCT for TF Sustainment (BSB / CSSB / DSSB).

In this episode we discuss the lessons learned from company grade officer perspective in preparation for conducting large scale combat operations across multiple domains. Specifically, we focus at large scale combat operations executed at the platoon, company, and battalion echelons, offering perspectives on a variety of topics including combined arms maneuver, transparent battlefield, fires, and contested logistics as well as emerging technologies employment.

We routinely get asked: What’s the daily life of an OCT? Why should you consider becoming a member of the JRTC? And lastly, who are we looking for? Well, we hope that between this episode and the attached information will go a long way to answer those questions. Please checkout https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxeuSwJpaS87pCLAAK2gAn9DQ4HASwF6iO for more info.

Why Join the Joint Readiness Training Center, Operations Group Team?

• Become an expert in Large Scale Combat Operations and Combined Arms Maneuver across multiple domains.
• Directly influence the combat readiness of 8-10x Brigade Combat Teams each year.
• Influence Army Doctrine and emerging TTPs through integration with Centers of Excellence, TRADOC, and CAC.
• Opportunities to observe units and leaders one level up; prepare for your next operational assignment.
• Opportunities to attend military schools and earn a Master’s degree through Northwestern State University.
• Predictable schedule locked one year out, with two dedicated block leave periods each year, and monthly four-day weekend opportunities.

Who Are We Hiring?

• OCTs within the Task Forces:
  • Post KD MAJs (IN, FA, EN, LG, AV) to serve as BN S3 and XO OCTs
  • Post KD CPTs/1SGs (IN, FA, EN, LG, AV) to serve as CO OCTs
  • Post KD Signal, Intel Officers and NCOs to serve as BN Staff OCTs
  • Individuals with BDE experience to serve as BDE OCTs for all MOSs on the BDE Staff.
• TF Zulu or Plans/Exercise Maneuver Control:
  • Post KD Officers and NCOs of all MOSs on a DIV Staff to serve as HICON and EXCON for the rotation.

Part of S02 “If I Would Have Only Known” series.

For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast

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Again, we’d like to thank our guests for participating. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future.

“The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.