This is the first part of a two-part conversation with CPT John Sinclair and MSG Wes Gatewood discussing Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha’s (SFOD-A) conducting Opposing Force or RED Force operations against a US Army Brigade Combat Team Augmented by US Army Special Operations Forces in a Large Scale Combat Training scenario across all domains (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human) at the National Training Center (NTC).

CPT Sinclair and MSG Gatewood share their experience
executing REDSOF (RED SF) at the National Training Center. Highlighting insights on how they prepared for this rotation, what worked and what did not work for their Detachment, and their biggest take-a-ways from the rotation.

CPT Sinclair and MSG Gatewood have the distinct honor of being the first non-Burro Team members to be guests on the podcast and the Off the Radar team thank them for their time, dedication to the profession, and willingness to help improve the force through attending a Combat Training Center (CTC) rotation and sharing their lessons learned.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- Preparing for REDSOF rotation at home station

- Highlighting the importance of training the fundamental / basics

- Integrating with 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment “Black
Horse” and Task Force Reaper

- What functions can REDSOF leverage from TF Reaper: Intel, Fires, Information Operations, Electronic Warfare

- Working by, with, and through a partner force; partnered
leadership and soldiers; role players filling other roles

- Value of NTC; training on intelligence cycle, targeting cycling, visualization of the battlefield, mission command, forecasting operations, and developing commander’s intent

- Training against a live free-thinking enemy and having to adjust to the battlefield as it changes

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds