WEBVTT 00:00.540 --> 00:03.680 mhm . Thank you . Yeah , mm hmm . 00:07.940 --> 00:10.500 Hello and welcome to SmH talks a 00:10.500 --> 00:12.667 monthly series where Sergeant Major of 00:12.667 --> 00:14.889 the Army , Michael Greenstone discusses 00:14.889 --> 00:17.000 important topics that directly impact 00:17.000 --> 00:19.167 the day to day business of the U . S . 00:19.167 --> 00:21.900 Army This month . Our topic is this is 00:21.900 --> 00:24.350 my squad . This is my squad is an 00:24.350 --> 00:26.480 initiative to build a stronger , more 00:26.480 --> 00:28.680 cohesive bond between soldiers and 00:28.680 --> 00:30.513 their unit so that they know one 00:30.513 --> 00:32.624 another , look out for each other and 00:32.624 --> 00:34.791 work better as a team . We also have a 00:34.791 --> 00:36.990 special guest Sergeant major thomas 00:36.990 --> 00:39.670 paine a Medal of Honor recipient who 00:39.670 --> 00:43.090 helped rescue 70 hostages held by ISIS 00:43.170 --> 00:46.010 during operation Inherent resolve . SmH 00:46.010 --> 00:48.066 and Sergeant Major Payne . Thank you 00:48.066 --> 00:50.177 both for being here . Yeah , I'm glad 00:50.177 --> 00:52.343 to be here in a special guest Medal of 00:52.343 --> 00:54.566 Honor recipient . Sergeant Major Pain . 00:54.566 --> 00:54.250 Thanks for being here and I really 00:54.250 --> 00:57.590 appreciate your service and S . M . A . 00:57.600 --> 01:00.770 What is this is my squad ? Well , this 01:00.770 --> 01:02.937 is something we've really been talking 01:02.937 --> 01:05.103 about for a little over a year now and 01:05.103 --> 01:07.214 I'm I'm still really passionate about 01:07.214 --> 01:09.381 and I'm really excited about it . When 01:09.381 --> 01:11.603 I frame this is a couple of things like 01:11.603 --> 01:13.659 right in the middle , I would say we 01:13.659 --> 01:16.290 focus on leadership , but some people 01:16.300 --> 01:18.467 only heard that we're talking about an 01:18.467 --> 01:20.740 infantry squad leader . So it's not 01:20.740 --> 01:22.851 about an infantry squad leader . This 01:22.851 --> 01:25.073 is about small unit leadership and that 01:25.073 --> 01:27.970 could be , you know , a small unit 01:27.970 --> 01:30.192 leader , whether you're a Department of 01:30.192 --> 01:32.303 the Army civilian , you're a National 01:32.303 --> 01:34.414 Guards soldier and United States Army 01:34.414 --> 01:36.637 Reserve or in active duty soldier . And 01:36.637 --> 01:40.060 it's not necessarily a squad , 01:40.130 --> 01:42.620 a rifle squad . This is about small 01:42.620 --> 01:45.060 unit leadership , how we treat each 01:45.060 --> 01:48.830 other and how we act within the squad , 01:48.870 --> 01:51.660 how we build cohesive teams that are 01:51.660 --> 01:54.510 fit , disciplined and well trained and 01:54.510 --> 01:56.760 that's what it means to be in my squad 01:57.740 --> 02:00.460 And start major pain . The 75th Ranger 02:00.460 --> 02:02.900 regiment is an example of how effective 02:02.910 --> 02:05.021 team cohesion can be . What were some 02:05.021 --> 02:06.966 of the things you noticed when you 02:06.966 --> 02:09.077 joined the 75th ranger regiment ? You 02:09.077 --> 02:11.188 know , looking back at my time in the 02:11.188 --> 02:13.132 75th Ranger regiment is the United 02:13.132 --> 02:15.299 States military's premiere large scale 02:15.299 --> 02:14.970 special operations force made up with 02:14.970 --> 02:17.137 some of the most elite soldiers in the 02:17.137 --> 02:19.248 United States military . And I looked 02:19.248 --> 02:21.359 back at my first squad leader and the 02:21.359 --> 02:23.359 impact that he had in my career . I 02:23.359 --> 02:25.414 originally went to Ako first platoon 02:25.414 --> 02:27.414 weapons Squad . My , my first squad 02:27.414 --> 02:29.637 leader was a silver star recipient from 02:29.637 --> 02:31.859 the Battle of Takur Ghar . You also had 02:31.859 --> 02:33.748 to meddle on recipients from that 02:33.748 --> 02:35.859 battle and how important , you know , 02:35.860 --> 02:38.138 the squad leaders were in that platoon . 02:38.138 --> 02:40.082 The team leaders , you know , they 02:40.082 --> 02:42.249 brought me in , they prepared me , you 02:42.249 --> 02:44.360 know , for combat and they brought me 02:44.360 --> 02:46.582 up as a , you know , as a young man and 02:46.582 --> 02:46.370 you know , there's some things that 02:46.370 --> 02:48.592 your father can teach you about being a 02:48.592 --> 02:50.759 man , then you joined the regiment and 02:50.759 --> 02:50.600 they , you know , they took you to a 02:50.600 --> 02:52.711 different level and they , you know , 02:52.711 --> 02:54.544 the importance of that team room 02:54.544 --> 02:56.656 atmosphere , that squad area . It's a 02:56.656 --> 02:58.780 place where , you know , I felt 02:58.780 --> 03:01.002 comfortable and it's um , you look back 03:01.002 --> 03:03.224 and you know , there's some times where 03:03.224 --> 03:05.336 we had some difficult conversations , 03:05.336 --> 03:07.502 you know , you're part of each other's 03:07.502 --> 03:10.090 lives and um , not only back end that 03:10.100 --> 03:11.989 your whole life , but also on the 03:11.989 --> 03:14.211 battlefield and therefore there for you 03:14.211 --> 03:16.211 both on the battlefield and off the 03:16.211 --> 03:18.267 battlefield . And uh , sorry , major 03:18.267 --> 03:20.720 pain that initial impression that a 03:20.720 --> 03:22.720 soldier gets when they get to a new 03:22.720 --> 03:24.609 unit . I know you joined the 75th 03:24.609 --> 03:26.776 ranger regiment , but what can leaders 03:26.776 --> 03:29.430 do to help their soldiers have a better 03:29.440 --> 03:31.662 first impression because it , it really 03:31.662 --> 03:33.773 sets them up for how they're going to 03:33.773 --> 03:36.180 be in that unit is bring them in , 03:36.190 --> 03:38.079 bring them into that squat area . 03:38.079 --> 03:40.190 They're now part of your family , you 03:40.190 --> 03:42.523 know , your first squad that , you know , 03:42.523 --> 03:44.746 that is your family coming , you know , 03:44.746 --> 03:46.912 joining the military . And um , it was 03:46.912 --> 03:49.079 a great family atmosphere , joined the 03:49.079 --> 03:51.190 regiment and looking back at it . You 03:51.190 --> 03:53.357 know , they , they brought the best of 03:53.357 --> 03:53.330 me . You think about inspiration . You 03:53.330 --> 03:55.497 know , the inspiration starts from all 03:55.497 --> 03:57.719 the way from the top , all the way down 03:57.719 --> 04:00.052 to that basic range of private . And um , 04:00.052 --> 04:02.108 I had the opportunity to engage with 04:02.108 --> 04:04.274 some of the graduating grass classes . 04:04.274 --> 04:03.980 The ranger assessment and selection 04:03.980 --> 04:05.980 program , you know , opportunity to 04:05.980 --> 04:08.091 earn your scroll in your tambourine . 04:08.091 --> 04:10.258 And I was inspired by those , you know 04:10.258 --> 04:12.424 those young men that were rangers that 04:12.424 --> 04:14.647 are now in our formation ? It's great . 04:14.740 --> 04:17.120 Yeah and I think for those lessons 04:17.120 --> 04:19.231 learned right there you can hear that 04:19.231 --> 04:21.453 and what the the whole armies learned . 04:21.453 --> 04:23.676 How do where does that begin ? You know 04:23.676 --> 04:25.842 how do I receive somebody in my unit ? 04:25.842 --> 04:27.953 It may start before they leave . It's 04:27.953 --> 04:30.220 about being a good sponsor . But if you 04:30.220 --> 04:32.276 listen to what some major Payne says 04:32.276 --> 04:34.331 from the 1st 2nd , you're part of an 04:34.331 --> 04:36.850 organization that starts when you leave 04:36.850 --> 04:38.739 your old organization or at least 04:38.739 --> 04:40.961 starts when you're going from a I . T . 04:40.961 --> 04:42.961 And then how do you re bring people 04:42.961 --> 04:44.990 into your organization ? Is so 04:44.990 --> 04:47.810 important . We may not all have a metal 04:47.810 --> 04:50.130 honor recipient or a silver star . But 04:50.130 --> 04:52.297 do we have our best foot forward ? Did 04:52.297 --> 04:55.340 we put our most dedicated N . C . O . S 04:55.340 --> 04:57.320 at that reception unit ? Did I do 04:57.320 --> 04:59.376 everything that makes sure that that 04:59.376 --> 05:01.510 person is set up to be a part of a 05:01.510 --> 05:04.880 great cohesive team From the first day 05:04.900 --> 05:07.650 they step on the post . And I still 05:07.650 --> 05:10.780 remember a young soldier as I was . I'm 05:10.790 --> 05:12.790 I'm driving to Fort Campbell and we 05:12.790 --> 05:14.846 talked about braise and those things 05:14.846 --> 05:17.012 they give you that just makes you feel 05:17.012 --> 05:18.790 part of your unit . And I still 05:18.790 --> 05:20.901 remember I'm driving to Fort Campbell 05:20.901 --> 05:20.550 and I go you know I'm gonna be in the 05:20.550 --> 05:22.840 101st I get to wear that patch And it 05:22.840 --> 05:24.840 was so important that I got to wear 05:24.840 --> 05:26.951 that patch . So how do you bring them 05:26.951 --> 05:29.062 in ? How do you issue the beret ? How 05:29.062 --> 05:31.229 do you issue them a patch ? How do you 05:31.229 --> 05:33.396 sponsors to them in ? How do you bring 05:33.396 --> 05:35.618 their families in ? Is that part of the 05:35.618 --> 05:38.100 small cohesive team ? And some units do 05:38.100 --> 05:40.100 it really well ? And I think we all 05:40.100 --> 05:42.100 need to do a little bit better with 05:42.100 --> 05:44.100 that . Thank us , me . And the next 05:44.100 --> 05:44.090 question I have for both of you , but 05:44.090 --> 05:46.257 we'll start off with some major pain . 05:46.257 --> 05:48.423 And what are some of the attributes of 05:48.423 --> 05:50.479 an effective unit that you've seen ? 05:50.479 --> 05:52.646 It's that commitment to far exceed the 05:52.646 --> 05:54.868 standard , You know , not just meet the 05:54.868 --> 05:57.034 army standard , but far exceeded . And 05:57.034 --> 05:57.020 then also that commitment to one 05:57.020 --> 05:59.187 another to inspire each other to bring 05:59.187 --> 06:02.930 out the best in one another . And it's 06:02.930 --> 06:05.700 also about ownership , you know , being 06:05.700 --> 06:09.670 a part of a team . Um it's , it's such 06:09.670 --> 06:13.020 a , I really like the ownership part is 06:13.020 --> 06:16.860 because if I walk up to my house , you 06:16.860 --> 06:19.082 know , I want it to be clean and neat . 06:19.082 --> 06:21.780 If it's , you know , my daughter or if 06:21.780 --> 06:24.830 it's my soldier , I'm committed to that 06:24.840 --> 06:27.070 or if the soldier says that's my 06:27.070 --> 06:29.620 sergeant , that's what it means and it 06:29.620 --> 06:31.870 goes , it's not , you know , top to 06:31.870 --> 06:34.420 bottom , it's bottom to top is where we 06:34.420 --> 06:36.870 have that ownership , They're mission 06:36.870 --> 06:38.920 focused , They have , you know , a 06:38.920 --> 06:42.400 great mindset and I think that's part 06:42.400 --> 06:44.678 of it . It's not somebody else's squad , 06:44.678 --> 06:46.900 it's my squad and I think that's really 06:46.900 --> 06:49.011 a part of that . And this question is 06:49.011 --> 06:51.011 for both of you and we'll start off 06:51.011 --> 06:53.122 with you again , sorry , major pain . 06:53.122 --> 06:55.344 But how can leaders help uh , implement 06:55.344 --> 06:57.456 these changes into their unit ? We'll 06:57.456 --> 06:59.622 be the best version of yourself always 06:59.622 --> 07:01.678 strive to , like I said before , far 07:01.678 --> 07:03.900 exceed the standard . You know , look , 07:03.900 --> 07:06.011 you know , do some self awareness and 07:06.011 --> 07:05.980 see where you , where you stand in as 07:05.980 --> 07:08.570 individual and try to be the best 07:08.570 --> 07:10.570 leader that you can be too for your 07:10.570 --> 07:13.790 soldiers . Yeah . I think 07:13.790 --> 07:16.650 sometimes when we talk about , you know , 07:16.650 --> 07:20.320 my squad and how do I get to know them 07:20.440 --> 07:23.250 and build fit , discipline , uh , 07:23.260 --> 07:26.120 cohesive teams . Sometimes we say , 07:26.120 --> 07:28.460 well , I'm doing that , you know , how 07:28.460 --> 07:30.460 can I implement this thing ? Well , 07:30.460 --> 07:32.738 this is not new and some organizations , 07:32.738 --> 07:34.849 it's actually not new , but I'll give 07:34.849 --> 07:37.500 you an example of how I think we're , 07:37.500 --> 07:39.833 we may be missing the mark a little bit . 07:39.833 --> 07:42.000 I was , I was out and I was in a small 07:42.000 --> 07:44.590 squad area and there was a squad leader 07:44.590 --> 07:46.950 there and I asked him , I said , well , 07:46.960 --> 07:50.100 have you called the family and the Ngos ? 07:50.110 --> 07:52.950 Absolutely not man . Why , why ? 07:52.950 --> 07:55.061 Absolutely not . I said , well , this 07:55.061 --> 07:57.117 is important as well , I wouldn't do 07:57.117 --> 07:59.339 that . I said , well in my squad and my 07:59.339 --> 08:02.370 team , I know my teammates and we 08:02.370 --> 08:04.370 shouldn't have the attitude that we 08:04.370 --> 08:06.592 wouldn't call the family . It should be 08:06.592 --> 08:08.759 the exact opposite . Of course they're 08:08.759 --> 08:10.814 in my squad , it's my family and you 08:10.814 --> 08:12.981 know , I got to know all parts of that 08:12.981 --> 08:15.148 family . So just implementing , how do 08:15.148 --> 08:17.092 I implement it ? Is number one you 08:17.092 --> 08:19.259 believe in ownership , um , you go out 08:19.259 --> 08:21.481 and say I am going to take , you know , 08:21.481 --> 08:23.537 ownership of those that are , are in 08:23.537 --> 08:25.703 both good and the bad and I'm gonna be 08:25.703 --> 08:28.080 a great example for them . So I'm gonna 08:28.080 --> 08:30.330 show , you know , set the example , but 08:30.330 --> 08:32.390 I'm also gonna be maybe a little 08:32.390 --> 08:34.612 intrusive just saying , hey , I'm gonna 08:34.612 --> 08:36.668 dig dig a little deeper because when 08:36.668 --> 08:38.723 you're part of a family and you have 08:38.723 --> 08:40.834 that commitment , you know , the army 08:40.834 --> 08:43.190 and the military service is being part 08:43.190 --> 08:45.301 of something bigger than yourself and 08:45.301 --> 08:47.246 that's a commitment and I think to 08:47.246 --> 08:49.580 implement this means you get to really 08:49.580 --> 08:51.890 know your soldiers on a new level on 08:51.890 --> 08:53.890 something that we , I just think we 08:53.890 --> 08:56.112 haven't done in awhile . So start major 08:56.112 --> 08:58.140 pain and estimate what is being the 08:58.150 --> 09:00.570 leader of a small unit team in combat 09:00.580 --> 09:03.660 actually looked like well , you know , 09:03.660 --> 09:05.660 in combat and garrison , you try to 09:05.660 --> 09:07.660 bring out the best in one another , 09:07.660 --> 09:09.820 both in combat and in garrison and it 09:09.820 --> 09:11.653 and it starts to , you know , in 09:11.653 --> 09:13.820 garrison and training , you know , you 09:13.820 --> 09:16.042 try to have the most realistic training 09:16.042 --> 09:18.153 possible and like I said before , you 09:18.153 --> 09:20.320 want to try to foster that environment 09:20.320 --> 09:22.320 where you can try to far exceed the 09:22.320 --> 09:21.860 standard , not just meet the standard , 09:21.860 --> 09:25.430 but far exceeded Well , 09:25.710 --> 09:28.490 I could say I'm alive today because of , 09:28.500 --> 09:30.980 you know , people in my squad people 09:30.980 --> 09:33.220 that looked out for me again , this is 09:33.220 --> 09:35.109 not about an entry squad leader . 09:35.390 --> 09:37.260 Sometimes even as a , you know , 09:37.640 --> 09:39.640 battalions start major , you know , 09:39.640 --> 09:41.751 you've got a small squad , you've got 09:41.751 --> 09:43.807 the battalion commander , you've got 09:43.807 --> 09:46.029 the driver , you've gotta dismount that 09:46.029 --> 09:48.196 you're gonna be with in combat . And I 09:48.196 --> 09:50.307 can promise you if it wasn't for that 09:50.307 --> 09:52.529 small unit leaders looking out for me , 09:52.529 --> 09:54.584 hey , don't go there , don't go over 09:54.584 --> 09:56.860 that way or don't step on that or move 09:56.860 --> 09:59.940 back this way , it's about , you know , 09:59.950 --> 10:02.006 that's the ownership that we want to 10:02.006 --> 10:04.172 get out . You would never , you know , 10:04.172 --> 10:06.228 let somebody step on a landmine . Oh 10:06.228 --> 10:08.339 wait , I think that's an idea . Let's 10:08.339 --> 10:10.561 go back here and I think that's what it 10:10.561 --> 10:12.506 means to be in my squad . We would 10:12.506 --> 10:14.790 always look out for you no matter what 10:14.800 --> 10:17.022 and that's the combat version . But how 10:17.022 --> 10:19.078 do we take that back ? It's the same 10:19.078 --> 10:21.244 thing . It's those around you that are 10:21.244 --> 10:23.890 constantly looking out for you that 10:23.900 --> 10:26.340 they would would do anything for you . 10:26.350 --> 10:29.120 Either on or off duty . If if I'm in 10:29.120 --> 10:31.650 need , I wouldn't , my squad wouldn't 10:31.650 --> 10:34.140 just pick up the phone , they knew 10:34.150 --> 10:37.100 where I lived , they would come get me 10:37.110 --> 10:39.277 um they wouldn't send me a text , they 10:39.277 --> 10:41.277 would drive to my house and say , I 10:41.277 --> 10:43.388 think this person , it's either going 10:43.388 --> 10:45.554 through a good time or a bad time . So 10:45.554 --> 10:47.554 that's the same thing we were doing 10:47.554 --> 10:49.666 combat . And it's the same thing that 10:49.666 --> 10:51.777 we want all our small unit leaders to 10:51.777 --> 10:53.888 do is that that really that ownership 10:53.888 --> 10:55.943 where we wouldn't let anybody down , 10:55.943 --> 10:58.500 good or bad . And also the , when you 10:58.500 --> 11:00.556 come home on the back side of that , 11:00.556 --> 11:02.556 you know , there's times that , you 11:02.556 --> 11:04.778 know , combat can be tough for both the 11:04.778 --> 11:06.944 soldier and in the family . You know , 11:06.944 --> 11:05.870 you're gonna go through some 11:05.880 --> 11:07.880 fundamental life changing events in 11:07.880 --> 11:09.991 combat . And for me , there are times 11:09.991 --> 11:12.213 that , you know , I've had to look back 11:12.213 --> 11:14.269 at my career is like , hey , I'm not 11:14.269 --> 11:13.850 now , I'm not afraid to go to the 11:13.850 --> 11:15.961 chaplain and not be afraid that , you 11:15.961 --> 11:18.017 know , to go to the sites . It's the 11:18.017 --> 11:20.128 same as going to the gym for me , you 11:20.128 --> 11:19.800 know , the Special operations command . 11:19.800 --> 11:21.967 Well , we , we have what we call the , 11:21.967 --> 11:24.189 put a program preservation of force and 11:24.189 --> 11:26.300 families . You know , you have to use 11:26.300 --> 11:28.411 all domains And now that , you know , 11:28.411 --> 11:30.744 I'm a senior N . C . O . Now , you know , 11:30.744 --> 11:32.800 tell my guys like , hey guys , guess 11:32.800 --> 11:32.530 what ? I'm gonna go see the chaplain , 11:32.530 --> 11:34.586 you know , when we went through some 11:34.586 --> 11:36.752 tough deployment , you know , you have 11:36.752 --> 11:38.752 to be okay with that . Yeah . And I 11:38.752 --> 11:40.863 think you're comfortable doing that . 11:40.863 --> 11:43.086 If you and saying that because you have 11:43.086 --> 11:46.540 a cohesive team . If I'm part of a unit 11:46.550 --> 11:49.840 that has trust you trust me 11:49.850 --> 11:51.970 when , when I have to go do those 11:51.970 --> 11:54.026 things , you trust that I could tell 11:54.026 --> 11:56.192 you that and you're not afraid to tell 11:56.192 --> 11:58.359 anybody because that's your teammate , 11:58.359 --> 12:00.359 that's your family . And if they're 12:00.359 --> 12:02.359 going through , if they had a tough 12:02.359 --> 12:04.526 deployment and they need to go talk to 12:04.526 --> 12:06.748 somebody , you go , yeah , I'll go with 12:06.748 --> 12:09.081 you . Maybe I need to talk to you . Hey , 12:09.081 --> 12:08.900 let's come on , let's go . I probably 12:08.900 --> 12:10.900 need to talk to the top of the same 12:10.900 --> 12:13.122 thing . You know , So it's , there's no 12:13.122 --> 12:15.233 judgment . It's just , you know , how 12:15.233 --> 12:17.344 we do it and you know , being part of 12:17.344 --> 12:19.511 my squad means we'd probably either go 12:19.511 --> 12:21.344 do that together . There'd be no 12:21.344 --> 12:23.344 judgment and it's just something we 12:23.344 --> 12:25.289 would do . Thank us . Me and Sarah 12:25.289 --> 12:27.456 Major pain and S M . A R . Do you have 12:27.456 --> 12:29.622 any parting thoughts for our viewers ? 12:29.622 --> 12:31.511 I just thank you for being here . 12:31.511 --> 12:33.844 Thanks for having me . You know , sorry , 12:33.844 --> 12:33.410 major on me . Thanks for having me . I 12:33.420 --> 12:35.630 appreciate it Now . It's been a , it's 12:35.630 --> 12:37.630 really an honor to have you on this 12:37.630 --> 12:39.970 stage and some of the great things that 12:39.970 --> 12:42.081 you've done for your country is truly 12:42.081 --> 12:44.137 appreciated and a lot of that really 12:44.137 --> 12:47.120 correlates and how how can we get some 12:47.120 --> 12:49.440 of this secret sauce from some of the 12:49.440 --> 12:51.607 units have had those fit , disciplined 12:51.607 --> 12:53.718 cohesive teams out to the rest of the 12:53.718 --> 12:55.829 organization and for the whole army , 12:55.829 --> 12:57.884 we can do this and we can make those 12:57.884 --> 13:00.560 cohesive teams better and we've got 13:00.560 --> 13:02.727 great models . We just got to get that 13:02.727 --> 13:05.050 out and say we can do this . Thank U . 13:05.050 --> 13:07.161 S . M . A . And thank you Sarah Major 13:07.161 --> 13:09.050 Pain and thanks to those watching 13:09.050 --> 13:10.994 online right now . If you have any 13:10.994 --> 13:13.161 questions for the S . M . A . Or ideas 13:13.161 --> 13:15.383 for future episodes , leave them in the 13:15.383 --> 13:17.383 comments section or use hashtag SmH 13:17.383 --> 13:19.217 talks on twitter and instagram , 13:22.240 --> 13:22.580 mm hmm .