119 S01 Ep 37 – Light Forces, Heavy Problems: Airborne Division Lessons Learned from the Friction Factory w/All American 06, MG Brandon Tegtmeier

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-nineteenth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by COL Ricky Taylor, the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today’s guest is the Commanding General for the fabled 82nd Airborne Division, MG Brandon Tegtmeier, All American 06.

The 82nd Airborne Division specializes in joint forcible entry operations via vertical envelopment, both airborne and air assault, into denied areas with a U.S. Department of Defense requirement to respond to crisis contingencies anywhere in the world within 18 hours. They have the Hollywood call-sign of “All American” Division and the motto of “In Air, On Land.”

 

This episode explores trends and best practices observed through the lens of an airborne division preparing for large-scale combat operations, with a consistent emphasis on fundamentals, training management, and condition setting at echelon. The discussion reinforces that success at division level is anchored in company-level and below proficiency, arguing that brigades and divisions can adapt rapidly during a CTC rotation, but deficiencies in small-unit fundamentals cannot be fixed once in contact. A recurring theme is the deliberate decompression of training—allowing platoons, companies, and battalions sufficient time to learn, rehearse, and apply lessons rather than rushing through compressed events. This approach enables leaders to internalize battle drills, reduce cognitive load under stress, and fight effectively in JRTC’s “friction factory,” where units are tested under sustained pressure, casualties, logistics shortfalls, and enemy contact. 

 

From an operational perspective, the episode highlights how airborne formations must think differently about setting conditions across the fight, integrating intelligence, fires, sustainment, protection, and deception over time rather than relying on single convergence moments. Key topics include commander-driven MDMP, disciplined risk dialogue between commanders and staffs, and the necessity of clearly articulating information requirements to higher headquarters when organic collection assets are limited. The conversation also addresses emerging best practices such as protecting long-range fires, using maneuver forces to enable deep effects, embracing deception and EMCON to survive on a transparent battlefield, and offloading risk to robotics and UAS through formations like the MFRC. Sustainment realities for light forces—especially water and ammunition management following airborne or austere insertions—are repeatedly emphasized as decisive factors. Taken together, the episode presents a clear message: airborne divisions win by mastering fundamentals, deliberately preparing leaders at every echelon, and synchronizing effects over time to preserve combat power and maintain momentum in LSCO. 

 

Part of S01 “The Leader’s Laboratory” series.

 

Don’t forget to check-out XVIII Airborne Corps’ social media pages, their handles are ‘82ndAirborneDivision’ on Facebook, ‘82ndABNDiv’ on X, and ‘82ndairbornediv’ on Instagram.

 

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.