059 S03 Ep 07 – The Life of a Grunt Leader: From a Ranger PFC to an Infantry Colonel w/COL Matthew Leclair

The Crucible - The JRTC Experience Podcast

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the fifty-ninth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today’s guest is senior Army fellow at the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies. Following his current assignment, COL Matthew Leclair. Following his current assignment, he will assume command of the 196th Infantry Brigade, the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center at Ft. Shafter Hawaii.

The Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) is a premier training facility designed to enhance the readiness and interoperability of U.S. and allied military forces. Headquartered in Hawaii, it provides a realistic and challenging environment for joint and multinational training exercises. The center focuses on preparing forces for operations across the Indo-Pacific region, incorporating complex scenarios that address contemporary security challenges. By fostering collaboration among various military branches and international partners, the JPMRC plays a critical role in strengthening regional stability and preparedness. It hosts two major combat training center rotations per year, one in Alaska focused on arctic warfare and one in Hawaii focused on either jungle warfare or island hopping operations.

In this episode we discuss leadership lessons from a senior army leader that has risen from a private in 75th Ranger Regiment to a brigade combat team commander. COL Leclair’s journey highlights the importance of continuous self-improvement, mentorship, and the ability to lead by example, demonstrating that perseverance and commitment to excellence can pave the way for significant leadership roles. Specifically, we emphasize the crucial role that junior leaders—lieutenants, staff sergeants, and sergeants first class—play in the broader Army. They are the standard bearers, setting the tone and maintaining the standards for their units. These leaders are often on the front lines of implementation, ensuring that policies and procedures are followed and adapted as necessary. We also discuss the recurring themes of standard operating procedures and the use of standardized tools, such as pre-combat checks and pre-combat inspections. These systems and processes not only establish benchmarks for performance but also provide a framework that allows leaders to maintain operational effectiveness, even under the challenging conditions of sleep deprivation and high stress. By adhering to these established standards, junior leaders help ensure consistency, reliability, and preparedness across the force, reinforcing the Army's overall mission readiness and cohesion.

Part of S03 “Lightfighter Lessons” series.

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