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A forgotten reformer changed how we think about military education, then got written out of the story. We dig into Alden Partridge’s bold vision for the citizen-soldier, why his mastery-based model threatened entrenched interests, and how his practical ideas—shorter paths for proven mastery, rigorous field training, and decentralized leadership—can still fix what’s broken in today’s force.

Franklin Annis walks us through Partridge’s rise at West Point during the War of 1812, the political crossfire that led to his court-martial, and his pivot to building militia-focused academies that influenced Norwich and VMI. We connect the dots to modern pain points: time-in-seat schooling that bores high performers, career assembly lines that miss real talent, and a headquarters culture that mistakes long hours for results. You’ll hear how competency-based progression, pretesting, and mission command can restore merit, accelerate excellence, and respect the only irreplaceable resource—time.

We also ground the conversation in philosophy and practice. Stoicism offers a leader’s toolkit for fair discipline, self-accountability, and resilience under pressure. A constitutional view of defense argues for a lean active force backed by a trained, capable militia—an approach that can lower costs and improve readiness by leveraging real-world civilian skills found across the Guard and Reserve. And we wrestle candidly with standards and inclusion: equal dignity, equal rules, transparent consequences, and selection by performance.

If you care about military education, talent management, or building better leaders faster, this conversation gives you a roadmap rooted in history and tested by experience. Subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a review with the one change you’d make first—what would you accelerate, and what would you cut?

Stories of Service presents guests’ stories and opinions in their own words, reflecting their personal experiences and perspectives. While shared respectfully and authentically, the podcast does not independently verify all statements. Views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the host, producers, government agencies, or podcast affiliates.

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Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER
Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/
Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.com
Watch episodes of my podcast:
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Imagine trading a wall of meetings for a calendar with white stripes where thinking, planning, and decisive action actually happen. That’s the shift we explore with Juliet Funt—keynote speaker, author, and founder of the Juliet Funt Group—whose work helps teams cut busy work and create the bandwidth to do their best thinking.

We dig into why white space isn’t idleness; it’s a performance tool. Juliet shows how modern work confuses motion with progress, burying judgment under email, back-to-back calls, and task churn. She shares simple, sticky tools that change behavior fast: the wedge (short breaks between commitments that let you digest and decide), the yellow list (batching non-urgent asks to slash message sprawl), and the re-entry day (protecting the first day back from leave so real disconnection is possible). The throughline is practical: waste less, think more, and reinvest saved time into the work that moves the mission.

We also examine a striking divide in the military: absolute precision outside the office versus sprawling inefficiency inside it. Juliet connects the dots between sleep, judgment, and readiness, arguing that saved hours only matter when they’re translated into training, rehearsal, and strategic thought. She makes a case for intact-unit change, embedding skills in PME and ROTC, and building norms that outlast leadership rotations. The goal isn’t fewer meetings for their own sake; it’s better decisions, stronger teams, and outcomes people are proud to ship.

If you’ve ever felt trapped by your calendar, this conversation offers a way out—and a way forward. Listen, steal a tool, and start small. Then tell us: which meeting will you shorten, and what will you do with the time you win back? Subscribe, share with a teammate who needs breathing room, and leave a review to help others find the show.

The stories and opinions shared on Stories of Service are told in each guest’s own words. They reflect personal experiences, memories, and perspectives. While every effort is made to present these stories respectfully and authentically, Stories of Service does not verify the accuracy or completeness of every statement. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the host, producers, or affiliates.

Support the show

Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER
Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/
Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.com
Watch episodes of my podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76

Send us a text

What does it really cost to lead with integrity when the system leans the other way? We sit down with Forrest, a former naval flight officer and mission commander, whose career bends from high school dropout to strike planner for Kosovo—and later into the crosshairs after he refused to hide a serious security breach on a remote island base. The stories move fast: carrier decks and air tasking orders, isolated duty stations that no one wanted, and the everyday creativity required to keep crews motivated and safe.

Forrest opens up about the moment a civilian smuggled a pistol and ammo onto San Nicolas Island to kill feral cats, how his CO ordered him to bury the report, and why he said no. That choice triggered nineteen charges, an NCIS probe, a revoked clearance, and threats of prison and pension loss. With a sharp JAG at his side and a website full of documents, he fought back, demanded a court-martial, and watched the case crumble. Along the way, we talk Desert Storm’s waning days, the grind of multinational targeting in Kosovo, and the hard truth that institutions can honor your work on Monday and disown you by Friday.

Beyond the uniform, Forrest built a thriving charter operation in California, rescued people at sea, and eventually traded the coast for Idaho, where a wolf encounter became a courtroom headline. The through line is steady: tell the truth, document everything, and keep showing up for the people who count on you. If you care about military leadership, whistleblower courage, and practical strategies for advocacy when the process turns against you, you’ll find real tools here—plus candid advice on writing a memorable military memoir that sticks to facts and reads like lived experience.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a lift, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find these stories. Your support helps us bring forward voices that remind us why service, courage, and clarity still matter.

The stories and opinions shared on Stories of Service are told in each guest’s own words. They reflect personal experiences, memories, and perspectives. While every effort is made to present these stories respectfully and authentically, Stories of Service does not verify the accuracy or completenes

Support the show

Visit my website: https://thehello.llc/THERESACARPENTER
Read my writings on my blog: https://www.theresatapestries.com/
Listen to other episodes on my podcast: https://storiesofservice.buzzsprout.com
Watch episodes of my podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheresaCarpenter76