Army Sergeant Major Calls For Immediate Mindset Change

From the Pentagon, Fran Racioppi sat down with Sergeant Major of the Army Mike Weimer and retired Command Sergeant Major Rick Merritt to discuss what it truly means to build and sustain warriors in the United States Army. CSM Merritt spent over three decades on active duty, including 25 years in the 75th Ranger Regiment, serving in every enlisted leadership position from rifleman to Regimental Sergeant Major. He conducted over 1,500 combat operations under Joint Special Operations Command and served more than five years in combat task forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. His experience spans the full arc of modern warfare. Together with the SMA, we unpack into the difference between technical proficiency and true warrior mindset, what commitment looks like when compliance disappears, and how leaders enforce standards without eroding trust. We explore whether resilience is built over time or revealed under pressure, and how purpose sustains Soldiers when motivation begins to fade. As warfare becomes more technical and systems driven, the SMA is challenging the force to ensure technology enhances the warrior. Future conflict will demand innovation and the technological edge, but victory on the battlefield will still be decided by human judgment, character, and leadership. This is a conversation about standards, commitment, mental toughness, and the responsibility of leaders to hold the line…not just to engage in the business of warfighting, but to forge warriors ready to close with and destroy our nation’s adversaries. Meet the Guests: -SMA Mike Weimer, Sergeant Major of the Army -Rick Merritt, Command Sergeant Major (R) -How NCOs are leading the Warrior mindset Topics Discussed: -Defining a US Army Warrior -Embracing the profession of warfighting -How the Army is developing NCO leaders Highlights: 00:00 Introduction 1:00 Welcome to the Jedburgh Podcast 4:08 Defining An Army Warrior 14:57 Compliance to Commitment 22:24 What Is The Army Culture? 28:34 Why A Warrior Mindset Matters 41:31 Embrace the Warfighting Profession Quotes: “I see a warrior as the reason why we do it.” “Make a difference with your presence. Otherwise, why are you there?” “A warrior is a way of life.” “A warrior is one that is dedicated, disciplined, willing to go the extra mile, will fight for those left and right, and never quit.” “The best recruiters we have are our service members, our veterans.” “There’s just some things about human beings that are going to be done on an individual’s basic timeline in life.” “Combat readiness is a way of life.” “Although I took the uniform off, my oath didn’t go away.” “The guys on my team know that they’re in the right spot with the right people, with the right culture.” “What makes that culture is character and character development.” “Your circles touch other circles.” “The command team relationship is key.” “I’m a firm believer that the noncommissioned officer is the keeper of the culture.” “Relationships become transactional.” “I think that was our biggest challenge in Vietnam.” “This profession, we hand you a machete and we say ‘Take that path.’” “Grit comes through hardship.” “At the end of the day, guys got to go on the ground.” “We’re struggling a little bit in that space.” “There’s no time limit on honorable service.” “What is better than being a company commander?” “I call it leadership of consequence.” “Those days are gone.” “I haven’t been doing training management because you were doing it for me.” “I don’t necessarily believe in the two echelons.” “Don’t be a pain in the ass. Be value added.” “This is a journey, not a destination.” “A legend is nothing but a man or woman who spent their life surrounding themselves with people better than them.” The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation. Learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. Watch the full video versions on YouTube. The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of our guests and creator and host Fran Racioppi. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy; nor does Green Beret Foundation endorse any political candidate or any political party. The Jedburgh Podcast Media Links: Website: https://greenberetfoundation.org/the-... Podcast Platforms: https://pod.link/1558608802 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cjwLO3... Instagram:   / jedburghpodcast   LinkedIn:   / the-jedburgh-podcast   X:   / jedburghpodcast   Facebook:   / jedburghpodcast   Email: [email protected]