You're listening to Software Radio, Special Operations Military Nails, and straight talk with the guys in the community.

Hey, welcome back to another awesome episode of Software Radio. I am your host, Rad, and today I have very special guests. I actually have two guests.

But before I introduce you to the first guest on the show today, I want to talk about our merch store, right? You guys have supported us.

You've been keeping the lights on and the fireplace lit by going into the merch shop on softwrap.com. Keep buying some stuff, picking it up. I really appreciate it. We all do a brand new web says things. I say thanks. All of the guys behind the scenes are producers.

We really appreciate you picking up the merch, the coffee mugs, the torch lights, all that stuff. I also want to reference our book club. We like to read around here. We have lots of books that just hang out like, let me just grab some here.

Like call me Hunter. We have Andron right here. I got lots of books. Okay. Steel fear from Brandon Web. All these books. Go check out our book club. That is software.com book hyphen club as I put away the rest of my books here.

Now with that said, I have a Command start major with me today goes by the name of Charles V. Sasser Jr. Command start major retire retired Charles V. Sasser Jr. is whose career in the United States Army span three decades. He served in a multitude of leadership and duty positions born in 1966.

Charles entered the Army in August of 84 with a deep commitment to serve his country. His early years in the military saw him undergo training at Fort Benning, now Fort Liberty, Georgia, where he completed basic training and infantry advanced individual training or AIT set in the foundation for a career that would take him to the far corners of the world.

Throughout his military career, Charles had numerous assignments and deployments. He served in various divisions, including the 24th, 101st, 82nd, 25th, 2nd, 4th and the 1st infantry division, where he ascends to the pinnacle of enlisted leadership as the division's command sergeant major.

Charles's leadership journey also included roles such as Brigadier Operations Sergeant Major, small group leader at the 101st NCO Academy Recruiter in Southern California, and an observer controller at the National Training Center.

Charles's commitment to professional development was unwavering. He completed all the non-commissioned officer education courses, the first sergeant course, and pursued additional specialized training that included the Ranger course, aerosol, repel master course, airborne and jump master course, pathfinder course, and the joint fire power control course.

He was enhanced his skills and knowledge, making him a well-rounded leader in the military. Throughout his career, Charles embarked on numerous deployments to regions such as Panama, the Sinai, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Iraq. His combat experiences and leadership in these diverse and challenging environments demonstrate his unwavering dedication to his country and the defense of its interests.

Charles's dedication and exemplary service were recognized through a myriad of prestigious awards and decorations. His accolades include two legions of merit, three bronze stars medals, and numerous other honors. These awards were a testament to his outstanding contributions and leadership in the Army.

Upon retiring from the military in 2014, Charles transitioned seamlessly into the field of defense contracting, where he continued to make a significant impact. His expertise in military training and development led him to roles where he trained and advised military forces in countries like the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, Nigeria, and Afghanistan.

He played a crucial role in enhancing the capabilities of these forces and contributed to their readiness. Charles post-military career was marked by versatility and adaptability. He served as a protective security specialist at the US consulate in Kurdish Iraq, where he was responsible for coordinated protective operations and assessing security threats. His certifications of firearms training, compound defense, explosive counterterrorism measures, and personal protection reflected his comprehensive understanding of security measures and the risk of mitigation.

Furthermore, Charles ventured into strategy and operations, consulting drawing on his extensive military experience to provide invaluable insights and guidance.

Charles's commitment to personal growth was evident in his graduation from the prestigious National Defense University Keystone course. This program designed for commands senior enlisted leaders called C-cells, honed his leadership skills, and provided invaluable insights into joint operations and national security further expanding his knowledge and capabilities.

Charles and his wife Francis, hello Francis, have a daughter Amanda and a son Sean. We have Sean on the show with us. They have been married for nearly 40 years, and I think commands are a major at the end of all of that. That 40 year commitment is your best business contract you've ever been a part of.

Absolutely.

Well, well, well, Sean, I'll get to you in just a second. All right. You came from this man's resume, all right. You are the spawn. He pestered your mom the right night at the right time, and here you are.

Okay. There's a lot of I'm tired, bro. I don't know Sean. You know, Mother's Day is totally about the mom, but Father's Day is thanks dad. Thanks a lot.

Welcome to the show. Both of you. Sean Charles.

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