Our National Security Earns a Grade of C with Darrell Guthrie

Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk

Welcome to Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk, where we speak with people who have done something to make this world a better place. It's simple: inspire, educate, and let's go change this world!

On today’s episode, Jeff welcomes guest Mr. Darrell Guthrie to discuss national security. Mr. Guthrie is a retired U.S. Army Major General and a Senior Peace Fellow with the Public International Law and Policy Group. He is also an attorney and co-founder of the Advanced Dynamic Defense Directorate, a national security think tank and business incubator. He is a proud father of four and grandfather of six.

To begin, Mr. Guthrie shares that he received an ROTC scholarship during the Raegan buildup in the mid-80s. His first deployment was to the first Gulf War. After nine and a half years in active duty, he served 28 years as Commander in the Army Reserve. He explains that being in the military is a lesson on how to be a good leader. Oftentimes, people will follow the movement and actions of a quality leader without even having to hear their commands. After finishing his time on active duty, Darrell decided he wanted to get a law degree.

Then, the conversation shifts to discussing national security and how Darrell found success with his startup. He gives the U.S. a "C" grade for its national security. This grade is made up of several components, including our safety from external threats as Americans. The last significant security threat the U.S. experienced was on 9/11. While we have been safe from threats of this magnitude since then, other factors have not been as positive.

The Army, Navy, and Air Force are facing crisis-level challenges in recruiting enough young people to join. The way to address this problem is by communicating an optimistic method about why it's important to serve our nation. Darrell also explains that our military is not paying significant attention to terrorist groups in Africa, the impact of the cartels in Mexico, and the gangs in Central and South America. Although the world still follows the United States as a world leader, that perspective is becoming more unstable. We must work together to set a positive example and strengthen the reputation of the United States in the eyes of the world. This could be as simple as an American company conducting good business in a foreign country, a soldier who behaves properly in a foreign city, or not letting bad players get away with evil actions. Since the U.S. is a superpower, we must be sure that we are doing this responsibly.

Before wrapping up, Darrell discusses the U.S.’s decision to leave Afghanistan and the problems at the Mexican border, both of which set poor examples of America. The key to restoring our reputation is through quality leadership and keeping our word.

Learn more about Jeff Newkirk.

Do you have any game-changers in your life? Be sure to let me know so we can celebrate their story and contribution to our world. Go to https://gamechangerswithjeff.com to enter your name to be on the podcast