At The Boundary

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What happens when a military power relies on troops made of coerced recruits and convicts?
In this episode of GNSI At the Boundary podcast, Drs. Guido Rossi and Tad Schnaufer join the show to unpack their latest research paper on Russia’s flawed mobilization strategy in the Ukraine war. Drawing from their article in the Journal of Strategic Security, they explore how Russia’s early assumptions of a short, low-intensity conflict with minimal resistance collapsed into a prolonged, high-intensity war requiring mass manpower.
Facing constraints on full mobilization, the Kremlin turned to alternative sources of fighters, these being conscripts, convicts, contractors, and coerced recruits, or also known as “ersatz soldiers.” The result of such recruits is a fragmented force structure, mounting casualties, and growing long-term social and strategic risks.
Links from the Episode:
 • Conscripts, Convicts, and Contractors: Ersatz Soldiers and Russia's Total Mobilization Workarounds – By Drs. Tad A. Schnaufer and Guido Rossi
• GNSI Announces Student Cohort for ISI Programme 
• USF Article on Calvin Pham’s grandfather
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At the Boundary  from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida,  features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!
In the beginning of this episode of “At the Boundary”, host Jim Cardoso shares some highlights of the first ever GNSI International Security Experience Strategy Competition. This includes a short interview with a member of the winning team, UCF’s Canon Wesley, about the experience. This competition is the first of its kind at USF, and is a unique learning opportunity of undergraduate students interested in the national security field.  
Then for the main interview, GNSI’s Tad Schnaufer, PhD, is joined by Gregory Leighton, author of “Ideology and Holy Landscape in the Baltic Crusades” to explore why medieval history still shapes today’s global security landscape.
What began as a discussion of the Baltic Crusades quickly reveals deeper insights into how ideology, narrative, and identity influence modern conflicts, including NATO strategy, Russia’s worldview, and the war in Ukraine.
Links from the Episode:
• GNSI Announces Student Cohort for DC Experience
• Tad and Guido’s article
GNSI on X
GNSI on Linkedin
GNSI on YouTube

At the Boundary  from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida,  features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!
What does it take to solve real-world national security challenges under pressure?
In this episode of GNSI’s “At the Boundary” podcast, the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida takes you inside the high-stakes world of strategy competitions, where graduate students prepare to compete in the US Army War College Strategy Competition.
GNSI’s Dr. David Oakley is joined by USF graduate student competitors Yoan Hermida and Dan Woods to explore how future national security leaders bridge theory and practice.
The conversation breaks down how students develop analytical frameworks, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills to address complex global conflicts, from Russia-Ukraine to emerging security threats. You’ll also hear how artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and intelligence technology are shaping the future of warfare and policy.
Beyond the competition, this episode highlights the growing importance of experiential learning in international relations, including the launch of USF’s International Security Experience, undergraduate strategy competitions, and direct engagement with organizations like the CIA and global policy schools.
Whether you’re a student exploring careers in intelligence, a policy professional, or simply interested in global affairs, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the next generation is preparing for strategy, diplomacy, and modern security challenges.
Links from the Episode:
• GNSI International Security Experience
• CIA Recruiting and Informational Events Schedule
GNSI on X
GNSI on Linkedin
GNSI on YouTube

At the Boundary  from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida,  features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!
What does it take to become a national security strategist in today’s complex global environment?
In this episode of the GNSI “At the Boundary” podcast, we spotlight the next generation of leaders shaping the future of national security, intelligence, and global strategy. The episode features guest host May Birch of the USF Future Strategist Program. Her guests are fellow FSP student Michael Dileonardo, Catherine Wood a student of the University of Texas in Austin, and Connor Devanney a student of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. All of them will be part of the student led portion of the upcoming GNSI 2026 International Security Experience, titled: “Shadows and Circuits.”
This conversation explores how students are tackling real-world geopolitical challenges, from cybersecurity and intelligence to quantum security, policy development, and global conflict resolution.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in careers in national security, international relations, cybersecurity, intelligence, or defense policy.
Links from the Episode:
• GNSI International Security Experience
GNSI on X
GNSI on Linkedin
GNSI on YouTube

At the Boundary  from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida,  features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!
What is the Golden Dome, and could it redefine the future of nuclear deterrence?
In this episode of the “At the Boundary” podcast, GNSI’s Dr. Tad Schnaufer sit down with GNSI Non resident Senior Fellow and CEO of Intelligence and National Security Directions, Manolis Priniotakis to break down one of the most ambitious, and controversial, defense concepts in decades: The Golden Dome, a multi-layered missile defense system designed to counter nuclear threats, hypersonic weapons, and emerging technologies.
Recorded during  the GNSI Tampa Summit 6 on nuclear technology, this conversation explores how the defense system fits into a rapidly evolving global security landscape shaped by rising nuclear powers, the collapse of arms control agreements, and accelerating military innovation.

Links from the Episode:
• GNSI International Security Experience
• Three Body Trap D-Brief
 

GNSI on X
GNSI on Linkedin
GNSI on YouTube

At the Boundary  from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida,  features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.