Military

In the fifth episode of 'Serial," the popular podcast focusing its second season on Idaho native Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, producer Sarah Koenig explores the many ways, official and unofficial, people stateside sought Bergdahl's freedom.

Bergdahl was captured by the Taliban in 2009 when he walked off his base in Afghanistan. He was held for about five years until President Barack Obama negotiated a deal to have him released.

If you’re waiting for Episode Five of the popular “Serial” podcast to drop today, you’ll have to keep waiting.

The spin-off  podcast from public radio’s “This American Life” has announced it will release the rest of its Season Two episodes on a bi-weekly basis. This is a departure from its original “one story told week-by-week” tagline.

Serial’s Season Two is focusing on the case of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, a story that is still developing.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, a U.S. soldier who walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2006, didn't like clocks in his room after being rescued from the Taliban in 2014, he said in the fourth episode of "Serial's" second season.

"Serial" is the popular "This American Life" spin-off podcast that delved into a true crime story in its first season and is focusing on Bergdahl in its second season.

Bergdahl told filmmaker Mark Boal in an interview on the episode that he became uncomfortable with clocks during his five years in the Taliban's hands.

"Months and days, weeks or months, don't matter because (the) only thing you can really understand is how long the seconds are lasting," Bergdahl said in the interview. "That's what hits you the hardest: is just the seconds."

Click here to read the entire story from the Idaho Statesman.

It’s quickly established where “Serial,” the popular podcast focusing its second season on the story of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, got the name of its second episode, “The Golden Chicken.”

That’s a name a member of the Taliban used to describe Bergdahl as a prized capture. Mujahid Rahman, whom producer Sarah Koenig identified as one of the Taliban who helped hide Bergdahl in the days following his 2009 capture, claimed they designated Bergdahl a guest to keep lower Taliban members from killing or abusing Bergdahl.

Serial, the most popular podcast produced to date, began its second season Thursday morning, and as rumored, it’s focusing on Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl of Hailey. Bergdahl was held captive in Afghanistan for five years after leaving his post, then was traded back to the U.S. in a controversial prisoner swap and currently awaits word on whether he’ll be court-martialed.

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the soldier who left his post in Afghanistan and was held by the Taliban for five years, is asking a military appellate court to disqualify the general with broad discretion in his case.

Bergdahl's attorney, Eugene Fidell, says Bergdahl filed the request Friday in the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals in Washington.

Bergdahl wants the court to disqualify Gen. Mark Milley because he has a personal interest in being confirmed as the next Army chief of staff.

Officials have scheduled the initial hearing for the Army sergeant who left his post in Afghanistan and was held by the Taliban for five years.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. Army officials announced Thursday that his Article 32 hearing will be held July 8 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

That proceeding is similar to a civilian grand jury. From there, it could be referred to a court-martial and go to trial.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter Tuesday commented on statements made by the Obama administration surrounding the release of former prisoner of war Bowe Bergdahl in an interview on NBC’s Today Show.

Bergdahl is a Hailey, Idaho native who was exchanged in 2014 for five U.S. detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Begdahl was held for nearly five years in Afghanistan by a Taliban group after being captured when he walked off his U.S. Army base.