PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org January 11, 2024 | AUSA Extra 1 Former AUSA president and CEO dies R etired Gen. Gordon Sullivan, the 32nd Army chief of staff and former president and CEO of the Association of the U.S. Army, died Jan. 2. He was 86. “Gen. Gordon Sullivan was a true American hero and an Army legend. He was an inspirational leader of in- tegrity and compassion who served his beloved Army and country selflessly for decades,” said retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO. “As the 32nd chief of staff of the Army, he led the service through critical times with strength and a clear vision, en- suring soldiers and their families had the best training and resources.” But Sullivan didn’t stop serving af- ter he retired from the Army. “After his uniformed service, Gen. Sullivan Retired Gen. Gordon Sullivan, then-AUSA president and CEO, addresses the opening ceremony of the association’s 2015 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C. (AUSA PHOTO) Army Welcomes New Vice Chief 3 Joint Association Letter Pushes for DoD Funding 4 NCO & Soldier Programs Big Red One Year of the NCO 7 Chapter Highlights Monmouth Community Partner Challenge 8 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 35 JANUARY 11, 2024 led AUSA for 18 years, where he con- tinued to serve soldiers and America’s Army by advocating for them and sup- porting them,” Brown said. “So many of us are so incredibly proud to have served with him in the Army and at AUSA. He was an amazing person, and we will all deeply miss his wit, leadership and wisdom. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family dur- ing this difficult time.” A native of Boston who grew up in nearby Quincy, Massachusetts, Sulli- van graduated from Norwich Univer- sity and was commissioned a second lieutenant of armor in 1959. During his Army career, Sullivan served two combat tours in Vietnam and in the United States, Korea and Germany. He commanded the Army’s 1st Infan- try Division, was assistant comman- dant of the Armor School and deputy commandant of the Command and General Staff College. He later was deputy Army chief of staff for opera- tions and plans, G-3, and Army vice chief of staff before becoming the Army chief of staff in 1991. During his tenure as the Army’s top general, Sullivan oversaw the downsizing of the Army by 600,000 soldiers. He did it while attempting to maintain morale and a sense of purpose while also seeing the Army deploy on unexpected contingencies to Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti and the Bal- kans, and also in response to Hurri- cane Andrew, then the most destruc- tive hurricane in U.S. history. See Sullivan, Page 5www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY January 11, 2024 | AUSA Extra 3 Mingus sworn in as 39th vice chief of staff of the Army Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, left, swears in Gen. James Mingus as the ser- vice’s vice chief of staff in a Jan. 4 ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Vir- ginia, while Mingus’ wife, Amy, holds the Bible. (U.S. ARMY/SGT. DEONTE ROWELL) G en. James Mingus was sworn in Jan. 4 as the 39th vice chief of staff of the Army. Mingus, who also received his fourth star during the swearing-in ceremony led by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, had been direc- tor of the Joint Staff since June 2022. “I am committed to ensuring our Army remains the most professional, lethal, feared land force in the world today, tomorrow and into the future,” Mingus said. He also acknowledged his fam- ily, friends and fellow soldiers and leaders who helped him along his Army journey. “Forty-two years ago today, my dad took 17-year-old Pvt. Mingus down to the armory in our hometown, Spencer, Iowa, to enlist,” Mingus said during the ceremony. “Today really is an acknowledgment that this is a team sport. No one does anything alone, and [my wife] Amy and I are no exception.” A former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division who has deployed 12 times to Iraq and Afghanistan, Mingus now serves as the Army’s No. 2 general officer and principal deputy to George. Before serving as director of the Joint Staff, Mingus was director of operations on the Joint Staff from October 2020 until June 2022. Mingus began his Army career in 1981 when he enlisted in the Iowa National Guard. He received his com- mission in the field artillery branch in 1985 from Winona State Univer- sity, Minnesota, and later branched infantry when he entered active duty in 1987. He has commanded at every ech- elon from company to division, and worked key staff positions in Army, special operations and joint units. He has served with units including the 5th Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Seventh Army, in Germany; the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Air- borne Corps at Fort Bragg, now Fort Liberty, North Carolina; the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, now Fort Moore, Georgia; and the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Car- son, Colorado. Mingus also taught for three years as an assistant pro- fessor of military science at the Uni- versity of Tennessee-Knoxville prior to attending the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leaven- worth, Kansas. He commanded the 4th Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team, leading it on a deployment to Afghan- istan. During that deployment, for- mer Capt. Florent Groberg, who led Mingus’ personal security detach- ment, earned the Medal of Honor for stopping a suicide bomber from attacking Mingus and other senior leaders who were attending a meet- ing with Afghan leaders. Three soldiers and a civilian work- ing for the U.S. Agency for Interna- tional Development were killed. Mingus also served as chief of the Commander’s Action Group at U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; deputy com- manding general for maneuver for the 4th Infantry Division; and direc- tor of the Mission Command Center of Excellence at the Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth. ‘I am committed to ensuring our Army re- mains the most professional, lethal, feared land force in the world today, tomorrow and into the future,’ Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus said at his promo- tion ceremony. (U.S. ARMY/SGT. DEONTE ROWELL)www.ausa.org4 AUSA Extra | January 11, 2024 Gen. Bob Brown, USA Ret. President and CEO, AUSA Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, USA Ret. Vice President, Leadership and Education, AUSA Luc Dunn Editor Desiree Hurlocker Advertising Manager Advertising Information Contact: Fox Associates Inc. 116 W. Kinzie St. • Chicago, IL 60654 Phone: 800-440-0231 Email: adinfo.rmy@foxrep.com ARTICLES. Articles appearing in AUSA Extra do not necessarily refl ect the opinion of the offi cers or members of the Council of Trustees of AUSA, or its editors. Articles are expres- sions of personal opinion and should not be interpreted as refl ecting the offi cial opinion of the Department of Defense nor of any branch, command, installation or agency of the Depart- ment of Defense. The publication assumes no responsibility for any unsolicited material. Email: extra@ausa.org ADVERTISING. Neither AUSA Extra, nor its publisher, the Association of the United States Army, makes any representations, warranties or endorsements as to the truth and accuracy of the advertisements appearing herein, and no such representations, warranties or en- dorsements should be implied or inferred from the appearance of the advertisements in the publication. The advertisers are solely respon- sible for the contents of such advertisements. MEMBERSHIP RATES. Premium membership rates are $40 for two years or $75 for fi ve years. Lifetime membership is $400 and can be paid in full or in four monthly installments. A special Premium rate of $10 for two years is open to E1–E4 and cadets only. New two-year Basic membership with select benefi ts is free. Learn more at www.ausa.org/join or by emailing membersupport@ausa.org, phoning 855-246-6269, or mailing Fulfi llment Manager, P.O. Box 101560, Arlington, VA 22210-0860. Voice for the Army – Support For the Soldier PERK OF THE WEEK ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AUSA members can save 25% when fi ling federal and/or state returns with TaxAct. Their easy-to-use software takes the stress out of fi ling, and they guarantee you’ll get your maximum refund—backed by $100,000. Visit www.ausa.org/tax for per- sonal fi lings and www.taxact.com/ausasmb for small business fi lings. AUSA leads eff ort urging Congress to approve adequate defense budget The military and the rest of the fed- eral government have been operat- ing under a continuing resolution since the Oct. 1 start of fi scal 2024. (ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL PHOTO) J oined by fi ve other military as- sociations, the Association of the U.S. Army is urging Congress to approve a timely and adequate defense budget to enable the Army and joint force to respond to growing threats and demands at home and around the world. “As you know, our nation faces many threats, including Chinese ag- gression in the Pacifi c, responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the current crisis in the Middle East, North Korean malign activities, the continued threat of terrorism, and domestic emergencies like fl oods and wildfi res—which makes timely and suffi cient appropriations critical,” the associations say in the Jan. 5 letter to the top four leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives. “If another continuing resolution (CR) is required to avert a damaging government shutdown, it should be a short one,” the letter states. Continuing resolutions are stop- gap measures that allow federal pro- grams to continue at current spend- ing levels. The military and the rest of the federal government have been operating under stopgap funding since the Oct. 1 start of fi scal 2024. Current funding expires Jan. 19 for some agencies and Feb. 2 for others including the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and other senior leaders have warned in letters to key lawmakers of the “devastating impacts” of a yearlong continuing resolution—something neither DoD nor the Army has ever operated under. In addition to impacts to readiness, training and quality of life programs for troops and their families, a con- tinuing resolution also would nega- tively impact the Army’s moderniza- tion efforts. “CRs do not permit the Armed Forces to make new starts or increase the level of investment in modernization and other priorities,” says the letter signed by retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO. Brown is joined by Daniel Reilly, president of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States; Stuart Bradin, president and CEO of the Global Special Op- erations Forces Foundation; retired Brig. Gen. J. Roy Robinson, president of the National Guard Association of the United States; retired Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Phillips, executive direc- tor of the Reserve Organization of America; and Cara Rinkoff, national executive director of the U.S. Army Warrant Offi cer Association. “We believe that a strong nation- al defense begins at home, and our service members, their families and the Armed Forces benefi t from ap- propriate domestic spending,” the letter states. Proper funding will also provide “the predictability and resources commensurate with the demonstrated need and the urgency that our national security challeng- es require, and our veterans have earned,” the letter says. Read the letter here.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY January 11, 2024 | AUSA Extra 5 T he mission of the Army His- torical Foundation is to honor soldiers by preserving and pre- senting the history and heritage of the U.S. Army. Established in 1983, it is the official foundation of the Na- tional Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and is responsible for fundraising, mem- berships and operational and attrac- tions management. First opened on Veterans Day 2020, the 185,000-square-foot muse- um is the first and only one to tell the complete history of the Army and its soldiers, with narratives that begin with the earliest militias before the country was founded and continue to present day. “The Army Museum has done an incredible job of bringing to life the inspirational stories of service and sacrifice of American soldiers,” then- Army Chief of Staff Gen. James Mc- Conville said at the museum’s grand opening. “Every soldier has a story, and the Army Museum is the home of those stories.” Years in planning, the museum is a joint effort between the Army, which owns and manages the museum, and the Army Historical Foundation, which led a $200 million privately funded campaign to build the museum. The Association of the U.S. Army is the single-largest contributor to the facility, contributing $42.5 mil- lion to the project. A third of AUSA’s chapters also donated money. Visit https://armyhistory.org/ for more information about the founda- tion. To learn about the National Museum of the United States Army, visit https://www.thenmusa.org/. If your association is interested in partnering with AUSA, contact Su- san Rubel at srubel@ausa.org. Association Partnership with AUSA is an opportunity for like-minded military service organizations to join AUSA in support of the Total Army—soldiers, DoD civilians and their families. Spotlight on AUSA Association Partner: AHF Sullivan From Page 1 He is credited with keeping the Army trained and ready and opening the door to information-age technolo- gies. He also always kept his focus on taking care of soldiers. “I believe the essential nature of the Army has remained constant since the beginning,” Sullivan said in 2016. “It is the soldier. The soldier is the weapon. He or she is the answer. They are the ones who adapt on the battlefield. Ultimately, success will rest on the shoulders of the men and women who had the courage to serve. I believe that.” Sullivan retired from the Army in July 1995 after more than 36 years of service. In 1998, Sullivan joined AUSA as the association’s 18th president, over- seeing the association’s transforma- tion into a dynamic, member-based organization that represents soldiers and families and connects America’s Army with the nation it serves. He would lead the educational non- profit for 18 years, stepping down in 2016. Later that year, he received the Gen. George Catlett Marshall Medal, AUSA’s highest award, for his lifetime of selfless service to the Army and the nation. “I’ve been proud for 18½ years to lead a professional organization dedi- cated to supporting the Army and all of its parts,” Sullivan said when he stepped down from leading AUSA. “We have an essential mission of the public voice for the Army, including its soldiers, veterans and retirees, their families, the Army’s civilian workforce and industry partners.” His time at AUSA was an extension of his Army service, Sullivan said. “I saw my work here as a continuation of my 36 years in the Army, building leaders, supporting the troops, facing whatever challenges the world cre- ates,” he said. Sullivan continued to serve by lead- ing the board of the Army Historical Foundation. During his time as chair- man, he led the capital campaign to build the National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In 2021, Sullivan and 17 other mil- itary leaders were honored by their shared hometown of Quincy. Already known for being the birthplace of John Adams and his son, John Quincy Ad- ams, Quincy also has the distinction of being the hometown of several se- nior military leaders. The new bridge and park, called Generals Bridge and Park, features three 7-foot bronze statues of Sulli- van, former Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville and former Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford. During the dedication ceremony, Sullivan said he is motivated by his steadfast dedication to service mem- bers. “If you stick your hand up in the air at some recruiting station and say, ‘Send me, send me,’ you are my hero,” Sullivan said at the time. “There’s nothing like being in a uniform and serving the United States of America. I have told many people, if I could do it again, I would. And I am not kidding.”www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY January 11, 2024 | AUSA Extra 7 R ecently, the Association of the U.S. Army’s NCO and Soldier Programs directorate had the opportunity to help commemorate a yearlong focus on the NCO corps— the backbone of the Army. Organized by the 1st Infantry Di- vision, I was invited to speak at the division’s Year of the NCO Ball, an event culminating the division’s ef- forts throughout 2023. As someone who served in the division that’s also known as the Big Red One, I was ex- cited to return to my one-time Army home of Fort Riley, Kansas. The Big Red One’s Year of the NCO was a program by the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley to further de- velop their NCO corps and recognize NCOs’ contributions to the unit and the installation. After two decades of combat and continued support to al- lies in Europe, the 1st Infantry Divi- sion dedicated 2023 to the NCOs who uphold the long- standing legacy of the division, which traces its roots to World War I. Senior leaders kicked off the Year of the NCO on Feb. 16 at the divi- sion’s Victory Hall headquarters building. “We’re doing the Year of the NCO so that we are better tomor- row than we are today because we are responsible for safeguarding our country,” Maj. Gen. John Meyer, com- manding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, said during the ceremony. “It’s so future genera- tions will live the freedoms that our Army provides.” Throughout the calendar year, the Year of the NCO was guided by three lines of effort: ownership, honor and telling the NCO story. The campaign aimed to develop the next generation of enlisted leaders through quarterly events focused on leadership, train- ing management, program manage- ment, communication and physical fitness. At the end of the year, the divi- NCO & Soldier Programs 1st Infantry Division commemorates ‘Year of the NCO’ sion celebrated the Year of the NCO by hosting a ball. The evening was a fitting tribute to the accomplish- ments of the soldiers and leaders of the division throughout the year and a well-timed formal event prior to the holidays. “I think the most important thing that sets our NCO corps apart from any other army in the world is the discipline, standards and account- ability that the noncommissioned of- ficer corps establishes inside of their formations,” Meyer said during the ball. During my address, I talked about the history of the NCO corps and the role enlisted leaders have played, and I discussed the importance of trust between officers and NCOs. I assured them that what they ac- complished was more than just an- other campaign with a nice banner and a few events. What the soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division did is send a message—a clear message— that the Army’s officer corps main- tains trust and confidence in NCOs. This relationship is so important that it needs to be reflected on and celebrated. Thanks to the leaders of the 1st In- fantry Division for taking the time to focus on the backbone of the Army, and a special thanks to AUSA’s Fort Riley-Central Kansas chapter for supporting their efforts throughout 2023. We look forward to seeing the division celebrate the “Year of Vic- tory” in 2024. Retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey is AUSA’s vice president for NCO and Soldier Programs and was the 15th sergeant major of the Army. Retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dai- ley, AUSA’s vice president for NCO and Soldier Programs, speaks at a ball cele- brating the 1st Infantry Division’s Year of the NCO at Fort Riley, Kansas. (AUSA PHOTO) First Sgt. Joshua Vargo, second from right, of Headquarters Support Company, Head- quarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Infantry Division Artillery, speaks with soldiers during training in late October at Fort Riley, Kansas. (U.S. ARMY/SPC. KENNETH BARNET)www.ausa.org8 AUSA Extra | January 11, 2024 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Chapter ball raises funds for Fisher House Foundation Ed Thomas, right, president of AUSA’s Monmouth chapter, greets AUSA members and guests at the chapter’s Gingerbread Ball in Long Branch, New Jersey. (COURTESY PHOTO) Community Partner Challenge The following chapters are the December winners of AUSA’s Community Partner Challenge in their award categories. Each winner receives $500 and 5 points toward Best Chapter in their group. • Redstone-Huntsville – Award Group 1 • Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri – Award Group 2 • Henry Leavenworth – Award Group 3 • Monmouth – Award Group 4 • GEN William C. Westmoreland – Award Group 5 I n December, the Association of the U.S. Army’s Monmouth chap- ter hosted its annual Gingerbread Ball charity event, benefitting the Fisher House Foundation, at the Ocean Place Resort in Long Branch, New Jersey. AUSA members were joined by soldiers from the Tinton Falls Army Recruiting Station, veterans, local business members, student volun- teers from Saint John Vianney High School and other community sup- porters to raise money for the Fisher House Founda- tion, which builds homes where mili- tary and veteran families can stay for free while a loved one is in the hospital. Since its inception, the pro- gram has saved military and veter- ans’ families an estimated $575 mil- lion in out-of-pocket costs for lodging and transportation, according to the foundation’s website. The AUSA chapter supports the foundation through the Gingerbread Ball and other events throughout the year. To host the ball, the chapter partnered with the Armed Forces Communications-Electronics Asso- ciation Monmouth chapter, the Army Aviation Association of America NJ chapter, the Association of Old Crows Garden State chapter and the NJ Bakers Board of Trade. The evening included a cocktail hour and dinner, live music, an auction and a ginger- bread house competition, where 30 contestants competed for trophies, ribbons and prize money in four cat- egories, according to The Journal of Monmouth County. At the ball’s conclusion, a check was presented to representatives from the Fisher House Foundation. In addition to fundraising efforts for the Fisher House Foundation, the AUSA chapter also supports soldiers by recognizing outstanding recruit- ers, Officer Candidate School gradu- ates and other soldiers from local units. Through its Service Dog Pro- gram, the chapter purchases puppies, trains them as service dogs and pairs them with local veterans with special needs. They also recognize Gold Star families with Honor-And-Remember flags and participation in the annual NJ Run for the Fallen. Representatives from the Fisher House Foundation are presented with a check at a charity event hosted by AUSA’s Mon- mouth chapter. (COURTESY PHOTO) MonmouthNext >