PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org January 15, 2026 | AUSA Extra 1 Top leaders pledge to invest in soldiers AUSA Announces 2025 Legislators of the Year 3 Industry Critical for Army Transformation 4 NCO & Soldier Programs Supporting Cadets, Recruiters 6 Chapter Highlights Fires Community Partner Challenge 7 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 7 NUMBER 34 JANUARY 15, 2026 From left to right, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer answer questions from soldiers during a special town hall that premiered Tuesday on the Army’s YouTube channel. (U.S. ARMY/SGT. 1ST CLASS TRAVIS FONTANE) A rmy senior leaders answered questions from soldiers on rapid transformation, train- ing, new equipment, quality-of-life upgrades and more during a special online town hall that premiered Tues- day on the Army’s YouTube channel. “As we’ve traveled around and learned from soldiers, what is mak- ing modern warfare so scary and so exciting is that you have to in- novate so quickly,” Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said. “Now is the time we have to change … and you, the American soldier, are our greatest innovator.” Incorporating new technology into formations will require honest feed- back from troops, said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George. “We’re going to be breaching with robots, doing new things with autonomous systems [and] … you guys will tell us what works and what doesn’t,” George said. Soldiers also are driving changes to force structure, George said. Over the next 18 months, every infantry brigade combat team will transform into a mobile brigade combat team, and unit leaders have been “experi- menting, testing and helping us de- cide what that looks like,” he said. Despite the rapid and increasing pace of change, the fundamentals of warfare remain the same, George said. “We have to stay ruthlessly fo- cused on the basics,” he said. “You are going to have to be ex- tremely fit, disciplined. … If you’re not good at the basics, it will have long-term impacts.” Army leaders are committed to encouraging positive culture in the Army, especially given its impact on recruiting and retention, said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer. “Good culture equals people wanting to join an organization, and, maybe even more importantly, people want- ing to stay in the organization and thrive,” he said. One active-duty staff sergeant asked about changes to professional military education in preparation for technologically advanced multido- See Senior Leaders, Page 6www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY January 15, 2026 | AUSA Extra 3 AUSA recognizes lawmakers for Army, soldier support Retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO, presents the association's 2025 Leg- islator of the Year awards to Rep. John Carter, left, and Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr. (AUSA PHOTOS) T wo members of the House Ap- propriations Committee have been awarded the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2025 Legislator of the Year award for their staunch and effective support of the Army and sol- diers, Army civilians, veterans and their families. Rep. John “Judge” Carter, a Repub- lican from Texas, and Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr., a Democrat from Georgia, were honored Jan. 7 on Capitol Hill by AUSA President and CEO retired Gen. Bob Brown. “Representatives John Carter and Sanford Bishop have long championed America’s Army and those who serve, and AUSA is delighted to recognize them as our 2025 Legislators of the Year,” Brown said. “Their bipartisan leadership, steadfast commitment and unyielding efforts have made a lasting difference in the lives of sol- diers, veterans and their families.” Service, sacrifice, responsibility Carter, who earned his nickname while serving as district judge for the 277th District Court in Texas’ Williamson County, has represented the 31st district in Texas since 2003. A proud supporter of the Army and co-chair of the House Army Caucus, Carter’s district includes Fort Hood. He is the top Republican on the House Appropriations military construction, veterans affairs and related agencies subcommittee and a member of the defense subcommittee. Inspired by the story of a veteran who needed a kidney transplant, Carter was instrumental in passage of the Veterans Transplant Coverage Act, which requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide organ transplants to veterans from a live donor regardless of whether the do- nor is a veteran. He also worked to create a pilot program at Fort Hood to provide soldiers with industry creden- tials before leaving the Army, helping bridge the gap between military ser- vice and civilian employment. “I am grateful to receive the AUSA Legislator of the Year award for 2025,” Carter said. “The Association of the United States Army plays a vi- tal role in giving our soldiers, Army families, civilians and veterans a strong voice, and in strengthening our national defense. I’m grateful for their partnership, and I’m proud to stand with an organization that un- derstands service, sacrifice and the responsibility we owe to those who wear the uniform.” ‘Heart of our community’ Bishop has represented Georgia’s 2nd district, which includes Fort Benning, since 1993. An experi- enced attorney, Bishop is a staunch supporter of the Army and those who serve. He serves on three House Ap- propriations subcommittees, includ- ing the military construction, vet- erans affairs and related agencies subcommittee, and is a member of the House Army Caucus. Bishop also is co-chair of the Con- gressional Military Family Caucus, through which he co-hosts an annual summit for military families and sup- port organizations to discuss issues of concern and provide feedback on fed- eral programs for military families. Previously, he was the lead House sponsor of the Hiring Heroes Act, which improves programs helping service members transitioning from military service to civilian careers. He also has helped more than 700 military spouses at Fort Benning keep their career advancement tu- ition assistance. “I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from AUSA,” Bishop said. “Our national defense and security are built on a foundation of the peo- ple who serve, ensuring that they are the best-equipped fighting force in the world, and that their families are tak- en care of so that they can focus on the mission at hand. With Fort Benning, Robins Air Force Base and Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Geor- gia’s second congressional district is home to thousands of military fami- lies and veterans, so working on their behalf is not just a matter of principle, it is at the heart of our community.” AUSA’s Legislator of the Year award is an apolitical and nonpar- tisan award designed to recognize congressional leaders who have made significant contributions to and pro- vided substantial support for the To- tal Army, as well as families, survi- vors, caregivers and veterans.www.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | January 15, 2026 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 reflect the opinion of the officers 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 reflecting the official 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. To celebrate America’s 250th, membership rates are reduced to a five-year Premium rate of $50 and a two-year Premium rate of $30. Lifetime membership is $250. A special Premium rate of $10 for two years is open to E1–E4 and cadets only. Two- year Basic membership with select benefits is free. Learn more at www.ausa.org/join . Voice for the Army – Support For the Soldier PERK OF THE WEEK ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Paper: Industry partners vital to speeding Army modernization A s the Army modernizes, lean- ing on industry partners re- mains critical, according to a new paper published by the Associa- tion of the U.S. Army. “The pace of technological change is no longer measured in decades, but in months, and sometimes weeks,” Majs. Ryan Crayne and Blake Est- lund write. As adversaries beef up their technological capabilities, “the Army is responding with sweeping reforms to its acquisition system, its requirements process and its sus- tainment enterprise. But even with these internal changes, one truth re- mains: The Army cannot transform alone. It needs industry partners to match its urgency.” In “We Cannot Wait: Three Im- peratives for Industry Partners as the Army Transforms,” Crayne and Estlund argue that for too long there has been a divide between the Army’s acquisition and moderniza- tion processes, creating bureaucratic inefficiencies and emboldening U.S. adversaries. Crayne is an AUSA scholar and an Army marketing and behavioral eco- nomics officer who currently serves as the innovation lead for the Army Enterprise Marketing Office. He is a fellow with the LTG (Ret.) James M. Dubik Writing Fellows Program and has a master’s degree in business administration. Estlund is an Army acquisition officer serving as an as- sistant product manager and project manager of self-propelled Howitzer systems. He has a master’s degree in business leadership. Industry and the Army must work together from the start, Crayne and Estlund write, citing Ukraine’s abil- ity to collaborate at the point of need, which cut innovation timeframes from years to months or weeks. “While the U.S. system differs from what’s been happening in Ukraine, the Army is nevertheless adopting Over the holidays, you may have no- ticed older family members slow- ing down. AUSA members can save as much as 7.5% on senior living costs by visiting www.ausa.org/brookdale, calling 888- 303-8601 or visiting any Brookdale community and saying “Go Army.” the principles of engaging directly with frontline Soldiers,” they write. Speed is a requirement because “there is no silver medal ceremony in warfighting,” though “the obstacles ... in acquisition are not technologi- cal, but procedural,” Crayne and Es- tlund write. To meet the needs of the future fight, the Army should take advan- tage of industry to accelerate its modernization. “The Army faces a moment where technological pace and operational risk demand a different kind of part- nership with industry partners,” they write. “The Army is transforming and moving toward a new acquisition partnership model, and we need our partners to keep pace. The ultimate cost of idleness will be paid by our citizens in the wasting of our coun- try’s treasure and by our Soldiers in a profligate spilling of their blood.” Read the full paper here. Soldiers work with industry partners dur- ing the Army's 2025 xTech Overwatch competition in October in Bryan, Texas. (U.S. ARMY/MASTER SGT. JAJUAN BROADNAX)www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY January 15, 2026 | AUSA Extra 5 YOUR VALUE DRIVEN PARTNER OF CHOICE TURNKEY SOLUTIONS | AGILE TEAM | DYNAMIC SERVICES SERVICES ENGINEERING SERVICES INTEGRATED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICES HR & ADMIN SERVICES FIELD OPERATIONS SERVICES GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SECTOR INTEGRATED FACILITIES MANAGEMENT (IFM) TRANSPORTATION SERVICES KRH ACADEMY SCAN FOR MORE CENTCOM HQ KUWAIT, SHARQ, AL SHUHADA STREET, AL GHAWALI TOWER TEL: BD@KRHKW.COM +22320113965 ACCOUNTABILITYPASSION EXCELLENCE INTEGRITY COMMITMENT RESPECT INNOVATION VALUES KRH PROVIDES INTEGRATED HR SOLUTIONS AND LIFE SUPPORT SERVICES TO VARIOUS CLIENTS. KRH IS RECOGNIZED AS A WELL-FOUNDED, SUSTAINABLE, AND LEGAL PARTNER TO BUSINESSES WITHIN THE REGION. AS INDUSTRIES EVOLVED, KRH IS AGILE IN GAINING A DEEP UNDERSTANING OF ITS CLIENTS’ CHANGING NEEDS AND REFORMING ITS STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS NEW CHALLENGES. OPERATING IN THE HEART OF CENTCOM REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE F ounded in February 2009, the Army Public Affairs Associa- tion exists to provide “a unify- ing voice that champions the value of communication while offering networking, mentorship, recognition and professional development for all who have served in the Army’s story- telling profession,” according to the organization’s website. The association is a hub for mem- bers to share best practices and ex- periences, serves as a think tank of public affairs and visual information knowledge, and maintains strong ties with the Army public affairs commu- nity. It also hosts professional events to enhance camaraderie and provide members with mentorship and tran- sition assistance. To recognize excellence in Army public affairs, the group adminis- ters and awards the Military Order Spotlight on AUSA Association Partner: APAA of Saint Gabriel, the Joe Galloway Lifetime Achievement Award and the Master Sgt. Marcia Triggs Award of Excellence. The Galloway Award honors its namesake, a renowned war corre- spondent and co-author of We Were Soldiers Once... And Young. The award recognizes lifelong support for the Army public affairs community. After entering into a partnership with AUSA in August 2025, the Army Public Affairs Association of- fers AUSA benefi ts to its members, including discounts on travel, din- ing, entertainment, health care and more, as well as exclusive pricing for professional development and networking opportunities at AUSA events. For more information, please visit https://apaa.clubexpress.com/. If your association is interested in partnering with AUSA, contact Su- san Rubel at srubel@ausa.org. Association Partnershipwith AUSA is an opportunity for like-minded military service organizations to join AUSA in support of the Total Army—soldiers, DoW civilians and their families.www.ausa.org 6 AUSA Extra | January 15, 2026 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AUSA leaders engage with JROTC cadets, recruiters main operations. George pointed to an upcoming large-language model he called Project Victor, which will launch next month. “It will be a place where you can go to plug in, find out what skills are rapidly changing and how to keep up,” he said, adding that the Army partnered with Arizona State University for the project. Answering a question from an 11th Airborne Division soldier about promised barracks improvements, Driscoll said that leaders are taking steps to increase the quality of soldier housing. “Secretary of War [Pete] Hegseth dictated that we go out and look at all of the barracks across the U.S. military, and those results will be coming back in February,” he said. “We plan to act on those, we will be transparent, we will show you what we are able to do, and we hope you will hold us accountable.” Senior leaders are dedicated to investing in soldiers, Weimer said. “People are the most important plat- form the U.S. Army has. We’re go- ing to invest in your training, your education and your quality of life,” he said. Driscoll echoed Weimer’s com- ments, emphasizing that leaders are making decisions with soldiers’ wel- fare in mind. “We love you, we pray for you, we think about you all the time,” he said. “We know that the de- cisions we make today with you are going to lead our Army to another 250 years of defining what our na- tion can be.” Senior Leaders From Page 1 P rior to the holiday break, lead- ers from the Association of the U.S. Army’s NCO and Soldier Programs team traveled to sunny Tampa, Florida, for a series of en- gagements with local schools, AUSA chapter leaders and Army recruiters. The visit by retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey, AUSA’s vice president for NCO and Soldier Pro- grams, and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Rob Abernethy, senior director of NCO and Soldier Programs, was coordinated with two high schools, the association’s Suncoast chapter and the Tampa Re- cruiting Battalion. The trip included visits to New- some High School in Lithia and Steinbrenner High School in Lutz, where Dailey and Abernethy met with Junior ROTC cadets, learned about each program and discussed leadership, Army life and future ser- vice opportunities. Cadets at Stein- brenner also showcased a newly built obstacle course used in training. Enthusiasm across both programs was evident as students compete statewide for top recognition. Volunteer leaders with AUSA’s Suncoast chapter hosted a dinner that provided an opportunity for fel - lowship and discussion on chapter initiatives and community engage- ment. These events give chapters the NCO & Soldier Programs opportunity to talk about initiatives they are taking on to stay connected with the community. The visit concluded with an engage- ment at the Tampa Recruiting Bat- talion, where Dailey and Abernethy conducted a leader development ses- sion and participated in a question- and-answer forum with recruiters, leadership, staff and future soldiers. They discussed what AUSA does for soldiers, and Dailey signed more than 200 copies of The Sergeants Major of the Army: On Leadership and The Profession of Arms, a collaborative collection published by AUSA featur- ing quotes from current and former sergeants major of the Army. The Tampa visit was a meaningful and impactful engagement, building connections across the local commu- nity and inspiring future leaders. Connecting AUSA chapters and lo- cal leaders strengthens their engage- ments and builds new and continuous relationships. Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Julie Guerra is AUSA’s director of NCO and Soldier Programs. Retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey, left, AUSA’s vice president for NCO and Sol- dier Programs, and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Rob Abernethy, senior director of NCO and Soldier Programs, discuss leadership and Army life with the Junior ROTC class at Newsome High School in Lithia, Florida. (AUSA PHOTO)I n December, the Association of the U.S. Army’s Fires chapter in Law- ton, Oklahoma, honored a group of local government and community organizations for their efforts to sup- port military personnel during the recent federal government shutdown. “Organizations across Lawton and Fort Sill stepped up to provide critical resources, services and sup- port during a challenging time. The recognition reflects the strength of our community and the power of partnership when it matters most,” the Lawton city government said in a statement. “We are grateful to all the organizations and individuals who came together to support our neighbors and demon- strate what community truly means.” The federal government was shut down from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12 after Congress failed to pass appropria- tions legislation for the 2026 fis- cal year. The continuing resolution passed by lawmakers runs until Jan. 30. This stopgap measure, which funds the government at the previ- ous year’s levels, includes funding for defense appropriations. Recipients were awarded certifi- cates of recognition by Teira Cole, www.ausa.orgJanuary 15, 2026 | AUSA Extra 7 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Chapter honors organizations for support during shutdown Fires Twenty-one individuals and organizations are recognized by AUSA's Fires chapter in Lawton, Oklahoma, for efforts to support soldiers, families and the community during the recent federal government shutdown. (AUSA PHOTO) Chapter Challenge Winners The following chapters are the winners of AUSA’s Chapter Challenge in their award categories for the second quarter of AUSA’s fiscal year 2026. Each winner for growth in Community Partners or Premium Members receives a cash prize and five points toward Best Chapter in their group. Community Partnerships • Redstone-Huntsville – Group 1 • North Texas-Audie Murphy – Group 2 • Henry Leavenworth – Group 3 • Las Vegas-John C. Fremont – Group 4 • Gen. William C. Westmoreland – Group 5 • Gen. Creighton W. Abrams – Outside Continental U.S. Group Premium Memberships • George Washington – Group 1 • Arsenal of Democracy – Group 2 • Texas Capital Area – Group 3 • National Training Center-High Desert – Group 4 • Thunderbird – Group 5 • Gen. Creighton W. Abrams – Outside Continental U.S. Group the AUSA chapter president, during a ceremony at the Lawton City Hall Banquet Room. “This is a great honor to be recog- nized by AUSA for our contributions to the community,” said Iola Noble, president and CEO of the United Way of Southwest Oklahoma. “The United Way is here to serve the community year-round, but dur- ing the shutdown, we really saw the impact of the food shortage,” she said, as reported by KSWO TV. “One of the things that we did was we tried to raise awareness about that food shortage and the impact it was having on the military, the com- munity members and people in gen- eral,” Noble said. The efforts demonstrate strong support for the military, Cole said. “They recognized that there was an urgent need in our community to step up and provide meals to provide shelter, food, vouchers, gift cards, interest-free loans ... [and] all these organizations just stepped up,” Cole said, as reported by KSWO TV.MEMBER SUPPORT: 855-246-6269| membersupport@ausa.org www.ausa.org/savings ACCESS YOUR SAVINGS AT ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY MEMBERSHIP SAVINGS PURCHASES SUPPORT AUSA PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND MORE R CREDIT COUNSELING CORP Trusted debt relief solutions CAMBRIDGE AND MANY MORE... LawAssure ™Next >