PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org February 1, 2024 | AUSA Extra 1 AUSA is lead sponsor for Army Ten-Miler T he Association of the U.S. Army is now the sole lead sponsor for the Army Ten-Miler as the race prepares to mark its 40th anniversa- ry Oct. 13 in Washington, D.C. Priority registration for the race is now open, and general registration opens at 8 a.m. Eastern Feb. 7. The Army Ten-Miler is the world’s third largest 10-mile race, and this year it is set to return to its full ca- pacity of 36,000 in-person runners. All race proceeds benefit Army Fam- ily and Morale, Welfare and Recre- ation programs. AUSA also is the founding sponsor of the Army Ten-Miler. The inaugu- ral race on Oct. 14, 1985, had 1,379 finishers. “The Army Ten-Miler is a special race that brings together tens of thou- sands of people to celebrate the Army and those who serve in it,” said retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO. “AUSA is proud to be a founding sponsor of the Army Ten-Miler, and this year, as the race marks its 40th anniversary, AUSA is thrilled to be the sole lead sponsor of this fantastic, community-building event.” As the founding sponsor in 1985, AUSA has had a sponsorship role ev- ery year since, said Maya Johnson, deputy race director for the Army Ten-Miler. “We are tremendously grateful for AUSA’s long-standing support of the Army’s Race and ap- preciate the organization stepping up this year to serve as the sole lead sponsor of the 40th Army Ten-Miler,” Johnson said. “They recognize and help us fulfill our mission to support Army outreach, build morale and promote physical fitness.” This year, the race is part of the new Armed Forces Series Challenge, which involves completing five mili- tary races—the Army Ten-Miler, Air Force Marathon, Coast Guard Mara- thon, Marine Corps Marathon and Space Force T-Minus 10 Miler—held between April and December. Run- ners who complete all five races earn a unique challenge medal. Priority registration is open to active-duty, National Guard and Re- serve personnel, ROTC and service academy cadets, and runners who have finished seven or more Army Ten-Miler races. General registra- tion is open to the public, and run- ners must be at least 13 years old on race day. Registration also is now open for the 2024 Virtual Army Ten-Miler Race. Virtual runners must complete their race between Oct. 13 and Dec. 31. For more information and to reg- ister, visit www.armytenmiler.com. Runners from around the world participate in the 2023 Army Ten-Miler, hosted by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, in Arlington, Virginia. (U.S. ARMY/SGT. DEONTE ROWELL) Remembering Two Medal of Honor Heroes 3 Weimer Addresses Quality of Life Efforts 4 Member Benefits Fitness Discounts 6 Chapter Highlights George Washington 7 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 38 FEBRUARY 1, 2024www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY February 1, 2024 | AUSA Extra 3 Vietnam Medal of Honor recipients Donlon, Taylor die Former Capt. Larry Taylor speaks during his Hall of Heroes induction ceremony in September at Joint Base Myer-Hender- son Hall, Virginia. (U.S. ARMY/KEVIN FLEMING) R etired Col. Roger Donlon and former Capt. Larry Taylor, two recipients of the Medal of Honor for actions during the Viet- nam War, have died. Donlon, 89, died Jan. 25. Taylor, 81, died Jan. 28. Donlon received the Medal of Hon- or, the nation’s highest award for val- or, for his actions in July 1964 near Nam Dong, Vietnam. His actions are chronicled in a 2021 graphic novel that’s part of the Association of the U.S. Army’s series on Medal of Honor recipients. In the predawn hours of July 6, 1964, Donlon and his 12-man Green Beret team from 7th Special Forces Group, along with the 300 South Vietnamese and 60 Nung fighters at the camp, were attacked by a rein- forced Viet Cong battalion of nearly 900 fighters. At the initial onslaught, Donlon ran through a hail of gunfire and explod- ing grenades to stop a three-man en- emy sapper team from breaching the main gate, his award citation says. AUSA Basic Members can now view a selection of articles from the February issue of ARMY magazine. To read the articles, click here. ARMY magazine February issue He reached a 60 mm mortar posi- tion even though he was wounded in the stomach by a grenade blast. “When he discovered that most of the men in this gun pit were also wounded, he completely disregarded his own injury, directed their with- drawal to a location 30 meters away, and again risked his life by remain- ing behind and covering the move- ment,” the citation says. Donlon suffered a concussion and serious wounds to his left shoulder when a mortar exploded nearby, and was wounded again in the face and body by another mortar shell. At dawn, the enemy forces with- drew, leaving behind 54 of their dead. All the surviving members of Don- lon’s team were at the White House on Dec. 5, 1964, when President Lyn- don Johnson presented him with the Medal of Honor. Heroic rescue Taylor, an Army aviator, received the nation’s highest award for valor on Sept. 5, more than 55 years after his heroic actions. Taylor was a first lieutenant and a team leader of a helicopter light-fire team with 1st Squadron, 4th Cav- alry, 1st Infantry Division on June 18, 1968, “when he heard a whisper coming through his radio, ‘We’re sur- rounded,’” President Joe Biden said during the Medal of Honor ceremony. The four-man team was surround- ed by nearly 100 enemy soldiers. Tay- lor and his wingman raced toward team and radioed them to mark their location with flares. Using the illumination as a refer- ence point, Taylor and his wingman strafed the enemy with miniguns and rockets. “Then Lt. Taylor heard a sound that only meant one thing— his helo was hit,” Biden said. “And it was hit again and again and again.” With both helicopters nearly out of ammunition and the enemy clos- ing in, Taylor learned that a plan to rescue the soldiers with a UH-1 Huey helicopter had been canceled because it was deemed too dangerous. “Taylor landed his Cobra under heavy enemy fire and with complete disregard for his personal safety,” according to the White House. The team climbed aboard, grabbing on to rocket pods and skids, and Taylor flew them to safety. Taylor said he was just doing his job, according to Stars and Stripes. “I knew that if I did not go down and get them, they would not make it.” Retired Col. Roger Donlon addresses a Vietnam War commemorative event in 2016 at AUSA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org4 AUSA Extra | February 1, 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 All AUSA members, not just military vet- erans, can join the Armed Forces Vaca- tion Club and enjoy up to seven-night resort vacations in suites around the world. You can also use your member price to buy a gift certifi cate for non-members to use. For more information, visit www.afvclub.com and choose “AUSA” for your membership eligibility. Weimer: Army working to improve quality of life for soldiers, families Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer, right, shakes a soldier’s hand during a visit to Fort Cavazos, Texas, formerly known as Fort Hood. (U.S. ARMY/PFC. JULIAN WINSTON) T he Army is committed to im- proving quality of life for sol- diers and their families, an endeavor that requires “predictable funding and pay,” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer told a congres- sional panel Wednesday. In his fi rst testimony on Capitol Hill since becoming the Army’s top enlisted soldier in August, Weimer told members of the House Armed Ser- vices Committee’s quality of life panel that “continuing resolutions and fl at budgets do not support predictability for soldiers and their families” and ex- acerbate quality of life issues. Since the Oct. 1 start of fi scal 2024, the Army and the DoD have been op- erating under a continuing resolution, a stopgap measure that keeps funding at the previous year’s levels and pro- hibits new program starts. Noting the “immeasurable weight” borne by the families of soldiers, in- cluding more than 140,000 who are deployed or on notice as crisis re- sponse troops, Weimer pointed to the $3.4 billion investment being made in military housing, including barracks. The Army, he said, is “resolute” and focused on fostering a profes- sional and safe culture and ensuring that child care centers are staffed and families can easily navigate the care they need through the Exceptional Family Member Program. The service also is working to make sure spouses have what they need to stay employed. “Over 431,000 spouses play a cru- cial role in our soldiers’ readiness and lethality,” Weimer said. Testifying alongside his counter- parts in the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force as well as the senior enlisted adviser to the chair- man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about recruiting and retention, Weimer pointed to the success of the Future Soldier Preparatory Course in help- ing recruits increase their test scores and physical fi tness. The course has passed and shipped to basic training 95% of participating soldiers since it was created in August 2022, he said. Addressing the availability of mental health resources for soldiers, Weimer gave his assurance that the Army has tackled and “made tre- mendous progress” on lessening the stigma associated with seeking help, along with ensuring that once scarce resources are available for soldiers who need it.Use your AUSA member discounts for fi tness programs FightCamp is a connected at-home boxing gym that provides access to world-class trainers, premium equipment and performance-tracking technology. (COURTESY PHOTO) F or many people, the new year is a time to start healthier habits. As we enter February, I want to highlight discounts on fi tness pro- grams that you can use through your membership in the Association of the U.S. Army. FightCamp One new AUSA member benefi t partner is FightCamp. I just pur- chased mine, and I’m excited to get started with this fun way to work out and train like a fi ghter. FightCamp is a connected at-home boxing gym that provides access to world-class boxing and kickbox- ing trainers, pre- mium equipment and performance- tracking technol- ogy. The program has a growing li- brary of boxing, kickboxing, strength and conditioning and recovery work- outs designed to keep you engaged, focused and in the zone. The system shows your stats in real time and includes punch track- ing technology that calculates the speed and intensity of every strike. It is designed to help you develop con- fi dence and strength—both mentally and physically. Members normally save 10%, but because of FightCamp’s love for the Army community and our love for our members, in honor of Valentine’s Day, FightCamp is giving away the Ultimate FightCamp Bundle. This includes trackers, quick wraps, box- ing bag, gloves, bag ring, premium fl ooring and one year of member- ship—a total value of $1,274. Enter to win the Ultimate Fight- Camp Bundle by sending an email to jack@fi ghtcamp.com and copy me at srubel@ausa.org. Include a short description of why we should choose you as the winner. We’ll pick a winner on Valentine’s Day and notify them on Feb. 15. Additionally, the AUSA member discount doubles to 20% during the Member Benefi ts month of February. Try it for free for two months. Click here to purchase at 20% off. Orangetheory Joins Active&Fit A popular fi tness benefi t among AUSA members is Active&Fit, a members-only benefi t where for $28 a month, you can join any of the top gyms in the program. You can switch easily from one brand to another, there are no long-term contracts and cancellation is easy. Work out at Gold’s today and LA Fitness next month, or visit a 24/7 Workout Anytime when you’re trav- eling. Right now, the $28 enrollment fee is waived. There also are premium gym dis- counts, including Pure Barre, F45, Row House, CrossFit, yoga studios, boxing gyms, Pilates studios and more. Some members have asked about the extremely popular Oran- getheory Fitness—they were not yet participating when we announced this member benefi t but have just joined the network. Premium studios have a differ- ent discount structure than the $28 standard gym program, and because many are franchises, discounts will vary by location. I compared my local Orangetheory pricing going direct and through Active&Fit and was im- pressed with the savings. To see participating gyms in your area, click here. Once you’ve done your research, you can join by visit- ing www.ausa.org/gym. You’ll need to log in to the AUSA website to par- ticipate—the gyms require this extra step for security. HUSK Another members-only partner that offers a different approach to gym discounts is HUSK, former- ly GlobalFit’s Gym Network 360. HUSK provides discounts that you get directly from the gyms. The HUSK Marketplace provides gym discounts, virtual subscriptions, discounts on fi tness products, nutri- tion counseling with registered dieti- cians, mental health services with licensed therapists and physical ther- apy with certifi ed professionals. Visit www.ausa.org/husk to learn more. Susan Rubel is AUSA’s Association and Affi nity Partnerships director. www.ausa.org6 AUSA Extra | February 1, 2024 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMYwww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY February 1, 2024 | AUSA Extra 7 Camarillo addresses modernization at chapter luncheon D espite the challenges of op- erating without a full-year budget, the Army is moving forward with its sweeping modern- ization and transformation efforts, Army Undersecretary Gabe Ca- marillo said. Speaking at a luncheon and mem- bership meeting hosted by the As- sociation of the U.S. Army’s George Washington chapter, Camarillo warned of some of the impacts of a continuing reso- lution, which is a stopgap measure that funds govern- ment agencies at the previous year’s levels. The measure also prevents any new starts to programs. As an example, the Army would be unable to start six procurement programs, fund five production rate increases and begin 33 military construction projects, including five barracks, Camarillo said during the event at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia, that was attended by more than 150 military and defense industry leaders, Army recruiters and ROTC cadets. He also discussed the importance of passing the supplemental defense budget, which includes $3.1 billion for the Army’s organic industrial base. Camarillo emphasized that this funding also would benefit local economies with millions of dollars in investment. Modernization programs that are currently moving forward include the Army’s Strategic Mid-Range Fires system, originally known as the Mid-Range Capabilities system, which entered mid-tier acquisition rapid prototyping in November. The service plans on delivering one bat- tery per year between fiscal years 2024 to 2026, Camarillo said. The Army also has completed production qualification testing for its Precision Strike Missile Increment 1 and in- tends to begin fielding the system in June, he said. Additionally, the Army plans to be- gin fielding the M10 Booker Combat Vehicle in fiscal 2025 with one com- pany set, pending a successful initial operational test and evaluation this year, Camarillo said. Regarding the Army’s digital transformation efforts, Camarillo said the Army is looking to take a more definitive step in digital engi- neering, including specific training for personnel and tailoring approach- es to commodity areas with industry. Lessons from the war in Ukraine are helping inform the Army’s mod- ernization plans, Camarillo said, including the value of virtual main- tenance and 3D printing. The Army also has an increased awareness of the threat of unmanned aerial sys- tems, stressing the need for innova- tive approaches and a layered defense capability. Finally, while the Army has the best armored vehicles in the world, it is imperative that the service’s ve- hicle platforms become lighter, more mobile, decrease logistics burdens and integrate active protection sys- tems, Camarillo said. Dick Winter, the AUSA chapter president, thanked Karen Lowe, the chapter’s executive vice president, for securing Camarillo as guest speaker for the event; chapter members Mi- randa Jones, Kerri Kline and retired Col. Doug Morrison for their volun- teer support; and the U.S. Army Band Brass Quintet for providing a musical medley. George Washington Army Undersecretary Gabe Camarillo dis- cusses the service’s modernization efforts at an event hosted by AUSA’s George Washington chapter. (AUSA PHOTO) Attending a luncheon and membership meeting hosted by AUSA’s George Washington chapter are, left to right, Dick Winter, the chapter president, Army Undersecretary Gabe Camarillo and Karen Lowe, the chapter’s executive vice president. (AUSA PHOTO)Next >