PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org February 22, 2024 | AUSA Extra 1 SMA: Caring for people key to readiness T he Army’s ability to deliver combat-ready formations de- pends on ensuring that sol- diers and their families are taken care of, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Mi- chael Weimer said Wednesday at a breakfast hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army. In a wide-ranging conversation about his top initiatives, Weimer dis- cussed the progress being made on family housing, barracks improve- ments and dining facilities. Without safe home environments and cohesive teams where soldiers take care of one another, he said, the Army cannot deliver formations that are ready for combat. “People have always mattered. You cannot be the warfighter you think you are if you don’t care about your family and your teammates along the way,” Weimer said at the event, part of AUSA’s Coffee Series. “We’re not ready to fight and win tonight, tomorrow or in 2030 if we’re not tak- ing care of our people.” The Army has “come a long way” in addressing many of the problems with privatized family housing, Weimer said, citing initiatives such as the Tenant Bill of Rights that holds contractors responsible and ac- countable when issues arise. But he acknowledged that “we’ve got some work to do” with barracks improvements that have lagged on many installations, due, in part, to delays caused by the COVID-19 pan- demic. After seven months on the job and visits to dozens of Army installations with his wife, Kimberly, Weimer said he’s seen the work that needs to be done and pointed to delays in funding as another barrier to moving more quickly. Since the Oct. 1 start of fiscal 2024, the military has operated under a continuing resolution that keeps funding at the previous year’s levels and prohibits new program starts. “We’re struggling to get after this without predictable funding,” Weimer said. “This is where we need congressional help. It’s just a mas- sive infrastructure problem, wheth- er it’s sustainment or new [military construction], and without predict- Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer, right, and retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey, AUSA’s vice president for NCO and Soldier Programs, discuss Army initiatives to improve care for soldiers and families during a breakfast hosted by the association. (AUSA PHOTO) Applications Open for AUSA Scholarships 3 Paper Examines River Crossing Operations 4 Family Readiness Focus on the Heart 6 Chapter Highlights Suncoast 7 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 41 FEBRUARY 22, 2024 See Weimer, Page 5www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY February 22, 2024 | AUSA Extra 3 AUSA is accepting applications for 44 scholarships Scholarship applications will be accepted online until May 13. Those selected to re- ceive an AUSA national scholarship will be notified in late June. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO) T he Association of the U.S. Army is accepting applications for more than $144,000 in na- tional scholarships in 2024, with 38 scholarships awarded by AUSA and six administered by the association in conjunction with the Army. Scholarship applications will be accepted online until May 13. Those selected to receive an AUSA national scholarship will be notified in late June. AUSA national scholarship ap- plicants must be active AUSA Pre- mium members, Association Partner members or their children or grand- children. Membership is not a pre- requisite for the Army scholarships administered by AUSA. For more information, including eligibility rules and requirements, or to apply, click here. AUSA’s national scholarships in- clude awards for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) pro- grams, and general studies. In the STEM category, AUSA will award 10 Delta Dental Oral Health and Wellness Scholarships valued at $2,000 each; two Joseph P. and Helen T. Cribbins Scholarships val- ued at $10,000 each; and six Nicholas D. Chabraja Scholarships valued at $5,000 each. The Delta Dental program pro- vides scholarships to Army family Tenja Young has been with AUSA for just under a year, assisting mem- bers with an array of questions from becoming a member to obtaining le- gal or financial assistance. She pre- viously owned a bakery in Washing- ton, D.C., and her life still revolves around food: baking, cooking and traveling to discover the stories and connections between people and food. Meet the AUSA headquarters staff Tenja Young Member Experience Associate members and transitioning soldiers for the advancement of oral health and wellness. Eligible applicants may pursue programs such as den- tistry, nursing, home health care aide or caregiver training. The Joseph P. and Helen T. Crib- bins Scholarships honor the memory and legacy of Joseph and Helen Crib- bins, longtime supporters of Ameri- ca’s Army and AUSA, while the Nich- olas D. Chabraja Scholarships honor the past chairman of AUSA’s Board of Directors. Both may be used for completing degrees in STEM areas. There also is a $10,000 scholar- ship, first awarded last year, that is sponsored by the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium, a nonprofit biomedical consortium that collabo- rates with the Army Medical Re- search and Development Command. The consortium works to promote the development and delivery of medical technologies to improve the health and safety of military personnel, vet- erans and civilians. AUSA’s general studies scholar- ships consist of the new MilDef Way Scholarships; the GEN Carl E. Vuono Leadership Scholarship; the SMA Leon Van Autreve Scholarship Program; and completed coursework scholarships. Two new MilDef Way Scholar- ships, each for $5,000, are being of- fered this year. MilDef is a systems integrator and full-spectrum pro- vider specializing in rugged infor- mation technology for the military, government and critical infrastruc- ture sectors. The company provides hardware, software and services in the harshest conditions and most challenging environments. The GEN Carl E. Vuono Leader- ship Scholarship was created last year in honor of former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Carl Vuono, who served on AUSA’s Board of Directors for 20 years before retiring in 2023. The scholarship is for $10,000. In honor of Leon Van Autreve, the fourth sergeant major of the Army who was instrumental in establish- ing the NCO education system, eight scholarships are available: one for $25,000, one for $10,000, one for $5,000, and five for $2,000, for a to- tal of $50,000. For young professionals with debt from recently completed college cours- es or professional certifications, eight $2,500 scholarships are available. AUSA also administers the fol- lowing Army scholarships: the SGM Larry Strickland Memorial Fund and Scholarship, the SGM Dawn Kil- patrick Memorial AUSA Scholarship, and ROTC scholarships.www.ausa.org4 AUSA Extra | February 22, 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 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. Premium membership rates are $40 for two years or $75 for five 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 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 AUSA pays for LawAssure so members can create a variety of legal documents at no cost. Prepare wills, powers of attorney, health care direc- tives, leases, consumer documents or small-business agreements. There is no upsell or fine print. For more in- formation, visit www.ausa.org/legal . New paper urges Army to invest in wet-gap crossing capabilities F aced with technological ad- vancements and a lack of prac- tice, the Army should invest in its wet-gap crossing capabilities to prepare for future conflict, according to the author of a new paper published by the Association of the U.S. Army. “After two decades of counter-insur- gency operations in Iraq and Afghani- stan, the United States faces emerg- ing threats in Russia and China,” Maj. Aditya “Adi” Iyer writes. “The Army must be prepared for large-scale com- bat operations against these near- peer threats. [In particular,] the U.S. military must be prepared to conduct wet-gap crossing operations against a well-organized and technologically advanced force.” In “Bridging Through Time: From River Crossing in World War II to Wet-Gap Crossing Today and in the Future,” Iyer, a student at the School of Advanced Military Studies and a recently graduated Art of War Schol- ar from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, recommends investing in the Army’s wet-gap crossing operations to prepare for future conflict. The Army refers to river crossings as “wet-gap crossings” in current doc- trine and defines them as “crossing an inland water obstacle, requiring ex- tensive planning and detailed prepa- rations.” Current doctrine on wet-gap cross- ing operations “does not provide a comprehensive solution to wet-gap crossing operations,” publications are very “technically focused” and “lack … tactical incorporation,” Iyer writes. The U.S. military has not conduct- ed contested wet-gap crossing opera- tions against near-peer threats since World War II, Iyer writes. Wet-gap crossings returned to the forefront not long after Russia invad- ed Ukraine in 2022, when Russian forces failed several times to cross the Siverskyi Donets River. During three failed attempts to cross the river, Russian forces under- utilized three crossing sites, conduct- ed their operations during daylight and failed to employ combined-arms effects to assist in the crossing. As a result, Ukrainian forces prevented Russian troops from crossing and en- circling their forces, Iyer writes. “The successful Ukrainian defense of this river against one of the great- est global military powers should be concerning to the U.S. Army as it con- siders the feasibility of accomplishing a wet-gap crossing operation in the current and future operating environ- ment,” Iyer writes. To prepare for future conflict, the Army must incorporate increased deception, reconnaissance and ma- teriel to keep pace with adversaries. “[Technological] advancements have increased the importance of the use of deception, ground-force reconnais- sance, materiel superiority, and [train- ing and education],” Iyer writes. “The U.S. Army must continue modernizing and investing in the materiel capacity to challenge such adversaries.” Read the paper here. An MRAP operated by soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Division ROK-U.S. Combined Division crosses a temporary floating bridge during wet-gap training on the Imjin River in South Korea. (U.S. ARMY/CHIN-U PAK)www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY February 22, 2024 | AUSA Extra 5 Weimer From Page 1 able funding, it makes it extra tough for us.” Weimer said he also is diving into how soldiers and families manage their money and budget for groceries when there are so many competing challenges. Likewise, he is working to determine what could make in- stallation dining facilities easier and more desirable for soldiers, noting that “our traditional feeding methods within garrison are just not working like they did in the past.” Food was once managed at the bat- talion level, and soldiers didn’t have to go far to get a meal, he recalled. With centralized dining facilities, known as Warrior Restaurants, he said, some soldiers can’t or won’t go if it’s too far. He said a “large percent- age” of soldiers have no driver’s li- censes, so some garrisons are working on providing public transportation. Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer, right, talks to soldiers Feb. 9 during a troop visit to Camp Casey, South Korea. (U.S. ARMY/PFC. MALAKAI CORLEY)Pavilion highlights organizations, resources for families Representatives of Military Hearts Matter exhibit in the Family Readiness pavilion dur- ing AUSA’s 2023 Annual Meeting and Exposition. (AUSA PHOTO) www.ausa.org6 AUSA Extra | February 22, 2024 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY W e celebrate Valentine’s Day in February, a significant reminder for all of us to focus on our hearts. This month, we want to draw attention to organiza- tions with expertise on matters of the heart who exhibited at the Family Readiness pavilion during the Asso- ciation of the U.S. Army’s 2023 An- nual Meeting and Exposition. At the annual meeting, many or- ganizations showcase benefits, pro- grams and resources for soldiers and families in the pavilion hosted by AUSA’s Family Readiness direc- torate. It was our pleasure last year to have Military Hearts Matter as a first-time exhibitor in the Family Readiness pavilion. Launched in 2019, the mission of Military Hearts Matter is to “sup- port the hearts that serve by working together to help educate and provide programs for the military heart com- munity,” according to the nonprofit’s website. It seeks to spread heart health awareness through various campaigns, programs and scholar- ships. “Our Heart of SuperNova program provides medical and wanted items to support military affiliated children with heart issues and has supported 21 little military heart warriors,” said Holly Vega, founder of Military Hearts Matter. “We also send heart blessings to those military families in need through the Blessings from the Heart program. Each program is named after military heart stories.” Military Hearts Matter also spon- sors two scholarship opportunities: the Kelsey Danner Grant for military veterans with heart-related issues who are starting or opening a busi- ness, and the Mailynn Raquel Schol- arship for military children with a heart condition. Another Family Readiness pavilion exhibitor focused on the heart—figu- ratively—is Military OneSource’s Family Readiness Our Relationship portal. This pro- gram helps military couples work on relationship challenges through online activities, with the option to work with a trained coach. Partici- pants can complete the program on a phone, computer or tablet on their own schedule. This resource improves communi- cation, lessens emotional distance and helps couples overcome challeng- es such as money or parenting issues. Relationship improvement can help decrease depression, anxiety and in- somnia problems, and creates a solid foundation for the relationship. These are just two of the 24 exhibi- tors that were in the Family Readi- ness pavilion at AUSA’s 2023 Annual Meeting—with huge hearts that sup- port our military families. Some of the exhibitors will be hosted at the first-ever Family Readiness pavil- ion at the association’s Global Force Symposium and Exposition, March 26–28 in Huntsville, Alabama, and LANPAC Symposium and Exposition, May 14–16 in Honolulu. Visit us at the conferences for more information. Finally, remember that Valen- tine’s Day is not reserved solely for romantic partners—it is a chance to celebrate the love we share with fam- ily, friends, pets, communities and even ourselves. One of the best ways to strengthen these bonds and con- nect with others in your community is through AUSA’s chapters. Chapter members are volunteers who touch the hearts of their commu- nities through various events, and we encourage you to find and contact your local chapter today by visiting www.ausa.org/chapters . Kaylee Spielman is AUSA’s Family Readiness intern. Thea Green, center, AUSA’s deputy direc- tor of Family Readiness, visits with exhibi- tors in the Family Readiness pavilion dur- ing the 2023 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C. (AUSA PHOTO)I n honor of Black History Month, volunteer leaders with the Associ- ation of the U.S. Army’s Suncoast chapter in Tampa, Florida, support- ed the 2024 annual conference of the University of South Florida’s Insti- tute on Black Life. The theme of this year’s confer- ence, held Feb. 1 and co-hosted with the university’s Office of Veteran Success, was “Black Life and the Military.” To better support veterans in the community, Marilyn Westropp, the AUSA chapter president, has been building a relation- ship with the Office of Veteran Success and its director, Wayne Taylor. “I am always looking for opportunities to work with other veteran programs and share AUSA with everyone I speak with, and Wayne also realized the potential of working with AUSA,” Westropp said. In December, Taylor reached out to Westropp requesting a speaker for the conference. She arranged for retired Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, AUSA national’s vice president for Lead- ership and Education, to serve as a www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY February 22, 2024 | AUSA Extra 7 Chapter leaders support Black History Month conference Suncoast Retired Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, AUSA vice president for Leadership and Education, dis- cusses his military experience at a daylong event focused on the historical role of the military in Black life. (UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA/COREY LEPAK) guest speaker alongside Frank Bell Jr., national historian for the Buffalo Soldiers National 9th & 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association. The day before the conference, Westropp facilitated a luncheon with Smith that was sponsored by chapter Community Partner Acoustiblok Inc. and its owner, Lahnie Johnson. “We filled the conference room, and every- one really was inspired by Lt. Gen. Smith,” Westropp said. Erin Ennis, the chapter secretary, helped facilitate a meet-and-greet with Smith later that evening, where chapter members had an opportunity to learn more about the Institute on Black Life from its director, Fenda Akiwumi. Speaking at the conference about his own military experience, Smith said that regardless of who he worked with, soldiers united as a team to complete the mission. “I’ve been [to] many places. Tough places, tough locations, [with] people who look like me, people who didn’t look like me, people who had back- grounds like me, people from the north, south, east and west,” Smith said. “We all came together to ac- complish the mission that the coun- try wanted us to do—to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies. That gets ingrained in who you are and be- comes a way of life.” For young Black people consider- ing a military career, Smith noted that the Army provides chances for growth and “the ability to accelerate your life.” Bell agreed, saying, “Op- portunity. It hits you in the face. You go to basic training, they tear you down and build you back up, but the opportunity is there.” Throughout the daylong confer- ence, speakers and panelists delved into the historical role of the military in Black life, shared insights on pro- fessional development successes and opportunities, discussed challenges related to racial injustice, health and mental well-being, and explored issues of upward mobility. Diversity creates a foundation for resiliency, Smith said. “Some people will tell you that if you make diverse decisions, if you have diverse people in your organization, it makes you weaker,” he said. “From my view- point, it makes you much stronger.” Marilyn Westropp, president of AUSA’s Suncoast chapter, and retired Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, AUSA vice president for Leadership and Education, attend a con- ference hosted by the University of South Florida’s Institute on Black Life. (AUSA PHOTO)LEARN MORE & REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.AUSA.ORG/EVENTS Join us for a Noon Report with Command Sergeant Major Andrew J. Lombardo, Command Sergeant Major of the Army Reserve. CSM Lom- bardo will discuss some of the challenges currently facing the Army Reserve and will highlight some of their recent accomplishments. In an era of great power competition, the Army needs forces who are able to compete with adversaries, respond to crises and win in con- flicts—all while preparing for the future. The Army Reserve is essential to this mission; it is Ready Now to provide Soldiers and units to Com- bat Commanders, knowing that the Joint Force cannot deploy, fight or win without the unique support of the Army Reserve. 6 MARCH 2024 1200–1300 EST JOIN THE DISCUSSION! This webinar will include a Q&A session in which questions submitted by the audience will be selected and asked by the moderator. A recording of the webinar will be available on our Youtube page the following day. CSM ANDREW J. LOMBARDO Command Sergeant Major of the Army Reserve Moderated by CSM Julie A.M. Guerra, USA Ret. Director, NCO & Soldier Programs, AUSANext >