PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org March 14, 2024 | AUSA Extra 1 Army sustainment seeks industry help I ndustry partners will be essential to supporting Army large-scale combat operations in a contest- ed environment, said Gen. Charles Hamilton, commander of Army Ma- teriel Command. Speaking Wednesday at a break- fast hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army as part of its Coffee Se- ries, Hamilton called on industry to help the Army sustainment commu- nity meet one of the service’s top pri- orities—the delivery of ready combat formations. “It’s important that we talk fre- quently,” Hamilton told event at- tendees, many of whom are industry partners. “We’ve got to get a complete shared understanding of the problem set, and I can’t do what I do to sup- port the Army without you.” Hamilton, who has been in com- mand since March 16, 2023, said that his “big focus area” has been to meet one of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George’s four focus ar- eas, which is to “deliver combat-ready formations.” He recalled being invited to George’s residence along with his peers from the Army’s other major commands for what was to be a ca- sual dinner, “then the white boards came out, so we started working” on the chief of staff’s priorities, he said. Hamilton pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as having created “the big- gest challenge” in resupplying the force now, as some of the Army’s small business partners, who sup- plied critical repair parts, kits, as- semblies and components used to maintain equipment, were unable to stay in business. “We lost a lot of our second and third tier suppliers, and so that’s af- fecting the tempo, the pace I can get those parts and get them out to the force,” Hamilton said, adding that foreign military sales for operations in Europe also have created competi- tion for parts resupply. To meet that challenge, he said, Materiel Command has tapped into industry and innovation centers and ramped up the creation of some parts Gen. Charles Hamilton, commander of Army Materiel Command, speaks Wednesday during a Coffee Series event hosted at AUSA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. (AUSA PHOTO) 2025 Budget Prioritizes People, Transformation 3 George: Army Must Move with Urgency 4 NCO & Soldier Programs Developing Enlisted Leaders 7 Chapter Highlights Chattahoochee Valley–Fort Moore Community Partner Challenge 8 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 44 MARCH 14, 2024 See Sustainment, Page 6DESIGNED FOR ROUND TRIPS YOUR MISSION. OUR HONOR. For decades, Oshkosh Defense has been a trusted partner of the U.S. Military. Together we are delivering advanced technologies to our Warfighters so they can complete their missions and return home safely. This is our mission, and it will always be our honor. VISIT US AT AUSA GLOBAL FORCE SYMPOSIUM IN BOOTH 903 The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY March 14, 2024 | AUSA Extra 3 Army unveils $185.9 billion budget for fiscal 2025 T he $849.8 billion fiscal 2025 de- fense budget unveiled Monday includes a 4.5% pay increase for troops and a 2% raise for civilian personnel. The Army’s $185.9 billion share, a 0.2% increase from the fiscal 2024 request, “meets the Army’s commit- ments under the National Defense Strategy and the secretary of de- fense’s priorities to defend the nation, take care of our people and succeed through teamwork,” Army Undersec- retary Gabe Camarillo said. The budget allows the Army to con- tinue focusing on recruiting and reten- tion efforts, modernization programs, barracks and housing improvements, quality-of-life initiatives and training and exercises to maintain readiness across the force, he said. “We always, every year, have to make some very difficult trade-offs,” Camarillo said. He also warned of the impacts of operating under a continu- ing resolution, stopgap funding that keeps spending at the previous year’s levels and prohibits new starts. The Army and the rest of DoD have been operating under a continuing resolution since the Oct. 1 start of fis- cal 2024. Another factor is the Fiscal Re- sponsibility Act of 2023. Approved by Congress in the debt limit deal last year, the agreement limits fiscal 2024 spending to the president’s budget re- quest and provides for a 1% increase in fiscal 2025, CQ News reported. Investing in people For the Army, its fiscal 2025 re- quest includes $70.7 billion in mili- tary personnel funding to account for “all increases in basic pay, housing and subsistence,” Camarillo said. The request projects an active Army troop strength of 442,300, down from the 452,000 requested in fiscal 2024 and the 445,000 that was authorized. It also projects an Army National Guard strength of 325,000 and an Army Reserve strength of 175,800 in fiscal 2025, for a total force of 943,100, down from the 951,800 that was projected in fiscal 2024. Recruiting efforts continue to be a focus area, with funds allocated for expansion of the Future Soldier Pre- paratory Course, which helps recruits raise their fitness or academic scores, and improved recruiter selection and training. There also is $1.1 billion for mar- keting and advertising, a 10% in- crease from the previous year, and $675 million for enlistment incentives across the three Army components, Camarillo said. Housing is another area of focus. The fiscal 2025 request includes $935 million for new barracks con- struction at nine installations across the Army, including Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Joint Base Lewis- McChord, Washington; Fort John- son, Louisiana, formerly known as Fort Polk; and Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. That’s a 325% increase in construction from fiscal 2024, ac- cording to budget documents. Additionally, “barracks sustain- ment is funded to 100% for the first time ever, at least in recent memory, at $680 million,” Camarillo said. Programs ‘on pace’ Army modernization “continues on pace,” Camarillo said, as the service continues to deliver key capabilities such as the Precision Strike Missile Increment-1 and the Mid-Range Ca- pability, which enables the Army to engage maritime targets. The Army is requesting $14.1 bil- lion in research, development, test and evaluation funds, and $24.4 bil- lion for procurement. It also will move out on its aviation rebalance strategy, which includes upgrades to current platforms, invest- ments in unmanned systems, termi- nating the Future Attack Reconnais- sance Aircraft program and phasing out the Shadow and Raven unmanned aerial systems, among other changes. The service also is looking to ad- vance its efforts in counter-small unmanned aerial systems capabili- ties, requesting $447 million in fiscal 2025, Camarillo said. The budget also includes funding for 22 combat training center rota- tions, a “robust” flying hour program and $461 million for Operation Path- ways exercises in the Indo-Pacific, a more than 200% increase from the previous year. Sgt. Claudia Kinney, assigned to the 8th Cavalry Regiment, retrieves a drone March 6 during an exercise at Hohenfels Training Area, Germany. The Army’s fiscal 2025 bud- get request includes investments in unmanned systems and counter-small unmanned aerial systems capabilities. (U.S. ARMY/SPC. MICAH WILSON)www.ausa.org4 AUSA Extra | March 14, 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 George emphasizes urgent need for transformation in ‘volatile’ world FightCamp is a connected at-home box- ing gym giving you access to world-class boxing and kickboxing trainers, premium equipment and performance-tracking technology— all from the comfort of your home. AUSA members save 10% and get two free months by clicking here. A s it faces an increasingly “vola- tile” world and rapidly evolv- ing technology, the Army must move with urgency, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George said. On today’s battlefield, “there is no place to hide,” George said during remarks March 7 at the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington, D.C. “Everything and everyone can be seen ... and what can be seen can be killed.” Commercial technology is mov- ing faster than military technology, George said, and it has military ap- plications. “In fact, employing sim- ple, cheap tech faster is giving people a tactical edge,” he said. Additionally, “people are gravitat- ing toward urban centers, and so is conflict,” he said, and “the battlefield isn’t local like it used to be. Our en- emies can reach around the globe and through space and cyberspace.” Faced with these challenges, the Army must be able to help the joint force deter war everywhere and “be ready to fight anywhere against very capable adversaries,” George said. “We’ve got to be able to seize and hold ground for the joint team,” he said. “War always comes down to a close fight on the streets. We cannot ex- pect to win without making contact on land.” Simultaneously, Army must be able to “reach across the battlefield with long-range precision fires,” he said. It also must be able to get “beans, bul- lets and fuel to forward formations even when there are roadblocks ev- erywhere,” George said. In recent years, the Army has made progress in its transformation efforts, delivering critical capabili- ties to the force, George said. “We will keep up the momentum on these with a sense of urgency,” he said. The Army also is “right sizing” its structure, George said. “Top of the list is to fix recruiting, because we need more soldiers,” he said. It also is looking at units that were “built for the war on terror, not large- scale combat,” George said. “That means cutting in certain areas but also growing in others,” he said, in- cluding air defense, long-range fires and counter-unmanned aerial sys- tems. The Army’s network will become more crucial to the future fight. Leaders must have access to “good, accurate information at the right time and on the right easy-to-use de- vice,” George said. The sprawling operations centers with satellite dishes, server stacks and high digital signatures must go, he said. “Today, that setup will get us killed,” George said. Units must use small, intuitive commercial devices, move quickly around the battlefield and blend in with the area’s normal digital noise, he said. “We have to change some things about our Army, and we don’t have time to waste,” George said. “We can’t plan to transform once in a generation. … We must transform continuously and iteratively, and we must get better every day.” Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, right, greets a paratrooper assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division during the 2024 NASCAR Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (U.S. ARMY/SPC. CASEY BRUMBACH)www.ausa.org6 AUSA Extra | March 14, 2024 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY F ormed by a group of militia officers in 1878, the National Guard Association of the Unit- ed States advocates for the National Guard in Washington, D.C., educat- ing Congress on the roles, capabili- ties and requirements of the nation’s first military force. Each year, the association develops legislative priorities based on grass- roots input from its members. “We take those priorities and work with Congress to enhance National Guard capabilities, equipment parity, and benefits equity,” the organization’s website says. The association hosts a variety of educational events throughout the year, including its General Confer- ence, where Army and Air National Guard officers from all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia gather to network and hear from civilian and military leaders. It also publishes National Guard mag- azine, a weekly “Washington Report” e-newsletter and educational videos. In partnership with the National Guard Educational Foundation, the association offers four scholarship programs to help Guard members and their families start or continue their education. Additionally, the or- ganization administers a variety of awards, including its highest honor, the Harry S. Truman Award for dis- tinguished service in support of na- tional defense. “There’s so much that the Guard has to offer and the stories, I think, are endless. We need to keep tell- ing them,” retired Maj. Gen. Francis McGinn, the association’s president, said in an interview in National Guard magazine. For more information, please visit https://www.ngaus.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: NGAUS Sustainment From Page 1 with 3D printing where possible. But it will take years without industry help, he said. “I would challenge anyone here, if you can come up with a solution, I don’t care if it’s 3D or you can get some great artists and professionals out in industry, there’s an opportu- nity,” Hamilton said. “I’m not afraid to say it out loud, a pretty big opportunity, that means a lot of money to be made in this space,” he said. New capabilities that could change the way the sustainment enterprise operates also are emerging, Hamil- ton said, as demonstrated at Project Convergence, a joint and multina- tional experimentation event that took place this month at the Marine Corps’ Camp Pendleton and at the National Training Center at Fort Ir- win, both in California. “I am very optimistic looking at the autonomous vehicles I saw there, the drones,” Hamilton said. “We’ve got to get to that level of resupply, and that’s why we’ve got to be so precise in the future.” When it comes to sustaining the warfighter, he said, “I’ve got to get it right every time in order for that brigade, task force or division to be able to maintain that momentum in the fight. Sustainment is about warf- ighting. Period.” Spc. Cartia Carter, assigned to the 524th Division Sustainment Support Battalion, 25th Division Sustainment Brigade, readies a vehicle for experimentation Feb. 15 during Proj- ect Convergence-Capstone 4 at Camp Pendleton, California. (U.S. ARMY/SPC. HUNTER GRICE)www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY March 14, 2024 | AUSA Extra 7 Sharing leadership lessons with the next generation Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Julie Guerra, AUSA’s director of NCO and Soldier Pro- grams, addresses the graduation cere- mony of the Senior Leader Course at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. (AUSA PHOTO) J ust six months ago, I retired on the historic Brown Parade Field at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, in front of family, friends and colleagues on a unseasonably temperate August morning. Fort Huachuca is home to the 10th Cavalry “Buffalo Soldiers,” B Troop–4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (Memorial), the Network Enterprise Technology Command and all the in- telligence and professional military training within the Army’s Intelli- gence Center of Ex- cellence. Nestled in the Huachuca Mountains, the in- stallation has been a staple within the Sierra Vista and Cochise County community since March 1877. I spent many months in training and years stationed at this installa- tion as a private, drill sergeant, oper- ations sergeant major and battalion command sergeant major. Returning home to Fort Huachuca as a retired soldier, after former soldiers of mine requested that I speak and provide a leader development session, was sur- real but also comforting. Command Sgt. Maj. Isaac Cum- mings, commandant of Fort Hua- chuca’s NCO Academy, was one of my instructors in the 309th Military In- telligence Battalion from 2012–2014. When I spoke at the Senior Leader Course graduation ceremony, my goal was to talk about all things leader- ship as it applies to NCOs and as members of our communities. My focus areas were connection, mentorship and doing hard things. Soldiers’ connection to the Ameri- can people they serve makes them part of the communities where they live. Service and giving back in- crease that connection, no matter where we are stationed. Mentorship is a relationship that must be cul- tivated through trust, accessibility and telling the truth—even when it may be hard to hear. And when we do hard things in life and our NCO & Soldier Programs careers—taking the hard jobs and pushing through to the finish line— we know that despite what we are going through, we are not in it alone. I had the honor of shaking every graduate’s hand, seeing familiar fac- es and meeting new ones. At the end of the ceremony, the distinguished honor graduate presented me with a certificate of achievement, bringing a smile to my face even in retirement. The following morning, I returned to Fort Huachuca’s Weinstein Com- plex to do a leadership professional development session with the 305th Military Intelligence Battalion in what was my headquarters in 2012. I spent two hours with instructors, cadre, leaders and drill sergeants discussing everything from intelli- gence structure changes and central- ized boards to issues related to sol- diers and families that I could speak to as a member of the Senior En- listed Council—the sergeant major of the Army’s advisory body. We had thought-provoking conversations, and I was challenged and inspired by some of the recommendations, which I will share with colleagues who are still in uniform. The battalion command team, Lt. Col. Gil Juarez and Command Sgt. Maj. Edson Rodriguez, humbled me at the end with a coin presentation and certificate in front of their sol- diers. I also was able to spend time with leaders from AUSA’s Fort Huachuca- Sierra Vista chapter over breakfast and had dinner with old friends at the garrison command sergeant ma- jor’s quarters—right across from the field where I retired. Some say you can’t go home again, especially once you are on this side of service. I say we must go home. We must continue to lead, inspire and coach with the knowledge we have gained and obstacles we have faced. Also, going home feels great. Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Julie Guerra is AUSA’s director of NCO and Soldier Programs. Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Julie Guerra, center, AUSA’s director of NCO and Soldier Programs, conducts a leadership professional development session with the 305th Mili- tary Intelligence Battalion at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org8 AUSA Extra | March 14, 2024 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Chapter event connects Army leaders with industry reps Brig. Gen. Monte Rone, left, commandant of the Army Infantry School; retired Lt. Gen. Guy Swan, center, an AUSA senior fellow; and Steve Hesler, president of AUSA’s Chatta- hoochee Valley-Fort Moore chapter, gather at a reception during the chapter’s Industry Day event at the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center. (AUSA PHOTO) T he Association of the U.S. Army’s Chattahoochee Valley- Fort Moore chapter recently supported Army Futures Command and the Maneuver Capabilities De- velopment and Integration Director- ate by hosting its annual Industry Day event at the Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center. “Our AUSA chapter is proud to welcome 570 attendees to the Colum- bus Iron Works Convention Center for our 25th annual Industry Day,” said Steve Hesler, the chapter presi- dent, as he kicked off the event. “Our purpose is to provide our industry partners with a forum to hear the lat- est priorities and capabilities needed for our ground maneuver forces.” Retired Lt. Gen. Guy Swan, an AUSA senior fellow and former vice president for Education at AUSA’s national headquarters, provided at- tendees with an overview of the as- sociation’s Leadership Fellows pro- gram. Established by AUSA’s Center for Leadership, the program provides experts to guide important discus- sions for AUSA chapters, ROTC ca- dets and Army units across the coun- try and around the world. In his keynote address, Douglas Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, discussed priorities and Community Partner Challenge The following chapters are the February winners of AUSA’s Community Partner Challenge in their award categories. Each winner receives $500 and 5 points toward Best Chapter in their group. • Fort Novosel-Wiregrass – Award Group 1 • Greater Augusta-Fort Eisenhower – Award Group 2 • Capital District of New York – Award Group 3 • Monmouth – Award Group 4 • Minutemen – Award Group 5 strategies for the Army in a resource constrained environment, and Lt. Gen. David Hodne, deputy command- ing general for futures and concepts at Futures Command, provided an update on the command’s vision for continuous transformation. The morning’s events also included a panel with Brig. Gen. Monte Rone, commandant of the Army Infantry School and director of the Soldier Lethality Cross-Functional Team; Brig. Gen. Michael Simmering, Army Armor School commandant; Brig Gen. Geoffrey Norman, direc- tor of the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle Cross-Functional Team; and Col. Scott Shaw, director of the Ma- neuver Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate. Over the next two days, companies scheduled one-on-one sessions at Fort Moore, formerly known as Fort Benning, to meet with government representatives. The best ideas from the Industry Day event will be showcased at the 2024 AUSA Annual Meeting and Ex- position in Washington, D.C., Hesler said. “Following a 30-day review by in- dustry representatives, the Maneu- ver Center of Excellence has asked that industry submit their solutions to address the capabilities required for ground maneuver,” he said. “Af- ter an assessment of those candidate solutions, the Maneuver Capability Development and Integration Direc- torate will assign tier rankings and recommend to the commander of Fort Moore which solutions will be briefed during the AUSA Annual Meeting in October.” Chattahoochee Valley–Fort MooreMEMBER 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 AND MANY MORE... VISION INSURANCE LawAssure ™ PET INSURANCENext >