PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org April 10, 2025 | AUSA Extra 1 Global Force event educates, connects T he Association of the U.S. Army’s 2025 Global Force Symposium and Exposition brought together more than 6,500 at- tendees to Huntsville, Alabama, for three days of key updates from senior Army leaders, professional develop- ment and networking. The event from March 25–27 in Huntsville’s Von Braun Center fea- tured presentations by David Fitzger- ald, the senior official performing the duties of the Army undersecretary; Patrick Mason, the senior official performing the duties of the assis- tant secretary of the Army for acqui- sition, logistics and technology; Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer; Gen. James Rainey, commanding general of Army Futures Command; Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, deputy com- manding general and acting com- Retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO, addresses the association's 2025 Global Force Symposium and Exposition in Huntsville, Alabama. (AUSA PHOTO) Weimer Highlights Quality-of-Life Efforts 3 George Shares Leadership Lessons 4 NCO & Soldier Programs Building Community Support 6 Chapter Highlights Gen. Creighton W. Abrams Coastal South Carolina Chapter Challenge Winners 7, 8 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 6 NUMBER 48 APRIL 10, 2025 mander of Army Materiel Command; and Lt. Gen. Robert Collins, princi- pal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology and director of the Army Acquisition Corps. Throughout the symposium, Army leaders emphasized the importance of transforming the Army—and quick- ly. “We have to do more to overtake the rate at which our adversaries are transforming,” Fitzgerald said. “We have to do it better, we have to do it faster, we have to do it together.” The Army is at a “pivotal moment,” Fitzgerald added. “The character of warfare is changing before our eyes. Our adversaries are transforming.” The urgency of the Army’s efforts was evident in the education and professional development portion of Global Force, which featured panel discussions on the Army’s transfor- mation in contact initiative, agile ac- quisition, transforming sustainment and institutional training, and the role of NCOs in shaping the future force. There also were Warriors Corner presentations on all three days on topics such as human-machine inte- gration, the industrial base, innova- tions in advanced manufacturing, the role of doctrine in the future fight and supply chain resiliency. Forums such as Global Force en- able the Army and industry to come together, which builds relationships, trust and collaboration, and expands professional dialogue, Mason said. “This is a team sport,” he said, lauding AUSA for providing the fo- rum for those conversations. See Global Force, Page 3251287-AUSA-AP-PAD ausaplans.com/choices (800)882-5707 For more information including costs, exclusions, limitations, reduction of benefits, and terms of coverage, call or visit our website. * This multiline discount is not retroactive. If you terminate either product, your discount will be discontinued. Discounts will be reflected on your next invoice or your next scheduled payment. Contact us with any questions. You value protecting our nation’s security—we’re here to help protect yours. Leverage the buying power of AUSA members and enjoy competitive group rates on valuable coverage. AUSA GROUP INSURANCE PROGRAM Benefits designed for you and your family Medicare Insurance Plans Long-Term Care Insurance Individual and Family Health Insurance Plans Pet Insurance Group Vision Insurance Plan Group Dental Insurance Plan Just like you, AUSA understands the importance of security. That’s why we provide our members with a variety of coverage and benefits to help keep AUSA members and their families protected. TRICARE Supplement Insurance Plan Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance Plan Group Term Life Insurance Plan Receive a 15% discount (applied to your term life insurance premium)* when you add an AUSA TRICARE Supplement Insurance Plan. SCAN THE QR CODE TO VISIT OUR SECURE WEBSITE AND LEARN MORE.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY April 10, 2025 | AUSA Extra 3 SMA: Army making strides in quality-of-life programs E fforts to improve quality of life for soldiers and their families begin with training manage- ment, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer said Tuesday on Capitol Hill. “The Army responds in times of crisis and is ready to fight and win when the nation calls,” Weimer tes- tified before members of the House Appropriations subcommittee on military construction, veterans af- fairs and related agencies. “We are reinforcing the importance of lead- ers’ obligation to provide stable and predictable training management to give soldiers and their families time to plan against life's events.” There are more than 109,000 sol- diers deployed across the globe, and 74,000 soldiers serve as part of the immediate or crisis response forces, Weimer said, and the service has taken a comprehensive look at im- proving everything from barracks quality to child care accessibility to spouse employment opportunities. In terms of barracks improve- ments, “we’ve been able to scrub our entire inventory,” Weimer said, so the This year’s Global Force featured 224 exhibitors, a record for the show. The strong showing from industry provided Army leaders a valuable op- portunity to see the latest technology and equipment and spark conversa- tions about what the Army needs for the next fight. Rainey thanked the AUSA team for putting together a “world-class event” that connected Army leaders with industry. He and other leaders “did more industry engagements in the last two days” at Global Force, saving “countless” dollars that would have otherwise been spent on traveling to visit each company, Rainey said. The City of Huntsville, in its City Blog, praised Global Force as one of the city’s largest annual events. Apart from its economic impact (es- timated by the city at $6.3 million, with attendees occupying about 12,000 hotel rooms), Global Force brings Army, industry and commu- nity leaders together for important conversations and networking. “It’s an opportunity to meet with a lot of companies and talk with ex- ecutives that might not be based in Huntsville,” Huntsville Mayor Tom- my Battle said in the blog. “We want to hear about how they are doing, what they may be needing. And it’s a chance to talk to people who might be looking to establish a new location or headquarters, and we can talk about everything Huntsville has to offer.” This year’s Global Force Sympo- sium and Exposition was a huge suc- cess, said retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO. “Global Force is an important and timely event that delves into the Army’s sus- tainment and materiel transforma- tion, two areas critical to success on a complex future battlefield,” Brown said. “AUSA is pleased to bring to- gether key Army and industry leaders to share thoughtful dialogue about the service’s warfighting, sustain- ment and modernization initiatives.” AUSA looks forward to continu- ing these critical discussions at fu- ture forums, and it is grateful to the city and people of Huntsville and the incredible volunteers from AUSA’s Redstone-Huntsville chapter for their hospitality and hard work in making Global Force such a success, Brown said. “We couldn’t do it without you,” Brown said. “Thanks for making this the best Global Force ever.” Global Force From Page 1 service now knows which buildings need work or improvements. “We're trying to make sure we stretch every dollar to the furthest extent avail- able,” he said. The Army also continues to work toward child care accessibility. “We have streamlined the hiring process to combat staffing challenges and in- crease capacity [in child development centers], as well as provide fee assis- tance to offset costs for installations and community-based child care,” he said. Spouse employment is another area of effort, Weimer said. “Spouses are vital to Army readiness,” he said. “Enhancing spouse employment sup- ports military families and reten- tion. Launching the Department of the Army Voluntary Assignment Program and providing employment readiness programs aids spouses during PCS moves, reducing unem- ployment gaps and providing job pre- dictability.” For soldiers and their families, quality of life affects every aspect of their day-to-day experience, Weimer said in his written testimony. “Qual- ity of life is more than just barracks, housing, child development centers and dining facilities,” he said. “They are each a pillar of quality of life for soldiers and families, but where soldiers work—ranges, ammunition supply points, motor pools, company operations facilities and mainte- nance facilities—must be part of the conversation.” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer dis- cusses the service's efforts to improve quality of life for soldiers and families during testimony on Tuesday before the House Appropriations subcommittee on military construction, veterans affairs and related agencies. (U.S. AIR FORCE/ERIC DIETRICH)www.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | April 10, 2025 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. 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Voice for the Army – Support For the Soldier PERK OF THE WEEK ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY George: Army leaders should seek feedback, stay curious E ffective leaders can successful- ly solicit feedback from their soldiers, recognize bottom-up innovation and stay curious, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George said during a recent episode of the From the Green Notebook podcast. “That’s up to the leader to go down and see things in the right way. It's up to the leader to ask the right ques- tions … to make sure that you are soliciting honest feedback,” he said. “Whether you're a battalion com- mander, a brigade commander, you're going to have to do that. … How you take that feedback, I think, is really important as well.” Leaders also understand that new developments and ideas work their way up the chain of command, George said. He cited the transforming in contact initiative, which began with three brigades and put new technol- ogy in soldiers’ hands for testing and feedback, and his February visit with one of those brigades, the 10th Moun- tain Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team, during a rotation at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center near Hohenfels, Germany. “When it's 25 degrees and wet and icy, we learned about battery life for drones and for everything that's happening over there. … We really ... refi ned a lot of the things that the other two brigades had done,” George said. “And it just kind of reinforced to me that the bottom-up innovation that we have going on with trans- forming in contact is what we need to do to help transform and change our Army.” Staying “intellectually curious” and having humility are essential for leaders’ self-development, George said. “You do have to be intellectu- ally curious and understand that you have a lot to learn. ... Self-develop- ment is a big part of that, and fi gur- ing out where you have gaps in those kinds of things and making sure that you're fi lling that in,” he said. Leaders who genuinely enjoy what they’re doing can effectively model that behavior and attitude for their troops, George said as he refl ected on leaders who shaped him. “I had re- ally good leaders when I was in, and they … enjoyed what they were do- ing,” he said. “It's not like we didn't have bad days, but they were happy with their life, and they enjoyed it. And I think that that's a big part of what I saw through the years.” Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, second from left, visits with soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team in February at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center near Hohenfels, Germany. (U.S. ARMY/SPC. THOMAS DIXON) AUSA members save 25% when fi ling federal and state returns with TaxAct. The company assures that you’ll get your maximum tax refund using calculations that are 100% correct, backed by $100,000. Visit www.ausa.org/tax for personal fi l- ings and www.taxact.com/ausasmb for small-business fi lings.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY April 10, 2025 | AUSA Extra 5 T he mission of the Army Space Professionals Association is to bring together the Army space community, both military and civil- ian, to leverage support and foster professional development. To promote professionalism and help establish standards, education and certifications for the rapidly growing space domain, the associa- tion conducts a range of activities, including providing opportunities for networking and mentorship, connect- ing active-duty and retired soldiers, and sponsoring awards and scholar- ships for outstanding Army space professionals. The group also hosts national con- ferences, bringing other military, in- telligence, civil, academic and com- mercial experts into contact with Army space professionals. It has established seven local and regional Spotlight on AUSA Association Partner: ASPA chapters and encourages regular chapter meetings to promote net- working and bolster relationships. All these efforts aim to “enhance the ability” of soldiers and civilians “to achieve the Army’s requirements for and interests in exploiting the benefits of space and space systems,” according to the organization’s web- site. “ASPA fosters a sense of commu- nity and identity for Army space— military personnel, civilians, con- tractors, students and retirees with an interest in the Army’s mission in space,” the association’s website says. “We provide a sense of identity, maintain and foster the distinct his- tory and nature of the Army's space mission.” For more information, please visit www.armyspace.pro/home. You can email the association at armyspaces- ecretary@gmail.com. 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.www.ausa.org 6 AUSA Extra | April 10, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Community connections critical for soldiers, families Chris Albus, right, president of AUSA's Central Texas chapter, recognizes one of the chapter's newest Community Part- ners, the Temple Area Builders Associa- tion, during an event at the Temple Cham- ber of Commerce. (AUSA PHOTO) L ast month, retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey, the Association of the U.S. Army’s vice president of NCO and Soldier Programs, and I went deep in the heart of Texas to further AUSA’s mission of connecting, informing and educating the force. We talked about leader devel- opment and shared what AUSA does—not only for soldiers and their families, but for surrounding com- munities. Fort Cavazos, Texas, is referred to by soldiers and civilians stationed there as “The Great Place.” For- merly Fort Hood, the installation was redesignated in 2023 in honor of Gen. Richard Cavazos, a Texas na- tive who served as the III Corps com- manding general from 1980–1982. Cavazos fought in Korea and Viet- nam and was awarded the military’s highest honor, the Medal of Honor, for actions during the Korean War. He also was the first Hispanic four- star general in the Army. We began our day at The Great Place by conducting a leader devel- opment session with soldiers and leaders from the 504th Military In- telligence Brigade, followed by lunch NCO & Soldier Programs with several sergeants major at the Blackjack Dining Facility. Outside the gates of Fort Cavazos are Killeen and Temple, where a fan- tastic community event at the Cham- ber of Commerce in Temple was held that evening. AUSA’s Central Texas chapter had the privilege of partner- ing with the Chamber of Commerce to host a Community Partner Social, filled with fellowship, networking and shared commitment. Chapter members, leaders from the Chamber of Commerce and prospec- tive Community Partners attended, and Dailey provided remarks. The event, which had 46 attendees from 20 companies, led to several new members—including Life mem- bers—and new Community Partners for the chapter. Chapter leaders also recognized one of their newest Com- munity Partners, the Temple Area Builders Association. Community partnership with AUSA provides local organizations the opportunity to demonstrate to the community that they support soldiers and their families, while strengthening their own organi- zational and business objectives. Community Partners include local businesses, large corporations, civic groups, veterans’ organizations, so- cieties and other community groups. Dailey took time to connect with the chapter and community by shar- ing valuable insights on leadership, service and the vital role of commu- nity support for our military. Estab- lishing that connection for soldiers and families, regardless of where they are stationed, is imperative to feeling that they are an integral part of that community. Many service members change locations frequent- ly, and opportunities like AUSA chapters, their Community Partners and events like these provide unique opportunities to connect. At AUSA, we stand beside those who serve, striving to strengthen the bond between our military and the American people. Immense gratitude for soldiers’ service was palpable throughout our visit to this tightly knit military community. Follow NCO and Soldier Programs on Instagram @ncosoldierprograms and the Central Texas chapter on Facebook @centraltexasausa. Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Julie Guerra is AUSA’s director of NCO and Soldier Programs. Retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey, AUSA’s vice president of NCO and Soldier Programs, discusses leadership, service and the vital role of community support for the Army during a Community Partner Social in Temple, Texas. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY April 10, 2025 | AUSA Extra 7 Chapter commemorates key WWII Rhine River crossing Members of AUSA's Gen. Creighton W. Abrams chapter maneuver a World War II-era DUKW amphibious truck during a commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Rhine River crossing in Remagen, Germany, during World War II. (AUSA PHOTO) I n March, the Association of the U.S. Army’s Gen. Creighton W. Abrams chapter hosted a ceremony com- memorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Remagen, a critical point in World War II when soldiers of the 9th Armored Division accomplished the first crossing of the Rhine River in Germany. “It was an immense honor to or- ganize the wreath-laying ceremony in Remagen, marking the 80th an- niversary of the Rhine River cross- ing during World War II,” said Gem- ma McGowan, the chapter president. “We should all take great pride in our AUSA chapter and the ceremony we conducted as a team.” Chapter member Mike Clauss, who serves as the historian for U.S. Army Europe and Africa, provided “insightful and informative” remarks during the commemoration about the history of the Remagen bridge cross- ing and its significance in the war, McGowan said. On March 7, 1945, U.S. forces captured the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, which spanned the Rhine River. The bridge, a crucial German supply route, was vital to the Al- lied advance into the heart of Nazi Germany, as the Allies had system- atically bombed bridges up and down the river for months, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. The next day, U.S. troops began crossing the bridge. Infantry and armor units established a defensive position on the opposite bank while engineers worked rapidly under con- stant enemy fire to build alternate crossings. Over the next 10 days, the Germans made several efforts to destroy the temporary bridges and the Luden- dorff Bridge, including launching V2 rockets from the Netherlands—the only time the missiles were fired at a tactical target in Germany during the war—and repeated aerial bom- bardments. In response, American soldiers positioned “the largest con- centration of anti-aircraft weapons during World War II,” according to the Army Corps of Engineers. The Allies were able to transport five divisions across the Rhine be- fore the Ludendorff Bridge collapsed on March 17. Twenty-eight U.S. sol- diers were killed when the bridge fell, but U.S. forces had established a critical foothold on the eastern side of the Rhine. The daring capture and defense of the bridge “expedited the invasion of Germany and thus short- ened the Second World War,” accord- ing to the Army Corps of Engineers. “The bridgehead provided a seri- ous threat to the heart of Germany, a diversion of incalculable value. It became a springboard for the final offensive to come,” then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Marshall said of the battle. During the recent ceremony, five wreaths were laid by distinguished guests, including Helen Patton, granddaughter of Gen. George Pat- ton. The chapter’s military history team also organized an authentic crossing of the river in a World War II-era DUKW amphibious truck. “It was truly incredible to witness history come alive on the 80th an- niversary of the crossing,” McGowan said. “We are proud to pay tribute to the courageous soldiers who fought and made the ultimate sacrifice at Remagen 80 years ago. They will never be forgotten.” Gen. Creighton W. Abrams Gemma McGowan, president of AUSA's Gen. Creighton W. Abrams chapter, speaks during a ceremony commemorat- ing the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Remagen in Germany. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org 8 AUSA Extra | April 10, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Longtime AUSA volunteer leader receives VA award Lt. Col. Larry Dandridge, left, vice president for veteran affairs with AUSA's Coastal South Carolina chapter, receives a VA Commendation of Meritorious Service from Scott Isaacks, CEO of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston. (AUSA PHOTO) Chapter Challenge Winners The following chapters are the winners of AUSA’s Chapter Challenge in their award categories for the third quarter of AUSA’s fiscal year 2025. 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 • Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri – Group 2 • Sunshine – Group 3 • Marne – Group 4 • Tucson-Goyette – Group 5 • Korea – Outside Continental U.S. Group Premium Memberships • Redstone-Huntsville – Group 1 • Arsenal of Democracy – Group 2 • Chattahoochee Valley-Fort Moore – Group 3 • COL Edward Cross – Group 4 • Tucson-Goyette – Group 5 • Korea – Outside Continental U.S. Group R etired Lt. Col. Larry Dan- dridge, a longtime volunteer leader with the Association of the U.S. Army’s Coastal South Caro- lina chapter, recently was honored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Af- fairs with a Commendation of Meri- torious Service for his years of sup- port for veterans and their families. Dandridge, who has served as the chapter’s vice president for veteran affairs for the past two decades, re- ceived the award from Scott Isaa- cks, CEO of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, during a ceremony in the center’s auditorium. The award recognizes Dandridge’s “extraordinary service, dedication, and unwavering support for veterans of this great nation,” ac- cording to the award citation. Over the past 21 years, Dandridge has “tirelessly advocated for our na- tion’s heroes and loved ones' health and well-being,” Isaacks said. Dandridge’s accomplishments include his work to end a parking shortage—which led to veterans missing appointments due to a lack of parking—at the VA medical cen- ter; helping veterans improve their job searching skills, resulting in good jobs for dozens of veterans and their spouses; and writing more than 200 articles for the Beaufort Island News and over 20 other magazines and newspapers on how to apply for veterans’ benefits and appeal VA de- cisions. With the AUSA chapter, Dan- dridge established the “Wounded, Ill, Injured, and Needy Troops/Veterans Fund,” which has provided same-day grants totaling over $50,000 to vet- erans referred to AUSA by VA social workers and others. He also raised more than $30,000 through the chap- ter for a donation to the VA Medical Center Volunteer Program. The award commendation, Dan- dridge said, “should bring credit to AUSA for its enthusiastic and com- mendable support of our military ser- vices, the Army, our soldiers and our veterans.” Coastal South CarolinaNext >