PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org June 6, 2024 | AUSA Extra 1 Army must adapt for future conflicts W ith the future of conflict uncertain and technology evolving at a rapid pace, the Army must make adaptability a top priority, said Gen. James Rainey, com- mander of Army Futures Command. “In the event that we find our- selves in another conflict, I would put adaptability at the near top of the characteristics that we’re going to need, because nobody’s going to get the future totally right,” Rainey said Monday as part of the Strategic Landpower Dialogue series co-hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army and the Center for Strategic and In- ternational Studies. “It’s about not getting it really wrong, seeing what you missed and being able to adapt faster, which is a skill that we need to get better at as a military,” Rainey said. “We should get better at it now before we have to do it in combat.” He described the current threat environment as “the most disruptive point in terms of technology” since before World War II, when people were “inventing things like air- planes, radios, combustible engines.” “As disruptive as those were, the pace of disruption … is what is alarm- ing,” he said. “Anything you think you know now is going to be different, cer- tainly in a year, maybe 90 days.” In a discussion about how the dis- ruptiveness of technology is chang- ing combat, Rainey pointed to the enduring aspects of war, things that will never change. Rainey shared his view that “war remains a human endeavor, it’s a con- A French child greets World War II veteran Richard Stewart, who served as a communications line- man with the 459th Signal Construction Battalion, at the Deauville-Normandie airport in France on Monday as Stewart arrives to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. (U.S. ARMY/PFC. ISAIAH MOUNT) Army Increases Spouse Reimbursement 3 Government Affairs Region Presidents on the Hill 4 Member Benefits Summer Travel Discounts 7 Chapter Highlights First In Battle Texas Capital Area 8 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 6 NUMBER 6 JUNE 6, 2024 test of will between people.” One has only to look to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as an example of how the human element is present in decision making, in withstanding the horror, in why and for whom people fight, he said. “We’re not going to fight anywhere where there’s not going to be serious civilian implications of that fight,” Rainey said. “People are still the thing.” Because land “remains deci- sive” in warfare, people will always be affected, he said. Another aspect of war that will not change for the “values-based” U.S. military is an adherence to the eth- ics of combat. The joint force, Rainey said, is “special” because it abides by the law of armed conflict and will continue to do so. D-Day 80th anniversarywww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY June 6, 2024 | AUSA Extra 3 New policy boosts financial aid for spouse business costs F inancial aid for Army spouses is expanding with a new directive allowing reimbursement of up to $1,000 for business-related expens- es, the service announced Wednesday. The new policy is in addition to the $1,000 currently authorized for relicensing fees resulting from a re- location. “Army spouses face unique chal- lenges, especially during a reloca- tion. We owe it to them to provide any opportunity to not just have a job but build a fulfilling career,” said Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen, deputy Army chief of staff for installations, G-9, in an Army news release. Transferring licenses or busi- nesses during a military move can often result in logistical and finan- cial challenges for spouses. The new directive aims to alleviate these con- cerns, allow spouses to maintain con- tinuity in their careers and enhance the well-being of Army families. “As a working Army spouse for 30 years, I understand and appreci- ate the importance of this expanded Army policy for spouses,” said Holly Dailey, director of Family Readiness at the Association of the U.S. Army. “Thank you to our senior leaders for continuing to invest in our families’ quality of life.” For business owners, reimburse- ment is available for equipment relo- AUSA Basic Members can now view a selection of articles from the June issue of ARMY magazine. To read the articles, click here. ARMY magazine June issue AUSA leaders address senior fellows Retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO, and the association’s leaders speak Wednesday during a gathering of AUSA’s senior fellows at association headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. (AUSA PHOTO) cation, new technology purchases, IT services and inspection fees. The new policy also includes those authorized a final move or placed on the tempo- rary disability retired list. For more information on qualify- ing expenses and how to apply for reimbursement, click here. A Savannah police officer speaks with a soldier and his wife during a hiring fair in May at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. (U.S. ARMY/MONICA GUTHRIE)www.ausa.org4 AUSA Extra | June 6, 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 . Voice for the Army – Support For the Soldier PERK OF THE WEEK ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Region presidents foster support for the Total Army on Capitol Hill FightCamp is a connected at-home boxing gym giving you access to world-class boxing and kickboxing trainers, premium equipment and performance-tracking technology— all from the comfort of your home. Members can save 20% and get two free months by clicking here. O n Wednesday, the Associa- tion of the U.S. Army’s region presidents and Government Affairs team visited Capitol Hill to advocate on behalf of the Total Army. In our meetings, we highlighted AUSA’s 2024 Focus Areas, including warfi ghting, delivering ready combat formations, strengthening the Army profession and supporting the ser- vice’s transformation efforts. We also stressed the need for ad- ditional funding for the Army. On-time and suffi cient appropria- tions, as well as passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, remains AUSA’s top advocacy recom- mendation on Capitol Hill. The fi scal year 2025 authorization and appropriations process continues as the House Armed Services Com- mittee recently marked up its ver- sion of the National Defense Autho- rization Act. The legislation provides important authorizations and policy direction for the Army and Depart- ment of Defense. Among its provisions, the legisla- tion authorizes signifi cant resources for the Army and important defense industrial base improvements. You can help build momentum for enactment of additional funding for the Total Army by contacting your representatives and senators or by meeting with them. We encourage you to contact and meet with members of your federal delegation in your state and congres- sional district. If you choose to meet with a mem- ber of your federal delegation or their staff, meet as a constituent, veteran and/or AUSA member; use the AUSA Focus Areas as reference points; be sure to coordinate with your region and chapter leaders; and tell us at AUSA national headquarters about it—we want to help. As a reminder, AUSA only lob- bies at the federal level on federal issues, and we are nonpartisan and apolitical. AUSA is prohibited from supporting or participating in any political campaign for or against a candidate for local, state or federal offi ce. We will continue to monitor these and other developments closely as we advocate for the Total Army with Congress. Mark Haaland is AUSA’s Government Aff airs director. On-time appropriations and passage of the National Defense Authorization Act remains AUSA’s top advocacy recommendation on Capitol Hill. (ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL PHOTO) Government Aff airsCadets from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, participate in a discus- sion on honor and leadership with captains from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) hosted at AUSA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. (AUSA PHOTO) www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY June 6, 2024 | AUSA Extra 5 AUSA hosts leadership discussion for West Point cadets T he Association of the U.S. Ar- my’s Center for Leadership re- cently hosted cadets and facul- ty from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and captains from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) to discuss how in- ternalization of the cadet honor code shapes ethical decision making and builds trust in the force. Other topics of conversation in- cluded stewardship of the Army pro- fession, mentorship and the impor- tance of peer leadership. This forum aligned with AUSA’s mission to edu- cate, inform and connect like-minded leaders. Held May 30 at AUSA national headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, the leadership discussion was part of West Point’s “Character in the Pro- fession” Academic Individual Ad- vanced Development program. In ad- dition to AUSA, the 10-day program included visits to Philadelphia; the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; Valley Forge, Pennsyl- vania; the National Museum of the United States Army and Arling- ton National Cemetery in Virginia; Georgetown University, the National Holocaust Museum, the World War II and Vietnam memorials and the Na- tional Archives in Washington, D.C.; and Ground Zero in New York. The West Point faculty members are assigned to the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic. They teach MX400, the superinten- dent’s capstone course on Officership, which is a mandatory course for all West Point seniors that integrates key concepts from the institution’s academic, military and character programs. The captains from the Old Guard who attended the discussion gradu- ated from West Point in 2020 and enthusiastically shared their leader- ship journeys, mistakes and lessons learned. They reflected on the value of West Point’s Leader Challenge ex- ercises as foundational to their suc- cess and provided key insight into why trust is the bedrock of the Army profession. The Old Guard officers also shared their passion for rendering final hon- ors to America’s heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. One of the captains described their struggles with West Point’s physical requirements, sharing how demon- strating grit and overcoming adver- sity became a strength. Another of- ficer said that West Point’s emphasis on living and leading honorably was superb preparation to build and lead effective and cohesive teams in the operating force. The West Point cadets will serve on the Honor Committee during the com- ing academic year. These demanding leadership positions require strong character, moral courage and peer leadership, and we hope that the dis- cussion at AUSA helps them in their journeys as young officers. Retired Col. Scott Halstead is AUSA’s Center for Leadership director. Retired Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, center, AUSA’s vice president for Leadership and Education, speaks to West Point cadets during a meeting at AUSA national headquarters. (AUSA PHOTO)SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE POWERED BY: 35,000 ATTENDEES 650+ EXHIBITORS 150+ SESSIONS 80 COUNTRIES Housing Opens 12JUNE eventhousing@ausa.org | sponsorships@ausa.orgwww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY June 6, 2024 | AUSA Extra 7 Save on summer travel with your AUSA membership A s summer begins, I want to highlight some of the travel- related savings available with your membership in the Associ- ation of the U.S. Army. You can visit the members-only travel webpage at www.ausa.org/savings#travel and click on the logos of the services that interest you. Travel with Collette Are you interested in going some- place new and having someone else take care of all the details? Want an expert to pick the most appropriate accommodations and restaurants and guide you through the most in- teresting sites? Use your AUSA member discount to save up to $600 on Collette guided travel—the com- pany will take your guided travel experience to an- other level with inclusive tours that provide more value for your money and more of what makes travel spe- cial. Collette is a family-owned compa- ny that’s been in business for more than 100 years. In addition to the $600 discounts, benefits include easy and convenient booking, expert tour managers, private airport transfers, carefully selected accommodations, immersive cultural and culinary ex- periences and more. Armed Forces Vacation Club Even if you didn’t serve in the mil- itary, all AUSA members can join the Armed Forces Vacation Club for weeklong resort stays for just $419. Just be sure to use the link on the AUSA website. Armed Forces Vacation Club is operated by Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospital- ity companies, and it features thou- sands of resorts around the world for just $419 a week, whether it’s a hotel room or a two-bedroom condo. These accommodations are similar to the Member Benefits military’s space-available services, in that availability is based on va- cancies. Please choose “AUSA member” for your eligibility, even if you’re other- wise eligible, because the organiza- tion will then make a donation to AUSA’s scholarship program. On the Armed Forces Vacation Club site, filter your search with “R*R” for the $419 weekly rate—but even without the filter, you’ll find a lot of great deals. From June 7–19, Armed Forces Vacation Club is having a sale on three-, five- and seven-night stays at top destinations including New York, Miami and Las Vegas. Car rentals, hotels and more You’ll also find car rental discounts on AUSA’s travel page. Just click on the logo of the company you prefer, and your discount will be applied au- tomatically. The Avis and Budget sites let you combine a coupon on the landing page with your member discount for a free upgrade or extra savings. If you’re traveling in the U.S., click on the MemberDeals logo and create an account on that site. You have spe- cial access as an AUSA member, and you’ll find discounts on theme parks, attractions, water parks, movies, shows and events. One of my favorite options on this site is the “Choose A City” feature on the green bar at the top. Enter the city you’re traveling to for area discounts, including airport parking, bus tours and much more. If you’re traveling with pets, use your 20% discount at Red Roof Inn— where pets stay for free—with code 622590 or by using the link on the AUSA site. Members also save up to 20% at Choice Hotel brands, which include economy through luxury op- tions across 22 brands at more than 7,400 locations worldwide. You also may want to consider EA+, a service that provides mem- bers with medical travel protection at a discounted rate. EA+ includes emergency medical evacuation, transportation, a nurse escort and much more. If you have questions about these or any other AUSA benefits, contact me at srubel@ausa.org. Susan Rubel is AUSA’s Association and Affinity Partnerships director. With Collette guided travel, AUSA members receive inclusive tours that provide more value for your money and more of what makes travel special. (COURTESY PHOTO)www.ausa.org8 AUSA Extra | June 6, 2024 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Chapter award honors outstanding exchange employees A s part of its commitment to recognizing and promoting excellence within the mili- tary community, the Association of the U.S. Army’s First In Battle chapter, based in Ansbach, Germany, recently presented its Customer Ser- vice Award of the Quarter to the staff of the Ansbach Urlas Post Exchange. During the ceremony at the ex- change, Eddie Guevara, the chapter president, spoke about the accom- plishments of the Ansbach Urlas Post Exchange and the staff’s unwavering commitment to service members, DoD civilians and their families. “His words served as a powerful reminder of the im- portance of the work being done by the exchange,” the chapter said in a Facebook post. Cary Zottolo, combined activities manager at the Ansbach Urlas Post Exchange, accepted the award from Guevara on behalf of the organiza- tion. The chapter also recognized two individual exchange employ- ees—Paul Townsend, who received the safety and environmental safety award, and Renate Petsche, who was honored as the chapter’s employee of the quarter. Guevara also presented each of the 33 professional staff members with an AUSA coin. “This token not only recognizes their individual contribu- tions but also serves as a reminder of the history and prestige of this cov- eted award,” according to the chap- ter. The award presentation was fol- lowed by a cake-cutting ceremony, a chapter tradition. The event was well attended by members of the commu- nity, reflecting the strong bonds and mutual respect within this unique group. “This recognition serves as a tes- tament to the Ansbach Urlas Ex- change’s commitment to providing exceptional service to those who serve our nation. It is a proud mo- ment for the organization and sets a high standard for others to follow,” the chapter’s Facebook post said. AUSA members briefed by Army Emergency Relief boss R etired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston, director and CEO of Army Emergency Relief, highlighted the organization’s mission to promote readiness and help relieve financial distress of sol- diers and their families at a breakfast hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army’s Texas Capital Area chapter. The event took place during a weeklong visit by Grinston to Fort Cavazos, Texas, formerly known as Fort Hood. He was joined at the breakfast by Gen. James Rainey, commander of Army Futures Com- mand, and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Hester, the command’s senior enlisted leader. Retired Col. Garry Patterson, president of the Texas Capital Area chapter, retired Col. John Willis, the chapter treasurer, and vice president for special programs retired Col. Brian Cook welcomed Grinston on behalf of the chapter. Army Emergency Relief provides grants, interest-free loans and schol- arships to service members in need, said Grinston, who has led the orga- nization since Jan. 1 and served on its board of managers for seven years during his time in uniform. In 2023, Army Emergency Relief provided support to more than 31,000 soldiers and families and awarded more than 3,085 scholarships, he said. AUSA is a supporter of Army Emer- gency Relief and its mission, pledg- ing $1 million in 2022 and again in 2023 to support a financial literacy program run by the organization. “It is the hope that by sharing in- formation about this exceptional sup- port organization that resources will be provided to assist more soldiers and Army families requiring finan- cial assistance and scholarships in the future,” Patterson said. Cary Zottolo, left, combined activities man- ager at the Ansbach Urlas Post Exchange in Germany, accepts the AUSA First In Battle chapter Customer Service Award of the Quarter from chapter president Eddie Guevara. (AUSA PHOTO) First In Battle Texas Capital Area Retired Col. Garry Patterson, left, presi- dent of AUSA’s Texas Capital Area chap- ter, greets retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston, center, director and CEO of Army Emergency Relief, and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Hester, senior enlisted lead- er of Army Futures Command. (AUSA PHOTO)Next >