PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org July 17, 2025 | AUSA Extra 1 AUSA highlights land forces in Europe I n an increasingly challenging se- curity environment, land forces remain a critical part of the U.S. military’s ability to deter and fight, if needed, the top Army leader in Eu- rope said. “If you look at everything that is happening throughout the world, the land domain is not becoming less important. Rather, it’s becoming more important,” Gen. Christopher Donahue, commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, said Wednesday as he opened the Asso- ciation of the U.S. Army’s inaugural LANDEURO Symposium in Wies- baden, Germany. For the U.S. and its allies and partners in Europe, interoperability, offensive capability, industry and the ability to leverage data are crucial, Gen. Christopher Donahue, commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, addresses AUSA's inaugural LANDEURO Symposium Wednesday in Wiesbaden, Germany. (AUSA PHOTO) US Army Must Take Lessons from Ukraine 3 Counter-UAS Efforts Need Flexible Funding 4 NCO & Soldier Programs Supporting Soldiers, Cadets 6 Chapter Highlights Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri 7 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 7 NUMBER 10 JULY 17, 2025 See LANDEURO, Page 3 Donahue said. Alan Meltzer, charge d`affaires for the U.S. Mission to Germany, agreed. “LANDEURO highlights how interconnected our defense sec- tors are and must remain,” he said to the audience as he introduced Donahue. As an example, “German defense companies are indispensable partners with their American coun- terparts in advancing our national security objectives,” he said. As the U.S. and its partners con- tinue working together, they have a message for industry, Donahue said. “With industry, we can tell you exact- ly what we need,” he said. “Very spe- cifically, what we would like you to start to look at, is anything that we develop, it has to be interoperable.” Donahue cited data as an example. “We need industry to mitigate the risk that every nation sees in data,” he said. “We talk about the cloud, you as industry have to come in and talk about how we can share data with- out a nation being concerned about where that data is going to be.” Modular, optionally manned sys- tems also are needed, he said. “Ev- eryone loves to talk about long-range fires and air defense,” Donahue said. “Specifically, what we want to devel- op is a common launcher that is both defensive- and offensive-capable. We need a common fire control system so that any nation can use that fire con- trol system.” Cost also is a factor, Donahue said. “As a general rule, whatever you’re shooting at, whatever weapon system www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY July 17, 2025 | AUSA Extra 3 Army ‘learning everything’ it can from Ukraine fight U .S. and NATO troops must learn everything they can from the hard-earned lessons of the battlefields of Ukraine, two senior Ukrainian army leaders said Wednes- day during the Association of the U.S. Army’s inaugural LANDEURO Sym- posium in Wiesbaden, Germany. “Our battle is not only our battle. It’s a battle for all of us as a civi- lization against terrorists,” Com- mander Robert Brovdi, commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said through an interpreter. “We paid with lives for this expertise, but you can get this expertise out of us, and we will support you as you’ve sup- ported us in this war.” Speaking on a panel highlighting Ukraine’s rapid battlefield adapta- tion, Maj. Gen. Volodymyr Horbati- uk, deputy chief of the general staff for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said a pivotal battle in March 2022 in Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv was a “groundbreaking precedent” for the war the Ukrainians are still fighting today. “This was the start of the age of modern warfare,” Horbatiuk said. As the fighting has continued, Ukrainian troops have displayed 1,239 days of “unwavering Ukraini- an resilience,” he said, eliminating an average of 1,000 enemy personnel every 24 hours. They are fighting in all domains, including the cyber do- main, and they are used to adapting and improvising, Horbatiuk said. “A war of attrition means a deficit LANDEURO From Page 1 or munition you shoot at another ad- versary’s capability, it should be cheaper than what you’re shooting down.” At a press conference after his re- marks, Donahue reiterated the need to develop interoperable, cost-effec- tive capabilities. “We have to develop that capability as fast as humanly possible,” he said. “We would like the defense industrial base of all 32 [NATO] nations plus South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand to get broader and have more capability.” This defense industrial base must be diversified, he said. As an exam- ple, “you don’t want to build a bunch of drones right now,” Donahue said, as they’ll quickly be outdated. In- stead, “how do you build the right components … so you can scale very quickly?” he said. The U.S. and its partners must move more quickly to keep up with quickly evolving technology, Dona- hue said. Together, “we have to solve that, especially in this alliance,” he said. “Whatever war you’re watching play out, you’ll never fight that,” Do- nahue said. “Never in history have we fought the last war." of everything—constant and every- where,” reads a slide Horbatiuk dis- played during his remarks. He also emphasized that while technology matters, it only matters in human hands. Ukraine’s will, endurance and adaptability are to be admired, said Lt. Gen. Curtis Buzzard, com- mander of U.S. Army Security As- sistance Group-Ukraine and NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine. “Those three things are lessons in and of themselves when you think about the scale of this conflict, how long they’ve been fighting and how they’ve adapted, Buzzard said. Citing the common adage, “Adapt or die,” Buzzard said, “They live that every day.” The U.S. Army, the joint force and NATO must learn as much as they can from Ukraine, Buzzard said. Institu- tionally, it’s an incredible challenge to man, train and equip a force to con- duct large-scale combat operations not seen since World War II, he said. “How do you reconstitute forces in contact? How do you replace leaders?” There also are operational and tac- tical lessons, from defending yourself and your forces while maneuvering and dealing with the proliferation of drones. “I’m very focused on doing every- thing I can to support our Ukrainian partners, but we must be focused on learning everything we can,” Buz- zard said. “I do think this fight is the ultimate battle lab. It’s where you prove if things work or they don’t.” Military and civilian leaders from the U.S. and Ukraine speak Wednesday during a panel at AUSA's inaugural LANDEURO Symposium in Wiesbaden, Germany. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | July 17, 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 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. 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Voice for the Army – Support For the Soldier PERK OF THE WEEK ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Mingus: Evolving drone technology requires response ‘at every level’ C ountering the threat of un- manned aircraft systems on the battlefield is going to take a layered effort “at every level,” Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Min- gus said. “There’s no single solution, it’s got to be at every level, it’s got to be lay- ered,” Mingus said during a recent Strategic Landpower Dialogue event co-hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army and the Center for Stra- tegic and International Studies. Every squad must be able to protect itself “all the way up to formations that provide higher-end capability … a combination of high-energy lasers or lasers, period,” Mingus said. He suggested high-powered micro- waves and interceptors such as the Coyote Block 2C, which he described as the Army’s most effective inter- ceptor in action now, adding that even that piece of equipment is “not going to last, it’s going to have to be replaced.” The interceptors that will be need- ed, he said, are those that continue to come down in cost. “We can’t shoot a $130,000 missile Farmers GroupSelect is a new AUSA member benefit partner, providing a discount on home and auto insurance in most states and situations. Visit www.farmersgroupquote.com/AUSA or call 855-766-5216 and provide the AUSA member discount code FX3. at a $1,000 drone. We’ve got to get the price points down,” Mingus said, explaining that other counter-UAS platforms, such as proximity rounds that explode when they come close to a drone, are another option. “There is going to be a multitude of solutions long, short and close-in that are out there,” Mingus said. He cautioned, however, that “once we think we’ve got it figured out, then the adversary is going to come up with something, and we need to be able to evolve. This is not going to be a static environment, it’s got to be something that’s moving at the rate in which the technology is moving on the other end.” To address this need to stay ahead of the enemy, Mingus called on Congress to help facilitate flexible funding and the agility to purchase “whatever is out there that will deal with the threats of today.” “In the next year, it may be some- thing different, and we’ve got to have both the authority and then the fund- ing flexibility to be able to switch to whatever that solution’s going to be for the next year,” Mingus said. Sgt. Dominique Green, an explosive ordnance disposal expert with the 18th Military Police Brigade, assembles a disrupter system for unmanned aircraft systems July 8 at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria in Germany. (U.S. ARMY/SGT. 1ST CLASS TANISHA KARN)www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY July 17, 2025 | AUSA Extra 5 YOUR VALUE DRIVEN PARTNER OF CHOICE TURNKEY SOLUTIONS | AGILE TEAM | DYNAMIC SERVICES SERVICES ENGINEERING SERVICES INTEGRATED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICES HR & ADMIN SERVICES FIELD OPERATIONS SERVICES GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SECTOR INTEGRATED FACILITIES MANAGEMENT (IFM) TRANSPORTATION SERVICES KRH ACADEMY SCAN FOR MORE CENTCOM HQ KUWAIT, SHARQ, AL SHUHADA STREET, AL GHAWALI TOWER TEL: BD@KRHKW.COM +22320113965 AccountabilityPassion Excellence Integrity Commitment Respect Innovation VALUES OPERATING IN THE HEART OF CENTCOM KRH PROVIDES INTEGRATED HR SOLUTIONS AND LIFE SUPPORT SERVICES TO VARIOUS CLIENTS. KRH IS RECOGNIZED AS A WELL-FOUNDED, SUSTAINABLE, AND LEGAL PARTNER TO BUSINESSES WITHIN THE REGION. AS INDUSTRIES EVOLVED, KRH IS AGILE IN GAINING A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF ITS CLIENTS’ CHANGING NEEDS AND REFORMING ITS STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS NEW CHALLENGES. H eadquartered in Madison, Ala- bama, the Army Foreign Area Offi cer Association is dedi- cated to fostering and furthering the Army’s foreign area offi cer functional area 48 program to help achieve the service’s strategic objectives. Foreign area offi cers are commis- sioned offi cers selected, trained, edu- cated and developed to meet world- wide Army requirements, according to the Army. They are regionally focused experts in political-military operations with foreign language profi ciency and cultural, sociological, economic and geographic awareness. There are currently more than 1,100 foreign area offi cers serving in 158 countries around the world, ac- cording to the Army. The goals of the Army Foreign Area Offi cer Association, according to the group’s website, include advocating Spotlight on AUSA Association Partner: AFAOA for programs in support of the func- tional area; fostering mentorship and fellowship among military and civil- ian personnel, past and present, who are affi liated with the foreign area offi cer functional area; and recogniz- ing excellence and the contributions of those in the community. In January 2024, the association created the Military Order of Lafay- ette Award to honor those who have made signifi cant contributions to the foreign area offi cer functional area. In March, the group established a foreign area offi cer exhibit at the Na- tional Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and later this year it aims to initiate a mentoring process for new offi cers entering the program. For more information, please visit https://armyfaoassociation.com/. If your association is interested in partnering with AUSA, contact Su- san Rubel at srubel@ausa.org. Association Partnershipwith 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 | July 17, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Supporting soldiers, cadets through boots and baseball I n June, retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Dan Dailey, the Associa- tion of the U.S. Army’s vice presi- dent for NCO and Soldier Programs, and I traveled to Joint Base Lewis- McChord, Washington, and the sur- rounding community to participate in AUSA chapter events. I was stationed at the installation twice in my Army career—once with the 201st Expeditionary Military In- telligence Brigade in 2009, and again in 2014 with the mighty I Corps as a member of the staff. Flying into Se- attle, I was greet- ed with sunshine and an amazing view of the snow-topped Cascades and Mount Rainier. Like other trips in my role as AUSA’s director of NCO and Soldier Programs, this was an- other homecoming to places where I’d served. In this case, it also was where I owned my first home in the lovely Pacific Northwest. Our trip included leader develop- ment events, an NCO induction cer- emony, a change of command, break- fast with the Dupont Chamber of Commerce, Life Skills training with soldiers, the Army Birthday Ball and a Triple A baseball game. Through coordination with Isabella Colvin from AUSA’s Captain Meriwether Lewis chapter and leaders across the installation, we had multiple oppor- tunities to engage with soldiers, lead- ers and future soldiers, reinforcing AUSA’s core mission of educating, informing and connecting. While at breakfast with the cham- ber of commerce, community part- ners and the mayor of Dupont, we had the opportunity to acknowledge the incredible efforts of the junior ROTC leadership at Lakes High School. First Sgt. Raul Munoz from the school was present, along with future leaders and soldiers who par- ticipate in the program. Lakes High School has more than 2,000 children in attendance and one NCO & Soldier Programs of the largest junior ROTC participa- tion levels I have encountered with over 140 students. One of the biggest obstacles pre- venting more students from partici- pating in junior ROTC is the cost of boots, which are needed for train- ing and uniform requirements. The AUSA chapter has started a new ini- tiative where veterans support the program by donating funds to cover the cost of boots. Dailey was the first veteran to do- nate, and the student received a cer- tificate for the boots and a brief biog- raphy of Dailey’s career and service. Actions like this tie future leaders to former soldiers, making it a memora- ble experience for both generations. The trip ended with a baseball game, watching the Tacoma Rain- iers at Cheney Field. As a baseball fan since I was 9 years old, sneaking into Tucson Toros games in Arizona, it was a great opportunity to enjoy a sport that I love with great company. Thanks our amazing AUSA volun- teer members, we were able to enjoy the game in a suite co-sponsored by the USO and the AUSA chapter. This was a first for many of us, and we even got a visit from the team mas- cot, Rhubarb, who posed for photos and selfies with AUSA leadership and their family members. Thanks to Isabella and the Cap- tain Meriwether Lewis chapter for all they do to support the military, families and their community—and for the future events that are already in the works. Follow NCO and Soldier Programs @ncosoldierprograms on Instagram. Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Julie Guerra is AUSA’s director of NCO and Soldier Programs. Retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Dan Dailey, left, AUSA's vice president for NCO and Soldier Programs, and 1st Sgt. Raul Munoz, second from left, with the junior ROTC program at Lakes High School in Washington, present a pair of boots to a junior ROTC cadet, kick- ing off an initiative of the association's Captain Meriwether Lewis chapter. (AUSA PHOTO) Retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Dan Dailey, AUSA's vice president for NCO and Soldier Programs, greets Rhubarb, mascot of the Tacoma Rainiers in Washington. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.orgJuly 17, 2025 | AUSA Extra 7 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Chapter recognizes former soldier for Vietnam service Former Spc. 4 Nelson Allen displays his Purple Heart, which he received June 27, more than 54 years after he was wounded in combat in Vietnam. (U.S. ARMY/CPL. JESSE GONZALES) O n June 27, the Association of the U.S. Army’s Fort Leon- ard Wood-Mid Missouri chapter recognized a former soldier as he received the Purple Heart— more than 54 years after he was wounded in combat. Former Spc. 4 Nelson Allen was wounded on March 12, 1971, when his gun truck, “Proud American,” was struck by two B40 shoulder-fired rockets. The vehicle was destroyed, killing the driver and wounding Al- len and the vehicle’s officer in charge, according to an Army news release. “I just want to take a second to say, sir, thank you for your service, be- cause we are only here today because of you, so thank you. This award today that we are finally giving you is very much overdue,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, commanding gen- eral of the Maneuver Support Cen- ter of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood, who presented Allen with the Purple Heart. The AUSA chapter also presented Allen with a Vietnam Commemora- tion Pin and certificate, making him the 821st Vietnam veteran recognized in central Missouri by the chapter. The 54-year delay was not due to oversight by the Army, said Com- mand Sgt. Maj. Patrick O’Rourke of the 759th Military Police Battalion at Fort Carson, Colorado, a longtime friend of the Allen family. “Recently, [Allen] had started talking more about his Vietnam ac- complishments, some of his memo- ries—he even displayed some of his memorabilia—but most importantly, his regrets for turning down the Purple Heart when it was initially presented to him,” O’Rourke said, ac- cording to the release. He said that it was not uncommon for survivors to have mixed feelings, leading to the initial refusal of the award, followed by regret years later. “I attribute it to the guilt of survival,” O’Rourke said. Originally from Tunas, Missouri, Allen was drafted into the Army in June 1969, according to the release. He attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood and heavy vehicle driver training at Fort Carson. He deployed to Vietnam and was assigned to the 523rd Transportation Company in Quinn Yan, Port City. The unit conducted convoys, trans- porting fuel and other mission-relat- ed cargo throughout the country. Allen was returning from a resup- ply mission in support of operations Lam Son 719 and Dewey Canyon 2 when his gun truck was ambushed by the North Vietnamese Army. “It’s overwhelming, if you want the truth,” Allen said about the presen- tation and the ceremony, according to the release. “It’s a whole different world than it was.” Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri Soldiers line up to shake hands with former Spc. 4 Nelson Allen following his Purple Heart medal ceremony at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. (U.S. ARMY/CPL. JESSE GONZALES)Next >