PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org July 31, 2025 | AUSA Extra 1 AUSA Annual Meeting registration opens R egistration is now open for the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Ex- position. Scheduled for Oct. 13–15 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., the three-day event will feature address- es and professional development fo- rums by top Army and DoD leaders on the Army’s transformation and its efforts to grow and prepare the force for a complex future battlefield. There will be displays marking the Army’s 250th birthday and its legacy of service and sacrifice, as well as more than 700 exhibits spread over five halls featuring the latest tech- nology and equipment. Attendees also can register for housing, which opened in June. Soldiers, AUSA members, defense industry representatives and more gather in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center during the 2024 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition. (AUSA PHOTO) Leaders Discuss 2026 Budget at AUSA 3 Army Unveils New Combat Ration 4 Book Program Tanker Titles 8 Chapter Highlights Suncoast Eagle Chapters 9 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 7 NUMBER 12 JULY 31, 2025 See Annual Meeting, Page 3 For more information or to regis- ter, click here. AUSA is pleased to offer attendees two options for attending educational sessions and forums—a digital access pass or a printed badge. Attendees who use the digital access pass may minimize their wait times to enter a session during the Annual Meeting. The digital access pass, which will be scanned upon entry to the conven- tion center, can be used to attend all contemporary military forums and educational sessions. All attendees will receive a digital access pass with their registration confirmation, which can be down- loaded to their smartphones. A printed badge is required to re- ceive social event tickets and to visit the exhibit halls. The Army is taking on a sweeping transformation that promises big changes in force structure, weaponry, platforms and acquisition. Dubbed the Army Transformation Initiative, the effort aims to build a leaner and more lethal force. “The Army Transformation Initia- tive will make us into an Army that’s lean, agile and relentlessly focused on empowering soldiers,” Army Sec- retary Dan Driscoll said earlier this year. The Army is a professional team that remains focused on its warfight- ing mission, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George said. “But we have work to do,” he said. “We know the world is changing. Commercial tech- nology is rapidly evolving, and this is SECURE AMERICA DEPLOY RAPIDLYDOMINATE RELENTLESSLY WITH SPEED AND INTELLIGENCE AUTONOMOUS MISSION-READY DEFENSE SYSTEMS THAT PROTECT, TRAIN, AND DOMINATE ACROSS EVERY DOMAIN. WWW.HARMATTAN.AIwww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY July 31, 2025 | AUSA Extra 3 2026 budget prioritizes ‘continuous transformation’ A rmy transformation is a key component of the service’s fis- cal year 2026 budget request, which “demonstrates a strong com- mitment” to the service, its soldiers and the nation, said Maj. Gen. Mark Bennett, director of the Army budget. In remarks at a Coffee Series breakfast hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army, Bennett gave an overview of the $197.4 billion budget request, which he said will “allow the Army to remain the most capa- ble, ready and dominant force in the world.” The request, a 6.9% increase from the budget enacted in fiscal 2025 and part of a $961.6 billion DoD budget request, reflects a strong focus on the Army Transformation Initiative, which seeks major changes in how the force is structured, weapons and warfighting platforms, acquisition and divestiture of legacy equipment and formations. Bennett explained that the budget “lays the groundwork for a more le- thal, agile and resilient Army, and a key component in that for us is Army transformation, for our continuous transformation initiative.” The bud- get, he said, is “focused on rebuild- ing the Army to a leaner, more lethal force ready for the challenges of the modern battlefield.” He outlined three primary lines of effort aimed at advancing transfor- mation, the first of which is delivering critical warfighting capabilities. To Annual Meeting From Page 1 Maj. Gen. Mark Bennett, center, director of the Army budget, addresses an AUSA Cof- fee Series event at the association's headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. (AUSA PHOTO) impacting the character of war. We understand we must transform to stay ahead of our adversaries.” The Army must keep getting bet- ter—and faster, George said. “We must get better by 2026, 2027, not 2030,” he said. In addition to keynote addresses and contemporary military forums featuring senior Army leaders, An- nual Meeting attendees also will be able to view Warriors Corner and In- novators Corner presentations, visit more than 700 exhibits and network with industry and military leaders. Also scheduled are several award presentations, including the winners of the Best Squad Competition, NCO and Soldier of the Year and the Mar- shall Medal, AUSA’s highest award for selfless service to the country. This year’s Marshall Medal, in commemoration of the Army’s 250th birthday, is being awarded to Army recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor. The annual meeting is free, but registration is required. Some seated events require separate reservations and may have a fee. Updated information will be avail- able here. You can register here. Housing registration is available here. do that, he said, the Army is prioritiz- ing and accelerating the acquisition of technology that can address the use of unmanned aircraft systems, counter-unmanned aircraft systems, long-range fires, missile defense, cy- ber and electromagnetic warfare. Next, he said, the Army is “opti- mizing our force structure,” which includes consolidating major head- quarters in the generating force and streamlining U.S.-based operational headquarters. “To increase effec- tiveness,” he said, the Army is also “freeing up soldiers” to serve in ma- neuver and support units back out in the field.” Outlining the third line of effort, Bennett said the Army’s continuous transformation is a strategic shift toward reinvesting resources to “en- sure our future dominance.” “It truly is a divest to invest strat- egy,” he said. “We’re making smart choices to shed outdated systems, programs that no longer meet the demands of the modern battlefield. The initiative is about creating a leaner, more lethal and more agile force ready to face any threat.” The fiscal 2026 budget, he said, is a responsible and strategic invest- ment in the Army and the nation’s security, he said, explaining that it prioritizes people and the service’s modernization efforts “to ensure we are prepared to meet any chal- lenge, deter aggression and promote and protect our interests around the globe.”www.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | July 31, 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. 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. To celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, from April 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025, membership rates are reduced to a five-year Premium rate of $50 and a two- year Premium rate of $30. Lifetime member- ship is $250. A special Premium rate of $10 for two years is open to E1–E4 and cadets only. Two-year Basic membership with select ben- efits 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 New Close Combat Assault Ration now available for troops T roops now have a lightweight, nutrient-dense individual field ration available through the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, according to an Army news release. “We have a longstanding saying in the food world that it’s not nutrition if it’s not eaten,” Erin Gaffney-Stom- berg, combat feeding division chief at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Cen- ter, said in the release. “It’s critical that optimal nutrition is supplied to warfighters when and where they need it, and in a form that looks, smells and tastes good and is safe,” Gaffney-Stomberg said. Smaller and less bulky than the MRE and the First Strike Ration, the new ration, called the Close Combat Assault Ration, was created with the goal of supporting small units dur- ing operations in austere environ- ments where they need to sustain themselves for seven to 10 days with little to no resupply, according to the release. Currently, the Close Combat As- sault Ration can sustain semi-inde- pendent small units for five days with resupply and can be a sole source of nutrition for up to 10 days. Balancing the ration’s nutrition to fuel warfighting readiness is es- Visit AUSA's travel savings page to access your member discount for car rentals at many providers, includ- ing Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National. For more, visit www.ausa.org/savings#travel. See all discounts at www.ausa.org/savings. The Close Combat Assault Ration is a new, lightweight, energy-packed, nutrient-dense individual field ration featuring three menu choices that significantly reduces the vol- ume and weight of rations warfighters have to carry. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO) sential because “negative energy balance, or the inability to consume enough calories to meet metabolic demands, is a threat to warfighter performance,” James McClung, the military nutrition division chief, said in the release. Studies showed the new ration “did not adversely affect physical perfor- mance,” McClung said. “As the Army and DoD continue to seek ways to optimize warfighter performance and lethality, evidence indicates that the [Close Combat Assault Ration] is a promising op- tion for short-term missions where it is crucial to minimize the logisti- cal burden while maximizing energy intake and maintaining warfighter performance,” he said. Ultimately, the Close Combat As- sault Ration will lighten soldiers’ loads and free up more space for am- munition, water and medical sup- plies, Gaffney-Stomberg said. “This is a significant improvement in capability for contested operation- al environments,” she said. “This ration will replace the [First Strike Ration], and the 39% reduction in volume and 17% reduction in weight as compared to the [First Strike Ra- tion] translates to warfighters being able to now carry five days’ worth of nutrition in a three-day footprint.”www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY July 31, 2025 | AUSA Extra 5 Army faces unique logistics challenges in Indo-Pacific U nderscoring the importance of joint logistics in the Indo- Pacific, the return of large- scale war in Ukraine “has been a wake-up call for the U.S. joint force,” according to a new paper published by the Association of the U.S. Army. “After two decades of fighting in relatively permissive environments, DoD faces demands to modernize logistics as it prepares for possible conflict with the People’s Liberation Army in the Indo-Pacific,” Charles McEnany writes. “The U.S. Army, the joint force’s ‘backbone’ in the re- gion, is leading this logistics trans- formation.” In “Contested Logistics in the Indo- Pacific: Joint Sustainment Through Positional Advantage,” McEnany contends that the role of land power in the Indo-Pacific is “critical but of- ten overlooked” and “sets the condi- tions for other services to bring their unique capabilities fully to bear.” In his paper, McEnany, a national security analyst at AUSA who has a master’s in security policy studies from George Washington University, argues that the Indo-Pacific presents “interrelated logistics challenges,” including scale, topography and ad- versary capabilities, that distinguish it from other regions. Since it was established in 2023, the Army’s Contested Logistics Cross-Functional Team will support the fight through precision sustain- ment, human-machine integration, advanced power and demand reduc- tion, according to McEnany. Knowing that “demand for materiel will outpace supply” during a large- scale conflict in the Indo-Pacific, the Army’s cross-functional team is us- ing artificial intelligence for a proac- tive approach to sustainment. Using AI more proactively “can not only provide the Army with the abil- ity to identify what forces require, how much of it and where they need it (precision sustainment) but also enable the anticipation of these de- mands (predictive sustainment),” McEnany writes. There is no silver bullet for mas- tering contested logistics, McEnany writes. “Contested logistics is not so much a problem to be ‘solved’ as it is a problem that DoD must continuously manage. Adversaries will persistent- ly probe new ways to disrupt sustain- ment,” he writes. “The Army, DoD, Congress and industry must act ur- gently to build on current progress.” To succeed in the Indo-Pacific, the Army will need to position its forces strategically while also utilizing the Contested Logistics Cross-Function- al Team’s innovations. “The Indo-Pacific represents the most challenging logistical environ- ment the U.S. military has faced in decades. Its vast distances, difficult terrain and contested domains re- quire logistics and sustainment to be a top priority for the joint force,” McEnany writes. “As the Indo-Pacific faces the risk of great power conflict for the first time since World War II, whether the U.S. military and its partners can maintain the long- standing strategic ‘order’ may de- pend just as much on logistics.” Read the paper here. Col. Ned Holt, center, chief logistics officer for Eighth Army, visits U.S. Army Materiel Support Command–Korea July 10 to consolidate ideas during a Combined Ground Lo- gistics Committee Workshop. (U.S. ARMY/CHONG MIN PAK) Sgt. 1st Class Mohammed Awal Ismail with the 8th Theater Sustainment Command works to load military vehicles and equipment in June at south Bandiana in Victoria, Australia, in preparation for exercise Talisman Sabre 25. (U.S. ARMY/SGT. DEVIN DAVIS)www.ausa.org 8 AUSA Extra | July 31, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AUSA books showcase stories of Army tankers at war Soldiers operate M4 Sherman tanks in Europe during World War II. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO) W e are entering the dog days of summer as July gives way to August. Whether at the beach, in the field or just cross- ing a parking lot in between air-con- ditioned climes, the merciless sun brings to mind Lawrence of Arabia crossing the Nefud as we struggle to deal with the oppressive heat. Now, imagine spending these days inside a tank. Cramped inside a sealed metal box with other soldiers and working machinery, tank- ers could face tem- peratures up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Metal hulls could get hot enough to blister skin, and crews constantly faced dehydra- tion and the threat of heat stroke. Modern tanks have air condition- ing systems to help regulate temper- atures and protect the crews and the electronics, but even when function- ing properly, things can get uncom- fortable. Having trouble imagining what it’s like? The Association of the U.S. Army’s Book Program includes many titles to bring you into the tanker’s world. Tanks made their debut in the first World War, with then-Capt. George Patton leading the way for the U.S. Tank Corps. This part of the famed general’s story is told in Blood, Guts, and Grease: George S. Patton in World War I by Jon Mikolashek. To widen the scope, editor Lawrence Ka- plan collects the experiences of the first men inside the machines in Per- shing’s Tankers: Personal Accounts of the AEF Tank Corps in World War I. World War II is often regarded as the epitome of armored warfare. The book 1,271 Days a Soldier: The Diaries and Letters of Colonel H.E. Gardiner as an Armored Officer in World War II provides a firsthand view of the U.S. involvement in the war, while Patton’s Photographs: War as He Saw It by Kevin Hymel offers a visual take on the conflict. Book Program The AUSA Book Program also of- fers other perspectives on the war. Titles such as Panzer Operations: Germany's Panzer Group 3 During the Invasion of Russia, 1941 and Panzer Tactics: Tank Operations in the East, 1941-42 show German ex- periences. The Soviet General Staff series includes a volume on the big- gest tank battle in history with The Battle of Kursk: The Red Army’s Defensive Operations and Counter- Offensive, July-August 1943. Vietnam is usually thought of as an infantryman’s war, but Don Sne- deker shows how armored forces were an integral part of the conflict with The Blackhorse in Vietnam: The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Viet- nam and Cambodia, 1966–1972 and Blackhorse Tales: Stories of 11th Ar- mored Cavalry Troopers at War. Heavy Metal: A Tank Company's Battle to Baghdad brings the tanker story up to the global war on terror. Author Jason Conroy was a company commander in Task Force 1-64 of the 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, at the tip of the Ar- my’s spear and one of the first ele- ments into Baghdad. Finally, for readers seeking a com- prehensive history of the American armored experience in a two-volume set, Steven Zaloga offers a fully il- lustrated overview with US Battle Tanks 1917-1945 and US Battle Tanks 1946-2025. The second volume of the set re- cently won a 2024 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award in the reference category. Please visit www.ausa.org/books to order these and other titles in the AUSA Book Program. Use the promo code SUM25AUSA for select member discounts when purchasing directly through the publisher links. Joseph Craig is AUSA’s Book Pro- gram director.www.ausa.orgJuly 31, 2025 | AUSA Extra 9 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Chapter sponsors dinner event for Fisher House guests Marilyn Westropp, left, president of AUSA's Suncoast chapter, and other volunteers pre- pare to serve dinner to guests at the Fisher House in Tampa, Florida. (AUSA PHOTO) O n July 9, the Association of the U.S. Army’s Suncoast chapter in Tampa, Florida, hosted an event in support of guests at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hos- pital Fisher House. During the evening, chapter Com- munity Partner Vino E Pasta provid- ed meals and dessert for more than 30 guests, served by AUSA chapter members and other volunteers. “Members of our commu- nity came together to serve the guests at Fisher House, fostering a sense of camaraderie and support,” said Mari- lynn Westropp, the chapter president. The chapter was honored to be joined by members of the BLK-OPS Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to inspire young people by sharing the experiences of U.S. special opera- tions veterans, Westropp said. Located near military and VA medical centers, Fisher Houses pro- vide a “home away from home” for families of military and veteran pa- tients undergoing medical treatment. The locations offer free accommoda- tion while a loved one is hospitalized, saving military families more than $650 million, according to the Fisher House Foundation, which constructs and oversees the residences. The highlight of the evening was the insightful tour of the Fisher Houses in Tampa, Westropp said. “It's truly heartening to witness the impactful work and support provided by such initiatives in our communi- ty,” she said. Suncoast Eagle Chapters The following chapters attained Eagle status for June by showing positive membership growth. The number of consecutive months of growth since July 1, 2024, is shown in parentheses. Central Texas (12) First In Battle (12) Puerto Rico (12) Houston Metroplex (11) Central Virginia (10) Fort Knox (10) Gem State (10) Marne (10) San Diego (10) Sunshine (10) Central California (9) Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri (9) GEN Creighton W. Abrams (9) Joshua Chamberlain (9) Las Vegas-John C. Fremont (9) Northern New Jersey (9) PFC William Kenzo Nakamura (9) Tucson-Goyette (9) COL Edward Cross (8) CPL Bill McMillan-Bluegrass (8) Ethan Allen (8) Greater Philadelphia (Penn & Franklin) (8) Silicon Valley (8) Western New York (8) Last Frontier (7) Northern New York-Fort Drum (7) Rhode Island (7) Guam (6) Polar Bear (6) GEN Joseph W. Stilwell (5) GEN William C. Westmoreland (5) Hellenic (4) Lake Cumberland-PVT Chris Guillen (2)Next >