PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org August 7, 2025 | AUSA Extra 1 Army extends South Korea tour lengths C hanges are coming soon for soldiers being assigned to South Korea. A new 3-2-1 model, approved by DoD, extends the standard accom- panied tour in South Korea from 24 months to 36 months, while unaccom- panied tours will be 24 months. Sol- diers wanting to bring their family to Korea but are disapproved for an ac- companied tour may serve a 12-month dependent-restricted tour, the Army announced in a news release. “Shorter tours do not provide the necessary consistency and experience to support readiness and deterrence,” Brig. Gen. Dale Crockett, the acting commander of Eighth Army, said in the news release. “By reducing the frequency of assignment turnover, the model minimizes readiness gaps Soldiers assigned to the 528th Military Intelligence Company, 2nd Infantry Division ROK/U.S. Combined Division, uncase the unit guidon and salute during the unit's activation ceremony on Tuesday at Camp Humphreys, South Korea. (U.S. ARMY/PFC. WILFRED SALTERS) Rising Leaders Learn at LANDEURO 3 Panel: Army Adjusting Contract Requirements 4 Member Benefits Legal Documents, Travel Savings 7 Government Affairs 2026 NDAA Passes Committee 8 Chapter Highlights Catoctin 9 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 7 NUMBER 13 AUGUST 7, 2025 for ongoing missions, critical coordi- nation and team dynamics, ensuring we are always ready to fight tonight.” Increasing the length of tours in Korea “will enhance our readiness and lethality by increasing our in- teroperability with our [Republic of Korea] partners and keeping our personnel engaged in effective and purposeful training,” Crockett said. The current Korea tour policy for soldiers was established decades ago, the Army said in the news release. In that time, the Army has sig- nificantly improved quality of life for soldiers and their families in the country and invested in its garri- sons across the peninsula, including Camp Humphreys, which is now the largest overseas Army installation in the world. Longer tours also can improve sta- bility for military families, Crockett said. “Our families are the cornerstone of everything we do,” he said. “They support our heroes and deserve the support of our Army. They’ll get it here with expanded state-of-the-art facilities, the stability to succeed academically, personally and profes- sionally, and the opportunity to enjoy all Korea has to offer.” The new policy will be phased in beginning on Oct. 1 and is expected to be fully implemented by October 2027, according to the Army. Ser- vice members currently stationed in South Korea will not be affected by the change. The new policy also does not apply to rotational units. For more information, click here.WHEN THERE ARE NO DO-OVERS Rely on defense components by Keel FIND YOUR SOLUTION AT keelusa.com At Keel, we understand the stakes for our soldiers. Our expert team will do whatever it takes to ensure your mission-critical systems meet or exceed performance requirements in the field. •Heavy fabrication and machining •Hulls and turrets •Array structures •Rocket motors •Autonomous vehicleswww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY August 7, 2025 | AUSA Extra 3 Generation Next Forum in Europe had ‘powerful’ impact L ast month, the Association of the U.S. Army reached a significant milestone by hosting its inaugu- ral LANDEURO Symposium in Wies- baden, Germany. During the confer- ence, AUSA’s Center for Leadership introduced the Generation Next Fo- rum to Europe—an initiative focused on developing emerging leaders. Although Generation Next Forums are a regular feature of AUSA’s lead- ership programming, this marked the first time the event was held outside the U.S. The forum brought together 40 rising leaders, primarily soldiers stationed in the region, for a day of meaningful reflection and professional growth. The day began with a fireside chat between Army veteran and former FBI special agent Sarah Draper and retired Lt. Col. Joe Byerly, founder of the From the Green Notebook military leadership and professional development website. Both shared defining moments from their leader- ship journeys in military and federal service. Their candid reflections on Army veteran and former FBI special agent Sarah Draper and retired Lt. Col. Joe Byerly address a Generation Next Forum hosted by AUSA's Center for Leadership during the association's inaugural LANDEURO Symposium in Wiesbaden, Germany. (AUSA PHOTO) AUSA Basic Members can now view a selection of articles from the August issue of ARMY magazine. To read the articles, click here. ARMY magazine August issue failure, identity shifts and career transitions set the tone for a day cen- tered on introspection. Following the fireside chat, Draper led a hands-on 3D Performance Work- shop that introduced her framework for “Leading from Within.” Through breath work, emotional regulation and purpose-driven practices, par- ticipants explored how to build resil- ience and lead with intention, skills essential in today’s complex world. The energy peaked during the speed mentoring session, where par- ticipants engaged in small group conversations with senior mentors. Among them was retired Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, AUSA’s vice presi- dent for Leadership and Education, whose presence brought gravitas and warmth to the room. Also mentoring was Gemma McGowan, a Bronze Star recipient and president of AUSA’s Gen. Creighton W. Abrams chapter, who offered a unique perspective as a veteran and a current Army civilian. Their insights created a dynamic space for honest conversation. “The speed mentoring sessions were refreshing. It was powerful to engage with veterans who un- derstood Army culture yet were far enough away from it to reveal their full personalities and leadership styles,” one forum participant said. The day concluded with a keynote address by Byerly. Drawing from two decades of military service, Byerly spoke about how reading shaped his leadership journey and offered practi- cal takeaways for building a personal library that fuels lifelong learning. Angela Pubal, assistant director of the Center for Leadership and lead planner for the forum, reflected on the event’s unique value. “I love the Gen- eration Next Forum concept because it gives emerging leaders a chance to step back and introspect on their per- sonal and professional lives,” she said. “It offers them a valuable moment to pause, reflect, and recharge.” With overwhelmingly positive feedback and strong engagement, the Center for Leadership is already looking ahead. The next Generation Next Forum will take place in Oc- tober at the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., where 100 emerging leaders from all nine AUSA regions will gather for three days of professional develop- ment, networking and fun. If you are interested, you can step into the Generation Next movement and experience what it means to grow forward and gain momentum— the theme of this year’s annual meet- ing young professionals’ event. Click here to apply. www.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | August 7, 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 Panel: Army contracting seeks speed, agility in acquiring new capabilities T he Army is transforming its resourcing and requirements to meet its contracting goals, a panel of experts said. “The Army has been really trans- forming the way that we approach what it is that we even want in the first place,” said Joseph Welch, dep- uty to the commanding general of U.S. Army Futures Command. “In- stead of the Army saying, ‘This is the kind of robot I need, this is how large it needs to be, how fast it needs to move, the battery consumption,’ … Why aren't we instead saying, ‘We need to be able to conduct breach op- erations in a way that's much more safe for our soldiers?’ ” Moving forward, testing of new equipment will be defined by capa- bilities and limitations rather than criteria, Welch said at a recent Hot Topic on contracting and procure- ment hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army. Requirements “really shouldn't be a pass [or] fail, especially if that ca- pability gives soldiers … something that's better than what they have today,” he said. “Would it meet all of the elements of the traditional requirements document? Maybe or maybe not, but that's not necessar- Subject-matter experts discuss the Army's efforts to transform its contracting enterprise during an AUSA Hot Topic on contracting and procurement. (AUSA PHOTO) AUSA members receive exclusive discounts on monthly rates at Brook- dale Senior Living. If you or a family member need extra help, you don’t have to do it alone. You and qualify- ing family members save on senior living, in-home services and respite stay. Visit www.brookdale.com/ausa. ily the risk decision that I think our leaders need to be making.” Industry can look for windows of opportunity to anticipate the Army’s needs, said Danielle Moyer, execu- tive director of U.S. Army Contract- ing Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. “If we issue a call for solutions ... follow that product line … because the earlier on we can tell you what we're doing and where we're going, the more you can invest as soon as possible,” she said. More than ever, “there is such an appetite to buy more than one of a capability" and “to try different ver- sions of a solution and see how that works,” Moyer said. Contracting and innovation enable decision dominance, which will be the decisive factor in future wars, said Col. Michael Kaloostian, the di- rector of the Command and Control Cross-Functional Team. “We have to understand the data and how we integrate data across dif- ferent platforms,” he said. “Whoever is able to sift through the amount of data that's going to be available on the battlefield of tomorrow … and use that information effectively to make decisions, that force is going to win the war. There's no doubt about it.” SECURE AMERICA GOBI RAPIDLY DEPLOY AUTONOMOUS COUNTER-UAS SYSTEM BUILT TO PROTECT CRITICAL DOMESTIC AND DEPLOYED NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURES DEFEAT FPV, FIXED-WING DRONE THREATS BEFORE THEY REACH YOUR CRITICAL ASSETS NEUTRALIZE INSTANTLY WWW.HARMATTAN.AIwww.ausa.org 6 AUSA Extra | August 7, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Paper: Army must incorporate past innovation lessons Chapter leader training at AUSA HQ Officers from AUSA chapters around the world gather Tuesday to hear from AUSA's national leadership at the association's headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. (AUSA PHOTO) T he Army should incorporate innovation lessons learned throughout its history to pre- pare for the future fight, according to a new paper published by the As- sociation of the U.S. Army. “When at war, the U.S. Army has generally been adept at innovating new technologies, organizations and techniques. But in peacetime, it has been less effective,” Maj. Robert Rose writes. “Now, we are at peace. So how can we improve how we innovate to ensure the Army wins the first battle of its next war?” In “Army Innovation: Lessons From 250 Years of Army Innovation,” Rose argues that Army innovation succeeds when the service identifies a specific problem to solve, mini- mizes bureaucracy, gives soldiers time to innovate and train as they would fight, and prioritizes feasible solutions to employ in the context of near-term strategic problems. Rose, who commands Alpine Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Security Forces Assistance Brigade, and is a fellow with the LTG (Ret.) James M. Dubik Writing Fellows Program, also analyzes lessons from wars the Army fought in throughout history. Innovation efforts prior to World War I were “isolated,” and the Army “lacked a clear vision of modern war,” writes Rose, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, who also has graduate de- grees from Harvard University and Cambridge University as a Gates Scholar. By World War II, the Army utilized large-scale exercises to prepare for war. Through tools like the Desert Training Center in California, units learned to fight in a climate like what those fighting in North Africa would experience, and projects that improved ammunition, tanks and other equipment were made possible, Rose writes. Later, during the global war on ter- rorism, the Army struggled to inno- vate its equipment and its counterin- surgency doctrine, Rose writes. The slow pace of innovation stalled pro- curement of MRAP vehicles to pro- tect soldiers from IEDs several years after they were the leading cause of soldier deaths, and a lack of doctrine meant soldiers were rotated into war too briefly to deeply understand the local population, he writes. Today, soldiers “can be incredible innovators” given an in-depth under- standing of a problem and time to in- novate, Rose writes, citing command post decoys created by the 101st Air- borne Division’s 2nd Brigade. Taking the lessons from the Ar- my’s history of innovation is key to the future fight, Rose writes. “We can learn from the Army’s 250 years of innovation, both its success- es and struggles, to ensure that the Army takes the right direction in in- novating equipment, doctrine and or- ganizations before the next war,” he writes. “Too often, due to poor peace- time preparation, the Army has lost the first battles of its wars only to innovate in wartime at the cost of our soldiers’ lives. We cannot assume we will have that luxury in the future.” Read the paper here. Soldiers assigned to the 29th Infantry Regiment, which serves as the Army’s experi- mental force, showcase unmanned ground and aerial systems at the Maneuver Innova- tion Lab at Fort Benning, Georgia. (U.S. ARMY/JOEY RHODES)www.ausa.orgAugust 7, 2025 | AUSA Extra 7 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY A s you or a loved one grow older, life’s administrative details can seem more burdensome. You may need help managing finan- cial matters like paying bills, renew- ing insurance policies or dealing with tax returns. You also may want help with medical appointments, hospital visits and prescriptions. People in this situation commonly rely on a family member, but if you become incapacitated, your helper may no longer have the legal right to do so. That’s why it’s important to put in place legal docu- ments while you still have mental capacity. Other- wise, a court may appoint a conserva- tor or guardian to look after your af- fairs, and this person may not know your wishes. Financial and health matters are covered by separate types of docu- ments: durable powers of attorney for finances and advance health care directives for health. Each state has its own version of these documents to align with related laws. As a member of the Association of the U.S. Army, you have access to La- wAssure, where you can create pow- ers of attorney for finances, advance Member Benefits Free legal documents and travel discounts for members directives and more. Login or create your account at www.ausa.org/legal. Mount Vernon AUSA members receive 30% off membership at Mount Vernon, the historic home of America's first pres- ident, George Washington. There is much to do at Mount Vernon—ex- plore the estate, visit Washington’s final resting place, experience a Rev- olutionary War encampment, visit the farm, gardens, distillery, grist- mill and more. Mount Vernon is just a short drive from Washington, D.C. Visit www.ausa.org/mv. Travel and Fun Use your member discounts on a variety of travel programs, including these below. • Armed Forces Vacation Club: AUSA members and their families, regardless of service, enjoy exclu- sive travel deals with Armed Forces Vacation Club. Join for free to book resort stays from $419 per week and get $50 off your first resort booking. As an Armed Forces Vacation Club member, you’ll immediately gain ac- cess to savings on hotels, resorts and more. Choose “AUSA member” for your eligibility, even if you are oth- erwise eligible. • Car rental discounts: Members save at Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enter- prise, Hertz and National. • Choice Hotel brands: Members get a discount at all Choice Hotel brands, including Cambria Hotels & Suites, Clarion Hotel, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Country Inn & Suites, EconoLodge, Mainstay Suites, Quality Inn, Radisson, Sleep Inn and more at www.ausa.org/ choice. • Collette Guide Travel: Mem- bers save $50 to $100 per person on Collette travel, combinable with all other offers. For over 100 years, travelers have trusted Collette, the longest-running tour operator in North America, for expertly guided journeys across all seven continents. Collette manages every detail so you can simply enjoy the adventure. • Red Roof Inn: Red Roof provides AUSA members with 20% savings at more than 700 Red Roof locations na- tionwide. Red Roof is an award-win- ning leader in the lodging industry and is proud to have pioneered the Upscale Economy segment, welcom- ing millions of travellers each year. Use your VP+ code 622590 when booking online or by calling 1-855- 352-7619 to receive your exclusive discount. And your pet may stay for free (see terms). • Entertainment: MemberDeals is a leading entertainment benefits provider offering exclusive discounts, special offers and preferred seating and tickets to top attractions, theme parks, water parks, golf and ski re- sorts, shows, sporting events, con- certs, movie tickets and much more. MemberDeals is a unique benefit offered exclusively through member groups like AUSA. Search by attrac- tion or choose a city and find a vari- ety of fun things to do. Access all your AUSA discounts at www.ausa.org/savings. Susan Rubel is AUSA’s Association and Affinity Partnerships director. AUSA members have access to a wide variety of travel discounts. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO)www.ausa.org 8 AUSA Extra | August 7, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Much work remains for fiscal 2026 defense legislation J uly was a busy month on Capitol Hill and in Washington, D.C., as lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the Senate worked on key legislation before leav- ing for the August recess. The House of Representatives passed its version of the defense ap- propriations bill in July and the mil- itary construction, veterans affairs and related agencies appropriations bill in June. The Senate made prog- ress on its versions of the appropria- tions bills, but much work remains to avert a government shutdown at the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. It is now almost certain that a con- tinuing resolution will be necessary to prevent a lapse in funding to start fiscal year 2026. As the Association of the U.S. Army’s Government Af- fairs directorate has discussed in previous columns, this is the first year the Pentagon is operating un- der a full-year continuing resolution, stopgap funding that keeps the gov- ernment operating under the previ- ous year’s funding levels. Also in July, the Senate and House Armed Services Committees each passed their versions of the National Defense Authorization Act. The leg- Government Affairs A group of congressional staff delegates visits a storage facility at the Powidz Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 worksite July 14 in Powidz, Poland. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO) islation awaits consideration by the full House and Senate this fall. As always, AUSA is asking law- makers for timely, adequate and flexible appropriations and timely passage of the National Defense Au- thorization Act to enable a strong To- tal Army and improve overall nation- al security. So far this year, we have met with more than 50 congressional offices to advocate for the Army. You can help build momentum for passage of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act and the 12 appropriations bills—especially defense, military construction and veterans affairs—by contacting your representatives and senators or by meeting with them. We encourage you to meet with law- makers or their staff as constituents and AUSA members in support of the Total Army. Advocate for AUSA’s Fo- cus Areas and passage of the legisla- tion mentioned above. Additionally, you can highlight the Army’s critical role in the Indo-Pacific and recom- mend Congress support Army priori- ties such as warfighting, transforma- tion and quality-of-life improvements for soldiers and their families. As a reminder, AUSA only lobbies and takes positions at the federal level on federal issues, and the as- sociation is nonpartisan and apo- litical. AUSA does not lobby or take positions on state or local issues or legislation. Mark Haaland is AUSA’s Government Affairs director. AUSA is asking lawmakers for timely, adequate and flexible appropriations and timely passage of the National Defense Authorization Act. (ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL PHOTO)www.ausa.orgAugust 7, 2025 | AUSA Extra 9 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Chapter supports soldiers, families at Organizational Day Soldiers, families and community members gather for the 6th Medical Logistics Man- agement Center’s Organizational Day at Fort Detrick, Maryland. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO) I n July, the Association of the U.S. Army’s Catoctin chapter in My- ersville, Maryland, furthered AU- SA’s mission to strengthen the bonds between soldiers and the American people by supporting the 6th Medi- cal Logistics Management Center’s Organizational Day at Fort Detrick. The unit was hoping an organiza- tion like AUSA might have the con- nections and resources to make it an especially wonderful day, “whether it was volunteers, donations as prizes for contests or a presence to sup- port veterans,” said Julie Miller, the chapter’s vice president for communications/public affairs. Miller, who spearheaded coordina- tion for the event, said that she took away “some great thoughts and inspi- rations” from AUSA’s Second Region meeting in May at the association’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. After meeting with Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Campbell, of the unit’s Soldier and Family Readiness Group, Miller used her connections in the commu- nity to begin preparations. “I’ve been living in Frederick County where Fort Detrick is since 1998 and have had my kids in Scouts and schools, been involved in church and been connected to other veterans’ groups in the county, so I leveraged my re- sources to the greatest extent pos- sible,” she said. The result was a resounding suc- cess, with more than 125 soldiers, families and community members in attendance. “We had informational tables set up from our AUSA chapter, Opera- tion Second Chance, the Fort Richie Museum, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, the Maryland Department of Veterans and Mili- tary Families, the Homeless Vet- erans Reintegration Program and more,” Miller said. Additionally, the chapter coordinated giveaways and prizes from Wegmans, McCutcheon's Catoctin Apple Products, Mission BBQ and other organizations. Miller also reached out to AUSA headquarters to request a guest speaker—retired Chief Warrant Offi- cer 5 Phyllis Wilson, an AUSA senior fellow who also serves as president of the Military Women’s Memorial. Wilson’s appearance was “the cherry on top” for the event, Miller said. “The unit was excited to have a speaker and asked if I could provide one, and [Wilson] was just a pleasure to have,” Miller said. “Her voice, her experience and her message clearly resonated with the attendees. There were female soldiers who asked for just a few minutes with her. … It was a very heartwarming moment.” Unit leaders told Miller that the event was one of the best Organiza- tional Days they had ever had, and they want the Catoctin chapter’s as- sistance to support a day next year that will include all active units at Fort Detrick. “It took a lot. It was definitely a labor of love. But the result is more opportunities to par- ticipate and collaborate and do more together, which is the whole purpose of our chapter,” Miller said. Following the event, Master Sgts. Ryan Trapier and Christa Wagner presented a certificate of apprecia- tion to Miller. “For outstanding sup- port to the 6th Medical Logistics Management Center during the Or- ganizational Day … the dedication, professionalism and teamwork dis- played by the AUSA Catoctin chap- ter contributed significantly to [the] event’s success, entertainment and educational opportunities,” the cer- tificate says, in part. “Their efforts enhanced morale, strengthened unit cohesion and fostered positive com- munity relationships.” Retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 Phyllis Wilson, left, an AUSA senior fellow, and Julie Miller, the AUSA Catoctin chapter vice president for communications/public affairs, attend the 6th Medical Logistics Management Center’s Organizational Day at Fort Detrick, Maryland. (AUSA PHOTO)Next >