PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org September 7, 2023 | AUSA Extra 1 AUSA 2023 theme: ‘Be All You Can Be’ W ith a theme of “Be All You Can Be,” the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2023 An- nual Meeting and Exposition will highlight how the Army is innovat- ing and adapting to operate in an evolving and complex world. From recruiting, retention and talent management, to training and equipping the force for a multido- main fight, the Army is focused on transforming for 2030 and beyond. During the annual meeting, Oct. 9–11 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., the Army’s vision for the future will be discussed during keynote ad- dresses by senior leaders, a range of contemporary military forums and Warriors Corner and Innovators Cor- ner presentations. Soldiers, AUSA members, defense industry representatives and more gather at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the 2022 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition. (AUSA PHOTO) There also will be more than 650 exhibits spread over five halls and several award presentations, includ- ing the winners of the Best Squad Competition, the NCO and Soldier of the Year and the Marshall Medal, AUSA’s highest award for selfless service to the country. Attendance at the annual meeting is free, but registration is required. Some seated events require separate reservations and may have a fee. For more information or to regis- ter, click here. The annual meeting’s opening ceremony will feature a keynote ad- dress from Army Secretary Chris- tine Wormuth. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, who has been nominated to be the next Army chief of staff, is expected to provide the keynote during the Eisenhower luncheon, and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer, who became the Army’s senior enlisted soldier on Aug. 4, will host a forum and speak at various events. The Army is in the middle of its biggest transformation in 40 years, and is simultaneously working to maintain its present-day readiness, with soldiers in high demand at home and overseas, while struggling with one of the worst recruiting environ- ments in the last half-century. “The Army does an incredible amount of work all around the world to defend this nation,” Wormuth said. “We are as busy today, almost, as we were during the years of the global war on terror. We can’t afford to get too small.” Vietnam Pilot Receives Medal of Honor 3 AUSA Graphic Novel Features Iraq War Hero 5 Government Affairs Funding Critical to Readiness 6 Member Benefits A Plethora of Savings 7 Chapter Highlights Redstone-Huntsville GA Omar N. Bradley 8 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 19 SEPTEMBER 7, 2023www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY September 7, 2023 | AUSA Extra 3 Army aviator, Vietnam hero receives Medal of Honor M ore than 55 years after a harrowing rescue in Viet- nam, former Army aviator Capt. Larry Taylor received the Med- al of Honor during a ceremony Tues- day at the White House. In June 1968 near Ap Go Cong, Vietnam, Taylor, flying an AH-1 Co- bra gunship, repeatedly braved enemy fire to rescue a four-man long-range reconnaissance patrol team that was surrounded by a much larger enemy force. Taylor “refused to give up, re- fused to leave a fellow American be- hind, refused to put his own life above the lives of others in need,” President Joe Biden said during the ceremony. “When duty called, Larry did ev- erything to answer, and because of that, he rewrote the fate of four fami- lies for generations to come,” Biden said. “That’s valor. That’s our nation at our very best.” A native of Chattanooga, Tennes- see, Taylor was a first lieutenant and a team leader of a helicopter light-fire team with D Troop (Air), 1st Squad- ron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Divi- sion, on June 18, 1968. The soldiers were deployed to support a long-range reconnaissance patrol near the ham- let of Ap Go Cong. “It was pitch black ... no light be- yond the glow of Lt. Taylor’s cockpit controls, when he heard a whisper coming through his radio, ‘We’re sur- rounded,’” Biden said. The four-man team had set out ear- lier in the day on a reconnaissance mission, but “in the dark, the men had found themselves in the middle of a Viet Cong stronghold,” surrounded by nearly 100 enemy soldiers, Biden said. Taylor and his wingman raced to- ward the team. The soldiers were trapped “in the middle of a rice paddy larger than a football stadium, sur- rounded by a reinforced company of North Vietnamese,” Taylor told Free- dom Sings USA, a Chattanooga-based nonprofit that pairs professional songwriters with veterans, service members and their families to help tell their stories through song. Taylor radioed the patrol team, asking the four soldiers to mark their location with flares, according to the White House. “The flare went up, and the fight was on,” Biden said. Enemy fire lit up the night, and the Cobras flew “dangerously low” for nearly half an hour, he said. Using the illumination as a refer- ence point, Taylor and his wingman strafed the enemy with miniguns and aerial rockets. “Then Lt. Taylor heard a sound that only meant one thing— his helo was hit,” Biden said. “And it was hit again and again and again.” With both helicopters nearly out of ammunition and the enemy still clos- ing in, Taylor learned that a plan to rescue the soldiers with a UH-1 Huey helicopter had been canceled because it was deemed too dangerous. “Taylor decided to extract the team using his two-man Cobra helicopter, a feat that had never been accomplished or even attempted,” according to the White House. Taylor directed his wingman to fire his remaining minigun rounds along the eastern flank of the patrol team and return to base camp. Tay- lor then fired his own minigun along the team’s western flank, using his Cobra’s landing lights to draw the en- emy’s attention while the patrol team moved to a nearby extraction point. “Taylor landed his Cobra under heavy enemy fire and with complete disregard for his personal safety,” ac- cording to the White House. The team climbed aboard, grabbing on to rocket pods and skids, and Taylor flew them to safety. David Hill was one of the men Tay- lor saved. “Hell, we were dead,” Hill said, according to Stars and Stripes. “The fortunes of war had turned against us that night.” Taylor said he was just doing his job, according to Stars and Stripes. “I knew that if I did not go down and get them, they would not make it.” Taylor flew more than 2,000 combat missions and was awarded 61 combat decorations, including the Silver Star for his actions to save the patrol team, 43 Air Medals, a Bronze Star and two Distinguished Flying Crosses, ac- cording to the Army. “I’d flown thousands of missions in Vietnam and saved countless lives, but none had meant so much to me as the four I’d saved that night,” Taylor said, according to Freedom Sings. AUSA Basic Members can now view a selection of articles from the September issue of ARMY maga- zine. To read the articles, click here. ARMY magazine September issue Former Capt. Larry Taylor receives the Medal of Honor from President Joe Biden during a ceremony Tuesday at the White House. (DoD PHOTO)www.ausa.org4 AUSA Extra | September 7, 2023 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. Premium membership rates are $40 for two years or $75 for five 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 benefits is free. Learn more at www.ausa.org/join or by emailing membersupport@ausa.org, phoning 855-246-6269, or mailing Fulfillment Manager, P.O. Box 101560, Arlington, VA 22210-0860. Voice for the Army – Support For the Soldier PERK OF THE WEEK ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AUSA members can save up to 100% on veterinary expenses through MetLife Pet Insurance. Choose any licensed veterinar- ian, specialist or emergency clinic in the U.S. Save even more if you’ve served by combining your AUSA discount with your military discount. For more information, visit https://ausacoverage.com/PetInsurance. Army pilot program expands child care options for Reserve families T he Army is launching a new pilot program that aims to improve access to child care for Army Reserve soldiers and their families, the service announced. “The Army recognizes the impact that child care has on the lives of our soldiers and their families,” Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen, deputy Army chief of staff for installations, G-9, said in an Army news release. “Through in- creased initiatives to identify and se- cure accessible and affordable child care options, we enable our military parents to fulfill their responsibili- ties without sacrificing the well-be- ing of their children.” The pilot program operates through a partnership between Army installations and local governments, according to the news release. It will be tested in West Liberty, Iowa, and Clay County, Missouri, using the WeeCare Company, a child care network that enables users to find licensed, local child care providers through “an advanced matching al- gorithm,” the news release said. Improving access to quality child care is one of the Army’s top quali- ty-of-life initiatives. Service leaders have worked to also improve hous- ing, spouse employment, permanent change-of-station moves and health care, and the service recently ex- tended the Army Quality of Life Task Force. “To realize the Army of 2030, we also have to make sure our Army families have access to quality child care—I know how important this is as a mom myself. I know how hard it can be to find, and how expensive it can be when you find it,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said during the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2022 Annual Meeting and Exposition. Partnerships between the Army and local communities, like the child care pilot, are important, leaders said. “Shaping the Army Reserve of the future requires the support of both military and community lead- ers,” Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general of the Army Reserve Com- mand, said in the news release. “We are grateful to the organizations participating in this unprecedented partnership for providing trusted, accessible, weekend child care to our soldiers and their families.” Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen, upper left corner, deputy Army chief of staff for installations, G-9, visits with preschoolers at the Clarkmoor Child Care Development Center during a visit to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. (U.S. ARMY/PAMELA SLEEZER)www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY September 7, 2023 | AUSA Extra 5 Iraq War hero Alwyn Cashe featured in graphic novel S gt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, who ignored his own wounds and repeatedly entered a burning vehicle to save his soldiers, is the fo- cus of the latest graphic novel in the Association of the U.S. Army’s series on recipients of the nation’s highest award for valor. Medal of Honor: Alwyn Cashe tells of the infantryman’s actions on Oct. 17, 2005, when his Bradley Fight- ing Vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb near Samarra, Iraq. Cashe suffered terrible burns, but he kept returning to the burning vehicle to rescue his soldiers. Cashe pulled six soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter from the wreckage and made sure everyone was taken care of before agreeing to be evacu- ated. Suffering burns on more than 70% of his body, Cashe died three weeks later. “I’ve been wanting to tell this sto- ry for years. Alwyn Cashe’s actions were extraordinarily heroic, and I am glad he received the recognition he is due,” said Joseph Craig, director of AUSA’s Book Program. “I’m also glad we had such a talented team to put this book together.” Medal of Honor: Alwyn Cashe is available here. AUSA launched its Medal of Honor graphic novel series in October 2018. This is the 20th novel in the series. A paperback collection of the four is- sues produced this year is scheduled for release in the fall. The digital graphic novels are available here. A native of Oviedo, Florida, Cashe joined the Army in 1989. He served in South Korea, Germany and at instal- lations across the U.S. and deployed in support of the Gulf War in 1991 before becoming a drill sergeant at Fort Benning, now known as Fort Moore, Georgia. He participated in the 2003 inva- sion of Iraq and deployed there again in 2005 as a platoon sergeant in the 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment. On Oct. 17, 2005, Cashe and his soldiers were on a nighttime patrol near Samarra when his Bradley Fighting Vehicle came under enemy fire and was hit by a roadside bomb. The blast tore into the vehicle’s fuel cell, causing it to burst into flames. Drenched in fuel, Cashe escaped through a front hatch. His uniform began to burn as he and another sol - dier pulled the Bradley’s driver to safety. Already suffering from severe burns, Cashe refused to stop, moving back to the Bradley’s troop compart- ment to help his soldiers trapped in- side, according to his Medal of Honor citation. Ignoring the pain and the incoming enemy fire, Cashe opened the troop door and helped four of his soldiers to safety. When he noticed that two other soldiers had not been account- ed for, he went back to the burning Bradley to get them. “Despite the severe second- and third-degree burns covering the ma- jority of his body, Cashe persevered through the pain to encourage his fellow soldiers and ensured they re- ceived needed medical care,” the cita- tion says. Cashe died Nov. 8, 2005, at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Anto- nio. He was 35. While he was quickly awarded the Silver Star, the nation’s third- highest award for valor, there was a long campaign to have his award up- graded after the extent of his actions became known. On Dec. 16, 2021, Cashe posthu- mously was awarded the Medal of Honor. Each AUSA graphic novel is cre- ated by a team of professional comic book veterans. The script for the graphic novel on Cashe was writ- ten by Chuck Dixon, whose previous work includes Batman, The Punisher and The ‘Nam. Pencils and inks were by PJ Hold- en, a veteran of Judge Dredd, Bat- tlefields and World of Tanks; colors were by Peter Pantazis, who previ- ously worked on Justice League, Su- perman and Black Panther; and the lettering was by Troy Peteri, who has worked on Spider-Man, Iron Man and X-Men.www.ausa.org6 AUSA Extra | September 7, 2023 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Stopgap funding measures threaten military readiness Sgt. Adrian Saltos, left, an Avenger team chief with the Florida Army National Guard, ex- plains the functions of the FIM-92 Stinger missile system to Betsy Bina, a majority clerk with the House Appropriations Committee staff, during a congressional staff delegation tour Aug. 31 at Camp Adazi, Latvia. (U.S. ARMY/STAFF SGT. OSCAR GOLLAZ) T he next few weeks will be busy on Capitol Hill, and the situa- tion, as ever, is fluid for a vari- ety of reasons. The Senate returned this week from the August recess, and the House of Representatives is expected to return next week. Much work re- mains on the appropriations process before fiscal 2023 ends on Sept. 30. Both the Senate and the House are expected to take up appropria- tions legislation in the coming weeks. However, it is like- ly that a continu- ing resolution, a stopgap measure that funds the government at cur- rent levels, will be required to avert a government shutdown. The Association of the U.S. Army’s Government Affairs team continues to advocate for immediate passage of increased funding for Army pri- orities, DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Swift enactment of these bills will ensure that our sol- diers, their families and our veterans receive the resources and benefits they require and have earned. We also advocate for passage of all 12 appropriations bills, as a strong national defense begins at home, and national security requires a whole- of-government approach. On Aug. 30, AUSA joined with five other military associations to advocate for increased funding for Government Affairs national security priorities. Passing fiscal 2024 appropriations “will pro- vide the predictability and resources commensurate with the demonstrat- ed need and the urgency that our na- tional security challenges require, and our veterans have earned,” says the letter signed by retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO, and leaders of the other like-minded associations. Lawmakers also must pass the Na- tional Defense Authorization Act to provide policy and program direction to the armed forces. The timing of that critical legislation remains to be seen, and there are significant differ- ences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. We remain hope- ful that the NDAA will become law before the new year. You can help build momentum for passage of these critical pieces of leg- islation by contacting your represen- tatives and senators and encouraging them to pass full-year appropriations for the government. We will continue to monitor these developments closely as we advocate for the Total Army with Congress. Mark Haaland is AUSA’s Government Affairs director. AUSA continues to advocate to ensure that soldiers, their families and veterans receive the resources and benefits they require. (ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL PHOTO)www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY September 7, 2023 | AUSA Extra 7 Members can save on an array of products and services W hile the Association of the U.S. Army is a nonprofit organization that provides education and professional develop- ment opportunities, we also want your membership to provide you with addi- tional value. That’s why AUSA partners with companies to offer you products and services at discounts that should be above and beyond what you can find on your own. We also require these companies to give back to AUSA initiatives such as scholarships, family support and NCO and soldier programs. It’s win-win-win—you get great savings, AUSA programs get funding and the partner sees addi- tional business. Please review and take advantage of the many discounts offered at www.ausa.org/savings. Here are some examples: Soldier Fuel Designed for hard chargers, the Soldier Fuel energy drink has no sugar, 200% of the recommended dai- ly allowance of four key B vitamins and 116 mg of caffeine plus taurine. Studies suggest that taurine sup- plementation might improve athletic Member Benefits performance, and that taurine com- bined with caffeine improves mental performance, according to the com- pany. Soldier Fuel dedicates 15% of its profits to pro-veteran organizations like AUSA. Members save 15% with promo code AUSAmember at check- out. Spouse-ly Spouse-ly is an online marketplace to shop and support a variety of mili- tary- and first responder-owned busi- nesses. AUSA members save 10% at Spouse-ly with promo code AUSA. Use its one of-a-kind platform to shop small, make a big impact and pur- chase with a purpose. HUSK Finding and choosing the right wellness provider can be overwhelm- ing. HUSK is a curated wellness marketplace that offers exclusive pricing on gym memberships, equip- ment and virtual subscriptions in nu- trition, fitness, pre- and post-natal, health coaching and mental health. HUSK Marketplace members gain access to best-in-class pricing with some of the biggest brands in the in- dustry, including LA Fitness, Gold’s Gym, Planet Fitness and more. You also can sign up for private nutrition counseling for $49.99 a month. ChooseHealthy AUSA provides members with ac- cess to ChooseHealthy, where you can save 10%–50% on popular health and fitness brands like FitBit, Gar- min, Skechers, Vitamix, New Bal- ance, MyxFitness, Echelon, Sunbas- ket and more. You also save 25% on specialty practitioner services like acupunc- ture, chiropractic, physical therapy, therapeutic massage, occupational therapy, nutrition services and po- diatry. ChooseHealthy offers free online health classes based on up-to-date clinical information. These self- guided coaching classes allow you to study a variety of health improve- ment topics, with an option to ask experts for assistance. FedEx Your AUSA membership provides exceptional FedEx discounts, with savings of up to 50% off FedEx Express and up to 30% off FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery. If you ship with FedEx, you’ll be able to continue using it the same way you do today. After you enroll, the discounts will be added to your account and then automatically ap- plied to your shipments. If you don’t have an account, you can open one when you enroll. HistoryNet HistoryNet is the world’s larg- est publisher of history magazines, covering topics like the Civil War, the Vietnam War and World War II. AUSA members save 20% off all nine of their publications with code AUSA2023. Susan Rubel is AUSA’s Association and Affinity Partnerships director. AUSA members can save 15% on Soldier Fuel energy drinks. (COURTESY PHOTO) You can use your AUSA membership dis- counts on a variety of fitness and health services. (U.S. ARMY/DAN AMBURG)www.ausa.org8 AUSA Extra | September 7, 2023 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Exceptional Army civilians recognized at chapter dinner O utstanding Army civilians were honored Aug. 15 dur- ing the annual Dr. Richard “Dick” Rhoades Department of the Army Civilian of the Year Awards Dinner hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army’s Redstone-Huntsville chapter in Huntsville, Alabama. The chapter recognized 37 Army civilians. Winners were selected from five cat- egories, including technical/techni- cal management, professional/technical, support staff, management executive and Depart- ment of Defense. The overall 2023 Army Civilian of the Year is Keith Creekmore, a Missile Defense Agency technical director, who was nominated in the management executive category. “It’s quite an honor. It is a tribute to the mission MDA does on a day-to-day basis,” Creekmore said, according to an Army news release. Brandon Price of Program Execu- tive Office Missiles and Space won the technical/technical management AUSA leadership meeting focuses on Army modernization efforts Col. Zachary Miller, commander of the Army Joint Modernization Command, ad- dresses modernization efforts, technology and more Aug. 28 at a leadership meet- ing hosted by AUSA’s GA Omar N. Bradley chapter in El Paso, Texas. (AUSA PHOTO) award; Thomas Davidson from PEO Aviation came out on top in the sup- port staff category; and Dana Stew- art from the Defense Acquisition University was selected for the DoD award. Megan Gully of Army Materiel Command and Furman Daniels, from the Combat Capabilities Devel- opment Command Aviation & Missile Center, shared the professional/tech- nical award. “It’s an honor to receive this award,” Gully said, according to the Army. “I am very proud to serve in Army Public Affairs and on the AMC team. It’s an incredibly rewarding profession, and I’m grateful for all the experiences it’s granted me.” Remarks for the dinner were pro- vided by Brian Toland, Army Materi- el Command’s command counsel, who told the nominees that the work they do is important to national defense. “You have been nominated for your vital contributions. You are truly experts in your chosen endeavors,” Toland said. Toland also emphasized the Army’s values of loyalty, duty, respect, self- less service, honor, integrity and per- sonal courage, and the importance of leadership. “The positive environment you cre- ate matters—not just for yourself, but for others,” he said. “Demand ex- cellence for yourself, and others will follow.” Redstone- Huntsville GA Omar N. Bradley Thirty-seven Army civilians are honored by AUSA’s Redstone-Huntsville chapter during the chapter’s Department of the Army Civilian of the Year Awards dinner. (AUSA PHOTO)Tune-in at: WWW.AUSA.ORG/PODCAST Interested in advertising on Army Matters? Contact us at podcast@ ausa.org for more information. AUSA’s Army Matters podcast amplifies the voices of the Total Army—one story at a time. Join hosts LTG (Ret.) Les Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey every other Wednesday as they interview the modern chroniclers of the Army experience to discuss inspiring leadership stories, current issues faced by Soldiers and our military families’ journeys.Next >