PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org September 28, 2023 | AUSA Extra 1 Chief, SMA focus on lethality, cohesion A s they speak to soldiers across the force, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer are reinforcing the importance of an Army that’s focused on warfighting and able to respond to any contin- gency anywhere in the world. “Our Army exists to fight and win our nation’s wars. That’s why we ex- ist, that’s why we’re in this uniform,” George said. “We are a global Army. We’ve got to be ready to go anywhere on short notice.” George, who was Army vice chief of staff and was sworn in as the 41st Army chief of staff on Sept. 21, and Weimer, who was sworn in Aug. 4 as the 17th sergeant major of the Army, spoke Sept. 12 at the 2023 Maneu- ver Warfighter Conference at Fort Moore, Georgia, formerly known as Soldiers participating in the Medical Readiness Command, West Best Medic Competition prepare to load onto a Chinook helicopter Tuesday at Fort Carson, Colorado. (U.S. ARMY/STAFF SGT. WILLIS HOBBS) AUSA Moves Forward With Annual Meeting 3 New AUSA Logo to be Unveiled Oct. 9 4 Book Program Ninth Army in WWII 6 Chapter Highlights Eagle Chapters 7 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 22 SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 Fort Benning. From the rise in sensing—“There’s really nowhere you can hide any- more” on the battlefield, George said—to rapid advancements in un- manned systems, the Army faces an increasingly complex future battle- field, George and Weimer said. To maintain the Army’s edge, George and Weimer have four fo- cus areas—warfighting, continuous transformation, delivering ready combat formations and strengthen- ing the profession. Predictability for soldiers and their families is another critical area to work on, George said. “We know we’re going to have to respond to some unforeseen circumstances, but a lot of times, these are self-inflicted because we don’t have good training and maintenance management, so, we’re going to focus on that,” he said. Weimer agreed, adding that the Army must transform how it trains, develops NCOs and manages time. “You can’t be good warfighters if you don’t take care of your family. You can’t be good warfighters if you don’t take care of your teammates,” he said. “You can’t be a premier warf- ighter if you don’t manage your time.” NCOs are responsible for taking care of their soldiers, Weimer said. “Take that ownership,” he said. George urged the audience, which included students in the infantry and armor Basic Officer Leader Courses and the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, to be innovative as they train and prepare. “Most of the great ideas always came from the bottom up,” he said.” What we have to do is capture them.”View the Oshkosh RCV at Booth 739 DELIVERING THE FUTURE OF COMBAT Based on decades of innovation, development, and testing, the Oshkosh RCV is soldier-centered, purpose-built, and ready now to exceed the demands of nearly any mission. The evolution continues. THE BATTLEFIELD EVOLVES. SO DO WE.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY September 28, 2023 | AUSA Extra 3 Record-breaking Army astronaut returns to Earth Lt. Col. Frank Rubio, center, NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 and 69 flight engineer, is carried to a medical tent after he and Russian cosmonauts Dmitri Petelin and Sergey Prokopyev landed Wednesday near Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. (NASA PHOTO) W hen NASA astronaut Lt. Col. Frank Rubio returned to Earth Wednesday, he completed a record-breaking mission. Rubio had spent 371 days in low- Earth orbit, the longest single space- flight by an American. Rubio’s time in orbit surpasses the previous 355-day record set in 2022 by astronaut Mark Vande Hei, a retired Army colonel, ac- cording to an Army news release. Rubio launched Sept. 21, 2022, for his first trip to space. “I don’t know that this mission changed me, but it definitely provid- ed another tremendous, and unique, opportunity to learn and grow as a leader,” Rubio said Sept. 19 in an in- terview from the International Space Station. “The experience reinforced some key points that I’ve learned throughout my career in the Army. ... Teamwork, initiative, flexibility and resilience were key to success.” A 1998 graduate of the U.S. Mili- tary Academy at West Point, New York, Rubio is a family physician and flight surgeon. He also has served as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot, deploying to Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq and flying more than 600 hours in combat and imminent danger, ac- cording to his NASA biography. Serving as a flight engineer for Ex- peditions 68 and 69, Rubio participat- ed in numerous research investiga- tions and technology demonstrations not possible on Earth, including com- bustion experiments, space biology experiments and using interfaces and virtual reality to command and con- trol surface-bound robots from long distances. Rubio also conducted three space walks during his time off-planet. “The best part was by far the peo- ple,” Rubio said in the interview. “By the time we undock, I will have spent time in space with 28 other crew- mates. That’s almost 5% of the people who have ever been to space.” Rubio was originally supposed to spend six months in space, but his mission was extended. “Having the International Space Station going for 23 years requires a lot of individual and family sacrifices, but sometimes that’s what you have to do,” he said. “We proudly watched as Army As- tronaut Frank Rubio returned to Earth after a record-breaking year aboard the International Space Sta- tion,” said Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler, commander of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command. “Frank continues the U.S. Army’s legacy of excellence in support of the nation’s space program. Welcome home and well done.” AUSA 2023 moves forward despite looming shutdown T he Association of the U.S. Army will hold its 2023 An- nual Meeting and Exposition Oct. 9–11 even if there is a govern- ment shutdown. “We believe AUSA’s core mission of supporting America’s Army is too im- portant to risk,” said retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO. “This is critical for Army transforma- tion. We cannot lose momentum.” Another reason to press ahead with the event is the high level of inter- est AUSA has received, Brown said. “More than 22,000 people have al- ready registered, and exhibit space is sold out,” he said. “International interest is also strong, with 16 chief of staff-equivalents from our interna- tional friends and partners attending. We’ll have the doors open.” With a theme of “Be All You Can Be,” the annual meeting will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Attendance at the event is free, but registration is required. For more information or to register, click here. Soldiers and civilians register for the 2022 AUSA Annual Meeting. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org4 AUSA Extra | September 28, 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 As an AUSA member, your rates for accidental death and dismember- ment insurance have decreased. And, you can now enroll for up to $500,000 for expenses in the event of a covered accident. This plan is specially negotiated for AUSA members and requires no physical exam or health questions. Re- quest your benefit now by clicking here. AUSA to debut new logo at 2023 Annual Meeting and Exposition T he Association of the U.S. Army will unveil a new logo Oct. 9 representing its role as the Army’s premier association and its efforts to grow and connect with a new generation of soldiers. This is a big step, said retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO. “A brand gives an organization a unique identity, and AUSA has had the same one since the 1950s,” he said. “We’ve gone through tremen- dous growth, now with over a million members, and are always evolving to meet the needs of our Army.” This new brand sends a message that AUSA is “progressing and adapt- ing to ensure our growing Army com- munity is supported in its most criti- cal needs,” Brown said. Established in 1950, AUSA adopt- ed its current logo in August 1954. Designed by one of AUSA’s first mem- bers, it features a bald eagle, an olive branch, a shield and a torch. Creating a new logo is part of AU- SA’s 2025 Strategic Plan. It aims to refresh the association’s brand while broadening awareness of AUSA, its products and programs. It also seeks to appeal to a younger Army demo- graphic. Once the new logo is unveiled Oct. 9, opening day of AUSA’s 2023 Annu- al Meeting and Exposition in Wash- ington, D.C., the 1950s logo will be retained as AUSA’s seal and reserved for official documents, certificates and awards. AUSA is experiencing tremendous growth, reaching more than 1 mil- lion members earlier this summer, Brown said. “More than ever, it’s im- portant for us to be clear on where we’re going. That is, to enrich the lives of our Army community and support their efforts by any means necessary,” Brown said. “We believe this new brand supports that goal.” Brown said he hopes the new logo will resonate with the Army commu- nity and AUSA members. “When peo- ple recognize the new brand, I want them to see that AUSA focuses on the people who are the Army,” he said. “It takes a team—soldiers, families, civilians, retirees, veterans and in- dustry—but one objective: to support the Army community.” Retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO, speaks during an event earlier this year at AUSA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, celebrating the association’s growth to more than 1 million members. (AUSA PHOTO)WE ARE TEXTRON SYSTEMS TextronSystems.com LEARN MORE TextronSystems.com RIPSAW ® M3 Cutting Edge Performance AEROSONDE HQ ® UAS Purpose-Built For FTUAS CLOSE TERRAIN SHAPING OBSTACLES (CTSO) Modernizing Today’s Fightwww.ausa.org6 AUSA Extra | September 28, 2023 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY New book focuses on Ninth Army command team in WWII Soldiers with the 84th Infantry Division, Ninth Army, drag flat-bottomed assault boats toward the banks of the Roer River on Feb. 23, 1945. (COMMONS PHOTO) S ome military commanders like to draw a lot of attention to themselves. Others prefer to keep quiet and focus on getting the job done. Retired Lt. Col. William Stuart Nance focuses on two of those quiet professionals in the latest addition to the Association of the U.S. Army’s Book Program, Commanding Profes- sionalism: Simpson, Moore, and the Ninth US Army. Lt. Gen. William Simpson and his chief of staff, Brig. Gen. James Moore, were considered “uncommon- ly normal” in their time and are little known today. This is an injustice for these men, who not- ed World War II author Robert Citino calls “one of the greatest leadership teams in U.S. military history.” Nance is a retired armor officer who taught at the Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. His first book, Sabers through the Reich: World War II Corps Cav- alry from Normandy to the Elbe, also is an AUSA title. The Book Program recently sat down with Nance to talk about Com- manding Professionalism. ****** AUSA: After your success with Sa- bers through the Reich, what led you to focus on the Ninth Army for the new book? Nance: In my research for Sabers, I had discovered that the Ninth Army had been criminally under-represent- ed in the literature. The more I dug into it, I realized what a unique for- mation the Ninth had been, and that its story needed to be told. AUSA: Why did you decide to write about the command team of Simpson and Moore rather than a singular bi- ography? Nance: What made the Ninth Army unique was its command cli- mate focused upon steady adherence to doctrine. As such, no story on the Book Program Ninth’s command could be appropri- ately told without telling the story of the chief of staff. Additionally, retired Col. Tom Stone, Simpson’s original biographer, recommended the idea to me, and it was an excellent suggestion. AUSA: How did they adapt to working under such disparate com- manders as Gen. Omar Bradley and British Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery? Nance: The key thing that I found about Simpson and Moore is that they really did not change how they oper- ated based upon their commanders. They simply executed their processes and systems, attempting to leave per- sonalities out of operations as much as possible. AUSA: How did your research af- fect your views of the Allied efforts in Europe? Nance: The longer I have looked at the northwest European campaign, the more convinced I am that this part of the war was won by steady and reliable work by relatively unknown staff officers. While the senior leader- ship may have grabbed the spotlight, it was the measured application of materiel and firepower managed by the staffs that broke the back of the German forces in northwest Europe. AUSA: What leadership lessons can today’s commanders take from this story? Nance: Soldiers of all ranks appre- ciate working for a boss and a head- quarters who do routine things in a routine manner and do not lurch from crisis to crisis. No matter what echelon in which you serve, it is not about you, but about the overall team succeeding. ****** Please visit www.ausa.org/books to order a copy of Commanding Profes- sionalism. Joseph Craig is AUSA’s Book Program director.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY September 28, 2023 | AUSA Extra 7 Eagle Chapters The following chapters attained Eagle status for August by showing positive membership growth. The number of consecutive months of growth since July 1 is shown in parentheses. Allegheny-Blue Ridge (2) Arizona Territorial (2) Arkansas (2) Arsenal of Democracy (2) Benelux (2) Fort Liberty (2) Capital District of New York (2) Central Ohio (2) Chattahoochee Valley-Fort Moore (2) Corporal Bill McMillan-Bluegrass (2) Delaware (2) Denver Centennial (2) Des Moines Freedom (2) Dix (2) First Militia (2) Florida Gulf Stream (2) Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri (2) Fort Pitt (2) Fort Riley-Central Kansas (2) Fort Novosel-Wiregrass (2) Fort Sheridan-Chicago (2) Francis Scott Key (2) Gem State (2) GEN Creighton W. Abrams (2) GEN John W. Vessey, Jr (2) George Washington (2) Greater Atlanta (2) Greater New York-Statue of Liberty (2) Greater Philadelphia (Penn and Franklin) (2) Hellenic (2) Henry Leavenworth (2) Houston Metroplex (2) Indiana (2) Isthmian (2) Last Frontier (2) Magnolia (2) Major Samuel Woodfill (2) Massachusetts Bay (2) MG Harry Greene, Aberdeen (2) MG William F. Dean (2) Milwaukee (2) Minutemen (2) National Training Center-High Desert (2) Newton D. Baker (2) North Texas-Audie Murphy (2) PFC William Kenzo Nakamura (2) Picatinny Arsenal-Middle Forge (2) Puerto Rico (2) Rhode Island (2) San Diego (2) Silicon Valley (2) Suncoast (2) Texas Capital Area (2) Thunderbird (2) Tobyhanna Army Depot (2) Tri-State (2) Virginia Colonial (2) West Point Area (2) Western New York (2) Alamo (1) Big Bend (1) Captain Meriwether Lewis (1) Carlisle Barracks-Cumberland Valley (1) Catoctin (1) Central Virginia (1) Col Edward Cross (1) Columbia River (1) Connecticut (1) CSM James M. MacDonald-Keystone (1) Ethan Allen (1) Fort Campbell (1) Fort Huachuca-Sierra Vista (1) Fort Jackson-Palmetto State (1) GA Omar N. Bradley (1) GEN Joseph W. Stilwell (1) GEN William C. Westmoreland (1) Greater Augusta-Fort Gordon (1) Greater Kansas City (1) Greater Los Angeles (1) Japan (1) Joshua Chamberlain (1) Korea (1) Marne (1) MG John S. Lekson (1) MG Robert B. McCoy (1) Mid-Palatinate (1) Mission Trails (1) Northern New Jersey (1) Northern New York-Fort Drum (1) Polar Bear (1) Potomac-Liberty (1) Redstone-Huntsville (1) San Francisco (1) SGM Jon R. Cavaiani (1) Space Coast (1) St. Louis Gateway (1) Sunshine (1) Topeka (1) Tucson-Goyette (1) UAE (1) Utah (1) White Sands Missile Range (1)Next >