PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org October 17, 2025 | AUSA Extra 1 Army Secretary Dan Driscoll provides the keynote address on Monday during the opening cer- emony of the 2025 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition. (AUSA PHOTO) IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 7 NUMBER 23 OCTOBER 17, 2025 George Emphasizes Army Transformation 3 AUSA's Highest Award Presented to Medal of Honor Recipients 4 Weimer Announces NCO Education Changes 5 Senior Leaders Address Family Concerns 11 Nuclear Power Coming to Installations 12 Leader Solarium, Generation Next Forum 20, 21 Army to Pilot Campus-Style Dining 26 Scenes from AUSA 2025 32, 33 Driscoll: Army must act now at critical ‘infl ection point’ T he U.S. Army must shed its reli- ance on decades-old technology and acquisitions strategies to be- come a fi ghting force as agile and lethal as potential adversaries, Army Secre- tary Dan Driscoll said Monday during the opening ceremony of the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Exposition. Pointing to Ukraine’s advancements in drone technology and its use of bat- tlefi eld artifi cial intelligence to conduct asymmetrical warfare, Driscoll said the Army must have—at a minimum—tech- nology as current as soldiers use in ev- eryday life. “At home, your fi ngertips command artifi cial intelligence ... instantly ex- change data worldwide ... and your ve- hicle self-drives you to work,” Driscoll told thousands of soldiers at the event. “Then, once you arrive at work, you exist in an organization that has been condi- tioned to expect technological failure. … It’s absolutely unconscionable. … This is the infl ection point where we turn it all around.” The service has long suffered from an acquisitions process that takes years to fi eld new equipment and systems, infl ex- ible funding that prevents it from pivot- ing when new needs emerge and intrac- table contracts that don’t let the Army fi x its own gear, according to Driscoll. In the past few months, Driscoll has introduced “continuous transformation,” a shift to reinvesting resources by ditch- ing outdated systems and embracing lean, agile systems that provide lethal results. It is set to launch FUZE, an initia- tive that provides funding to startups to purchase and fi eld equipment to sol- See Driscoll,Page 5 Special Edition: AUSA Annual MeetingHAWKEYE 105MM MOBILE HOWITZER SYSTEM Proven in the laboratory of war, the redesigned Hawkeye 105mm MHS transforms mobile firepower. Purpose-built for rapid deployment, it offers unmatched agility, rapid-fire precision, and lethal battlefield impact, delivering tomorrow’s artillery advantage to today’s mission. LIGHTER FASTER MORE LETHALwww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY October 17, 2025 | AUSA Extra 3 Lethal challenges require Army to transform, George says T he Army is relentlessly and rapidly transforming to stay ahead of a world that is flooded with cheap drones and lethal technol- ogy, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George said at the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C. During a keynote address Tues- day at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Luncheon, George struck a tone of urgency as he described why continu- ous transformation is taking place at every echelon of the Army. Sweeping changes are underway that roundly address the four focus areas George put forth when he be- came chief two years ago—warfight- ing, delivering combat-ready forma- tions, continuous transformation and strengthening the profession of arms. The Army, he said, “has to change.” “It’s a dangerous world, and we’re seeing unparalleled enemy collabora- tion,” George cautioned. “The other thing we’re seeing that we haven’t seen since before World War II is just how rapidly tech is changing.” Holding up a handheld tactical- style tablet, George said the device will soon be- come a commander’s mo- bile desktop, eliminating the need to stand up a static tactical operations center that requires doz- ens of people to build and connect to the network. “It's now on [this tab- let] as an application and can do all the things that we needed to do, so this is where the network is going,” George said, projecting that it will be the norm across the Army within 30 months. At the Army’s combat training centers, the opposition force is being “upgunned” months ahead of opera- tional units so that the lessons be- ing learned in ongoing conflicts, such as in Ukraine, can be incorporated more quickly. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George addresses the Dwight D. Eisenhower Luncheon during the 2025 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C. (AUSA PHOTO) To enhance warfighter readiness, Army Regulation 350-1, which guides training and leader development, has been reduced from 250 pages to 80 pages, eliminating standing require- ments that take time that is better spent in the field. As part of that, the Army has got- ten rid of more than 1 million pieces of equipment that is obsolete or simply no longer needed. “That means less time counting stuff, less time laying it out and less money you are spending trying to fix those things,” George said, explaining that Army Materiel Command developed a new application enabled by artifi- cial intelligence to make property ac- countability easier. The Army also continues to propa- gate the Holistic Health and Fitness program, known as H2F, across the force, has begun campus-style din- ing on several installations to make it easier for soldiers to get the kind of food they want and is modernizing the Army’s organic industrial base. “I think the most important thing with continuous transformation for us, for the Army, and you heard it from the secretary yesterday, it’s a mindset,” George said, referencing Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s re - marks on Monday during the Annu- al Meeting’s opening ceremony. “The foundation of all of that is the fourth focus area, and that's strengthening the profession.” Transforming is critical, he added, but it can’t be at the expense of tak- ing care of people and developing the leaders needed to navigate the com- plexities of advancing technology. “Probably the most important as- pect of strengthening our profession is how we're training our people,” George said. “We get really focused on the kit, and what we all realize as leaders in the Army is that the most important aspect is how are we changing our training so that our people are ready to operate this kit.” I think the most important thing with continuous transformation for us, for the Army ... is how we're training our people.” www.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | October 17, 2025 Gen. 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Voice for the Army – Support For the Soldier PERK OF THE WEEK ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AUSA presents Marshall Medal to Medal of Honor recipients I n honor of their courage, service and commitment, Army recipients of the Medal of Honor were pre- sented with the Association of the U.S. Army’s highest award for dis- tinguished and selfl ess service. Accepting AUSA’s George Catlett Marshall Medal on Wednesday on be- half of the soldiers who have earned the nation’s highest award for valor were retired Col. Paris Davis, retired Maj. John Duffy, retired Lt. Gen. Robert Foley, retired Col. Walter Marm, former 1st Lt. Brian Thacker, retired Capt. Flo Groberg and retired Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee. Presented on the fi nal day of the as- sociation’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Exposition, the Marshall Medal is named for the Army offi cer and states- man who led the Army, the State De- partment and Defense Department. “Tonight isn’t about medals or rank,” said Plumlee, who spoke on behalf of the Medal of Honor recipi- ents accepting the award. “It’s about the institution that unites us, the United States Army, and the legacy of courage, discipline and service that continues to defi ne it today.” He added, “From the moment our Army was formed in 1775 … one truth has remained constant, wher- Benefi tHub is the world's largest member/employee discount program with exclusive and larger savings, sav- ing members an average of $2,500 per year on deals from thousands of lead- ing brands. And, you now earn cash back rewards when shopping. Visit ausa.benefi thub.com for more. ever freedom has been threatened, the United States Army has an- swered the call. … Generations of soldiers have carried the same fl ag, upheld the same oath and stood be- tween danger and the people they swore to protect.” This isn’t the fi rst time the George Catlett Marshall Medal has gone to a group instead of a person. Last year, the Marshall Medal was awarded to The Army Noncommissioned Offi cer. It was awarded to The Army Family in 2020 and to The American Soldier in 2004. The Medal of Honor is worn by a few, but it represents the many, Plumlee said. “Each of us who wears it understands it was earned in one moment, but belongs to every soldier, sailor, airman and Marine who's ever stood their ground when it mattered most,” he said. As the Army moves into the future, it continues to learn, adapt and lead, not just in combat, but in character, Plumlee said. “That is the message I want today’s warfi ghters to carry,” he said. “The Medal of Honor isn't about what we have done. It's about living every day in a way that honors the best of not just this Army but this nation.” Retired Gen. Bob Brown, center left, AUSA president and CEO, presents the association's George Catlett Marshall Medal to Army recipients of the Medal of Honor. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY October 17, 2025 | AUSA Extra 5 Changes coming to NCO professional military education Driscoll From Page 1 diers in weeks, instead of years. At the Annual Meeting, the service an- nounced the first competition in the program, xTechDisrupt that, in a Shark Tank-like competition, encour- ages innovators to pitch their prod- ucts for $500,000 and then launch their wares within 30 days. The service also wants flexible funding, asking in the fiscal 2026 budget for the ability to move around monies for electronic warfare, un- manned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-UAS. Driscoll said bureaucratic inef- ficiencies enable adversaries, bog down the Army and put soldiers at risk. “No one can predict the next war, but we cannot wait … to inno- vate until Americans are dying on the battlefield. We must act now to enable our soldiers,” the secretary said to cheers and applause. The Army also must change to ensure that soldiers—which it is attracting in record numbers—are supported. In fiscal 2025, the Army hit its recruiting goal of 61,000 in seven months, the quickest pace in 13 years, and has 20,000 enrolled in the Delayed Entry Program for 2026, Driscoll said. The secretary also said the Army will increase partnerships with the private sector to reduce costs and improve on-post construction, make installations more self-reliant by powering them with nuclear energy and “fixing the basics of food and bil - leting.” The service plans to pilot campus- style dining facilities that will fea- ture “multiple vendors, healthy food and [Common Access Card]-swipe convenience,” Driscoll said. Driscoll’s vision for the Army is a lethal, agile force that can 3D-print replacement parts on the battle- field, has the world’s most sophisti- cated drone warfare capability, and a modern acquisition strategy that can field new technology in months, rather than years. “For too long ... we accepted medi- ocrity. For too long ... we maintained the status quo. Now we stand at an inflection point: make the future ... or react to it,” Driscoll said. A s the Army makes significant changes to its NCO profes- sional education system, re- sponsibility for training and leader development lies with both the op- erational unit and the institution, as well as the individual, the service’s senior enlisted leader said. Speaking Tuesday during the As- sociation of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer empha- sized the importance of self-develop- ment in enlisted leaders. “Your leadership journey is not just your professional journey; it is also your personal journey. The sooner you understand that the two are insepa- rable, the sooner you’ll understand that you’re developing yourself and the Army every day,” Weimer said. At a forum on professional military education reform, Weimer and other senior enlisted leaders announced adjustments to education curricu- lum across the NCO life cycle, from the Basic Leader Course for junior enlisted personnel to the Sergeants Major Course. “We had some work to do in the pro- fessional military education realm,” Weimer said. “This isn’t hypotheti- cal—we’re moving out. These aren’t theories, we’re in execution mode.” The Basic Leader Course will be increased from three weeks to five weeks, and the Master Leader Course from two weeks to three weeks, they said. To ensure parity in the overall education timeframe, the mid-level Advanced Leader Course and Senior Leader Course each will be reduced by more than a week. The Sergeants Major Course-Res- ident Class 77, which began in Au- gust and is scheduled to graduate June 12, is undergoing “a very big curriculum change,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Harris, senior enlisted leader of the new U.S. Army Transformation and Training Com- mand. “We’re getting rid of some top- ics and subject areas … everything’s going to thread through to the end state of warfighting requirements.” In addition, all Army components are leveraging technology and part- nering with academia to enhance educational opportunities, the lead- ers said. Weimer also discussed the impor- tance of standards and discipline, noting that the Army’s Blue Book, introduced at last year’s AUSA An- nual Meeting, has been downloaded roughly a half-million times. “I’m pretty proud of that,” Weimer said. “If our soldiers don’t buy in to what we’re trying to do with disci- pline and standards, it doesn’t work.” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer dis- cusses professional military education for NCOs Tuesday at the AUSA Annual Meet- ing and Exposition. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.orgOctober 9, 2025 | AUSA Extra 7 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Soldier, industry feedback spurs Army transformation W hether it’s developing Next- Generation Command and Control or the latest drones, the Army must seek soldier feedback and move quickly, two se- nior Army leaders said. “This is all about the soldier,” said Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus. “This is ensuring that our troopers out there in the field have the right doctrine, the right organi- zational design, the right leaders, the right training, put together in the right way so, God forbid, we’re asked to fight and win, we can do that.” During a fireside chat titled “From the Foxhole to the Factory–Achiev- ing Total Battlefield Dominance” on Tuesday at the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Ex- position in Washington, D.C., Mingus and Army Undersecretary Michael Obadal talked about the importance of accelerating transformation to keep up with fast-moving technology. They also emphasized the importance of putting soldiers first. Army transformation cannot just be about new equipment, Obadal said. It has to cover the DOTMLPF- P spectrum—doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, facilities and policy. This includes ensuring the organ- ic industrial base—the Army’s 23 plants, arsenals and depots, which have been around since World War II—is modernized and capable of scaling up when needed, Obadal said. When it comes to soldiers, the Army is working to streamline the equipment they carry. “If you took an average soldier today, from head to toe, the weight that an average sol- dier carries is somewhere between 90 and 100 pounds, and that’s without a rucksack,” Mingus said. One goal of Next-Generation Command and Con- trol, also known as Next-Gen C2, is to untether soldiers so they have access to all the data they need without be- ing encumbered by bulky equipment. The Army also is focused on sol- diers’ health and wellness, he said. “We want them to be stronger, more lethal than their adversary,” Min- gus said. “We want our kids to be as strong mentally as they can be. Our soldiers of the future are still going to have to be physically fit, tactically sound, masters of the basics.” Being a soldier today is harder than it was when he enlisted decades ago, Mingus said. Troops today must be technically savvy and ready to adapt to new technology. “It’s not something new every 10 years, it’s something new every year,” he said. As the Army continues to trans- form, there is no shortage of exper- tise needed from industry partners, Obadal said. “We can’t do this alone,” Mingus said. “Every day, we should get up and have a goal to make our Army a little bit better than it was yester- day. That is the essence of continuous transformation.” Army Undersecretary Michael Obadal, left, and Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus speak during the 2025 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition. (AUSA PHOTO) Soldiers with the Joint Multinational Readiness Center render aid to a simulated casualty Oct. 12 at the Hohenfels Training Area, Germany. ‘Soldiers of the future are still going to have to be physically fit, tactically sound, masters of the basics,’ Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus said at the 2025 AUSA Annual Meeting. (U.S. ARMY/PFC. LILAH WINDLE)www.ausa.org 8 AUSA Extra | October 17, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY T he U.S. Army is changing the way it counters small un- manned aircraft systems, said Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of Joint Interagency Task Force 401. “We can't think about that on a five-year time horizon. We can't think about counter-UAS on a 10- year time horizon,” Ross said Tues- day during a contemporary military forum focused on Joint Interagency Task Force 401 at the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2025 Annual Meet- ing and Exposition. “We've got to be able to iterate more quickly” and incorporate lessons learned from partners and allies “into our force at speed,” he said. Joint Interagency Task Force 401 was established in an Aug. 27 memo directed to senior Pentagon leader- ship. The task force, led by the Army, is tasked with addressing the grow- ing threat of hostile drones and en- Leaders seek to close the counter-drone capability gap hancing the department’s own small unmanned systems that protect per- sonnel, equipment and facilities, ac- cording to a department news release. Soldiers will have to train dif- ferently when it comes to offensive UASs to be most effective, Ross said. Attritable systems are “expendable, and we should be procuring them at a price point that ensures they're ex- pendable, and we should train with them as if they're expendable, or we'll never have the proficiency we need to use them effectively,” he said. As the Army evolves its UAS and counter-small UAS capabilities, “there is no silver bullet,” said retired Col. Robert Kelley, senior director of U.S. requirements and capabilities for Ray- theon Land & Air Defense Systems. “The threat is ... very low-cost, high- ly produceable, which means our po- tential enemies can have thousands of them and they can replace them very rapidly,” he said. Bringing counter- small UAS systems, kinetic and non- kinetic effects, and sensing “together in a way that is rapidly upgradeable is a challenge.” Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of Joint In- teragency Task Force 401, discusses the Army's counter-small UAS capabilities dur- ing the AUSA Annual Meeting. (AUSA PHOTO) Staff Sgt. Robert Laux, left, assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, receives instruction from a British soldier on operating a Night Fighter counter-unmanned aerial system device during training at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland. (U.S. ARMY/STAFF SGT. CHRISTOPHER SAUNDERS)www.aevex.com Atlas launched effect pairs long-range autonomy with assured navigation to deliver effects on time and on target, even in contested EW and GPS-degraded environments. Modular, portable, and scalable for the Army fight. Modern War Designed for Scan Here ATLAS Group II Launched EffectNext >