PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org November 2, 2023 | AUSA Extra 1 Army completes installation renaming T he last of nine Army instal- lations was renamed Oct. 27 when Fort Gordon became Fort Eisenhower in honor of former Presi- dent Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower. The decision to rename the installa- tion near Augusta, Georgia, upholds the values the Army holds dear, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said during the renaming ceremony. “The Army is a values-based institution,” Wormuth said. “Today, we choose to honor a man, a general, a president who upheld the values we want our force to embody—values like loyalty, integrity and selfless service.” Before becoming the 34th president of the United States, Eisenhower was a five-star general who commanded Allied forces in Europe during World War II. After the war, he served as From left to right, Maj. Gen. Paul Stanton, commander of the Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Eisenhower, Georgia; Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Dwight Eisenhower; Army Secretary Christine Wormuth; and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Starrett, the installation’s senior en listed leader, unveil a bust of Eisenhower Oct. 27 during a ceremony redesignating Fort Gordon as Fort Eisenhower. (U.S. ARMY/SGT. FIRST CLASS NICOLE MEJIA) Former SMA Morrell Dies 3 Weimer Addresses Young Leaders 4 Member Benefits Education, Business Discounts 6 Chapter Highlights Fort Pitt 7 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 27 NOVEMBER 2, 2023 Army chief of staff. He was elected president in 1952. Eisenhower enjoyed relaxing in the Augusta area, a connection that prompted locals to suggest his name during the renaming process for the installation. The redesignation aligns with the recommendations of an eight-mem- ber commission tasked by Congress to remove Confederate names, sym- bols, displays and monuments from DoD assets. The renaming represents more than a name change, Wormuth said during the ceremony, which was at- tended by Eisenhower’s granddaugh- ters, Susan and Mary Jean. “Today, I asked all of you to find meaning not only in who we are commemorating, but what this ceremony represents,” Wormuth said. “It’s the culmination of a base renaming process that be- gan in 2020. Change is often neces- sary but not often easy. So, I want to thank each and every person who helped with this redesignation for supporting such an important step forward.” In the past year, eight other Army posts received new names. Three are in Virginia—Fort Barfoot, formerly Fort Pickett; Fort Gregg-Adams, which was Fort Lee; and Fort Walker, formerly Fort A.P. Hill. The others are Fort Novosel, for- merly Fort Rucker, Alabama; Fort Cavazos, formerly Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Moore, formerly Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and Fort John- son, formerly Fort Polk, Louisiana.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY November 2, 2023 | AUSA Extra 3 Former Sgt. Maj. of the Army Glen Morrell dies at 87 R etired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Glen Morrell, a life member of the Association of the U.S. Army who served as the seventh ser- geant major of the Army from 1983– 1987, died Oct. 26. He was 87. Born May 26, 1936, in Wick, West Virginia, Morrell enlisted in the Army in 1953. He decided to leave the Army after his first enlistment but reenlisted in 1958. “I found out that I really liked the Army after I got out,” Morrell said in a 1994 in- terview with the Army’s Center of Military History. Then-Sgt. Morrell was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division in Ber- lin, Germany. At the time, a sergeant made $205 a month. “We lived on a hell of a tight budget. At the end of the month, I’d have to come up with 10 pennies in order to buy [bread] and a cup of coffee,” Morrell said in the interview. In 1962, Morrell underwent Spe- cial Forces training at Fort Bragg, now Fort Liberty, North Carolina. Over the next decade, he deployed AUSA Basic Members can now view a selection of articles from the November issue of ARMY magazine. To read the articles, click here. ARMY magazine November issue Chief speaks to Army fellows at AUSA Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George addresses more than 70 Army fellows Tuesday during a breakfast hosted at AUSA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. (AUSA PHOTO) three times to Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces Group and twice to Panama with the 8th Special Forces Group. Morrell was selected in 1976 as command sergeant major of the 1st Ranger Battalion, 75th Infantry, at Fort Stewart, Georgia, where—at 41 years old—he completed Ranger school and was the Distinguished Honor Graduate of his class. Prior to being named sergeant major of the Army, Morrell was com- mand sergeant major of Army Forces Command. During his tenure as the Army’s senior enlisted leader, Morrell was known for his devotion to improv- ing soldiers’ training and quality of life. He felt his most rewarding ac- complishment “was being able to do something for the good of the enlisted personnel and the noncommissioned officer corps,” according to the Army. In a tribute on social media, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer, the current and 17th senior enlisted leader, said Morrell was instrumen- tal in the development of the NCO education system. “To me, an American soldier is a person that had been trained and has the desire to be the best that there is at whatever their job might be, and can do any damn thing under the sun, provided their needs are taken care of and they’ve got good leader- ship,” Morrell said. “They’ll go the extra mile time and time again.” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Glen Morrell was the service’s seventh SMA. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO)www.ausa.org4 AUSA Extra | November 2, 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. 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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 offers dental and vision insurance, but a discount network may be a better option for you. Discount networks differ from insurance—providers agree to charge less than their normal rate. One of the most popular with AUSA members is the Aetna Dental Discount program. To learn about dental, vision, prescription and chiro- practic discounts, visit www.ausa.org/dma. Weimer: Technology cannot replace basic soldier skills and leadership P eople and technology are both critical to the Army of the fu- ture, but the latter can never replace the former, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer told a group of mid-grade officers and NCOs. “I do believe, and I always will, that people are our competitive advantage against all our adversaries,” Weimer said. As the force becomes more tech- driven, his concern is that soldiers will “compromise on the basics.” “ChatGPT should never replace leaders. AI should never replace what it means to make an assessment and make a recommendation to the com- mander for a hard decision,” he said. Weimer spoke Oct. 10 at a Leader Solarium held during the Associa- tion of the U.S. Army’s 2023 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washing- ton, D.C. The solarium, organized by AUSA’s Center for Leadership, hosted about 100 specially selected soldiers who heard from top Army leaders and civilian subject-matter experts and had small-group discus- sions on challenges facing the Army. At the end of the three-day event, the group provided feedback to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Weimer. In his remarks, Weimer encour- aged the soldiers to maintain a posi- tive attitude as leaders. “If we harp on the negative as leaders, then we are crushing and stymieing innova- tion” and dulling the ambition of sol- diers who could be the next genera- tion of leaders, he said. Responding to questions from the group about retention, Weimer said that while recruiting is the Army’s No. 1 priority right now, the service’s “war for talent” includes retaining top-quality soldiers. “We don’t hire talent, we grow talent,” he said. Weimer said he encourages col- leagues who are weighing leaving the service to “think twice” and con- sider their options, such as transfer- ring to the National Guard or Army Reserve. “That’s not a loss, we’re a Total Army,” he said. “That’s talent we’re maintaining to leverage in the future.” Other areas Army leaders are studying to retain talented soldiers include adjustments to retention con- trol points, choice of assignments, and extending tours to increase sta- bilization and unit cohesion, Weimer said. “Those are things we know we have to get after—but they’re not easy,” he said. “That retention mis- sion has to mean something because of how quickly we lose those invest- ments in our people.” At the end of the day, the desire to serve is inherent to remaining in the Army. “The first opportunity we pres- ent is the opportunity to serve your country,” Weimer said. “We’re not go- ing to ‘bonus’ our way out of this.” Weimer concluded his remarks by asking the solarium participants to be honest with their comments and recommendations. “Army senior lead- ers need to hear the truth,” he said. “That’s what we need to get after some of these issues.” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer ad- dresses young leaders Oct. 10 during the 2023 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposi- tion in Washington, D.C. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org6 AUSA Extra | November 2, 2023 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Save on education, business expenses and publications AUSA membership provides access to a variety of discounts and savings for you and your family. (ARMY NATIONAL GUARD/SGT. IVAN MENDEZ-ROMAN) M embership in the Association of the U.S. Army provides you access to a variety of discounts and benefits. This month, I want to focus on ways you can save on expenses related to education, busi- ness and publication subscriptions. Education AUSA has negotiated a special program for members to offer their children, grandchildren or any other family member free training materi- als for the SAT and ACT. eKnowledge provides a comprehen- sive program that is endorsed by the National Federation of High Schools and is indepen- dently verified to increase scores by 4.7 points for the ACT and 180 points for the SAT. Visit www.ausa.org/eknowledge for more. If you or a family member has or is considering student loans, AUSA has partnered with College Ave Stu- dent Loans, a private student loan company, to offer special benefits for members on undergraduate, gradu- ate, parent and refinance loans. With a three-minute application, instant credit decision and no fees to apply, AUSA members receive a 0.25% interest rate discount on all in-school loans and 0.50% of the loan amount paid back to the borrower on all refinance loans. For more, visit www.ausa.org/studentloans. Business AUSA’s Office Depot discount pro- gram for members is through the company’s business operations— branded as ODP Business Solutions. You can use your member discount card in Office Depot and Office Max locations, but your best savings are going to be online. If you prefer in-store, try shopping online and picking up at your store to take advantage of the higher savings. Go to www.ausa.org/office to create Member Benefits your online account and download your discount card under “impor- tant links.” For help setting up print jobs or any other order, contact our account manager, Juanita Deleon, at 512-377-6667 or Juanita.deleon@ odpbusiness.com. If you have technology needs, HP has teamed up with AUSA to offer high-quality HP products at discount- ed prices. HP offers a full portfolio of consumer and commercial products, from notebooks and desktops to print- ers, accessories and more. Visit www.ausa.org/hp and sign up for weekly deals, expert sales agents to assist with your purchases and free shipping with a 30-day return policy. You can protect your computer and save up to 35% on Norton 360 with LifeLock for the life of your AUSA membership by clicking here. As a global leader in cyber safety, with technology that blocks more than 9 million cyberthreats on average ev- ery day, Norton is always a champion of cybersecurity awareness. No one can prevent all cybercrime or iden- tity theft. Publications All AUSA members receive dis- counted subscriptions to Defense News, Army Times, Air Force Times, Marine Corps Times and Navy Times. Subscribe with your discount here. Your membership also provides you with an exclusive discount of 60% off Stars and Stripes digital subscrip- tions with coupon code AUSA60. Stars and Stripes has been serving the U.S. military continuously since World War II. With a subscription, you’ll have unlimited access to the latest information on matters that affect the military, updated 24/7 by reporters stationed at military in- stallations all over the world. If you have an interest in mili- tary history, AUSA members save on HistoryNet publications using code AUSA2023. HistoryNet is the world’s largest publisher of history magazines, covering topics like the Civil War, the Vietnam War and World War II. You can also take advantage of Battle Digest’s bi-monthly, visually stunning executive summaries of im- portant historical battles. Each issue includes lessons on strategy, tactics and leadership—perfect for leader development or self-study. AUSA members can save 20% at www.ausa.org/battle. Susan Rubel is AUSA’s Association and Affinity Partnerships director.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY November 2, 2023 | AUSA Extra 7 AUSA member receives national medal for innovation R ory Cooper, a life member of the Association of the U.S. Ar- my’s Fort Pitt chapter, recent- ly was honored at the White House for his work developing cutting-edge wheelchair technologies and mobility devices. Cooper, who works with the Uni- versity of Pittsburgh and the Depart- ment of Veterans Affairs, received the National Med- al of Technology and Innovation from President Joe Biden during an Oct. 24 ceremony. Through his work, Cooper has empowered the lives of “millions of Americans,” according to the citation accompanying his award. “By inventing and developing cut- ting-edge wheelchair technologies and mobility devices, cultivating the next generation of rehabilitation en- gineers, and championing wounded veterans and students with disabili- ties, he moves us closer to being a nation that is accessible for all,” the citation reads. First presented in 1985, the Nation- al Medal of Technology and Innova- tion is the nation’s highest award for technological achievement, recogniz- ing American innovators whose vi- sion, intellect, creativity and determi- nation have strengthened America’s economy and improved its quality of life, according to the White House. Cooper is no stranger to innovation and big ideas. While stationed with the Army in Germany in 1980, an accident left Cooper paralyzed from the waist down. Since then, he has become a leader in improving wheelchair tech- nology and holds more than 20 U.S. patents. Earlier this year, Cooper was an- nounced as a 2023 inductee into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, where he was recognized for “in- novations in wheelchair technology that have improved manual and elec- tric wheelchairs, and advanced the health, mobility and social inclusion of people with disabilities and older adults,” according to a news release from the Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame Oct. 26. Born in 1959 in Los Angeles, Coo- per said his experience as an Eagle scout and working in his parents’ automotive and repair shop helped grow his interest in problem-solving and piecing together machinery. After his accident, Cooper attend- ed California Polytechnic State Uni- versity, where he became frustrated with the limited maneuverability of his 80-pound chrome and steel wheelchair and designed his own ultralight wheelchair in his family’s shop. “Informed by his experience with building a better wheelchair for himself, Cooper researched adaptive technologies and was determined to reduce the repetitive stress inju- ries plaguing many users of manual wheelchairs,” the Hall of Fame news release says. He is the founding director and VA senior research career scientist of the Human Engineering Research Labo- ratories, a collaboration between the VA and the University of Pittsburgh. He also is the civilian aide to the sec- retary of the Army for Pennsylvania (West). “The Army taught me a lot of things that I still use to this day,” Cooper has said. “The concept of selfless service is really reinforced in the Army.” Fort Pitt AUSA life member Rory Cooper, left, receives the National Medal of Technology and Inno- vation from President Joe Biden Oct. 24 at the White House. (U.S. ARMY/CHRISTOPHER KAUFMANN) Rory Cooper and his wife, Rosi, right, greet retired Gen. Eric Shinseki, recipient of AUSA’s 2023 Marshall Medal, and his wife, Patricia, Oct. 11 during the association’s Annual Meeting and Exposition. (AUSA PHOTO)MEMBER SUPPORT: 855-246-6269| membersupport@ausa.org www.ausa.org/savings ACCESS YOUR SAVINGS AT ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY MEMBERSHIP SAVINGS PURCHASES SUPPORT AUSA PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND MORE AND MANY MORE... VISION INSURANCE LawAssure ™ PET INSURANCE DENTAL INSURANCENext >