PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org November 6, 2025 | AUSA Extra 1 AUSA recognizes top National Partners Retired Brig. Gen. Jack Haley, left, AUSA’s vice president for Membership and Meetings, and Lynette Nichols, right, the association's deputy director of Industry Development, present the Best in Show award to representatives from Boston Dynamics during the 2025 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C. (AUSA PHOTO) Noon Report Features 'Forgotten General' 3 Tricare Open Season Starts Nov. 10 4 Government Affairs Federal Shutdown Continues 6 Member Benefits Save on Holiday Shopping 7 Chapter Highlights Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri 8 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 7 NUMBER 26 NOVEMBER 6, 2025 D uring its 2025 Annual Meet- ing and Exposition, the As- sociation of the U.S. Army presented for the fourth year its Na- tional Partner awards, recognizing organizations that provide outstand- ing support to the association. “The National Partner Program is critical to the success of AUSA,” said retired Brig. Gen. Jack Haley, AU- SA’s vice president for Membership and Meetings. “We simply could not accomplish our mission to educate, inform and connect America with the Army without the support of our National Partners.” Because of the integral role they play, “we are always looking for ways to recognize these great partners, and the National Partner Awards Breakfast is just one way we recog - nize their support and give our at- tendees the opportunity to vote for some of the very best of the best,” Haley said. AUSA National Partners are large and small businesses, nonprofit or- ganizations, educational institutions and professional organizations in- terested in personalized engagement with the Army at the local and na- tional levels. The association cur- rently has 663 National Partners. The National Partner awards are presented across five categories. In the “Best in Show” category, based on the overall design, presen- tation and creativity of the exhibit experience, the top honor went to Boston Dynamics, which specializes in developing and deploying highly mobile robots capable of tackling in- dustry’s toughest challenges. Boston Dynamics also won the award for “Best New Product/Ser- vice” for its Spot robot designed for explosive ordnance disposal missions and tasks. Onebrief, which specializes in col- laboration and artificial intelligence- powered workflow software, claimed the prize in the “Top Participation (Non-Exhibitor)” category. Keel, which specializes in high- end defense manufacturing, won the “Rising Star” award for new National Partner participation and activities. The award for “Top National Part- ner Feature,” recognizing the most See National Partners, Page 5SECURE AMERICA DEPLOY RAPIDLYDOMINATE RELENTLESSLY WITH SPEED AND INTELLIGENCE AUTONOMOUS MISSION-READY DEFENSE SYSTEMS THAT PROTECT, TRAIN, AND DOMINATE ACROSS EVERY DOMAIN. WWW.HARMATTAN.AIwww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY November 6, 2025 | AUSA Extra 3 AUSA webinar highlights service of key WWII leader F or French Gen. Louis Dio’s god- daughter, remembering him and his service during World War II was her obligation, she said. “I had just spent 10 years as a commissioner on the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission speaking about Americans who gave their life for their country,” Monique Seefried said Oct. 28 during a Noon Report webinar hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army. “I really felt I needed to speak about Dio, especially be- cause he had no children, and so I felt it was my duty to have him re- membered.” Dio was a French commander during World War II, fighting in ev- ery battle with the French 2nd Ar- mored Division from the liberation of France to the Nazi sanctuary above Berchtesgaden, Germany. Dio made history in 1945 when he became the youngest French general of the 20th century at just 37 years old. Seefried is the co-author of a book chronicling Dio’s life, Général Louis Dio: The Wartime Epic of One of Free 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 France’s Greatest Soldiers, 1940- 1946. It was translated into English by retired Col. Jason Musteen. Dio could effectively level with ev- eryone from camel soldiers to higher level leadership, Musteen said. Dio “was the man who could bring all these different worlds together,” Musteen said during the Noon Re- port. He could “be the hard-nosed, in the dirt soldiers’ commander, but yet also the one who could speak to the highest levels in a way that made sense and who could get things done.” Even when circumstances were not ideal, Dio’s “can-do attitude” shined through, Musteen said, citing a bat- tle near Carrouge, France, where Dio adapted to continue fighting despite his broken ankle. Dio “drove around, and he wound up on the outskirts of the village, and then grabbed a tank platoon because there were some Germans ahead of him and impetuously just drove straight into this German column, shooting his 30-caliber on top of his vehicle with his four tanks behind him doing the same thing,” Musteen said. After entering Carrouge and real- izing it was “completely occupied by the enemy,” Dio “shot his way back through on the way out,” Musteen said. Today’s Army leaders could ben- efit from embodying Dio’s selfless service, Musteen said. “Dio grew up with all these other kids whose fathers had fought in the war, and his father didn't, so he felt the need to prove something,” Musteen said. “You’d think that that would mean prove something to the world, prove something to everybody else, but it was to prove something to himself and at the same time to remain anon- ymous.” Dio died in 1994 and was buried in private, according to his wishes, in the Colonial officers' section of Tou- lon cemetery. In his will, he said, “I essentially want to be buried like an anonymous soldier, which I have nev- er ceased being throughout my life in the deepest recesses of my heart.” Left to right, retired Col. Jason Musteen; Monique Seefried, goddaughter of World War II French Gen. Louis Dio; and retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth Preston pose for a photo before an AUSA Noon Report webinar on Dio. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | November 6, 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 Tricare open season begins Nov. 10 B eginning Nov. 10, military retirees and eligible benefi- ciaries who use Tricare can enroll in or make changes to their health care coverage. Tricare open season, which runs through Dec. 9, allows beneficiaries who use Tricare Prime, Tricare Se- lect or the U.S. Family Health Plan to stay on their plan, enroll in a plan or change plans. Changes go into ef- fect Jan. 1. Beneficiaries who are satisfied with their plan don’t need to do any- thing—their coverage will continue automatically for 2026. Those who are not already in a plan and don’t enroll during open season could still receive care, but they will “only be eligible for care at a military hospital or clinic if space is available,” according to the Tricare website. Outside of Tricare open season, beneficiaries can enroll or change their enrollment following certain life events, including mar- riage, the birth of a child or retire- ment from active duty. For 2026, active-duty family mem- bers, retirees and their eligible fam- ily members in Atlanta and Tampa, Florida, also can enroll in a new Tricare Prime option. Managed by CareSource Military and Veterans, enrollees will get care from Care- Source’s network of primary and specialty care providers. Part of a three-year test, the program aims to give beneficiaries an additional op- tion while improving access to care, officials said when the program was announced in May. Open season does not apply to active-duty service members. It also does not apply to Tricare for Life— coverage is automatic for eligible ben- eficiaries who have Medicare Part A and Part B, according to Tricare. Premium-based plans, including Tricare Reserve Select, Retired Re- serve and Young Adult, also are not impacted by open season. Eligible beneficiaries can buy these plans at any time throughout the year, ac- cording to Tricare. Additionally, eligible military ben- eficiaries have until Dec. 8 to enroll in or make changes to their vision and/or dental coverage through the Federal Employees Dental and Vi- sion Insurance Program. Known as FEDVIP, the program offers a range of plans at varying costs, and cover- age is not automatic, so beneficiaries must act to enroll in a dental or vi- sion plan. Open season for FEDVIP is Nov. 10–Dec. 8. For more information on Tricare and FEDVIP open seasons, click here. Military retirees and eligible beneficiaries who use Tricare have until Dec. 9 to enroll in or make changes to their health care coverage. (U.S. ARMY/LORI NEWMAN) AUSA members get a discount at all Choice Hotel brands, including Cambria Hotels & Suites, Clarion Hotel, Comfort Inn, Country Inn & Suites, EconoLodge, Mainstay Suites, Quality Inn, Rodeway Inn, Sleep Inn, Woodspring Suites and more. Visit www.ausa.org/choice for more. www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY November 6, 2025 | AUSA Extra 5 National Partners From Page 1 Apply Today! Scan the QR code, use our mobile app³ or visit navyfederal.org/auto Navy Federal is federally insured by NCUA. ¹Credit and collateral subject to approval. ²Direct deposit is required. This military special may expire at any time. Applicants must contact Navy Federal by phone or visit a branch to receive the discount. Active Duty rate discounts (which are also available for retired military members) can be applied, subject to certain restrictions. ³Message and data rates may apply. Visit navyfederal.org for more information. © 2025 Navy Federal NFCU 14497 (5-25) You could get on the road with: decisions in seconds, in most cases preapproved loans good for up to 90 days military discounts available² Treat Yourself to a New Ride With Our Great Rates¹ activity on AUSA’s National Partner of the Month web profi le, went to Norwich University, a four-year, pri- vate senior military college in North- fi eld, Vermont. This year, AUSA staff also recog- nized a few special National Partner members with the 2025 National Partner Superlatives. The National Partner “Most Likely to Update its Company Roster” was Primer, an artifi cial intelligence company. A partner since 1982, Lockheed Martin was the “Longest Serving Community Partner,” and Jackie Roskopp, from General Dynamics Land Systems, received the “Long- Standing National Partner Point of Contact” recognition for her more than 30 years of working with AUSA. Finally, the “Superstar Speaker” recognition was presented to Tara Murphy Dougherty, CEO of Govini, a defense software company. “It was an honor to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our National Partner companies at this year’s awards breakfast,” said Abby Gonzales, AUSA’s National Partner Program membership specialist. “Congratulations to all the winners and nominees for your hard work and dedication. I’m grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate, and I look forward to seeing even more partici- pation and excellence represented in the years to come.” For more on the awards, click here. To learn more about AUSA’s National Partner Program, click here. AUSA mascots Sgt. R. Hero, left, and Cpl. M. Power take a photo with the association's National Partner awards during the 2025 AUSA Annual Meeting. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org 6 AUSA Extra | November 6, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AUSA asks lawmakers to quickly restore federal funding M embers of the House of Rep- resentatives remain in re- cess while the Senate has voted more than a dozen times with- out success on various continuing resolutions to reopen the federal gov- ernment after appropriations lapsed on Sept. 30. It seems clear that a continuing resolution, stopgap funding that funds the government at the previous year’s levels, is necessary to reopen the government and end the shut- down. However, there also has been some discussion about trying to pass full-year appropriations bills. The Associa- tion of the U.S. Army continues to advocate in sup- port of the Total Army and for swift passage of the bipartisan Pay Our Troops Act. AUSA also joined other like-minded military service organi- zations in sending a letter to congres- sional leadership highlighting the harm that the shutdown is causing soldiers, Army families and veter- ans, and calling for a quick resolu- tion. You can view that letter here. In October, the Senate passed its version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act with a vote of 77–20. The House previously passed its version of the legislation, and our hope is that the two bills can be rec- Government Affairs onciled soon and enacted by early De- cember, if not sooner. As discussed in previous updates, the House passed its version of the defense appropriations bill as well as the military construction, veterans affairs and related agencies appro- priations legislation. The Senate also has passed the military construction, veterans affairs and related agencies bill, as well as two other appropria- tions bills. We understand that law- makers continue to work on these bills, and we are also hopeful that the Senate will move on its version of the defense appropriations bill after the government shutdown ends. In addition to timely pay for sol- diers, AUSA continues advocating with Congress for timely, adequate and flexible funding, as well as time- ly passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, to enable a strong Total Army and enhance national se- curity. You can help build momentum for reopening the government and 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 lawmakers or their staffs as constitu- ents and AUSA members in support of the Total Army. Advocate for AU- SA’s Focus Areas and passage of the legislation mentioned above. Additionally, you can highlight the Army’s critical role in the Indo-Pacif- ic and recommend Congress support Army priorities such as warfighting, continuous transformation and qual- ity of life for soldiers and their fami- lies. As a reminder, AUSA only lobbies and takes positions at the federal level on federal issues, and the asso- ciation is nonpartisan and apolitical. Finally, the 2025 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition was a great success, and the association’s Gov- ernment Affairs team received over- whelmingly positive feedback regard- ing our Congressional Reception and the conference overall. It was great to see so many of you. Mark Haaland is AUSA’s Government Affairs director. Retired Gen. Bob Brown, right, AUSA president and CEO, speaks with Maj. Gen. Bobby Christine, the Army's judge advocate general, during the Congressional Reception at the 2025 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition. (AUSA PHOTO) AUSA continues to advocate in support of the Total Army and for swift passage of the bipartisan Pay Our Troops Act. (ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL PHOTO)www.ausa.orgNovember 6, 2025 | AUSA Extra 7 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Holiday shopping discounts with AUSA membership Y our membership in the Asso- ciation of the U.S. Army pro- vides a variety of discounts and savings on gift options for your holiday shopping. AUSA’s Medal of Honor graphic novel collection is available in one beautifully bound book with its own storage case. Order now while sup - plies last at https://shop.ausa.org/ products/medal-of-honor-book. You can also gift an AUSA mem- bership and take advantage of the special pricing in celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday at www.ausa. org/premium. For electronics, you can save at HP. Apple and Dell discounts are available through AU- SA’s partnership with BenefitHub, so you’ll need to create an account there. Discounts also are available for subscriptions to Defense News and Military Times, Stars and Stripes and Battle Digest, where you can also get 20% off a signed copy of 12 Bat- tles Every American Should Know. If you are shipping your gifts, members save 65% at UPS and 50% at FedEx. Don’t just walk in their stores, though—first create an ac- count at this link www.ausa.org/ups (or call 800-MEMBERS and mention AUSA) or www.ausa.org/fedex. Member Benefits SmartGift for Business If you have many people on your list, SmartGift for Business is a cor- porate gifting platform through the 1-800-Flowers.com family of compa- nies, which includes companies such as Harry & David, Things Remem- bered, Cheryl’s Cookies, Wolferman’s Bakery and many more. I received a gift from SmartGift on two occasions, and they were wonder- ful experiences. I received an email stating who was sending me a gift and a link to pick what I wanted from several options. This allowed me to avoid foods I’m allergic to and products I wouldn’t use, and I could choose something that was meaning- ful to me and select the best address and date for delivery. The company even provided a link after delivery for me to send a thank you note. You can upload your holiday list— only an email address or mobile phone number is needed. You also can automate engagement with your employees for birthdays, anniversa- ries and special occasions, or to po- tential clients and clients to create and nurture relationships. There are branding and personalization options to really make the impact you’re seeking. The system also seamlessly in- tegrates with platforms like Zoom, Slack, Salesforce and Microsoft Teams. It includes built-in reporting and analytics so you can better un- derstand your outreach and results. You only pay for gifts that are ac- cepted and delivered. And, of course, you get a 20% AUSA member dis- count across all brands. This is an efficient and popular way to manage your gifting throughout the year. View a short video about Smart- Gift and learn more at https://www. smartgift.com/. Create your ac- count, then contact Brooke Fine at bfine@1800flowers.com or 617-733- 9183 to tell her you’re with AUSA— you save 20% on all gifts, and she can provide personalized service for each member of the association. For individuals, visit www.ausa. org/gifts to access your 20% to 25% savings at those same brands. The higher discount is for a curated col- lection. If you have questions about these or other AUSA benefits, contact me at srubel@ausa.org. Susan Rubel is AUSA’s Insurance and Affinity Partnerships director. Your membership in the Association of the U.S. Army provides a variety of discounts and savings on gift options for your holiday shopping. (U.S. ARMY/PFC. SEUNG EON LEE) AUSA’s Medal of Honor graphic novel col- lection is available in a bound book with its own storage case. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org 8 AUSA Extra | November 6, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Chapter hosts ceremony to honor Vietnam-era veterans R oughly 60 Vietnam-era veter- ans from across central Mis- souri recently were honored for their service to the nation by the Association of the U.S. Army’s Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri chapter. The Oct. 10 ceremony, organized by the chapter in partnership with veterans from Dent County, was one of the last events in Missouri taking place as part of the official 13-year Vietnam War commemorative period established by Congress in 2012. “This program was signed into law by the presi- dent on Memorial Day 2012 and created a 13-year pe- riod ending on Veterans Day 2025,” said retired Command Sgt. Maj. Freddie Brock, the chapter presi- dent. “It was set up to recognize more than 7 million living Vietnam- era veterans and 9 million families of those who served in the U.S. armed forces between 1 November 1955 and 15 May 1975.” To date, the chapter has recog- nized 1,123 Vietnam veterans in Missouri, Brock said. “This program will officially go away in November. However, as long as we have pins, we will continue doing it, and when we run out of pins, we still have certifi- cates,” he said, referring to the Viet- nam Veteran lapel pin. Guest speaker Richard Elgin, who flew helicopter missions in Vietnam, said that regardless of role or station, all veterans of the Vietnam War era answered their nation’s call, even if not everyone back home gave them thanks for their service. “The Vietnam War was unique and unpopular, a painful chapter in our history,” Elgin said. “Its origins were complicated, its execution debated, its lessons disputed and probably ig- nored, its legacy yet unclear. As one commentator has written, it was a war that nobody won. It was a strug- gle among victims. Many in America confused the war with the warrior.” Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri Commemoration events like this one have helped many veterans and their families, Elgin said. “I lost friends, fellow pilots and flight school classmates in Vietnam,” Elgin said. “We all volunteered or did what was asked of us by our country. We are proud knowing we did our part. Sadly, veterans returning from Vietnam received no formal recogni- tion for their service, no welcoming ceremonies, no parades. This com- memoration period is welcome and helpful, bringing some measure of understanding and healing to those who served and our families.” Even after a half century, the memory of the war for many veter- ans is still “vivid and in color,” Elgin said. “Fifty years, it seems like such a long time, but it's not. No matter what we did after Vietnam, whether it was exciting or dull lives, our expe- riences in Vietnam remain as though it happened yesterday. Our character was galvanized by our experiences and how we responded to the chal- lenges we faced,” he said. Elgin added that the camaraderie for Vietnam veterans is strong and enduring. “We pilots became dedicated to our fellow pilots, bonds which are still as strong today as they were 50- plus years ago. I'm sure every vet- eran here has experienced the same thing. Our compressed experiences increased our resilience, confidence and ability to deal with adversity,” he said. “We remember our experiences, teach so that others may learn from them, honor those who did not return from Vietnam and thank those who served.” Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Freddie Brock, president of AUSA's Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri chapter, presents commemoration certificates to Vietnam-era veterans and family members during a ceremony hosted by the chapter in October. (AUSA PHOTO) Former combat pilot Richard Elgin speaks during a ceremony honoring Vietnam veterans hosted by AUSA's Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri chapter. (AUSA PHOTO)Next >