PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org December 4, 2025 | AUSA Extra 1 Army unveils statue of revered Ranger Paper: A New Era of Robotic Systems is Here 3 Deadline Approaches to Update Tricare Coverage 4 Government Affairs Defense Legislation Moves Forward 6 Member Benefits Gifts, Travel Discounts 7 Chapter Highlights Henry Leavenworth Fort Rucker-Wiregrass 8 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 7 NUMBER 30 DECEMBER 4, 2025 Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley, left, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, retired Col. Robert Choppa and retired Brig. Gen. Peter Jones unveil a bronze statue of legendary Ranger retired Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. at Fort Benning, Georgia. (U.S. ARMY/PATRICK ALBRIGHT) O ver a year after his death, the Army has unveiled a life- size statue of revered Ranger retired Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. at Fort Benning, Georgia. “We are lucky to have this statue to ensure that Rangers appreciate their benefactor,” Maj. Gen. Colin Tuley, commanding general of the Maneu- ver Center of Excellence at Fort Ben- ning, said in an Army news release. “That they will know who he was, that they will know about the man whose legacy is equal to his legend.” A native of Tifton, Georgia, Puck- ett is an inaugural member of the Ranger Hall of Fame and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions lead- ing the newly formed 8th Ranger Company to capture a frozen hilltop See Puckett, Page 5 near the Chinese border during the Korean War. During the November 1950 battle to capture Hill 205, a critical point overlooking the Chongchon River near Unsan, Puckett and his Rangers came under heavy mortar, machine- gun and small-arms fire. Puckett exposed himself to enemy forces and ran across an open field three times to enable his Rangers to engage Chi- nese troops in hidden positions and secure the hill. As the Rangers dug in on Hill 205, they came under attack again as the enemy launched six assaults on the outnumbered Rangers. Puckett re- peatedly risked his life throughout the night to push back the enemy de- spite being wounded by shrapnel. He ran from foxhole to foxhole to distrib- ute ammunition to his Rangers, draw out enemy gunners and observe ene- my movements so he could call in ar- tillery strikes, according to the Army. During the final enemy assault, the Rangers were overrun. Badly wound- ed, Puckett ordered his Rangers to leave him behind, but they refused, carrying him down the hill to safety and allowing him to call in a final ar- tillery strike, according to the Army. Puckett received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions dur- ing the battle, and the award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2021, more than 70 years later. The 7-foot-tall bronze statue of Puckett sits on Hurley Hill, over-SECURE 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 December 4, 2025 | AUSA Extra 3 Paper urges ‘massive course correction’ on robotics T he U.S. is at an inflection point that demands a shift in robot- ics from a supplemental asset to a core element of warfare, accord- ing to a new paper published by the Association of the U.S. Army. “The character of warfare has transformed with the rise of robotic and autonomous systems, which now define warfare rather than merely shaping it,” Lt. Col. Richard Brennan writes. “Unlike earlier technologies that enhanced human capabilities, robotic systems eliminate human presence, enabling low-cost assets to defeat advanced defenses with speed and scale. This shift demands a re- thinking of doctrine, training and leadership” and “a massive course correction across the Department of War.” In “The Robotification of War- fare: Strategic Imperatives for the Robotic Age,” Brennan argues that “urgent action is essential to avoid the historical pitfalls of delayed ad- aptation” of incorporating technology into the U.S. military’s capabilities. A soldier with the 1st Cavalry Division leads an autonomous unmanned platform during the Army's xTech Overwatch competition in College Station, Texas. (U.S. ARMY/SPC. DAVID DUMAS) AUSA Basic Members can now view a selection of articles from the December issue of ARMY magazine. To read the articles, click here. ARMY magazine December issue He defines robotification as “the in- tegration of autonomous machines to replace human roles in combat and support functions.” Brennan is an Army strategist who serves as the Qatar and Bahrain country director in the office of the undersecretary of war for policy. He previously served three years as the strategy branch chief for the Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Air- craft Systems Office. He has a mas- ter’s degree in international security studies from the University of Den- ver in Colorado. The U.S. military’s current robotics framework is "fragmented" and lacks integration, leading each service to pursue its own platforms, priorities and timelines, Brennan writes. “To overcome these systemic inef- ficiencies and establish true opera- tional coherence, the [Department of War] must create a Joint Robotics Agency (JRA) under the Office of the Secretary of War,” he writes. “Rather than reacting to present threats in isolation, the JRA would ensure de- velopment efforts are forward-look- ing, targeting capabilities necessary to dominate both the robotic bat- tlespace of today and the AI-driven conflicts of tomorrow.” As the military integrates robotics and artificial intelligence, though, “technological superiority alone is insufficient,” Brennan writes. “Strategic advantage in the robotic age will be secured by the military’s ability to cultivate and unleash hu- man talent capable of mastering and leading complex human-machine teams,” he writes. “To that end, the [Department of War] must acceler- ate the development of leaders fluent in both tactical decision-making and digital fluency.” The urgent need for robotics policy implementation “cannot be overstat- ed,” Brennan writes. “The window of opportunity to es- tablish technological and strategic dominance is narrowing rapidly,” he writes. “By proactively embrac- ing these recommendations, the U.S. military can avoid repeating costly historical errors … and instead so- lidify its position as the preeminent force in robotic warfare, fully pre- pared for the demands and opportu- nities of future conflicts.” Read the paper here.www.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | December 4, 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 refl ect the opinion of the offi cers 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 refl ecting the offi cial 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 fi ve-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- efi ts 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 ends Dec. 9 M ilitary retirees and eligible benefi ciaries who use Tri- care have until Dec. 9 to enroll in or make changes to their health care coverage. Tricare open season, which began Nov. 10, closes on Dec. 9. During this period, benefi ciaries who use Tricare Prime, Tricare Select or the U.S. Family Health Plan can opt to stay on their plan, enroll in a plan or change plans. Changes go into effect Jan. 1. Benefi ciaries who are satisfi ed 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, benefi ciaries 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, Changes go into eff ect Jan. 1 for military retirees and eligible benefi ciaries who enroll in or make changes to their health care coverage. (U.S. ARMY/WARREN WRIGHT) Members have out- standing pricing of just $3.16 a month for Dental Savings powered by Aetna Dental Access, an affordable option for anyone who does not have dental insurance and that saves money on services not included for those with insurance. Visit www.ausa.org/nbm. 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 benefi ciaries an additional op- tion while improving access to care, offi cials 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- efi ciaries 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. Additionally, eligible military ben- efi ciaries 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, managed by the Offi ce of Personnel Management, offers a range of plans at varying costs, and coverage is not automatic, so benefi ciaries must act to enroll in a dental or vision plan. Open season for FEDVIP is Nov. 10–Dec. 8. For more information on Tricare and FEDVIP open seasons, click here.Puckett From Page 1 www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY December 4, 2025 | AUSA Extra 5 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 looking Victory Pond, where Ranger School graduation takes place. In ad- dition to his Medal of Honor, Puckett is one of the most decorated soldiers in U.S. history, having received two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars with V device for valor and five Purple Hearts, among other awards. Puckett, who retired from the Army in 1971, remained active in the Army community until he died in 2024. He was 97. Even as a group of Rangers began fundraising for Puckett’s statue, he remained humble, said his wife, Jeannie Puckett. “When Ralph learned the Rangers had started this GoFundMe, he was really touched and said, ‘Why would they do that?’ I said, ‘Because, maybe they like you,’” she said during the dedication cere- mony for the statue. In the weeks before her husband died, Jeannie told him she worried that a statue overlooking Victory Pond would not be seen by as many people, as the pond is deep in a wood- ed area of Fort Benning. Puckett re- assured her that Victory Pond was the best spot for his statue. “He looked and me and said, ‘Jean- nie, over the last 12 years I’ve been out there at 2 and 3 in the morning every six weeks at the beginning of the Ranger Course. I’ve been there with the gnats and mosquitoes when it was hot and humid,’” she said. “‘I’ve been there when it was raining, and I was soaking wet. I’ve been there when it was freezing cold ... but that’s where I want to be. I’m not worried because the Rangers have my back.’” Jeannie Puckett, wife of retired Col. Ralph Puckett Jr., speaks during the unveiling of a statue in her husband's honor at Fort Benning, Georgia. (U.S. ARMY/PATRICK ALBRIGHT)www.ausa.org 6 AUSA Extra | December 4, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Lawmakers continue to work on defense appropriations D ecember promises to be a busy month for lawmakers in Washington, D.C., as the House of Representatives and the Senate return from the Thanksgiv- ing recess. After the lapse in appropriations throughout October and part of No- vember, the continuing resolution passed by Congress runs until Jan. 30. This stopgap measure, which funds the government at the previ- ous year’s levels, includes funding for defense appropriations, which is critical for the Total Army. Additionally, the resolution includ- ed full-year fund- ing for military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs through the military construction, veterans affairs and re- lated agencies appropriations bill. The House of Representatives has passed its version of the defense ap- propriations bill, and the full Senate is likely to move on its version soon. The Association of the U.S. Army is hopeful that the defense appropria- tions bill will pass in the Senate and soon be conferenced or reconciled with the House version for a final bill. Throughout the shutdown, AUSA advocated in support of the Total Army and passage of the bipartisan Pay Our Troops Act. We also joined other like-minded military service organizations at a press conference urging congressional leaders to end the shutdown quickly while high- lighting the harm that the shutdown was causing soldiers, Army families and veterans. For more information about this advocacy effort, click here. Another important task remaining for Congress before the new year is to pass the 2026 National Defense Au- thorization Act. AUSA sent a letter supporting passage of the legislation that you can read here. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed their ver- sions, and lawmakers are working to Government Affairs conference or reconcile the two bills. Our hope is that the National De- fense Authorization Act can be rec- onciled soon and enacted in early December. As a reminder, AUSA only lobbies and takes positions at the federal level on federal issues, and the asso- ciation is nonpartisan and apolitical. You can help build momentum for passage of the fiscal 2026 Nation- al Defense Authorization Act and the nine remaining appropriations bills—especially defense appropria- tions—by contacting your represen- tatives 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. Mark Haaland is AUSA’s Government Affairs director. Retired Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, AUSA's vice president for Leadership and Education, speaks at a press conference with other like-minded military service organizations urg- ing congressional leaders to end the government shutdown. (AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION PHOTO) Members of a congressional staff delega- tion examine Army weapons and technol- ogy during a visit to Fort Buchanan, Puer- to Rico. (U.S. ARMY/DAVID HERNANDEZ)www.ausa.orgDecember 4, 2025 | AUSA Extra 7 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AUSA member benefits include savings on gifts, travel I ’ve had a lot of calls from Asso- ciation of the U.S. Army mem- bers asking for the promo code for Harry & David and other gifting companies. So, I can’t let December go by without mentioning your 20% to 25% discount on all 1-800-Flowers brands. Use promo code FORAUSA at any of their sites or start at www.ausa. org/gifts. You may not know that many of your favorite gifting web- sites are owned by 1-800-Flowers, in- cluding Alice’s Table, Cheryl’s Cook- ies, Fruit Bouquets, Harry & David, Simply Chocolate, the Popcorn Fac- tory and more. As a reminder, the best way for AUSA members to access their savings is at www. ausa.org/savings. This is not a pub- lic site—it allows you to click and go right to your benefit without logging in. Anytime you’re asked to create an account or log in on one of our affin- ity partner websites, do not use your AUSA website credentials. We do not share that information. Log in if you’re already doing busi- ness with them, or create an account using any email address and pass- word you prefer. Travel benefits I touched on holiday travel last month, but here are details and shortcuts to access all your travel benefits, which can be viewed at www.ausa.org/savings#travel. Alamo, Enterprise and National are all owned by Enterprise. Visit www.ausa.org/aencar and enter your rental needs. If a car is available, prices will be shown for all three brands with your member discount already included. AUSA members also receive up to 35% in savings, superior service and great benefits with Avis and Budget car rentals. Your discount will auto- matically apply at www.ausa.org/avis and www.ausa.org/budget. Member Benefits Take advantage of additional cou- pons on the site, which can be com- bined with your member discount. Additionally, members can access up to 25% off car rentals at partici- pating Hertz locations worldwide by reserving with CDP# 83086 at www. ausa.org/hertz and can add even more savings when combining eli- gible coupons. If you’re parking your car at the airport, save 15% at FastPark & Relax. Their locations provide free shuttle service, covered long-term parking, electric charging, emergen- cy car care services, complimentary luggage assistance and more. Visit www.ausa.org/park to save at 17 lo- cations around the country. AUSA also provides ways to save at resorts and hotels. Members and their families, re- gardless of military service, enjoy exclusive travel deals with Armed Forces Vacation Club. Join for free at www.ausa.org/afvc to book resort stays from $419 per week and get $50 off your first resort booking. As a club member, you’ll immediately gain access to savings on hotels, resorts, cruises and more. Choose "AUSA member" for your eligibility, even if otherwise eligible. Members save at all Choice Hotel brands, including the Ascend Col- lection, Cambria Hotels & Suites, Comfort Inn, Country Inn & Suites, EconoLodge, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Woodspring Suites and Suburban Studios. Visit www.ausa.org/choice for more. Red Roof Inn provides AUSA mem- bers with 20% savings at more than 700 locations nationwide. Red Roof is an award-winning leader in the lodg- ing industry, welcoming millions of travelers each year. Use your VP+ code 622590 when booking online at www.ausa.org/red or by calling 1-855-352-7619 to receive your ex- clusive discount. And your pet may stay for free (see terms). For those seeking guided travel, members save $50 to $100 per per- son with Collette, combinable with all other offers. Collette is the lon- gest-running tour operator in North America with expertly guided jour- neys across all seven continents. Find your discount and book by vis- iting www.ausa.org/travel. Contact me at srubel@ausa.org with any questions. Susan Rubel is AUSA’s Insurance and Affinity Partnerships director. As you do your holiday shopping, don't forget that your AUSA membership includes a 20% to 25% discount on all 1-800-Flowers brands. (COURTESY PHOTOS)www.ausa.org 8 AUSA Extra | December 4, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AUSA members provide food, hygiene items for families Judith Bauer, right, president of AUSA's Henry Leavenworth chapter, helps deliver food and personal hygiene items for military families at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. (AUSA PHOTO) M ilitary families at Fort Leav- enworth, Kansas, and the surrounding area are re- ceiving food and personal hygiene es- sentials thanks to an initiative coor- dinated by the Association of the U.S. Army’s Henry Leavenworth chapter. The effort came about due to the generosity of the Feed the Children Foundation and Mike Meyer of the Overland Park Rotary Club, said Judith Bauer, the AUSA chapter president. Established in 1979, the foundation is dedicated to helping families and communities with their immediate needs while also provid- ing the tools needed to achieve a bright future. “Mike contacted the Henry Leav- enworth chapter of AUSA to determine if our area military families could use a dona- tion from Feed the Children,” Bauer said. “With the support of donors and corporate partners, they deliver food and household essentials, offer nu- trition training and clean water pro- grams, provide school supplies and assist in times of need. This support has been extended to our military families that are experiencing food and financial insecurities.” Henry Leavenworth John Campbell, owner of Studdard Moving Group, an AUSA chapter Community Partner, and his team offloaded 27,000 pounds of food and personal hygiene items into their warehouse. A plan was then devel- oped by the group to transport the food to Fort Leavenworth for military families to pick up. “The timing could not have been better since recent events have re- sulted in strained finances for our soldiers,” Bauer said. “This food will make things much easier for many families.” Bauer lauded the efforts of the Feed the Children Foundation, the Overland Park Rotary Club, the Studdard Moving Group and the command team of Fort Leavenworth’s Army Corrections Brigade, as well as leaders from across the installa- tion. “What an uplifting experience as groups across the country reach out to assist our military families,” she said. Chapter donation fuels Holiday Food Assistance Program I n November, the Association of the U.S. Army's Fort Rucker- Wiregrass chapter presented its annual $3,000 donation to the Holi- day Food Assistance Program at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The Holiday Food Assistance Program gives food baskets from the installation's food locker to fami- lies that have been nominated by their chain of command to receive assistance. Those selected for assis- tance also receive a gift certificate to the commissary. Otis Smith, left, president of AUSA's Fort Rucker-Wiregrass chapter, and chapter trea- surer Mark Ivey present a $3,000 donation from the chapter to the Fort Rucker, Ala- bama, Holiday Food Assistance Program to help military families in need. (AUSA PHOTO) Fort Rucker- WiregrassNext >