PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org January 30, 2025 | AUSA Extra 1 Innovation drives Army transformation B ottom-up innovation continues to drive the Army’s transfor- mation as the service seeks to move “at the speed of change,” Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George said. “Our soldiers are very innovative. They are very welcoming of this change. They can move at this kind of speed,” George said Wednesday during a Coffee Series event hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army. “I’m a believer in bottom-up innova- tion. … Our challenge is the process- es back here to support all of that.” A big driver of this innovation is the Army’s transformation in contact initiative, which puts new and emerg- ing technology into soldiers’ hands for testing and experimentation. The initiative, which has featured three infantry brigade combat teams, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George discusses the service's transformation efforts Wednes- day during a Coffee Series event hosted by the AUSA. (AUSA PHOTO) AUSA Workshop Focuses on Writing 3 Survey: Support for Military is Growing 4 Book Program Stories from the Vietnam War 7 Chapter Highlights Eagle Chapters 8 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 6 NUMBER 38 JANUARY 30, 2025 will expand this year to include two divisions—the 25th Infantry Division and the 101st Airborne Division—as well as armored and Stryker brigade combat teams and formations in the Army National Guard and Army Re- serve, George said. Feedback from transformation in contact units and other lessons learned will be used to inform a force design update scheduled to begin this spring, George said. The Army also is working with industry and other partners about innovating counter-unmanned aviation systems, he said. “That’s one area where we think we have to move much, much faster,” George said. Another area the Army is focused on is changing how it buys things, George said. “We need to buy capa- bilities,” he said, especially in areas where commercial technology is out- pacing military technology. The Army is working closely with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. “I think there’s appetite for change,” George said. “I think we’re going to get bet- ter value for our money. ... It’s what’s best for our formation, and it’s where we need to go.” Along those lines, the Army will have to make “tough choices” when it comes to the budget. “Nothing is off the table, we’re looking at every- thing,” he said. As the Army moves out, it wants to transform “with speed, but we don’t want to be frantic,” George said. “We’re going to have to be lean- er in our formations, more mobile,” he said. “We’re going to be ruthless in how we get to that point and get there as fast as possible.”2024 Profile of the U.S. Army New from AUSA! Updated and published every two years, AUSA’s Profi le of the United States Army is an easy-to-read overview of the structure, purpose and activities of the Total Army; it serves as a useful guide to long-time Soldiers, new recruits, veterans, civilians and Army families. Read it today! www.ausa.org/profile Educate |Inform|Connectwww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY January 30, 2025 | AUSA Extra 3 Soldiers discuss effective communications strategies in a small group breakout session during a writing workshop hosted by AUSA on Tuesday. (AUSA PHOTO) AUSA workshop aims to sharpen professional writing E fforts to revitalize professional writing across the force are a “very important part of the fi- ber of our Army profession,” the com- manding general of Army Training and Doctrine Command said. “Professional writing may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of military readi- ness, but it’s a cornerstone,” Gen. Gary Brito said Tuesday during a writing workshop hosted by the As- sociation of the U.S. Army. Clear, concise and precise com- munications allow leaders to convey their intent, facilitate learning, syn- chronize operations and contribute to innovation and overall readiness, Brito said. It could be something as simple as after-action reviews, briefings or emails, he said. “Writing is much more than words on a page,” Brito said. “The way you communicate pre- cisely can impact lives, shape mis- sions and help define our profession.” Ambiguity in communications can lead to confusion, misinterpretation and, sometimes, mission failure, he said, as he challenged the audience to be clear, use plain language and avoid jargon and acronyms. Brito’s remarks and AUSA’s “Writ- ing Workshop: Powerful Prose,” a new event hosted by the association, follow a renewed emphasis on profes- sional writing by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George. George initiated the Harding Proj- ect, which aims to revitalize scholar- ship and writing across the force. In response, AUSA launched the Hard- ing Papers, which exclusively high- lights the work and scholarship of LTG (Ret.) James M. Dubik Writing Fellows. Hosted by Army University Press, the Dubik program is a voluntary, non-resident writing fellowship to encourage discourse that contributes to a community of military and na- tional security professionals. Speaking during AUSA’s writ- ing workshop, retired Lt. Gen. Jim Dubik encouraged soldiers to write. “Our profession is a multigeneration- al profession, and those generations need to talk to each other,” he said. Writing for professional journals and publications is “one way that each generation can contribute to the richness of our profession and contribute to your ideas,” he said. Dubik also emphasized that ev- eryone could contribute. “None of us are writers. We’re Army people,” he said. “You are a caring professional. You care about this profession. You care about the people in this profes- sion. You care about what’s going on in this profession. You talk to your peers and supervisors about this. This is a way you contribute to your profession.” Each generation of soldiers has a different perspective, Dubik said, as he encouraged soldiers of all ranks to write. “You have to contribute your observations, your innovativeness and creativity, your critical observa- tions of the profession,” he said. “You have to do this, otherwise, the pro- fession as a multigenerational chain starts to break because the genera- tions don’t talk to each other.” Retired Lt. Gen. Jim Dubik, an AUSA senior fellow and namesake of a new writing fel- lowship program from Army University Press, emphasizes the importance of contribut- ing to the profession of arms during a writing workshop hosted by AUSA. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | January 30, 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. 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Voice for the Army – Support For the Soldier PERK OF THE WEEK ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Annual survey shows that Americans’ military support is increasing C onfidence in the military is increasing, and Americans support increased defense spending, according to a survey from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. “The American people … want a U.S. military capable of deterring autocratic powers like China and Russia and believe U.S. forces should maintain a global presence across multiple theaters to address the di- verse array of threats we face,” the survey found. The 2024 survey, the seventh annu- al Reagan National Defense Survey, was conducted Nov. 8–14 by a bipar- tisan survey team and included inter- views of 2,510 American respondents. Its findings were released Dec. 5. Compared to last year, Americans’ confidence in the military is rebound- ing. This year, 51% of Americans reported “a great deal of confidence in the U.S military,” which is up 6 percentage points from the previous survey. The military is still the most trusted public institution in the U.S., ahead of the police and law enforce- ment, the president, the Supreme Court, news organizations and Con- gress, the report found. Valentine’s Day is approaching, and AUSA members receive 25% off a curated collection of gifts or 20% off sitewide with code FORAUSA at popular brands includ- ing 1-800 Flowers, Cheryl's Cookies, Fruit Bouquets, Shari's Berries, Things Remembered and many more. Visit www.ausa.org/gifts for more. Soldiers from the 7th Infantry Division react to a wired obstacle while conducting a battle drill Jan. 23 at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington. (U.S. ARMY/SGT. MICHAEL MAJORS) Just under eight-tenths of respon- dents indicated they “want the gov- ernment to spend more on the mili- tary, and a bipartisan supermajority of respondents are “concerned that the cost of the national debt will force cuts to defense spending,” the report found. The majority of Americans view maintaining military bases around the world “as a critical component of deterrence and rapid response,” and over four-tenths of respondents indi- cated the military “should be large enough to win simultaneous wars against both China and Russia,” ac- cording to the report. Americans support a strong, glob- al U.S. military presence. “Year af- ter year, this survey shows contin- ued, unwavering support for peace through strength,” Roger Zakheim, Washington director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, said in a news release. “Trust and confidence in the military is rebounding after hitting a low in recent years, and Americans support increased defense spending to build a military able to deter and defeat ad- versaries in multiple theaters.” The complete survey is available here.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY January 30, 2025 | AUSA Extra 5 Panel: Advanced manufacturing enables Army readiness AUSA hosts War College roundtable National security professionals with the Army War College Advanced Strategic Art Program hear from a panel of strategy experts during a roundtable event hosted at AUSA headquarters on Monday. (AUSA PHOTO) A dvanced manufacturing fills supply chain gaps and en- ables Army readiness, the commanding general of Army Tank- automotive and Armaments Com- mand said. “When we attack the advanced manufacturing mission, it's about making sure that we can get effects to units in the field,” Maj. Gen. Mi- chael Lalor said during a panel on advanced manufacturing initiatives at a recent Association of the U.S. Army Hot Topic on the industrial base. “Primarily, it’s about filling gaps in that supply chain … and then it's also about serving as a catalyst for Army capability at echelon.” Advanced manufacturing capabili- ties include 3D printing and utiliz- ing artificial intelligence, robotics and machine learning, among others, according to an Army news release from December. As part of its embrace of advanced manufacturing capabilities, Tank- automotive and Armaments Com- mand launched the Battle Damage Repair and Fabrication effort. Under the program, the Rock Is- land Arsenal-Joint Manufactur- ing and Technology Center in Illi- nois uses agreement status reports “worldwide by fleet” to identify “can- didates for advanced manufacturing” and prints temporary replacement parts that units need, Lalor said. “We have to be able to produce at scale and on time,” he said. Ultimately, the Department of De- fense is working to create a global network of advanced manufacturing capabilities that can be accessed by any of the services, said Christopher Lowman, former assistant secretary of defense for sustainment. “The de- partment has to … proliferate the understanding of the capabilities of advanced manufacturing through- out the services at echelon,” Lowman said. As the Army deepens its advanced manufacturing capabilities, it is ea- ger to partner with industry, Lalor said. “As far as us at a more strategic, operational, tactical level, ... what we need is a partner,” he said. “I need a partner, not a transactional relation- ship. I need someone who's willing to assume some risk, some cost sharing and partnership and help me develop the capabilities and fill in the gaps where we have them as a team.” Christopher Lowman, left, former assistant secretary of defense for sustainment, and Maj. Gen. Michael Lalor, commanding general of Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, speak at an AUSA Hot Topic focused on the industrial base. (AUSA PHOTO)ENHANCE YOUR LIFE. As the Army's professional development association, AUSA wants to Enhance Your Life. We've got your six to keep you mission-focused. AUSA Members have access to savings on certifications and degree plans through partnerships with academic and financial institutions that will Enhance Your Life both in and outside the Army. Whether you're serving, a family member, or planning your next move, AUSA has a program that will enhance your role at the next level. © AUSA Life Member Hans Halberstadt/Military Stock Photography. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. CYBERSECURITY TRAINING FINANCIAL COURSES PROJECT MANAGEMENT 30+ Certification & Degree Programs LEARN MORE: WWW.AUSA.ORG/EYLwww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY January 30, 2025 | AUSA Extra 7 AUSA titles showcase multiple aspects of Vietnam War Soldiers assigned to the 25th Infantry Division search a cemetery in Saigon for Viet Cong snipers on Feb. 1, 1968, one day after the Tet Off ensive began. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO) L aunched in the early hours of Jan. 30, 1968, the Tet Offen- sive was a series of surprise at- tacks by the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army against the South Vietnamese Army, the U.S. and their allies. It was intended to trigger a popular uprising throughout South Vietnam, but it failed to do so, and the com- munist forces faced serious tactical defeats through- out the following weeks. However, the ferocity of the campaign changed the political calculus for U.S. leaders. The anniversary of these mixed re- sults represents a good opportunity to review some of the Vietnam War titles published in the Association of the U.S. Army’s Book Program. Tet was not the fi rst time the Viet Cong tried to deliver a knockout blow. Grab Their Belts to Fight Them: The Viet Cong's Big-Unit War Against the U.S., 1965-1966, by Warren Wilkins, chronicles their attempts to fi ght as traditional troops rather than guer- rilla forces. Kenneth White details an operation that coincided with an earlier Tet holiday in The Battle of Bong Son: Operation Masher/White Wing, 1966, when the 1st Cavalry Di- vision (Airmobile) fought the North Vietnamese Army Sao Vang Division. Operation Masher, like the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley two months earlier, was successful proof of the airmobile concept of using helicop- ters to transport troops to the bat- tlefi eld. In To the Limit: An Air Cav Huey Pilot in Vietnam, Tom Johnson recounts his time fl ying for the 1st Cavalry Division from June 1967 through June 1968. Retired Maj. John Falcon similarly collects tales of attacking enemy positions and medi- cally evacuating the wounded in The Freedom Shield: The 191st Assault Helicopter Company in Vietnam. Moving from airmobile to armored cavalry, Donald Snedeker provides two Vietnam War books for the AUSA Book Program Book Program: An overarching histo- ry called The Blackhorse in Vietnam: The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam and Cambodia, 1966– 1972, and a collection of war stories, Blackhorse Tales: Stories of 11th Ar- mored Cavalry Troopers at War. Other branches get their due in The 9th Infantry Division: Unparal- leled and Unequaled by retired Maj. Gen. Ira Hunt, detailing the unit’s fi ght against the Viet Cong in the Mekong River delta. And Robert Gil- lespie turns to the secret joint-ser- vice aspects of the war with Black Ops Vietnam: The Operational His- tory of MACVSOG. AUSA’s Book Program also fea- tures titles on later battles. A few months after the Tet Offensive, two NVA regiments attacked an iso- lated Special Forces camp near the demilitarized zone; James McLeroy and Gregory Sanders tell the story in Bait: The Battle of Kham Duc. Several years later, the North Viet- namese launched the Easter Offen- sive of 1972, after most U.S. troops had been withdrawn. In Kontum: The Battle to Save South Vietnam, Thom- as McKenna offers the only in-depth account of this engagement. Please visit www.ausa.org/books to order these and other titles in the AUSA Book Program. Use the promo code W25AUSA for select member discounts when purchasing directly through the publisher links. Finally, AUSA’s coverage of the Vietnam War extends to graphic novels. Three titles in the Medal of Honor series focus on American heroes rec- ognized for their actions in that con- fl ict. Medal of Honor: Roger Donlon tells the story of the fi rst recipient from the Vietnam War, as well as the fi rst Special Forces recipient. Medal of Honor: Roy Benavidez recounts the remarkable story of another Green Beret legend, and Medal of Honor: Bruce Crandall highlights the heli- copter pilot who fl ew again and again into enemy fi re during the Battle of Ia Drang. Joseph Craig is AUSA’s Book Program director.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY 8 AUSA Extra | January 30, 2025 Eagle Chapters The following chapters attained Eagle status for December by showing positive membership growth. The number of consecutive months of growth since July 1 is shown in parentheses. Arkansas (6) Captain Meriwether Lewis (6) Central Texas (6) Central Virginia (6) Chattahoochee Valley-Fort Moore (6) Denver Centennial (6) Fires (6) First In Battle (6) Fort Campbell (6) Fort Riley-Central Kansas (6) Greater Atlanta (6) Houston Metroplex (6) Joshua Chamberlain (6) Magnolia (6) Marne (6) Massachusetts Bay (6) National Training Center-High Desert (6) Northern New Jersey (6) Pikes Peak (6) Puerto Rico (6) San Diego (6) Thunderbird (6) Alamo (5) Benelux (5) Capital District of New York (5) Central Ohio (5) Coastal South Carolina (5) Columbia River (5) Connecticut (5) Des Moines Freedom (5) First Militia (5) Fort Jackson-Palmetto State (5) Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri (5) Fort Pitt (5) Fort Sheridan-Chicago (5) GEN Creighton W. Abrams (5) GEN John W. Vessey, Jr. (5) Greater New York-Statue of Liberty (5) Hawaii (5) Japan (5) Las Vegas-John C. Fremont (5) Major Samuel Woodfill (5) Monmouth (5) New Orleans (5) Newton D. Baker (5) PFC William Kenzo Nakamura (5) Picatinny Arsenal-Middle Forge (5) Redstone Huntsville (5) Rock Island Arsenal (5) San Francisco (5) Suncoast (5) Sunshine (5) Texas Capital Area (5) Tri-State (5) Virginia Colonial (5) Minutemen (4) Northern New York-Fort Drum (4) Southern Virginia (4) Space Coast (4) Utah (4) GA Omar N. Bradley (3) GEN William C. Westmoreland (3) Last Frontier (3) Polar Bear (3) Isthmian (2)Next >