PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org May 29, 2025 | AUSA Extra 1 Army transformation needs speed, agility T he Army must change the way it does business as it trans- forms the force for the future, the service’s top general said. “The battlefield is changing as fast as the technology in your pocket, and we know we have to change,” Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George said. Speaking on May 19 on a Council on Foreign Relations panel with the other service chiefs, George empha- sized the importance of not just pur- suing the latest capabilities but also the need to change how the Army buys things, how it trains and how it fights. “We have been watching what’s happening on the battlefield in Ukraine and the Middle East and, Soldiers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade and the 3rd Infantry Division conduct first- person view drone training May 18 at Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania. (U.S. ARMY/ELENA BALADELLI) Terrain, Partnerships Key in Indo-Pacific 3 Nonprofit Helps Service Members' Pets 5 Book Program Général Louis Dio 7 Chapter Highlights Eagle Chapters 8 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 7 NUMBER 3 MAY 29, 2025 See Transformation, Page 3 really, around the world,” George said. “We’ve been doing something called transforming in contact, where we’re actually getting bottom-up in- novation from our troops, but it’s not a lesson learned unless you’ve actu- ally done something to change how you train and operate.” A big lesson observed is the emer- gence of drones on the battlefield. With drones flying overhead, troops can no longer hide on the battlefield, he said. That makes a huge shift from what today’s combat leaders were used to in Iraq and Afghani- stan, he said. Another part of the drone threat is how quickly technology is evolving, which is forcing the Army to be more agile and adaptive. “The big thing is you have to change how you buy things,” George said. This means having a more flexible system but also potential reductions in items or programs that are outdated or no lon- ger needed. “It’s a hard thing to do,” George said. Programs of record that require the Army to buy a piece of equip- ment and field it over several years may be a thing of the past. “I’m not a fan when anybody talks about a pro- gram of record,” George said. “What that means is you buy something and keep it forever.” The Army needs agile funding, he said. “We need to buy capabilities,” he said. “If you’re talking drones, counter-UAS, electronic warfare, www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY May 29, 2025 | AUSA Extra 3 Land forces critical to ‘true strategic terrain’ in Pacific V ast expanses of ocean and sky dominate the Indo-Pacific, but that should not distract from the true strategic terrain in the pivotal region, writes the author of a new Association of the U.S. Army Landpower Essay. “The true strategic terrain—the decisive battleground—is neither maritime nor aerial, nor even strict- ly terrestrial, but fundamentally hu- man,” Maj. Ryan Crayne writes. “… The effectiveness of joint force opera- tions across air, sea, space and cy- berspace fundamentally depends on our ability to engage, influence and partner with people. To overlook this truth risks the potential for grave strategic miscalculations.” In his paper, “Beyond the Blue: The Human Dimension in the Indo- Pacific,” Crayne argues that histori- cal experiences underscore that stra- tegic outcomes depend significantly on accurately assessing and influenc- ing human actors, rather than solely relying on technological or materiel superiority. “Success in conflict, es- pecially in complex theaters like the Indo-Pacific, centers on winning trust, shaping perceptions and in- fluencing the decisions of human ac- tors,” he writes. Crayne is an Army marketing and behavioral economics officer who has served in leadership roles in the 1st Infantry Division, the 75th Ranger Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Di- vision. He is a fellow with the LTG (Ret.) James M. Dubik Writing Fel- lows Program, and he is a senior Soldiers assigned to the 25th Infantry Division and Philippine Army soldiers conduct mari- time key terrain security operations training May 24 in the Philippines. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO) Transformation From Page 1 those things are changing so rapidly. You can’t just buy a system.” Today, “everything we buy has to be modular, open systems architec- ture,” George said. He cited as an example the drones used by the first three brigade com- bat teams tapped for the Army’s transforming in contact initiative, which puts new technology into sol- diers’ hands for testing. There was a marked difference in capability in the drones tested by the brigades just a year apart, George said. “Funda- mentally, we’re at a spot right now where we really have to change how we’re doing business,” he said. There’s a lot of room for improve- ment, George said, but he is pleased with how soldiers are responding to the Army’s push to transform. “Our soldiers have a really good mindset for innovation,” he said. As the Army transforms, it is fo- cused on soldiers and what they’ll need in the next fight. “Our customer is the soldier, and that’s what we’re focused on,” George said. instructor in the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. Despite the vast geographic ex- panses in the Indo-Pacific, land forc- es excel by operating within the hu- man dimension, prioritizing people, partnerships and prevailing in con- flict, competition and crisis, Crayne writes. “Success will be determined ... by deep, enduring partnerships and alliances built on shared human interests and mutual trust,” Crayne writes. Seven of the 10 largest armies in the world are in the Pacific theater, and 22 of the 27 countries in the re- gion have an army officer as chief of defense. “The Pacific, on a human level, ‘speaks’ Army, and the Army articulately converses in return,” Crayne writes. The U.S. Army is leveraging this “strategic landpower network” to counteract what any singular foe in the region could muster, he writes. It also is the “the sustainer, supplier and maintainer of the U.S. joint force in the region,” and it has troops de- ployed across the region through Op- eration Pathways to train and work with partner armies, Crayne writes. “No force is better equipped than our land forces to harness the human dimension, where their unparalleled skill in forging trust and alliances creates an asymmetric advantage China cannot rival,” Crayne writes. Read the paper here.www.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | May 29, 2025 Gen. Bob Brown, USA Ret. President and CEO, AUSA Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, USA Ret. 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Voice for the Army – Support For the Soldier PERK OF THE WEEK ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Enlisted leaders emphasize need to master fundamentals of warfighting D espite the proliferation of technology, NCOs must mas- ter the fundamentals of sol- diering as they prepare to deter and prevail in the Indo-Pacific, a panel of senior enlisted leaders said during the Association of the U.S. Army’s LANPAC Symposium and Exposition in Honolulu. “If we’re going to win the next fight, it’s really going to be the noncommis- sioned officer that’s going to win that next fight for us,” said Sgt. Maj. Jay Garza of Army Futures Command. The modern battlefield continues to change, but the “secret sauce of our Army is the noncommissioned officer corps,” he said. In the Indo-Pacific, land power is the strategic architecture that binds the fabric of the region, and the NCO’s role is “vitally important,” said Com- mand Sgt. Maj. Jason Schmidt, se- nior enlisted leader for U.S. Army Pacific. “We are a people business, the Army is people-centric,” he said, adding that many of Army Pacific’s initiatives to build interoperability in the theater occur during exercises involving NCOs and soldiers. Speaking on May 14, Schmidt and Garza were joined by Warrant Officer Kim Felmingham, regimental ser- AUSA members save 15% on Friday and Saturday and 20% Sunday through Thursday with Budget truck rentals. Make moving easier with reliable, easy-to-drive trucks and 24/7 roadside assistance. Boxes, moving supplies and towing equipment are available. Visit www.ausa.org/truck . geant major-Army for the Australian Army, and Chief Warrant Officer San- jee Singh, sergeant major of the Army for the Singapore Armed Forces. Soldiers must train hard, Felm- ingham said. “Training needs to be harder, to be wickedly challenging at echelon,” Felmingham said. “Train- ing needs to challenge readiness, not consume it.” Today’s NCOs must be able to em- brace and adapt to emerging technol- ogy, the panelists said, but they also must be able to operate without it. “Technology is always the enabler,” Schmidt said. “The other piece with technology you’ve got to remember is technology is going to fail you.” While NCOs must be able to inte- grate technology and use it to their advantage, “should that fail in the Indo-Pacific because we have those harsh environments, we’re going to have to be able to meet the demands of the large-scale combat environ- ment,” he said. Garza agreed. “Whether the envi- ronment changes or not, the funda- mentals will not,” he said. The Army can’t wait, he said. “If we have to fight today, that’s what we go with, that’s what we’re going to fight and win with,” Garza said. Senior NCOs from the U.S. and partner armies speak during AUSA's LANPAC Sympo- sium and Exposition in Honolulu. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY May 29, 2025 | AUSA Extra 5 Operation Foster seeks support for military pets in need A nonprofit organization that supports troops and veterans who need help caring for their pets is looking to spread the word about its mission—and maybe add some volunteers along the way. Operation Foster, formerly known as PACT for Animals, was created to support soldiers and veterans who need care for their furry family members. “Operation Foster is dedi- cated to helping active-duty service members who are deploying or going to training, as well as veterans who require hospitalization for physical or mental health care,” said Erika Kelly, the organization’s network- ing coordinator. “We really want to spread the word so people know this service exists and we can try and find more foster homes.” The organization was formed in 2010 by Buzz Miller, a prominent attorney in Philadelphia. While vol- unteering at a local animal shelter, Miller saw a man crying outside. The man had just surrendered his dog be- cause he was being deployed and had nowhere for his beloved pet to go. Miller founded PACT, which stands for People+Animals=Companions Together, with the mission to keep pets with their military families. Volunteers needed There’s a large gap in coverage for long-term fostering of owned pets and a lack of understanding about military service and the unique de- mands of military life, Kelly said. That’s why PACT is rebranding to Operation Foster, to better fit that mission and educate the American public about the needs of service members, she said. Right now, Kelly said, requests ex- ceed the number of volunteers, and more foster homes are needed. Fos- ter periods range from two months to two years, and states that need as- sistance include California, Florida, Texas and North Carolina because of their large military populations and overburdened shelter systems, Kelly said. “Our goal is to eventually not have to turn away anyone requesting assistance, so with our rebranding and renewed focus on the military, we want to make sure people know we are an option—and help provide veterans with companionship as well,” she said. Operation Foster approves all foster homes and provides support throughout the process. The group, pet owners and fosters all sign con- tracts, and staff members stay in touch with the owner and foster throughout the foster period. The group also takes responsibility for any damage. “We never abandon an animal if something comes up and they need to move foster homes,” Kelly said. ‘Crying with joy’ Kelly shared a recent success story involving Ryan Newman, a disabled Army combat veteran from Salt Lake City, and his Great Dane, Se- lene. When Newman was rushed to the hospital for emergency care, he found a boarding facility for Selene but discovered that she was rapidly losing weight and in need of critical emergency care. A staff member at the VA hospi- tal contacted Operation Foster, and the organization found a foster home with a fellow veteran who picked up Selene right away and brought her to an emergency veterinary clinic. “We fundraised for the $7,000 in medical care she needed, exceeding our goal so we have more funds for future emergency situations,” Kelly said. “This gave Ryan the peace of mind he needed to get better and reunite with Selene, who couldn’t stop crying with joy when he came to pick her up.” Fostering is a great way to get companionship, give back and sup- port fellow veterans at no cost or lifetime commitment to an animal, Kelly said. “Both the foster and the owner have peace of mind, which is invaluable during deployments and for getting better while hospitalized,” she said. For more information or to apply, visit https://pactforanimals.org/. Ryan Newman, a disabled Army combat veteran from Salt Lake City, and his Great Dane, Selene, were recently assisted by Operation Foster. (COURTESY PHOTO)www.ausa.orgMay 29, 2025 | AUSA Extra 7 Biography tells story of WWII Free French Forces general Then-Col. Louis Dio stands at attention during the change-of-command ceremony for the 2nd Armored Division on June 22, 1945. (FRENCH MINISTRY OF ARMED FORCES PHOTO) ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY N ext month will bring the Ar- my’s 250th birthday. Celebra- tions of that milestone will rightfully highlight the Continental Army’s role in the American Revolu- tion and the founding of our coun- try—and will no doubt recognize the role the French played in helping the U.S. achieve its independence. Military cooperation between France and the U.S. has carried through to today. The recent anni- versary of V-E Day reinforces that connection, commemorating the lib- eration of France and the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. That’s why the Association of the U.S. Army’s Book Program is proud to announce the new publication of Général Louis Dio, a biography of the World War II French commander who worked with Gen. Philippe Leclerc to assemble the Free French Forces that fought both the Axis powers and their Vichy collaborators. Together, their 2nd Ar- mored Division liberated Paris, then turned eastward until they reached Hitler’s famed Eagle’s Nest. The book is written by former French officer Gen. Jean-Paul Mi- chel and Monique Brouillet Seefried, a history scholar and U.S. World War I Centennial commissioner with a family connection to Dio. We recently sat down with Seefried to talk about the book. ****** AUSA: What was the genesis of the book? Seefried: After learning that Gen. Michel wanted to write a book on my godfather, Gen. Louis Dio, I volun- teered to help him. I had spent the past five years as a commissioner on the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and felt, as a French citizen by birth and an American by choice, that it was time for me to hon- or the memory of the Free French, the men and women I had known and admired growing up. Book Program AUSA: How did Col. Jason Mus- teen come to serve as the translator? Seefried: I had met Musteen at West Point when I was doing World War I research, and he brought ca- dets to the groundbreaking ceremony of the National World War I Memo- rial in Washington, D.C. When time came to find a translator, Col. Gail Yoshitani, head of the Department of History at West Point, suggested I contact him. I sent him the book, and he wrote back that he would be very interested to translate it, noting how few books had been written in Eng- lish on Leclerc and the Free French. AUSA: How would you describe the relationship between Dio and Leclerc? Seefried: Although very different in their upbringing and style, Dio and Leclerc were fully complemen- tary. Leclerc brought his cavalry culture, while Dio brought the versa- tility of the desert camel troops. Very early on, they earned each other’s re- spect and knew how much they could achieve as a team. By the end of the war, Leclerc would state that with- out Dio there wouldn’t have been a French 2nd Armored Division. AUSA: Where was Dio happiest in his career? Seefried: Dio had a deep love for Africa. He had studied Arabic at the prestigious French military academy of Saint-Cyr and learned several dia- lects while serving as a méhariste— a camel corps officer in the African desert. He never forgot those years. AUSA: What is one thing you’d like American readers to take away from the book? Seefried: A better understanding of the role of the Free French Forces in rallying Africa and the importance of the French colonial empire in fight- ing the Axis powers. Americans will also appreciate how the American military leadership respected French Gen. Charles de Gaulle. They under- stood how he had the power to rally diverse segments of the population. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower fully real- ized that to avoid a civil war, Paris needed to be liberated by a French unit. For this reason, he allowed the French 2nd Armored Division to en- ter Paris at the same time as the U.S. 4th Infantry Division. ****** Please visit www.ausa.org/books to order Général Louis Dio and other ti- tles in the AUSA Book Program. Use the promo code SP25AUSA for select member discounts when purchasing directly through the publisher links. Joseph Craig is AUSA’s Book Program director.www.ausa.org 8 AUSA Extra | May 29, 2025 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Eagle Chapters The following chapters attained Eagle status for April by showing positive membership growth. The number of consecutive months of growth since July 1 is shown in parentheses. Central Texas (10) First In Battle (10) Puerto Rico (10) Alamo (9) Captain Meriwether Lewis (9) Crossroads of America (9) Denver Centennial (9) Fires (9) Fort Riley-Central Kansas (9) Fort Sheridan-Chicago (9) Houston Metroplex (9) Pikes Peak (9) Suncoast (9) Arkansas (8) Benelux (8) Central Virginia (8) Columbia River (8) Connecticut (8) Delaware (8) Fort Knox (8) Gem State (8) Greater Atlanta (8) Hawaii (8) Magnolia (8) Massachusetts Bay (8) MG William F. Dean (8) Milwaukee (8) National Training Center-High Desert (8) North Texas-Audie Murphy (8) SGM Jon Cavaiani (8) St. Louis Gateway (8) Sunshine (8) Thunderbird (8) Allegheny-Blue Ridge (7) Arizona Territorial (7) Arsenal of Democracy (7) Central California (7) Coastal South Carolina (7) Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri (7) GEN Creighton W. Abrams (7) Greater New York-Statue of Liberty (7) Greater Philadelphia (Penn & Franklin) (7) Major Samuel Woodfill (7) New Orleans (7) Newton D. Baker (7) Tri-State (7) Tucson-Goyette (7) Utah (7) White Sands Missile Range (7) Central Ohio (6) CPL Bill McMillan-Bluegrass (6) Francis Scott Key (6) GEN John W. Vessey, Jr. (6) George Washington (6) Lafayette (6) Mediterranean (6) Potomac-Liberty (6) Western New York (6) Fort Huachuca-Sierra Vista (5) MG John S. Lekson (5) Northern New York-Fort Drum (5) Polar Bear (5) Rhode Island (5) Stuttgart (5) Topeka (5) United Arab Emirates (5) Guam (4) Isthmian (4) Tobyhanna Army Depot (3)Next >