PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org July 25, 2024 | AUSA Extra 1 Army aims to create space MOS, branch T o boost expertise in space oper- ations, the Army is working to establish a new space MOS and branch, said Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commander of Army Space and Mis- sile Defense Command. Work also is underway to push critical space ca- pabilities down to the tactical level. In remarks Tuesday at a Coffee Series breakfast hosted by the As- sociation of the U.S. Army, Gainey acknowledged that the demand for troops who are experts in the space domain exceeds the capacity, and the tasks are being filled by soldiers in air and missile defense MOSs, in- creasing their operational tempo. “The way we operate right now is we pull soldiers from air defense, sig- nal corps and [military intelligence], and we build crews based off of sev- Staff members with AUSA’s national headquarters lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Sol- dier during a visit Wednesday to Arlington National Cemetery. (AUSA PHOTO) SEE STORY ON PAGE 3 AUSA Staff Lay Wreath at Arlington Cemetery 3 Rand Report Analyzes Transition Programs 4 Book Program Honoring Korean War Veterans 6 Chapter Highlights Eagle Chapters Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri 7 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 6 NUMBER 13 JULY 25, 2024 See Gainey, Page 3 eral different MOSs,” Gainey said. He explained that, in what becomes almost a three-year cycle, soldiers get certified in space operations but may only get to perform one mission before they go back to their own ba- sic branch. As a result, no one is an expert in the craft. “Everybody knows that’s probably not a good business model if you won’t train the experts, so the con- cept we’ve developed is to take those authorizations that are already being provided to those different branches and change those soldiers to a 40D MOS, to where now there’s space sol- diers, and they’re experts,” he said. With soldiers training in space op- erations starting in basic training, “you get a professional noncommis- sioned officer corps, which we’re re- ally excited about,” Gainey said. Gainey, who has led Space and Missile Defense Command since Jan. 9, said his command has worked with the Army’s other branches to develop the new MOS, a proposal that is be- ing reviewed by Army senior leaders. A dedicated space MOS will help the Army push that expertise into formations across the Army, Gainey said, adding that his command is developing a space training strategy to focus on getting space capability and awareness into the Army’s for- mations. Faced with growing competition, the rapid advancement of technol- ogy and an increasingly transparent battlefield, the Army and its sister services depend on space enablers Honoring the Fallenwww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY July 25, 2024 | AUSA Extra 3 AUSA staff honor fallen at Arlington National Cemetery S taff members of the Associa- tion of the U.S. Army paid trib- ute to America’s fallen service members Wednesday during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. The team laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is guarded around the clock by senti- nels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regi- ment (The Old Guard). During AUSA’s visit, staff mem- bers met with soldiers who guard the tomb and heard from Karen Halver- son and Angel Mangum, two AUSA family fellows, about the mission of the Arlington Ladies, volunteers who attend funeral services at the cem- etery to ensure no service member is buried alone. The AUSA team also visited the graves of Maj. Audie Murphy, the World War II hero who was one of the nation’s most-decorated soldiers, and General of the Army George Marshall, a former Army chief of staff who also served as secretary of state, secretary of defense and U.S. special envoy to China. AUSA’s high- est award is named for Marshall. Upon returning to AUSA head- quarters, staff members heard from Jill Stephenson about her son, Cpl. Benjamin Kopp. The 21-year-old died Scott Halstead, director of AUSA’s Center for Leadership, describes the life and legacy of General of the Army George Marshall at Marshall’s grave during a visit on Wednes- day by the association’s staff to Arlington National Cemetery. (AUSA PHOTO) Gainey From Page 1 such as satellite communications, GPS, missile warning, electronic warfare and more. The Army also is the military’s largest user of space, increasing its need to maintain its advantage in the final frontier. More space expertise, such as that resident in the multidomain task forc- es and within divisions and brigades, is needed, Gainey said. He pointed out that his command is working with Army Training and Doctrine Command to integrate space capabil- ity and awareness into initial entry training and “all the way through the training pipeline.” July 18, 2009, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, eight days after he was wounded while serving with the 75th Ranger Regi- ment in Afghanistan. “I have a great sense of pride in the man he became,” Stephenson said, as she described how her son knew from a young age that he was going to be- come a soldier. “I do my best to share his story and be a servant, like he was,” she said. Hearing from Stephenson, spend- ing time with soldiers and visiting Arlington cemetery are important reminders of those who sacrifice and serve, said retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO. “Just let- ting you see the incredible soldiers and [to] pause and think of what sacrifice folks have gone through [is] important,” Brown said. The day’s events also reinforced AUSA’s work to support the Army, he said. “What we do is incredibly im- portant, … the better we do our job supporting the Army, the less likely we are to go to war,” he said. Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commander of Army Space and Missile Defense Command, ad- dresses an AUSA Coffee Series event at the association’s headquarters. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org4 AUSA Extra | July 25, 2024 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. Premium membership rates are $40 for two years or $75 for fi ve 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 benefi 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 Report: Transition programs require employment focus, better oversight M ilitary-to-civilian transi- tion programs should shift their focus to employment and improve oversight, according to a recent report from the Rand Corp. “Transition aids, such as training, education, career advice, and job sup- port, can boost veterans’ job pros- pects and help them fi nd or develop fulfi lling careers in civilian life,” the report found. “However, as prior RAND research has shown, many veterans still feel that they are un- able to leverage their military skills in their civilian jobs.” The report analyzed 45 feder- ally funded transition programs to reach its fi ndings. The four largest programs are the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Veteran Readiness and Employment, DoD’s Tuition Assistance Program and the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program. About 200,000 service members transition to civilian life every year, according to a Department of Veter- ans Affairs webpage. The government invests over $13 billion annually in military transition programs, but “very few programs focus on military-to-civilian employ- ment transitions,” the report found. AUSA members save up to 25% on car rentals at participating Hertz locations world- wide by reserving with CDP# 83086. Whether you are renting a car for business or vacation, Hertz has a range of luxury, sports and hybrid vehicles available to meet every car rental need. For more information, visit www.ausa.org/hertz. “More than 95 percent of total transition program dollars went to education programs, but just under 50 percent of participants enrolled in education or training programs,” according to a 2020 Government Accountability Offi ce analysis cited in the Rand report. “Education and training programs consume a dispro- portionate share of funding relative to the number of participants.” Across the 45 programs, “oversight is weak” and “program redundan- cies are common,” the report found. There are 25 programs that provide educational counseling services and 21 that provide educational needs as- sessments, for example. The report recommends that tran- sition programs be streamlined and refocus on employment support. “The U.S. government should mandate in- creased oversight of the programs included in our study,” the report found. “Federal budgets should dedi- cate more funding to programs that help transitioning service members, veterans, and their families immedi- ately enter the civilian labor market and hold such programs accountable for employment outcomes.” Read the report here. Soldiers, civilians and family members gather June 26 at a hiring fair organized by the Transition Assistance Program at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. (U.S. ARMY/DAVID HERNANDEZ)www.ausa.org6 AUSA Extra | July 25, 2024 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AUSA books, graphic novels highlight Korean War vets Soldiers assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division observe an enemy position near the Chongchon River in Korea on Nov. 20, 1950. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO) S aturday is National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day— an opportunity to recognize and pay tribute to those who served in the conflict and the service mem- bers who made the ultimate sacrifice. The day commemorates the sign- ing of the armistice that suspended the war at 10 a.m. on July 27, 1953. Since the 1995 dedication of the Ko- rean War Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the anniversary of the armistice has been marked by the proclamation of National Korean War Veterans Day every July 27. The proclamation calls for flags to be flown at half-staff and asks Amer- icans to observe the day with appro- priate ceremonies and activities. The Korean War is often called “The Forgotten War,” but it should be remembered for the 1.8 million U.S. military personnel who served in the conflict—and especially for the more than 35,000 who died in the fighting. The Association of the U.S. Army’s Book Program has tried to do its part in recognizing Korean War veterans with several publications. Combat in Korea is a three-volume series that centers on a crucial period of the war. Edited by William Bow- ers and John Greenwood, The Line: January-February 1951, Striking Back: March-April 1951 and Passing the Test: April-June 1951 detail the shifting momentum between com- munist and United Nations forces in the late winter and spring of 1951. The dramatically shifting positions of the first year of war settled into a protracted stalemate around the 38th parallel that yielded the longest armistice negotiations in history. Each book in the Combat in Korea series focuses on the combat experi- ences of front-line soldiers and their leaders. This on-the-ground perspec- tive of the war also is found in Rang- er: A Soldier’s Life by retired Col. Ralph Puckett and D.K.R. Crosswell. Book Program The book is an inspiring autobiogra- phy of the legendary Ranger who re- mained active well into his 90s. Puckett died in April and was rec- ognized with the rare distinction of lying in honor at the U.S. Capitol. Ranger includes a detailed de- scription of then-Lt. Puckett’s ac- tions on Hill 205 during the Battle of the Chongchon River. Those ac- tions initially were recognized with the Distinguished Service Cross, but 50 years later, in 2021, the award was upgraded to the nation’s high- est award for valor. AUSA’s graphic novel series tells the tale in Medal of Honor: Ralph Puckett. To date, the Medal of Honor series has published profiles of two other recipients from the Korean War. Medal of Honor: Mitchell Red Cloud Jr. features a former Marine Raider who became an Army infantryman and sacrificed his life to save the men of his company. Medal of Honor: Tibor Rubin is the story of a Holo- caust survivor who moved to America and joined the Army in gratitude for being liberated from the camps. He served in Korea and was recognized for his actions, both as a combatant and as a prisoner of war. These books, along with the full Medal of Honor series, can be read and downloaded for free at www. ausa.org/moh. Keep an eye out in the weeks ahead for another Korean War story with the forthcoming publication of Medal of Honor: Hiroshi Miyamura. And please visit www.ausa.org/ books to order Combat in Korea, Ranger or any other title in the AUSA Book Program. Use promo code AUSA for select member dis- counts when purchasing directly through the publisher links. Joseph Craig is AUSA’s Book Program director. Medal of Honor: Ralph Puckett tells the story of then-Lt. Puckett’s actions during the Battle of the Chongchon River. (AUSA GRAPHIC)www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY July 25, 2024 | AUSA Extra 7 Eagle Chapters The following chapters attained Eagle status for June by showing positive membership growth. The number of consecutive months of growth since July 1, 2023, is shown in parentheses. Massachusetts Bay (12) Greater Philadelphia (Penn & Franklin) (12) Newton D. Baker (12) Florida Gulf Stream (12) Suncoast (12) Thunderbird (12) North Texas-Audie Murphy (12) Texas Capital Area (12) Fort Sheridan-Chicago (12) National Training Center-High Desert (12) San Diego (12) GEN Creighton W. Abrams (12) Delaware (11) Francis Scott Key (11) Tri-State (11) Greater Atlanta (11) Arkansas (11) Houston Metroplex (11) Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri (11) St. Louis Gateway (11) Milwaukee (11) MG William F. Dean (11) Silicon Valley (11) Greater Los Angeles (11) Tobyhanna Army Depot (10) Rhode Island (10) MG Harry Greene, Aberdeen (10) Central Ohio (10) Potomac-Liberty (10) Redstone Huntsville (10) Sunshine (10) New Orleans (10) Fort Riley-Central Kansas (10) San Francisco (10) Denver Centennial (10) Utah (10) Korea (10) COL Edward Cross (9) West Point Area (9) Fort Pitt (9) Catoctin (9) Fort Jackson-Palmetto State (9) Des Moines Freedom (9) Henry Leavenworth (9) Las Vegas-John C. Fremont (9) Fort Huachuca-Sierra Vista (9) MG John S. Lekson (9) First In Battle (9) GEN Joseph W. Stilwell (8) Hellenic (8) Last Frontier (8) Northern New York-Fort Drum (7) Tucson-Goyette (7) United Arab Emirates (7) Guam (6) White Sands Missile Range (5) Lafayette (2) Chapter hosts summit for transitioning soldiers, spouses O n July 20, the Association of the U.S. Army’s Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri chapter hosted its inaugural summit for sol- diers and spouses who are leaving the service in the next two to three years or who have recently transitioned. The free workshop featured subject- matter experts who provided valuable information about resources includ- ing the Survivor Benefit Program, Benefits Delivery at Discharge, VA home loans and more. Attendees also received a professional headshot to use on LinkedIn and in job searches. Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Freddie Brock, president of AUSA’s Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri chapter, addresses participants during the chapter’s ‘Talk about Transition’ summit for service members and spouses. (AUSA PHOTO) Fort Leonard Wood-Mid MissouriNext >