PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org November 28, 2024 | AUSA Extra 1 AUSA staff join Veterans History Project I n an effort to help tell the Army story, Association of the U.S. Army staff members are sharing their own experiences as part of the Veterans History Project. Established in 2000, the Veterans History Project at the Library of Con- gress collects, preserves and makes accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans who served from World War I through today. The goal is to ensure future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand what they saw, did and felt during their service, accord- ing to the project’s website. “The Veterans History Project is a great program that honors the ser- vice and sacrifice of America’s vet- Command Sgt. Maj. Bryan Barker, right, senior enlisted leader of the XVIII Airborne Corps, serves turkey to a soldier Nov. 22 during a Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers Thanksgiving held in the Iron Mike Conference Center at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. (U.S. ARMY/SPC. HERMON WHALEY) Fires Transformation Faces Challenges 3 AUSA Urges Congress to Pass 2025 NDAA 4 Book Program Churchill in World War I 6 Chapter Highlights Eagle Chapters 7 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 6 NUMBER 31 NOVEMBER 28, 2024 erans while helping them tell their stories,” said John Nobrega, AUSA’s assistant director of Government Af- fairs. “At AUSA, we work to help tell the Army story, and this is a good way to do that.” AUSA is contributing to the Vet- erans History Project by recording and presenting stories from several of its own, including retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA’s president and CEO, a 1981 West Point graduate who re- tired in September 2019 after com- manding U.S. Army Pacific. Retired Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, AUSA’s vice president of Leadership and Education who retired from the Army in 2021 after serving as the Army inspector general; retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey, the association’s vice president of NCO and Soldier Programs and the 15th sergeant major of the Army; and re- tired Sgt. Maj. Julie Guerra, direc- tor of NCO and Soldier Programs for AUSA and career intelligence sol- dier; are among those featured. Also sharing their stories are re- tired Brig. Gen. Jack Haley, AUSA’s vice president of Membership and Meetings; retired Col. Glenn Yarbor- ough, a former AUSA region president; and retired Col. Daniel Roper, AUSA’s director of National Security Studies. The AUSA team’s interviews are available on the association’s You- Tube channel here. See Veterans project, Page 3 Happy Thanksgivingwww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY November 28, 2024 | AUSA Extra 3 Obstacles remain as Army transforms fires capabilities D espite “significant progress” in transforming its fires port- folio, the U.S. Army is not yet capable of overmatching potential adversaries in protracted large-scale combat operations at an acceptable degree of risk, according to a new paper by the Association of the U.S. Army. “‘Fires for Effect’: Implications for Large-Scale Combat Operations” de- scribes the progress the Army has made in transforming its fires capa- bility and the challenges and impli- cations for offensive and defensive fires and the acquisition system that enables it. The paper was written by retired Col. Daniel Roper, director of AUSA’s National Security Studies; Charles McEnany, a national security analyst for the association; and Maj. Young Joo, a strategic intelligence of- ficer and an Army fellow at AUSA. It is released as AUSA prepares to host a Hot Topic titled “Land-Based Fires in Large-Scale Combat Opera- tions.” The daylong event on Dec. 3 at the association’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, will feature keynote presentations by Maj. Gen. Winston Brooks, commanding gen- eral of the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, and Maj. Gen. Brett Syl- via, commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division. For more information or to regis- ter, click here. Soldiers with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment fire a 155 mm round from their M777A2 howitzer during a live-fire exercise Nov. 19 in Grafenwoehr, Germany. (U.S. ARMY/CAPT. THOMAS MCCARTY) Veterans project From Page 1 As the Army has struggled to re- cruit young people to serve, and as leaders work to combat misconcep- tions about serving and what it means to join the Army, the service has asked veterans to help close the gap by telling their stories. “The Veterans History Project is an easy and accessible way to spark conversations about service, patrio- tism and sacrifice in communities across America,” said Mark Haa- land, director of Government Affairs at AUSA. “We hope AUSA’s members in chapters around the world will be inspired to participate and help us continue telling the Army story.” Described as a national, grassroots oral history initiative, the Veterans History Project encourages partici- pants to interview veterans in their lives and communities. Veterans from all services and ranks who served at any point since World War I are eligible to partici- pate, even if they did not see combat, according to the project’s website. Anyone, including students ages 15 and older, may volunteer to record an oral history interview or gather and donate a veteran’s original pho- tographs, correspondence or other materials. Veterans also can submit their own materials to the Library of Congress. Learn more about the Veterans History Project here. Find out how to create and submit a Veterans History Project interview here. “The Russo-Ukrainian War pro- vides clear implications regarding the utility of long-range precision fires and shorter-range massed ar- tillery and rocket fire; the insatiable demand for ammunition, most nota- bly artillery; and the inability of the industrial base to support it,” the paper says. The Army also must contend with survivability through dispersion, de- coys and displacement; the apparent vulnerability of towed artillery; tar- geting with both military and civil- ian means; and the increased use of unmanned aerial systems, it says. “While modernized systems can deliver impressive effects, integra- tion and synchronization are the se- cret sauce to achieving convergence and contributing to joint force over- match of enemies on the battlefield,” the authors write. Moving forward, “the stakes are high for the Army and the joint force as the Army transforms its fires port- folio for [large-scale combat opera- tions],” the paper says. “… The Army must modernize legacy systems even as it develops new systems to replace them. It cannot call a time-out.” Read the paper here.www.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | November 28, 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 AUSA members can save on Emer- gency Assistance Plus to have peace of mind while traveling. EA+ is an emergency assistance service, a safety net that helps pay for emer- gencies your health insurance gener- ally will not cover. Click here or call 1-888-883-1993 for more. AUSA calls for quick passage of 2025 defense bill, pay increase for troops T he Association of the U.S. Army is urging key lawmak- ers to authorize full funding for the Army and DoD, a pay increase of at least 4.5% for service members and the resources needed to continue the Army’s transformation and qual- ity of life efforts. In a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, AUSA advocates for swift passage of the fi scal 2025 National Defense Au- thorization Act and additional fund- ing for the Army as it supports criti- cal missions at home and overseas. “The Army is vital to national se- curity with ongoing confl icts across the globe demonstrating that land power is essential,” retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO, writes in the Nov. 21 letter. “As such, we believe it is essential for the Total Army and the Department of Defense (DoD) to have the resources needed to deter any adversary, to ‘Fight and Win’ when necessary, and to ensure the continued excellence of the all- volunteer force.” Soldiers are bolstering NATO al- lies in Europe, countering threats in the Middle East and building part- AUSA is advocating for swift passage of the fi scal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act and additional funding for the Army. (ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL PHOTO) nerships and alliances in the Indo- Pacifi c, the letter says. At home, sol- diers provide life-saving support to local authorities responding to natu- ral disasters. As lawmakers fi nalize the 2025 NDAA, AUSA is asking for inclusion of at least a 4.5% pay increase for ser- vice members and at least 2% for DoD and Army civilians. “Providing appro- priate compensation is an important incentive for recruitment and reten- tion,” Brown writes in the letter. The association also asks lawmak- ers to support quality-of-life pro- grams for soldiers and their fami- lies, including improvements to child care, housing and health care. “AUSA requests your continued support for the Army’s modernization priorities and ... training and sustain- ing priorities [including] a strong and expandable organic industrial base,” Brown writes. The Army is indispensable to na- tional security, Brown writes. “We urge you to swiftly pass the NDAA and authorize additional resources that refl ect the demonstrated need and urgency that our national secu- rity challenges require,” he writes. Read the letter here.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Winston Churchill, then-commander of the 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, is shown here in 1916 on the Western Front of World War I in France. (COMMONS PHOTO) 6 AUSA Extra | November 28, 2024 Author explores Winston Churchill’s resilience during WWI T his weekend marks a major milestone for a towering fig- ure of world history. Winston Churchill was born 150 years ago on Nov. 30, 1874. Churchill led an incredible life, with multiple accomplishments in the literary, political and military worlds. Most people today likely pic - ture him as the man who led Great Britain to victory in World War II. But his triumph as a great Allied statesman only came out of his abil- ity to overcome earlier failures. In Blood, Mud, and Oil Paint: The Remarkable Year that Made Winston Churchill, As- sociation of the U.S. Army author J. Furman Daniel recounts the tribu- lations Churchill faced during the first world war. He shows how deal- ing with a series of disastrous events from May 1915 through May 1916 re- quired personal reinvention and re- silience, skills that the world would later need. As Daniel notes, “Churchill could not have succeeded in 1940 had he not failed in 1915.” Daniel is an associate professor at Concordia University Chicago. He writes on a range of subjects, and his previous books include 21st Century Patton and Patton: Battling with His- tory. The AUSA Book Program recently sat down with him to talk about his new book. ****** AUSA: You have written on many disparate subjects. Why did you want to focus on Churchill for this book? Daniel: During the spring of 2020, my daughter was born two months early, and she was helicoptered to a hospital 100 miles away. To say the least, this was a test of my family and faith. I found myself alone one morning, misquoting Churchill’s “We will fight on the beaches” speech. I found the courage to continue and knew that I Book Program would write a book about Churchill and dedicate it to my daughter. For- tunately, my daughter is a healthy and beautiful child, and this book is for her. AUSA: What is the significance of this particular year in his life? Daniel: Simply stated, this was the worst year of Churchill’s entire life. He faced his first major political fail- ure, teetered on the brink of financial ruin, was abandoned and betrayed by many of his friends, struggled with depression and was nearly killed multiple times while serving in the trenches. Any one of these struggles could have broken him, and yet he en- dured and emerged stronger. AUSA: Where did Churchill find the resilience to persist after this low point? Daniel: Churchill believed in himself, had a few close friends and found solace in a new hobby—paint- ing. The book discusses each of these in greater detail, but simply surviv- ing this tumultuous year was an in- credible triumph. AUSA: How did fellow soldiers re- act to serving in the trenches with the former First Lord of the Admi- ralty? Daniel: At first, Churchill was treated with suspicion and disdain. Most saw him as an effete politician, not a serious soldier. Ultimately, he was able to win the trust and respect of his troops by sharing the harsh conditions with the men and show- ing that he cared about their health and welfare. AUSA: Which part of Churchill’s story do you love but didn’t have room to include? Daniel: Churchill’s letters. Even while at the front, he found time to compose multiple letters per day to his wife, his friends, artists, jour- nalists and politicians. These letters comment on an impressive range of subjects and are a pleasure to read. ****** Please visit www.ausa.org/books to order a copy of Blood, Mud, and Oil Paint and other titles in the AUSA Book Program. Use the promo code F24AUSA for select member dis- counts when purchasing directly through the publisher links. Joseph Craig is AUSA’s Book Program director.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY November 28, 2024 | AUSA Extra 7 Eagle Chapters The following chapters attained Eagle status for October by showing positive membership growth. The number of consecutive months of growth since July 1 is shown in parentheses. Allegheny-Blue Ridge (4) Arsenal of Democracy (4) Big Bend (4) Capital District of New York (4) Catoctin (4) Central Ohio (4) Central Virginia (4) Chattahoochee Valley-Fort Moore (4) COL Edward Cross (4) CPL Bill McMillan-Bluegrass (4) CSM James M. McDonald-Keystone (4) Delaware (4) Dix (4) Florida Gulf Stream (4) Fort Campbell (4) Fort Knox (4) Fort Pitt (4) Francis Scott Key (4) George Washington (4) Greater Atlanta (4) Greater New York-Statue of Liberty (4) Greater Philadelphia (Penn & Franklin) (4) Indiana (4) Joshua Chamberlain (4) Magnolia (4) Major Samuel Woodfill (4) Marne (4) Massachusetts Bay (4) Newton D. Baker (4) Northern New Jersey (4) Picatinny Arsenal-Middle Forge (4) Potomac-Liberty (4) Redstone Huntsville (4) Rhode Island (4) Suncoast (4) Sunshine (4) Tri-State (4) Virginia Colonial (4) West Point Area (4) Western New York (4) Alamo (3) Arizona Territorial (3) Arkansas (3) Benelux (3) Captain Meriwether Lewis (3) Carlisle Barracks-Cumberland Val- ley (3) Central California (3) Central Texas (3) Coastal South Carolina (3) Columbia River (3) Connecticut (3) Cowboy (3) Denver Centennial (3) Des Moines Freedom (3) Ethan Allen (3) Fires (3) First In Battle (3) First Militia (3) Fort Huachuca-Sierra Vista (3) Fort Jackson-Palmetto State (3) Fort Leonard Wood-Mid Missouri (3) Fort Riley-Central Kansas (3) Fort Sheridan-Chicago (3) Gem State (3) GEN John W. Vessey, Jr. (3) Greater Kansas City (3) Greater Los Angeles (3) Hawaii (3) Henry Leavenworth (3) Houston Metroplex (3) Japan (3) Korea (3) Lafayette (3) Las Vegas-John C. Fremont (3) Mediterranean (3) MG Harry Greene, Aberdeen (3) MG William F. Dean (3) Mid-Palatinate (3) Milwaukee (3) Minutemen (3) Monmouth (3) National Training Center-High Desert (3) New Orleans (3) North Texas-Audie Murphy (3) Northern New York-Fort Drum (3) PFC William Kenzo Nakamura (3) Pikes Peak (3) Puerto Rico (3) Rock Island Arsenal (3) San Diego (3) San Francisco (3) SGM Jon Cavaiani (3) Silicon Valley (3) Southern Virginia (3) Space Coast (3) St. Louis Gateway (3) Stuttgart (3) Texas Capital Area (3) Thunderbird (3) Topeka (3) Tucson-Goyette (3) White Sands Missile Range (3) Fort Liberty (2) GEN Creighton W. Abrams (2) GEN Joseph W. Stilwell (2) Kuwait (2) MG John S. Lekson (2) MSG Leroy Arthur Petry (2) Polar Bear (2) United Arab Emirates (2) Utah (2) Tobyhanna Army Depot (1)Next >