PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org December 12, 2024 | AUSA Extra 1 Army adds 2 recruiting headquarters T he Army is standing up two re- gional recruiting commands to oversee the five recruiting bri- gades responsible for enlisting new recruits. Slated to be fully operational by summer 2025, the new command headquarters—the first of their kind—will be in Atlanta and Los Angeles. Each will have about 30 personnel commanded by a deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Recruiting Command, according to an Army news release. The east command in Atlanta will oversee the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Recruit- ing Brigades, while the west com- mand in Los Angeles will oversee the 4th and 5th Recruiting Brigades. Atlanta and Los Angeles were Lt. Col. Adam Kirschling, commander of 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, administers the oath of enlistment to 10 future soldiers at the Chickashaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO) Processes, Funding Key to Manufacturing 3 Fires Remain Critical to Future Fight 4 NCO & Soldier Programs Supporting Soldiers in Germany 6 Chapter Highlights Tobyhanna Army Depot Houston 7 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 6 NUMBER 33 DECEMBER 12, 2024 chosen for their travel accessibility, community engagement, quality of life and proximity to military instal- lations, according to the release. The goal of establishing the new regional commands is to “enhance commu- nication and improve the service’s ability to attract and retain a high- quality workforce,” the release says. “We’re going to improve the rela- tionships with local leaders in these locations, which will open doors for our recruiters and help us to syn- chronize our message,” Brig. Gen. Sara Dudley, Recruiting Command’s deputy commanding general for op- erations, said in the release. “Our goal is to provide the Army with the right mix of people so our formations can excel.” After missing its recruiting goals for two years, the Army exceeded its 2024 goal of 55,000 recruits. It also more than doubled its goal for the de- layed entry program, adding another 11,000 future recruits. “Our investment in people and the Army’s investment in recruit- ing made fiscal year 2024 a success,” Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis, command- ing general of Recruiting Command, said in the release. “There are no words to express how proud I am of the hardworking recruiters that crushed it in every community.” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth announced in October that the ser- vice’s fiscal year 2025 goal is to recruit 61,000 new soldiers and add another 10,000 to the delayed entry program.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY December 12, 2024 | AUSA Extra 3 George: Army transformation must be agile, adaptive W hen it comes to manufac- turing, the biggest chal- lenge facing the Army is the service’s approach to it, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George said. “It’s a process change, that’s what we’ve got to get after,” George said Dec. 7 during a panel discussion at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California. “I think that’s the biggest challenge we have.” During the panel, titled “Can We Build Again? Overcoming Produc- tion and Manufacturing Constraints to Build the Future Force,” George explained that, decades ago, the DoD “had 11 big pots of money, we didn’t have all these programs, we could move money around and we could spend it year after year. Now, we’re up to 1,800 or 1,900 different pro- gram lines.” Exacerbating efficient manage- ment of those programs, he said, is a lack of predictable funding that can be used in a more flexible way. “I think we need to be more agile in our 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 funding, especially when you’re talk- ing about [unmanned aircraft sys- tems], counter-UAS and [electronic warfare], and we know it spins very rapidly, and we have to be able to re- spond to that,” George said. For larger systems, the Army is aiming for a modular approach, George said. “Rather than building a system that has everything built in—active protection, counter-UAS and all of that—you can build the big system and then be able to change out those modules, because you know all of that is going to change. That will allow us to be a lot more flexible moving forward,” he said. As part of their effort to more quickly transform the Army, and cit- ing the speed at which technology is evolving and developing, senior leaders are working with Congress on more agile funding mechanisms, particularly in areas such as un- manned aerial systems. “If this pilot approach helps us keep pace with rap- idly improving technology without sacrificing congressional oversight, it could help build the trust needed for greater spending flexibility in the future,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said in October. Another area for change is how the Army makes its requirements known, starting with the volumi- nous documents created to explain the need, George said. “We don’t need 30-page documents,” George said, of- fering as an example the network and how the Army puts out “a character- ization of need.” “We have a lot of amazing compa- nies that can come in and help us do these things and change for us. We just need to let them go and tell them what they can do and be more rapid about doing that,” he said. “I think that the hardest thing is going to be with process change.” Recognizing how quickly technolo- gy evolves, George called for a change in how the Army decides what it’s go- ing to buy. It’s a topic that has been the subject of much discussion in the Army, he said. “We’re also going to have to stop buying some things that we know aren’t going to be war-winning down the road, and that means you can find better value for your money and spend your money on the things you know are going to make the biggest difference on the battlefield,” George said. Edward Flinn, left, director of the Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, briefs Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George on current and future additive manufacturing capabilities. (U.S. ARMY/KENDALL SWANK)www.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | December 12, 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 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. 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 five 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 benefits 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 Sylvia: No substitute for ‘dominant’ fires capabilities on future battlefield I n today’s “unprecedented” strategic environment, the Army’s ability to deliver fires remains key, the com- manding general of the 101st Airborne Division said. “The ability to deliver dominant, all-weather fires is still paramount,” Maj. Gen. Brett Sylvia said during a keynote address at an Association of the U.S. Army Hot Topic on fires. “Whether in the form of offensive precision strikes, deep interdiction or defensive counter-fires, this suite of fires capabilities underpins the abil- ity of our Army’s close-combat forces to close with and destroy the enemy. In all actuality, this may be truer now than it ever has been before.” For its part, the 101st Airborne Division is embracing the Army’s transforming in contact initiative, which has soldiers and units test and provide feedback on new, emerging technologies, by leveraging its large- scale, long-range air assault capabili- ties, Sylvia said. “Large-scale, long-range air as- sault ... is a division-enabled, joint forcible entry operation that delivers one brigade combat team, or roughly 3,000 soldiers and hundreds of pieces of equipment, over 500 miles, in one period of darkness at the time and place of our choosing,” Sylvia said. The soldiers arrive “as a cohesive fighting formation and [are] prepared to fight and win in the fiercest envi- ronments,” he said. The division displayed this capa- bility in August when it flew 80 air- craft from its home station of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to Fort John- son, Louisiana, for a rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center. During the over 500-mile journey, the soldiers made stops at six for- ward arming and refueling points, according to an Army news release. “So, why is this capability rel- evant?” Sylvia said. “If you are one of our adversaries, and you're sitting Maj. Gen. Brett Sylvia, left, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, greets an at- tendee during an AUSA Hot Topic forum focused on fires. (AUSA PHOTO) Give the gift of travel with your AUSA eligibility for Armed Forces Vacation Club. Now through Dec. 22, you can book weeklong resort stays or purchase a Resort Vacation Certificate for just $309. Visit https://www.afvclub.com/ ausa and select "AUSA Member" as your membership eligibility. safely in your capital, you go to bed at night thinking everything is safe and secure. You'll wake up the next morn- ing, and you'll have a brigade combat team parked in your backyard.” In addition to large-scale, long- range air assault, Sylvia under- scored the importance of integrating technology across various processes. “A single piece of technology will not bring success,” he said. “We have to take AI capabilities and integrate them with our unique and robust in- tel and fires systems and processes to create the conditions for our ability to conduct synchronized, combined- arms maneuver.” There is “absolutely no substitute for what” fires “bring to the fight,” Sylvia said. “The battlefield of the future will not be forgiving. Success will demand that we bring our best thinking, our best systems and our best people to bear,” he said. “Fires are not simply a supporting effort in large-scale com- bat operations. They, or rather their effects, are often first to the fight. They're a cornerstone of our com- petitive advantage in combined arms maneuver.” www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY December 12, 2024 | AUSA Extra 5 F ormed more than 25 years ago, The Flag and General Officers’ Network is a veterans organi- zation comprised of more than 2,100 active-duty and retired generals and admirals from all branches of the U.S. armed forces. The group began in 1995 as an informal social network formed by retired Navy Rear Adms. Charles McGrail and James Carey, who in- tended simply to maintain and ex- pand the friendships and camara- derie born from military service. Today, the group aims to establish partnerships and unique opportuni- ties for admirals and general officers to serve, including civic engagement. “Each of us continues to serve after our transition from service, and TF- GON believes that we can better do so if we remain linked and connect- ed,” the organization’s website says. The organization hosts quarterly networking events in Washington, D.C., and other locations around the country, providing a first-hand look at what opportunities other flag and general officers are pursuing after military retirement and facilitating valuable connections. It also hosts on its website a listing of available jobs that are of particular interest to flag and general officers, and more than 400 members have ob- tained full-time employment through this system in recent years, accord- ing to the site. The group also offers members free enrollment in TSA’s PreCheck program via a unique agreement, and sponsors the Mc- Grail Scholars Program, which sup- ports young veterans in law school. “Our core values and principles reflect the noble calling of our com- munity of leaders to serve our nation in and out of uniform,” the group’s website says. For more information, please visit https://flagandgeneralofficers.org/. If your association is interested in partnering with AUSA, contact Su- san Rubel at srubel@ausa.org. Association Partnership with AUSA is an opportunity for like-minded military service organizations to join AUSA in support of the Total Army—soldiers, DoD civilians and their families. Spotlight on AUSA Association Partner: TFGONwww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY 6 AUSA Extra | December 12, 2024 AUSA leaders support NCOs and soldiers in Germany Leaders from AUSA headquarters, members of the association's Gen. Creighton W. Abrams chapter and soldiers from the Wiesbaden community visit the 101st Airborne Division Museum in Bastogne, Belgium. (AUSA PHOTO) L ocated around the world, chap- ters are the lifeblood of the Association of the U.S. Army, forming a critical link between AUSA headquarters and the soldiers, fami- lies, members and partners we serve. Each year during the AUSA An- nual Meeting and Exposition, we recognize the association’s best chapters in six separate categories. One of those categories is the Best Overseas Chapter. For the past seven years, that title has gone to the Gen. Creighton W. Abrams chapter in Wi- esbaden, Germany. When the president of the best overseas chapter invites you to see exactly what they do, you can’t say no. So, a few of us from AUSA head- quarters traveled to Wiesbaden in November to spend Thanksgiving week with the Gen. Creighton W. Abrams chapter. Gemma McGowan, the chapter president, put together an amazing itinerary that showcased how the group continues to earn the title of Best Chapter. We started the week with a staff ride to Bastogne, Belgium. Hosted by the Abrams chapter, the trip was offered at no cost to soldiers in the Wiesbaden community. In Bastogne, we were met by our guide, who provided a tour of the 101st Airborne Division Museum. Following the tour, our guide took us to the battlefield and walked us through the heroic actions of the di- vision’s famed “Band of Brothers” at the Siege of Bastogne in December 1944 during World War II’s Battle of the Bulge. The next day, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Troy Welch, AUSA’s Mem- bership director, and I conducted a leader development session with NCOs from the Wiesbaden military community, while Holly Dailey, AU- SA’s Family Readiness director, met with senior Army spouses. That eve- NCO & Soldier Programs ning, the chapter hosted a network- ing social and leader development session, followed by a Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings for its members and community partners. On the third day of our visit, we traveled to Frankfurt, where we cleaned and maintained the Ameri- can Kinderfeld, a cemetery that’s the resting place for hundreds of de- ceased children of American service members. Like most gravesites in Germa- ny, these cemeteries must be main- tained, a task often taken on by fam- ily members or volunteer groups. The American Kinderfeld is no exception. To preserve this sacred resting place, the Abrams chapter has officially ad- opted the Kinderfeld and assumed these responsibilities. After a full day in Frankfurt, we traveled to Wiesbaden’s Clay Kaser- ne dining facility, where Welch and I assisted with meal preparation while members of the Abrams chapter deco- rated the facility for the next day’s Thanksgiving meal. Bright and early on Thanksgiving morning, chapter members were back at the dining facility to finish up dec- orating and help serve Thanksgiving dinner to the soldiers, civilians and families of the community. We ended our visit on Friday by at- tending a lunch hosted by the Abrams chapter to honor their volunteer award recipients. In the evening, we attended the chapter’s annual father- daughter gala. The chapter created the gala to provide a special night out for fathers and their daughters in the Wiesbaden area. Seeing the smiles on the little girls’ faces as they danced with their fathers was a very nice ending to a wonderful week of events. Congratulations to the Gen. Creighton W. Abrams chapter for its seventh consecutive Best Overseas Chapter title. Thank you for all you do for our association and its mem- bers in Germany. Retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey is AUSA’s vice president for NCO and Soldier Programs and was the 15th sergeant major of the Army. Retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey, left, AUSA’s vice president for NCO and Soldier Programs, and Gemma McGowan, president of the association's Gen. Creigh- ton W. Abrams chapter, speak to soldiers during a leader development session at Wiesbaden, Germany. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY December 12, 2024 | AUSA Extra 7 Chapter recognizes soldier for exceptional volunteerism Kelvin Spencer, left, president of AUSA’s Tobyhanna Army Depot chapter, presents the chapter's Distinguished Service Award to Sgt. 1st Class Erin Kuhlmeier of the Pennsyl- vania National Guard’s 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. (U.S. ARMY/JUSTIN KUCHARSKI) S gt. 1st Class Erin Kuhlmeier, of the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 55th Maneuver En- hancement Brigade, was honored by the Association of the U.S. Army’s Tobyhanna Army Depot chapter for her outstanding support to the com- munity and selfless dedication to the Army’s values. Kuhlmeier received the chapter’s Distinguished Service Award and a complimentary two-year AUSA membership from Kelvin Spencer, the chapter presi- dent, at a midgame ceremony during the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins hockey team’s Veterans Appreciation Night. She also was awarded the depot’s inaugu- ral Tobyhanna Outstanding Active- Duty Servicemember award by Col. James Crocker and Sgt. Maj. Michael Riggs, the installation’s command team. “I was very humbled by the experi- ence of receiving this award,” Kuhl- meier said, according to an Army news release. “The team I work with is just as deserving of this award as I am, as I would not be here today if it was not for their efforts as well.” AUSA members view history, capabilities at Fort Cavazos “I wanted to give more to the com- munity—this passion inspired me to join the National Guard,” she said. In her role as the readiness NCO for the 55th Maneuver Enhancement Bri- gade’s Headquarters Support Compa- ny, Kuhlmeier oversees and manages all aspects of the unit’s readiness, including personnel administration, training and medical readiness. She also volunteers at the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter in South Abington Township and the St. Francis of As- sisi Kitchen in Scranton. “Giving back and building a mean- ingful connection with [my communi- ty] is why I like to volunteer,” Kuhl- meier said, according to the Army. “It is a great feeling to know you are contributing to the community.” Tobyhanna Army Depot M embers of the Association of the U.S. Army’s Hous- ton chapter recently visited and viewed a demonstration hosted by the III Armored Corps’ 13th Ar- mored Corps Sustainment Command at Fort Cavazos, Texas. During the November tour, AUSA chapter members visited the newly opened National Mounted Warrior Museum, where they learned of the rich history of ten- ant units on the installation and the roles that the 1st Cavalry Division, 13th Armored Corps Sustainment Command and III Armored Corps played throughout major conflicts in military history. “It’s just amazing seeing the evolu- tion of how things started with the Army and where we are today,” said Liza Garza, the chapter president, in an Army news release. The tour continued with a demon- stration of the capabilities of the 1st Cavalry Division’s Horse Cavalry De- tachment. “We put these demonstrations on to uphold the traditions,” a spokesper- son with the Horse Detachment said, according to the release. “We carry these traditions because they’re im- portant.” Liza Garza, left, president of AUSA's Houston chapter, receives a horseshoe from Maj. Ryan Todd of the 13th Ar- mored Corps Sustainment Command during a visit to Fort Cavazos, Texas. (U.S. ARMY/SGT. TANNER DIBBLE) HoustonNext >