PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org December 19, 2024 | AUSA Extra 1 Army seeks 300 LTs to transfer branches I n an ongoing effort to balance the force, the Army is seeking about 300 eligible infantry, armor, field artillery or engineer lieutenants to apply for voluntary branch trans- fer to one of several understrength branches and functional areas. This offer from Army Human Re- sources Command is an expansion of the Officer Rebranching Program, a pilot that kicked off last Janu- ary. This time, the Army is looking for about 300 eligible lieutenants to transfer to the adjutant general, air defense, finance, logistics or signal corps, or into one of four functional areas including information technol- ogy engineer, space operations, pub- lic affairs and simulations operations, according to an Army news release. First Lt. Kenyon Fretwell, with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, tackles an obstacle course Dec. 11 at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany. (U.S. ARMY/MARKUS RAUCHENBERGER) AUSA Presents Legislator of the Year Awards 3 Leaders Can Succeed in Nontraditional Roles 4 Family Readiness Honoring Army Traditions 6 Chapter Highlights Greater Augusta-Fort Eisenhower Eagle Chapters 7 IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 6 NUMBER 34 DECEMBER 19, 2024 The current offer applies to year group 22 lieutenants in the infan- try, armor, field artillery or engineer branches. Last year, the offer was open only to year group 21 infantry and ar- mor lieutenants, the release states. Applications will be accepted from Jan. 7 through Feb. 17, according to the release. Each branch has a des- ignated cap on the number of officers allowed to transfer out or into a par- ticular career field. “Last year’s pilot program was successful as more than 130 [year group] 21 lieutenants voluntarily transferred from the infantry and armor branches into the adjutant general, finance and signal corps,” Maj. Thomas Mussmann, a readi- ness analyst for Human Resources Command’s Force Shaping Director- ate, said in the release. “By offering more options this year we hope to get greater participation and have a greater impact on readiness.” Rebranching is a tool the Army uses when it detects a misalignment between manning requirements and available officer inventory. Eligible lieutenants who wish to volunteer should log into the Inte- grated Personnel and Pay System- Army portal, locate the Talent Man- agement Soldier Work Center within the self-service window and select “Closed Marketplace Preferences” to begin the rebranching process. Results of the rebranching should be published in early March. For more information, click here. AUSA Extra will be on break until Jan. 9. Happy holidays!A global provider of integrated support services Serving the Government and Defense sector for over 20 years •Engineering & Construction •Camp Support Services •Environmental Services •Supply Chain Management •Healthcare Services For enquiries, please scan the QR codewww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY December 19, 2024 | AUSA Extra 3 AUSA recognizes two congressmen for Army support F or their staunch and effec- tive support of the Army and soldiers, veterans and their families, two members of the House Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee have been awarded the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2024 Legislator of the Year award. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, a Dem- ocrat from Maryland, and Republi- can Rep. Steve Womack from Arkan- sas were honored on Capitol Hill by AUSA President and CEO retired Gen. Bob Brown and retired Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, AUSA’s vice president for Leadership and Education. “Representatives Dutch Ruppers- berger and Steve Womack have long been champions of America’s Army, and AUSA is pleased to recognize them as our 2024 Legislators of the Year,” Brown said. “Their bipartisan leadership and steadfast commit- ment have gotten results and made a difference in the lives of our soldiers, veterans and their families.” Ruppersberger, who is retiring after his 11th term in the House of Representatives, is a proud supporter of the Army, particularly the Army Research Laboratory and Aberdeen Proving Ground in his home state. In 2003, he created Operation Hero Miles after learning that deployed troops were paying for connecting flights home. The program allows Americans to donate frequent flyer miles instead, and more than 3 bil- lion miles have been donated to date. “I could not be prouder to receive this recognition from the Association of the U.S. Army as I approach my retirement from public service and a career dedicated to supporting our Army, its soldiers and their families,” Ruppersberger said. Womack, who was first elected to the House in 2010, is a retired Army National Guard colonel who served for more than 30 years. He is the chairman of the West Point Board of Visitors, where he supports the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. “Our nation’s service members, veterans and military families con- sistently put the nation above self, sacrificing for the security and free- doms we enjoy as Americans. They've earned and deserve our unwavering support,” Womack said. Rep. Steve Womack, top left, and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, below center, receive AUSA's 2024 Legislator of the Year awards from retired Gen. Bob Brown, top center and below left, AUSA president and CEO, and retired Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith, AUSA vice president for Leadership and Education. (AUSA PHOTOS) Jacob Vitkauskas has been with AUSA for just over one year. In his role as accounting manager, he is responsible for performance and oversight of all accounting and cash management functions and activi- ties relating to the association's fi- nancial reporting. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities, wine and time with friends and family. Meet the AUSA headquarters staff Jacob Vitkauskas Accounting Managerwww.ausa.org 4 AUSA Extra | December 19, 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 Paper encourages leaders to embrace nontraditional commands A rmy leaders selected for com- mand positions can set them- selves up for success both prior to and while commanding, re- gardless of the type of unit they’re tapped to lead, according to a new paper published by the Association of the U.S. Army. “All officers have an unspoken level of nervousness and apprehension go- ing into their command positions— and fears and uncertainty are likely heightened when officers are going into nontraditional command roles,” write authors Capts. Andrew Light- sey and Tanner Cook, Col. Xavier Colón and Lt. Col. Chaveso Cook. “There is a lot of written guidance on basic branch and operational com- mands, but there is not much to be found on ‘alternative’ leadership po- sitions.” In “The Leadership Route Less Taken: Taking Charge in the Army’s ‘Other’ Commands,” the authors offer advice for commanders as they pre- pare to take command and during their tenure. Lightsey is a public affairs officer with the 101st Airborne Division, while Cook commands the Boise Army Recruiting Company. Colón is a division chief on the Joint Staff’s deputy directorate for special op- erations and counterterrorism, and Cook is a division chief on the Joint Staff’s deputy directorate for global operations. Their paper is part of AUSA’s new Harding Papers series, which was launched in conjunction with the Army’s Harding Project, which aims to revitalize scholarship and writing across the force. Incoming leaders should create a vision and purpose statements that can “reach and resonate with the most junior soldiers and civilians in the organization,” the authors write. “When the Army talks about pur- pose and legacy, it talks about us ‘being a part of something bigger’; Lt. Col. Jon Richardson, left, of the Utah Army National Guard passes the guidon to Capt. Jeffrey Brenchley Nov. 16 during a change-of-command ceremony at Camp Williams, Utah, where Brenchley assumed command of the 128th Mobile Public Af- fairs Detachment. (U.S ARMY PHOTO) AUSA members can save on Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times, Marine Corps Times and Defense News by visiting https://offers.armytimes.com/ausa- offer/ and save 60% on Stars and Stripes with promo code AUSA60 at https://ww2.stripes.com/ausa. although your purpose and vision should be tailored to the organiza- tion, do not discount the need to fit into the bigger Army picture—even when your command is nontradition- al,” the authors write. Commanders “must be prepared to ‘loosen the reigns’ as quickly as [they] tighten them” and “be com- fortable with delegating tasks, and trust that they will be completed to standard,” according to the authors. Regardless of the type of unit, “leading America’s sons and daugh- ters in our armed forces is an unpar- alleled privilege,” the authors write. “While the role of the commander in nontraditional units certainly comes with distinct challenges and issues, as does any command, each leader must remember that, no mat- ter the circumstances, a command is a command,” the authors write. “It is not a privilege or a responsibility to be taken lightly—and it is certainly neither a guarantee nor a right for any commander.” Read the paper here.www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY 6 AUSA Extra | December 19, 2024 Traditions help connect soldiers, families with the Army Holly Dailey, left, AUSA's Family Readiness director, David Fulton, right, president of the association's European Region, and AUSA mascot Sgt. R. Hero congratulate the European Region Volunteer Family of the Year, Cpl. Marvin Lopez and his wife, Caitlyn. (AUSA PHOTO) W hether it’s the family you’re born into or your Army family, traditions are a vi- tal part of our culture, forming the structure and foundation of our fami- lies. Traditions contribute to a sense of comfort and belonging, bringing people together and helping them connect with one another. The Army is built on traditions and customs, and as a result, its members share a common experi- ence. One longstanding tradition in November is when Army leaders put aprons over their uniforms and serve Thanksgiving dinner to soldiers and their families. For some soldiers, this may be their first time away from home. Se- nior leaders serving dinner provides unity and reinforces the concept of servant leadership. Family Readiness During Thanksgiving this year, Holly Dailey, Family Readiness di- rector for the Association of the U.S. Army, and other leaders from the as- sociation’s national headquarters were honored to participate in this Army tradition by serving dinner to soldiers and families alongside members of AUSA’s GEN Creighton W. Abrams chapter at the Clay Kaserne dining facility in Wiesbaden, Germany. Another tradition Dailey partici- pated in was thanking our volun- teers. The AUSA Family Readiness directorate was excited to honor the association’s European Region Vol- unteer Family of the Year, Cpl. Mar- vin Lopez and his family from the Abrams chapter. Lopez and his wife, Caitlyn, were recognized for more than 1,000 hours of volunteer service organizing morale events for soldiers and families and hosting community fundraisers to support the 66th Mili- tary Intelligence Brigade Soldier and Family Readiness Group. For many people, this time of year is filled with a variety of customs and traditions—familiar activities that provide comfort for both adults and children. Family traditions during the holidays can help manage expec- tations and provide a sense of stabil- ity, especially if your soldier is away from home. Cindy Risch is AUSA's Family Readiness program manager. AUSA staff and chapter members donate toys for military families Thea Green, AUSA's deputy director of Family Readiness, assembles toys donated by the association's national headquarters staff for junior enlisted soldiers and their fami- lies. The gifts were distributed at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort Belvoir in Virginia by AUSA's George Washington and Potomac Liberty chapters. (AUSA PHOTO)www.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY December 19, 2024 | AUSA Extra 7 Chapter fundraiser benefits Fisher House Foundation Members of AUSA's Greater Augusta-Fort Eisenhower chapter in Georgia present a $54,000 donation to the Fisher House Foundation. (AUSA PHOTO) T he Association of the U.S. Army’s Greater Augusta-Fort Eisenhower chapter in Georgia recently advanced AUSA's mission to support soldiers, veterans and their families with a $54,000 donation to the Fisher House Foundation. Chapter board members retired Col. Thom Tuckey and Bruce Fletch- er presented the check to representa- tives of the founda- tion at the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which hosts one of two local Fisher House locations. The second is on the installation. The chapter was forced to cancel its annual Military Appreciation Banquet that benefits the local Fish- er Houses because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. “Even though the event was canceled, all sponsors remained dedicated to sup- Greater Augusta-Fort Eisenhower Eagle Chapters The following chapters attained Eagle status for November by showing positive membership growth. The number of consecutive months of growth since July 1 is shown in parentheses. Allegheny-Blue Ridge (5) Arkansas (5) Captain Meriwether Lewis (5) Central California (5) Central Texas (5) Central Virginia (5) Chattahoochee Valley-Fort Moore (5) Delaware (5) Denver Centennial (5) Fires (5) First In Battle (5) Fort Campbell (5) Fort Knox (5) Fort Riley-Central Kansas (5) Gem State (5) Greater Atlanta (5) Henry Leavenworth (5) Houston Metroplex (5) Indiana (5) Joshua Chamberlain (5) Magnolia (5) Marne (5) Massachusetts Bay (5) MG William F. Dean (5) Milwaukee (5) National Training Center-High Desert (5) North Texas-Audie Murphy (5) Northern New Jersey (5) Pikes Peak (5) Puerto Rico (5) San Diego (5) St. Louis Gateway (5) Thunderbird (5) Connecticut (4) Ethan Allen (4) First Militia (4) GEN Creighton W. Abrams (4) Lafayette (4) Monmouth (4) Tucson-Goyette (4) GEN William C. Westmoreland (2) Hellenic (1) Isthmian (1) porting the Fisher Houses with their donations,” the chapter said in a Facebook post. Tuckey shared the chapter’s grati- tude to the sponsors who stood by their commitment to an organization that serves military families. “Fisher Houses provide the op- portunity for service member fami- lies, active-duty retirees, veterans, free lodging while their loved ones are being treated in area hospitals,” Tuckey said. “So, it really takes a fi- nancial burden off of them.”Next >