ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

“Ready Today, More Lethal Tomorrow,” is the theme of the Association of the United States Army’s 2018 Annual Meeting and Exposition, Oct.8 – 10, in Washington, D.C.

The theme, focusing on the rebuilding efforts underway across the Army, will set the tone for speeches, military forums, industry and military exhibits, and special presentations from senior Defense Department and Army leaders.

The Army-selected the meeting theme that recognizes the message Army leaders have been sending throughout the force.

Army Secretary Mark T. Esper said in a recent speech in Colorado that a renaissance is...

This time of year, many of us are busy with back to school activities.

Don’t forget your AUSA member discounts on electronics that will help with the purchase of PCs, Macs, tablets and more.

Apple, Dell and HP all offer special discounts for AUSA Members.

Apple – Your AUSA membership qualifies you for preferred pricing on many of the latest Apple products and accessories. Discount is on Macs, iPads, AppleCare and some Apple Accessories
(iPods/watch/iPhone/Apple TV are not included in program.)

Visit www.ausa.org/apple or mention AUSA when you’re shopping in an Apple Store.

The online store does...

In his new job as commander of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Gen. Stephen J. Townsend brings deep combat and operational experience to an assignment he had never considered before—commanding the part of the Army that recruits, trains and educates the soldiers he’s led into battle.

During 36 years in the Army, assignment to the machine that churns out the newest soldiers and molds them into professional leaders had eluded Townsend. Now at Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), he is at the helm of one of the Army’s four major commands and responsible for the Army’s doctrine and...

In discussing the Army’s mission, Secretary of the Army Mark T. Esper said, “We are a team that plays away games, which means you have to be able to deploy.” This ability to deploy is key to the Army’s mission.

Each service brings an important component to the joint fight. The Navy enables the U.S. to project power in the maritime domain while the Air Force provides unparalleled dominance in the sky. The soldier enables the nation to dominate on land. Formations of soldiers, working as finely honed teams, provide the joint force with the ability to occupy territory and achieve the United States...

In discussing the Army’s mission, Secretary of the Army Mark T. Esper said, “We are a team that plays away games, which means you have to be able to deploy.” This ability to deploy is key to the Army’s mission.

Each service brings an important component to the joint fight. The Navy enables the U.S. to project power in the maritime domain while the Air Force provides unparalleled dominance in the sky. The soldier enables the nation to dominate on land. Formations of soldiers, working as finely honed teams, provide the joint force with the ability to occupy territory and achieve the United States...

In discussing the Army’s mission, Secretary of the Army Mark T. Esper said, “We are a team that plays away games, which means you have to be able to deploy.” This ability to deploy is key to the Army’s mission.

Each service brings an important component to the joint fight. The Navy enables the U.S. to project power in the maritime domain while the Air Force provides unparalleled dominance in the sky. The soldier enables the nation to dominate on land. Formations of soldiers, working as finely honed teams, provide the joint force with the ability to occupy territory and achieve the United States...

In 1778, recognizing the need to quickly improve the capability and discipline of the Continental Army, Gen. George Washington appointed a young Prussian volunteer, Baron Friedrich von Steuben, to serve as inspector general of the Army. Von Steuben’s mission was to develop and oversee a program that would increase readiness.

Under Washington’s authority, von Steuben built a corps of expertly trained soldiers who assisted unit commanders in identifying problems, establishing standards and developing training programs that improved the readiness and discipline of the Continental Army.

This was the...

There is new vigor to an old campaign of integrating simulations into Army training. And why not? Simulations can allow soldiers and units to maximize field training by achieving learning goals beforehand. Soldiers can get the repetitions needed to master critical tasks, reduce the stress of unpreparedness and explore environments not readily available to them. But while simulations offer these and other benefits, there are reasons to doubt whether they can be all Army leaders hope they will be.

Many simulations are major enablers to Army training. Flight simulator hours are required for pilots...

There is new vigor to an old campaign of integrating simulations into Army training. And why not? Simulations can allow soldiers and units to maximize field training by achieving learning goals beforehand. Soldiers can get the repetitions needed to master critical tasks, reduce the stress of unpreparedness and explore environments not readily available to them. But while simulations offer these and other benefits, there are reasons to doubt whether they can be all Army leaders hope they will be.

Many simulations are major enablers to Army training. Flight simulator hours are required for pilots...

“The character of war is changing, but the nature of war is not.” So goes one of today’s most sacred mantras. From one perspective, the mantra is right; from another, it is dangerously wrong.

The character of war, that is to say, the conduct of war, is changing, has always changed, and will continue to change. Why? Because war’s conduct is a function of the realities present at any given historical period. Wars are conducted using the weapons and equipment of available technology; they are fought and waged using the reigning organizational constructs; and all wars use the people that a...

Imagine you have just reported to your first unit as a second lieutenant. Luckily for you, there is a platoon open, and you will immediately become a platoon leader.

However, while you were at your officer basic course, Congress changed some laws and moved some responsibilities so that what you were taught in your military science classes doesn’t necessarily apply anymore.

Bear with me; this is just a thought experiment and not reality – yet. But continue imagining that as you take over the platoon, you find out that you will not be the primary rater for your noncommissioned officers. Instead, a...

Military families are no strangers to stress.

With constant transitions, deployments, separations, and at times, isolation, military family members can see a rise in physical and behavioral symptoms that can escalate into disease and poor mental health.

But what can you do when your life feels overwhelming, your schedules are packed full of activities, and you find yourself solo parenting more often than not?

The Department of Defense and many academic and private organizations have banded together to provide you many avenues of support.

Here are a few of our favorites.

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As this issue of AUSA News goes to press, lawmakers from the House and Senate Armed Services Committees continue to work on a final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal 2019.

AUSA has weighed in on two provisions we believe would have a detrimental effect on military health care.

In a July 13 letter to the committee leadership, retired Gen. Carter F. Ham, AUSA president and CEO, outlined our concern with sections 711 and 712 of the Senate NDAA.

The 2017 defense policy bill moved the military treatment facilities (MTFs) from the services to under the control of the Defense Health...

Greetings from the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), our Army’s association for education and professional development, and a major supporter of the Army’s Soldier for Life efforts.

The month of June 2018 marked a significant milestone in the history of NCO and soldier education as the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) effectively changed its name to the NCO Leadership Center of Excellence (NCOL CoE) on June 22, 2018.

USASMA was founded July 1, 1972, as a capstone, premier learning institution for senior enlisted leaders with Col. Carl Morton, commandant, and...

The demand for space and missile defense capabilities continues to grow in response to the complex array of challenges to our nation from foreign adversaries, said the U.S. Army Space and Missile Command/Army Forces Strategic Command’s (USASMDC/ARSTRAT) senior civilian leader.

James Johnson, USASMDC/ARSTRAT’s deputy to the commander, discussed the increasingly complex threat environment during the AUSA Missile Symposium in Huntsville, July 10.

“Over the next 10 years we’ll no doubt expand the list of threat systems and capabilities we’ll need to defend against,” he said. “We have to sharpen our...