The Association of the U.S. Army has launched a new publication series in conjunction with the Army’s Harding Project, which aims to revitalize scholarship and writing across the force.

The Harding Papers series seeks to complement that effort by providing a platform for innovative ideas and engaging new writers. To create The Harding Papers, AUSA has partnered with Army University Press to host the LTG (Ret.) James M. Dubik Writing Fellows Program, a voluntary, non-resident writing fellowship to encourage discourse that contributes to a community of military and national security professionals.

The Harding Papers series published by AUSA exclusively highlights the work and scholarship of the Dubik Writing Fellows. 

The first two papers are now available here.

In the first paper, “Slick Sleeves,” author Maj. Ryan Crayne asserts that potential future conflicts can benefit from previous combat experience, but also from novel ideas by soldiers who have never been to combat.

Items on soldiers’ uniforms, such as combat patches worn on the right sleeve, can symbolize expertise earned through the crucible of war, but true expertise is not assessed through what’s worn on a uniform. Instead, it’s forged daily through rigorous training, diverse operational experiences and continuous professional development, writes Crayne, who is an Army marketing and behavioral economics officer who has served in leader­ship and combat roles in the 1st Infantry Division, 75th Ranger Regiment and 82nd Airborne Division.

Authors Capt. Matthew Moellering and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Nicholas Vettore write in their paper, “Find, Fix, Commit: How Commanders Will Win the Next Conflict with Software,” that the demands of modern warfare will require commanders to integrate software practices to gain a decisive advantage in conflict.

Moellering previously served at the Army Artificial Intelligence and Integration Center after completing the AI Scholar Program, and Vettore is serving at the Artificial Intelligence Factory at the Artificial Intelligence Integration Center.

Learn more about the Dubik Writing Fellows Program here.