Army Secretary Christine Wormuth has laid out an ambitious plan for addressing some of the biggest challenges facing the force. She said her plans look at making a brighter future for the Army. 

At the top of her list is putting the Army on a solid and sustainable path. This is a challenge not made any easier by the “lack of certainty” in available funding, Wormuth said Feb. 8 at virtual event hosted by the Center for a New American Security, a Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan research group focused on defense and national security policy. 

She expressed hope and confidence that the Army will get the funding it needs when Congress ultimately passes a long-delayed defense budget. The Army needs to continue its transformation while coping with growing problems recruiting a quality force and caring for people and infrastructure, Wormuth said. 

In a memorandum to the force, Wormuth said the Army is “navigating an unpredictable future,” as is the nation. 

Facing the biggest adjustment in the Army in more than 40 years, she’s concerned about keeping momentum in modernization programs, and she accepts the possibility that some changes might be made depending on what works and what might need more time. 

Moving quickly on new programs isn’t easy, she said, using as an example the Army’s experience with the Integrated Visual Augmentation System, a high-tech goggle that could provide dramatically expanded capabilities. The program has shown it is possible to adopt and modify commercially available products even though there are still problems to resolve.  

In addition to putting the Army on a solid and sustainable path, Wormuth unveiled five other objectives, including creating a more data-centric force and adjusting to climate change.  

Her other three objectives are aimed at people. She wants to improve command climates across the force and reduce bad behaviors like harassment, racism and extremism. She also wants to adapt to what she expects is a more competitive environment for recruiting and retaining top talent.  

This is a big and wide portfolio, she acknowledges, and it could involve making some changes in staffing and organization. 

Wormuth’s memo outlining her objectives is available here.