ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

As it looks for lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war, the U.S. military should take stock of its preparedness for large-scale conflict and act decisively to remedy any shortfalls, according to a new paper from the Association of the U.S. Army.

“The Russia-Ukraine War One Year In: Implications for the U.S. Army,” published as part of AUSA’s Spotlight series, highlights several observations after a year of brutal fighting in Ukraine and discusses how the U.S. Army can prepare for the future.

Initiatives to sharpen soldier fitness, leadership skills and readiness continue to be top priorities for Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston as he enters the last six months of his tenure as the Army’s senior enlisted leader.

The Army is expanding its new course for recruits who need to get in better physical shape or improve their test scores before going to basic training. 

Launched in August as a pilot at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, the Future Soldier Preparatory Course is designed to give selected recruits the boost they need to meet the Army’s academic and physical standards and qualify to become soldiers. 

American soldiers continue to reassure NATO allies and partners in Europe as the war in Ukraine grinds on and the potential for miscalculation continues to threaten the region.

Speaking one day after a missile strike killed two people in Poland, Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville warned that a regional conflict carries global implications.

A new combat training center in the Indo-Pacific, the first established by the Army in 50 years, will provide more realistic training and place troops forward and ready to operate in that theater, leaders said.

The war in Ukraine illuminates several important features of the Russian military and warfare, according to the author of a new paper published by the Association of the U.S. Army.

As they observe the brutal Russia-Ukraine war from the sidelines, U.S. Army units in Europe have been making moves to update components, become more combat-effective and better integrate with allies on their “home turf.”

The Army must be ready to fight whenever and wherever it is needed, the service’s senior leaders said.

“We are at an inflection point in the United States,” Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said. “We need to be ready to fight tomorrow, and we need to fight every single day after that. … Don't ever forget … your job is to protect the nation and fight and win the nation’s wars.”

On an increasingly complex and dangerous future battlefield, the Army must be able to see, act and react quickly and more persistently to maintain its edge over its adversaries, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said.