Luck, Superstition and the Eyes in the SkiesBy Nancy Barclay GravesSurprised at Being Alive: An Accidental Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam and Beyond. Robert F. Curtis. Casemate Publishers. 297 pages. $32.95.
Luck, Superstition and the Eyes in the SkiesBy Nancy Barclay GravesSurprised at Being Alive: An Accidental Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam and Beyond. Robert F. Curtis. Casemate Publishers. 297 pages. $32.95.
In an ever-changing world, the Army needs to be able to measure soldiers’ cognitive abilities, and training and doctrine need to keep up. Like foot size, cognitive abilities and mental processes are not the same for everyone. By measuring a soldier’s brain function—perception, memory, control over motor functions and decisionmaking—trainers, educators and weapon developers could find ways of increasing human performance.Although some may jokingly argue that feet are more important for an infantryman than his brain, those who understand the profession know the cognitive component is critical to...
Counseling, coaching and mentoring are three vitally important leader development activities for maintaining excellence and professionalism among the Army’s officers, NCOs and civilians. Each activity serves a different purpose. Counseling allows subordinates to receive constructive feedback from their supervisors to improve duty performance. Coaching is how leaders guide their subordinates toward achieving higher levels of knowledge and skills. Mentoring is for more transformational purposes, accelerating the development of professional expertise, maturity, and conceptual and team-building...
Counseling, coaching and mentoring are three vitally important leader development activities for maintaining excellence and professionalism among the Army’s officers, NCOs and civilians. Each activity serves a different purpose. Counseling allows subordinates to receive constructive feedback from their supervisors to improve duty performance. Coaching is how leaders guide their subordinates toward achieving higher levels of knowledge and skills. Mentoring is for more transformational purposes, accelerating the development of professional expertise, maturity, and conceptual and team-building...
What does it really mean to be expeditionary? The word has been invoked frequently of late, often as shorthand for the kinds of missions expected of an Army shifting away from prolonged ground conflicts.Expeditionary is more than a buzzword. It encapsulates a different mindset: a force ready to be task-organized and deployed on short notice to austere locations and capable of conducting operations immediately upon arrival. This new paradigm is a substantial break from the way the Army has done business for the last decade-plus of war. It also has significant implications for the way we train...
What does it really mean to be expeditionary? The word has been invoked frequently of late, often as shorthand for the kinds of missions expected of an Army shifting away from prolonged ground conflicts.Expeditionary is more than a buzzword. It encapsulates a different mindset: a force ready to be task-organized and deployed on short notice to austere locations and capable of conducting operations immediately upon arrival. This new paradigm is a substantial break from the way the Army has done business for the last decade-plus of war. It also has significant implications for the way we train...
Before the anger and the divorce, before four tours to Iraq and Afghanistan, before the explosions and the pain, Staff Sgt. Daedan Jackson had been just a kid planning to go to school.“It just sort of happened,” said Jackson, now 34, on joining the Army. His girlfriend at the time was in ROTC, and the plan was that she would join while he went to school. “The next thing I knew, I was the one at the MEPS [military entrance processing station] taking the oath.” That was in August 1999. “I didn’t think it would be a good career choice. I didn’t like people telling me what to do, but when you have...
The Association of the United States Army’s Council of Trustees re-elected five members to serve on the Association’s council – AUSA’s governing body.The council met April 27 at the Association’s national headquarters in Arlington, Va.Re-elected to serve as trustees for additional three-year terms were: Thomas Arseneault; Christopher M. Chadwick; Richard H. Edwards; Maj. Gen. Patricia P. Hickerson, USA, Ret.; and Gen. Carl E. Vuono, USA, Ret.Nicholas D. Chabraja was elected to serve as chairman for another year.In addition, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack L. Tilley, USA, Ret., vice chairman for...
The AUSA Institute of Land Warfare (ILW) has recently released two new publications."The Army Operating Concept 2020-2040" (Defense Report 15-1, April 2015) outlines the challenging future operating environment that the Army faces.This environment is unknown, unknowable and constantly changing.To meet these challenges, the Army has created the new Army Operating Concept (AOC) to address prompt conduct of joint operations to prevent conflict, shape security environments and win wars.The AOC describes how the future Army forces will operate to accomplish campaign objectives and protect U.S...
It about 4:30 a.m. on April 30, after almost 19 hours of debate, the House Armed Services Committee passed its version of the fiscal 2016 Defense Authorization Bill by a vote of 60-2.The bill would authorize $515 billion in national defense funding, $495.9 billion for the Pentagon’s base budget and $19 billion for national security programs within the Energy Department.It would also provide $89.2 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), some $38.3 billion above the president’s request.The added funds, authorized for operations and maintenance within the DoD’s base budget, were used to...
AUSA chapters and members are encouraged to submit proposed resolutions to the 2015 AUSA Resolutions Committee for consideration.Prior to the Association’s Annual Meeting, Oct. 12-14, committee members will review the resolutions that will become the Association’s objectives for 2016.Proposed resolutions may be submitted on line at www.ausa.org – "Legislative Agenda – Submit a Resolution."We encourage you to use this format.A guide to resolutions’ submission may also be obtained from AUSA chapters. Submissions not in compliance with the guide will be returned to the originator.Submissions may...
As a member-based organization, the Association of the United States Army annually solicits proposed resolutions from its membership.Throughout the spring and summer months, individual members and chapters are invited to submit proposed resolutions aimed at enhancing the Army – its equipment, capabilities, and the quality of life of its soldiers and their families.AUSA standing advisory committees are also asked for resolutions.The Council of Trustees appoints the national Resolutions Committee at its spring quarterly meeting.The committee is appointed from nominations received from throughout...
On April 15, AUSA Family Readiness partnered with the Fort Bliss Gen. of the Army Omar Bradley Chapter and the Army Community Service (ACS) office to host a Military Family Forum titled "Be Your Own Ambassador: Making Volunteerism Work for You."Speakers at the forum represented Points of Light, American Red Cross, In Gear Career, Military Spouse Employment Partnership, ACS Employment Readiness Office and SHRM.Here are six of the best tips from the day:1. Volunteer with a purpose. Don’t just walk in and take any volunteer position.Know before you go what type of position you want.Use...
Greetings from the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), our Army’s and our soldiers’ professional organization.The 32nd Annual David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition kicked off with 51 two-man Ranger buddy teams.Running 60 hours in duration, the competition places extreme demands on each buddy team’s physical, mental, technical and tactical skills as Rangers.This year’s competition was won by Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Lemma and Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Briggs, representing the Fort Benning Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade.For Briggs, this was his second victory in the competition...