A code of ethics … cannot be developed overnight by edict or official pronouncement. It is developed by years of practice and performance of duty according to high ethical standards. It must be self-policing. Without such a code, a professional soldier or a group soon loses its identity and effectiveness.—Sgt. Maj. of the Army Silas L. Copeland, 1972The shared principles and convictions we call the NCO Creed have stood the test of time, guiding numerous generations of NCOs. Elements of this creed date back to Gen. Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, the Prussian military advisor to Gen. George...
The nation’s foundational force for more than 239 years, the U.S. Army has defended America’s freedom, prosperity and way of life. There is no stronger symbol of American resolve than boots on the ground, and I have no doubt that the Army and its landpower will continue to be a critical, strategic element of national defense in the foreseeable future.That doesn’t mean the Army isn’t facing challenges, some of which are very serious. While the importance of its role as a critical hedge against an uncertain future is clearly apparent in today’s security environment, today’s Army leaders are...
It’s been said by some that while history doesn’t repeat itself, it certainly does rhyme. I’m a firm believer in that whimsical proverb, especially when it comes to the business of running the U.S. Army.Forty-one years ago, the 26th Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Creighton W. Abrams Jr., and one of my predecessors, Secretary of the Army Robert F. Froehlke, began the long, slow process of rebuilding, resizing and modernizing the U.S. Army after more than 12 years of heavy fighting in the Republic of Vietnam. By March 1973, all U.S. combat forces had been withdrawn from Vietnam and all U.S. prisoners...
Today, we live in a dynamic and uncertain security environment with challenges across every continent. In an era of increased competition for resources, shifting alliances, empowered networks, unprecedented information access and quickening devolutions of power, it has never been more important to sustain a highly trained, professional force that is able to provide expeditionary, decisive landpower tailored and scaled to perform missions across the entire range of military operations.Hostile nation-state and nonstate actors aim to influence the human dimension of conflict. They sow instability...
In July, AUSA and the Army lost a great friend and supporter. Former Secretary of the Army Martin R. Hoffman died of cancer on July 14.After completing a degree in English literature at Princeton University in 1954, he enlisted in the Army. He was subsequently commissioned from Officer Candidate School and served in the 101st Airborne Division until 1958. He then entered the University of Virginia Law School, graduating 1961 with L.L.B. degree.Hoffman’s career was extraordinary and extraordinarily varied. He was an Assistant United States Attorney and served as clerk for a judge on the U.S...
It was a historic performance for U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit shooters at the National Rifle Association National Pistol Championship as Service Pistol Team members took the top three positions out of 656 competitors.Staff Sgt. Patrick Franks claimed the coveted national title with a total score of 2649 out of 2700.The runner-up was Sgt. 1st Class James Henderson and third place went to Sgt. Greg Markowski.To top it off, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit won the overall team championship to complete the sweep."I don’t think there has been team domination like this at nationals, ever," Henderson...
In August 6, 2011, the Taliban shot down a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan, call sign Extortion 17, carrying a Special Operations Forces (SOF) team of 30 American warriors and a military working dog, along with seven Afghan commandos and a civilian interpreter.All perished in what was the largest single-day loss of life in Operation Enduring Freedom and in the history of U.S. Naval Special Warfare.Will Thomas, a schoolboy from Virginia moved by the courage of the fallen and a commitment to aid their loved ones, launched Operation Hawkeye (OHe) to honor the 8.6.2011 heroes and rally...
As I report seemingly endlessly, the regular defense authorization and appropriation legislation are moving forward in both houses of Congress in fits and starts, but time is beginning to run out if Congress is to avoid the use of continuing resolutions to fund our national defense.At this writing there are two more weeks in July available for the Senate to pass its version of the defense authorization bill through the Armed Services Committee and if history is any indication, that just will not happen.Also, the Senate Appropriations Committee has announced it will mark up the Senate version...
President’s Club(Chapters attaining membership goal 12, 11 or 10 months) Gold (12 out of 12)Arizona TerritorialArsenal of DemocracyCapital District of New YorkCaptain Meriwether LewisCarlisle Barracks – Cumberland ValleyCentral OhioConnecticutFirst MilitiaGA Omar BradleyGen. John W. Vessey, Jr.Gen. William C. WestmorelandGreater Kansas CityKuwaitMaj. Samuel WoodfillNorth TexasNorthern New JerseyRedstone – HuntsvilleRhode IslandRock Island ArsenalSpace CoastSt. Lewis GatewaySunshineTexas Capital AreaTobyhanna Army DepotTri – StateTucson – GoyetteWilliam Penn Bronze (10 of 12 months)Greater Los...
The value of serving in the unit and in combat resides in the relationships we have with people. It doesn’t reside in the medals," said former Staff Sgt. Ryan M. Pitts.Pitts was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama during a White House ceremony July 21. On July 22, Pitts was inducted into the Hall of Heroes during a Pentagon ceremony.Following the induction ceremony, Pitts and four of his battle buddies who served with him on the day his valorous actions took place, July 13, 2008, spoke at a media roundtable held in the Pentagon.Pitts said he never wanted any of the awards he...
Former Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts was inducted into the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes on July 22, the day after receiving the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama, for his bravery in combat at Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, July 13, 2008."While the Medal of Honor is awarded to an individual, it is anything but an individual achievement. It is ours, not mine," said Pitts. "I will wear it for everyone there that day, especially for those we couldn’t bring home."Pitts began his acceptance speech with a quote from Steven Pressfield’s book "The Afghan Campaign," which he...
Greetings from the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), our Army’s and our soldiers’ professional organization.I had the honor to accompany Gen. Carter Ham, USA, Ret., former U.S. Africa Command commander and AUSA’s newest senior fellow, on a trip to Germany and Italy during late June.I joined General Ham in Grafenwoehr, Germany, where he was visiting the Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC).We had the opportunity to visit and talk with Brig. Gen. Walter Piatt, JMTC commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Huggins, JMTC command sergeant major.We observed the students and cadre...
Trusted Professionals – Today and Tomorrow," the theme of the Association of the United States Army’s 2014 Annual Meeting and Exposition, will set the tone for speeches, industry and military exhibits, and special presentations from senior Defense Department and Army leaders on subjects relating to today’s Army and the Army of the future.The AUSA meeting – A Professional Development Forum – will focus on panel discussions; Contemporary Military Forums; Military Family Forums; and special multimedia presentations and educational workshops that reinforce, examine and showcase the Army – the...
The Army wants to put the right people in the right jobs at the right time – especially with shrinking budgets and manpower, and an uncertain global security environment.But, does it do that very well?Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ray Odierno asked a group of captains how they think those talent-management efforts are working and what improvements, if any, are needed.Better interaction between the soldier and his or her branch manager is necessary and the process needs more transparency, said Capt. Paul Lushenko, noting this has been a perennial and festering problem.He added that the Army...
In addition to my recent testimony before Congress about the need to end sequestration now and about military personnel issues, both AUSA vice president Lt. Gen. Guy Swan, USA, Ret., and I have met with the congressionally-created Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission.The commission was mandated by the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act to conduct an independent, comprehensive review of military compensation and benefit programs in order to make modernization recommendations to Congress and the administration.Lt. Gen. Swan and I expressed to the...