ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

A societal rift is silently and rapidly widening between America and its Army. On one side is the Army, with a clear vision of its future that requires highly qualified volunteers. On the other is a youth population whose qualification and desire for service are quickly eroding. In the middle is a society that publicly applauds its soldiers but is not connected with, able to fund, or willing to provide real support to its Army.

Few seem fully aware of the expanding split. Problematically, the ongoing force reduction further masks their divergence. Unless we make significant adjustments and...

A societal rift is silently and rapidly widening between America and its Army. On one side is the Army, with a clear vision of its future that requires highly qualified volunteers. On the other is a youth population whose qualification and desire for service are quickly eroding. In the middle is a society that publicly applauds its soldiers but is not connected with, able to fund, or willing to provide real support to its Army.

Few seem fully aware of the expanding split. Problematically, the ongoing force reduction further masks their divergence. Unless we make significant adjustments and...

A societal rift is silently and rapidly widening between America and its Army. On one side is the Army, with a clear vision of its future that requires highly qualified volunteers. On the other is a youth population whose qualification and desire for service are quickly eroding. In the middle is a society that publicly applauds its soldiers but is not connected with, able to fund, or willing to provide real support to its Army.

Few seem fully aware of the expanding split. Problematically, the ongoing force reduction further masks their divergence. Unless we make significant adjustments and...

Three soldiers from the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program earned nominations for the U.S. Olympic Luge Team for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.Team USA luge coach Staff Sgt. Bill Tavares will lead Sgt. Matt Mortensen and Sgt. Preston Griffall, who secured their spot with a ninth-place finish in doubles at the Luge World Cup stop, Dec. 13, at Utah Olympic Park.The U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program, or WCAP, duo completed its first run down the 1,335-meter track that features 15 curves in 43.948 seconds, followed by a shakier slide down the mountain in 44.132 seconds – for a...

AUSA needs you!! A last minute budget agreement passed by Congress included a provision that would negatively affect the calculation of the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for under-age-62 military retirees.The bill would require a 1-percent reduction in COLA for military retirees until they reach age 62.As you can imagine, this ill-advised provision has created a firestorm.In addition to meetings on Capitol Hill with lawmakers determined to repeal the provision, AUSA President Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret., has also sent letters to all members of Congress outlining his strong opposition...

AUSA, with your help, has fought since the beginning of sequestration to end the arbitrary, cookie-cutter approach to deficit reduction.Now, along with you, we will fight with equal vigor to undo the provision of the new law that creates an enormous penalty for current and future military retirees who protect and defend this nation.We will work with the many members of Congress who agree with us to eliminate the working-age COLA reduction before its implementation in 2015.There is an old saying that there is no gain without pain.That saying certainly applies to the budget deal which was passed...

The network is under attack!Cyber attacks are a daily reality and are growing in sophistication and complexity.How does the Army keep pace with this evolving threat and defend its network?Fifteen soldiers made history when they were awarded the newest Army military occupational specialty (MOS), – 25D – cyber network defender, during a graduation ceremony held in Alexander Hall, Fort Gordon, Ga.Soldiers completed a 14-week course, considered rigorous for its curriculum, to learn the skills needed to meet the demand for cyber warfare."Cyberspace is composed of hundreds of thousands...

(Editor’s note: The following is a Letter to the Editor published in the Washington Post by Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret., president of the Association of the United States Army, which challenges the erroneous assumptions made in a Post article regarding military pay and benefits.) I read with dismay the December 26 article, "For Military, Benefits and Reform are Challenge," which demonizes our troops as unworthy of the benefits they receive while ignoring the challenges, sacrifices and hardships military personnel and their families face while providing the nation’s defense as volunteers...

Troopers with Combined Task Force Dragoon continue their mission of advising Afghan National Security Forces in preparation for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.Soldiers with O "Outlaw" Troop and P "Palehorse" Troop, 4th Squadron, Combined Task Force Dragoon, teamed up with Afghan Uniformed Police, known as the AUP, for a series of foot patrols at various checkpoints throughout Kandahar Province during the month of December during Operation Alamo Scout.The AUP has been conducting these missions to address security concerns they might face as they train and prepare for the...

When people remember the late Bob Marley, they don’t think of anything military. More than 30 years after his death, his smiling, dreadlocked visage still beams from countless T-shirts and posters. Savvy vendors often outline his famous face in the bright green, black and yellow hues that make up the flag of his native Jamaica. For many fans, Marley personifies Jamaica, and the first thing that comes to mind is certainly the driving reggae beat born and nurtured in the vibrant island nation. As we go about our daily routines, we often hear the infectious melodies of Marley’s greatest hits...

The U.S. Army’s core competencies extend well beyond sustained land combat. They adapt over time based on national strategy, changes in the operational environment and advances in technology to provide focus for capability and leader development. To be clear, the Army’s core competencies are higher-level organizational descriptions that are distinct from tactical missions and tasks. The Army currently recognizes two core competencies and seven enabling competencies, but these must be refined as the Army transitions from a force of execution to one of preparation.

The U.S. Army’s core competencies extend well beyond sustained land combat. They adapt over time based on national strategy, changes in the operational environment and advances in technology to provide focus for capability and leader development. To be clear, the Army’s core competencies are higher-level organizational descriptions that are distinct from tactical missions and tasks. The Army currently recognizes two core competencies and seven enabling competencies, but these must be refined as the Army transitions from a force of execution to one of preparation.

The U.S. Army’s core competencies extend well beyond sustained land combat. They adapt over time based on national strategy, changes in the operational environment and advances in technology to provide focus for capability and leader development. To be clear, the Army’s core competencies are higher-level organizational descriptions that are distinct from tactical missions and tasks. The Army currently recognizes two core competencies and seven enabling competencies, but these must be refined as the Army transitions from a force of execution to one of preparation.

Like a seasoned leader, Travis Watson is barking out orders, moving back and forth and gesturing all at once as he directs a group of high school football players on the field in the Alamodome in San Antonio."Put your toe ON the white line, not OVER the white line or BEHIND the white line," he said.Satisfied, he jots down the players’ names and corresponding jersey numbers as he moves down the line.Right now, Watson is making sure that the football players are in the right place at the right time.He is one of 20 ROTC cadets out on the field who, as marshals, are each in charge of a group.Watso...

Alabama golden boy Shaun Hamilton will joined the ranks of great All-American linebackers at the 14th Annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl.Hamilton, a linebacker at Carver High School in Montgomery, Ala., recently committed to the University of Alabama.He is ranked the number six linebacker in the ESPN300, 56th in the region and seventh in the state.Not only is he a top-ranking athlete, but is also carrying a 4.0 grade point average.For more than a decade, the colors of the U.S. Army have heralded the premier high school football game in the nation, showcasing athletes like Hamilton who...