ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

No business is organized perfectly, not even the most tremendous fighting force in the world. By no fault of its own, the U.S. military is structured in a way that units of the same branch follow similar structural guidelines to perform tasks. By design, multiple branches will employ overlapping capabilities.

There are many reasons why this is done, but does it work for every branch, such as the Army’s air defense artillery (ADA)?

In short, it’s debatable. Enemy aerial capabilities are a threat to every service, requiring them to maintain air defense capabilities. However, the Army’s...

No business is organized perfectly, not even the most tremendous fighting force in the world. By no fault of its own, the U.S. military is structured in a way that units of the same branch follow similar structural guidelines to perform tasks. By design, multiple branches will employ overlapping capabilities.

There are many reasons why this is done, but does it work for every branch, such as the Army’s air defense artillery (ADA)?

In short, it’s debatable. Enemy aerial capabilities are a threat to every service, requiring them to maintain air defense capabilities. However, the Army’s...

Pursuing civilian education in conjunction with military service can be a daunting task and can deter service members from furthering their education. Fortunately, the Army’s branches offer professional development programs that allow service members to pursue degrees, certifications and training. These programs are exemplary opportunities that afford service members the time and availability to better themselves.

“The [professional development program] is dedicated time set aside during an officer’s career that allows him or her to focus upon completing higher level educational degree...

Assessing the State of European Security

Future War and the Defence of Europe. John Allen, Frederick Ben Hodges and Julian Lindley-French. Oxford University Press. 326 pages. $32.95

By Lt. Col. Nathan Finney

What might an amalgamation of strategic analysis, practical experience and fiction tell us about our current and future security environment? The accomplished authors of Future War and the Defence of Europe have provided an answer.

Combining years of military leadership at various levels in Europe with decades of thought on European defense issues, retired Marine Corps Gen...

Historically, the prospect of a belt-tightening defense budget has fueled interservice squabbles. Such internecine conflict has proved uniformly nonproductive. When the service staffs fight each other for a bigger share of a smaller budgetary pie, it usually ends up exacerbating irresponsible funding cuts, with no service emerging better off than before the infighting began, and an overall erosion of essential military capabilities.

In an age when competition and warfare span every physical dimension, creating more interdependencies among the services than ever, the proposal to beggar one...

As the coronavirus spread worldwide, it kept finding the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research there to meet it. A command born as an expeditionary unit fighting disease wherever it threatened soldiers, the institute was uniquely placed to develop new COVID-19 diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics while also tracking the pandemic’s emotional toll on the force to inform unit commanders and leaders.

Part of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command—the Army’s lead agent for medical research, development and acquisition—the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), located...

What does This is My Squad mean to you? Who’s in your squad?

In U.S. Army Pacific, Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Brzak is the senior enlisted leader of the largest area of responsibility of the combatant commands. U.S. Army Pacific occupies over 52% of the Earth’s surface and is home to over 106,000 soldiers, families and Army civilians. It covers over 9,000 miles and spans 16 time zones that stretch from the Pacific coast, west of the international date line, to the Taj Mahal in India.

How does Brzak stay engaged? Every 30 days, he hosts a virtual This is My Squad panel, during which he has...

In May 2020, I called one of my closest friends to tell her of my selection as a principal on the fiscal 2021 command and key billet list. I told her that I was the only Black woman selected as a principal for the military intelligence branch. Of all the congratulatory comments I received, hers is the statement that had the greatest impact on me.

She said—with a clear mixture of awe and pride in her voice—“Octavia, you are the hope of slaves.”

Those words acutely remind me that it is impossible to ignore the bond that connects an “only” to the “hope” of those who fought and sacrificed...

Since its establishment in 1636, the National Guard has been employed in a wide set of missions around the globe. Recent domestic missions assisting with COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, aiding local authorities amid civil unrest and supporting the major national effort securing the 59th presidential inauguration represent important new chapters in its proud history.

National Guard leaders face an environment in which the likelihood, speed and complexity of these domestic operations are on the rise. To ensure our own team’s preparedness for these events, my battalion’s leaders and I have...

According to the Army People Strategy, the Army’s center of gravity is its people, and leaders must commit to innovation and thoughtful leadership. As military leaders progress and lead throughout their careers at different levels within the military, they often learn about leadership in professional development courses and on-the-job experiences.

Leaders also learn about management based on their requirements to oversee completion of important workplace projects. However, they may not be provided training on how being a better follower is critical to successful leadership and how to...

According to the Army People Strategy, the Army’s center of gravity is its people, and leaders must commit to innovation and thoughtful leadership. As military leaders progress and lead throughout their careers at different levels within the military, they often learn about leadership in professional development courses and on-the-job experiences.

Leaders also learn about management based on their requirements to oversee completion of important workplace projects. However, they may not be provided training on how being a better follower is critical to successful leadership and how to...

Stirring Account of a Lifetime of Service

Watchman at the Gates: A Soldier’s Journey from Berlin to Bosnia. Gen. George Joulwan With David Chanoff. University Press of Kentucky. (An AUSA title). $29.95

By Brig. Gen. John Brown, U.S. Army retired

Retired Gen. George Joulwan’s Watchman at the Gates: A Soldier’s Journey from Berlin to Bosnia provides a compelling mix of history, memoir and cogent insight. It will be invaluable to anyone interested in the Army and its experiences through the last third of the 20th century.

Beyond that, the book also speaks to issues and suggests...

A battalion was conducting a field training exercise in preparation for a combat training center rotation. The unit trained on tasks including brigade support area defense, displacement and reestablishment. The battalion commander ended the exercise on the sixth day, and the unit prepared to redeploy to the cantonment area.

The commander directed four M1120A4 trucks to make two convoy movements, both led by the transportation platoon leader. Without a convoy or movement briefing, the convoy made the first 90-minute movement to the cantonment area, dropped its cargo and returned to the...

As Army officers navigate their careers, they learn about leadership in professional development courses and through on-the-job experiences. They also learn about management based on their requirements to complete workplace projects.

It is key for Army officers to understand, apply and balance the art and science of managing and leading in their organizations early in their careers.

Leadership and management are complementary processes, and both are necessary. Good leaders do management, and good managers do leadership. The terms “leader” and “manager” are often confused and...

As Army officers navigate their careers, they learn about leadership in professional development courses and through on-the-job experiences. They also learn about management based on their requirements to complete workplace projects.

It is key for Army officers to understand, apply and balance the art and science of managing and leading in their organizations early in their careers.

Leadership and management are complementary processes, and both are necessary. Good leaders do management, and good managers do leadership. The terms “leader” and “manager” are often confused and...