ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

The Army is continuing its march toward “irreversible” modernization by finding innovative ways to solve problems and delivering leap-ahead technology to soldiers, the commander of the U.S. Army Futures Command said.

Army staffs, especially at the division and corps levels, remain unprepared to effectively conduct and manage urban operations, even as the service expects to fight its next battle in the mess and chaos of a densely populated area, according to a recent report.

The Army hopes with its $178 billion budget for 2021 to create “irreversible momentum toward a ready, modernized, multidomain Army, capable to meet future demands,” Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said March 3 during the first of many hearings where he’ll ask Congress to provide critical support.

The Army will have to adapt its range capabilities, from the combat training centers to training areas on installations around the world, as the service fields new weapons systems and vehicles, a senior Army official said.

Momentum is the key word for 2020 at the U.S. Army Futures Command, says its commander, Gen. Mike Murray.

Twenty small business and technology companies will demonstrate their innovations during the Association of the U.S. Army’s Global Force Symposium and Exposition as part of the fourth round of the Army’s XTechSearch competition.

As the Army moves ahead with a “very aggressive” modernization effort, the service will face some difficult decisions as prototypes for key weapons systems become reality, senior leaders said.

As the Army moves to replace its aging fleet of helicopters, the service must carefully manage long-term costs as it brings the next-generation aircraft into the force, according to a recent report.

The Army must continue to move quickly to modernize, equip and train the force for the next war so it can maintain an edge over near-peer competitors such as Russia and China, the service’s top uniformed leader said.

Winning, not trying hard, is the ultimate goal of the U.S. Army, Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said Jan. 21 in a speech at the National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.