ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

The Army is launching several initiatives to combat shortfalls in recruiting, but one simple technique can be utilized by every single soldier—telling their Army story in their hometowns.

“We need to tell our stories in our hometowns,” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston told a group of young leaders during the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Military families should look to family and community relationships to build connections, a panel of experts said Oct. 11 during the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2022 Annual Meeting and Exposition. 

“Connections are extremely important for our families because of the unique lifestyle that we live,” said Karen Halverson, an Army spouse and AUSA senior fellow. “Being able to connect with people is a useful topic, perhaps the most useful skill that I use as a Naval officer and a longtime Army spouse.”

The Army has water on the brain, facing climate-related problems of having too much water in some places and not enough in others. 

This mix results in the threat of storm-driven disasters in some areas, while some projections say that half of the world’s population will face severe water shortages by 2030, said Rachel Jacobson, the Army’s assistant secretary for installations, energy and environment.  

The commanding general of Army Training and Doctrine Command offered lessons on leadership and character to cadets during the Army Cadet Luncheon at the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2022 Annual Meeting and Exposition. 

Speaking Oct. 10, Gen. Gary Brito reflected on advice he was given during the second day of his in-processing as a second lieutenant. A leader “grabbed me by the shoulders, and said, ‘Hey, LT, let me tell you something. Always work for your soldiers, do not work for your evaluation report, and everything will be fine.’ ” 

The Army’s People First Task Force originated in 2020 following the disappearance and death of Fort Hood, Texas, soldier Spc. Vanessa Guillen and the resulting creation of the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee. 

But as the committee winds down its work after generating 70 recommendations for more effective unit leadership and better care of soldiers, task force commander Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie said he still has work ahead of him. 

The highlight of Day Two of AUSA 2022 is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Luncheon address by Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville, but there also will be many events for soldiers and family members.

On-site registration opens at 7 a.m.

The Army faces a “pretty significant task” as it transforms for the future battlefield, the new commander of Army Futures Command said.

Future warfare requires the Army to gather vastly more information from an ever-widening array of sensors without overwhelming an end user with such a tidal wave of data that it becomes useless, a panel of Army experts said. 

“We have a lot of work to do,” said Lt. Gen. Laura Potter, the deputy Army chief of staff for intelligence, G-2, in an Oct. 10 discussion about the importance of gathering data and using ground, space and aerial sensing in battles in 2030 and beyond. 

As they navigate the ups and downs of military life, Army families need grit to persevere and grow through the various challenges they face, military family leaders said Oct. 10.

Early results of a preparatory program for Army recruits “look pretty promising,” and the effort will soon be expanded if more progress is made, according to Army leaders.

“Depending on how that plays out in the next month or two, I think we will look at expanding that to some additional training sites, which would obviously help us,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said Oct. 10 during a press conference at the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2022 Annual Meeting and Exposition.

“The early results of [the program] look pretty promising,” she said.