PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 2 NUMBER 32 DECEMBER 10, 2020 Review Prompts Safety Improvements 3 Army Reserve CSM Speaks at AUSA Event 4 Government Affairs Defense Legislation Progresses 6 Chapter Highlight Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin presents the General Colin L. Powell Lecture for students of the 2019 Greater Los Angeles Command and General Staff Officers’ Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO) 7 Austin nominated for defense secretary retired Army four-star general require a congressional waiver be- Biden wrote. is President-elect Joe Biden’s cause the National Security Act of “He played a crucial role in bring- A choice to become his secretary 1947, last modified in 2008, requires ing 150,000 American troops home of defense, a historic selection because a minimum seven-year gap between from the theater of war. Pulling that Gen. Lloyd Austin would be only the active-duty service and an appoint- off took more than just the skill and third retired general officer to serve ment to be defense secretary. strategy of a seasoned soldier. It re- in the post and the first Black person A waiver was granted in 2017 allow- quired Austin to practice diplomacy, to lead DoD. ing retired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis to building relationships with our Iraqi The 67-year-old Austin retired serve as defense secretary. A waiver counterparts and with our partners from the Army in 2016 after rising was also required in 1950 for General in the region. He served as a states- to serve as the 33rd Army vice chief of the Army George Marshall. man, representing our country with of staff and the 12th commander of Austin has a personal connection honor and dignity and always, above U.S. Central Command. to Biden. In a Dec. 8 commentary in all, looking out for his people.” Austin, who grew up in Thomas- The Atlantic, Biden wrote that he Austin, speaking Wednesday at ville, Georgia, is a 1975 graduate of was at the 2010 change of command an event where Biden announced the U.S. Military Academy at West ceremony at Camp Victory in Iraq his nomination, called it “my sincere Point, New York, who began his ca- when Austin became commander of honor and privilege” to serve. reer as an infantry officer. He has 41 U.S. Forces-Iraq and was there again He added that if he’s confirmed, years of military service, including with Austin in December 2011 for a “my priority will always be the men time in Iraq and Afghanistan. ceremony marking U.S. forces’ de- and women, military and civilian, Austin’s confirmation by the Sen- parture from the country. who make up the department, and ate to the top Pentagon post will “General Austin got the job done,” their families.” December 10, 2020 | AUSA Extra 1 COUNTERING UAS THREATS With Integrated Airborne and Ground-Based Expertise and Technology A Fortune World’s Most Admired Company EXPERTISE and TECHNOLOGY For National Security. www.caci.com © 2020 CACI International Inc. All rights reserved. A464_11/20 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Army works to improve troop safety after Fort Hood review he Army is standing up a task force to address a series of rec- Tommendations to improve sol- diers’ safety, welfare and readiness, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy an- nounced Tuesday. The service also has relieved or suspended 14 commanders and other leaders at Fort Hood, Texas, in ex- traordinary actions after a three- month review of the command cli- mate and culture at the installation. The review and actions result from the April murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillen, a 20-year-old member of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood who went missing April 22. Her re- mains were found June 30. The soldier suspected in her death killed himself when confronted by law enforcement, and a civilian sus- ‘The findings contained in the committee’s report impact the entire Army and more than pect was arrested. 1.2 million soldiers,’ Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said. (U.S. ARMY/SGT. ELISE MOORE) “The challenges at Fort Hood forced us to take a critical look at our the greatest Army in the world is we tions and responsibilities of unit systems, our policies and ourselves,” recognize when we must change.” commanders and Army law enforce- McCarthy said. “This is not just The review extends beyond one in- ment authorities” during the first 48 about metrics, but about possessing stallation, McCarthy said. hours after a soldier fails to report the ability to show compassion for “While the independent review fo- for duty. our teammates and to look out for the cused on the command climate and “When one of our teammates does best interest of our soldiers. This re- culture at Fort Hood, the findings not report for duty, we will change port, without a doubt, will cause the contained in the committee’s report their duty status to ‘absent-unknown’ Army to change our culture.” impact the entire Army and more and take immediate action to find than 1.2 million soldiers,” he said. them,” McCarthy said. Taking action The People First Task Force will The new “absent-unknown” duty The independent review was con- study the recommendations, map out status code will give commanders ducted by a panel of five civilians. a plan to tackle them, and reevaluate time to determine an absent soldier’s Their report found a “deficient” current Army policies and programs, status. Previously, soldiers who were command climate at Fort Hood, in- McCarthy said. The goal is to begin absent for unknown reasons were cluding ineffective implementation implementing changes by March. listed as “absent without leave.” of the Army’s Sexual Harassment/ The task force will be led by Lt. If commanders cannot determine Assault Response and Prevention Gen. Gary Brito, deputy chief of staff that a soldier’s absence is voluntary, program that resulted in a pervasive for personnel; Diane Randon, assis- they will be classified as “missing,” lack of confidence, fear of retaliation tant deputy chief of staff for intel- and the Army will initiate a “duty and significant underreporting of ligence; and Sgt. Maj. Julie Guerra, status whereabouts unknown” casu- cases, the Army said. the G-2 sergeant major. alty case, providing the soldier’s fam- The report also found that Fort ily with a liaison officer while com- Hood leadership knew or should have Missing soldier policy manders continue to try to locate the known of the high risk of harm to fe- The Army also announced a new missing soldier. male soldiers, according to the Army. policy on missing soldiers, with the The actions announced Tuesday “We will fix this,” pledged Army goal of making sure the service are just a start, McCarthy said. Chief of Staff Gen. James McCo- “maximizes efforts to find missing “We have a great deal of work nville. “We know in the Army that soldiers,” the service said. ahead of us,” he said. we’re not perfect, but what makes us The directive clarifies “expecta- The full report is available here. www.ausa.org December 10, 2020 | AUSA Extra 3 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Army Reserve on track to meet end strength goals despite ‘tough year’ Voice for the Army – Support For the Soldier Gen. Carter F. Ham, USA, Ret. President and CEO, AUSA Lt. Gen. Guy C. Swan III, USA, Ret. Vice President, Education, AUSA Luc Dunn Editor Desiree Hurlocker Advertising Manager Advertising Information Contact: Fox Associates Inc. 116 W. Kinzie St. • Chicago, IL 60654 Phone: 800-440-0231 Email: [email protected] ARTICLES. Articles appearing in AUSA Extra do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the officers or members of the Council of Trustees of AUSA, or its editors. Articles are expres- Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew Lombardo talks with soldiers at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, sions of personal opinion and should not be interpreted as reflecting the official opinion of about the latest updates from Army Reserve leadership. (U.S. ARMY/SCOTT STURKOL) the Department of Defense nor of any branch, command, installation or agency of the Depart- he Army Reserve is set to meet ment, which will help you transition” ment of Defense. The publication assumes its end strength goal this year, to the Reserve from active duty. no responsibility for any unsolicited material. Taccording to the component’s He encouraged soldiers to talk to Email: [email protected] senior enlisted soldier, who said their retention NCOs about options in ADVERTISING. Neither AUSA Extra, nor its that while the component missed the Reserve, and he urged members publisher, the Association of the United States last year’s recruiting mission, it sur- of the Army’s sister services, whose Army, makes any representations, warranties or endorsements as to the truth and accuracy passed its retention goals. career options may have peaked, to of the advertisements appearing herein, and Describing 2020 as “a tough year” consider joining the Army Reserve. no such representations, warranties or en- for the Army Reserve as it carried “One of the benefits of the Army dorsements should be implied or inferred from the appearance of the advertisements in the out multiple emergency missions at Reserve is that you can get promoted publication. The advertisers are solely respon- home, Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew into any vacancy that we have any- sible for the contents of such advertisements. Lombardo, who became the 14th com- where in the country. We’ll pay you RATES. Individual membership fees payable mand sergeant major of the Army Re- to travel there, and we’ll also pay for in advance are $40 for two years, $75 for serve in April, said the component has your lodging as well,” Lombardo said.