PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY www.ausa.org IN THIS ISSUE VOLUME 2 NUMBER 19 SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 Senior Army Leaders Discuss Race, Politics 3 Special Ops NCO to Receive Medal of Honor 4 Feedback Sought for Arlington Burial Changes 7 NCO & Soldier Programs Chapters Earn New Ribbon 8 Chapter Highlights Fort Pitt Fort Rucker-Wiregrass Registration is required to view programming and visit the exhibit halls during AUSA Now, the 9 2020 virtual annual meeting of the Association of the U.S. Army. (U.S. ARMY/SGT. MITCHELL RYAN) Registration opens for AUSA Now egistration is now open for programs for NCOs and soldiers fea- Simultaneous streaming is AUSA Now, the 2020 virtual turing Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael planned over multiple channels to Rannual meeting of the Associa- Grinston, military family seminars accommodate the varied programing, tion of the U.S. Army that will be held and a town hall meeting with Army which will include Warriors Corner Oct. 13–16. leaders, and programs aimed at the presentations from the Army, xTech- A combination of live and prere- Army National Guard, Army Reserve Search briefs from competitors in the corded programming is planned, in- and for cadets at the U.S. Military Army’s innovation competition, and cluding an opening day address from Academy, ROTC and Officer Candi- seminars for small businesses, in- Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy. date School. cluding the ability to speak directly Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Retirement planning and benefits to Army representatives. Army Chief of Staff Gen. James Mc- presentations are also in the works. Virtual exhibits will also be part Conville and many other Army lead- The final day of AUSA Now is set of AUSA Now, including industry en- ers also will speak. aside for AUSA chapter and region gagement opportunities. A splashy opening ceremony is events. Registration is required to view planned for Oct. 13, beginning about programming and visit the exhibit 10 a.m. halls. There is no fee. Membership The schedule for other programs in AUSA is encouraged but not re- will be set to accommodate live view- quired, and some member-only pro- ing in most time zones. motions are expected. Several contemporary military fo- For more information or to regis- rums are planned, as well as special ter, click here. September 10, 2020 | AUSA Extra 1 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY McCarthy: Tough conversations about race will continue he demonstrations and emotion- al calls for social justice across Tthe country this summer led to tough conversations between Army leaders and their soldiers—and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy plans to continue those talks as the service works to eliminate bias in the ranks. The death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers reverberated across the coun- try, McCarthy said. “It was a powder keg that ignited the country, and the anger and the frustration spilled out on the streets, and, quite frankly, they should have,” he said during a virtual discussion hosted by the Reagan National De- fense Forum. ‘I don’t know what it’s like to be a Black man in America, but I’ve got to listen. I’ve got to During “significant protests” in learn,’ Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said. (U.S. ARMY/SGT. JAMES HARVEY) Washington, D.C., McCarthy was out there, you see it and you feel it,” Mc- Black man in America, but I’ve got to in the streets, talking to the National Carthy said. listen. I’ve got to learn,” McCarthy Guard soldiers and airmen mobilized In response, Army senior leaders said. “Twenty percent of our forma- to support local authorities. have resolved to listen, learn and tion represents that demographic. “We didn’t have a single soldier or put in place initiatives to make sure You know that tension is in our airman put a hand on a protester. If every soldier can meet his or her po- ranks, it’s in our cities, so we’re go- anything, they were giving hugs and tential. ing around the country, we’re having handing out water, but being out “I don’t know what it’s like to be a sensing sessions.” Army must remain nonpartisan in ‘political environment’ rmy Chief of Staff Gen. James thing that McConville said he and McConville said it is the Ar- other Army leaders are striving to Amy’s duty to remain nonpar- provide. tisan and nonpolitical, and to “bring “When we have issues—racism or the force together to make everyone anything else that divides this na- feel part of the team.” tion—we should take action,” he said. Speaking at a virtual conference “Any kind of racism or extremism in a politically charged year, McCo- in our Army has to be totally elimi- nville said the Army’s mission is to nated. We cannot have those type of take a closer look “at the things that things,” he said. People with extrem- may divide us” while building cohe- ist or racist views “cannot serve in our sive teams. Army.” He declined to talk about politics or Asked about the Army’s role in do- politicians but acknowledged “we live mestic policing, particularly in the in a political environment.” face of protests and riots, McConville “We should not wake up every day said domestic deployments of active- and take for granted the trust of the duty troops should happen only in nation,” McConville said. “extreme conditions.” Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McCon- Keeping that trust means having “The job of the American military ville said the service’s mission is to take a an Army that reflects the nation’s is to protect the nation, not police the closer look at divisive issues while building diversity and allows inclusion, some- nation,” he said. cohesive teams. (U.S. ARMY/LAURA BUCHTA) www.ausa.org September 10, 2020 | AUSA Extra 3 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Soldiers to be recognized for heroic actions in separate Iraq missions 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 Sgt. Maj. Thomas Payne. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO) Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe. (U.S. ARMY PHOTO) do not necessarily refl ect the opinion of the special operations soldier will proved by the president. offi cers or members of the Council of Trustees of AUSA, or its editors. Articles are expres- receive the Medal of Honor for On Oct. 22, 2015, Payne, then a sions of personal opinion and should not be his role in a daring hostage sergeant fi rst class, was an assistant interpreted as refl ecting the offi cial opinion of A the Department of Defense nor of any branch, rescue mission in 2015 in Iraq, while team leader on the mission to rescue command, installation or agency of the Depart- a second soldier could posthumously be hostages being held by the Islamic ment of Defense. The publication assumes awarded the nation’s highest award for State group in Hawija. no responsibility for any unsolicited material. valor for his actions in 2005. “With speed, audacity and courage, Email: [email protected] Sgt. Maj. Thomas Payne will receive he fi rst led his team as they quickly ADVERTISING. Neither AUSA Extra, nor its the Medal of Honor during a ceremony cleared the assigned building, liber- publisher, the Association of the United States Friday at the White House. ating 38 hostages,” according to the Army, makes any representations, warranties or endorsements as to the truth and accuracy Payne, a Ranger assigned to Army White House. of the advertisements appearing herein, and Special Operations Command who has Payne then heard a call on the radio no such representations, warranties or en- deployed 17 times, will be the seventh for help clearing the other building, dorsements should be implied or inferred from the appearance of the advertisements in the service member—and second living re- and he and a teammate exposed them- publication. The advertisers are solely respon- cipient—to receive the Medal of Honor selves to enemy fi re as they bounded sible for the contents of such advertisements. for actions in Iraq. across the compound. RATES. Individual membership fees payable A posthumous Medal of Honor could Payne entered the building under in advance are $40 for two years, $75 for be awarded later this year to Sgt. 1st intense enemy fi re, amid smoke, heat fi ve years, and $400 for Life Membership. A Class Alwyn Cashe, who died in 2005 and fl ames, to fi nd the armored door discounted rate of $10 for two years is available to members in the ranks of E-1 through E-4, from wounds suffered while trying to that was imprisoning the hostages, ac- and for service academy and ROTC cadets and rescue his fellow soldiers from a burn- cording to the White House. OCS candidates. More information is available ing Bradley Fighting Vehicle in Iraq. Payne and other members of his at our website www.ausa.org; or by emailing [email protected], phoning 855-246- Cashe and his soldiers from 1st Bat- team took turns using bolt cutters to 6269, or mailing Fulfi llment Manager, P.O. Box talion, 15th Infantry Regiment, were cut the locks on the door.