Just last year, in 2018, the Army established the new Army Futures Command, a huge undertaking that has been described as the biggest reorganization in nearly half a century for the service. In this episode of the MWI Podcast, listeners will hear from two people in prominent roles within the new network of organizations that has emerged. The first, Maj. Gen. John George, is the deputy director of the Army’s Futures and Concepts Center, and he will soon take over as the commander of the Combat Capabilities Development Command. The second is Mr. Jay Harrison, who serves as the command innovation officer at Army Futures Command.
As clear by their positions, they are the perfect guests for a discussion about innovation and the future. As you’ll hear, the ways in which the Army is preparing for the future goes well beyond thing like robotics, artificial intelligence, and the high-tech gadgetry we often think of when we talk about the future battlefield. It’s also about new ways of organizing, new doctrine, new personnel policies, and more. This episode offers a tremendous picture of just how the Army is preparing to fight and win on the battlefield of the future.
You can listen to the full conversation below, and if you aren’t already subscribed to the MWI Podcast, be sure to find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app so you don’t miss an episode. While you’re there, we’d love it if you would take a few seconds and give the podcast a rating or leave a review!
Image credit: Mr. Luke J. Allen, US Army
I am confused…
The US Army is selling off its Logistics Support Vessels (LSVs), built from 1980s to 2000s. If old enough, then fine, but if not, why? The US Army needs to adapt and it needs all the boats it can use to rapidly deploy across oceans and littorals. The LCS can't really do this well. (Read TheWarZone).
I am confused…
The U.S. Army is selling off its Logistics Support Vessels (LSVs), built from 1980s to 2000s. If old enough, then fine, but if not, why? The U.S. Army needs to adapt and it needs all the boats it can use to rapidly deploy across oceans and littorals. The LCS can't really do this well. (Read TheWarZone).
The U.S. Army, like the USAF, seems uninterested in those systems that cannot shoot. One always wants the shiny expensive fighter or flashy sports car and not care for the old ugly bomber or cargo plane or family station wagon or van.
U.S. Army anti-mine warfare, bridging, construction, engineering, boating…all the lower-tier departments that don't get the Priority or Spotlight are being axed for the Army's Big Six Modernization program. It's kind of hypocritical and nothing really new.
Countless reports, Think Tankers, critics, pundits, writers, contractors, Expos and conventions, Allies, and journalists have advised the U.S. Army on what to do and what to purchase. How then can the U.S. Army say that they are not prepared for the future or what to think, do, and buy?
Retired General Anthony Zinni (USMC) told PBS NOVA many years ago for an episode that the DoD spends a lot of money on Defense; the American Taxpayers foot a huge bill. In the episode, General Zinni said that the course of the future would be the analysis of future threats to the USA and our way of life. Once those threats are identified, how do we address them and what should we do about it? THAT course HAS NOT CHANGED over all these years (just read and watch the news). General Zinni was, and still is, correct on national television.