The Army must solve its modernization problems to be able to do what is expected of it, Army Secretary Eric Fanning said Monday at the start of the Army’s largest annual gathering.
Fanning said he has traveled the globe in recent months to see soldiers doing their diverse missions, from the Arctic to the jungle in one region alone.
"The clear takeaway is how much the Army is asked to do," he said Monday at the opening ceremony of the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army in Washington, D.C. "It is clear we are stretched thin."
"If we want our Army to do more in Europe, to partner with our allies to deter Russian aggression, we have to pay for it," Fanning said. "If you want your Army to provide security in the Pacific, and we have by increasing our presence 50 percent there while drawing down our force …. you have it pay for it."
The Army has not seen any decrease in commitments, he said, and leaders have had to "make tradeoffs and tough choices."
"It is a myth that you can regenerate an Army quickly," he said. "At some point, the bill will come due."
To an audience of soldiers, members of industry and civilians, he emphasized the need for the Army to keep innovating in partnership with industry.
The Army must lean forward to give industry more opportunities to bring ideas for new technologies, he said, and acquisition must be empowered to seek innovations as well as to find savings.
"Together, we must break down the barriers that separate our Army from one of our nation’s greatest sources of strength, the innovative culture of our most adaptive industries," Fanning said.
He cited the recent opening of the Rapid Capabilities Office as one of several Army initiatives to keep the warfighter equipped and "deliver interim solutions as soon as possible."
Fanning’s priorities as secretary put the focus on taking care of soldiers and their families, he told Army Times shortly after taking his new role. Other immediate priorities include dealing with emerging threats such as electronic warfare and cyber attacks.
The biggest threat to the Army, he said, is lack of predictability in terms of the budget, and the ongoing effects of sequestration, effectively preventing the Army from making long-term plans.
This year’s AUSA is the first for two key leaders in their new roles: In May, Fanning was sworn in as the Army’s top civilian leader after the Senate confirmed him by unanimous consent. He had been acting secretary for several months.
Retired Gen. Carter Ham, the new president and chief executive officer of AUSA, opened the three-day gathering with a tribute to his predecessor.
Ham took the leadership role at AUSA on July 1, succeeding retired Gen. Gordon Sullivan, who stepped down after 18 years at the helm.
"I am not Gordon Sullivan," Ham said at the opening ceremony. "But he is here."
Then Sullivan stood to prolonged applause.
Sullivan will be awarded the George Catlett Marshall Medal at the AUSA event this week, in honor of his years of service.
Awards presented at the opening ceremony include:
- General Creighton W. Abrams Medal to Lt. Gen. Claude M. Kicklighter
- Major General Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Medal to Karen R. Lowe
- Lieutenant General Raymond S. McLain Medal to Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger
- Major General James Earl Rudder Medal to Lt. Gen. Jeffrey W. Talley
- Sergeant Major of the Army William G. Bainbridge Medal to Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmie Spencer
- The Joseph P. Cribbins Award to Lettie M. Williams
- The AUSA Volunteer Family of the Year to Maj. Craig Young and family
- The AUSA National Service Award to the Honor Flight Network
The AUSA meeting takes place Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
About 26,000 people were expected to attend the event this year, AUSA officials said.
According to AUSA, this year’s gathering features:
- 600 displays in five halls on both levels of the convention center.
- A New AUSA Homeland Security Pavilion
- A Veterans Career Hiring Pavilion
- The Army Warriors Corner, with presentations schedule through the day from senior personnel.
- A small-business pavilion.
- Ten international pavilions, representing Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Korea, Poland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Kathleen Curthoys is editor of Army Times. She has been an editor at Military Times for 20 years, covering issues that affect service members. She previously worked as an editor and staff writer at newspapers in Columbus, Georgia; Huntsville, Alabama; Bloomington, Indiana; Monterey, California and in Germany.
