A Conversation with Gen. Randy George, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army
Feb 5, 2024
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Gen. Randy George, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, shares his thoughts on warfighting, professionalism, modernizing training and acquisitions, learning from the war in Ukraine, and a new Army initiative called 'transforming in contact' in this engaging conversation.
Continuous self-development and professional military education are crucial for the Army to adapt to changing times and incorporate real-world lessons.
Optimizing resource allocation, eliminating wasteful practices, and streamlining processes can free up time and resources for mission-critical activities and training.
Deep dives
Importance of Professional Development and Education
Professional development and education play a crucial role in the military. General Randy George emphasizes the significance of self-development, continuous learning, and staying up-to-date with the changing times. He encourages soldiers at all levels to engage in self-development, learn from their experiences in units, and participate in professional military education (PME). The Army needs to adapt its PME to address the rapidly changing world and incorporate lessons from real-world experiences. Additionally, General George highlights the importance of reading and recommends several books that have personally impacted him and offer valuable insights for the profession.
Making Efficient Use of Resources
The podcast delves into the challenges of balancing operational demands with limited resources in the Army. General George emphasizes the need to review and optimize resource allocation to ensure the Army can achieve ambitious goals. He emphasizes the importance of eliminating unnecessary tasks and excess within the Army, such as over-maintaining vehicles. By reducing wasteful practices and streamlining processes, the Army can free up time and resources to focus on mission-critical activities and training that improve the operational readiness of its formations.
Harnessing Technology for Military Advancement
General George highlights the potential of technology in improving Army capabilities. He discusses the importance of distinguishing between technology that hinders and technology that facilitates military operations. He expresses frustration with certain technical systems like DTMS that prove more challenging than helpful. General George emphasizes the need to adopt technologies that enhance agility, enhance maintenance processes, optimize logistics, and improve training and operational effectiveness. By embracing advancements like unmanned systems, telemaintenance, 3D printing, and data analytics, the Army can enhance readiness and mobility.
Learning from Lessons Observed
General George underscores the importance of learning from lessons observed in military operations. He emphasizes the need for candid feedback and open discussions among leaders to identify areas for improvement. By actively extracting lessons from operational experiences and exercises, the Army can refine its training, adjust professional military education, and remain adaptable to an evolving threat landscape. General George advocates for ongoing dialogue, reflection, and adjustment based on observed lessons to continually enhance the Army's capabilities, refine strategies, and maintain a lethal force.
As the largest war in Europe since World War II rages and as China rises, the U.S. Army is preparing for an evermore dangerous world with an ambitious vision. To learn more about this vision, Ryan paid a visit to Gen. Randy George, who has been serving as the Army's chief of staff since last September. They tackled a range of topics, from warfighting and professionalism in the Army, to modernizing training and acquisitions, and to lessons learned versus lessons identified. Gen. George reveals his thoughts on how the Army is learning from the war in Ukraine. And they also discussed a new Army initiative called "transforming in contact." PS: We are hiring a membership editor. If you want to play a critical role in driving conversations and debates about national security, you should consider applying: https://apply.workable.com/war-on-the-rocks/j/2F3A361BCE/
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