Announcing FM1
Another contribution to our profession
** Today, the Army releases Field Manual 1, A Primer to Our Profession of Arms. This will roll out across the Army. Click for an early look.**
The air was cold and the moonlight bright on the night of October 25th, 2007. A seven-man squad from Battle Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry, was returning from a mission in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan. They stepped quietly along a ridgeline.
Suddenly, a wall of bullets struck the squad. Tracer rounds filled the sky. Out of the quiet, furious cracks, pops, and screeches erupted from machine guns, rifles, and rocket-propelled grenades. The alpha team leader, medic, and automatic rifleman lay bleeding and Staff Sergeant Erick Gallardo, the squad leader, took a round to the helmet. Their teammates tried to reach them but were blocked by the intense fire.
Specialist Salvatore ‘Sal’ Giunta, the bravo team leader, directed his two team members as they returned fire. However, something was wrong. As he helped the miraculously uninjured Gallardo to safety, Specialist Giunta took hits to his front plate and the rocket strapped to his back. The shots had come from two different directions, which meant the squad was caught in an L-shaped ambush. Specialist Giunta knew they needed to act quickly to avoid being surrounded.
Without hesitation, he called for his squad mates to fall back a few paces so they wouldn’t be flanked. Then he directed them to suppress the enemies to the west and assault to the north. They threw grenades and fired their rifles, threw and fired, threw and fired. It gave them space.
Bravo team soon reached the wounded automatic rifleman, who was trying to clear his weapon. Staff Sergeant Gallardo began rendering aid, but Specialist Giunta pressed on to find the alpha team leader.
In the moonlight, he saw three figures ahead—two Taliban and the limp body of his friend between them. Specialist Giunta sprinted toward the trio, firing his rifle at the enemy fighters. He killed one and wounded the other, then pulled his friend, the gravely wounded alpha team leader, to cover.
Second and third platoons arrived, securing the site. In those few terrible minutes, the medic perished, but the rest of the injured squad mates were evacuated. Although the alpha team leader died in surgery the next day, Specialist Giunta’s aggressive assault spared his family the fate of having a loved one die in Taliban captivity.
For his conspicuous gallantry and selflessness, Specialist (later Staff Sergeant) Giunta received the Medal of Honor. This is our country’s highest and most exclusive award for combat valor, but in later interviews, Staff Sergeant Giunta emphasized that he was just a regular guy. He said, “We were all in the fight... if I’m a hero, then every man that stands around me, every woman in the military, everyone who goes into the unknown is a hero.”
This is an understatement. Specialist Giunta’s story is rightfully part of Army lore. The individual courage and initiative he demonstrated in that critical moment were exceptional. Moreover, his competence and composure amidst chaos enabled him to lead effectively and ensured that the entire squad was accounted for and brought home.
Yet, Specialist Giunta was just a regular Soldier. And he is right to note that our Army is successful, not because of occasional exceptional acts, but because of the many outstanding citizens that fill our ranks and are willing to go into the unknown.
Our Army expects those who lead Soldiers to think critically, take initiative, and drive through the mire to achieve the mission. Even more, we expect Soldiers to fight justly, live honorably, and embrace our American values. These expectations (not aspirations) are foundational to maintaining the trust of our fellow citizens and are the essence of our Army profession.
Soldiering in our Army means more than just holding a job. It means being a committed member of a vocation with a specific and serious purpose: to fight for and defend our Constitution. It means having and maintaining special skills and competencies and cultivating our body of warfighting knowledge through professional education. Finally, it means enforcing adherence to a strict ethical code and demanding that our members demonstrate good character. (See the lists of oaths in Appendix C. To learn more about the profession, see ADP 6-22, and AR 600-100.)
As you enter our Army profession, that mantle of duty becomes yours to bear. It becomes your obligation to make true each day what Specialist Giunta said of our Army; your responsibility to expertly do your part to win, steward our profession, respect, and empower our Soldiers, and build lethal teams; and your charge to meet the expectations of our profession and see that your formation meets them too.
It is your task to look ahead to the future as well. Our Army has an incredible history, but we are the most capable land force in the world because of our ability and agility to meet the challenges of a changing world. Our enemies are always looking for opportunities to bring us down. Therefore, we cannot be stagnant. Each day, our Army must grow stronger and more lethal. You, and every leader, influence this transformation.
This book is a primer on the Army—what it does, what it expects from you, and its obligations to our country. It is not meant to be exhaustive but to convey the essence of our institution so that you are empowered to take ownership of your part in it. It is recommended for every leader and potential leader who aims to serve well and honorably. Your work is consequential, your fellow Soldiers are valuable, your legacy is impactful, and your country is deserving.
Finally, on the cover of this book, you’ll find the phrase This We’ll Defend, which has been our Army’s motto since 1778 and a battle cry since our inception in 1775. Over time, our country and its role in the world have changed. Through it all, our Army has secured peace, supported and defended the Constitution, and sustained American prosperity. Our Army has allowed millions, from generation to generation, to sleep soundly at night with the peace of mind that we will protect them. You are now a part of that legacy and must work to uphold it.
As with the Harding Project, FM1 strengthens our Army profession. Read it. Think about it. Consider reviewing it.
Great publication! I shared it with my XO and he immediately commented how engaging it was. I have a two-week training event about to begin and will dip into FM 1 with the leaders on duty with me…next to teaching how to assess the task Conduct Expeditionary Deployment Operations. Fun stuff!
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/well-defend-why-our-armys-legacy-still-matters-today-james-stewart-7gdef?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&utm_campaign=share_via
🪖 This We'll Defend: Why Our Army's Legacy Still Matters Today
By SFC James B. Stewart
After three decades in the Army National Guard, I've read plenty of doctrine. But Field Manual 1: The Army—A Primer to Our Profession of Arms, published on 1 May 2025 by Headquarters, Department of the Army, and personally released to the force by General Randy A. George, 40th Chief of Staff of the Army, uniquely resonates with me.
This isn't your standard 'check-the-box' manual. It was released with a clear intent—to transform every Soldier, civilian, and leader by reconnecting them with the soul of our profession. In a world where change is constant and threats are evolving, this publication reminds us why we serve, what we represent, and how we uphold the sacred trust of the American people.
It's not just a manual. It's a mirror, a map, and a mandate.
🧭 So, what does it mean to be part of the Army profession today?
1. We are warriors, even when our mission doesn't involve kinetic combat. Whether I'm troubleshooting network access or mentoring a young Soldier, the expectation is clear—be ready, capable, and lethal if needed.
2. We are professionals, trained and trusted to operate with discipline and moral courage. I often remind my Soldiers that their conduct, online or off, reinforces or erodes our reputation.
3. We are leaders, not because of our pay grade, but because of how we show up. I've seen the most junior troops lead through quiet confidence and moral clarity. Leadership is action, not position.
⚔️ Why FM 1 matters—right now
FM 1 doesn't read like doctrine—it reads like a challenge. It offers powerful stories from the past to illuminate the standard for the present: Sal Giunta's bravery, Alvin York's professionalism, and Hal Moore's grit. These aren't just tales to admire—they're templates to emulate.
The message is weighty but straightforward: we don't succeed because of extraordinary acts alone—we succeed because of ordinary Soldiers living the Warrior Ethos daily. These Soldiers show up early, stay late, and always put the mission first. They are the backbone of our profession.
🔥 A Call to Action
This manual was published to ensure we don't forget who we are or what we signed up to do. General George's foreword is clear: this isn't just for Soldiers—it's for the American people we serve. Now, it's our turn to take up the challenge and ensure we are living up to the standards of our profession.
So here's my challenge to you:
* 📘 Read the manual: FM 1: The Army – A Primer to Our Profession of Arms
* 🧠 Reflect on your role in this profession—whether you're active, Guard, Reserve, civilian, or retired.
* 💬 Start a conversation with your team, peers, or leaders: Are we living up to the standard this profession demands?
🤝 Let's Talk
What does being a warrior, a professional, or a leader mean to YOU?
I'd love to hear from fellow NCOs, junior Soldiers, officers, veterans, and civilians alike. Let's focus on what this document means for us as we defend our Constitution, support our communities, and lead America's most trusted institution into the future.
Because in the end, it's not about the uniform we wear…
It's about the legacy we uphold.