The Friday Formation
06 February 2026
🪖 The Friday Formation
This week’s dispatch on Army writing, leadership, and learning
Friday, 13 February 2026
🗓️ Editor’s Note
Presidents’ Day reminds us that leadership is never just positional — it is moral, intellectual, and deeply human.
Washington surrendered power. Lincoln held a fractured nation together. Eisenhower balanced war and restraint. The lesson across centuries is constant: the office does not create character — character sustains the office.
This week’s formation reflects that truth. From cognitive hierarchy and disciplined autonomy to industrial resilience and medical survivability, the readings below ask the same question great leaders have always faced:
Will we rise to the responsibility entrusted to us?
Read deliberately. Lead with gravity.
Chris
🏛️ Featured Leadership Essay
In his last few months as our 39th VCSA, GEN(R) Jim Mingus wrote a series of articles on eight topics in which he was personally invested regarding Army transformation and modernization. These run the gamut from the Army’s network, to how to think about autonomy on the battlefield, to how the Army runs, and of course Holistic Health and Fitness. Over the next four weeks, MWI will publish two articles a week on these topics.
📉 Ascend the Cognitive Hierarchy: Don’t Waste Time in the Data Layer
GEN James Mingus & Zak Daker — Modern War Institute
Senior leaders must move beyond data consumption and deliberately cultivate judgment, synthesis, and decision advantage in an era of overwhelming information.
⚔️ Warfighting
Best Battalion in the Army George Kalergis — Modern War Institute
A reflection on standards, cohesion, and what truly defines elite units.
Single Point of Failure: Rethinking Medical Sterilization on Tomorrow’s Battlefield Yu-Sheng Chen — Modern War Institute
Examines battlefield medical vulnerabilities in contested environments.
Logistics Left of Boom Macdonald Amoah, Morgan Bazilian, Jahara Matisek — MWI
Explores threats to the defense industrial base before conflict begins.
Disciplined Autonomy Bill Edwards — Small Wars Journal
Argues for initiative bounded by commander’s intent in modern conflict.
The Role of Foreign Fighters Jeremiah “Lumpy” Lumbaca — SWJ
Assesses the operational and political impact of foreign volunteers.
Artificial Intelligence: The New Force Multiplier in Training Exercises MAJ Joshua Corson & MAJ Paul Kuemmerlein — Special Warfare Journal
Explores AI-enabled realism in training environments.
Five Questions for a General: ADM Harry B. Harris Jr. (Ret.) Host: Cadet Nathan Unks | Guest: ADM Harry B. Harris Jr. (Ret.)
Strategic reflections on deterrence and Indo-Pacific competition.
🔧 Delivering Ready Combat Power
Resilience in the Cloud: Fighting Doesn’t Stop When Networks Go Dark Brandon Stackpole — AUSA
Examines resilience and continuity in degraded network environments.
Forging America COL Eric A. McCoy — Army Sustainment
Connects industrial capacity to warfighting credibility.
Sustainment Professionals LTG Heidi J. Hoyle — Army Sustainment
Highlights the strategic importance of sustainment talent.
Parachute and Jumper Recovery SFC Nathan Berry — Special Warfare
Tactical lessons in airborne risk mitigation.
LOGSTAT: FM 4-1 Modernizing Human Resources Support Host: CPT Garett Pyle | Guest: MSG David Minder
Discusses HR modernization in LSCO environments.
🔄 Continuous Transformation
NATO Irregular Warfare: Finland and Sweden Opportunities Rick Chersicla — IWI
Assesses Nordic accession and irregular capability development.
Competitive Intervention, Proxy War, and Military Assistance Host: Kyle Atwell | Guests: GEN (Ret.) Wayne Eyre, Dr. Noel Anderson, LTC Matthew Kuhlman
Explores proxy conflict and intervention dynamics.
Deterrence Won’t Fail in the Taiwan Strait — It Will Be Bypassed J. William Demarco — War on the Rocks
Argues deterrence may be circumvented rather than confronted.
Pauses Without Peace Gopi Krishna Bhamidipati — WOTR
Analyzes the fragility of modern ceasefires.
German Tank Maintenance in World War II Paul Nation — The Cove
Historical sustainment lessons for modern armored forces.
📜 Strengthening the Profession of Arms
Winning the War on Talent Chris Slininger – Military Review
To address JO burnout and declining trust, the Army must implement dynamic mentorship.
Conflict Management Josh Bowen — 3×5 Leadership
Practical approaches to managing friction within formations.
EP 171: Bring Your Own Pencil — The Leadership Lesson of Coach Bill Walsh Host: Joe Byerly | Guests: Griffin Brand & Dan Casey
A conversation on preparation, culture, and leadership standards.
If I Had Known Then CPT Mason J. Aldridge — MIPB
Reflects on lessons learned in intelligence development.
The Fight for Intelligence MAJ Phillip G. Johnson Jr. et al. — MIPB
Explores integration challenges in intelligence operations.
Nothing Else to Consider SFC Justin Malzac — NCO Journal
Leadership clarity in decisive moments.
Blind Spot Catherine Cline — War Room
Highlights overlooked strategic assumptions.
📖 Resources & Calls
CSA Recommended Articles – Army University Press – The Chief’s reading list.
Call for Papers – Army Civilian Journal - Invitation to contribute.
Professional Writing Playlist (YouTube) – Talks and discussions on military writing.
Professional Military Writing – Military Review – Why writing matters.
🧰 TL;DR
Short reflection: Conflict Management Josh Bowen
Deep read: Ascend the Cognitive Hierarchy: Don’t Waste Time in the Data Layer GEN James Mingus & Zak Daker
Listen while commuting: EP 171: Bring Your Own Pencil — The Leadership Lesson of Coach Bill Walsh
🧭 About the Harding Project
The Harding Project is Chief of Staff of the Army General Randy George’s initiative to strengthen the profession through professional writing and public discourse.
The one-stop shop for all branch journal articles is the Line of Departure website – check it out to get your daily dose of Army professional development! If you have good ideas or lessons to share with the rest of the force, please pen them and send them our way at submissions@hardingproject.com.
We’re renewing professional writing across the force—one Friday at a time. Read. Reflect. Act. The profession doesn’t stand still, and neither should we.