Gaining Ground

Harding Project Past and Future

Over the past year, I was privileged to contribute to one of the Army’s primary efforts that strengthens the profession at scale and facilitates Army-wide adaptation through professional writing and discourse—the Harding Project.

The Harding Project and its key partner, Army University Press, have revitalized the Army’s journals, enabling the force to keep pace with the changing character of warfare and remain the most lethal fighting force in the world. Reflecting on my year working on this initiative, I’m proud of our progress and excited about the future.

Progress

We had several significant efforts come to fruition during my time with the Harding Project. First, we developed the Line of Departure website. We knew that if we wanted soldiers to read the amazing content produced from within, it had to be accessible. In almost one year exactly, Army University Press set up a web-first, mobile-friendly, no-CAC-needed platform to reach the “scrolling soldier” where they are—on their phones. Thanks to Army University Press’ hard work on this site, soldiers can hone their craft by reading or listening to articles from their branch journals and easily sharing them with their formations.

Second, we established the Harding Fellowship, which offers opportunities for Army personnel to dedicate themselves to advancing professional military discourse within our ranks. This fellowship helps the journals maintain relevancy with their audience and installs a high-caliber individual committed to strengthening their branch and the Army.

Third was the Professional Writing Special Edition of Military Review. We convened 13 authors and compiled a “how-to” guide to professional discourse aimed at the brigade and lower audience. Then, after we published this edition online, we sent 18,000 copies to every corner of the Army to help individuals get started on their journey to journal contribution and help units foster professional discourse that leads to impactful outcomes.

Another significant accomplishment was developing and launching the Muddy Boots section of the NCO Journal. Spearheaded by Sergeant Major of the Army Weimer, this effort captures the most valuable experiences of the Army’s Nominative Command Sergeants Major in a compelling LPD-ready format. It complements the Chief of Staff of the Army’s monthly recommended articles. These contributions contribute to our growing body of collective wisdom and challenge the NCO Corps to engage in professional discourse.

We also implemented a citation requirement for NCO PME. Now, at every echelon of NCO education, from the Basic Leader Course to the Master Leader Course, students must cite at least one article from an Army journal in one of their writing assignments. This requirement is less about the academic exercise; it encourages soldiers to engage with professional military thought and contributes to their development as leaders and experts in their craft.

Another notable advancement over the last year was the establishment of the Ultima Scholars at the Sergeants Major Academy. This initiative was designed for select, high-caliber students with an aptitude for reading and writing to become better leaders. By nurturing these scholars, the Ultima Scholars Program helps to build a cohort of thought leaders who can influence doctrine, strategy, and leadership practices, further strengthening the profession of arms.

The Harding Horizon

Looking ahead, my hope for the Harding Project is to double down on the initiatives we’ve started, particularly the citation requirement. The success of this effort will be due in no small part to the support from leadership across the Army’s Centers of Excellence. By actively promoting the importance of the Army’s journals and further exploring how we can address contemporary problems through professional discourse, we can drive a culture of knowledge-sharing—turning the Army’s PME courses into one of the most potent catalysts for adaptation.

I also hope to see this requirement or other methods of professional military discourse expanded to Warrant Officer and Officer PME. Integrating the Line of Departure at every level will allow for exchanging ideas and vicarious learning through others’ experiences, making us more adaptive to emerging challenges.

Lastly, we need to find a way to measure the impact of professional discourse. I’ve read Legacy by James Kerr, Tribal Leadership by Dave Logan, books by Simon Sinek and Sebastian Junger, and more of the Army’s journal articles than I can count, all of which have shaped my worldview, made me a better leader, and impacted me greatly. But how do you measure this type of intangible impact? This will be a challenging and important question for the Harding Project to ensure the journals endure beyond the next round of budget cuts and reallocations.

Contributions to the Army’s body of knowledge are a professional courtesy and should be woven into the fabric of Army education, leader professional development, and a soldier’s daily life. The ability to think critically, write persuasively, and engage with new ideas will help us stay ahead of our adversaries in an era of rapid technological and tactical evolution.

New Blood

As I step away from the Harding Project, I leave the Deputy Director position in the more than capable hands of Sergeant First Class Marcel Blood. Marcel is a phenomenal EOD NCO with a wealth of knowledge in cutting-edge technologies ranging from, but far from limited to, 3D printing and virtual and augmented reality. Blood wrote a compelling article that General George recognized in October of 2023. Sergeant Blood’s ambitious temperance and dedication to the betterment of the Army make him the perfect fit to advance the Harding Project into the future. He is truly an upgrade to the team, and I’m confident the project will thrive and push boundaries in new and exciting directions.

Over the past year, we’ve made tremendous progress in building an ecosystem that fosters professional discourse. But there is still much work to be done. I urge all readers to continue supporting the Harding Project’s main lines of effort and to pursue professional writing and discourse in your units.

Together, we can enable Army-wide adaptation, ensuring our force remains one step ahead and is equipped to face tomorrow's challenges.