New DA Pam 25-40

Affirmation, transformation, and authentication

The Harding Project is excited to announce a significant milestone in the four-point platform: updating Department of the Army Pamphlet (DA Pam) 25-40, dated 1 February 2024. Army Publishing Program Procedures set the rules for the Army’s professional bulletin, which include outlets like Infantry, Engineer, and Army Sustainment.

This change is important. The new language in paragraph 5-5 of DA Pam 25-40 provides a more affirmative view of the Army’s professional bulletins, directs transformation to a more modern format, and streamlines guidance.

New policy documents are not victories, but they show us the way toward renewed professional journals in the United States Army. Thanks to the Army Publishing Directorate team for their help with this initiative.

Below, I describe the significant points and then provide the full text.

Significant points

• Affirmation. Paragraph 5-5a affirms the purpose of professional bulletins: to host professional discourse. The paragraph then briefly describes the functions of professional journals to ensure that their mission and key tasks guide all further discussion of the procedures associated with them.

• Define effective journals. The next paragraph describes effective journals to help editors and Centers of Excellence consider whether their journals are succeeding. As Forrest Harding told us in 1930, the Army’s journals must disseminate and stimulate military thought. But more specifically, effective journals publish quality content, reach audiences, have the supportof their institutions, provide accessible archives, and publish a variety of articles from a variety of authors.

• Direct transformation. A key part of the Harding Project platform, paragraph 5-5g directs modernization to a “web-first, mobile-friendly format supported by social media platforms for reaching their target audiences.” It also provides room for PBs to collaborate on a modern platform that ensures broad accessibility—or for outlets to establish their own. There are likely significant benefits from co-location in attracting audiences and sharing articles that interest broader audiences.

• Authentication. One thing that has not changed, but has become more important is the authentication of the Army’s professional bulletins. In a world of increased dis- and mis-information, the authentication of the Army’s professional bulletins asserts that the Army sanctions these articles as reasonable debate or information. Paragraph 5-5h(6) makes clear that these articles do not represent the official position of the United States Army, but authentication helps service members know that these articles come from an official Army outlet.

The text

Below, I include an excerpt of paragraph 5-. Bolded sections are associated with the significant points in the previous section.

5–5.  Professional bulletins

a. PBs host professional discourse. Through PBs, leaders can inform the force, authors can share ideas and develop communities of interest across the Army, and individuals can respond or suggest ideas within the preparing command’s specified mission and area of proponency, as established in AR 25 – 30, AR 5 – 22, or other authoritative source.

b. Effective PBs do the following:

(1) Publish quality content of interest to the command’s specified mission.

(2) Reach audiences interested in the command’s specified mission in an accessible format.

(3) Publish a balance of articles from senior leaders that inform the community, articles that share information across the community, and argumentative articles that propose new ideas or ways of thinking.

(4) Provide institutional support that ensures accessible archives, ideally by article to ease research.

(5) Publish a variety of authors from different backgrounds to hone ideas.

c. Typical PB material includes, but is not limited to, the following: technological developments; strategy, tactics, techniques, and procedures; “how to” pieces; practical exercises; training methods; historical perspectives; views, opinions, and letters to the editor pertinent to the preparing command; short biographies of authors to demonstrate professional credentials; and short bulletin-type items summarizing official Army actions that directly relate to area of proponency.

d. Items that do not meet the content standards for PBs are as follows:

(1) General personnel information not specifically related to the preparing command’s area of proponency. This information is usually available through command information and official channels.

(2) Routine personnel items, such as listing graduates of courses, promotions, and awards. (Nonroutine personnel items can be included in the bulletin section.)

(3) General military-related news articles.

e. Authority to prepare a PB is limited to agencies and commands that have a specified mission of providing information, training, and professional development to personnel within a specific functional area. (See chap 8 for numbering.)

f. Proponents of PBs must—

(1) Fund, prepare, and monitor the production of their PBs.

(2) Comply with AR 25 – 30, this pamphlet, and the terms of approval for their PBs.

(3) Maintain records of editorial, publishing, administrative, distribution, and other costs and prepare reports as required.

(4) Maintain current distribution lists, for both print and digital distribution.

(5) Coordinate with the designated functional manager regarding publishing and establishing term contracts; maintain liaison with APD.

g. PBs will modernize to a web-first, mobile-friendly format supported by social media platforms for reaching their target audiences. PBs may collaborate on a modern platform to ensure broad accessibility of articles of interest to multiple command missions or establish their own.

h. All PBs should include the following information either on their web platform, in a printed issue, or other format. For additional printing requirements, see AR 25 – 38 and DA Pam 25 – 38.

(1) Authentication.

(2) Identification of “Headquarters, Department of the Army.”

(3) PB number.

(4) Date of the publication (month and year).

(5) Titles and names of commander/commandant of the preparing command, executive or managing editor, feature editor, photo editor, art editor, or their equivalents. For PBs that are sponsored by more than one command, the titles and names of each sponsoring commander/commandant is authorized. Other officials, except for those required for authentication and bona fide editorial advisory board members, must not be identified by individual title or name.

(6) A disclaimer stating that the information presented in the PB does not necessarily reflect the official Army position and that it does not change or supersede information presented in other official Army publications. This statement can be included in the masthead. Exact wording can vary.

i. Publishing specifications for printed PBs are as follows:

(1) Cover paper stock.  Self-cover is the standard unless a separate cover is justified and authorized. If a separate cover is used, the reference stock is white litho-coated cover, no heavier than Sub 60 (weight basis 20 x 26 inches (508 mm by 660 mm) 50 sheets).

(2) Unauthorized techniques.  Use of duotones, full-page reversals, and full-page screening is not authorized.

(3) Required items on cover.

(a) Identification of “Headquarters, Department of the Army.”

(b) PB number.

(c) Distribution restriction statement (see DoDM 5200.01 and DoDI 5230.24).

(d) Date of publication (month and year).

(e) Exceptions.  PBs may make reasonable adjustments to these specifications depending on supplier and budgetary constraints.

j. Requests for exception to PB standards (to meet special requirements) must be justified. This justification must be based on the unique needs of the publication or the target audience. Requests must be sent to usarmy.pentagon.hqda-apd.mbx.publishing-division@army.mil.

(1) Previously established professional bulletins.  Proponents of PBs must follow guidelines in this paragraph, 5–7b, and any additional guidelines and specifications provided by APD regarding PBs.

(2) Proposed new professional bulletins.  Proponents of proposed new PBs must—

(a) Determine the need for a PB by examining the target audience’s information requirements.

(b) Send a memorandum with justification requesting to establish a new PB series for its area of proponency to usarmy.pentagon.hqda-apd.mbx.publishing-division@army.mil.
k.  PBs are not available through APD.