SecArmy recognizes Army editors

Congrats to the NCO Journal and USASOC History

Last week, the Honorable Christine Wormuth recognized outstanding performance across the Army—including the editorial team behind Army Special Operations History and Sgt. First Class Osvaldo Equite from the NCO Journal.

While kind of a mouthful, the Harding Project appreciates that the Secretary of the Army Awards for Improving Publications and Publishing Processes Program recognizes the best in effective publications. According to Army Regulation 25-30, the Secretary’s program aims to recognize military and non-contract civilian employees who:

• Significantly improved the quality of Army publications through their own writing and editing initiatives;

• Made significant contributions toward improving the quality of Army publications systems, processes, or programs;

• Used innovative approaches to improve existing publishing operations or have applied new technologies and solutions that increase efficiency and/or tangible or intangible savings; or

• Worked as a group to achieve a significant contribution toward improving the quality of Army publications. When an individual award is not practical, a group award is authorized.

The potential of web-first, mobile-friendly platforms

As the Harding Project modernizes the Army’s journals to a web-first, mobile-friendly platform next month, the Army Special Operations’ (USASOC) History Office shows us what this transformation might mean. In 2023, USASOC History’s move to a web-first, data-driven approach reduced costs, sped production times, and led to a 284% increase in digital engagement!

The USASOC History Office's shift to a web-first approach drastically reduced production timelines, improving publishing speeds by 30%. Reducing the emphasis on print cut costly expenses and streamlined and expedited workflows. The team also ensured complete 508-compliance, ensuring everyone could engage with their articles and other content.

And readers followed the shift to web-first content. Through detailed analytics of the USASOC History Website and social media platforms, the team tailored content to user engagement trends, driving a 284% increase in website downloads and over 1.3 million page views in 2023. The focus on digital channels extended the reach of USASOC history across the globe, increasing the number of readers and viewers beyond what was possible with print alone.

As the Army moves towards a web-first, mobile-friendly platform, we’ll build on the hard work of USASOC’s History Office in improving accessibility—and complement it with ways to increase content quality.

Improve quality with contributing editors

Secretary Wormuth also recognized the NCO Journal’s SFC Equite for launching the Contributing Editors Program with the Sergeants Major Academy. This initiative saved over $350,000 annually by replacing five contract editors with volunteer contributing editors. The program fosters scholarly writing and collaboration, improving the quality and relevance of the NCO Journal’s professional military writing and developing ambassadors for the NCO Journal.

In addition to the cost savings, the Contributing Editors Program doubled the editorial capacity and involved ten Sergeants Major Academy faculty members following a successful pilot phase. Each contributing editor writes at least one article annually and serves as a peer reviewer, ensuring high-quality content for the NCO Journal. Five contributing editors are selected annually, with the flexibility to expand based on need and available faculty.

SFC Equite’s contributing editor model is quickly normalizing professional writing throughout the NCO Corps from the top down. The increase in submissions from Sergeant Major Academy students has been drastic due to the instructor-editors taking a vested interest in helping students publish their insights and ideas from the classroom in the NCO Journal. These students are then going out to the force with the knowledge and experience to help others do the same.

Through SFC Equite’s efforts, the Contributing Editors Program has significantly enhanced the NCO Journal’s capacity and scholarly output. By fostering collaboration and high-quality content creation, the program has strengthened the journal’s mission to support the professional development of the NCO Corps while saving costs and expanding outreach across the Army and its partners.

Focus on accessibility and quality are two hallmarks of the Harding Project’s approach to renewing professional writing. Following the example of SFC Equite, the Army’s other journals should consider launching contributing editors programs that draw from the officer and non-commissioned officer schools at their respective centers of excellence.

Making the Army’s publications better? Apply later this year

Those interested in applying for recognition in FY24 should consult AR 25-30 and DA Pam 25-40, and then look for the ALARACT in December or so. Packets include a DA Form 1256 (Incentive Award Nomination and Approval), an endorsement from a member of the candidate’s chain of command, a narrative, and supporting documents.

Congrats to these winners for strengthening our Army.