Good morning, Hardos!
As part of our new battle rhythm, we will publish a weekly series each Friday titled “The Friday Formation” put together by one of our new editors, Chris Slininger—intro post coming soon. This roll-up is our revamped Weekend Reading Assignment that contains all of the content you may have missed throughout the week.
So, ICYMI, peruse the articles and pods below, broken down by the CSA’s priority.
Enjoy and don’t forget to let us know what you think (I promise we have thick skin)!
🪖 The Friday Formation
This week’s dispatch on Army writing & leadership
05 September 2025
Editor’s Note
This week’s edition is packed: reflections on leadership and vulnerability, modernization of tactics and sustainment, and doctrinal insights from the Arctic to reconnaissance. These articles and podcasts are a reminder that warfighting demands disciplined teams, ready combat power, continuous transformation, and a strong professional foundation. If I missed something, let me know—I’ll add it in next week. And remember: professional writing isn’t optional—it’s essential. Your voice shapes the profession.
- Chris
⚔️ Warfighting
Ø 📖 Transformation Before Contact by CPT Samuel Quattrone – Infantry Journal
Adaptation must occur before conflict begins, ensuring formations are prepared for future fights.Ø 📖 Preparing for the Next Fight – CPT Charles Gulotta & LTC Michael Moore – Infantry
Explores how training and mindset must evolve to prepare Soldiers for near-peer combat.Ø 📖 The Infantry Master Trainer Strategy by MAJ Richard Chandler – Infantry
Proposes a strategy for master trainers to sustain tactical proficiency across formations.
Ø 📖 The MFRC and the Future of Army Reconnaissance – CPT Preston Wiley - Infantry
Outlines how reconnaissance formations must evolve to meet emerging threats.
Ø 📖 Shifting the Paradigm – MAJ Jonathan Austin - Infantry
A call to rethink legacy approaches to maneuver and training.
Ø 📖 The Knife’s Edge – CPT Luke Hodsden - Infantry
Vividly portrays the pressures of leadership in combat and the razor-thin margins of error.
🎧 Podcasts
Ø The Spear – Ranger Regiment J1 in Afghanistan – Scott Filbert & Charles Faint – Modern War Initiative
Explores the personnel challenges of supporting the Ranger Regiment in combat operations.
Ø Thinking Inside the Box – The Gauntlet EP27: Military Police (NTC Warrior Chronicles) – Host: Col. Ethan Diven; Guest: CPT Michaela Lang
Discusses lessons from training rotations and the role of MPs in large-scale combat operations.
Ø Episode 97 - “What’s Worth Fighting for in The Arctic" - Host: CPT Ed Garibay; Guests: Major General Joseph Hilbert, Colonel (Retired) Rich Creed – Breaking Doctrine
The team discusses the growing importance of the Arctic region and the release of ATP 3-90.96 Arctic and Extreme Cold Weather Operations.
🔧 Delivering Ready Combat Power
Ø 📖 Synchronizing Relationships And Enhancing Material Readiness Across The Division Area – CW5 Michael Theroux - Army Sustainment
Outlines how leaders at the division level synchronize sustainment for material readiness.
Ø 📖 It’s Time to Move The Goalposts – LTC Eric Shockley - Army Sustainment
Challenges leaders to rethink sustainment metrics and outcomes for the future fight.
Ø 📖 Modernizing Casualty Tracking in Large-Scale Combat Operations – SPC Lance Lee, MAJ Danielle Ivenz, LTC Aaron Griffin et al. - Pulse of Army Medicine
Argues for integrating new technologies to modernize casualty tracking on the battlefield.
Ø 📖 Clearing Hospitals – Sanders Marble, PhD - Pulse of Army Medicine
Examines the operational challenges of clearing medical facilities during combat.
🎧 Podcasts
Ø The LOGSTAT: Why Have We Not Won the War on Excess? – Part 2 – Host CPT Garett Pyle, Guest MAJ Jonathan Shackelford – Army Sustainment
Continues the debate on sustainment inefficiencies, highlighting why reform remains elusive.
🔄 Continuous Transformation
Ø 📖 Toothless DIVARTYs Struggle to Meet Requirements of LSCO – MAJ John (Jay) Logan & MAJ Zachary Lawson - Field Artillery
Identifies capability gaps in division artillery formations.
Ø 📖 Thoughts on Division Fires in the LSCO Fight – MG(R) Rich Longo, BG Brandon Anderson, COL Jeff Pickler, LTC Mike Podojil - Field Artillery
Senior leaders weigh in on how to modernize division-level fires.
Ø 📖 Modernizing Military Decision-Making – Col. Jason N. Adler - Military Review
Proposes new approaches to MDMP to accelerate adaptation.
🎧 Podcasts
Ø Episode 97 – “What’s Worth Fighting for in The Arctic” – Breaking Doctrine
Captain Ed Garibay hosts MG Joseph Hilbert, COL (Ret.) Rich Creed, and others to discuss Arctic strategy and doctrine.
📜 Strengthening the Profession of Arms
Ø 📖 Why ‘In the Meantime’ Is the Only Time – LTC (Ret.) Joe Byerly - From the Green Notebook
Reflects on how leaders use the “in-between” moments to shape themselves and their teams.
Ø 📖 My Commander Is Available 24/7: Is Yours? – MAJ Mike Eads -From the Green Notebook
A critique of leader availability culture and its implications for readiness and trust.
Ø 📖 Leading Beyond Expertise: Harnessing Vulnerability to Inspire Trust and Drive Impact – Joey Tientcheu - Military Mentors
Argues that vulnerability is a leadership strength that builds trust and influence.
Ø 📖Lore of the Corps – Dr. Nicholas K. Roland - Army Lawyer
Provides historical context and legal lessons from the Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
🎧 Podcasts
Ø SMART Goals Are Dumb – MOPs & MOEs with Alex Morrow, Drew Hammond & Dr. Christian Swann
Challenges conventional wisdom on SMART goals, offering alternative approaches to performance.
Ø Professional Writing Playlist (YouTube) – Talks and discussions on military writing.
📖 Resources & Calls
Ø Professional Military Writing – Military Review – Why writing matters.
Ø CSA Recommended Articles – Army University Press – The Chief’s reading list.
Ø Call for Papers: Army Civilian Journal – Line of Departure – Invitation to contribute.
Ø Second Harding Project Workshop Establishes Way Ahead for Broadening Opportunity Program (TRADOC) – Recap of the Harding Project workshop and professional broadening.
🧰 Weekend Loadout
Quick Read: Why ‘In the Meantime’ Is the Only Time (FTGN) – 5 min reflection.
Deep Dive: Modernizing Military Decision-Making (MilReview) – a high-stakes strategic frontier.
Must-Listen: Large Scale Combat Operations at the Corps (Breaking Doctrine).
🧭 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.
 | A guest post by
|