The Friday Formation
26 September 2025
🪖 The Friday Formation
This week’s dispatch on Army writing & leadership
26 September 2025
Editor’s Note
This week stretches from deployments and family resilience to force design, irregular warfare in the Indo-Pacific, AI in the information domain, and professional identity debates. These writings and podcasts sharpen our understanding of warfighting, sustainment, continuous transformation, and the enduring strength of the profession of arms. If I missed something, let me know—I’ll add it next week. And remember: professional writing is how we sharpen the force before the fight.
- Chris
⚔️ Warfighting
• The Day I Took Command: Leading Through Crisis and Learning Command in Real Time – MAJ Joe Hap (FTGN)
A firsthand account of assuming command during crisis, highlighting resilience and adaptability.
• Lay Your Ego Down (The Lumineers Version) – Joe Byerly (FTGN)
A reflection on humility, ego, and authentic leadership.
• The Battle of Novodarivka, Part II – CPT Joshua Ratta (MWI)
Examines the challenges of combined arms maneuver on the future battlefield.
• Dispatch from Wiesbaden: Building Readiness in the Face of Russian Aggression – COL Chase Metcalf & John Nagl (MWI)
Insights into U.S. Army Europe’s posture and readiness against Russian aggression.
• Applying the Alaska Territorial Guard Concept to Modern Indo-Pacific Irregular Warfare – Patrick Latham (IWI)
Argues for leveraging local defense models to strengthen Indo-Pacific resilience.
• The Role of Nuclear Proliferation in Modern Warfare – Henry Sokolski (Parameters Autumn Edition, SSI)
Explores the implications of nuclear proliferation on global security and military strategy.
🎧 Podcasts
• Future of War, Part I: Raiders at the Edge of Tomorrow– Hosts Ben Jebb & Don Edwards (IWI Podcast)
Discusses the evolving character of warfare and what the next generation of raiders will face.
🔧 Delivering Ready Combat Power
• Army Offers New Warrant Officer Retention Bonus – MSG Kindra Ford (Army.mil)
Details new incentives to retain warrant officer talent.
• Army Retention Transformation: Data-Driven Talent Alignment – MSG Kindra Ford (Army.mil)
Highlights expanded incentives and programs reshaping Army retention.
🎧 Podcasts
• LOGSTAT: The Deployer’s Toolbox – Your Success, Fort Port – Host CPT Garett Pyle with LTC (R) Stacey Lee (DVIDS Audio)
Discusses tools for sustainers to improve deployment outcomes and readiness.
🔄 Continuous Transformation
• Defending Against AI Information Warfare – CPT Nolan R. Hedglin (Gray Space)
Analyzes the role of AI in shaping information and cognitive battles.
• Beyond the Network – LTC Jon R. Creel & LTC James J. Torrence (Military Review Online Exclusive)
Examines the future of network-centric warfare and beyond.
• Narratives and Political Values in the Arctic – Bouffard, Lackenbauer, Lajeunesse, Buchanan, Lanteigne & Sukhankin (MWI)
Discusses the interplay of narratives, values, and Arctic geopolitics.
• Russia is Shrewdly Playing the Long Game in Africa – Hanna Notte (War on the Rocks)
Analyzes Russia’s long-term approach to influence and operations in Africa.
• Want Drone Dominance? Let the Squad Fail – MAJ Charlie Phelps (MWI)
Argues that innovation comes from allowing tactical failure and experimentation.
• The Arctic as a Geopolitical Battleground – Troy J. Bouffard, Lester W. Grau, LTC Charles K. Bartles, and Mathieu Boulegue (Parameters Autumn Edition, SSI)
Analyzes the strategic importance of the Arctic in global competition and military operations.
• The Role of Narratives in Cognitive Warfare – Dr. Sorin Adam Matei (Parameters Autumn Edition, SSI)
Examines how narratives shape perceptions and influence outcomes in cognitive warfare.
• The Future of Strategic Competition in South Asia – Dr. Rudabeh Shahid (Parameters Autumn Edition, SSI)
Discusses the evolving dynamics of strategic competition in South Asia and its global impact.
• Coercive Deterrence: Adapting Deterrence for Strategic Competition with China – Terry Tracy (Parameters Autumn Edition, SSI)
Proposes a proactive approach to deterrence, shaping the environment to limit adversary choices without threats or force, and synchronizing U.S. interagency strategies in hybrid operations.
🎧 Podcasts
• The Weaponization of AI: The Next Stage of Terrorism and Warfare – MAJ Brennan Deverauz (Host) et al. (SSI)
A panel discussion on how AI could empower terrorism and unconventional threats
📜 Strengthening the Profession of Arms
• Advocating for Apathy – SGM Nate Ballinger (FTGN)
A provocative reflection on selective engagement and prioritization in leadership.
• Leadership and the Army Profession – GEN Gary M. Brito & LTC Danny Priester Jr. (Military Review Online Exclusive)
Senior leaders reflect on leadership and the enduring Army Profession.
• Who We Are, What We Do: Framing the Special Forces Identity Debate – LTC Gordon Richmond (Special Warfare Journal)
Examines how Special Forces define their identity in a shifting environment.
• Special Operations Forces – CW4 Marcus A. Montez (Warrant Officer Journal)
Explores the warrant officer perspective in SOF.
• Artificial Intelligence and Future Warfare – CSM Eduardo I. Carranza (NCO Journal)
A senior NCO’s perspective on AI’s implications for future combat.
• Civilian Education System Updates – Julia Bell & Dr. Christina Love (Army Civilian Journal)
Outlines reforms to the Civilian Education System to better prepare the workforce.
• Lessons from Historical Military Campaigns – Dr. Thomas Bruscino (Parameters Autumn Edition, SSI)
Highlights key lessons from historical military campaigns and their relevance to modern warfare.
• Joint Operations and Interagency Collaboration – LTC Kelly R. M. Ihme, LTC Patrick O’Brien Boling, CDR Michael Zimmerman, LTC Timothy G. McCormick (Parameters Autumn Edition, SSI)
Explores the importance of joint operations and interagency collaboration in achieving mission success.
🎧 Podcasts
• Ep. 160 – Surviving Separation: Deployments and Relationships – Dr. Galena Rhoades (Guest), Joe Byerly (Host) (FTGN Podcast)
• Five Questions for a General – Cadet Keilani Stewart (Host), BG Rich Gross (Guest) (MWI Podcast)
A candid leadership interview with Brigadier General Rich Gross
📖 Resources & Calls
• Professional Military Writing – Military Review
• CSA Recommended Articles – Army University Press
• Call for Papers: Army Civilian Journal – Line of Departure
• Professional Writing Playlist (YouTube)
🧰 Weekend Loadout
• Quick Read: Advocating for Apathy – SGM Nate Ballinger (FTGN)
• Deep Dive: The Weaponization of AI: The Next Stage of Terrorism and Warfare – MAJ Brennan Deverauz(Host) et al. (SSI)
• Must-Listen: Ep. 160 – Surviving Separation: Deployments and Relationships – Dr. Galena Rhoades (Guest), Joe Byerly (Host) (FTGN Podcast)
🧭 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.
I really wonder— if you Americans know how pathetic you all look, to the outside world. You fight amongst yourselves.. Democrats V Republicans, black vs. white, religion against religion, actually you all fight over every single topic. From an outside perspective, you're like the bullies in the sand pit.. You think you should be number one, with every other country below you but never equal to you right? What're your saying?.. God bless America and no one else Right? You create the weapons, the war and interfere in every other country on the planet. “You're the eternal agitators”.. And not since Trump but since “ALWAYS”. It's clear anyway that no president is in charge. There is something much more sinister going on behind the scenes. All that money going to defence budgets and it should be providing every damn citizen— with Free healthcare, number one priority today.. Food in your stomach, number two.. No more of this bull shit, war mongering, money drainers. You want all your kids 18+ sent overseas to these wars? Dem or Rep— The only time your sons and daughters should be getting ready for war, is if you need to fight an invasion on your own soil.. And that could definitely happen 99% of the world's problems are caused by the American oligarchy/elite class. You all should be embarrassed to call yourself American, the world is really starting to hate you all. And for you Democrats.. the way you carry on like little children, sore little losers of the election.. And you guys fucking sucked— when you held all the seats and all the power.. Fucking disgusting all of you.
Get it together or there will be suffering on this planet like never before and you will be to blame..
Fuck make America great again, how about make the world great again— 2000 years of peace, is what you all should be fighting for.. Abolish the insurance companies.. Stop letting corporations and billionaires run the show..
Stand up for yourself for fuck sake.
Much love to the peacekeepers..
From a New Zealand Grandmother
(with free healthcare and a 4% unemployment rate) You could have that too, if you work together.. Dumb ass’s.