The Friday Formation

06 February 2026

🪖 The Friday Formation

This week’s dispatch on Army writing, leadership, and learning from every front
23 January 2026

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🗓️ Editor’s Note

Across warfighting, readiness, transformation, and the profession itself, this week’s readings converge on one truth: technology is accelerating faster than our habits, but leadership remains a human act.

Commanders wrestle with data overload, staffs with automation, and institutions with influence and legitimacy. The risk is not a lack of tools, but the quiet surrender of judgment, voice, and discipline.

This formation is about reclaiming clarity. Read deliberately. Lead intentionally. Speak when it matters.

Chris

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⚔️ Warfighting

• Commander, Don’t Give Up Your Voice

James Torrence — From the Green Notebook

A reminder that command presence, moral courage, and clear communication cannot be automated away.

• When Automation Accelerates War, Identity Determines Victory

Jerae Perez — Modern War Institute

Explores why organizational identity and culture remain decisive amid rapid technological change.

• Night Vision at a Crossroads: When Technology Outpaces the Neurobiology of Close Combat

Alan Kearney — Modern War Institute

Examines the physiological limits of soldiers operating advanced night-fighting systems.

• War Injuries: Seeing Beyond Weapons and Doctrines

Daniel Ekwall, Anders Jonsson, Jan-Olaf Svärd — Small Wars Journal

Argues for a broader understanding of combat injury that includes psychological and systemic factors.

• PLA Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Close Air Support Are Still Under Development

Dennis J. Blasko — Strategic Studies Institute

An assessment of the PLA’s evolving but still immature CAS capabilities.

• Five Questions for a General: ADM Harry B. Harris Jr. (Ret.)

Host: Cadet Nathan Unks | Guest: ADM Harry B. Harris Jr. (Ret.) — MWI Podcast

Strategic reflections on deterrence, leadership, and the Indo-Pacific.

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🔧 Delivering Ready Combat Power

• Wargames Keep Warning Us About Congested Logistics. It’s Time to Take Action

Katherine Welch — Modern War Institute

Highlights the persistent logistics vulnerabilities revealed by repeated wargaming.

• Joint Logistics and the Best Ways to Make Coffee

Melissa Czarnogursky — Center for Junior Officers

Uses humor and lived experience to illustrate interoperability and sustainment realities.

• Training the Fundamentals

LTC Brian Forester, CPT Nikita Hooks — Infantry Journal

Reinforces why mastery of basics underpins readiness at every echelon.

• Deeper Understanding

MAJ Joshua Tosi — Protection Journal

Argues for deeper professional education in protection and survivability functions.

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🔄 Continuous Transformation

• Finding the Signal Within the Noise

Douglas Wilbur — Irregular Warfare Initiative

Explores how human cognition complements data analytics in information warfare.

• Schrödinger’s Security Partner

Jahara Matisek, Robert Schafer — Irregular Warfare Initiative

Examines the difficulty of assessing effectiveness in security force assistance.

• Emerging Technology and Irregular Warfare

Kristina Kempkey, Jeffrey Szuchman — Irregular Warfare Initiative

Introduces a new analytical lens for technology’s role in irregular conflict.

• American Samoa Is America’s Strategic Hub in the South Pacific

Brent Sadler — Irregular Warfare Initiative

Highlights overlooked geography in Indo-Pacific competition.

• How China’s Crypto Seizures Are Quietly Powering Its Digital Asset Reserves

Hugo Harsano — Small Wars Journal

Analyzes economic statecraft through digital asset control.

• Failure of Economic Statecraft

Min Ha (Charles) Kim — Small Wars Journal

Explores why economic tools often underperform strategic expectations.

• A Crink in the Armor of Deterrence

Christopher Lee, Ben Blane — Small Wars Journal

Identifies subtle but dangerous weaknesses in deterrence frameworks.

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📜 Strengthening the Profession of Arms

• My Daily Circle of Reading

Joe Byerly — From the Green Notebook

A practical model for sustained professional reading.

• Conflict Management

Josh Bowen — 3×5 Leadership

A leader’s guide to navigating conflict constructively.

• The Consequences of Declining Patriotism in the United States

Hosts: Neil Snyder, Chuck Allen — SSI Podcast

Explores civil-military implications of weakening national cohesion.

• Blind Spot

Catherine Cline — War Room, Army War College

Examines overlooked risks in strategic decision-making.

• Throwback Thursday

Audrey Shifflet — Harding Project Substack

A reflective look at enduring leadership lessons.

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📖 Resources & Calls

• CSA Recommended Articles – Army University Press – The Chief’s reading list.

• Call for Papers – Army Civilian Journal - Invitation to contribute.

• Professional Writing Playlist (YouTube) – Talks and discussions on military writing.

• Professional Military Writing – Military Review – Why writing matters.

🧰 TL;DR

Short reflection: To My Fellow Subjects of Investigations
Deep read: When Automation Accelerates War, Identity Determines Victory
Listen while commuting: Making the Call – LTG Tony Hale

🧭 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.

We’re renewing professional writing across the force—one Friday at a time. Read. Reflect. Act. The profession doesn’t stand still, and neither should we.