The Friday Formation
06 March 2026
🪖 The Friday Formation
This week’s dispatch on Army writing, leadership, and learning
Friday, 06 March 2026
🗓️ Editor’s Note
March opens with momentum and complexity — technological, institutional, and strategic.
This week’s readings continue GEN (Ret.) Mingus’s final essays on Army transformation, alongside fresh thinking on autonomy, sustainment, information warfare, and small-unit leadership.
The profession doesn’t stand still. Neither should we.
Chris
🏛️ Featured Leadership Essays
In his last few months as our 39th VCSA, GEN(R) Jim Mingus wrote a series of articles on eight topics in which he was personally invested regarding Army transformation and modernization. These run the gamut from the Army’s network, to how to think about autonomy on the battlefield, to how the Army runs, and of course Holistic Health and Fitness. Over the next four weeks, MWI will publish two articles a week on these topics.
⚡ Building the No-Neck Army: The Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness Program
GEN (Ret.) James Mingus & Graham White — Modern War Institute
Examines H2F as a strategic readiness enabler and the institutional case for investing in Soldier physical and cognitive performance.
🔄 From Hedgerows to Kill Webs: The Soldier Leads Army Transformation
GEN (Ret.) James Mingus & LTC Dwayne Steppe — Modern War Institute
Argues that transformation must be Soldier-led and ground-up, using tactical friction as the laboratory for institutional learning and adaptation.
⚔️ Warfighting
Earning a Spot on the Team: Autonomy, Trust, and the Future of Warfare Heidi Segars and Ericka Rovira — MWI
Examines how autonomous systems must earn battlefield trust through demonstrated performance and human-machine teaming.
Trench Warfare in the Next War Warrant Officer Class One Brandon Carey — The COVE
This article explores the adaptation of trench warfare for modern conflict. The author, a Warrant Officer Class One in the Australian Army, holds a rank equivalent to a Sergeant Major in the U.S. Army.
The Velocity Gap Between Pakistan and India Brigadier (Ret.) Anil Raman — War on the Rocks
Analyzes operational tempo disparities and strategic implications on the subcontinent.
Foundry, Fleet, and Fight: Hedging the U.S. Navy Emma Salisbury — War on the Rocks
Assesses U.S. naval industrial readiness and strategic hedging options.
Tell Me How This Ends: Six Questions That Will Shape the Outcome of U.S.-Israeli Operations Against Iran Sydney Laite, Haleigh Bartos, and Buckley Dejardin — MWI
Frames six critical strategic variables determining campaign outcomes.
Al-Qaeda’s Third Phase Sara Harmouch — MWI
Traces AQ’s evolution and the strategic risk of a resurgent third phase.
Why the Karachi Siege Shatters the Pakistan-Iran Bargain Albert Wolf — SWJ
Examines how the Karachi siege destabilizes a fragile regional security arrangement.
Mali Counterterrorism Intelligence Lessons David Heiner and Max Blumenfeld — SWJ
Lessons from Mali for intelligence-driven CT operations in complex environments.
Seeing First, Winning Later: The Rise of Space in U.S. Warfare Benjamin Moseman — War Room
Argues space-enabled ISR is now the decisive precursor to operational success.
Fighting for Intelligence in Large-Scale Combat Operations MG Richard Appelhans, Michael Liesmann, B. Clay Jackson, and Mikael Heikkinen — SSI
Addresses the intelligence function under the demands of LSCO.
🔧 Delivering Ready Combat Power
Forging Ahead: Army Pairs with Industry to Serve Soldiers LTG Chris Mohan — AUSA
Details the Army’s industry partnership model to accelerate acquisition and equipping.
Intelligence at the Point of Arrival LTC Joe Henderson — MIPB
Advocates pushing intelligence support forward to maximize tactical decision-making.
STAMP: Advanced Power Distribution as a Sustainment Enabler CW3 Sean McClenachan, Samuel Gwinn, and Joseph McFillin — Army Sustainment
Examines advanced power distribution as a critical sustainment capability.
Electric Vehicles and the Army’s Logistics Future 2LT Ahdam A. Wilson — Army Communicator
Explores EV integration and implications for Army motor pool and logistical planning.
Finance in the Fight: Operationalizing LTG Paul A. Chamberlain — Army Sustainment
Argues finance operations must be integrated into operational planning at all levels.
Reflections of a Battery Operations Officer 1LT Michael Potts — Field Artillery Journal
Ground-level lessons on fires integration and battery-level operations.
Is There Still a Path for an International Security Force in Gaza? Dr. Jacob Stoil — SSI
Evaluates feasibility and design options for a stabilizing international force in Gaza.
Mops & Moes – Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein – Hosts: Alex Morrow & Drew Hammond. Guest: Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein.
Explores human performance research and its application to Soldier readiness and resilience
🔄 Continuous Transformation
Nordic Lessons for Romania’s Information Defense Ciprian Clipa — SWJ
Applies Nordic resilience models to Romania’s information environment challenges.
Low-Signature SOCOM Communications Logan Birchfield — SWJ
Addresses operational security in SOCOM communication architecture.
Reforming Acquisition Amanda Love, Daniel Harris, and Bob Bradford — War Room
Examines how acquisition reform can accelerate the Army’s ability to field capability.
Transforming Command Team Education Duane Mosier and Audrey Ayers — SWJ
Proposes reforms to how the Army prepares command teams for complex environments.
The Western Balkans Denial Nysret Buzhala — SWJ
Explores strategic risks of Western disengagement from the Balkans.
The Burden That Should Not Be Theirs: How Congress Turned the Military into the Last Check on Illegal War Rachel E. Vanlandingham — War on the Rocks
Critiques Congress’s abdication of war powers and its implications for the military.
The Deluge, the Paper Cup, and Washington’s Lack of Urgency on Guam Michael W. Cruz — War on the Rocks
Highlights the strategic gap between Guam’s importance and Washington’s investment.
📜 Strengthening the Profession of Arms
LogStat: Good Leaders Ask Better Questions – Host: CPT Garett Pyle; Guests: LTC Ryan Cornell-d’Echert and CSM Lamar Smith.
Examines how asking better questions drives more effective leadership and unit performance
The Major’s Burden: Building Teams, Systems, and Leaders Kyle F. McCarter — Center for Junior Officers
This article discusses how field grade officers can build effective teams by focusing on systems and leadership development.
UNC Status: On Experience, Meaning, and Mentorship Brian C. Gerardi — From the Green Notebook
Reflections on the value of mentorship and how leaders transmit meaning across the force.
Leadership vs. Management Josh Bowen — 3x5 Leadership
Draws the essential distinction between managing systems and leading people.
More Than a Uniform 1LT Su M. Nandar — Army Communicator
Explores identity, service, and what it means to wear the uniform with purpose.
Military Standards Dropped MSG Stephen Tackett — Army Communicator
Challenges the force to protect professional standards against institutional drift.
Foundations of Excellence SGM Noel DeJesus — Army Communicator
Articulates the foundational habits and disciplines that define NCO excellence.
Leadership in LSCO Maj. Callum Knight, British Army — Military Review
British Army perspective on command climate and leadership demands under LSCO conditions.
Moral-Spiritual Injury LTG (Ret.) James M. Dubik — Military Review
Examines the moral and spiritual dimensions of combat injury and leader responsibility.
A Choice to Lead LTC Peyton Hurley — Military Review
Reflects on the deliberate choice that leadership requires at every level.
Leading by Letting Go MAJ Ben Garlick — Military Review
Argues for decentralized execution and the power of trusting subordinates.
Making the Right Decision Chaplain (LTC) Jared L. Vineyard — Military Review
Examines moral decision-making in complex environments.
Eyes Up MAJ Christopher Zaczyk — Military Review
Elevating situational awareness as a leadership discipline.
Enhancing Medical NCO Expertise CSM Victor J. Laragione — NCO Journal
Advocates for deeper technical proficiency within the medical NCO corps.
Sustaining Readiness Through Recovery SGM William H. Powers and SGM Zachary D. Wriston — NCO Journal
Addresses recovery operations as a readiness multiplier for NCO leaders.
The Ledger: Accounting for Failure David Kilcullen and Greg Mills — Army History
Historical reckoning with institutional failure and the lessons it demands.
Perspectives: 21st Century Hedgerow Problems CW2 Jonathan Scharnhorst — Special Warfare
Examines small-unit tactical challenges in dense terrain.
📖 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
· Quick Read: Leadership vs. Management
· Deep Dive: From Hedgerows to Kill Webs: The Soldier Leads Army Transformation
· Listen: Ep. 173 – How to Tell a Good War Story (with Randy Surles)
🧭 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.