ALx Bulletin | June 2026


Execute Today | Content You Can Use Immediately

Military Professionals now have instant access to all Army branch journals through the new Line of Departure app. Readers can expect publication of approximately eight articles per branch journal each month. Read more about the new app in this article and download it in the Apple or Google play store.

Tell Your Formation. Have you seen the new webpages on Army.mil? Tell Your Formation is a Soldier-focused, leader-led communication initiative designed to translate complex Army policies into clear, understandable, and actionable information. Find it here.


Prepare for Tomorrow | Content to Improve Your Organization

Influencing others is a core leadership skill in every role you will have. In addition to recognizing and cultivating the power of networks, this article highlights three other skills that will help you better inspire, persuade and encourage your team members to create common goals and achieve results.

This article reached over 16K views in less than a week on the Army U Press website. “Dear Future Sergeants Major” by Command Sgt. Maj. Tammy Everett provides reflections of her 30-plus years career and advice relevant to all emerging leaders. Read it here.

Is your communication style a combat multiplier or a liability? Learn why the Army should treat interpersonal communication as a perishable tactical skill and how authentic rapport serves as a more powerful tool for mission success than any formal authority. Read firsthand operational insights here.

Being a junior leader in the Army demands a mastery of interpersonal communication skills: the ability to negotiate, motivate, and build rapport with partners, Soldiers, and peers alike.

—1st Lt. Erica Esterly

As the character of warfare evolves through rapid technological advancements, continuous Professional Military Education (PME) is essential for developing leaders capable of navigating complex threats.Beyond academic instruction, the PME classroom builds deep trust and strong professional networks as leaders from different branches and nations collaborate and debate strategic ideas together. Ultimately, this combination of rigorous study and peer relationship-building ensures a highly competent,strategically minded joint force. Read the full article here.

For the safety and prosperity of the United States, as well as that of our allies and partners, the national security imperative is clear: we must continue developing and educating our current and future leaders, both officers and enlisted, throughout their careers.

—Lt. Gen. Mike Plehn, US Air Force, Retired

Despite rapid technological advancement and integration, the fundamental burden of leadership remains entirely human. In "The Lethal, Learning Lieutenant," Charles Faint argues that the most effective future officers will not be those with the most advanced technology, but those who can adapt and learn the fastest. This article provides essential, practical advice on managing digital signatures, empowering tech-savvy subordinates, and leading through degraded communications. Read the full piece to discover why character and intellectual agility remain the ultimate weapons on the modern battlefield.


Learn Always | Content to to Help You Think

Just Published. Lariat Advance: Insights from the Cold War for the Twenty-First Century. This anthology brings together academic rigor and professional military reflection. If you are interested in where memoir meets military history, this book offers critical, persisting lessons for today's fighting force. Read it here.

Coming Soon! The Noncommissioned Officer: A Primer, written by CSM (Ret.) Robert A. Nelson, EdD and CSM (Ret.) Richard J. Russell II.  Read a "sneak peek" condensed essay from the tenth chapter "Applying Power to Leadership" here. The full book will be published digitally in July 2026. Follow AUP on social media for more sneak peeks!

Cohesive teams wield great influence.Read a review of The Airborne Mafia, a newly published book highlighting how the collective bond of early airborne leaders fundamentally shaped the US Army’s force structure, tactical doctrine, and enduring identity throughout the Cold War to the present day.


Get Involved | Opportunities for YOU to Drive Change

We want you to write! Army University Films, in collaboration with CGSC and USMA, has produced “Writing for Army Professionals,” a dynamic video series designed to strengthen writing across the force and serve as a primer into professional writing for everyone, from junior leaders to seasoned staff officers. Whether you are already a prolific writer or just thinking about it, you definitely want to check out the videos here.

Make sure you check out the “Why I Write” series every Wednesday on the Line of Departure social media platforms. Each week we will feature a published author. Do you want to be featured? Send us a photo, a brief bio, and a short paragraph about why you write.

ALx social media will close at the end of June. Moving forward, our content will be fully integrated into AUP's channel. We highly encourage you to follow the Army University Press and Line of Departure platforms to stay engaged.

Past Bulletins