Military Review

 

Publishing Disclaimer: In all of its publications and products, Military Review presents professional information. However, the views expressed therein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Army University, the Department of the Army, or any other agency of the U.S. government.

 

Letter from the Editor

 

Col. Andrew Steadman, U.S. Army

 

Download the PDF Download the PDF

 

Col. Andrew Steadman, U.S. Army

Col. Andrew Steadman, U.S. Army
Director, Army University Press

In September 2023, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George asserted that to strengthen the profession, “Our Army must reinvest in venues that produce vital professional discourse.”1 And in his subsequent “Message to the Army Team,” he emphasized, “We must share ideas, engage in debate, and learn together.”2

As I step in as the director of Army University Press (AUP), I find myself asking, What exactly is professional discourse? Where and when does it happen? Who is responsible for it, and how do we know if we are strengthening the profession?

And specifically for my new role, What is AUP’s part in making Gen. George’s vision a reality?

As I learn more about AUP and get to know the dedicated team here, it is clear that the organization plays a pivotal role for the profession, serving as the Army’s premier multimedia engine to inspire professional conversations.

Here at AUP, we deliver a diverse array of rigorously researched works that elevate professional discourse not just in the Army but across the joint force and out to global audiences.

Military Review is in its 103rd year. Army Films boasts 115,000 YouTube subscribers. The NCO Journal is a one-of-a-kind platform dedicated to NCO development. Full-length books document the rich military experience. Staff rides resurrect seminal learning moments of the past. The chief of staff’s Harding Project and Line of Departure website foster high-quality branch journals. And a vibrant social media conversation highlights it all.

This work is fruitless, though, without you. Strengthening the profession only happens when you (the professional) distill lessons from your hard-earned experience, reflect on their importance, and share them with leaders who are on similar journeys.

You can do this by submitting articles for a journal like Military Review, or for a contest like the General William E. DePuy Writing Competition. You can share your perspective on social media or in emails to fellow soldiers. Or you can simply highlight a resource or lesson and invite reflections.

Don’t underestimate the value of your contribution. People need to hear what you have to say.

These daily engagements, small as they may be, are the backbone of professional discourse. They are minute-by-minute investments in shaping the future force. And it is not hyperbole to say that the profession will only survive if we commit to investing in it.

I am proud to be a part of Army University Press and look forward to continuing to make Gen. George’s vision a reality, one keystroke and one conversation at a time.

 

Notes External Disclaimer

  1. Randy George, Gary Brito, and Michael Weimer, “Strengthening the Profession: A Call to All Army Leaders to Revitalize Our Professional Discourse,” Modern War Institute, 11 September 2023, https://mwi.westpoint.edu/strengthening-the-profession-a-call-to-all-army-leaders-to-revitalize-our-professional-discourse/.
  2. Michael Weimer, Randy George, and Christine Wormuth, “Message to the Army Team,” U.S. Army, 27 October 2023, https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/2023/10/27/48ce3005/message-to-the-army-team-tri-sign.pdf.

 

 

Back to Top

September-October 2025