10 Apr 12. The Association of the United States Army (AUSA) and its Institute of Land Warfare (ILW) will present a professional development forum titled “Mission Command and the Network” June 19 — 20 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, Kansas City, Mo. Participating in the symposium will be presentations and panel discussions with speakers from the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, the U.S. Army Mission Command Center of Excellence, the defense industry, allied nations, academia and “think tanks.” As America faces an uncertain national security environment, the U.S. Army remains central to the nation’s defense as part of the Joint Force. No major conflict has been won without “boots on the ground.” The U.S. Army engages in three essential roles: preventing conflict through credible readiness, sometimes requiring decisive action; shaping the international environment by engaging partners, fostering mutual understanding through military-to-military contacts and helping partners build the capacity to defend themselves; and finally, by winning decisively and dominantly. To succeed in these roles, the U.S. Army is reframing some of the key concepts of its warfighting doctrine. In support of the Joint Force, the Army’s doctrine of unified land operations is guided by mission command — the commander-centric conduct of military operations based on disciplined initiative, trust, intent and understanding among all echelons. It is the warfighting function that seeks to inform and influence leaders while achieving advantages through the application of conventional, cyber and electronic means. As a warfighting function, mission command is the first among equals because it is the commander’s responsibility to integrate all warfighting functions.

12 Apr 12. From the 26th – 27th May 2012, the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu is playing host to Trucks & Troops. Staged by the South Hampshire Area of the Military Vehicle Trust the show is a celebration of the development of military transport, combat vehicles and soldiering through the ages. Up to 200 military vehicles will be on display, everything from push-bikes to armoured and tracked vehicles, ranging from pre WWll to the Gulf War. These include a multitude of types such as Jeeps, Dodges, Bedfords, GMCs, Austin Champs and, of course, Land Rovers. There will be a number of re-enactment groups from the Second World War to the US Vietnam War, wearing uniforms and equipment corresponding to the vehicles on display. They will be talking to visitors about life as a soldier and re-creating camps and situations in which they would have lived and served. Visit the Home Front Living History Group who will be giving talks on life for the women and children left behind when their men went to war.On the Beaulieu Arena, visitors can watch parades of vehicles, live action from Rolling Thunder, and marching bands Romsey Old Cadets and Wessex Military Band providing musical entertainment. Watch demonstrations of 40s style Lindy Hop jive on the show stage. Activities for younger visitors include the Model Boat Pond and Model Tank Village. There will also be an opportunity to dress up in Army camouflage, including camo face paint, and take part in a patrol with real soldiers from the modern British Army. Visitors to the show can also see the whole Beaulieu attraction, including the National Motor Museum’s exciting new exhibition BOND IN MOTION, displaying 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, Palace House and 13th century Beaulieu Abbey. Not to be missed is the Secret Army Exhibition which tells the story of wartime Beaulieu and the training of secret agents to work with the Resistance in occupied Europe during WWll.