The Department of the Army Historical Summary (DAHSUM) Stephen J. Lofgren HQDA Studies & Support Division Field Programs & Historical Services Directorate U.S. Army Center of Military History 12/4/2018

Agenda What is the Department of the Army Historical Summary (DAHSUM)? The Challenges Today Observations Questions U.S. Army Center of Military History 12/4/2018

What IS the DAHSUM? An annual history of the U.S. Army that covers the events, programs, and initiatives of a fiscal year from the perspective of Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA). The purpose of the DAHSUM is to provide: An annual accounting to the nation of the expenditures, work, and accomplishments of the U.S. Army. a “reference document” that serves as “the Army’s memory” (Brig. Gen. James L. Collins, Jr., former Chief of Military History)

What IS the DAHSUM? Its lineage stretches back to 1822 and the first Secretary of War report. In 1972, the Secretary of Defense and the other services cancelled annual reports. The Secretary of the Army disagreed and established the DAHSUM. The Sec Army recognized the value of an annual history. CMH tasked with production; started with FY 1969. Today the DAHSUM is unique in its contemporary coverage of the institutional history of the service.

We feel your pain! In 45 years of DAHSUM work, CMH has: - Encountered every challenge and obstacle. - Tried multiple approaches to improve speed and quality. We know the problems. (Here’s the briefing hook.) U.S. Army Center of Military History 12/4/2018

Today: Back to the Future Recently overhauled process to: Revive some previous practices, e.g.: Formal request for input. Multiple authors focused on the most recent year. Leverage our strengths: People. HQDA presence. HQDA tasking authority. .

The Current Process Director of the Army Staff issues an official tasking after the fiscal year ends. Request is for POCs and input AND is tracked by HQDA. CMH provides explicit submission guidance (i.e., what to provide us) Director’s Action Group (DAG) handles the tasking and collection of input (and follow-up). FPS historians perform the research and writing. After internal review, the manuscript goes to HQDA for staff review . . . then to security review and CMH production. GOAL: Staff review and DAS tasking occur at the same time.

Observations Presence matters. Guidance matters. Tell them what you need . . . . . . but accept anything—including documents. (Positive reinforcement) Persistence and repetition matter.

Questions? U.S. Army Center of Military History 12/4/2018

CMH Organization Histories (HD) Executive Director Mr. Charles Bowery (SES) CMH Initiatives Group (CIG) Directors Action Group (DAG) Career Program 61 (CP61) Chief Historian (SL) Chief Curator (SL) Deputy Director Histories (HD) Field Programs and Historical Services (FP) The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH) Museums (MD) National Museum (NMUSA) U.S. Army Center of Military History 12/4/2018

Field Programs Directorate Field Programs and Historical Services Directorate Field & International Division Force Structure & Unit History Division Historical Resources Division HQDA Studies & Support Division Mission: Provide guidance and oversite to the Army field history program; maintain the organizational history and lineage of the Army; collect and preserve historically significant operational data and other materials. Provide historical input to the Army’s leaders and other DoD officials. Prepares the DAHSUM, conducts oral histories, and responds to inquiries regarding Army History. U.S. Army Center of Military History 12/4/2018

Field Programs Directorate Collection 40, 000 volumes 60+ periodical subscriptions General Officer biography collection Oral History Collections GWOT Collections (~150 TB) Gulf War Collection Vietnam Collection Contingency Operations Collection Army AR & FM Collection Army General Orders SCIF Field History Policy and Oversight Army Restructuring OEF/OEF/OND Op Records Digitizing Army History HQDA Staff Support Military History Operations Military History Detachments Archives and Library Operational War Records Consolidated Data Center Army Historical Digital Data U.S. Army Center of Military History 12/4/2018