Charles Esther
US army Secretary Dan Driscoll traveled to Alaska this week to observe soldiers training for Arctic warfare, highlighting his key priority: enhancing lethality across the force.
![US Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Mejia]
A New Vision for the Army
Just two months into his tenure as the 26th Secretary of the Army, 38-year-old Daniel Driscoll is setting a clear direction. Speaking with Business Insider during his visit to Alaska, Driscoll emphasized that “lethality” will guide every decision he makes — from training reforms to equipment modernization.
“Anything in the US Army that doesn’t advance that goal could be out,” Driscoll said. His team signaled that even force structure and legacy systems could be reexamined to align with this new focus.
A Broader Pentagon Push
Driscoll’s commitment mirrors the Department of Defense’s broader emphasis under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Lethality, a consistent Pentagon buzzword since the Trump administration, is now taking on a sharper meaning: eliminating anything deemed nonessential to combat readiness.
“We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind,” Hegseth declared recently at the Army War College, stressing a return to “standards, meritocracy, and readiness.”
Cutting Back to the Core
During his Alaska visit, Driscoll watched the 11th Airborne Division train in Arctic conditions — an environment that demands resilience and innovation.
“They were not focused on PowerPoint slides or delivering better work products to the Pentagon,” Driscoll said. “They are out in the world figuring out what we need to do as an Army.”
Driscoll advocated for slashing excessive training requirements, refocusing soldiers on core combat tasks. “If it doesn’t directly correlate with lethality, we’re getting rid of it,” he said.
![US Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Mejia: Secretary Driscoll at a spur ride event]
What “Lethality” Means
In military terms, lethality refers to the ability to effectively engage and destroy enemy forces. However, what constitutes necessary preparation for lethality has varied across administrations.
Programs like Project Manager Soldier Lethality have worked on next-generation weapons and systems designed to improve the soldier’s edge in combat. Driscoll’s vision appears to push even further, reshaping acquisition priorities and daily training toward this end.
Reassessing Legacy Systems
According to Lt. Col. Jeff Tolbert, Driscoll’s public affairs advisor, the Army may cut outdated vehicles, command posts, and systems vulnerable to modern electronic warfare.
Instead, the focus will be on:
- Drones and uncrewed systems
- Robotics and human-machine integration
- Advanced night vision equipment
- More mobile vehicles and formations
- Integrated battlefield communications
Lessons from the ongoing war in Ukraine have influenced this pivot, underscoring the importance of new technologies and faster battlefield adaptation.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence
Driscoll hinted at the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in future warfare. Within 12 months, he expects generative AI to begin appearing in limited battlefield applications, further boosting lethality and decision-making speed.
A Career Shaped by Service
A former armor officer with the 10th Mountain Division, Driscoll served from 2007 to 2011 and deployed to Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom. After leaving active duty, he attended Yale Law School alongside current Vice President JD Vance.
Upon assuming office in February 2025, Driscoll sent a clear message to the Army:
“You are a part of the most lethal land-based fighting force in the history of the world.”
He promised to eliminate distractions and focus training squarely on preparing soldiers to fight and win in the most contested environments.
