5 Things to Know | December 2024 | U.S. Army

As 2024 rolls out and 2025 rolls in, let's celebrate some amazing achievements from our soldiers. This year was filled with many victories. Second Lieutenant Alma Cooper shone brightly as Miss USA in November. Elite soldiers from U.S. Army Pacific earned the title of the Army's best squad after a tough competition in September. Specialist Mason Bruning snagged the prestigious 2024 Soldier of the Year title. Sergeant First Class Alexander Haynes was crowned 2024 NCO of the Year. Our soldiers also made waves at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Captain Samantha Sullivan won bronze with the U.S. women's rugby team. Sergeant Sagan Magdalena claimed silver in the women's 50 millimeter small bore rifle. And Sergeant First Class Ellie Marks dazzled with five silver medals in swimming. In out of this world news, Colonel Frank Rubio and Major Kate Rubins earned the rare Army astronaut device for their stellar contributions in space. The Army also exceeded its recruiting goals welcoming 55,000 new soldiers, a strong start for 2025. With more initiatives to transform how we recruit the next generation of America's Army, the force looks to continue the momentum into 2025. Making a difference. When disaster strikes, America's Army is always ready to help. Following the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse in March, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers played a key role in restoring the channel for maritime traffic. After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, our soldiers were on the ground assisting local communities. The Army builds global partnerships through exercises. Salaqnid with the Philippine Army, enhancing military interoperability. Super Garuda Shield, involving over 4,000 service members from 19 nations. African Lion 24, the largest joint exercise with over 8,100 participants across multiple African nations. This year also marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day, honoring the heroes of Operation Overlord. The Army keeps evolving to defend our freedom. The Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense, or MSHORAD, was renamed to Sergeant Stout, honoring Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant Mitchell W. Stout. The exciting new combat vehicle, the M-10 Booker, was launched in April. The Army recognizes there's more to life than soldiering. A soldier's health and family are also an important part of Army life. Being a soldier's spouse comes with its own challenges, especially when it comes to careers. The Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot, the MSCAP, helps spouses find jobs, offering skills-based fellowships, and reimbursement for moving-related expenses up to $2,000 for licensure and business costs. In 2024, the H2F program has expanded to help soldiers take charge of their overall health. It focuses on physical, nutritional, mental, and spiritual wellness to boost performance and well-being, both in and out of service. Military families with small children often struggle to find quality child care. The Army is partnering with Upwards, the largest child care network in the United States, to offer subsidized, flexible child care during weekend drills, with plans to expand this service in the future. Mark your calendars. The Army-Navy game kicks off on December 14th at 3 p.m. This legendary rivalry began back in 1890, and with 124 games played, Navy leads with 62 wins to Army's 55. Good luck to both teams. Finally, we wish all service members, both past and present, as well as their families, a joyful holiday season. Here's to a fantastic end to 2024. That's it. That's the end of the video. But don't worry, there's more just like it. Do yourself a favor, hit that subscribe button below to watch more U.S. Army content. And when you're done with that, drop and give me 20.