1. 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

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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. .

7. 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.

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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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