FORT BENNING, Ga., (March 18, 2015) -- Maneuver Center of Excellence Soldiers and leaders got a glimpse at the future of the Army March 10, as Brig Gen. Gary Brito, director of the Force 2025 and Beyond Directorate at the Army Capabilities Integration Center at Fort Eustis, Virginia, spoke as part of the combat leader speaker program.

According to the Force 2025 and Beyond website, the Army must meet the demands of the future strategic environment in alignment with its strategic vision and priorities. As such, the Army must make the (brigade combat teams) and enablers leaner while retaining capability, prevent overmatch through 2025, and set the conditions for fundamental change by 2030-40.

Through fiscal 2015, the Army will develop and refine what the Army will become by 2025. To determine the optimal design for the Army of the future, the Force 2025 and Beyond effort consists of activities along three primary lines of effort - force employment; science, technology and human performance optimization; and force design.

One group Brito spoke to was comprised of Maneuver Captains Career Course students, who he said are ideal targets for the message behind Force 2025 and Beyond.

"These leaders are going to be our future leaders - our future majors, lieutenant colonels and above in 2025 and the years after," Brito said. "They're going to take these challenges and lead the future of the Army. Having been in their shoes, it does seem like it's a lifetime away. ... The big Army strategic issues, challenges we're going through and the direction we're going in may not mean much to them ... but they're an integral part of it. They're the ones conducting the training, they're the ones who have to be responsible for combat readiness. They're the ones who are going to have to master the basics, share them with their Soldiers and be the leader that emphasizes that in their units."

Part of that future includes a need for the Army to have innovative and adaptive leaders, he said.

"They need to be innovative in the way they think, the way they train, the way they validate new concepts, execute doctrine and follow the guidance they've been given," Brito said. "They should be able to think outside the box a little bit. Don't be afraid to take risks or be risk averse, but think through risk and mitigate it."

While the Army faces change in the years ahead, Brito said some things will stay the same. For example, there will be a continued need for leaders to focus on self-development.

"It's important to see your strengths and capitalize on them, but also to see your weaknesses and take action to improve them," he said. "Use that same thought process with your Soldiers, as well. ... Much can be done through self-development. You can do some things on your own and also take advantage of some of the formal systems within the Army such as graduate school programs, the Command and General Staff College and intermediate-level education. Take advantage of those broadening opportunities."

There will also be a continued need for Soldiers to be caring and involved in the lives of their Soldiers.

"An unhappy Soldier who is having Family problems or financial problems is not going to be the type of guy or girl that can help us be a combat-ready unit," Brito said. "Taking care of that Soldier and Family is key to that total life development and total picture of the unit. It's critical."

No matter what changes 2025 and beyond brings, Brito said the Army is committed to remaining the most effective force it can be.

"We cannot turn a blind eye, and I'm very confident we won't, to ensuring we have overmatch against our adversaries, continue to be a premier ground force, and have the ability to maneuver and deploy anywhere in the world when called upon in support of national defense," he said.