In Support for Division-Level Innovation Cells During Continuous Transformation, Major J. Erin Malapit argues that bottom-up innovation is not only possible but essential for maintaining the U.S. Army’s competitive edge in an era of accelerating change and renewed great power competition. Drawing on historical case studies from Vietnam to Ukraine, the paper traces how Soldier-led ingenuity—often overlooked or unsupported by institutional structures—has repeatedly yielded operational breakthroughs. Malapit contends that while recent doctrinal shifts have emphasized innovation at all levels, current fiscal and organizational constraints inhibit the Army’s ability to capture and scale grassroots solutions. She identifies critical barriers, including restrictive funding streams, bureaucratic procurement processes, and the lack of strategic infrastructure to translate field innovations into programs of record. To overcome these challenges, the paper proposes two key reforms: the expansion of RDT&E funding authority at the division level and the creation of a Soldier-Innovation Cross Functional Team under Army Futures Command. By grounding her analysis in both historical precedent and contemporary policy debates, Malapit makes a compelling case that institutionalizing bottom-up innovation is not merely a cultural or organizational imperative—it is a strategic necessity for preparing the force to fight and win future wars.
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