Mutual trust between leaders and their followers, called vertical trust, is important for all organizations. However, due to the increasing complexity of the operational environment and continued implementation of Mission Command, vertical trust will be especially critical for the Army of 2025 and beyond (F2025B). In order to effectively design and implement measures to increase vertical trust throughout the institution, the Army needs to: * Gain an understanding of how vertical trust relationships are developed and maintained, specifically in the types of operational settings anticipated for F2025B, * Gain an accurate understanding of the existing levels of vertical trust throughout the Army, * Identify where trust is low and what specific conditions and factors are causing the trust deficiencies, and * Design and implement measures to address the identified concerns. To assist in this effort, this paper 1) reviews relevant and foundational trust literature, 2) reviews ongoing trust initiatives, both internal and external to the Army, and 3) makes recommendations regarding the way ahead.

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