AUSA 2007
THE 53RD ANNUAL ASSOCIATION OF THE U.S. ARMY MEETING EXPECTED TO BE THE LARGEST AND BEST LAND WARFARE FORUM AND EXPOSITION YET, ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS.
The theme for this year’s Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting to be held October 8-10 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., is “America’s Army, the Strength of the Nation.” The theme not only appropriately reflects the acumen of a proud and distinguished military service, but it also provides a platform for senior Army officials to assess where the service is today and what it plans to do in the near future to build upon its legacy during a time where its services and soldiers are being stretched to the limit because of ongoing operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. This year’s three-day forum will emphasize AUSA’s important educational and professional role in supporting the warfighting and transformation of today’s Army, including active, Army National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, retirees, veterans, Army civilians, contractors and all their families, AUSA officials said. The meeting is expected to attract between 26,000 to 28,000 attendees and have more than 500 exhibits, with about 380 being from industry and another 130 being from the Army. “The popularity of the AUSA Annual Meeting keeps increasing beyond all reasonable expectations,” said Michael Scanlan, AUSA’s director of industry affairs. “Clearly, it is seen as an extremely important event for the defense industry and the U.S. Army-as well as for AUSA.”
AUSA HISTORY
Since 1950, AUSA has worked to support all aspects of national security while advancing the interests of America’s Army and the men and women who serve in it. AUSA is a private, non-profit educational organization that supports America’s Army—active, National Guard, Reserves, civilians, retirees and family members. It provides numerous professional development opportunities at a variety of local and national events. Its mission and focus are part of its uniqueness, according to officials. “We are the only organization that speaks for the entire Army, and that is the biggest draw,” John E. Grady, AUSA director of communications, told MT2. “In addition to the professional development forums that are there, there is a huge homecoming atmosphere to this where people get together who haven’t seen each other in maybe several years and have a chance to just relax and talk about what they have been doing.” One of the biggest draws of AUSA is the attendance of the Army’s top brass and their annual reports on the state of the Army currently and its goals for the future. This year’s keynote speaker will be Acting Secretary of the Army Peter Geren. Other speakers at this year’s meeting include Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Army Vice Chief of Staff General Richard A. Cody and Army Chief of Staff General George W. Casey Jr. “I think it is critically important that we have these reports back to the public, to our members, to the Army at large,” Grady said. “The Eisenhower Luncheon Address is traditionally given by the chief of staff of the Army. It is traditionally the state of the Army. This is the way the chief of staff sees the Army going over the next year. The opening ceremony address by the secretary of the army, traditionally by the secretary of the army, that takes a look at initiatives that the army intends or the secretary traditionally uses that to set an agenda for what the Army will try to do over the coming year, in terms of recruiting, in terms of manpower, in terms of equipping … These are major addresses.”
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
On Monday morning, October 8, members of the reserve components will attend the Guard and Reserve Leadership Breakfast and will hear from Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston. Following this event, the meeting will officially open with a patriotic presentation staged by the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) and the United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” in the center’s ballroom. Acting Secretary of the Army Peter Geren will be the meeting’s keynote speaker. Three luncheons will follow the opening session.
The Sergeant Major of the Army Awards Luncheon is the venue where the selection of the Army Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Soldier of the Year will be announced. Awards will be presented to these two outstanding solders. NCOs and soldiers—to include the drill sergeants of the year, recruiters of the year and the winners of the Best Ranger competition— will also be recognized at the luncheon. Army Vice Chief of Staff General Richard A. Cody will speak at this luncheon and take part in the awards ceremony. General Bantz “John” Craddock, commander, U.S. European Command and supreme allied commander Europe, has been invited to address the ROTC Luncheon for cadets and PMS personnel. Monday’s activities will conclude with the President’s Reception honoring the acting secretary of the Army, the Army chief of staff and the sergeant major of the Army. On Tuesday, the Association will host the Congressional staffers Breakfast, where Geren will speak to the assembled Hill staffers and Army guests before they tour the exhibit hall. At the Dwight D. Eisenhower Luncheon, Casey will deliver his first “State of the Army” address to the membership. General William W. Wallace, commander, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, will address the Army civilians at their special luncheon. On Wednesday, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates will speak at the Sustaining Member Luncheon for the Association’s defense industry members.
EXHIBIT FLOOR
There will be over 500 exhibits at this year’s event, highlighting state-of-the-art equipment, technology and research and development initiatives. Most will be from industry, which has played an important role in the Army and AUSA’s success, Grady said. “Industry has strongly supported our programs both by sponsoring events such as our Institute of Land Warfare Breakfasts, and they also exhibit with us,” he said. “We use the money that we derive from those exhibits to pay for those programs that directly support soldiers and their families. This is where we get the bulk of our revenues. Industry has traditionally been a very strong supporter of AUSA and we in turn appreciate what they have done and we try to provide them a forum to showcase their material and also talk about what they can offer the Army.”
ILW FORUMS
To emphasize the Annual Meeting’s focus as a professional development forum, the Association’s Institute of Land Warfare will conduct an expanded series of Military Contemporary Forums throughout the three-day event. Speeches and panel discussions, featuring leaders from the Department of Defense and Department of the Army and other experts, will address the crucial issues facing the nation and the defense establishment. This year, ILW will introduce an International Forum with military representatives from allied countries who will add new insights into the importance of joint planning and execution.
AUSA FAMILY PROGRAMS
AUSA’s Family Programs Directorate will present three military family forums that will highlight important issues that dramatically address the impact families—soldiers, spouses, parents and children—of warriors deployed and returning from the global war on terrorism. Military Family Form I, which will take place 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 8, is “The Chief of Staff of the Army’s Views on Army Initiatives to Support Families.” Military Family Forum II, which will occur on Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., is the “The Impact of War: Helping Families and Children Cope.” Military Family Forum III will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday and is named “Mother’s Stories: Experiences of Having a Child in War.” The forums will include audience participation and question-and-answer periods. Also at this year’s event will be an Army exhibit called “The Warrior’s Corner.” Soldiers ranking from Colonel on down will be available to share their insights with the public on what soldiers do day in and day out in carrying out their job responsibilities, officials said.
SHOWCASING A RELEVANT AND READY FORCE
The 2007 AUSA meeting not only provides an opportunity for Army family to come together, but it also provides an opportunity for the Army to engage with the public, officials said. “This annual meeting, which we are holding in a time of tremendous stress upon the Army to meet the operational commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan, also gives the Army an opportunity to talk with the American public about what it means to serve, what it means to defend the country and what it means to sacrifice,” Grady said. “As a nation, we’re not necessarily feeling the effects of the war, but certainly the land forces are, and the overwhelming majority of land forces are being drawn from the Army. This is an opportunity to showcase what the Army does.” ♦