El Paso, Texas

Members of the AUSA Texas Capital Area Chapter Executive Committee attended the AUSA IV Region Training Conference during the period 1-5 May 2024 in El Paso, TX. This exceptional training conference was hosted by the AUSA General of the Army Omar Bradley Chapter of AUSA. The conference was held at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown El Paso. Support was also provided by the leadership of AUSA National Headquarters and the Command Group of Fort Bliss, TX to include MG Jim Isenhower, Commanding General 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss. 

During the training conference our chapter was represented by COL (R) Garry Patterson, Chapter President, MG (R) Robert "Bob" Halverson, Immediate Past Chapter President, David Berlad, VP for University Programs, and Nancy Berlad, VP for Social Media. 

The training conference allowed an opportunity for sharing of information from Recruiting Command (CPT Collin Clark, local USA Recruiting Company Commander), an overview of Fort Bliss mission and culture by MG Isenhower, open discussions of methods to enhance community partner membership recruitment and retention, (facilitated by JP Hogan and Angelina Flores and an update of programs and activities from AUSA National Headquarters (provided by GEN (R) Bob Brown, President/CEO of AUSA and his staff).

The highlight of the training conference was the helicopter tour of Fort Bliss by all attendees. During this tour we had the opportunity to visit an Apache AH64E helicopter gunnery range and a Abrams M1A2 tank gunnery range. This provided the group an opportunity to visit with soldiers from the 1st Armored Division. The El Paso AUSA chapter were gracious to provide an exceptional conference with their special hospitality. This was demonstrated by our attendance at the local El Paso Chihuahuas Triple A minor league baseball game, and a special Cinco de Mayo dinner at the home of Gus Rodriguez. 

The final action at the conference was the election of AUSA IV Region Leaders (President and Senior Vice President). Gus Rodriguez was elected president and JP Hogan as Senior VP. It was determined that next year's IV Region training conference will be held in Lawton, Oklahoma.