“America’s Army: Ready Today, Preparing for the Future,” the theme of the Association of the United States Army’s 2016 Annual Meeting and Exposition, Oct. 3 to 5, will set the tone for speeches, industry and military exhibits, and special presentations from senior Defense Department and Army leaders on subjects relating to today’s Army and the Army of the future.

The AUSA meeting – A Professional Development Forum – will focus on panel discussions; Contemporary Military Forums; Military Family Forums; Homeland Security Breakout Sessions; and special multimedia presentations and educational workshops that reinforce, examine and showcase the Army, the soldier and the Army family.

Walter E. Washington Convention Center – Marriott Marquis

The AUSA meeting will again occupy the entire Walter E. Washington Convention Center as the Association celebrates its 14th year in this state-of-the-art facility.

There will be 600 displays in five halls located on both levels of the Convention Center with over 250,000 net square feet of display space.

There are also 10 international pavilions: Australia, Canada, France, Greece, Israel, Korea (2), Poland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. There will also be an AUSA Homeland Security Pavilion, a Department of Veterans Affairs Pavilion, two Small Business Pavilions and a Veterans Career Hiring Pavilion organized by the American Freedom Foundation.

The Marriott Marquis DC Hotel, located directly across from the Convention Center, will be the meeting’s headquarters hotel.

Small Business Pavilions

AUSA is once again offering small businesses, including Association corporate members, an opportunity to showcase their products and services to approximately 26,000 attendees from around the world at two small business pavilions.

To qualify, your company must be classified as a “small business,” as defined by the Small Business Administration.

For more information on the pavilions, visit our website: http://ausameetings.org/2016annualmeeting or contact Rand Meade, AUSA’s exhibit manager, at (703) 907-2678 or rmeade@ausa.org.

Veterans Career Hiring Event Pavilion

The Association of the United States Army has once again partnered with the American Freedom Foundation to host the Warriors To The Workforce Hiring Event, presented by GES for veterans in conjunction with the Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Held Oct. 3 to 5 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, this no-charge event is part of the American Freedom Foundation’s nationwide initiative to help veterans find jobs.

The event brings together major companies from throughout the country to profile their services and provide employment opportunities for our veterans.

Attending veterans have the chance to talk with employers, submit qualifications and even participate in job interviews on the spot.

In addition to hiring opportunities, Warriors To The Workforce will include a variety of workshops for veterans each day providing resources and information on subjects such as mental readiness, confidence building, networking and presentation skills.

Additional topics include resume writing, interviewing techniques, job searching, career planning through goal setting, and translating military skills and training into civilian life and corporate experience.

Professional Development Forum

“This year’s three-day forum will emphasize AUSA’s important educational and professional role in supporting the warfighting and transforming Army – Regular Army, Army National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve – the men and women who serve, retirees, veterans, Army civilians, ROTC and U.S. Military Academy cadets, contractors – and all their families,” an AUSA spokesman said.

Pre-Registration and ticket purchase

Anyone may purchase tickets in advance online for lunches, dinners and receptions, and pre-register for the meeting by visiting the AUSA website at www.ausa.org.

Also, tickets for lunches, dinners and receptions may be purchased on-site at the AUSA Ticket Pick-up area in the Convention Center from Sept. 30 to Oct. 5 if not sold out.

There is no registration fee.

Program Highlights

(Editor’s note: At press time, the speakers listed below have been either invited or have accepted AUSA’s invitation to address our functions.)

Gen. Carter F. Ham, USA, Ret., AUSA president and CEO, will host the Chapter Presidents’ Dinner Sunday, Oct. 2, and will be the key note speaker at this event honoring the Association’s volunteer leadership.

On Monday morning, Oct. 3, members of the reserve components will attend the Maj. Gen. Robert G. Moorhead Guard and Reserve Breakfast.

At this event, the Walter T. Kerwin Jr. awards to the outstanding Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve battalion-size units will be presented.

The commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command, Gen. Robert B. Abrams, has been invited to address the reserve component attendees.

Following this breakfast, the meeting will officially open with a patriotic presentation by the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” in the center’s ballroom.

The secretary of the Army, Eric K. Fanning, is the invited keynote speaker.

Three luncheons will follow the opening session.

The U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year Recognition Luncheon is the venue where Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey will officially announce the Army Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Soldier of the Year following the Best Warrior Competition held at Fort A. P. Hill.

The Army vice chief of staff, Gen. Daniel Allyn, has been invited to speak at this luncheon.

The commanding general, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Gen. Dennis Via, will address the ROTC Luncheon for cadets and PMS personnel.

AUSA also will host the Corporate Member Luncheon on Monday. The speaker is Gen. David Perkins, commanding general, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.

There will be a special reception for visiting international dignitaries, hosted Monday evening by the Association’s Industry Affairs Directorate.

Monday’s activities conclude with the President’s Reception, honoring the invited guests Secretary Fanning, Gen. Mark Milley, Army chief of staff, and the sergeant major of the Army, Daniel Dailey.

On Tuesday, Oct. 4, the Association will host the Congressional Staffers Breakfast, where Fanning (invited) and Milley (invited) will speak to the Hill staffers and Army guests before they tour the exhibit hall.

At the Tuesday Dwight D. Eisenhower Luncheon, Milley (invited) will deliver his “State of the Army” address to the membership.

At this event, the drill sergeants, recruiters and career counselors of the year will receive awards.

Warrant Officers

There will be a Warrant Officer Breakfast Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., followed by the Warrant Officer Professional Development Forum from 9 to 11 a.m.

Reserve Components

From 3 to 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 3, Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher P. Kepner, Army National Guard, and Command Sgt. Maj. James P. Willis, U.S. Army Reserve, will hold a joint breakout session with Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey.

The Director, Army National Guard, Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Kadavy, will hold a seminar for Army National Guard personnel on Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The Chief of Army Reserve, Lt. Gen. Charles D. Luckey, will hold a seminar on the same day from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Army Civilians

The Army Civilian Professional Development Seminar will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5, followed by the Department of the Army Civilian Luncheon at noon.

The under secretary of the Army, Patrick Murphy, has been invited to speak at the civilian luncheon.

Sustaining Member Luncheon

Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will address the Sustaining Member Luncheon that recognizes the Association’s defense industry members on Wednesday.

Special Events for NCOs and Soldiers

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey will convene the annual Sergeant Major of the Army Conference for Soldiers and Noncommissioned Officers on Monday, Oct. 3, at 8 a.m.

The NCO Professional Development Forum will be held Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 8 to 11 a.m.

“The Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Forum is without question a unique opportunity for our soldiers and NCOs attending the 2016 AUSA Annual Meeting,” said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, USA, Ret., AUSA’s director of NCO and soldier programs

Adding, “The forum will provide discussion opportunities on subjects that impact our Army and our soldiers and noncommissioned officers operating in a complex world.”

The Sergeant Major of the Army’s Professional Development Panel will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 3 to 5 p.m.

NCOs, soldiers and their guests will also receive a special tour of Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknowns on Wednesday, Oct 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

ILW Forums

To emphasize the Annual Meeting’s focus as a Professional Development Forum, the Association’s Institute of Land Warfare will conduct a series of Contemporary Military Forums.

All forums will be held in the Convention Center. Dates, participants, times, topics and room numbers will be updated and posted on the Annual Meeting webpage, and will appear in the Annual Meeting Program.

Monday, Oct. 3

• „2 to 4 p.m. – ILW Contemporary Military Forum, ”Building Readiness for Today in a complex World,” Room 151 A&B
• „2 to 4 p.m. – ILW Contemporary Military Forum, “Modernization: Addressing Today’s Threat & Ensuring Tomorrow’s Readiness; Perspectives from Government and Industry,” Room 147 A&B. Lead speaker: Hon. Katharina McFarland, acting assistant secretary of the Army (acquisition, logistics and technology)
• „2 to 4 p.m. – ILW Contemporary Military Forum, “An Ocean Closer: Synchronizing Actions and Words from the Baltic to the Black Sea,” Room 152 A&B

Tuesday, Oct. 4

• „10 a.m. to noon – ILW Contemporary Military Forum, “Installations: The Army’s Platform for Readiness,” Room 151 A&B. Lead speaker: Hon. Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army (installations, energy and environment)
• „10 a.m. to noon – ILW Contemporary Military Forum, “Multi-Domain Battle: How the Future Force Projects Power Across Contested Domains,” Room 147 A&B. Lead speaker: Lt . Gen. Herbert R. McMaster Jr., deputy commanding general, Futures and director, Army Capabilities Integration Center
• „3 to 4 p.m. – ILW-U.S. Department of Homeland Security Breakout Session, Room 204 A&B
• „3 to 5 p.m. – ILW Contemporary Military Forum, “Soldier Readiness,” Room 147 A&B. Lead speaker: Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey
• „3 to 5 p.m. – ILW Contemporary Military Forum, “The Army Strategic Plan: Preparing for the Future,” Room 151 A&B. Lead speaker: Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, deputy chief of staff, Army G-3/5/7

Wednesday, Oct. 5

• „9 to 11 a.m. – ILW Contemporary Military Forum, “Threats in the 2030 Operating Environment,” Room 147 A&B
• „9:30 to 11:30 a.m. – ILW Contemporary Military Forum, Homeland Defense/Homeland Security, “Enhancing North American Security in the Land Domain... A Perspective,” Room 151 A&B. Special address: Hon. Jeh C. Johnson, secretary of Homeland Security
• „10 to 11 a.m. – ILW-U.S. Department of Homeland Security Breakout Session, Room 204 A&B
• „2 to 3 p.m. – ILW-U.S. Department of Homeland Security Breakout Session, Room 204 A&B
• 2 to 4 p.m. – ILW Contemporary Military Forum, “Fight Tonight with the Army We Have: Generating, Sustaining, and Applying Army and Joint Readiness to the Pacific Theater,” Room 151 A&B. Lead speaker: Gen. Robert B. Brown, commanding general, U.S. Army Pacific
• „2 to 4 p.m. – ILW Contemporary Military Forum, “The Future of Army Public-Private Partnerships and Cyberspace,” Room 147 A&B. Lead speaker: Lt. Gen. Edward C. Cardon, commanding general, U.S. Army Cyber Command and Second Army

AUSA Books

AUSA’s book program is conducted in cooperation with The University Press of Kentucky and Helion and Company.

Selected authors will speak about their books during the Authors’ Forum, Monday, Oct. 3, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Books and authors/editors include:

• „“Just War Reconsidered: Strategy, Ethics, and Theory” (Battles and Campaigns Series) by Lt. Gen. James M. Dubik, USA, Ret. Publisher: University Press of Kentucky (August 2016)
• „“The Myth and Reality of German Warfare: Operational Thinking from Moltke the Elder to Heusinger” (Foreign Military Studies) by Gerhard P. Gross.Publisher: University Press of Kentucky (September 2016)
• „“Rollback: The Red Army’s Winter Offensive along the Southwestern Strategic Direction, 1942-43” edited by Richard Harrison, Ph.D. Publisher: Helion and Company (January 2016)
• „“Prelude to Berlin: The Red Army’s Offensive Operations in Poland and Eastern Germany, 1945” edited by Richard Harrison, Ph.D. Publisher: Helion and Company (February 2016)
• “The Berlin Operation, 1945” edited by Richard Harrison, Ph.D. Publisher: Helion and Company (August 2016)
• “The Origins of the Grand Alliance: Anglo-American Military Collaboration from the Panay Incident to Pearl Harbor” (Battles and Campaigns Series) by William T. Johnsen. Publisher: University Press of Kentucky (September 2016)
• „“Alvin York: A New Biography of the Hero of the Argonne.” by Col. Douglas V. Mastriano. Publisher: University Press of Kentucky (March 2014)
• „“The Life and Work of General Andrew J. Goodpaster: Best Practices in National Security Affairs” by Lt. Col. Richard Nelson, Ph.D., USA, Ret. Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (September 16, 2016)

Books and authors also will be available throughout the meeting for book signings at the AUSA Pavilion – Booth 407, Exhibit Hall A.

All AUSA books will be sold at the pavilion, and Association members receive discounts of up to one-third off individual AUSA books.

AUSA Family Forums

AUSA will conduct three Military Family Forums at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center during the Annual Meeting.

Military Family Forum I: “An Update on Military Kids: How Are They Doing? What Do They Need?” will be held on Monday, Oct. 3, from 2 to 4 p.m.

For the past 15 years, military children and youth have been touched by war in some shape or form. Recent studies point to their resilience but also to the stressful impact this wartime military life has had on them.

This forum will explore the findings highlighted by RAND’s Deployment Life Study as well as updates on military childcare and EFMP issues. The event will also introduce specific tools and resources created precisely for this special population of military family members.

Military Family Forum II: “Preparing for a Life in or Outside the Army through Financial Readiness, Military Spouse Employment, and Entrepreneurship will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Military families know that now more than ever a healthy financial portfolio reduces stress, increases confidence, and prepares you for the uncertainty of the future. Having said that, military spouses continue to find challenges in seeking employment and maintaining career progression.

Although the Department of Defense’s Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) offers many options and hands-on support, many military spouses are taking control of their future job prospects by starting their own businesses. All these options and the accompanying resources will be explored in this forum.

Military Family Forum III: “A Town Hall with Senior Army Leaders” will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5.

This popular forum allows direct interaction with Eric Fanning, secretary of the Army; Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and Hollyanne Milley, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Dan Dailey and Holly Dailey.

We will also introduce the 2016 AUSA Volunteer Family of the Year and celebrate 10 years of “Your Soldier, Your Army: A Parent’s Guide,” an AUSA publication written by Vicki Cody.

Seating is limited, therefore pre-registration is encouraged.

For those individuals not able to attend, AUSA is providing a LIVESTREAM option for each of the forums with an opportunity to join AUSA as a virtual delegate.

For more information on becoming a virtual delegate or to watch our forums online go to www.ausa.org/military-families/family-readiness-annual-meeting-activities.

Family Pavilion

AUSA will host the Family Pavilion in the Convention Center’s Exhibit Hall C.

This pavilion features organizations currently supporting military families. Exhibit hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Retiree and Veteran Activities

The Military Retiree and Veteran Update Seminar, Monday, Oct. 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. will feature a presentation from Army Retirement Services that will include the blended retirement system.

Military Retirement Planning Seminars on Preparation for Retirement including the blended retirement system will be conducted on Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 2 to 4 p.m., and Wednesday, Oct. 5, from 10 to noon.

The sessions will focus on retirement planning and will provide valuable information for those who counsel subordinates on retirement.

The Department of the Army Retirement Services Office will conduct these sessions in room 140 A.

George Catlett Marshall Dinner

Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret., AUSA’s former president and chief executive officer and the 32nd Army chief of staff, will receive the Association’s highest award for selfless service to the nation, the George Catlett Marshall Medal, at the Marshall dinner on Wednesday night.

He will also address the dinner, the Annual Meeting’s closing event.

Annual Meeting information

For up-to-date information and “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)” on the 2016 Annual Meeting and Exposition – A Professional Development Forum – go to the AUSA Annual Meeting website at http://ausameetings.org/2016annualmeeting.