After steadily building its membership over the past four years, the Association of the U.S. Army proudly announces it has achieved a milestone 2 million members.

The growth results from an initiative to attract younger participants and a concentrated effort to identify and partner with like-minded organizations that share AUSA’s support for a strong national defense and Army.

“I am thrilled to announce that AUSA’s 2 millionth member is Sgt. Richard Adamson, an active-duty infantry NCO who’s serving in Alaska. We’re proud to add him to the AUSA family," said retired Gen. Bob Brown, AUSA president and CEO. “With more than 2 million members, AUSA can further amplify its voice and efforts to support America’s Army and those who serve, as well as educate, connect and inform the American public, Congress and industry about the world’s greatest land force.”

Founded in 1950, AUSA is the Army’s premier nonprofit educational and professional association, and it exists to strengthen the bond between soldiers and the American people, promote the military profession and enhance ties with industry.

Adamson, who joined the Army in 2022, is assigned to 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, which is part of the 11th Airborne Division’s 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

He learned about AUSA while attending the Basic Leader Course at the NCO Academy on post. “It sounded like a fantastic organization to me, so I, along with many others, signed up,” Adamson said.

The native of Medina, Ohio, who is married to Cassandra Adamson, an Air Force staff sergeant who’s also stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, said it’s “insane” to be AUSA’s 2 millionth member. “I noticed the organization has doubled in size since mid-2023,” he said. “In my opinion, an organization that grows that rapidly is clearly doing something right, and I am honored to be a part of that.”

Adamson will be recognized at an upcoming AUSA symposium and exposition with a special gift from the association.

In addition to breaking the 2-million-member mark, AUSA also achieved a record number of Life members, with more than 19,400 as of Jan. 6. The association also reached a high of more than 14,600 National Partner members, representing 656 National Partners, and 52 Association Partners—more than triple the number from mid-2021.

“AUSA is on an amazing journey, growing from 258,000 to 2 million members over the past four years,” said retired Brig. Gen. Jack Haley, vice president of Membership and Meetings at AUSA. “This ‘army behind the Army’ is incredibly powerful, supporting our mission to educate, inform and connect.” 

Haley also applauded the efforts of AUSA’s chapter volunteers around the world, “without whom this push to rapidly grow membership would not have been possible.”