ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

Work to collect data for the Army’s 3D maps, which are used for virtual training, will likely never come to an end as the service strives for “perpetual innovation,” officials with U.S. Army Futures Command said.

The mapping data comes from multiple sources, including national assets such as the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency or drones, said Maj. Gen. Maria Gervais, director of the Synthetic Training Environment Cross-Functional Team.

From cyber attacks to near-peer threats, the U.S. homeland is “no longer a sanctuary,” according to a panel of experts who spoke during the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition.

The United States and its allies and partners must solve the problem of how to face adversaries in so-called "left of conflict" competition, a panel of experts said Oct. 15 during a forum at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition.

The term describes the concept of engaging without combat. Russia, a potential near-peer adversary, is highly skilled at "left of conflict" operations, the panelists said. 

The Army is moving forward with its efforts to improve individual soldier weapons and equipment, a panel of experts said Oct. 15 at the Association of the U.S. Army.

Speaking at a Warriors Corner event, Brig. Gen. David Hodne, director of the Soldier Lethality Cross-Functional Team, highlighted the progress made since last year’s Annual Meeting.

“In fact, there were some aspects of last year’s AUSA where some would say that what we were pursuing was unachievable,” he said. “And I would tell you, those possibilities are on the [exhibit] floor here today.”

Army leaders heard a torrent of complaints from soldiers and family members over challenges they’ve faced with poor housing conditions and permanent change-of-station moves during a family forum Oct. 15 at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition.

In response, the Army leaders tried to assure the room full of spouses and soldiers that they are acutely aware of the concerns and are working to correct the problems, including finding ways to better inform Army families of their rights and ensure their complaints get to their unit and installation leadership. 

Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band rocked the house at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Oct. 15.

“Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band always bring energy and enthusiasm,” said retired Gen. Carter Ham, president and CEO of the Association of the U.S. Army. “The concert is an opportunity to say thank you to all those who have served and sacrificed—the Gold Star families, the wounded warriors. This is a celebration for their service.”

Day Three of AUSA 2019 features a series of contemporary military forums and the George Catlett Marshall Memorial Dinner.

In between, presentations continue during the day at Warrior’s Corner, Booth 1725 in Hall B. Today’s topics include an update on Future Vertical Lift modernization efforts, and a look at the Army’s program to reduce musculoskeletal injuries.

The Army is looking for ways to make PCS moves easier for soldiers and families, but Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville is not in favor of moving families during off-peak season.

“[S]ome people are talking about, ‘Hey, we’ll move soldiers off peak’—I don’t sign up for that,” McConville said during a senior leadership town hall Oct. 15 at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Families tend to move in the summer—the peak permanent change-of-station moving season—because children are out of school, he said. 

A massive multinational exercise set to begin in April is "the right type of exercise" to foster readiness in Europe, a senior U.S. commander in the region said.

"This exercise is part of preparedness," Lt. Gen. J. T. Thomson, commander of NATO Allied Land Command, said about the upcoming Defender-Europe 2020.

Thomson made his remarks Oct. 15 during a forum at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition, where panelists discussed the forthcoming exercise, the largest deployment of U.S.-based land forces to Europe in the last quarter-century.

Those who manage the Army’s installations must move quickly to close gaps in vulnerability, modernize management practices and facilities, and automate where possible, said a panel of experts at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition.