ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

Tickets are now on sale for some special social events taking place during the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting and Exposition, including the black-tie George Catlett Marshall Memorial Award Reception and Dinner.

Scheduled for Oct. 10–12, the three-day, in-person annual meeting will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Elizabeth Dole, a former U.S. senator, two-time cabinet secretary, former leader of the American Red Cross and founder of a national organization that focuses on support for military families and caregivers, is the 2022 recipient of the Association of the U.S. Army’s highest award.

The George Catlett Marshall Medal, awarded for distinguished and selfless service, is presented annually during the association’s annual meeting and exposition in Washington, D.C.

The Association of the U.S. Army’s highest award for dedicated and selfless service to the nation was presented Oct. 13 to retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth Preston, a career cavalry soldier who during his time in uniform and his post-service career dedicated himself to improving the military profession and making lives better for troops and their families. 

The 2021 recipient of the Association of the U.S. Army’s highest award for distinguished and selfless service is retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth Preston, the association’s board of directors announced. 

The 64-year-old Preston, a native of Mount Savage, Maryland, was the 13th and longest serving Army senior enlisted adviser, retiring in 2011 after 36 years in uniform including seven as the top NCO and adviser to two Army chiefs of staff, Gen. Peter Schoomaker and Gen. George Casey Jr. 

The Association of the U.S. Army’s highest award for selfless service to the United States was symbolically presented Oct. 15 to “The Army Family.”

The Marshall Award, named for soldier-statesman Gen. George Catlett Marshall, traditionally goes to an individual. This is the second time since 1960 that it has been awarded to a group. The previous time was in 2004, when it was awarded to the American soldier.

The Association of the U.S. Army's highest honor for distinguished and selfless service is being awarded this year to The Army Family, which includes spouses, parents, siblings, children and the loved ones of American soldiers.

It is not the first time the George Catlett Marshall Medal has gone to a group instead of a person. In 2004, the Marshall Medal was awarded to The American Soldier.

Former chairman of the Joint Chiefs and former Army chief of staff retired Gen. Martin Dempsey accepted the Association of the U.S. Army’s highest award for service to the nation Oct. 16 with a call to the Army and defense industry to be less like colleagues and business partners “and act more like family.”

“We need to build broad and deep public-private partnerships so that we can see, understand, collaborate and execute better and faster than our potential adversaries,” he said.

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.

Retired Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the 18th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the 37th Army chief of staff, has been selected by the Council of Trustees of the Association of the U.S. Army as the recipient of the 2019 George Catlett Marshall Medal for sustained commitment to America’s armed forces.

AUSA’s highest honor for distinguished public service, the award will be presented to Dempsey Oct. 16 at the Marshall Dinner, the final event of the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C.