The theme of the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2016 Annual Meeting and Exposition is “America’s Army: Ready Today, Preparing for the Future,” which builds on the continuing message of Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley.The annual event will be held Oct. 3 through 5 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Last year, more than 26,000 people attended.A reservation system for lodging close to the convention center opens on Tuesday, May 3, at noon Eastern. Here is a link to the housing webpage.Since Milley became the Army’s top uniformed leader last year, he has stressed that readiness is his top priority, now and in the future. “America is a global power,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Our Army must be capable of meeting a wide variety of threats under varying conditions, anywhere on Earth.”Milley has warned that in times of tight budgets, the Army’s emphasis on current readiness comes at a risk. “We are mortgaging our future readiness because we have to ensure today’s success against emerging threats,” he said.Acting Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy has shared Milley’s emphasis on readiness. “Readiness wins war,” Murphy said. “Readiness deters our most dangerous threats and assures our allies.”Another benefit of readiness, Murphy said, is making the cost of future training less expensive. “Investing in readiness today builds a foundation necessary for long-term readiness.”