Greetings from the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), our Army’s and our soldiers’ professional organization.I had the honor to accompany Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret., the 32nd Army chief of staff and our AUSA president, on a trip to the Republic of South Korea in early June.The visit gave us both a renewed appreciation for the Korean people and all they have accomplished in just over 60 years.The Korean War veterans who were there visiting during this same week, remembering what the city of Seoul looked like in 1950 and seeing this thriving metropolis today, realized why this country and the city of Seoul has earned the name "Miracle on the Han."General Sullivan praised a distinguished group of South Korean leaders and business executives at a dinner where he told them this economic miracle was the result of the hard work and dedication of the Korean people and, as Americans, we were proud of them.For the United States Army in Korea, readiness is the number one priority.The mission of the Army is to defend the Republic of Korea against external aggression and to maintain stability in Northeast Asia.Everywhere we traveled across the peninsula, the focus of the leadership, from the most senior commanders down to the team leader level and their soldiers, was being ready to "fight tonight."The threat from the North for these soldiers is very real, especially when the threat is from the fourth largest military force in the world with more than 1.1 million servicemen with both a large inventory of conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction.With this very real threat, the questions and concerns of our soldiers and leaders as they pertain to readiness and future force structure changes were also very real.One of the questions asked frequently throughout our visit was about the force structure changes across the Army in the next several years.This question gave me the opportunity to talk about the current drawdown of the active force from a high of 570,000 to approximately 520,000 at present – with a further reduction to 490,000 next year.Other popular subjects were sequestration and its impact on the Army now and the future.This question gave General Sullivan and I an opportunity to talk about the 2011 Budget Control Act and the specific cuts under sequestration to the Department of Defense (DoD).As part of this discussion, I specifically talked about the $104 billion cut from the government’s budget, with 50 percent of this cut targeted at the DoD.While DoD receives only 17 percent of the government’s budget annually, under the Budget Control Act, DoD absorbs 50 percent of the cuts, which is why the impact on the Army is so visible and significant.This discussion prompted soldiers to ask how they and their subordinate soldiers remain competitive for promotion and assignments of increased responsibility now and in the future.For young soldiers and noncommissioned officers, this question gave me an opportunity to draw attention to a number of professional development programs.These programs include: the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club or the Sergeant Morales Club in Europe; noncommissioned officer and soldier of the month, quarter and year programs; Expert Infantryman Badge, Expert Field Medical Badge and others.All of these programs promote self-development and self-study.I used the example of the semi-centralized promotion board for promotions from specialist to sergeant, and sergeant to staff sergeant.The subject areas used for questions on those boards are outlined in Army policy.Most of these subjects and the associated regulations are not formally taught in our professional development education system but are key subjects that empower our noncommissioned officers to lead by example and continuously demonstrate "what right looks like."As I spoke to each group of soldiers, I continuously found myself going back and praising their service and recognizing how they were part of the top 23 percent of our society – a demographic each soldier serving today can take pride in, knowing they are part of an elite segment of our society in serving our nation and our Army.I would like to extend a special thanks to Command Sgt. Maj. David Martinez, USA, Ret., AUSA Korea Chapter president, and all his chapter volunteers for all they do to support the command, the soldiers and their families, and the Army in all their activities.The Korea Chapter has done a magnificent job serving as the lynchpin between the command, local corporate sponsors across the peninsula and volunteers to improve the quality of life for everyone.Prior to 9/11 and prior to the increased budgets we have had over the past 12 years, volunteers played a key role in filling the gaps in many of the quality-of-life programs we needed to sustain on our military bases.Volunteers in the Korea Chapter have made significant contributions to the command and the entire Army team in their home away from home.The partnership between the Republic of Korea Army and the United States Army is an enduring and lasting relationship built over decades of mutual support.The relationship between the two armies is referred to in the Korean language as "katchi kapshida" which means "we go together."I wish every American had the opportunity to visit Korea and experience first-hand the special relationship that has grown between our nations.Now more than ever America’s Army needs AUSA, and AUSA needs your membership support.Membership is the volume knob to ensure your voice is amplified many times over and heard throughout the halls of Congress, from sea to shining sea across this country, and throughout every small town and community in between.Keep America’s Army Strong! Take a Stand! Still Serving, Still Saluting!