In 2020, the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) will advocate in support of our Focus Areas for the Total Army and our membership:
- Total Army: Regular, National Guard, Reserve, Army civilians, families, veterans and retirees
- AUSA membership: Individual members, National and Community Partners, and like-minded associations
We will advocate for:
- Putting People First.
- Competitive pay and benefits for Soldiers and Army civilians.
- Continued improvement of Soldier and family housing (safe, healthy, quality, affordable).
- Responsive, affordable, quality healthcare for the Total Army to include Guard and Reserve requirements such as mental health care. Adjusting the start date for Federal Employee Health Benefit-eligible members to get TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) to 2021 (currently 2030).
- Affordable, accessible, available childcare services for the Total Army
- Expansion of spouse employment licensure and state-to-state reciprocity.
- A positive duty station move experience for Soldiers and Army families
- Quality education and job opportunities for Soldiers and military families.
- Growing opportunities for Soldier credentialing.
- Improvements in the reciprocity process for completed education between states.
- Junior ROTC programs.
- The Army’s “People Strategy” to create policies, programs and processes that recognize and capitalize upon the unique knowledge, skills and behaviors possessed by Soldiers and Army civilians. A military and civilian force that reflects America.
- Army civilian participation in professional development and career enhancement opportunities.
- Maintaining and improving commissary and exchange quality of service while gaining efficiencies to effectively compete for patronage.
- Morale, Welfare, Recreation (MWR) programs and their direct contribution to promoting healthy lifestyles, building resilience and sustaining work life balance.
- Soldiers-for-Life/retirees and veterans healthcare, retirement plans.
- Useful information for Soldiers transitioning from the Army to include assistance with medical and dental care plans.
- Successful fielding and integration of the Army’s Integrated Personnel and Pay System (IPPS-A).
- Solutions for Arlington National Cemetery and veteran interment.
- Strengthening the Total Army.
- On-time appropriations and authorizations for the Armed Forces and veterans and in support of national security in this era of “Great Power Competition.”
- The Total Army’s budget priorities: Readiness, Modernization and Reform Initiatives; with people first as the bedrock of everything the Army does.
- Growth in overmatch and lethality through Total Army modernization, including the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (NGREA).
- Continued development of Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) concept to synchronize with joint operations.
- Medical readiness in support of combat readiness.
- Growing the Force.
- Support for recruiting and marketing incentives and investments. Consideration for a program for qualified Army veterans to support Army recruiting and retention.
- Increasing Full Time Support (FTS) requirements for the Army National Guard in support of the National Defense Strategy and growing Total Army readiness. Note: ARNG AGR budgeted at 9.1% of ARNG end strength for FY21.
- Support for employers through legislative enhancements/enablers to hire Guard and Reserve.
- Strengthening support for Guard and Reserve Soldiers through DoD’s Employer Support for Guard and Reserve Program (ESGR).
AUSA is committed to advocating for a Total Army that is trained and ready whenever called upon to achieve national objectives and defend the American people.