“Ready Today, More Lethal Tomorrow,” is the theme of the Association of the United States Army’s 2018 Annual Meeting and Exposition, Oct.8 – 10, in Washington, D.C.

The theme, focusing on the rebuilding efforts underway across the Army, will set the tone for speeches, military forums, industry and military exhibits, and special presentations from senior Defense Department and Army leaders.

The Army-selected the meeting theme that recognizes the message Army leaders have been sending throughout the force.

Army Secretary Mark T. Esper said in a recent speech in Colorado that a renaissance is underway in the service to improve current warfighting capabilities while also preparing for future fights. The Army is focused, he said, on the “immediate near term” and on the future, 2028 and beyond

Professional Development Forum

AUSA 2018 – A Professional Development Forum – will focus on panel discussions; Contemporary Military Forums; Military Family Forums; educational seminars and special multimedia presentations and educational workshops that reinforce, examine and showcase the Army, the soldier and the Army family.

“This year’s three-day forum will emphasize AUSA’s important educational and professional role in supporting the warfighting and transforming Army – Regular Army, Army National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve – the men and women who serve, retirees, veterans, Army civilians, ROTC and U.S. Military Academy cadets, contractors – and all their families,” an AUSA spokesman said.

Walter E. Washington Convention Center – Marriott Marquis

The AUSA meeting will again occupy the entire Walter E. Washington Convention Center as the Association celebrates its 16th year in this state-of-the-art facility.

There will be over 700 exhibits in five halls located on both levels of the convention center, with over 300,000 net square feet of display space.

There are 10 international pavilions: Australia, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Korea, Norway, Poland and Switzerland.

There will also be two Small Business Pavilions and a Veterans Career Hiring Pavilion organized by the American Freedom Foundation.

The Marriott Marquis DC Hotel, located directly across from, and connected to, the Convention Center will be the meeting’s headquarters hotel.

For hotel info, please visit http://ausameetings.org/2018annualmeeting/hotel-travel/housing/.

Army Exhibit and Warriors Corner – Hall D, Booth 7727

Ensuring the United States Army remains ready today while also preparing for the future requires a focused, sustained and collaborative effort across the Total Army. The effort combines the talents and missions of the institutional Army, the operating force, the joint community, academia and multinational partners.

The Army Exhibit showcases the ideas and missions of its diverse force including those of Army components to the combatant commands.

It will also showcase the Warriors Corner – a series of presentations on relevant topics from soldiers, civilians and leaders from the Total Army.

Pavilions Highlight Small Business, Veteran Hiring Event

AUSA is once again offering small businesses, including AUSA Community Partners, an opportunity to showcase their products and services at two small business pavilions to the meeting’s 30,000 attendees from around the world.

To qualify, your company must be a first-time exhibitor and classified as a “small business,” as defined by the Small Business Administration.

There will also be a Department of Veterans Affairs Pavilion and an AUSA Veterans Pavilion.

Veterans Career Hiring Event Pavilion

The Association of the United States Army has once again partnered with the American Freedom Foundation to host the Warriors to the Workforce Veterans Hiring Event presented by GES Global Experience Specialists and the Easter Seals’ Veteran Staffing Network in conjunction with the Annual Meeting and Exposition.

This one-of-a-kind event is part of the American Freedom Foundation’s nationwide initiative to help veterans, transitioning military service members and military spouses find meaningful employment.

The event brings together major companies from throughout the country to profile their services and provide employment opportunities to prospective jobseekers.

Attendees have the chance to talk with employers, submit qualifications, participate in job interviews, have their resumes reviewed and participate in a rotating schedule of professional development workshops led by subject matter experts on transition from military to civilian life.

The hiring event is located in Hall A, Booth 261, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, and will be open on Monday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Register now – Admission is free for all veterans, military service members and military spouses.

Employer Registration is available for one and two-day participation. Space is limited and available to the first company participation and limited to 35 employers.

For more information and to register, please visit http://www.warriorstotheworkforcedc.net

For more information on the pavilions, visit our website: http://ausameetings.org/2018annualmeeting/

Pre-Registration and Ticket Purchase

Anyone may purchase tickets in advance online for lunches, dinners and receptions, and pre-register for the meeting by visiting the AUSA website at http://ausameetings.org/2018annualmeeting/

Also, tickets for lunches, dinners and receptions may be purchased on-site at the AUSA Ticket Pick-up area in the Convention Center from Oct. 5 to 10 if not sold out. There is no registration fee.

Also, please see the Annual Meeting ads on Pages 24 and 25 of this issue of AUSA News.

Program Highlights

(Editor’s note: At press time, the speakers for the several of the functions below were not confirmed for publication. To check further, please go to our Annual Meeting website at http://ausameetings.org/2018annualmeeting/ that is updated regularly.)

Gen. Carter F. Ham, USA, Ret., AUSA president and CEO, will host the Chapter Presidents’ Dinner Sunday, Oct. 7, and will be the key note speaker at this event honoring AUSA’s volunteer leadership.

On Monday morning, Oct. 8, members of the reserve components will attend the Maj. Gen. Robert G. Moorhead Guard and Reserve Breakfast.

At this event, the Walter T. Kerwin Jr. awards to the outstanding Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve battalion-size units will be presented.

Following this breakfast, the meeting will officially open with a patriotic presentation at the opening ceremony in the center’s ballroom by the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own.”

Secretary of the Army Mark T. Esper will give the keynote address at the meeting’s opening session.

Three luncheons will follow the opening session.

• The U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year Recognition Luncheon is the venue where Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey will officially announce the Army Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Soldier of the Year following the Best Warrior Competition held at Fort A. P. Hill, Va. The Army vice chief of staff, Gen. James C. McConville, will address this luncheon.
• There will be an ROTC Luncheon for cadets and professor of military science personnel.
• AUSA also will host the Community Partner Luncheon on Monday.

There will be a special reception for visiting international dignitaries, hosted Monday evening by the Association Meeting’s Directorate.

Monday’s activities conclude with the President’s Reception honoring the Army’s military and civilian leadership.

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, the Association will host the Congressional Staffers Breakfast where the secretary of the Army and the Army chief of staff, Gen. Mark Milley, have been invited to speak to the Hill staffers and Army guests before they tour the exhibit hall.

At the Tuesday Dwight D. Eisenhower Luncheon, Milley will deliver his “State of the Army” address to the membership.

At this event, the drill sergeants, recruiters and career counsellors of the year will receive awards.

The National Partner Luncheon that recognizes the Association’s defense industry members will be held on Wednesday.

The Department of the Army Civilian Luncheon will also be held on Wednesday.

George Catlett Marshall Dinner

Martha Raddatz, chief global affairs correspondent, author and “This Week” co-anchor, will receive the Association’s highest award for selfless service to the nation, the George Catlett Marshall Medal, at the Marshall dinner on Wednesday night.

She will also address the dinner, the Annual Meeting’s closing event.

For up-to-date information and “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)” on the 2018 Annual Meeting and Exposition – A Professional Development Forum – go to the AUSA Annual Meeting website at http://ausameetings.org/2018annualmeeting.