Greetings from the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), our Army’s and our soldiers’ professional organization.For all the posts, camps and stations I visit, everyone is looking forward to the upcoming Association of the United States Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition in October here in our nation’s capital.To begin the week’s activities, the 31st Annual Army Ten-miler starts and finishes at the Pentagon on Sunday, Oct. 11, with more than 35,000 highly motivated runners.Then, join us at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Oct. 12 to 14, for three days of professional development forums, senior leader discussions and exhibits that spark imagination and showcase cutting edge technologies for the future.The Annual Meeting and Exposition allows all of us to showcase our Army, our soldiers and our landpower capabilities by serving as the lynchpin connecting the Army to members of Congress and industry.The Annual Meeting theme for this year is "Win in a Complex World."All our soldier and noncommissioned officer forums will address the role and responsibilities of enlisted warfighters operating in the complexities of the world of today and tomorrow.One of the most highly coveted items at the Annual Meeting is the Sergeant’s Time annual calendar.The theme for this year’s calendar is "Noncommissioned Officers: Fit and Ready."The calendar features photos showcasing our soldiers serving in locations around the world and quotes from our senior enlisted leaders and retired sergeants major of the Army.The calendars are available for attendees at the Sergeant Major of the Army Conference for Soldiers and Noncommissioned officers on Monday, Oct 12, at 8 a.m.; the Noncommissioned Officer Development Forum on Tuesday, Oct 13, from 8 to 11 a.m.; and the Sergeant Major of the Army’s Professional Development Panel on Wednesday, Oct 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.For those who have attended the Annual Meeting in the past, you will find the Sergeant Major of the Army’s Professional Development Panel on Tuesday as a new addition to the Association’s Institute of Land Warfare forums.This venue will host Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel Dailey and a panel of senior sergeants major for a professional development discussion focused on soldiers and noncommissioned officers operating in a complex world.This discussion will be followed by a question and answer period for those in attendance.The noncommissioned officer and soldier of the year competition for the Army will be held at Fort A.P. Hill and in the National Capital Region the week prior to the Annual Meeting.The noncommissioned officer and soldier selected as the winners of the competition will be announced at the U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier Recognition Luncheon on Monday, Oct 12, from 12:30 to 2 p.m.The luncheon is at no-cost and seating is based on a first-come, first-seated basis.In addition to the noncommissioned officer and soldier of the year announcement, the luncheon will feature the Army vice chief of staff, Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, as the guest speaker.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!