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. Carter Ham, USA, Ret., former U.S. Africa Command commander and AUSA’s newest senior fellow, on a trip to Germany and Italy during late June.I joined General Ham in Grafenwoehr, Germany, where he was visiting the Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC).We had the opportunity to visit and talk with Brig. Gen. Walter Piatt, JMTC commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Huggins, JMTC command sergeant major.We observed the students and cadre of the Warrior Leader Course (WLC) during their Situational Training Exercises (STX) in the training area.The students were approximately one week out from graduation, and following their After Action Review (AAR) from one of the STX lanes, General Ham and I had the opportunity to speak to the group.We both commended them for reaching this milestone in the careers and encouraged them to continue their learning and sharing all they have learned in this course and their careers with the soldiers in their teams back at home station.As General Odierno, our Army chief of staff, has directed: the primary mission of the Army is leader development.For these young leaders in WLC, this first step in the Noncommissioned Officer Education System is critical in developing first-line leaders.WLC not only provides needed education for newly assigned and promoted leaders, it also provides role models and examples of how to train soldiers.I encouraged the students not only to learn these lessons well, but to closely observe their cadre and how they set-up the STX lanes, the expected training outcome of the events, and the role of the cadre in facilitating the AAR to enhance and capture the learning event.General Ham and I were very impressed with Command Sgt. Maj. Wardell Jefferson, the NCO Academy commandant, all the academy leaders and the entire NCO cadre.The NCO Academy trains 240 students per class and 10 classes per year.From my years of service in Germany, the NCO Academy is continuing to reach out to our partnership nations across Europe to provide them the opportunities to send their NCOs to attend WLC.Every class, including this cycle, has international students learning and developing shoulder-to-shoulder with our young leaders.This unique training opportunity for leaders of different armies and different nations to train and live together over a 21-day course is one of the crown jewels of our Army.The soldiers on the ground are in a demanding learning environment and they build life-long partnerships and friendships.Soldiers are still our nation’s very best ambassadors in every country and in every capacity they are chosen to serve.The theme of soldiers serving as ambassadors continued as General Ham and I had the opportunity to visit with Georgian, Romanian and U.S. soldiers during exercise Combined Resolve II on June 20.The U.S. soldiers were from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment of 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, who deployed to Europe to participate in this allied and partner nation exercise.Combined Resolve II is a U.S. Army Europe directed multinational exercise that included more than 4,000 soldiers from 15 different countries.The exercise provided the opportunities for all countries and their soldiers to participate with their equipment in maneuver and live-fire exercises.For those familiar with the JMTC training areas, operational maneuver and force-on-force STX were done in Hohenfels while the live-fire events were done on the ranges at Grafenwoehr.Every soldier and leader we spoke to – U.S., Georgian, or Romanian – were excited and honored to have had the opportunity to train together.Young soldiers, some in the Army less than a year, had the opportunity to showcase their vehicles, equipment, weapons and themselves throughout this event.The training opportunity was magnificent and every soldier and leader went home with a greater appreciation for themselves and their counterparts in our allied and partner nations.We departed Grafenwhor and spent time visiting the commands and local AUSA chapters in Stuttgart, Germany and Vicenza, Italy.We can all be proud of the volunteers in our local chapters who have stepped forward and said: "Send me."Local AUSA chapters and their volunteers are force providers for the military commands and their soldiers and families.Wanting to be part of something bigger than themselves, these volunteers look for opportunities through their own initiative or from guidance from the command to help our leaders, soldiers and families be successful in the missions they have to accomplish.As budgets tighten and leaders are required to take things "off the plate" for what we can afford in the areas of quality of life and professional development, don’t forget this "specialty platoon" of volunteers.Just as a maneuver commander ensures all the elements of the formation are in the fight, this specialty platoon of volunteers can find ways to cover the areas you can no longer support.AUSA Annual Meeting and ExpositionFor me, I am looking forward to the upcoming Association of the United States Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition in October here in our Nation’s Capital.The Annual Meeting is the largest landpower exposition and professional development forum in North America.The Annual Meeting consists of informative presentations, panel discussions on pertinent military and national security subjects, workshops and important AUSA business meetings.Key information about AUSA’s Annual Meeting:Over 500 Army and Industry exhibitors occupying more than 250,000 net square feet of exhibit spaceAttendees in recent years have included the vice president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the Army chief of staff and the secretary of the ArmyProfessional development forums are held throughout the three days for soldiers, NCOs, officers, Army family members, and industry membersThe Annual Meeting allows us to showcase our Army, our soldiers and our landpower capabilities.This forum also allows us to recognize each and every volunteer from all 120 AUSA chapters all around the world for all they do to support our commands, our leaders, soldiers, retirees, veterans and their families.Plan now to be here for the 30th running of the Army Ten-Miler and an amazing professional development opportunity lead by all the Army’s senior leadership.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!