The Association of the U.S. Army is moving out to support America’s Army as the service pursues its most ambitious transformation in decades to contend with a volatile and rapidly evolving world.
Founded in 1950 as a nonpartisan, educational nonprofit, AUSA today has more than 1.6 million members and is a dynamic and growing professional association that exists to strengthen the bond between soldiers and the American people, and to educate, inform and connect citizens, lawmakers, leaders, industry and others to their Army. This vital mission is increasingly important as America and its Army face fast-moving and increasingly complex national security challenges and a stubborn recruiting market.
Described by Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth as facing a period of “profound transformation,” the Army is not just looking for new capabilities and next-generation equipment. It is transforming its force structure and recruiting enterprise while delivering ready combat formations and taking care of soldiers, Army civilians and their families.
And it’s doing it all with a sense of urgency. “The world is more volatile today than I have seen it in my 36-year career,” Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George has said. “A spark in any region can have global impacts. Our Army is as important as ever to the joint force. We must deter war everywhere and be ready to respond anywhere.”
The character of war is changing rapidly, George has warned, and the Army cannot afford to wait. “The environment’s going to change anywhere from three weeks to three months,” he said.
As the Army moves to change how it does business so it can more quickly adapt to and adopt emerging technology and transform for the future fight, AUSA is right there as the Army’s premier educational and professional association.
Our top priority is supporting the Total Army—the Regular Army, Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve—and Army families, Army civilians, retirees and veterans.
We also are focused on telling the Army story, including the service’s critical role in national security and its contributions to American society, and providing leadership and professional development to those who serve.
Joining Forces
AUSA works hard to connect the Army with America, educate and gain support from Congress, industry and the public, and link industry and academia with the Army to help the service solve some of its toughest problems. We also strive to inform America about the Army’s critical role in the fabric of the nation and our national defense.
Many may not know the full breadth of programs, initiatives and efforts by AUSA to support America’s Army. In particular, education and professional development are two focus areas for AUSA.
We publish papers and studies on significant issues affecting the Army and national defense, from our Spotlight series that highlights key issues relevant to the Army and its role in national defense, to our Land Warfare Papers, scholarly research papers that contribute to a better understanding of a defense or national security issue.
Recent papers examined the war in Ukraine two years after the Russian invasion, the Army’s return to jungle warfare training, the service’s recruiting transformation and its in-demand multi-domain task forces.
AUSA’s Book Program offers quality books about Army heritage, military theory, and policy and security in the modern world. It also publishes the popular graphic novel series on Army Medal of Honor recipients. Created by a talented team drawn from the world of professional comic-book publishers, the graphic novels bring to life the courage and commitment of America’s soldiers.
AUSA’s flagship publication is ARMY magazine. Established in 1904 as the Journal of the United States Infantry Association, ARMY is a professional development journal dedicated to telling the Army’s story and its vital role in the nation’s defense, and advancing knowledge of warfare, military history and the American soldier.
Digital Presence
We also strive to connect America and AUSA members with the Army through digital publications and online news articles that highlight the latest developments, innovations, activities and events taking place across the Army.
For AUSA, professional development extends beyond the written word, with the association providing in-person opportunities across the country. Just this past year, AUSA leaders have connected with and provided leadership development to 30,000 soldiers across the force.
Now 3 years old, AUSA’s Center for Leadership is a key contributor to that effort as it seeks to educate, inspire and connect leaders at the brigade level and below through leadership forums and troop visits. The Center for Leadership’s Leader Solarium during the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition provides an opportunity for specially selected leaders to give bottom-up feedback and recommendations to senior Army leaders on challenges facing the force.
The LANPAC Leadership Forum professionally develops and inspires soldiers, allies and partners from across the Indo-Pacific, while the Young Professionals program seeks to inspire the next generation of leaders within AUSA communities and the Army by providing networking opportunities, mentorship and professional development programs.
World-Class Events
Additionally, AUSA is known for its world-class exhibitions, symposia and seminars, including the AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition every October that draws more than 30,000 attendees and features more than 700 exhibits.
The largest land power exposition in North America, the AUSA Annual Meeting serves as a venue to hear from the Army’s most senior leaders, engage in professional development and learn about how the service is adapting for the future. The Annual Meeting also is an unbeatable networking opportunity, a chance to connect with industry leaders and a unique place to see the latest technology and gear for America’s warfighters.
The theme for this year’s Annual Meeting is “Transforming for a Complex World,” Oct. 14–16 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
AUSA also hosts the popular Global Force Symposium and Exposition in March in Huntsville, Alabama, providing a venue for commands such as U.S. Army Materiel Command and U.S. Army Futures Command to provide updates on the Army’s sustainment and transformation efforts and accomplishments.
The annual LANPAC Symposium and Exposition, held every May in Honolulu, brings together the Army with dozens of leaders from partner and allied nations in the Indo-Pacific for top-notch professional development delivered through expert panels and programs. It also is a valuable opportunity to share common goals and interests, and strengthen partnerships and efforts to deter aggression in the vast theater.
In the coming year, AUSA is adding a new show to its repertoire—LANDEURO. Scheduled for July 16–17 in Wiesbaden, Germany, the symposium aims to provide an unparalleled opportunity to interact with key leaders who are shaping the future of defense in Europe. From learning about the latest technologies to discussing the challenges of maintaining peace and stability in the region, this new two-day professional development event will feature leaders from U.S. Army Europe and Africa, industry experts, government officials and more.
Reaching Out
AUSA also offers webinars highlighting Army and U.S. military history and senior Army leaders.
AUSA’s Army Matters podcast amplifies voices from across the Army and veteran communities, from actor, musician and veterans advocate Gary Sinise to the critically important work being done by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in bringing home America’s fallen.
Our Hot Topics are one-day events designed to bring together the Army, industry and academia to discuss key subjects such as Army aviation and Army cyber and information operations.
The AUSA Coffee Series features presentations from top Army and DoD leaders, including the Army chief of staff and the commanders of the service’s biggest commands, while the association’s Noon Report webinars delve into U.S. military history, issues important to the force and much more.
In the past year, AUSA further added to its array of events by partnering with the Center for Strategic and International Studies to host the Strategic Landpower Dialogue. This quarterly speaker series on land power security issues serves as a unique source of insight into the current thinking of and future challenges facing the Army and land-based forces.
Launched last September, it has featured speakers such as Secretary Wormuth and Gen. George, as well as Gen. James Rainey, commander of Futures Command.
The association also is focused on programs for NCOs, soldiers and families.
From the Soldier Today newsletter, which features trending topics in the Army and professional development for today’s NCO, to face-to-face professional development sessions across the force, AUSA’s NCO and Soldier Programs directorate aims to equip troops with crucial life skills, leadership development training and educational resources.
AUSA’s Family Readiness Directorate is dedicated to providing Army families with the tools, resources and connections they need to build resiliency and grit, and to manage the unique challenges of military life.
The directorate hosts the popular Operation Deploy Your Dress pop-up event each year, which provides gently used formal wear to family members.
It also provides military family forums at AUSA’s biggest meetings, including the immensely popular town hall with senior Army leaders at the Annual Meeting.
The team also shares resources for Army spouses, parents and kids to help connect families to the Army, and in May, we launched the Family Fellows Program to grow and enhance our support to military families. Four military spouses make up the program’s inaugural class.
These Family Fellows are subject-matter experts and advisers on issues relating to military families, and they are expert resources for AUSA’s chapters, members, families and communities. These volunteers also will help create, build and execute Family Readiness products and events.
National Advocates
In the nation’s capital, AUSA advocates in support of the Total Army with Congress, DoD and other organizations. On behalf of the Army and our members, AUSA champions policies, programs and budgets to promote and support the Total Army and national security. The association also works to build support for Army and AUSA priorities—including adequate and on-time defense budgets—in Congress.
Across the country, AUSA is represented by nine regions, more than 120 chapters and 1.6 million members. Powered by dedicated volunteers in cities and towns across the country and around the world, AUSA’s regions and chapters provide a critical voice and support for the Total Army in their neighborhoods.
These volunteers help Army families in need through food and toy drives, organize networking events, raise funds for scholarships and much more, with the overall goal of connecting local communities with those who serve in powerful ways and extending the reach and efforts of AUSA’s headquarters staff.
Through its National Partner program, AUSA helps connect the Army with large and small businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and professional organizations interested in personalized engagement with the service at the local and national levels.
AUSA also offers a Community Partner program for local businesses, civic groups, veterans’ organizations and more, and an Association Partnership for like-minded military service organizations that want to join AUSA to show their support for the Total Army.
Together, these efforts form a strong and vital voice for America’s Army as it transforms to remain the world’s greatest land force. As the Army moves toward the future, AUSA will be right there beside it, and we pledge to continue supporting and advocating for the total force in all that we do.