The first day of the largest annual land warfare exposition in North America features a major address from new Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, the unveiling of the Army’s Soldier and NCO of the Year, and much more.

The Association of the U.S. Army’s 2021 Annual Meeting and Exposition is being held for the 18th time at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The three-day in-person event will take place Oct. 11–13 and feature more than 650 exhibits in five halls on both levels of the convention center.

“America's Army and its People, Transforming for the Future,” is the theme of this year’s meeting, and it’s expected to be the focus of Wormuth’s keynote speech during the opening ceremony, which begins at 9:30 a.m. in the conference center ballroom.

The Soldier of the Year and NCO of the Year will be announced during a recognition ceremony hosted by Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston.

An afternoon forum titled “People First: Now and Into the Future” will feature Gen. Paul Funk, commander of Army Training and Doctrine Command; Mark Lewis, senior official performing the duties of the assistant Army secretary for manpower and reserve affairs; Lt. Gen. Gary Brito, deputy Army chief of staff for personnel; and leaders from Army Cadet Command and Army Recruiting Command.

Gen. Michael Garrett, commanding general of Army Forces Command, will speak during a forum on readiness. Joining him are Lt. Gen. James Rainey, deputy Army chief of staff for operations, and Lt. Gen. Erik Kurilla, commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps.

Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of the Army Reserve, will lead a seminar titled “Your Army Reserve—Leveraging Exceptional Talent to Transform and Modernize,” and there will be a military family forum on quality of life.

Presentations at the Warriors Corner, at the Army exhibit in Booth 1825 in Hall B, include discussions on robotics and artificial intelligence, soldier-led software development, enlisted talent management, great-power competition in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, and more.

At Innovator’s Corner, Booth 2461 in Hall B, the Army xTech Program will showcase winners and finalists from its technology search, with companies showing off new solutions to Army problems. 

There also will be a veterans hiring event called “Your Next Mission.” Formerly known as Warriors To The Workforce, it will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day of the annual meeting at Booth 261 in Hall A. The free event aims to help veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses find employment.

AUSA 2021 also will feature health and safety measures, including a vaccine requirement, masks and social distancing. Seating at many events, including major speeches and forums, will be limited, but there will be overflow rooms for viewing.

In addition, most AUSA-hosted breakfasts, lunches and dinners have been converted to forums and presentations. 

Registration opens at 7 a.m. The exhibits are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This year’s hashtag is #AUSA2021.

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