AUSA Now, the Association of the U.S. Army’s virtual annual meeting, officially opens Oct. 13 with an address from Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy.

The first day of the annual meeting also includes the unveiling of the Army’s Soldier and NCO of the Year, an initiatives forum by Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston, and contemporary military forums on diversity and inclusion in the Army, spurring more industrial base innovation, and readiness initiatives.

“The Time is Now” is the theme of this year’s meeting, and it’s a message McCarthy is expected to send in his address during the opening ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. 

Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, the new director of the Army National Guard, is scheduled to speak at 11:15 a.m., while a presentation by Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, the new chief of the Army Reserve, is scheduled for 1:15 p.m.

The first contemporary military forum of the day, titled “Diversity and Inclusion: The Time is Now,” begins at 11:30 a.m. McCarthy is scheduled to open the session, followed by a panel discussion led by E. Casey Wardynski, assistant Army secretary for manpower and reserve affairs, and Gen. Paul Funk, commanding general of Army Training and Doctrine Command.

Bruce Jette, assistant Army secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology, and Gen. Ed Daly, commander of Army Materiel Command, will lead at 12:30 p.m. contemporary military forum titled “Driving Deliberate Change in the Industrial Base through Innovation, Vision and Cooperation.”

The Soldier of the Year and NCO of the Year will be announced during the initiatives briefing by Grinston, which begins at 2:15 p.m. 

Warriors Corner presentations include discussions on diversity, live training modernization, tactical space intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and COVID-19-related behavior and public health outcomes.

For a full schedule, click here.

This year’s hashtag is #AUSANow.

Read all AUSA Now news here.