October’s Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting and Exposition will have a special challenge. We are not talking about squeezing in three days of professional forums, major speeches and events while also making time to see the massive exhibit floors. AUSA 2017 will include a Battle Challenge obstacle course pitting individuals or four-member teams against each other in a show of fitness and military skill.

Even Sgt. Major of the Army Daniel A. Daily is excited. He’s organizing teams of soldiers to compete on the obstacle course on the opening day of the AUSA show.

The course includes climbing a cargo net, descending on a knotted rope, scaling a wall, crossing horizontal bars, toting fuel cans, shooting a laser weapon and dragging a mannequin. Side-by-side courses add to the excitement, but competitors are running against the clock while being penalized if they don’t properly complete an obstacle. Everyone gets two chances to run the course.

The nine-obstacle course will be set up at Booth 4000 in Hall C of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., among the many exhibits. Battle Challenge competitions will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 9, and conclude by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m., when winners will be announced. A preferred time to compete can be requested during Battle Challenge registration.

Free registration is available now and includes automatic registration to AUSA 2017.

Register here: http://www.battlechallenge.org/battle_register_AUSA.html

Teams must register together but do not have to participate at the same time. Team scores will be calculated based on the time and penalties of all members. The only reward is bragging rights.

There are several team categories, listed on the registration form, including Army, AUSA chapters, AUSA Sustaining Member and ROTC.

The challenge is brought to you by AUSA, The Battle Challenge and Textron Systems.  Sponsorships are available. For more information: http://ausameetings.org/2017annualmeeting/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2017/07/Battle-Challenge-Sponsorship-.pdf