Wrap-up of the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting

By OCPA-P for STAND-TO!November 3, 2010

Wrap-up of the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting

What is it'

The Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting took place Oct. 25-27 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. More than 30,000 people registered to attend the event. The meeting included senior leader speeches, Institute of Land Warfare panels, Family Forums, and exhibits, all demonstrating the capabilities and future of the Army. You can watch Gen. Casey's speech, along with other panels and forums, on-line at <a href="http://www.army.mil/media/amp/'bctid=653097285001" target="_blank">Army.Mil</a>.

What has the Army done'

The Army employed a variety of strategies and devices to communicate the 2010 Army Themes: Restoring Balance, Modernizing the Force, Building Resiliency, Adapting Our Institutions and Maintaining Our Combat Edge.

Key leaders and experts discussed the Army's progress on restoring balance, describing what it takes to maintain our combat edge during a time of persistent conflict and how the Army will continue to build resiliency among Soldiers, families and organizations while serving as effective stewards of our nation's resources. The Army Exhibit highlighted the courage, commitment, resilience and valor of Army Soldiers, families and civilians, characterizing them aptly as the "Strength of the Nation." The Army Exhibit also highlighted efforts to leverage emerging social media on behalf of the service, its Soldiers and its families. Warriors Corner, meanwhile, featured a series of presentations - some delivered in person and others from remote locations including Afghanistan and Iraq - as well as simulcasts of key AUSA proceedings.

Why is this important to the Army'

The annual meeting is an opportunity for service communicators to deliver the Army messages to industry and political leaders as well as Soldiers, families and civilians. Senior leaders leverage the forum to communicate initiatives and direction for the upcoming year. "I am actually beginning to feel like we can start to breathe again," Gen. George W. Casey, the Army Chief of Staff, said during a "State of the Army" address delivered during the AUSA's Eisenhower Luncheon. "In fact, by the end of next year, I anticipate that we will be able to put the Army on a sustainable deployment tempo - where we will have about as many units trained and ready to deploy as we will have going to Iraq and Afghanistan."

What is planned for the future'

Army communicators will deliver the message of senior leaders, Soldiers, families and civilians through a variety of print, broadcast, electronic and social media as well as community and media engagements among other events. As the Army confronts enormous challenges in a time of persistent conflict, cultural and political turmoil, limited resources and rapid technological change, the stakes have seldom been higher.

Resources:

2010 AUSA Panel videos on Army.mil: (See 'related videos' link for entire selection)

<a href="http://www.army.mil/media/amp/'bctid=653097285001" target="_blank">Family Forum, part 1 of 10 </a>

<a href="http://www.army.mil/media/amp/'bctid=653263327001" target="_blank">Moving to an Enterprise Network, part 1 of 4 </a>

<a href="http://www.army.mil/media/amp/'bctid=658008319001" target="_blank">Readiness Panel, part 1 of 4 </a>

<a href="http://www.army.mil/media/amp/'bctid=658052135001" target="_blank">Profession of Arms, part 1 of 4 </a>

<a href="http://www.army.mil/media/amp/'bctid=659216542001" target="_blank">Reserve Component panel, part 1 of 3 </a>