Association of the United States Army

The Association of the United States Army (AUSA) is a private, nonprofit professional association serving the United States Army and the broader community concerned with national defense. Founded in 1950, it functions as a forum for professional education, public discussion, community engagement, and recognition of service connected with the Army. Membership is open to a wide range of participants, including active-duty soldiers, members of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve, Army civilians, veterans, retirees, wounded warriors, family members, concerned citizens, community organizations, and companies involved in the defense sector. Membership is voluntary and is not limited to Army personnel. AUSA organizes its work through a worldwide chapter network. The organization is described as having 121 chapters, which connect Army personnel and institutions with local civilian communities. Chapters commonly organize membership meetings, guest-speaker programs, community activities, Army-related commemorations, and events honoring soldiers, Army civilians, and volunteers. This chapter structure gives AUSA a role that is both professional and civic: it promotes understanding of the Army while providing local support and recognition. The association is also a publisher and information provider. Members receive ARMY Magazine on a regular basis, along with the annual Green Book edition. The Green Book serves as a reference-oriented publication containing material from Army leaders and information about the Army worldwide. AUSA also publishes AUSA Extra, a weekly digital newspaper covering Army and association news. These publications support the organization's stated role as a professional association and provide channels for discussion of Army affairs, leadership, readiness, modernization, and the relationship between the Army and the public. AUSA's principal national event is the Annual Meeting & Exposition, held each year in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The event combines professional programming, exhibits, association activities, and engagement with the Army, government, and defense industries. The 2025 meeting included an announced partnership involving the United States Army and Y Combinator to bring small companies into the conference environment and conduct a pitch-style competition intended to encourage innovation. This initiative reflects the association's role as a convening platform for military users, public institutions, established defense companies, and emerging technology businesses. Recognition is another important part of AUSA's activities. The association presents national awards to soldiers, Army civilians, volunteers, industrial leaders, and others who contribute to the Army or to AUSA's mission. Local chapters also provide awards and administer scholarship programs. Among the national honors are the General George Catlett Marshall Medal, AUSA's highest award; the General Creighton W. Abrams Medal; the Major General Anthony J. Drexel Biddle Medal; the Sergeant Major of the Army William G. Bainbridge Medal; the John W. Dixon Award; the Major General James Earl Rudder Medal; and the Lieutenant General Raymond S. McLain Medal. Together, these awards recognize selfless service, advancement of the Army, volunteer leadership, contributions to the noncommissioned officer corps, industrial support for national defense, and service across the Army Reserve and National Guard components. AUSA is not a military command, government agency, or mandatory professional body. Its influence comes from voluntary membership, publications, local chapters, conferences, awards, and relationships with Army stakeholders. Its stated focus is especially directed toward maintaining a strong national defense and supporting the Army, while its membership and activities encompass military personnel, families, veterans, civilians, communities, and industry.

The Association of the United States Army was founded in 1950 as a private, nonprofit professional association focused on the United States Army. Its role developed around the idea that support for the Army could be provided not only by soldiers and military institutions, but also by veterans, families, civilians, communities, and companies connected with national defense. Unlike a military command or a government body, AUSA operates through voluntary participation and association programs. Over time, AUSA established a chapter-based structure linking the national organization with local communities. The association is described as having 121 chapters worldwide. These chapters provide a local interface between the Army and civilian society. Their activities include general membership meetings, presentations by prominent speakers, community events, ceremonies, and recognition of soldiers, Army civilians, and volunteers. The chapter network also creates opportunities for businesses and community members to participate in Army-related civic and professional activities. AUSA expanded its role through publications and recurring national events. ARMY Magazine became a regular member publication, while the Green Book developed as an annual reference publication containing articles from Army leadership and information about the Army worldwide. AUSA Extra provides a weekly digital news channel focused on Army and association developments. These publications give members continuing access to professional and institutional information beyond individual meetings or conferences. The Annual Meeting & Exposition became the association's main national gathering. Held in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, the event brings together Army leaders, soldiers, government representatives, defense companies, professional participants, and other members of the Army community. Its exposition and programming provide a setting for discussing Army capabilities, modernization, professional issues, and the relationship between the Army and industry. The 2025 event also incorporated an initiative involving Y Combinator and small companies, using a pitch-style competition to promote innovation and broaden the range of organizations engaging with the Army. Recognition programs became another enduring element of AUSA's institutional identity. The association presents national awards to military personnel, Army civilians, volunteers, industrial leaders, and others whose work supports the Army or AUSA's mission. The General George Catlett Marshall Medal, established in 1960, is the organization's highest honor and recognizes selfless service to the United States. Other awards recognize advancement of the Army, volunteer contribution, noncommissioned officer leadership, industrial support for national defense, and service in the Army Reserve and National Guard. Chapters supplement the national program with local awards and scholarships. AUSA's membership has remained broad rather than limited to one Army category. Regular Army personnel, National Guard members, Army Reservists, government civilians, retirees, veterans, wounded warriors, family members, concerned citizens, community partners, and national defense-industry partners can participate. This breadth reflects the association's continuing purpose: to support a strong national defense with particular attention to the Army while strengthening professional understanding and relationships among the Army, its families, its communities, and its industrial base. The organization remains active, with Robert Brooks Brown identified as its current president.

• 2025

  Innovation partnership added to Annual Meeting programming

  [2]Association of the United States Army official websiteausa.org

  The 2025 conference included an announced Army partnership with Y Combinator involving small companies and a pitch-style competition intended to promote innovation.

• 2000

  Sergeant Major of the Army William G. Bainbridge Medal established

  [1]Association of the United States Armyen.wikipedia.org

  AUSA established this medal to honor a noncommissioned officer who contributes significantly to the United States Army Noncommissioned Officer Corps.

• 1989

  John W. Dixon Award established

  [1]Association of the United States Armyen.wikipedia.org

  The John W. Dixon Award was established to recognize distinguished industrial-community service that makes an outstanding contribution to national defense.

• 1965

  General Creighton W. Abrams Medal established

  [1]Association of the United States Armyen.wikipedia.org

  AUSA established the General Creighton W. Abrams Medal to recognize the individual or group judged to have done the most to advance the United States Army during the preceding year.

• 1960

  General George Catlett Marshall Medal established

  [1]Association of the United States Armyen.wikipedia.org

  AUSA established the General George Catlett Marshall Medal, which became its highest honor and is awarded for selfless service to the United States.

• 1950

  Association founded

  [1]Association of the United States Armyen.wikipedia.org

  The Association of the United States Army was established as a private, nonprofit professional association serving the United States Army.

A voluntary professional and civic association supporting the United States Army through education, publications, networking, community relations, recognition, and defense-sector engagement.

• Publication

  ARMY Magazine

  AUSA's regular member magazine covering professional, institutional, and Army-related subjects. It is included with membership and serves as one of the association's principal continuing information channels.

• Annual reference publication

  Green Book

  An annual edition published in October containing articles from Army leadership and reference information about the United States Army worldwide. It is distributed as part of the AUSA membership publication offering.

• Digital newspaper

  AUSA Extra

  A weekly digital newspaper reporting on Army developments and activities of the association. It extends AUSA's communications beyond its periodic magazine and annual reference publication.

• Conference and exposition

  AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition

  AUSA's annual national gathering in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, combining professional programming, exhibits, Army-community engagement, and recognition activities.

• Recognition and education programs

  AUSA awards and scholarships

  National and chapter programs recognize soldiers, Army civilians, volunteers, industrial leaders, and component leaders. Chapters also administer scholarship programs benefiting local students and members of the Army community.

• 2025

  Use the Annual Meeting to connect the Army with emerging companiesStrategy

  Background

  The association's annual conference provides a meeting point for the Army, government, established defense companies, and other members of the national-defense community.

  Action taken

  For the 2025 meeting, the United States Army partnered with Y Combinator to bring small companies into the conference and host a pitch-style competition intended to encourage innovation.

  Aftermath

  The initiative broadened the conference's innovation and technology-engagement format; a longer-term outcome is not specified in the available material.

  Source

• 2025

  United States Army and Y Combinator partnership featured at the 2025 AUSA Annual Meeting[2]Association of the United States Army official websiteausa.org

  Campaign · Product launch

  The 2025 AUSA conference included an announced partnership between the United States Army and Y Combinator intended to bring small companies to the event and use a pitch-style competition to encourage innovation.

1. 1Association of the United States Armyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Association of the United States Army official websiteausa.org