Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when is the AUSA Annual Meeting?
The AUSA 2015 Annual Meeting and Exposition will take place 12 – 14 October at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center located between 7th and 9th Streets and N Street and New York Avenue in Washington, D.C. See parking map of area.
The address is:
801 Mount Vernon Place
Washington, D.C. 20001
Telephone: 202-249-3000
www.dcconvention.com
What Professional Development opportunities are available?
AUSA’s commitment to professional development includes seminars and special presentations on the Global War on Terrorism, the Army’s Transformation to the Future Force, LandWarNet, Expeditionary Logistics, Actionable Intelligence and other issues affecting today’s Army.
How do I get to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center?
Attendees are encouraged to use Metrorail due to limited parking at and around the Center. The Center is serviced directly by the Yellow or the Green Lines at the Mt. Vernon Square 7th Street-Convention Center station. Other stations on the Blue, Orange and Red lines are within a few blocks of the Center.
Download directions to the Center
Download the DC Circulator map and Information Guide (PDF)
Is parking available?
Parking in the area is very limited. See parking map of area. The Metrorail or the D.C. Circulator are the best ways to get to the Center.
Will everything be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center?
With the exceptions of events at the Marriott Marquis, all AUSA-sponsored events will take place in the Convention Center. View maps of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center floor plans.
Exhibits will be in Halls A, B, and C on the lower level and Halls D and E on the upper level. ILW Forums, NCO and Family programs, plus other events open to attendees will be held in the 100 and 200 area meeting rooms. The Opening Ceremony, the President’s Reception, the Eisenhower Lunch, and the Marshall Reception and Dinner will take place in the Ballroom on level three.
What is the dress code?
| Event / Venue | Military | Department of the Army Civilian / Contractor |
| Opening Ceremony | Duty (Army Combat Uniform (ACU); Army Service Uniform (ASU) A or B) | Business Attire |
| Presenters at all Contemporary Military Forum Panels, Family Forums and any Award Recipients | Army Service Uniform (ASU)-ClassAs | Business Attire |
| Presenters at Warriors Corner | Duty (ACU; ASU-B; ASU-A) | Business Attire |
| President’s Reception | Army Service Uniform (ASU)-ClassAs | Business Attire |
| Marshall Reception and Dinner | Mess Dress / Army Service Uniform with bowtie/ Class A with bowtie | Black Tie |
| Exhibit Floor and all other events | Duty (ACU; ASU-B; ASU-A) | Business Attire |
What is the headquarters hotel?
- For Reservations please contact Travel Planners by visiting the housing link on the website.
- Only Valet Parking is available, fee: 45 USD daily.
- FedX Office and Business Center located on the second floor is open M-F 0700-1800, Saturday 0800-1300, and Sunday1000-1500.
- Underground covered walkway to the Convention Center.
- Events at the hotel include the ROTC and Corporate Member Lunches and The Army Civilian Professional Development Program and Luncheon.
- Conference rooms are available for Receptions, Meetings and Offices, please contact Oroscia Lowe at 202-824-9240 or Oroscia.lowe@marriott.com.
How do I book a hotel room?
AUSA provides a block of rooms at reduced rates for attendees to the Annual Meeting. Please visit the website and click on Housing for reservations, faxable booking forms, maps and a listing of hotels.
Who can attend the Annual Meeting?
- Membership in AUSA
- Employee of an Exhibiting Company
- Invited guest of an exhibiting company on exhibiting company letterhead
- Employee of an AUSA Corporate Member or Sustaining Member
- Membership in any component of the U.S. military
- Civilian employee of the Federal Government
- Member of an accredited Federal, State, or Municipal law enforcement agency, a fire fighter, or an EMT/EMS
- Member of a designated U.S. military or veteran association
- Member of the military forces of foreign nations with passport
- Any escorted guest of an AUSA Member
How do I register and what is the cost to attend the Annual Meeting?
Registration Hours:
| Friday | 9 October | 0800 – 1700 | West Registration |
| Saturday | 10 October | 0800 – 1700 | West Registration |
| Sunday | 11 October | 0800 – 1800 | East & West Registration |
| Monday | 12 October | 0700 – 1900 | East & West Registration |
| Tuesday | 13 October | 0730 – 1700 | East & West Registration |
| Wednesday | 14 October | 0800 – 1930 | East & West Registration |
Is exhibition space still available?
Exhibit space at the Annual Meeting is still available. The AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition is a members-only event. Exhibit space is only provided to Sustaining Member companies and military exhibitors. For more information about the Sustaining Membership Program, please contact Alex Brody at abrody@ausa.org. Sustaining Member firms and military units who would like to request display space should contact Rand Meade at rmeade@ausa.org or 703-907-2678.
Will the schedule be the same?
Except for some minor changes in the program, the 2015 meeting is essentially the same as in previous years. A preliminary agenda will be published in the September 2015 issue of ARMY Magazine.
How do I hold an event at the Annual Meeting?
There is space at the convention center and the headquarters hotel for events. To request meeting space complete the form for the Walter E. Washington Convention Center or complete the Marriott Marquis form or contact Oroscia Lowe at 202-824-9240 or Oroscia.lowe@marriott.com.
Are suites available at the Annual Meeting?
There are no suites at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. There is no length-of-show meeting space available. A portion of the exhibit floor is available for Business to Business suites for AUSA Sustaining Members. Although there are no suites available at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, there is meeting space available, that might be used for the length of the meeting. The Renaissance Hotel also has suites and meeting space available. Please see contact information in the Hotel Reservations and Meeting Space brochure.
When is the Army Ten-Miler?
For more information, see the Official Army Ten-Miler web site.
What is there to do in D.C.?
If you are visiting Washington D.C. for the Annual Meeting, the pages below will help guide you to more information about the local attractions, dining and entertainment.
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Comprehensive visitor information about the Washington, D.C. Convention Center. - Smithsonian Institution
Information about visiting the Smithsonian Institutes museums and National Zoo. - D.C. Pages
Guide to the culturally rich and diverse area in and around our nation’s capital. - The Washington Post
The region’s leading newspaper. The Friday Weekend section has information on the latest events, movies, nightlife and theater. - Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro)
The area’s public transit system. Information on buses and trains, including fares, routes, schedules and using the Metro system.
How do I get around in D.C.?
The Metrorail and the DC Circulator provide excellent mass transit to almost anywhere in the city.
Will there be any events for Army families at the Annual Meeting?
Yes. AUSA’s Family Readiness Directorate will host three Military Family Forums. In addition, there will be a Military Family Pavilion on the main exhibit floor featuring a variety of organizations which support military families. AUSA Family Readiness will also have a booth in the AUSA Pavilion. We recommend that you frequently check our Family Readiness web site at www.ausa.org/family for updated information or call us at 1-800-336-4570, ext. 2674.
Who can attend the Military Family Forums?
The Military Family Forums are open to Army spouses and all Annual Meeting attendees.
Do I need to register to attend the Military Family Forums?
Registration is required for admittance to the Annual Meeting. When registering for the Annual Meeting, please also register specifically for each of the Military Family Forums you would like to attend. Seating for the Military Family Forums fills very quickly so early registration is strongly encouraged. Please check the Family Readiness website for updated information or contact us at fptemp@ausa.org.
What is the dress code for the Military Family Forums?
The dress code is civilian business attire or duty uniform.
As a Reserve Component Soldier do I receive Retirement Credits for Attending the Annual Meeting?
Army National Guard and United States Army Reserve personnel attending program sessions are authorized one retirement credit for each day’s attendance if at least four hours are spent in program sessions in uniform (reference NGR 680-2 and Army Regulations 140-1 and 140-185). Recommend personnel be placed on orders in a non-pay status to document time.
