How do I register and is there a cost to attend the Annual Meeting?
Pre-Registration is closed. Badge registration is free for all eligible attendees. Pre-registration for the Annual Meeting was available from 15 July – 5 October 2021. On-site registration will open 0800, 8 October 2021 at the WEWCC. No badge registration is available from 6-7 October 2021. Tickets for certain social functions can be requested at West
Registration; events are first come, first served with limited seating.
• All tickets and badges must be picked up at the WEWCC, Mt Vernon Place entrance, after going through the Vaccination Verification Station. No badges or tickets will be mailed.
• A proof of Vaccination against COVID-19 and a government-issued photo identification (e.g., CAC, military dependent ID, driver’s license, passport) is required to receive your badge and tickets.
Registration Hours – On-site Badge and Ticket Pickup at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center:
DAY |
DATE |
TIME |
LOCATION |
Friday |
8 October |
0800 – 1700 |
West Registration |
Saturday |
9 October |
0800 – 1700 |
West Registration |
Sunday |
10 October |
0800 – 1700 |
East Registration |
Monday |
11 October |
0700-1730 |
East Registration |
Tuesday |
12 October |
0700 - 1700 |
East Registration |
Wednesday |
13 October |
0800 – 1430 |
East Registration |
Ticketed events
On-line ticket reservations are from 15 July – 24 September 2021. Individual attendees may reserve tickets on a first-come, first-served basis during registration. Remaining tickets will be available at the WEWCC starting 0800 Friday, 8 October 2021, at West Registration.
National Partner Tickets. National Partner Ticket reservations are closed.
*New for 2021* I am a VIP-invited guest, how do I register and select my tickets?
VIP-invited guests will receive an invitation via email in September 2021 notifying them that their badge registration and tickets are available in our on-line registration portal. A link to the registration portal will be included. If you believe you are a VIP guest who did not receive this email by 24 September 2021, please visit West Registration at the WEWCC. VIP badge and ticket pick-up rules are subject to the same identification and COVID-19 requirements as all other attendees.
What health and safety Measures are in place at the 2021 Annual Meeting?
AUSA is committed to the health and safety of our attendees, partners, staff, and exhibitors. We have recently partnered with Safe ExpoTM and we continue to monitor the recommendations from local health authorities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information on the safety measures during the 2021 Annual Meeting, and how to upload your vaccination card, please visit our Health and Safety Tab: Health & Safety
How do I get to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center?
Parking is limited at and around the WEWCC. Attendees are encouraged to plan their trip using Metrorail. The center is serviced directly by the Mt Vernon Square/7th Street Convention Center station on the Yellow & Green lines. The Blue, Orange, and Red lines are also a few blocks from the center. Please visit WMATA.COM for more information about planned track work and how it may affect your travel to the WEWCC. Annual Meeting hotels are within a 10-minute walk radius from the center. Taxi service drop-off is at the Mt Vernon Place (front) entrance of the WEWCC. Additionally, if traveling from the Pentagon, there will be a shuttle servicing south parking and the WEWCC each day. The HQDA, Office of the Administration Assistant will release details on that shuttle.
Is Wi-Fi available during the Annual Meeting?
Yes. You may connect at the WEWCC on your web browser through Smart City. AUSA does not take responsibility for the security of this Wi-Fi connection.
Is there an Annual Meeting Code of Conduct?
Yes. All registrants will be asked to acknowledge our Code of Conduct. A copy may be found here: AUSA Event Code of Conduct
Hotel Information
AUSA has secured a block of rooms at local hotels. Please visit our Hotel & Travel page for information on how to reserve a room at the guaranteed rate.
What is the headquarters hotel?
The Marriott Marquis Washington, DC is the headquarters hotel located at 901 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001. Valet-only parking is available for for an additional daily charge. There is an underground covered walkway to the Convention Center on the Mezzanine level of the Marriott Marquis. Please see our FAQ on holding an event at AUSA AM 2021 to rent a conference room at the Marriott Marquis.
Housing Alert - Hotel Room Scams
Convention Management Resources (CMR) is the official housing provider for AUSA AM 2021. Be aware of other companies that may contact you and indicate that they are affiliated with AUSA and the AUSA Annual Meeting and claim to offer hotels at reduced rates. These companies are not affiliated in any way with AUSA and it is highly recommended that you do not use their services. At past events, exhibitors and attendees have used these companies and lost deposits or did not receive the hotel rooms they reserved. CMR is the ONLY authorized hotel reservations contact. If you receive solicitations from other companies, please forward them to your exhibit sales contact or exhibits@ausa.org.
What Professional Development opportunities are available?
AUSA’s commitment to professional development includes seminars and special presentations on the issues affecting today’s Army. Please refer to the agenda for the latest schedule and for retirement points credit.
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.
Will there be a Hiring Event?
AM 2021 welcomes the American Freedom Foundation’s Your Next MissionTM. The event will be in Hall A at the WEWCC. Please check back for more information as we get closer to the event.
Where can I park?
Parking is not available for attendees at the WEWCC. There are several parking facilities in the surrounding area. Attendees are encouraged to travel to the Annual Meeting using Metrorail. The WEWCC is serviced directly by the Mt Vernon Square/7th Street Convention Center station on the Yellow & Green lines. The Blue, Orange, and Red lines are also a few blocks from the center. Please visit WMATA.COM for more information about planned track work and how it may affect your travel to the WEWCC. If you are driving and staying at one of the meeting hotels, you will be charged the hotel’s daily parking rates. Annual Meeting hotels are within a 10-minute walk from the center. Taxi service drop-off is at the Mt Vernon Place entrance of the WEWCC. Additionally, if you are traveling from the Pentagon, there will be a shuttle running from South Parking and the WEWCC each day, provided by the OAA, motor pool.
Will everything be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center?
Except for events at the Marriott Marquis, all AUSA-sponsored events will take place in the WEWCC. Floor plan maps are available on-site.
Exhibits will be in Halls A, B, and C on the lower level and Halls D and E on the upper level. Education forums, NCO programs, Family programs, and other events open to attendees will be held in the 100 and 200 area meeting rooms. The Opening Ceremony, President’s Reception (canceled for 2021), Eisenhower Presentation, and Marshall Award Presentation will take place in the Ballroom on level three. The Ballroom events will be streamed at ausa.org.
Dress Code
The Annual Meeting dress code is informal. Please see this link for more information Dress Code 2021.
Where can I find the Agenda?
The AM 2021 follows the same schedule as previous years. Review agenda here. A preliminary agenda will be published in the September 2021 issue of ARMY Magazine and an agenda will be available for pick up at registration.
How do I become a speaker at Annual Meeting?
Speakers for major events at AUSA’s Annual Meeting (such as the Opening Ceremony and the Eisenhower Luncheon) are drawn from the Army leadership (e.g., the Secretary of the Army, the Army Chief of Staff, the Sergeant Major of the Army); Army leaders and their spouses also speak at AUSA Family Programs events, along with individuals from organizations and entities active in the support of Soldiers and their families.
The Contemporary Military Forums are tailored to address the Army's most immediate issues; this dictates that we obtain our speakers from within the Army and the larger defense community. The speakers for these Forums and other events at AUSA's Annual Meeting will be determined (as they are every year) in coordination with the office of the Army Chief of Staff. Once the panel leaders have been identified, the composition of each panel will be determined either by the Office of the Chief of Staff or by the panel leaders themselves.
We are accepting names from those who are interested in speaking on the Contemporary Military Forum panels. We can add your recommendation to our list and if they are selected to speak, we will contact them. However, please be advised if they do not hear from us by the beginning of September, then we have selected others.
The AUSA Book Presentations feature authors whose works have been published as AUSA books by either of our publishing partners (e.g., Potomac Books and the Naval Institute Press). Please direct questions or submissions to education@ausa.org.
How do I hold a private function at AM 2021?
AUSA welcomes affiliated organizations, government, exhibitors, and sponsors to convene and host various functions during AM 2021 and will accept meeting space requests for functions at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center through Monday, 16 August 2021.
Policies
• No run of show space requests; or multiple back to back room blocks allowed
• Max time allotted is 2 hours per day unless special permission is granted.
• Meeting space requests are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Meeting room rental fees do not include specialty equipment.
• Standard equipment provided includes tables (banquet rounds/classroom tables), chairs, stage, podium; does not include high-boy tables.
Rental Fees. Meeting room rental fees do not include specialty equipment, audio visual, internet, food and beverage or any other costs associated with the room. These charges are the responsibility of the reserving company/organization. A credit card must be on file to process room assignments for organizations in which rental fees apply). If paying by check, it must be received by AUSA no later than 20 August 2021. Credit cards will be charged on or around 18 August 2021, or upon meeting space confirmation. There will be no refunds or cancellations after payment has been processed or check received.
• Non-Members not exhibiting or sponsoring: $800.00 per hour
• National Partners and Community Partners not exhibiting or sponsoring: $400.00 per hour
• No charge for exhibiting or sponsoring companies, chapters, and military/ government organizations
Additional Meeting Space Options. For day-long or multi-day space, please contact the following hotel partners:
Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott Convention Center
across the street from the convention center
Slava Lutikova, Director of Complex Sales
Slava.Lutikova@crestlinehotels.com
202-469-6352
Dominic Sanchez, Complex Senior Group Sales Manager
Dominic.Sanchez@crestlinehotels.com
202-469-6355
Marriott Marquis Hotel
Headquarters hotel/connected to the DC Convention Center
Sales Office: 202-824-9200
Marisa Smith, Senior Catering Sales Executive
202-824-9221
Marisa.J.Smith@marriott.com
Shinika Huggins, Sales Administrative Assistant
202-842-9218
Shinika.Huggins@marriott.com
Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel
1.5 blocks from convention center
999 Ninth Street NW, Washington, District of Columbia 2000
Sales Office: 202-898-9000
Pop Up Meeting Space
AUSA will offer “pop-up” meeting space in the WEWCC and the Marriott Marquis. These requests can be made onsite starting 0800 Sunday, 10 October 2021. Pop-up meeting space may only be reserved for a max of one hour. Check back to this site in August for information on how to reserve these spaces.
Are there events for Army Families at AM 2021?
AUSA’s Family Readiness Directorate will host three Military Family Forums and two social events (tickets required). The Military Family Forums are open to all Annual Meeting attendees with a badge. Seating for the Military Family Forums fill quickly so early arrival is strongly encouraged. Proper attire is required in accordance with the AM 2021 dress code There will be a Military Family Pavilion in the Exhibit Hall featuring a variety of organizations which support military families.
Can children attend AM 2021?
Fully vaccinated children between the ages of 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult. Children younger than 12 will not permitted entry to the 2021 AUSA Annual Meeting.
ADA Compliance
AUSA’s Annual Meeting fully complies with the Department of Justice’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure equal opportunities for persons with disabilities possible. If you require assistance, pre-event, please notify the AUSA 2021 Operations Center (703) 907-2416, or on-site: AUSA security office in Room 160 or call 202-249-4045.
Is there a Nursing Mother’s Lounge and a Changing Room?
The Changing Room/Nursing Mother’s Lounge is located at Salon E, near East Registration. Please direct anyone who would like to use these facilities to the Information Desk at the Mt Vernon Place entrance for the key. This is a public use area and personal belongings/uniforms/clothing should not be left in the room. Please take personal items to the coat check located in West Registration.
What is there to do in Washington, D.C.?
The following guides will help you find 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 Institute’s museums and the National Zoo.
Destination DC
Guide to the culturally rich and diverse area in and around our nation’s capital.
The Washington Post
The region’s leading newspaper.
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 D.C.?
The Metrorail and the DC Circulator provide excellent mass transit to almost anywhere in the city. Taxis, Lyft, and Uber are also readily available in the Washington, DC area
What dining options are available near the Convention Center?
Neighborhoods surrounding the convention center include Mt Vernon Square, Shaw, Chinatown, NoMA, Downtown, City Center, Logan Circle, and Penn Quarter. Refer to Destination DC or Open Table for more information. There will be various food vendors open in the Convention Center during annual meeting.
When is the Army Ten-Miler?
AUSA is a co-lead sponsor of the Army Ten Miler. For more information, please visit the Army Ten-Miler website.
AUSA Show Daily
The only official Show Daily at AUSA AM 2021 is produced by Defense News, a Sightline Media company. In addition to our own publications, including ARMY Magazine and the AUSA Green Book, our official Show Daily is the only publication with distribution rights during AUSA AM 2021.
Attendee List Rental Services Alert - Beware of Unauthorized Providers. Like many trade shows today, AUSA is targeted by unethical businesses that may utilize valid email addresses from our website to contact our exhibitors about list rentals and other sales offers. AUSA Show Management encourages you to be aware of organizations who claim to have access to the AUSA’s attendee lists, as they may try to sell these lists to you. Please note: AUSA DOES NOT distribute or sell any attendee lists or attendee information and DOES NOT offer attendee list rental services.