The Association of the United States Army (AUSA) is well known in the military community for their unwavering support and appreciation for servicemembers of every branch of the Armed Forces. While many of the events hosted by local chapters of the AUSA are well known and publicized, some of what they do receives little recognition. When new command teams take over in the units, as such, the local AUSA chapter gives them a warm welcome.

Amy Tiemeyer, president of the local AUSA chapter, has helped to create an organization that is extraordinarily passionate about supporting the troops. She comments that this type of ceremony "is just our way of welcoming new command teams, and touching base with old ones." According to Amy, her team, and the AUSA organization, is always working diligently to show their support while attempting to get all levels of the Armed Forces involved in their morale boosting activities.

While the Dec. 9 ceremony will largely focus on the new command teams on base, it will also be a show of support for current command personnel as well. The event is at the American Lake Conference Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. and is open to all AUSA members. The invite list for the event essentially includes every major command team at JBLM; this allows AUSA to lend their support to each unit they had previously welcomed to JBLM while giving their peers the opportunity to lend their support to the incoming commands. Several members of the local community will be honored at the ceremony in recognition of their support of the servicemembers as well.

Area dignitaries and community supporters of Operation Turkey Drop will be recognized for their help in another successful charitable operation. These supporters helped to not only ensure the success of Operation Turkey Drop, which helps to feed hundreds of servicemembers and their families for the holidays, but also a large growth in the reach of the program.

As commanders are rotated, servicemembers are fed, and local support of our military grows, AUSA stands tall and proud of the work they have been able to accomplish. Though each member of the organization is rightfully proud of every helping hand they are able to contribute, they will also quickly tell anyone that it is not about their success; AUSA and all of their members know that it is about supporting the men and women of the Armed Forces and giving them the morale and tools they need for their success both at home and abroad.