Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
Oak Grove, KY. – The Fort Campbell Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), held their General Membership Meeting Thursday, August 28 at Valor Hall in Oak Grove. Guest speaker for the event was Major General Gary J. Volesky, Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell.
Volesky talked about the importance of AUSA to the Soldiers and the Army. “Through Soldier support activities and annual scholarships to our high school students, just a few things AUSA does. They have provided opportunities for our families and our Soldiers they wouldn’t have had otherwise,” Volesky said.
The General added that he has seen AUSA volunteers from the local chapter at Welcome Home Ceremonies at Fort Campbell serving drinks and snacks to family member waiting for their loved ones to return and their service helps make Fort Campbell a world class Army home.
A number of Fort Campbell Soldier are currently training at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in Fort Polk, Louisiana and General Volesky said he had just returned from there and updated those at the meeting about the intensive training the Bastogne and Rakkasan Brigades are going through.
Along with highlighting the Soldiers training, Volesky also praised Army families. “Our Soldiers are the strength of our Army but our families are the strength of our Soldiers and that’s what makes us Army strong. Our families continue their undying support for their Soldiers and their units,” said Volesky.
AUSA also presented two awards Thursday. The Ted Crozier Corporate Membership Award goes to a corporate member who has supported AUSA over past year and Navy Federal Credit Union was recognized for their work with AUSA and Fort Campbell.
The next honor was the TC Freeman Active Duty Membership Award which was given to the Fort Campbell Non-Commissioned Officers Academy which has the highest percentage active duty AUSA membership at 60 percent.