Registration will be free or just $50 for most current National Guard officers and their spouses to attend the 146th NGAUS General Conference & Exhibition, Aug. 23-26, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan.
NGAUS conference attendees normally pay a $180 registration fee. The dollars help defray the host-state’s costs to provide ground transportation and conduct social events, including the first-night mixers, the Governor’s Reception, the Spouses Luncheon and the States Dinner.
National Guard Association of Michigan officials are so confident of their ability to win sponsorships from local businesses they are offering free registration for next year’s conference to all company grade officers, warrant officer 1s and chief warrant officer 2s and their spouses.
NGAM officials have also proclaimed 2024 the “Year of the Company Grade Officer.”
Additionally, NGAM officials will charge a registration fee of only $50 to field grade officers and their spouses and chief warrant officers 3s, chief warrant officers 4s and chief warrant officers 5s, along with their spouses.
Registration for other attendees will be the standard $180.
The special fees in 2024 are an effort by NGAM to enable more current Guard officers to attend the annual NGAUS business meeting, said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, the adjutant general of Michigan.
“The low-cost registration fees are a testament to Michigan’s desire for leaders to grow professional and personal networks while pursuing excellence in their profession,” Rogers added. “Next year’s agenda boasts presentations at a variety of unique venues throughout the Detroit area; there is truly something for everyone.”
Among those venues is Belle Isle, a 982-acre island park in the Detroit River that will host a Caribbean Carnival for the Company Grade Officer, Warrant Officer and Field Grade Officer mixers. The Virgin Islands National Guard Association will assist with the event.
Additionally, the world-famous Henry Ford Museum is the scheduled location of the Governor’s Reception.
“The NGAUS conference is the Guard’s premier gathering for networking and officer professional development,” said retired Brig. Gen. J. Roy Robinson, the NGAUS president. “We applaud the National Guard Association of Michigan making it more affordable next year.”
Guard officers should register for the conference through their state or territory Guard association. Contact information for each association is available at www.ngaus.org/states-territories/state-association-directory.