More than 1,000 soldiers, community leaders and defense contractors filled the Columbus Convention and Trade Center halls Tuesday for the 2012 Maneuver Conference.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for us,” Maj. Gen. H. R. McMaster, commander of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, said as he welcome solders from across the world.

With Fort Benning the home of the infantry and armor branches of the force, the four-day conference gives military leaders a chance to focus on training, leader development, combat developments and improve the effectiveness of the Maneuver Force.

Leaders from different branches of the Army spent most of the morning highlighting what has been learned from 11 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Throughout the halls in the Trade Center and outside the building, defense contractors set up displays with the latest technology in weapons and other military gear.