Get Wise. Get Rich. Get Out.

As a citizen of the United States, you have the right to advocate (i.e. lobby) your Congress to action.

There are numerous Veteran associations dedicated to advocating–yes, lobbying–for currently serving service members, retirees, Veterans, and their families.

I know what you’re probably thinking: lobbying is a scourge on our democracy, allowing major corporations to have greater influence on our politics than the actual citizens most affected by the legislation passed.

You might also be thinking that lobbying is only accessible to those who have the mental strength and fortitude to dedicate their lives advocating for a singular piece of legislation. Who has the time, strength, energy, or even desire to dedicate their life to solving one problem? I certainly don’t.

I barely have enough time for this blog. You probably have barely enough time to read it (thank you by the way).

Therefore, you should know there are numerous Veteran associations dedicated to advocating—yes, lobbying—for currently serving service members, retirees, Veterans, and their families. Membership is generally open to active, retired, and Veteran members and many associations also offer education scholarships, employment or fellowship programs, conferences, and other benefits.

If, during your transition, you are struggling accessing your benefits or entitlements, please don’t suffer in silence! Write your Congressman. Join and write your respective association.

Onto the list:

5 Veteran Advocacy Associations you should know:

MOAA is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization that advocates on behalf of current (active, Guard, & Reserve), retire, and former commissioned officers of the Department of Defense, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. According to their website, “MOAA is the nation’s largest and most influential association of military officers.” Basic Membership is free. Read more about MOAA’s Active Legislation Campaigns.

“MOAA is the nation’s largest and most influential association of military officers” – MOAA.org

Founded in 1922, ROA, formerly known as Reserve Officers Association, now advocates on behalf of all ranks of the Reserve Component–including National Guard–and their families. Associate Membership (must be under 35 years old) is free. Term Membership is $20/fiscal year. Read ROA’s Current Resolutions.

Founded in 1878, NGAUS advocates on behalf of current, retired, and Veteran National Guard members and their families. Read about NGAUS’s Priorities. Membership for officers is complimentary for the first year, then starts at $40/year for CGOs, $80/year for FGOs, and $130/year for Flag Officers. Membership for Enlisted Guardsmen is $45/year.  

“NGAUS is the nation’s oldest military association.” – NGAUS.org

Established in 1960, NCOA is a federally-chartered, non-profit, 501(c)19 Military Service Organization (MSO) that advocates for current, retired, and Veteran enlisted members of active, Reserve, and Guard components, and their families. Read more about NCOA’s Advocacy. Regular Division Membership is $30/year.

Founded in 2008, SVA is the premier organization leading service, research, programs, and advocacy for Veterans in higher education. Membership is managed through individual SVA Chapters, which are present at 1,600 universities across all 50 states and 3 countries abroad. SVA Founders played an important role in the genesis of the Forever GI Bill. Read SVA’s 2023 Policy Priorities.

“SVA conceived, and unanimously passed in Congress, the first major update to the GI Bill in a decade, known commonly as the Forever GI Bill. This bipartisan legislation impacts the lives of approximately 1 million students, distributing more than $12 billion in benefits annually.” – Studentveterans.org

Conclusion

Advocacy associations play a critical role in our democracy. They advocate for you when you don’t have the resources or platform to do so alone. Whether you’re looking for scholarships to supplement your education benefits, a community of people with similar military experiences, or you’re struggling to access your benefits and entitlements, joining an association could be an excellent way to support your transition out of active duty.

This list was not exhaustive. There are many more associations out there, including service branch-specific associations and Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) that can support your VA Disability Claims. For a more extensive list—and I mean extensive—visit the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs -Veteran Service Organizations page.

Seriously, there’s no need to go it alone. Join your association.