The Totah Chapter
An affiliate of the Military Officers
Association of America
Purpose
While the Military Officers Association
of America (MOAA) does advocate a strong national defense, it does
not, as an association, become involved in matters pertaining to military
strategy, force level, or individual weapons systems of the various services. It
is the long-standing belief of the association's board of directors that such
decisions can be made only by those who have all of the facts available to them:
today's active duty military leadership.
The association plays an active role in military personnel
matters and especially proposed legislation affecting the career force, the
retired community, and veterans of the uniformed services.
The association is governed by a board of directors
consisting of 36 retired officers from the seven uniformed services representing
both regular and reserve association members. Four of the association's national
officers - the chairman of the board and three vice chairmen - are elected by
the board of directors. Also elected as association officers by the board of
directors (from outside the board membership) are the president, comptroller,
and secretary, all of whom serve on MOAA's professional, salaried staff.
History
The Retired Officers Association (TROA) was founded in Los Angeles on Feb. 23, 1929. It was
the view of the founders that retired officers, as well as their families and
survivors, would benefit greatly by joining together in an association - one
that would counsel and render assistance to all officers in matters related to
their retired status.
About the start of World War II, those managing the
association realized that a reorganization and expansion was essential for
TROA
to become an efficient and effective force on behalf of its membership. Thus, on
April 12, 1944, with a membership of 2,600, TROA was reorganized in Washington,
D.C. Today, with approximately 400,000 members and reincorporated in Virginia,
TROA, now MOAA, is the country's largest military officers' association.
The name change from TROA to MOAA was approved by the general membership in
November 2002. The leadership and membership changed the name to reduce the
perception that the organization membership is for RETIRED officers only.
Through the years, as the membership and staff has grown,
the association broadened its objectives to work on behalf of the entire
uniformed services community - officer and enlisted, active duty and reserve -
to the point that today it is a respected voice for all uniformed services on
personnel matters.
Membership
You don't have to be retired to join
MOAA's ranks!
Membership is open to active duty, retired, National Guard, reserve, former
commissioned officers and warrant officers of the following uniformed services:
Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Auxiliary memberships also are available for surviving
spouses of deceased officers.
