(This article originally appeared in the January 2022 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.)

MOAA made great strides in 2021 and is excited about 2022. We have built on the tremendous work of our members, chapters, and councils to further our advocacy priorities such as comprehensive toxic exposure reform and the Basic Needs Allowance for servicemembers and families. The MOAA Foundation, which stood up the Emergency Relief Fund, is expanding.

MOAA is focusing on its six strategic priorities — advocacy, membership, councils and chapters, philanthropy, engagement, and resources — which were codified in our Strategic Plan for 2022 to 2026.

[RELATED: Read the Strategic Plan (PDF)]

Advocacy

MOAA’s legislative priorities for 2022 are focused on service-earned entitlements including health care, pay, and benefits. For example:

• Health care: Ensure changes to the Military Health System sustain beneficiaries’ access to high quality care and prevent negative impacts on military medical readiness. This includes protecting the value of the earned TRICARE benefit by opposing disproportional fee increases and
  ensuring coverage policy is regularly updated.
• Pay and benefits: Sustain pay raises and equitable BAH for troops and COLA raises for retirees. Ensure military compensation and service-earned benefits for servicemembers are not eroded by cost-saving measures.

You can see more details on these and other advocacy priorities for the second session of the 117th Congress at this link. These topics will be at the forefront of our objectives as we prepare for our big legislative campaign this spring.

Membership

MOAA’s future requires a strong and stable membership, especially among our paid Premium and Life categories. We are increasing outreach to servicemembers and recently retired officers, and we’re striving to attract members that reflect the diversity of the current force.

We are finding new ways to reach current and potential members and increasing awareness of MOAA’s mission through a range of initiatives such as digital advertisements featuring the value of membership, our “Families” television commercial highlighting advocacy efforts, collaborations with high-profile officers and spouses, and our new Never Stop Serving podcast.

I ask you to help MOAA reach out to all eligible members and encourage them to join!

Councils and Chapters

MOAA is bolstering the nearly 400 chapters and 34 councils in our affiliate system, growing stronger through local community work and broadening connection opportunities with new virtual chapters.

We are expanding headquarters support and exploring new technology for legislative engagement, recruiting and retention, training, administration, and networking.

The MOAA Foundation

We have seen the impact of the foundation multiply with the introduction of the COVID-19 Relief Fund and now the Emergency Relief Fund, serving military families facing financial hardship from catastrophes such as the pandemic. The foundation provides support and resources to more than 100,000 military families each year.

MOAA is uniquely positioned to be a credible source of care partnering with
MOAA chapters in communities. We ask you to join us in donating to support our ongoing mission at MOAA.org/donate.

[RELATED: MOAA Charities 2021 Impact Report]

Another way we are making an impact is with the long-standing MOAA Scholarship Fund, which has supported tens of thousands of students in achieving their goals of higher education.

I look forward to the coming year of vibrant progress for MOAA and support to our currently serving troops, our veterans, their families, and their survivors. Never stop serving!