Desk of the Chairman
Desk of the Chairman March 2021
March is upon us and with our entry in this month we can look forward to the coming of spring and the departure, very soon I hope, of winter. March also marks the establishment of the Navy Reserves as well as marks the birthday of the Navy Seabees. The one phrase that I associate with the Seabees, “Can Do” is one that resonates with me as some small signs of coming out of the pandemic are beginning to surface.
No matter what political affiliation that you claim as your own, we can all agree that we want our economy to start opening back up. We want the ability to gather once again, see friends that have been sheltering-in-place, and have some sort of normalcy in our lives. We want sports back and our kids to be able to interact with other kids in a school setting participate in sports and cultivate friendships that can’t happen with an on-line educational scenario.
The Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) has been impacted by businesses being closed that limited social gathering but so has every other organization. It is our plan to hold our conference in San Antonio in July and I encourage all of you who have been suffering from cabin fever to come and begin the recovery to a semi-normal life.
NCOA is still looking for volunteers that have knowledge and experience with websites and/or different social media platforms that can help us develop and maintain a vibrant and effective means to communicate with our current and future members. If willing to be considered, please contact our executive director at jterry@ncoausa.org for further information.
This pandemic has provided NCOA with more than enough lemons, so as an organization, we are going to make some lemonade. Efforts are in the works behind the scenes to build a strong and sturdy foundation that will launch NCOA back as the most effective military service organization that we have ever been. We are focusing on new ways to more effectively represent the 80% of our military, past present and future as well as their families. If you would like to be part of that, let me know. Some chapters are using zoom to hold meetings and a few chapters are in the planning phase to hold hikes aimed to inject fun and comradery in an effort to actually do something about the issue of veteran suicide. Look up irreverent warriors on the web to see what this is all about and perhaps get involved.If you have any ideas or suggestions, either contact headquarters or contact me at retiredveteran89@outlook.com and I can assure you that your leadership will take note.
Strength in Unity & Leadership By Example,
MCPO (SCW) Terry M. Haines
Chairman, International Board of Directors
February 2021 Update
This year started with a ton of hope on my part and that all changed on January 9th when my wife passed away. It has been an extremely difficult past couple of weeks, but two things have sustained me. My Lord and savior along with my family and the literally hundreds of well wishes and condolences from my NCOA family. Thank you!
I began this year with great optimism. Mike Little has become our new Chief Advocacy Officer and he has hit the ground running. In his first week, he hired 20 college interns to assist with legislative functions, upgrading our national website, and applying for grants for the association. On top of that, he has shared his experience in the technical realm and saved the association literally thousands of dollars.
The picture is Chairman presenting the VeteRun proceeds to the SOVB Board for the Vietnam Wall Project.
I have been struggling with what I could or should say in this issue that would give each of you some positive perspective. I may not know many of you by name or face, but I know your heart based on my recent loss. I am confident that with the members that currently exist, there are a lot of leaders and definitely a lot of caring people out there.
With a change in government, it brings up a lot of uncertainty. What I do know is that the real backbone of our military is the Non Commissioned and Petty Officer Corps; the 80% that executes the mission. I am blessed to be a part of that group. There is a saying, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” That is you and I. We have the option to receive the COVID-19 vaccine which should help get life back to normal. There are some who are concerned about the vaccine and that’s OK. We just need to get back to some semblance of normal life and whatever we need to do to accomplish that mission; we will find a way to get it done.
NCOA is in good hands and with so many good members out there, we cannot fail. I hope to see all of you in San Antonio in July. I also urge you to get one of those new challenge coins from HQ. They are even more impressive in reality than the pictures can share. Who knows, someone may ask to see your coin the next time we meet.
If you have any ideas or suggestions, either contact headquarters or contact me at retiredveteran89@outlook.com and I can assure you that your leadership will take note.
Strength in Unity & Leadership By Example,
MCPO (SCW) Terry M. Haines
Chairman, International Board of Directors
January 2021 Update
It’s here! 2021 is here and all of the issues and struggles that 2020 subjected us to can now begin to be replaced with the hope that a new year brings. January starts off with New Year’s Day and many people go through the ritual of making resolutions. Let’s just focus on one. 2021 will be better than 2020! January also recognizes a hero of the Civil Rights Movement on Martin Luther King Day and I suggest that as NCO’s and Petty Officers that we take the lead and do something to diffuse so much of the tension thrust upon us last year. The last time I checked, God made all of us and on the battlefield of life, we all bleed red!
I had the pleasure of speaking with many members of my chapter as 2020 closed out and I received a lot of encouraging words. This year will provide us the opportunity for a do-over. The enlisted force makes up approximately 80% of our entire military. The Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) represents that 80% along with your families. We have some exciting ideas that are churning around in the heads of your leadership. I want to ask you a question. Do you have a couple of hours a month that you could consider contributing to making a difference for the 80%? We are considering putting together a strategic plan that focuses on between 3-5 areas where NCOA can make a difference. Maybe you could help maintain one of the numerous social media outlets available today so that we can reach more people? Maybe you could help as a regional coordinator that can try to bring a group of the 80% of our members at large together in a virtual chapter. Maybe you could help with submitting information for one of the chapter newsletters.
NCOA is constrained by the limits of our imagination. I have been talking about doing buddy checks to stay connected to our brothers and sisters isolated by COVID. Some of you risked your lives in war to save a buddy and now in peace, isn’t it worth a phone call or having a cup of coffee to do the same thing for a struggling service member? There are some programs out there that have moved to doing more than raising awareness. I am hopeful that in the near future, we will have information available to do something that engages people in fighting this horrible trend of veteran suicides.
I challenge you to do something in 2021 to make it a better year than 2020. It doesn’t have to cost you money, but it may cost you a little time, but I would be willing to bet that none of you want to go through another 2020 as long as you live. So start with a simple thing. Make up your mind that you are going to do something that will make a difference in your family, your chapter, your community and your nation.
If you have any ideas or suggestions, either contact headquarters or contact me at chairman@ncoausa.org and I can assure you that your leadership will take note.
Strength in Unity & Leadership By Example,
MCPO (SCW) Terry M. Haines
Chairman, International Board of Directors
December 2020 Update
December is upon us and we barely have had time to recover from Thanksgiving and now we find the official start of winter and a Christmas that has COVID pressing in on it from all sides. Each of us has a decision to make. The start of December marks the 79th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Our nation was hurt and hurt badly by that event but we persevered. As admiral Yamamoto is reported to have said, “I fear that we have awakened a sleeping giant.” Today the attack was not with bombs and bullets; it came as an invisible virus. Our resolve is being challenged and the fight which took place 79 years ago is now hitting us in communities from one side of this country to the other.
Rogue Chapter Trustees presenting award to Paradux Media for outstanding sustained support
Christmas marks the birth of our Lord and Savior and a focus on that positive reality is a much needed diversion from the fear and hysteria being pushed upon us daily by the news cycle. Let us start by celebrating the fact that December 13th is the birthday of our National Guard. Many of the members of the Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) are members of the National Guard so if you know of one, wish them Happy Birthday and thank them for their service. We can also be thankful that one of the most forgettable years in US History, if not world history, will come to an end and we have the hope for a brighter and better year ahead.
I have always tried to live my life from the perspective that the glass is half full rather than half empty. While the difference may seem small, it boils down to whether you look at things from a positive perspective or a negative one. I am sure that you have heard the saying “when stuck with a bag of lemons, make lemonade.”
The year 2020 has had an overabundance of lemons, but that just sets us up to make a lot of refreshing lemonade with the start of the New Year. My fellow NCOA members reach out to that long lost buddy with whom you served. Offer to help an elderly neighbor and generate a smile. If you are one of our older members, perhaps contact a family member and share some of your buried treasure of experiences with them. It may seem hard and maybe even hurt a bit, but releasing those pent up experiences will help give someone a perspective that they probably need to hear about. In the end, you will feel better and your family or friends will learn something that may change how they view life. For Christmas, instead of buying a present, share an experience and make a difference in our little world.
If you have any ideas or suggestions, either contact headquarters or contact me at chairman@ncoausa.org and I can assure you that your leadership will take note.
Strength in Unity & Leadership By Example,
MCPO (SCW) Terry M. Haines
Chairman, International Board of Directors
November 2020 Update
November brings us Veteran’s Day which started as a day to commemorate the end of WW1 and over time transitioned to a day when the service of all veterans is acknowledged. Like many things, this year it will be different. COVID-19 imposed restrictions on public gatherings may have cancelled or modified many of the traditional activities NCOA is involved in or support such as parades and wreath laying ceremonies, but November 11th is, and will always be, a special day to acknowledge all who have served.
Ken Wilson, our newest trustee
The Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) is composed of and represents the full spectrum of enlisted members of all services and their families; this force comprises the vast majority of our armed forces and shoulders most of the workload of our military. On November 11th, I am asking all NCOA members to find a way to honor each other and our flag that we proudly served under. How about each one of you locate another veteran and together with our flag honor each other publically. Gather in small or large groups around a flag as is feasible in your locale and honor each other with a salute. Submit a picture of that effort to HQ and let’s see if we can receive at least one picture of veterans honoring each other from all 50 states on Veterans Day. This is a simple request and won’t take a lot of time, but it will make a powerful statement to our nation during these trying times. NCO’s and Petty Officers make up the backbone of our military and this year, let us stand up for each other, our flag and our country.
Finally, I apologize profusely for forgetting to acknowledge the 245th birthday of our United State Navy which was celebrated on October 13th. A belated birthday wish is given for all of our sailors out there. With that said November 10th is the 245th birthday of the United States Marine Corps and now that the shock of the recent wildfires around me has settled, I want to get back on track and say “Semper Fi” and happy birthday to all of our Marines.If you have any ideas or suggestions, either contact headquarters or contact me at chairman@ncoausa.org and I can assure you that your leadership will take note.
Strength in Unity & Leadership By Example,
MCPO (SCW) Terry M. Haines
Chairman, International Board of Directors