March is Women’s History Month and is celebrated on March 8th. Do you know of a woman that has contributed to our military or your community, state or country that has made a positive difference? Remember them in March! I want to also recognize that the Navy Seabees have a birthday on March 5th.
The first day of Spring is March 20th and particularly for those back on the east coast, that is probably a welcome event.
I want to officially welcome Levi Sadr as our new Legislative Director of Government Affairs and want to thank Dan Elkins who has been in that role for the past year. He is passing the gauntlet to Levi who has been doing a lot of the work without compensation from NCOA. That changes March 1st. I also want to call out the Legislative Resolution Committee that is working with Levi to be a more timely and relevant force in Washington DC working on your behalf.
I have gotten word from several members that they have obtained WW2 medallions and made presentations in their local areas. Thank you for your support of this important program. Your International Board of Directors is pressing forward to develop the same type of recognition for our Korean and Vietnam veterans. More information will be following on that in the near future. Do you have a WW2 veteran in your family tree? For $15 you can obtain a medallion from HQ and use that medallion as a means to teach your kids and grandkids what the Greatest Generation means.
I love the Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) and am working hard to ensure that we stay a vibrant and effective voice for our enlisted forces. I know that COVID has been hard on many of you but we are at a time when we need to begin the process of getting back to normal. Each of you had times during your service in the military where you stepped up either on your own or at the instruction of others to get the mission moving forward. Now is that time in history where NCO’s & PO’s need to get the job done. You have done it before & I am asking you to please do it again. I have brought at least 6 new members into NCOA in the last 90 days. Can you find one?
In the near future, your Board of Directors will be reaching out to chapters to offer assistance and encouragement. We realize that times have been tough, but we can do better. We are a team elected by the membership to lead NCOA. You, our membership are important to us and we have not done a very good job across the board in communicating that out to you in the field. That is going to change. What can we do for you to make your NCOA lives better for you? A fund has been created to entice chapters to attend the conference in July. We can do anything that we put our minds and effort into getting accomplished.
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