ID Card Renewal/DEERS
The Medford National Guard Armory is now doing ID card renewals M-F on Walk-In ONLY from 9:00 to 16:00.
Located at:
1701 South Pacific Hwy
Medford, OR 97501
Call 503-584-3040 to make sure you have all paperwork needed before you go.
DoD DEERS EnrollmentAugust 2020 Update
Several years ago I made telephone calls to several members at large in the Midwest and New England areas as part of a project to clean up our database. At that time I was encouraged by many of you regarding your support for NCOA. Several of you even indicated that you might be interested in getting chapters going if enough people could be located to form the core of chapter leadership.
Between 75 and 80% of our association membership is what we call members at large. Recently with the development of new technology, anyone with internet access can connect with other members anywhere in the world. We have been toying with the idea of bringing members together virtually to at least communicate with other members. Some ideas have surfaced where members looking for work can come together and exchange information, develop and share leads and assist with all facets of job search. Another option might be members that like to ride motorcycles and want to plan group rides. The options are only limited by one’s imagination. For those still on active duty or in the Reserves, there are members available to assist with the development of your career options and guide your advancement.
The Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) is here to be what you need us to be. We are here to champion issues in Washington and be the voice that the wearing of the uniform prevents you from directly exercising. NCOA has the potential to be whatever you need it to be. We have a new Facebook page titled “NCOA-The Voice of the Enlisted”. It is a great forum to find out what other members have going and to share issues or concerns that you may need help with, but it is a member-only group. It is also a great platform to make suggestions for new programs or benefits that you would like to see.
Let’s use the extra time that we have due to restrictions from COVID-19 to engage our collective creativity and make NCOA the leading Military Service Organization out there. We all want to be on a winning team and your leadership will work day and night to make that happen.
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
July 2020 Update
July is normally a month when we celebrate our Nation’s birthday with parades, fireworks, picnics, and an assortment of sporting events. This year will be different. Parades celebrating our history, our birthday, and patriotism are banned for fear of spreading COVID-19. Fireworks are also banned because they might draw large crowds and God forbid we do something that could cause further passing on of that pesky COVID-19 virus.
Fellow NCOA members, those who have served as well as family members of those who served or are still serving; our service was for a purpose. Some may have served only to qualify for a very good educational benefit that NCOA helped to obtain many years ago. Others may have served after the attack of terrorists on 9/11 out of a sense of patriotism. Whatever your reason for service, we sacrificed a piece of our life and in some cases a piece of ourselves to defend our freedoms for ourselves, our families, and future generations.
With all of the news coverage focusing on change and in some cases even pushing the elimination of our founding history, something that your Board has been looking into came back to the front of my mind. We were exploring an organization called Step up America and one of their pet projects is called the Franklin Project. Their website https://stepupamericaprogram.org lists their mission as follows: “The mission of Step Up America: A Call to Good Citizenship is to educate our youth on the importance of becoming responsible, engaged U.S. Citizens in order to preserve the freedom and security of our great nation.” They were scheduled to come to our conference in San Antonio to speak to us about this project and then COVID-19 changed everything.
I suggest that rather than focusing on the current disruption, we focus on a solution that has been overlooked for far too long. Step up America teaches our youth why the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were written and the long agonizing process that our founding fathers went through to create these documents. We can’t fix everything at once, but if some/all of you believe that the Bill of Rights and why this country was so exceptional for over 200 years, perhaps you can look into this as a chapter or an individual and help start the healing of our nation. Your nation needs you and I humbly request that you step up one more time.
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
Rogue Chapter #1260 of the Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) issued two $500 scholarships to deserving students within our community
Hannah Johnson, the daughter of Christy and Robert Johnson and Presley Robison, the daughter of Frankie Haynes & Charles DeSha, both received their scholarships at a ceremony at Don Jones Park in Central Point on June 2, 2020. Both awardees attended Crater High School.
Hannah wants to pursue a career as a Neonatal Nurse by attending Brigham Young University in Idaho and Presley wants to pursue a degree in Health Sciences at Portland State University.
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- Presley Robison receiving scholarship check
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- Hanna Johnson receiving scholarship check
This is the 2nd year for the Rogue Chapter scholarship program which targets either NCOA member’s children or grandchildren or the children or grandchildren of honorably discharged veterans.
For further information about our scholarship program or for those wishing to contribute to future scholarships, please contact Rogue Chapter #1260 at PO Box 5597, Central Point, OR 97502.
June 2020 Newsletter
June 2020 Update
June is the traditional month when schools get out, summer begins, PCS moves take place and many of us begin to think about things like vacations, baseball, and NASCAR. This year, other than summer starting on June 20th and Father’s Day, nothing will be the same. School was closed months ago, PCS moves have been delayed, sports have been canceled or seriously pushed back and vacations either delayed or canceled. The level of fear present in the United States is at or nearing an all-time high.
Chairman of the Board Terry M, Haines presenting the award for the 2019 Western Region Large Chapter of the Year award to Trustee & Treasurer Ron Kohl
Those of us who have served in the military have been trained or at least exposed to leadership. If you have ever been in a combat zone, you know what fear is and the fear that Americans are exposed to today is real. It is unfortunate that the media and some of those in positions of leadership are choosing to push fear rather than calm. True leaders guide those under their direction on how to get through stressful times. Right now, it is not just you that are being impacted by COVID-19, but it is also your family and others that you love. That makes it worse because we care for those we love.
When in combat, you and your fellow members of the armed forces are there. Your family is secure back home. This COVID-19 is an invisible enemy and it is hitting us right where we and our families are at. What can you do to get through this situation? My fellow NCOA members use the experience of having served in the military to guide your families through these difficult times. Try to keep emotions out of the mix.
Leadership is something that has nothing to do with gender or age. Leaders remain calm and provide guidance to accomplish the mission. Right now, our mission is to get through this crisis. Check up on your families, friends, neighbors, and fellow veterans. Make sure they are alright and offer to assist if they need help. Mow a lawn, shop for groceries if they need help, take out their garbage, and just offer a calming demeanor in these stressful times. Don’t let people isolate as that only breeds more fear.
We won’t be able to meet this year, but we will be doing online opportunities to share information. We will still be recognizing our Vanguard heroes and sharing the inspiring feats that earned them the recognition. While NCOA isn’t the largest or best-known organization, we are a powerful and focused group looking out for our enlisted forces and their families. I invite you today to use your training and patriotism to help your community and this nation get through this crisis.
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