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

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