The military community is fiercely loyal. Its commitment to serving our nation and one another transcends rank, state lines, national borders and branch affiliations. Providing a platform upon which active duty and retired service members can continue their mission of service is essential to their success. The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), a non-profit organization headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is dedicated to doing just that.
Established in 1929, MOAA is recognized as one of the largest and most influential military associations in the nation. With more than 400,000 members, the organization is a fierce advocate for legislation impacting active duty servicemembers, retirees and veterans, and they seek to advance the five pillars of The MOAA Foundation, which is a subsidiary of the overarching nonprofit. The Foundation’s pillars support: Community Outreach, Crisis Relief efforts, Military Spouse Professional Development, Professional Education Outreach and a Career Transition program that helps active service members ease into civilian employment.
Comprising its member base are surviving spouses and uniformed service officers from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The efforts of this remarkable foundation are seen locally by virtue of the Hampton Roads Chapter, or HRCMOAA.
Established in 1958, HRCMOAA boasts roughly 250 members and supports military communities in Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach. HRCMOAA is extremely active in school communities, awarding medals and certifications to outstanding ROTC and JROTC students at local institutions, funding past NJROTC Cavalier Drill Meets at Princess Anne High School and presenting congratulatory letters and gold bars to university students commissioning from local AROTC units. The organization also provides access to Educational Assistance Programs through the MOAA Scholarship Fund.
John J. Uhrin III, a retired Navy Commander and one of the directors of HRCMOAA, joined MOAA in 2001 while working for Lockheed Martin in Moorestown, New Jersey. Understanding the scope and importance of military support associations like MOAA, Uhrin urges the local community to help keep the mission of HRCMOAA alive and well. “HRCMOAA, like all other organizations I have been involved with, is suffering from a lack of participation,” says Uhrin. “We look to bring in new members but have not had too much success. The reasons for this are numerous, with lack of commitment and lack of access to military personnel [being just two].”
Lack of access is exactly the gap the Military Economic Development Advisory Committee (MEDAC) seeks to fill. While not formally associated with MOAA, MEDAC and the national non-profit share similar goals. The Virginia Beach City Council appointed MEDAC in 2008 to help foster the relationship between local military installations and the surrounding community. “MEDAC is charged with bringing DOD jobs to the city, coordinating the needs of the commands on base and linking exiting military personnel with local employers,” explains former Virginia Beach Councilmember John E. Uhrin who was instrumental in making MEDAC a reality. “MEDAC has been [instrumental] in creating a line of communication between the city and the naval installations, leading to big wins including upgrading the electrical grid at Little Creek/Fort Story and making road changes to reduce traffic congestions during high turnover times.” The bigest accomplishment of MEDAC was the cooperation between City Council and the Navy in countering the proposed BRAC that would have moved Oceana Naval Air Station to Jacksonville, FL.
Both MOAA and MEDAC place service and community at the forefront. For those interested in advancing the mission to educate and support, consider membership opportunities by visiting hrcmoaa.org.
