HOW TO SPEAK TO PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS

There’s a rumor going around that California’s Adjutant General, MG William H. Wade II, is telling Army and Air Force National Guard personnel that it would be useful to join and participate in a professional military association.

He supports the concept.

In the future, MOAA members might find themselves at a military installation, standing before a number of officers, and with an invitation to speak and promote MOAA membership.

It could happen.

And if it does, what would you say?

The world is changing. The military is changing. The military is caught up with transition and with budget shortfalls. The compensation package, pay and benefits, will come under more and more pressure.

Senior military officers can’t do anything to influence the future directions of earned entitlements. But an organization like MOAA definitely can.

Young officers today face a difficult situation, specifically with problems related to multiple deployments. Families are breaking up. Good jobs are being lost. The quality of life is being impacted negatively.

But the officers are led to believe they can’t speak up openly about legislation impacting them. They can, and they should be told they can.

They often think it is their military leaders who are responsible for pay raises, health care improvements, and enhanced retirement benefits.

But they’re not, and the officers should be told that.

It takes some understanding of “best approach” and preparation if you’re going to tell young officers about MOAA and encourage membership.

–Use patriotic themes and messages; today’s officers are proud of their service and commitment to the country;

–Show an interest in their concerns, such as deployments, fair pay, housing benefits, tax relief, all issues of vital interest especially to younger officers, and tell how MOAA is working to make things better;

–Let the officers know they can speak up, and they can do it as part of MOAA’s “One Powerful Voice,” in the company of thousands of other officers who have the same life problems;

–Don’t talk about retiree issues, such as TRICARE for Life; focus on issues that impact officers today;

–Tell the officers they don’t have to show up for meetings, luncheons, dinners, or anything else, unless of course they choose to do so; they are far too busy to participate actively with an association;

–And, finally, don’t get discouraged. It takes a long time to win over drilling National Guard and Reserve officers. Just stay positive, and over time things will start to happen.

Perhaps, with General Wade’s support of professional association membership, invitations will start to come from Guard and Reserve organizations to brief officers on the opportunity for MOAA membership and the reasons to join.

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