Do you feel pressured into joining your organization's professional associations?

I joined the VFW and the Marine Corps League. It's hard to find organizations that try to bring in the younger veterans. Since we don't have the time and they don't seem like they want to deal with us.

I felt pressured earlier in my career but when I look back now I am glad I joined these organizations. I try to bring my lessons learned with me and invite these organizations to participate in our activities - you'd be surprised at the support they will show (outside of being the voice), for instance redeployment ceremonies - most are ready and willing to jump at the opportunity to help welcome our heroes back home.

I have definitely felt some pressure. As I got older, I learned more about what the organizations actually do, and how they benefit the military, and I only looked more seriously into joining them later because of that. I think that if more was explained as to the benefits of the organization, instead of a more brute force "this is an organization - you should join it because it's what you're supposed to do" - then we would see more people joining and paying dues.

Pressured to join maybe, however I am not going to join my regimental association. I don't fell like they are connected to the lower ranking troops everyone on the board is either a SGM/CSM or a COL. I have always had the feeling that peer group and not my own is who they are looking out for. Not saying that they don't care about the troops but the focuses is on strategic concerns and issues and not local level troop issues. Maybe that is just what I have gotten others may feel different but that is how I see it. I would like to see people from lower ranks encouraged like CPT's SGT's SFC's. Just to much at the flag pole and not enough in the field. Comments?

Quite the opposite. While I am a lifetime member of the Ordnance Corps Association, it was something I sought out. Most I've worked with over the years are completely unaware of its existence, much less pressured to join it..

Pressured? No. Do I encourage it to my troops? absolutely. Our Enlisted Force Structure regulation say you are required to. I lay out the various professional Orgs like First 4, Team 56, Top 3, AFSA, AFCEA and what the benefits of the various organizations have and what participation in that org can do for the individual personally and professionally.