Capt Private RallyPoint Member 229385 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Did you know...<br /><br />Newly commissioned National Guard Officers receive free membership for the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) the year of their commission plus the year after and most state associations will waive membership fees as well? <br /><br />This along with MOAA and other professional organizations are great places to network as well as inform yourself on current legislative issues that affect your unit and your state. If you are looking to know how the shrinking defense budget will affect your pay, benefits, or mission, I recommend looking at these professional organizations and getting involved. Professional Organization Membership 2014-09-05T17:55:40-04:00 Capt Private RallyPoint Member 229385 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Did you know...<br /><br />Newly commissioned National Guard Officers receive free membership for the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) the year of their commission plus the year after and most state associations will waive membership fees as well? <br /><br />This along with MOAA and other professional organizations are great places to network as well as inform yourself on current legislative issues that affect your unit and your state. If you are looking to know how the shrinking defense budget will affect your pay, benefits, or mission, I recommend looking at these professional organizations and getting involved. Professional Organization Membership 2014-09-05T17:55:40-04:00 2014-09-05T17:55:40-04:00 LTC Jason Strickland 229389 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="343214" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/343214-31px-security-forces">Capt Private RallyPoint Member</a>, great recommendation. AUSA is another great organization to be a part of - especially for our Army colleagues. Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Sep 5 at 2014 5:56 PM 2014-09-05T17:56:32-04:00 2014-09-05T17:56:32-04:00 CPT Private RallyPoint Member 229846 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I got a membership with the MOAA for free after I commissioned. A buddy of mine just got elected to the Board at MOAA. I am now only a member of the NC National Guard Association. There are far to many out there to join so I focus on the local one. Good advice through. All of these groups help us out. Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2014 12:05 AM 2014-09-06T00:05:04-04:00 2014-09-06T00:05:04-04:00 Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member 584534 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Lt, I think they are good organizations but as Guardsman, I not sure the MOAA always have the Guard's best interest in mind. I would cite the MOAA's support of the ANG taking half of the proposed cuts in a force draw down a couple of years ago. NGAUS was firmly against it and ultimate prevailed. That is just one example. Just my take. Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2015 6:17 PM 2015-04-10T18:17:41-04:00 2015-04-10T18:17:41-04:00 2014-09-05T17:55:40-04:00