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questration cuts. Hill-stormers also reviewed the information packets they would leave for each congres- sional office. One leave-behind docu- ment detailed MOAA’s position on 15 recommendations made by the Military Compensation and Retire- ment Modernization Commission (MCRMC), and another explained the inequities affecting guardmem- bers and reservists, disabled retirees, and survivors.

At the Capitol Affiliate leaders, ac- companied by mem- bers of the national staff and board of di- rectors, spent a full day meeting with congres- sional legislators and staffers during MOAA’s annual Storming the Hill event. At a formal din- ner that evening, participants and their spouses heard from Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), who chairs the House Armed Services Com- mittee. Thornberry said bipartisan support to end across-the-board spending cuts known as seques- tration, which was triggered by the Budget Control Act of 2011, is increasing. He also indicated the House Armed Services Committee is reviewing recommendations made by the MCRMC, and he thanked MOAA members for their diligent ef- forts to support a strong defense. “You all play a key role, of course,

a key role ... when you come to Washington, and you get into all those offices.

“ You all play

— Rep. Mac Thornberry

”

(R-Texas), chair, House Armed

Services Committee

when you come to Washington, and you get into all those offices and let all members of Congress know what’s important … how it affects the people in the military,” he said.

46 MILITARY OFFICER JUNE 2015 Gen. Charles T. Robertson Jr.,

USAF (Ret), chair of MOAA’s board of directors, expressed thanks with a $6,000 MOAA Scholarship Fund grant in Thornberry’s name.

News from headquarters The next morning during a working breakfast, Chapter Affairs Com- mittee Chair Lt. Col. Ed Marvin, USAF (Ret), introduced MOAA President Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., USN (Ret), who opened the seminar by outlining MOAA’s new initiatives and thanking affiliate leaders. Robertson opened

the first general session by sharing ideas on how MOAA can better meet the needs of its members and the military com- munity. Members of the national staff then briefed

participants about MOAA’s ongoing and upcoming initiatives. Membership and Marketing Direc-

tor Kathy Partain reviewed MOAA’s membership model and membership trends and discussed the association’s brand refresh, which includes a new logo and the tagline, “Never Stop Serv- ing.” Capt. Patricia Cole, USN (Ret), a deputy director in the MOAA Tran- sition Center, updated participants about services ranging from career fairs to chapter personal affairs com- mittees and transition assistance groups. Former Air Force Capt. Sarah Hadacek, deputy director of Veterans and Survivor Services, also outlined MOAA’s VA claims assistance pilot program in the Washington, D.C., area. Kathy Prout announced the Aux- iliary Member Advisory Committee

had been renamed the Surviving Spouses Advisory Committee and reviewed the committee’s projects and objectives. Col. Mike Hayden, USAF (Ret), director of Government Relations, announced the establish- ment of the Col. Steve Strobridge Award, which honors MOAA’s former Government Relations director. The award will be given to the top legisla- tive chair/liaison in a council or chap- ter each year. The session ended with Ryan presenting awards to the win- ners of the 2014 Col. Marvin J. Harris Communications Award Contest.

Navy seeks flexibility Vice Adm. William F. Moran, USN, chief of naval personnel, addressed at lunch participants and their spouses, along with members of the national staff and board of directors. Moran in- dicated recruiting and retention were high the past five years, despite longer deployments, and he thanked MOAA’s leaders for their advocacy efforts, which helped close the military-ci- vilian pay gap. However, he predicted lower unemployment rates and pro- posals to cap military pay could affect future recruiting and retention. Moran says more flexibility is needed in the Navy’s personnel sys- tem to help retain talented service- members, and he outlined efforts to modernize training while retaining the service’s cultural aspects. He concluded by asking MOAA’s leaders to continue their advocacy efforts. Following lunch, Council and Chapter Affairs Director Col. Barry Wright, USA (Ret), provided an operational snapshot of MOAA’s af- filiates. Finally, council and chapter leaders offered feedback and ex- changed ideas and best practices in an open discussion session.