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cate presentations to ROTC cadets. Graduating cadets receive gold bars or shoulder boards and Basic MOAA memberships. ROTC cadets also can apply to receive the chapter’s Desig- nated Scholarship through national MOAA, which provides cadets with a $500 grant and an interest-free loan. “Once a year, we invite two ROTC cadets to join us at a chapter lun- cheon and speak to our members,” says Col. David Wade III, USA (Ret), chapter community affairs chair. “It’s our way of welcoming future officers.”
Scholarships for cadets Lt. Col. Antoinette Correia, USA (Ret), oversees the Hawaii Aloha Chapter’s (
www.moaa-hawaii.org) JROTC/ROTC support program, which encompasses 26 JROTC units in Hawaii and many more units in Guam, Saipan, and DoD schools lo- cated in Japan and Korea. Chapter members also support two ROTC units at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. Whenever possible, members
present MOAA medals and cer- tificates to the outstanding cadet in each JROTC and ROTC unit they support. In addition, members have awarded over $145,000 in scholar- ships to more than 175 college-bound JROTC cadets and 50 ROTC candi- dates. That tally will increase this year, with $21,500 being allocated to provide scholarships to JROTC and ROTC cadets. “Our members devoted their lives to the military, and now we’re paying it forward through our scholarship fund,” says scholarship fund Chair Col. Curtis Lee, USA (Ret). “We want to support others who will follow in our footsteps.”
PHOTO: SEAN SHANAHAN
Welcoming the Next Generation
In May and June, some of us might pause to remember our commissioning. This cer- emony not only signaled the end of the formal academic process but also signaled the formal transition to the profession of military service. The commissioning ceremony tends to be re- membered by everyone involved, including family members in attendance. I suspect it is so memorable because of the pride you felt in successfully completing your degree and being commissioned and joining the officer’s corps and your respective service. This spring, and at various times throughout the year, individuals
and families will gather at universities and colleges across the country to celebrate a graduation and participate in a commissioning ceremony. At that time, many newly commissioned officers will receive their first set of gold bars from a MOAA chapter representative — one generation of the officer corps welcoming the next. The work our councils and chapters do in conjunction with the
commissioning ceremony is called the Gold Bar program. Along with a set of gold bars, each newly commissioned officer also receives a Basic membership with national MOAA. Last year, MOAA councils and chapters supported over 200 colleges and universities and provi- ded almost 5,000 sets of gold bars to newly commissioned officers through the Gold Bar program. In most cases, the Gold Bar program is the culmination of several months of work and coordination by chapter members. The Gold Bar program also represents just one example of a com-
munity project that our chapters support. Many chapters that aren’t located near a college or a university ROTC program reach out and sup- port Junior ROTC programs at their local high schools. These chapters are making a huge difference within their communities by helping to develop better citizens. So why do our chapter leaders spend time and effort to reach out to
these young men and women who are in high school and college? They understand the value of one generation supporting and mentoring an- other. The Gold Bar program, in particular, symbolizes one generation of the officer corps welcoming the next. Our chapter leaders and their spouses are continuing to make a posi-
tive difference in their communities. Their efforts exemplify MOAA’s tagline of never stop serving. I hope to see you in the future at a chap- ter meeting; I know they would enjoy having you join them. — Col. Barry Wright, USA (Ret), director, Council and Chapter Affairs
MAY 2016 MILITARY OFFICER 41
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