Greetings from the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), our Army’s and our soldiers’ professional organization.This month we focus on our annual Membership Report and why it is important to be part of the Association of the United States Army.There are many compelling reasons to be part of the Army’s professional association, but now more than ever there are a couple compelling reasons that rise above all the others.The first reason for becoming a member the Association of the United States Army is the Association’s focus on the entire Army from a manning, equipping and training perspective.I had a young sergeant first class ask me if she were to choose only one organization, why should she choose the Association of the United States Army as a organization that represents soldiers and families.I told this young leader now more than ever the Army and our soldiers need the Association’s support because this professional organization is focused not only on individual soldier and family benefits, but also on their career field for the future and the Army’s mission to defend our nation.While there are many great organizations that support our soldiers and families, the Association of the United States Army focuses not only on the soldier and family benefits, but on a balanced force across all 145 career fields, readiness of all three components – active, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve – and ensuring our Army is ready for the missions given to us by the American people and our elected representatives.We all have concerns about benefits or entitlements earned from the sacrifices we and our families have made throughout our careers. But, as professionals we would never want to sacrifice the readiness of our Army for our own needs.Today more than ever, the Association of the United States Army supports the Army leadership to ensure we can properly man and retain the highest quality soldiers.We must also provide our soldiers with the equipment they need to do their missions, and we must train our soldiers and units across all three components to be ready when America calls.The second most compelling reason to be a member of the Association of the United States Army is reflected in visits with great soldiers in January to Fort Bliss, Texas; Joint Base McGuire, Dix and Lakehurst, N.J.; and Fort Meade, Md.The volunteers who serve in these three Association chapter areas are some of the most patriotic and loyal Americans I have ever met.These chapters reflect many of the attributes we want and need in our military communities – to support military units, soldiers and their families, retired soldiers and veterans, and their surviving spouses, Gold Star mothers and families, and wounded warriors.All our AUSA chapters serve as lynchpins to bring together these groups and link them with the resources of the community and the Army.These chapters and their volunteers serve their commands and their communities because they are needed, wanted and appreciated for their work and dedication.These volunteers are driven by a sense of care and compassion, fueled only by their own sense of achievement and feeling the joy and satisfaction they bring to those in need.This is supported by the occasional pat on the back and a thank you from leaders who appreciate their contributions.Our chapters in the United States and overseas demonstrate the attributes expressed by Secretary of Defense Hagel in his two policy memorandums signed in December addressing national veteran (VSOs) and military service organizations (MSOs). (See story, page 8)The secretary identified the critical importance of relationships with VSOs, MSOs and military support nonprofit organizations as part of the overall framework of care for our service members throughout all phases of their military service.Secretary Hagel said, "These memos serve to re-emphasize those privileges granted under the law or flexibilities authorized under current DoD policy."In an effort to remove unnecessary barriers and inconsistencies, the secretary identified a number of initiatives which include collaboration between nonprofit, VSOs, MSOs and installation commanders to identify areas where organizations can best support the military population and their families.As examples of this collaboration, the Fort Bliss General of the Army Omar Bradley Chapter of the Association of the United States Army and the command identified a need to provide young Army spouses new to the El Paso community with a cultural tour.Some young military spouses felt somewhat intimidated and isolated in a large predominately Hispanic city, especially when their loved one was away from home, resulting in many young families never leaving the military base.The General of the Army Omar Bradley Chapter supported the needs of the community by establishing a cultural, daylong bus tour of the city’s major shopping areas, cultural sites, and places of interest, along with a lunch for the families.Just one contribution of many, this is an example of a great partnership that benefits soldiers, Army families, and the command.It provides an opportunity for our chapter to fulfill its mission of being: The Voice of the Army and Support for the Soldier.For the Fort Bliss-based General of the Army Omar Bradley, their AUSA members’ contributions make a positive impact in many ways on our soldiers’ and their families’ quality of life.The Association of the United States Army Fort Dix Chapter also has found a need and fulfilled it through its support of the Rutgers University Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship program.During my visit with the chapter, I had the opportunity to help in the presentation to this year’s scholarship award recipients.This program not only supports those future leaders attending school, but also the military families who now watch their next generation of soldiers fulfill their educational dreams.The chapter plays an important role in recognizing soldiers of excellence attending the Dix Noncommissioned Officers Academy.Recognition of excellence in all our learning institutions and organizations plays a critical role in retaining our very best for longevity and positions of increased responsibility.The Fort Meade Chapter of the Association of the United States Army supported the command and the installation in their celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday.This chapter supported the command by identifying a need and filling the commitment with volunteers and refreshments to support the celebration of one of our nation’s most prestigious and influential leaders.The chapter did a magnificent job supporting the command and setting the conditions to recognize high school students participating in an essay contest about the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King.In these examples, the AUSA chapters collaborated with the command, identified a need that they could support and executed their mission by taking care of soldiers and their families.Who are the volunteers in these chapters?Many are active, Army National Guard or Army Reserve soldiers who want to support their community.Many are family members of soldiers serving in the units on a military base and Gold Star family members who want to stay connected to their military community – they want to be part of something much greater.You will find a lot of retired soldiers who want to continue their service to America’s Army and be part of something greater than their own interests.Then, there are many civilians who never served in the military, but volunteer to be part of our local chapters so they can serve in their own way and be part of something much larger than themselves.The common thread among all these volunteers is their love of the United States Army, our soldiers and their families, and their desire to give back or serve in some capacity for the greater good.To these groups of professionals we cannot say "thank you" enough for their selfless service, which is truly one of the key reasons to become a member of the Association of the United States Army.The Army is people and people are the Army.We can all be proud to live in a country – like the United States – where volunteers give of themselves to support others.As budgets tighten, there will potentially be impacts on quality-of-life programs, community services and soldier recognition programs throughout all our military communities.Volunteerism was a huge contributor to the Army and the thousands of command priorities and programs prior to 9-11; they can be again leveraging the synergy of the Association of the United States Army’s chapters.Now more than ever America’s Army needs AUSA and AUSA needs your membership support.Membership is the volume knob to ensure your voice is amplified many times over and heard throughout the halls of Congress, from sea to shining sea across this country, and throughout every small town and community in-between.Keep America’s Army Strong!Take a Stand! Still Serving, Still Saluting!