Securing Our Future
Continuing Our Mission

When TROA began evaluating potential new names for the association, one of the most important considerations was that the name remain true to TROA's mission of serving all military officers at every stage of their lives.

While the association's name has included the word "retired" for decades, key decision makers in the executive and legislative branches know that TROA's board of directors and staff also champion the needs of those protecting our nation on active duty or in the National Guard or Reserves.

Even during the years of fighting so hard to win health care advances for retirees, TROA's legislative team was busy laying the groundwork for repeal of redux retirement penalties for post-1986 service entrants and fostering a commitment from Capitol Hill to close the pay-comparability gap for active duty officers and Guard and Reserve members. While these victories may not have garnered the same attention as tricare For Life, they were just as valuable to hundreds of thousands of current and future military officers.

TROA's former director of Government Relations, Col. Paul Arcari, usaf-Ret., was a leader in the effort to win lifetime health care for retirees. Even so, he recognizes that TROA's mission has long embraced a wider reach.

"'The Retired Officers Association' has been a misnomer for more than 20 years," Arcari says. "That name reflects only part of TROA's mission. Take a historical review of our legislative successes; it becomes evident that a significant number have involved active duty members and their families and members of the Guard and Reserve."

Key influencers on Capitol Hill already recognize that and are nearly unanimous in their belief that the proposed change of TROA's name to Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) would have little impact on their view of the association.

"TROA by any name is a strong organization," explains Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.), chairman of the House Military Personnel Subcommittee. "Given [TROA's] track record on the Hill, I do not foresee any lessening of its impact because of a name change."

Many, like Rick Maze, congressional editor for the Army Times News Services, believe the proposed new name will provide increased opportunities to win more victories for military officers — active duty and retired. Maze notes, "TROA already has been looking out for the interests of active and reserve military officers and their families, as well as retirees. The new name reflects this ongoing mission — it just makes the purpose clear to everyone."

While the proposed name change will help keep TROA's mission clear in the minds of Congress, the association's strength in numbers is what will continue to get action in the future. P.T. Henry, recent assistant secretary of the Army and previously a staff member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, believes the new name will go a long way to protecting that future.

"[All officers] should understand that the association is their association before and after they retire," asserts Henry. "Changing the name will help advance that understanding. MOAA signals the association's core purpose of protecting the rights and benefits of all officers and their families."