The mission of the Military Officers Association of Sarasota (MOAS), a non-profit 501c(19) organization, is to advocate for military veterans and their families, support community service and education, foster fellowship among officers and surviving spouses of officers in the Sarasota area and enhance the image of America’s uniformed services in our local community.

All current, former, and retired commissioned officers and warrant officers of the Uniformed Services, and surviving spouses of said officers are eligible for membership.

Officers, or former/retired officers, of allied militaries are also welcome to join our chapter. Community members who support our goals and objectives and wish to support veterans’ programs in our community may apply for Associate membership subject to approval by the Board. Membership applications are available online at https://sarasotamoaa.com/membership/.

The Sarasota Chapter supports the national MOAA legislative agenda. We have an active Legislative Affairs representative who keeps the chapter current on relevant issues, encouraging chapter members to contact their members of Congress regarding bills that affect active-duty military and their families, veterans, or surviving spouses. The chapter is active in supporting the state council in various state veterans' issues. A Chapter member is on the Sarasota County Veterans Commision, providing information on national level issues based on MOAA legislative updates and coordinating local issues with other veteran organizations.

The Chapter was founded in 1953, as the Retired Officers Club of Sarasota.  When TROA merged with MOAA at the national level in 2003 we changed our name to The Military Officers Association of Sarasota (MOAS). Originally, a social organization for retired officers, we got together to tell war stories and re-live the camaraderie of the “O” Club.

Today we are a vibrant multifaceted association of all the uniformed services, that still enjoy our get-togethers but have now reached out into our veteran community to make a difference. We award scholarships, sponsored an American Flag Initiative curriculum in Sarasota and Manatee County schools, and sponsored patriotic events at Patriot Plaza and Veterans Day concerts. We are active in the Sarasota County Veteran’s Commission and a sponsor of Veteran Appreciation Day at Ed Smith Stadium in partnership with the Baltimore Orioles. Our voice is heard in Tallahassee and Washington DC on legislative issues and policies that impact you and our veteran’s community.

With our Sarasota Military Officers Foundation (SMOF), a 501(c)3 charitable organization, we are honored to be serving our community of over 42,000 military veterans and numerous Sarasota County school students for more than 20 years. Through the Foundation we provide JROTC Leadership scholarships and Merit scholarships to graduating High School seniors advancing to secondary education institutions, veterans attending local colleges & technical schools, and support for veterans through local charities.