MOAA may have just hosted the largest conference in its history, but at the annual meeting of the membership in National Harbor, Md., on Oct. 30, leaders focused on the future.

“I think you will share the feeling of great pride I have of MOAA’s accomplishments and what it does every day for the uniformed services community … but we can’t rest on past accomplishments,” said Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, USMC (Ret), chairman of MOAA’s board of directors.

The association will turn 97 on Feb. 23, and the centennial is just around the corner.

“One of the things as board members we are trying to do is to make sure the organization is on a steady footing for the next 100 years,” he said.

[RELATED: How MOAA Will Continue Fighting for Combat-Injured Veterans]

TotalForce+ will be key. The inaugural conference held Oct. 28-29 in National Harbor, Md., had more than 2,500 registered attendees, gained hundreds of new members for the association, and provided two days of panels, exhibitions and conversations aimed at improving the lives for members of the entire uniformed services community and strengthening our nation’s defense.

MOAA’s board unanimously agreed to proceed with plans for a second conference, Feb. 1-2, 2027. In 2026, the association will host several smaller TotalForce+ events.

The inaugural event “gave us a chance to show what the power of our association – your association – was able to do,” said MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret).

[RELATED: TotalForce+ 2025]

Kelly said TotalForce+ is able to contribute to every one of MOAA’s six areas of focus to ensure its longevity. The focus areas are:

• Maintaining key advocacy positions and mission focus
• Long-term financial stability
• The MOAA Foundation’s stability
• Sustaining and increasing MOAA membership
• Strengthening MOAA’s brand and reach
• Council and chapter system viability

Advocacy Update

MOAA’s government relations team held 217 meetings with members of Congress over the past year, Kelly said, advancing the association’s legislative priorities. Recent wins include:

• A 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted personnel (E-1 to E-4).
• Support for improved military housing, including a $2.9 billion restoration of the Basic Allowance for Housing.
• Continued monitoring of the PACT Act, which has approved more than 1.4 million claims for toxic exposure-related illnesses.
• Advocacy leading to renegotiated pharmacy network contracts protecting rural TRICARE beneficiaries.
• Passage of the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Acts, enhancing caregiver and veteran support.

MOAA also continues to push for the Major Richard Star Act, which would extend concurrent receipt to combat-injured retirees who left service before 20 years.

“We will not stop fighting for those who earned every bit of their benefits in uniform,” Kelly said.

[TAKE ACTION: Register at MOAA's Legislative Action Center]

Financial Health

Financially, MOAA remains strong, Kelly said. The organization earned an A+ audit rating from CliftonLarsonAllen LLP for 2024 with investment portfolios up 10.5% (managed by Goldman Sachs) and 11.8% (State Street Global Advisors for the Scholarship Fund).

Revenue from new partnerships, insurance programs, and membership campaigns contributed to a stable fiscal outlook.

MOAA Charities: Expanding Impact

The MOAA Foundation distributed $230,000 through its Crisis Relief program and $130,000 in community outreach grants, supporting chapters’ local efforts. The foundation is only 11 years old but continues to mature. It recently received a $300,000 bequest, its second largest ever.

“It tells us that our MOAA members are recognizing the value of giving to the foundation,” Kelly said.

The scholarship fund, in its 76th year, saw record demand, with 1,880 applications and more than $18 million awarded in loans and grants for children in uniformed services families pursuing higher education.

[RELATED: How MOAA’s Education Assistance Helped These Students on Their Paths to Success]

“These programs demonstrate that MOAA serves everyone who serves – across all ranks and branches,” Kelly said.

Membership Growth

Outreach remains strong as MOAA looks at new ways to reach new members, Kelly said. MOAA has expanded efforts among the service academies. Graduates and seniors at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., for example, accounted for 1,000 new basic members this year.

“We expect that number to continue to grow and as we institute similar programs with other service academies,” Kelly said.

MOAA continues to leverage national holidays and May’s Military Appreciation Month with targeted membership drives. And new this year, there is a gift option so you can buy a membership for a relative, neighbor, or friend.

MOAA has also expanded member benefit discount options including Veterans Healthcare, a Medicare Advantage plan catering to veterans, and Aura to protect against identity theft.

Engagement Brand Outreach

In addition to TotalForce+, MOAA hosted 37 other in-person and virtual events in 2025 totaling 11,700 attendees. Every eligible webinar signee instantly becomes a MOAA member.

[RELATED: Upcoming MOAA Events]

Military Officer magazine, a publication exclusive to Premium and Life members, earned best cover design at this year’s Folio Awards, which Kelly described as “the Oscar awards of publishing.”

Chapters and Councils

MOAA’s chapter network remains one of its most powerful advocacy tools. With 169 chapters and councils recognized as part of the Levels of Excellence award program and 235 honored for outstanding communications, the grassroots system continues to amplify MOAA’s message nationwide.

Our virtual chapters continue to expand. The Public Affairs and Communication Professional Chapter, approved last October, contributed to a 10% increase in virtual chapter members in 2025.

Cmdr. Linc Smith, USNR (Ret), serves as the public affairs chapter’s president and is past president of MOAA’s Virginia Council of Chapters. He received the annual Chairman’s Award during the annual meeting for what Waldhauser (pictured with Smith) described as “incredibly strong bipartisan relationships in support of the legislative priorities while leading our Virginia Council” as well as his assistance in providing comms support across MOAA’s council and chapter network. 

Waldhauser closed the meeting by noting MOAA’s focus on the long game: “As we approach our 100th year, we’re setting the foundation for the next hundred. Relevancy, stability, and service to all members – that’s what drives us forward.”