Whether from service academies or the ROTC ranks, graduation season brought with it a new crop of officers – and MOAA was there to meet them.

“These young leaders aren’t just the future of the total force, they’re the future of our association,” said Kathy Partain, CAE, MOAA’s vice president of Membership and Marketing. “We want to make sure they know how MOAA can support their young careers, from mentorship opportunities to financial guidance, even exclusive discounts.”

Some examples of our outreach:

Photo by Kenneth Aston Jr./Navy

2nd Lt. Nicholas Smith received the United States Naval Academy Mission Excellence Award during a ceremony in Annapolis, Md. Smith will enter the Marine Corps after his time at the academy, which included a National Collegiate Boxing Association championship in the 147-pound division. Above, Smith receives his award from Interim Commandant of Midshipmen Capt. Austin Jackson and MOAA’s Cmdr. Erin Cardinal, USN (Ret), an Annapolis graduate.

Coast Guard Academy photo

Ensign Hannah Van Cise received the Selfless Service Award during a ceremony at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New Haven, Conn. Van Cise also earned a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal while at the academy, spending more than 500 hours as a volunteer emergency medical technician outside her academic duties. Above, Van Cise receives her award from Capt. Aaron Casavant, commandant of cadets.

Virginia Military Institute photos

ROTC awards awarded to outstanding first-class cadets at Virginia Military Institute went to (pictured from left): Jack Emmet Ericsson (Army), Seth Kendrick (Marine Corps), Blake Andrew Harrell (Navy), Maximus Okantah Ankrah (Air Force), and Shane Patrick McKenna (Coast Guard). Awards to University of North Georgia ROTC members went to Tucker Easter and Joshua Acklen.

MOAA also attended “Firstie” events at both the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., in May, celebrating a new class of graduates. In April, MOAA attended Beyond Commissioning events at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., where representatives spoke with Midshipmen as they prepared to receive their commission.

Lt. Col. Ginni Guiton, USA (Ret), MOAA’s vice president of Human Resources and a West Point graduate, speaks with attendees at the 2026 Firstie Social. (West Point Association of Graduates photo) 

Have a young officer in your life? Point them toward MOAA’s O-1 Guide – full of essential resources as they begin their careers in service.