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The Naval Reserve Association (often abbreviated NRA) is an independent nonprofit, nonpartisan, and nonsectarian association which provides a professional organization for members of the United States Navy. The NRA publishes a monthly magazine, NRA News.
Since approved at the September 2008 Fall National Conference in Norfolk, VA, the NRA is also doing business as the Association of the U.S. Navy (abbreviated AUSN).
The NRA occupies a similar role with respect to the Navy that the Marine Corps Association does for the United States Marine Corps, the Association of the United States Army does for the United States Army, and the Air Force Association does for the United States Air Force.
[edit] Purpose The NRA’s primary purpose is to: • To promote the interest of the Department of the Navy and the Naval Reserve to the advantage of the country’s welfare and security. • To support the military and naval policies of the United States to the end that the national defense and national security be developed and strengthened through the means of an adequate naval establishment including a well-trained and readily available Naval Reserve. • To provide an educational program designed to be informative and professionally helpful to Naval Reservists and to potential members entering the Naval Service as commissioned officers and enlisted. • To encourage and promote the interest and activity of Naval Reservists in understanding and attaining the highest professional standards in the Navy. • To collect, evaluate, and disseminate information to our countrymen and members of the bodies politic relating to our nation’s welfare and security. • To promote a deep sense of individual obligation of Naval Reservists to the Navy and the interest of the Navy in its Reserves. • To stimulate and support the naval sciences and programs and maintain the traditions of the Naval Service. • To promote its Vision and achieve its Mission as defined in the current Strategic Plan.
[edit] Vision According to the NRA, its Vision statement is to be: “The premier professional organization for Naval Reserve Officer, committed to supporting a strong Navy and National Defense, while providing outstanding service to its members.”
[edit] Mission statement According to the NRA, it defines its mission as: Be the most effective advocate for all Naval Reservists and the Naval Reserve as vital components of the Navy and the nation’s defense: • By maximizing value to its members through support and services essential to their professional development; and • By vigorously educating Congress and the Nation on U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve matters.
[edit] Philosophy The first resolution adopted by the NRA at the first National Conference on September 19, 1954 in Washington, D.C. states the continuing philosophy of the NRA:
BE IT RESOLVED by the Naval Reserve Association that this organization, in its very inception, adopts the philosophy that an association is not necessary to protect the Naval Reserve from the Naval Establishment but that on the other hand an association is vitally needed to cooperate with the Naval Establishment in the solution of the many and complex problems which of necessity arise in the administration of a Navy composed of both Regular career and Reserve personnel, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Association pledges its best efforts to such a program of cooperation and dedicates itself to the high purposes of working for those things which will improve the Navy and make it better able to perform its role in the national defense of our country by presenting the viewpoint of the Naval Reservist, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Association shall ever seek to measure its actions by the yardstick of patriotism rather than that of self-interest.
[edit]History Between World War I and World War II, the Naval Reserve Officers Association (NROA) successfully fought for a strong Reserve Force to augment the Regular Navy. At the end of World War II, Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal sponsored the Reserve Officers of the Naval Service (RONS), which was made up of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserve officers. In 1946, RONS combined with the Naval Reserve Officers Association to form RONS-NROA.
In 1948, RONS-NROA merged into the older all-services Reserve Officers Association (ROA), in keeping with the spirit of unification of the Armed Forces. However, it became apparent that an organization was needed that would speak solely for the Navy, the Naval Reserve, and Naval Reserve officers.
In 1954 with encouragement and support from many senior regular Navy officers, forty-three Naval Reserve officers founded the Naval Reserve Association. The Naval Reserve Association was incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1954 as a Veterans Service Organization. The subsequent dynamic growth of the NRA indicates that an exceptionally large number of Naval Reserve officers endorse and support the views of its Founders. Further evidence of this endorsement is a membership of over 22,000 with a renewal rate of more than 85 percent.
Founders of the Naval Reserve Association: CAPT Paul J. Abbott (CDR)+ RADM Leonard S. Bailey (CDR)+ CAPT John P. Bracken (CDR) LT John A. Bradner (LT)+ RADM Robert G. Burke NYNM (CAPT)+ CDR Donald M. Burnett (LCDR) CDR Clayton Lee Burwell (CDR)+ LCDR Edward L. Cairns (LCDR)+ CAPT William J. Coakley (CAPT)+ CDR James K. Collins (LCDR)+ CDR Ross H. Currier (CDR)+ CAPT Bernard P. Day (CAPT)+ CAPT Henry G. Doyle, Jr. (LCDR)+ CAPT Jesse Draper (CAPT)+ CDR Raymond E. Edson (CDR)+ CWO$ Sidney Fields (CWO3)*+ RADM Alvan Fisher (CAPT)+ CAPT Thomas N. Fortson (LCDR)+ CDR Charles J. Gilchrest (CDR)+ CDR Hazel M. Grainger (CDR)+ CAPT Merrill M. Hammond (CDR)+ CDR Thornwell Jacobs, Jr. (CDR)+ LT Curtis Junker (LT)+ CDR Herbert F. Kemp (CDR)+ CDR A. Fred Kempe (CDR)+ CAPT J. Robert Liles (CDR)+ CDR Hamilton Lokey (CDR)+ CDR Thomas A. Mass, Jr.(LCDR) LCDR James L. Mclntire (LCDR)+ LCDR Russell B. Miller (LCDR)+ CAPT George R. Moorman (LCDR) LCDR Bryan W. Moss (LT)+ CDR Harry G. Nase (CDR)+ CDR Frank G. Pohanka, Jr. (LT)+ LCDR Antonia J.G. Robinson (LCDR)+ CDR Stephen A. Shry (LCDR)+ LT J. Paul Sidebotham (LT)+ CAPT Howard B. Stevens (CAPT)+ CDR Charles L. Stone (CDR)+ CAPT Albert W. Tidemann (LT) CAPT Blaney C. Turner (CDR)* CDR William J. Waylett, Sr. (LT)+ CDR J. Mack Young (CAPT)*+ (Rank in parentheses is Founder’s rank at NRA founding)
- Denotes Past National President
+ Indicates deceased
[edit] Organization The Naval Reserve Association is headed by a National President and supported by Elected Officers. The National President and Elected Officers serve for one year with the opportunity to complete a second year in office. Elections occur at the Fall National Conference annually.
The Association is governed by the Constitution and By-Laws and amplified by the Operations Manual.
The Association’s membership includes regular, associate, corporate associate, honorary, meritorious life, and complimentary members.
The Association is geographically organized into Districts and Chapters.
[edit] Districts Districts are established as follows: • First District: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont • Third District: Connecticut, Northern New Jersey, New York • Fourth District: Delaware, Southern New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania • Fifth District: District of Columbia, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland • Sixth District: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee • Eighth District: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas • Ninth District: Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming • Eleventh District: Arizona, Southern Nevada, Southern California • Twelfth District: Northern California, Northern Nevada, Utah • Thirteenth District: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington • Fourteenth District: Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and all Geographical area of the world not included in any District set forth above.
[edit] Programs Programs of the Naval Reserve Association include:[4] • Professional military education • National Conferences • Awards • NROTC/NJROTC Support • Seminars • Chapter Luncheons, Dinners, and other Social Events
[edit] Awards The Naval Reserve Association gives out a number of professional and writing awards annually to recognize those individuals, offices, or commands, which have contributed significantly to the attainment of the purposes and objectives of the Association. Awards are divided into two categories: National and District . National Awards include: • National Distinguished Service Award • National Meritorious Service Awards • National Award of Merit • National President’s Award • National Legislative Advocacy Award • National Legislative Proponent Award • Naval Reserve Junior Officer Awards • “De” Bonnot Anchors Award • Educational Assistance Program • Lee Wayland Douglas Award for Naval Literary Achievement • Bea Ratner Naval Reserve Junior Nurse Corps Officer of the Year Award • Other National Awards
District Awards include: • District NRA “Twice a Citizen” Award • Legislative Achievement Award • District/Chapter NRA Awards • Retired Officers Award • NJROTC Medal and Ribbon • Other District/Chapter Awards
Chapter Awards include: • Chapter Certification of Appreciation • Chapter Service Citation • Chapter NRA Commendation
Membership Awards include: • 100% Membership Achievement Certificate • Individual Achievement Awards
[edit] References • Constitution of the Naval Reserve Association, Inc. • Naval Reserve Association Strategic Plan • Naval Reserve Association Operations Manual
[edit] See also • Naval Enlisted Reserve Association • United States Naval Institute • Marine Corps Association • Association of the United States Army • Air Force Association • National Guard Association of the United States
[edit] External links • Official Website