Journey Through the Decades: A Century of Service to America
Scroll down to explore ROA’s rich history of advocacy and achievement. This interactive timeline showcases key events, legislative wins, and the enduring impact of ROA’s leadership across generations. From our founding to today, see how ROA has shaped military policy and strengthened America’s defense.
ROA founded Oct. 2, 1922, in Washington, D.C.
ROA advocacy increases appropriations for Organized Reserve training by over $1.5M (in a $320M War Dept. budget).
Passage of ROA-supported 1935 Thomason Act provides for annual addition of 1,000 ROTC-trained Army officers.
With global tensions rising and ROA fighting, 1938 Dept. of War budget has additional $2M Organized Reserve funding. FDR writes ROA that he wants its members “to know that the Government deeply appreciates their wholehearted service.”
ROA instrumental in Reserve retirement for age and service.
ROA is congressionally chartered under P.L. 595, June 30, 1950, cited in The Reserve Officer of August 1950.
The Armed Forces Reserve Act, a “Magna Carta for Reservists” fought for by ROA, is signed by President Truman in 1952.
ROA contributes to Reserve Officers Personnel Act; in 1956 wins Reserve Readiness Pay, compensating Reserve officers involuntarily released from active duty.
ROA wins a Pay Bill in 1958, including active and retired reservists in pay scales.
ROA-championed “WAC bill” becomes law in 1959, giving WWII women auxiliary veterans credit for retirement and pay.
Supports legislation establishing Reserve Program Administration for USCGR. Defeats DoD-proposed merger of the Army.
Reserve into the National Guard (not supported by the Reserve Forces Policy Board) in 1966 and won mandatory Reserve Component strength levels.
Wins passage of 1967 Reserve Forces Bill of Rights and Vitalization Act, establishing Selected Reserve, assistant secretaries of reserve affairs, and reserve service chiefs.
ROA is instrumental in saving the Coast Guard Reserve from the chopping block.
The Survivor Benefits Plan for military retirees is enacted with ROA’s support in 1972.
ROA’s advocacy with the House Armed Services Committee in 1977 kills DoD’s efforts to phase out the Navy’s Training and Administration of the Reserve (TAR) program.
DoD’s sustained efforts in the late 1970s to cut the Navy Reserve up to 50 percent are defeated, with ROA leading the fight, essentially saving the Navy Reserve as a command.
ROA’s 1982 advocacy leads to GI Bill enhancements benefitting both active and Reserve servicemembers.
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense of Reserve Affairs is created in 1983 with ROA leading the advocacy campaign.
ROA is instrumental in passage of the 1987 Montgomery GI Bill, which paves the way for the later “9/11” GI Bill.
Leads the effort that provided “gray area” benefits to RC retirees.
Leads the 1992 effort that required a Reserve or Guard flag officer on the Joint Staff as advisor to the Chairman, and led the way on reimbursing drilling Reservists for billeting during training.
Wins educational assistance for Reserve officers on active duty (AGRs) and led the fight that established separate Army Reserve Command.
In 1996, leads the way on establishment of separate reserve commands for Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.
Won legislation in 1997 providing medical and dental coverage to Reservists and family members while member is on extended active duty.
Leads 1998 effort to gain hostile fire pay for Reservists on same basis as Active Component, and that year spearheaded successful effort to save NOAA Commissioned Corps.
Wins three-star rank for RC chiefs.
Plays key role in 1999 authorization of Ready Reservist participation in Thrift Savings Plan.
Supported basic pay increase for RC enlisteds, won special duty assignment pay for RC not on active duty, and won billeting for IDT 50+ miles from home.
In 2002, secured health benefit plan payment for federal employees serving in uniform more than 30 days.
Extended Montgomery GI Bill eligibility to 14 years and extended Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act protections to National Guard on Title 32 active duty.
Removed 7,200 point barrier for disabled RC retirees to be eligible for concurrent receipt and secured Hostile Fire Pay and Imminent Danger Special Pay for RC on inactive duty.
Opened up TRICARE Reserve Select to all drilling Reservists in 2006; also that year changed language-proficiency category to “bonus,” consistent with Active Component.
ROA wins an increase of inactive duty days from 60 to 130 days.
TRICARE coverage extended in 2009 from 90 to 180 days for RC and families prior to mobilization.
Wins inclusion of Title 32 AGR duty toward Post 9/11 GI Bill eligibility.
Achieves blended retirement system DoD matching contribution extension in 2015 from 20 to 26 years.
ROA protects right of surviving War on Terror spouses to full 36 month Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
ROA defeats USAF plans to scrap invaluable A-10 to fund “fast movers” and wins increased funding for Warthog upkeep.
Helps stop Army’s discharge of immigrants awaiting recruitment security clearances.
Wins RC members working in the federal government TRICARE Reserve Select eligibility.
Wins passage of USPHS Ready Reserve into law, in 2020.
At ROA’s urging, President Trump in 2020 extends National Guard COVID orders to ensure their eligibility for education and early age retirement benefits.
Helps win passage of Deborah Sampson Act establishing VA Office of Women’s Health.
ROA wins Reservists Opportunity Act, authorizing RC members to access Army’s “Tour of Duty” system.
At ROA’s sustained urging, DoD approves DD-214-1 for RC service in 2022.
ROA amicus brief helps gain USAR Capt. Le Roy Torres a Supreme Court burn pits hearing; a second ROA amicus brief helps win the case on June 29.
ROA is sole MSO participating in the battlefield toxicity (“burn pits”) PACT Act 24/7 Capitol Steps vigil, winning passage into law, August 2.
118th Congress
ROA’s efforts resulted in:
- Extended TRICARE Reserve Select coverage for reserve component survivors from six months to three years.
- Secured parental leave parity across all branches of the Armed Forces, including the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.
- Allocated approximately $1 billion for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Appropriation in consecutive years.
- Expanded the Secretary of Defense’s authority to provide pay parity with the active component for all Special and Incentive Pays.
- Influenced the promotion of more than 400 general and officers across the services.
- Advocated for the grounding of the CV-22 Osprey following fatal crashes, prioritizing safety improvements.
- Doubled the accession bonus for reserve component nurses to address critical workforce shortages in the medical field.
- Extended dual Basic Allowance for Housing for single reserve component members on Active Duty for Training from 140 days to fewer than 365.
- Established a reserve component curriculum track within TAP.
- Prohibited the retirement of F-15E aircraft and the reduction of KC-135 aircraft in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
- Removed the term “noncareer” from USERRA’s statutory purpose to ensure clearer judicial interpretation regarding permissible absences from civilian work for uniformed service.
- Increased liquidated damages to the greater of $50,000 or actual damages when an employer willfully violated USERRA.
- Prohibited denying injunctive relief to plaintiffs on the grounds that an employee may have been awarded “wages unearned” after unlawful termination.
- Mandated the award of reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees, and other litigation expenses to plaintiffs in cases before the Merit Systems Protection Board.
- Required a GAO report to assess how the Secretary of Labor processed USERRA relief actions, including identifying errors in dismissed actions, referrals to the Department of Justice, and trends.
- Mandated a GAO report to evaluate USERRA compliance within certain federal intelligence agencies.
- Directed the Secretary of Labor to review the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service Investigations Manual, updated it as necessary, and submitted a report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs.