By Maj. Gen John B. Hashem, USA (Ret.), ROA Executive Director
One of the things that has become increasingly clear to me is that the Reserve Component is evolving faster than many organizations around it. Today’s citizen-warriors operate in a world of rapid mobilization for overseas and homeland contingencies while balancing civilian careers, family pressures, and constant connectivity. The operational reserve force is already here, and the future leaders of that force are already serving today.
Vision 29 recognizes that membership today cannot simply be a dues structure or a mailing list. ROA’s lane is the performance, reliability, and modernization of the Reserve Component as a force-generation system that must function today while providing strategic depth for tomorrow. That includes operational readiness, member experience, legal protections, policy modernization, and employer support. No other organization fully owns that space.
At the same time, the citizen-warriors are peppered with countless other monthly expenses and subscriptions. I recently heard a senior enlisted leader discuss endless requests for membership and dues from organizations on their servicemembers. Even modest dues can feel like just another bill unless organizations clearly demonstrate value, relevance, connection, and purpose.
That is why ROA Associate Membership matters. Associate membership is available at no cost to eligible servicemembers under age 35 who are joining ROA for the first time. More importantly, it allows our younger servicemembers to experience the value of ROA firsthand while helping us better understand the generation currently shaping the future operational reserve force.
If I am being candid, we may have lost sight of associate membership, we even contemplated removing this membership category. Yet, I believe we may not have maintained contact, asked for their perspectives, and brought them into the larger conversation surrounding readiness, advocacy, professional development, and reserve component issues. Perhaps we treated them as secondary members instead of the future of the Reserve Component and ROA.
ROA needs younger servicemembers helping to shape where we go next. They understand the realities of balancing military service, civilian careers, technology, and operational demands because they are living it every day. Their perspective matters, and the organization will be stronger by listening to it.
I would ask every ROA member reading this to think about the younger servicemembers around you. Encourage them to join ROA as associate members. Mentor them. Share this article with them. Bring them fully into the conversation.
The future operational reserve force is already standing in formation today. Vision 29 is helping ensure ROA grows with it.
Click here to learn more about ROA membership or to help someone join.
U.S. Army Reserve photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs