Military group’s leader praises Southern Nevada chapter
They’ve been doing it for 50 years: serving veterans and military families after they’ve made careers serving the nation.
Dozens of retired U.S. military officers who belong to the Southern Nevada Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America held their 50th anniversary dinner at Palace Station on Nov. 20.
The association’s longtime national president, retired Navy Vice Adm. Norb Ryan, praised the chapter in his keynote address for leading by example to raise money for ROTC scholarships, Wounded Warriors and other community service efforts to help military families.
He also spoke about today’s military, describing those who volunteered to serve as “another greatest generation in uniform.”
After his 30-minute speech, he said the biggest emerging threat to the military is that “it’s getting too small. They want to cut 30,000 from the Army,” he said, referring to budget-reduction plans in Congress.
That means there will be little or no relief from deployments and increased pressure on the nation’s reserve components.
Before he steps down in January, passing the association’s leadership torch to retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, a former Thunderbirds pilot, Ryan lauded its “five-star” Southern Nevada chapter.
“You have made a difference … that inspires us all,” he told the chapter members.
“It isn’t about words. It’s about example. You all lead by example. You’ve done it in every one of these areas,” Ryan said. “And that’s what we need more of in this country is example rather than words. We could not be more proud of what you do.”
He said the chapter’s veterans court effort, spearheaded by Vietnam War veteran and Henderson court mentor Bill Olds, epitomizes the idea of leading by example.
“The difference they’re making for folks that need some help to get back on track and what you did for getting other members involved and in communities to raise funds to help with some of the things the government can’t do, this is making a big difference in a lot of lives,” Ryan said, recognizing Olds.
The veterans court program serves as a second chance for veterans to have misdemeanors expunged from their records. To qualify for the program, participants must be honorably discharged veterans, retirees or active-duty personnel arrested for misdemeanor crimes. They are guided by mentors and required to participate in rehabilitative programs based on their needs, perform community service and stay out of trouble.
“Our military families haven’t been more stressed. They’re as resilient a group as we could have in this country, but what we’ve asked them to do since 9/11 is above and beyond the call,” Ryan said.
Despite all the hurdles today’s military family’s face in light of budget cuts and force reductions, he said, “the No. 1 ‘good news’ thing is … we have another greatest generation in uniform today. There’s no question about it, whether it’s out here at Nellis or whatever, you see people that have volunteered to serve knowing that the nation is at war.”
The United States’ greatest treasure “are our sons and daughters, particularly those serving in the military,” Ryan said.
He mentioned the effect of constant active-duty rotations on service members’ time with their families.
“They’re lucky if they’re under the same roof with their families for nine or 10 months out of 36,” he said. “So they’re stressed. They need more than a bumper sticker to say they’re doing a good job.”
That’s why the chapter’s three designated scholarship programs to help their children is more than saying “thank you for your service. You’re recognizing that these young men and women are our nation’s future.”
Nationwide, the generosity of the military association’s members translates to more than 1,700 scholarships. “We don’t get a lot of corporate funds. It just comes from our 399,000 members. We also have 60 that lost their parents in the service who are going to school with a $5,500 grant because of you,” Ryan said.
Contact Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308. Find him on Twitter: @KeithRogers2.
