You may have heard of one or participated in a conference or special event hosted by an organization such as the Surface Navy Association (SNA), The Tailhook Association, Naval Submarine League, USCG Chief Petty Officer Association, or Aviation Boatswains Mates Association. Early ancestors of these, such as the U.S. Military Philosophical Society and the Naval Lyceum, “provided a home for naval reform through a permanent, professional organization that could advance new concepts.”

Today, organizations such as these, sometimes referred to as professional associations or military/veteran service organizations, provide advocacy, offer resources to increase professional opportunities and influence, and serve as an alumni community so members can network and stay connected to their profession. Membership offers access to ranking and influential leaders in the associated field or community; subscriptions to professional magazines, journals, or archives; learning experiences such as conferences, symposia, and special events; and opportunities for recreation, socializing, education, and professional development within the sea service community. They also enhance espirit de corps, provide additional support to the warfighter, support the flow of information, and should work to enhance preparedness and command mission readiness.

Although the number of these organizations has grown and are still viewed as relevant to members across generations, many are struggling the attract and retain membership. The problem is multidirectional—these organizations are struggling to connect with the current generation of younger, potential members, and the potential members are struggling to understand the value joining professional organizations brings them. The challenges and solutions rely on understanding how generational and class differences, and membership offerings, impact how people view these organizations.

The Disconnects

One disconnect appears to be generational. Boomers and older generations considered membership in professional organizations and associations a professional obligation. But studies of generational factors on membership organizations indicate that is not the case for younger generations. Now, many potential members appear more interested in what the organization can do for them, failing to understand or value how their membership comes with being an active contributor to their profession and supports broader organizational objectives. And organizations appear to struggle with how to offer something of value to their often segmented market. For example, younger generations who make up the largest segment of active-duty military personnel are looking for products and resources that can help advance their careers while older members may just want to stay aware of what’s happening in their profession. Compounding this is the communication disconnect between older and younger generations. Far too often, organizations and associations have been “late to the game” in engaging membership audiences with modern communication channels—primarily through social media channels. Furthermore, there is some confusion regarding membership: Is an organization for active duty or retirees? Officer or enlisted?

Another disconnect is “class” related. Historically, professional member organizations have consisted of a heavy officer membership. As the professional “class” of the Sea Services, they have traditionally valued the professional benefits and networking opportunities these organizations provide. Today’s enlisted force is more educated and informed and have been developing the attributes of the professional class. Organizations such as Chief Petty Officer Associations (CPOAs) value and rely on a solid foundation of senior enlisted networks that organizations can use to their advantage. However, like it or not, there is a perception that many of these organizations do not provide enough leadership opportunities for, and are not leveraging the benefits of, a solid base of enlisted members. A quick scan of organizational leadership positions, newsletter and magazine interviews, and conference keynote speakers reveals they are primarily flag and senior officers. So even today, those enlisted looking at the professional military organization (PMO) from the outside still tend to view it as for officers. Furthermore, traditional rank structures serve as an impediment to communication and broader involvement.

Conversely, when organizations do invest in enlisted outreach, many enlisted professionals appear uninterested and opt not to join, subscribing to a general perception that service-affiliated professional organizations are solely officer organizations. Or, rather than champion existing organizations, enlisted-focused member organizations such as the Non-commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) or the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) were chartered to cater to an enlisted constituency. Although well-intentioned, this approach only served to redirect potential enlisted membership away from well-established professional member organizations, missing opportunities to leverage enlisted membership to increase their effectiveness. This is changing, enlisted membership in many organizations is slowly increasing and many organizations are starting to understand this and reach out. But to what extent are lingering mental models limiting the involvement and influence of this new cadre of potential members?

Consideration also must be given to governance structures. Professional organizations require resources to meet their goals and objectives and the boards serve to secure these. Senior board members bring well-established connections with and access to sources of revenue and donors, which are crucial to many organizations. But younger board members who may not have these relationships could help develop and shape communication strategies, membership models, and member benefits to appeal to younger members. What good is a multimillion-dollar bank account if you are providing no real value to your membership or your impact is non-existent? Unfortunately, a general review of the membership of the board of directors in Sea Service professional organizations will reveal mostly retired flag or senior officers and perhaps one or two retired, and very senior, enlisted representatives. And, just because a board’s membership may have one or two senior enlisted members does not mean all enlisted members are represented equally—generational representation on boards matters as well. Board membership should reflect the many values and perspectives of today’s Sea Service. Organizational leadership should evaluate what effect lack of diversity has on organizational effectiveness.

Closing the Gaps

There are several things that can be done to improve both the membership and effectiveness of these organizations. First, they must invest time in learning how people find value in their organization. They should frequently communicate the value of membership and how membership supports the organization and profession it represents. More important, they should critically evaluate if they are offering what members are seeking while recognizing what each generation of membership values. For example, younger members are focused on establishing their careers and professional reputations, so they desire the job opportunities and professional development resources. Older members, however, find value in industry information and the feeling of professional responsibility the community fosters. Current and potential members are reading PMO newsletters and magazines and see what action they are taking, and evaluate the mission statement to determine if what the organization offers matches what it does. PMOs must consider how to adapt messaging to change perceptions that they are solely officer or retiree-focused. Sometimes members see or hear nothing until their membership fees are due. They must stay engaged and connected with their members beyond renewal pitches. They should emphasize how they serve as an alumnus for their constituency so that all members feel encouraged to give back to, and strengthen, their profession.

Second, PMOs must appeal to officer and enlisted members equally, and broaden representation on boards to leverage the strengths and opportunities those potential members can brings. If they are truthful, and really desire to attract a broader member base, board membership, newsletters, and conference panels should diversify to include this large, untapped constituency of naval professionals. If organizations are not comfortable giving a board positions to less experienced enlisted personnel, they can implement a junior board of directors that is advised by the main board. This body will serve to represent their interests while providing the experience needed for them to eventually be able to fulfill the responsibilities of higher governance. And the enlisted community must be intellectually open to these organizations, especially the senior enlisted ranks where the focus tends to be on senior enlisted associations at the expense of their involvement in their warfare or technical community. In addition, member events should connect members across generations and help younger members overcome the awkwardness with attending venues of more senior people whom they want to learn from but may feel unable to approach.

Third, PMOs must learn to better connect with their target audience in their space—not only in the physical areas where they work such as fleet concentration areas, but online and through social media. Younger people want updates on everything, so social media use is a must. And, your message and information must connect. An occasional history story in your magazine or newsletter is good, but you also should strive to tell your membership the impact your organization is having and how the Sea Service or profession is changing. Furthermore, where venues are held matters. Big ticket donor events in Washington, D.C., are important, but get conferences, working groups, and panels to the places where the large populations of enlisted membership are.

Fourth, they should consider how they can adjust membership models and events to support new members. Although they are signaling a desire to attract a broader membership base, it cannot just be about the money that membership base can bring. Offer speaker panels that provide specific rating or community (engineering, ops, navigation etc.) training and updates that focus on how to improve leadership and management skills. Offer professional books at a discount and couple them with author talks. Coordinate forums where members can come together to discuss issues impacting material and operational readiness and then harness volunteer writers to draft articles for magazines and newsletters. There is a lot that can be done to better fulfill the younger generations’ desire to make a difference in their profession.

A concern often voiced by potential members is the cost of membership and events and a lack of understanding of what membership fees accomplish. This is understandable for younger members who may be more fiscally constrained. But senior officers and enlisted should easily be able to handle the cost. Perhaps some don’t understand that these organizations require capital to achieve their objectives and pay overhead. The cost should not be viewed from the perspective of what’s in it for me, rather what’s in it for the organization and profession. Understandably, most new members will not immediately sign up and pay for a life membership. They will start with a shorter obligation and if they find value, they will renew, perhaps for a longer period. And then, if they still stand by the organization and trust and believe in them, they will commit to paying a life membership. Membership with professional organizations comes with a fee, the benefits gained can greatly exceed the cost. Member events should be accessible and welcoming to all members, not exclusive or comfortable only to the board members, big donors and those who can benefit from the networking opportunities. Ticket costs should not be prohibitive to younger members and organizations should consider other ways members can contribute beyond attendance.

Finally, work to improve communication with the Sea Services or professional community to understand and explore how to better link membership and the professional development opportunities it offers to evaluations and promotion processes. Sea Service and professional community leadership should formally acknowledge the benefits the member and service can gain, encourage membership, and reward those who increase their professional competence through active membership. This incentive alone would be a huge catalyst to increase membership. Granted, there are legal considerations to manage, but most board members should have experience with how to properly maneuver within that space.
​
Professional and military/veteran service organizations are important. Successful ones provide advocacy and nurture communication across various stakeholders, enhance and celebrate member professional competence and influence, and provide a sense of community within their profession. For example, the U.S. Naval Institute has made “increasing its reach” a line of effort in their five-year strategic plan and hired a retired fleet master chief as the co-director of outreach. Similarly, the Surface Navy Association recently brought on board two retired senior enlisted to help attract enlisted naval professionals in the surface warfare community. Others should consider how they must adapt and change to stay relevant. These organizations must do better to understand the needs of and connect with their members, and young naval professionals must understand the value of these organizations and be open to joining and contributing. Organizational success requires involvement on both sides and when both are involved members benefit, the profession benefits, and our naval forces benefit.

​Update 6:35: The Coast Guard announced Friday evening that it had found a way to issue paychecks. The story has been updated with the announcement.
As the partial government shutdown dragged into its seventh day, the 42,000 members of the U.S. Coast Guard — including the more than 200 men and women stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola — continued to show up for work facing the potential of their paychecks not coming next week.
With no action from Congress on Friday, Coast Guard members were facing missing their first paycheck of January, but Friday evening, the Coast Guard announced it had found a way to make payroll, despite the government shutdown.
"The Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Coast Guard have identified a way to pay our military workforce on Dec. 31, 2018," the announcement said. "This one-time action applies to military members that served on active duty in the month of December and those reserve military members that drilled prior to the lapse in appropriation."
Military members are usually paid on the first and 15th of each month, but with Jan. 1 designated as a federal holiday, their paychecks are issued Dec. 31.
The announcement Friday said that the Dec. 31 action was allowed based on extensive research and legal analysis between the Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security and the White House Office of Management and Budget.
However, the announcement said if the shutdown lasts until Jan. 15, there is no guarantee that Coast Guard members would be paid.
The Coast Guard was the only branch of the U.S. military that faced not be paid during the shutdown. 
The Department of Defense's budget was passed earlier this year, ensuring members of the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy will continue to be paid for the duration of the shutdown. But the Coast Guard operates under the Department of Homeland Security, which is one of the departments affected by the government shutdown over funding for President Donald Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico.
Congress isn't expected to reconvene until Monday, but lawmakers are not expected to do much until after the new year.
Trump and congressional Republicans are demanding that funding for the border wall be included in the government spending bill, while Democrats oppose it.
Republicans still hold the majority in the House of Representatives, but new members of Congress elected in November are set to take their seats Thursday, flipping the House to Democratic control. Republicans will still control the Senate in the new Congress.
Both sides appeared far from settling negotiations Friday.
More than 800,000 federal workers have been affected since the shutdown started at midnight Dec. 22, with 420,000 workers continuing to work without pay.
For members of the Coast Guard, especially younger enlisted members and those with families, the potential loss of pay led to a stressful Christmas season, said Michael Little, executive director of Sea Service Family Consulting and Foundation, from his home in New Jersey.
"It's not a happy Christmas for these guys," Little said.
Sea Service Family Foundation is working with U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association, the Coast Guard Enlisted Association and other military associations to urge Congress to pass a law to ensure the Coast Guard is paid in the event of a government shutdown.
"Currently Coast Guard members are searching for a 20-year-old British cruise ship entertainer who went overboard from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship on Christmas Day with the added stress of not receiving any pay beyond tomorrow," said Jon Ostrowski, president of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association in a statement Thursday. "These men and women always put their country first and serve honorably. Congress and the Administration need to fix this now and prevent this from happening during any future political disagreements.” 
In 2018, Pensacola saw an increase in the number of Coast Guard members who call the city home with two Coast Guard cutters, the Decisive and Dauntless, being based out of NAS Pensacola.
The Decisive and Dauntless each carry a crew of about 76, and the Cutter Cypress, which has been based at Pensacola since 2011, has a crew of about 48.
Representatives with the public affairs office for Coast Guard Sector Mobile, which commands Pensacola's Coast Guard station, did not return the News Journal's request for comment Friday.
Little said there is relief out there for members of the Coast Guard who need help, but also warned there are scams going around asking for donations to help.
He said if anyone needs help, they should look to existing organizations such as the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance group, which is awarding grants of $300 to $500 to enlisted members
"There's also the military banks," Little said. "Navy Federal Credit Union is offering interest-free loans. USAA is offering a loan at 0.01 percent up to $2,500. But what's important for people to know is that while these relief societies and these banks are offering these service for the Coast Guards and their families, it takes $150 million to cover the payroll for the Coast Guard every month. In an uncertain time, these institutions cannot be expected to carry the load of the United State government at a $150 million a month."
After previous government shutdowns have been resolved, federal workers whose paychecks were delayed have received back pay.
Little said his organization has helped send more than 100,000 emails to members of Congress urging them to pass funding for the Coast Guard, but he's been told meetings won't begin until after the new year.
"These men and women, they're still doing their job even though Congress can't be there," Little said. "So for Congress to come back and tell us, 'Hey, can we meet at the beginning of the year when we come back from our vacation?' It really kind of angers us."
 

WASHINGTON — In a surprise reversal Friday night, Coast Guard officials announcedthat service members will receive their regularly scheduled paychecks next week, despite the ongoing government shutdown.
In a message to all Coast Guard members, Vice Commandant Adm. Charles Ray said that service and Department of Homeland Security officials “identified a way to pay our military workforce on 31 December.”
The move means that service members won’t go an entire month without paychecks, as many had feared when the shutdown began on Dec. 22. Earlier in the week, Coast Guard officials had announced that without an end to the shutdown or new emergency legislation, the paychecks would stop completely.

“I recognize that this changes course from previously provided guidance on military pay,” Ray wrote in the message. “However, this is outstanding news for our military workforce.”
Service and administration officials did not provide details on how they managed to cover the $75 million shortfall in funding. Appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed on Dec. 21 when Congress and the White House failed to reach a deal on full year funding for a host of federal agencies.
Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines are unaffected by the budget stalemate because funding for their departments was finalized last fall. The same goes for veterans benefits, since the Department of Veterans Affairs saw its full fiscal 2018 budget approved in September.
But Coast Guard funding is handled through the Department of Homeland Security, and about 42,000 service members have been required to work through the shutdown without pay.
Ray noted in his message that the funding work-around will not apply to the next scheduled pay period on Jan. 15, if the shutdown continues until then.

But it does mean that many Coast Guard members anticipating new year rent payments and post-holiday credit card statements will see their regular paychecks arrive on time next week, creating less financial havoc for their families.
“While this is a great New Year’s gift to our Coasties, we encourage lawmakers to realize this could happen again in a few weeks,” said Mike Little, executive director of the Sea Service Family Foundation. “Just because the threat is gone tonight, Congress and the White House still have a long way to pass a budget. Their paychecks are still stuck in the middle of that fight.”
Advocates were working in recent days to pass emergency legislation authorizing Homeland Security officials to process paychecks despite the partial shutdown. They sent nearly 70,000 emails to congressional offices asking for action, but the proposal never got any significant legislative momentum.
In the last week, Coast Guard officials have said child care subsidies may also be halted during the shutdown, and some non-essential travel will be curtailed. Service exchange locations are scheduled to remain open for now, as will service day care centers. Several public affairs and public outreach offices have already been closed.

The partial government shutdown entered its seventh day on Friday and is poised to become the third longest since 1980 if it stretches until Jan. 3, the day the new Congress is scheduled to be seated.
Roughly 420,000 federal employees are working without pay during the latest shutdown, caused by a budget stalemate between congressional Democrats and President Donald Trump over costs related to his proposed southern border wall.

WASHINGTON — Barring a legislative miracle by midnight Friday, about 42,000 Coast Guard members won’t see their next paycheck until the middle of January.
And that’s only if lawmakers have settled the ongoing government shutdown by then.
Coast Guard officials confirmed this week they need emergency legislation by the end of today in order to process paychecks on time for their regular release on Jan. 1. Currently, about 42,000 service members are working without pay because of the government shutdown.
Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines are unaffected by the budget stalemate because funding for their departments was finalized last fall. The same goes for veterans benefits, since the Department of Veterans Affairs saw its full fiscal 2018 budget approved in September.

But the Coast Guard’s money, which is handled through the Department of Homeland Security, falls under one of numerous government agencies forced into shutdown last week over a political dispute concerning President Donald Trump’s proposed southern border wall.
House and Senate negotiators have made no headway with the White House since the government shutdown began last Saturday. No votes are scheduled for either chamber today, and most lawmakers have left the Capitol Hill area, anticipating a stalemate into next week.
That leaves little hope for Coast Guard members working under emergency orders that they will see their scheduled paychecks this cycle. That includes money they’ve earned not only since the shutdown began, but also work done under normal circumstances the week before.
Tens of thousands of other government workers are also working without pay, but could see their checks arrive quickly after the shutdown ends because of different pay schedules. For the Coast Guard, they’ll have to wait a full month between paychecks, a financial hardship that could severely impact some junior members of the service.
In a statement earlier this week, U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association National President Jon Ostrowski called that an unnecessary hardship for those individuals and their families.
“What Congress may not realize is that service members will pay the price for this with their time to fill out paperwork to take out personal loans and grants to cover their bills, not to mention the time it takes to pay back any loans received after the government shutdown is resolved,” he said. “Our Coast Guard members deserve better than this.”
The group had been working with other advocates to pass emergency legislation this week to process paychecks despite the partial shutdown, sending nearly 70,000 emails to congressional offices asking for help. But the measure never got any significant legislative momentum.

Advocates are referring families severely impacted by the shutdown to Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, a relief society that is providing financial aid during the shutdown.
“While they can’t replace an entire paycheck, they can help with small loans to ensure the bare essentials are met,” said Mike Little, executive director of the Sea Service Family Foundation. “It’s a shame that Congress forgot our members of the Coast Guard. But it’s even more important that they know other Coasties haven’t forgotten them.”
In the meantime, Coast Guard officials have said child care subsidies may also be halted during the shutdown, and some non-essential travel will be curtailed.
Coast Guard Exchange locations are scheduled to remain open for now, as will service day care centers. Several public affairs and public outreach offices have already been closed.
The partial government shutdown entered its seventh day on Friday and is poised to become the third longest since 1980 if it stretches until Jan. 3, the day the new Congress is scheduled to be seated.

WASHINGTON — Hopes for a deal this year to extend disability benefits to thousands of “blue water” Navy veterans who claim toxic exposure while serving in the Vietnam War were all but ended Monday after supporters could not get unanimous support in the Senate for a potential fix.
The measure, passed by the House overwhelmingly earlier this year, would require Veterans Affairs officials to automatically assume about 90,000 veterans who served in ships off the coast of Vietnam were exposed to Agent Orange for benefits purposes.
That would move would bring that group in line with hundreds of thousands of other Vietnam veterans who served on the ground there or on ships traveling upon inland rivers. VA officials have objected to the plan, saying the available scientific evidence does not support extending the benefits.

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and other supporters had hoped to bring the issue directly to the chamber floor for a quick passage, but that parliamentary move was blocked by Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who cited VA’s cost concerns about the measure.
“VA’s analysis shows the costs could be nearly five times what Congress assumed it was when the House of Representatives passed it,” he said. “So there's clearly more work to do just on figuring out the spending.”

Under current department rules, the blue water veterans can receive medical care for their illnesses through VA, but must prove toxic exposure while on duty to receive compensation for the ailments.
Advocates have argued that VA officials are systematically denying those claims despite cases of rare cancers and respiratory symptoms already linked to Agent Orange because not enough study was done decades ago to support the toxic exposure connections.

The veterans affected can’t afford more legislative delays.
“The only thing standing in the way of this bill to help our Vietnam veterans is the U.S. Senate, and that is shameful,” said. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. “We have just days before this Congress is finished and our blue water Navy veterans are waiting for us. Their families are waiting for us. Some of them are dying waiting for us.”
Senate leaders could bring the bill up under regular order, but given the short schedule remaining — only a few days are left in the current congressional session — and their reluctance to make the issue a priority so far, that prospect is unlikely.
If the measure is not approved by the Senate by the end of the year, supporters will have to start over with the legislative effort again next year, a process that at best will likely take months.
Veterans groups called that a heartbreaking reality.

“If we can afford to send veterans to war, it’s unacceptable that we can’t afford to take care of them when they return home wounded, ill or injured,” said B.J. Lawrence, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “(Enzi’s) obstruction forsakes our nation’s promise to take care of those who were injured or made ill due to their military service.”
Mike Little, executive director for the Sea Service Family Foundation and a longtime advocate on the blue water benefits issue, said senators should be “ashamed” they could not finalize a deal.
“Blue water Navy should be the easiest legislation passed by Congress,” he said. “The science is there, the facts are there, the advocacy is there. Nobody is lobbying against it except money hawks and the VA scientists who, on some levels, still disagree with the dangers of Agent Orange.”
The legislation carries a price tag of about $1.1 billion over 10 years, but VA officials have insisted the total is closer to $5.5 billion. The costs would be offset with a new fee on some VA home loans, a cost-savings measure some lawmakers have opposed.
Congressional supporters also expressed similar disappointment that a deal could not be reached. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee ranking member Tim Walz, D-Minn., blasted Enzi and several other silent opposers for being hypocritical about the costs, given the major tax package passed by the Republican-controlled Congress last year.
“It is especially troubling to see this bill blocked when there is so much work left to do on toxic exposures as a whole, to include those exposed to burn pits and radiologically exposed veterans,” he said.
His Senate counterpart, Montana Democrat Jon Tester, said the “this 11th-hour attempt to block the bill is a thumb in the eye to millions of veterans and service members,”
Isakson expressed frustration that existing research on the issue doesn’t seem to be enough for VA and some of his colleagues.
“This thing has been studied as long as it needs to be studied,” he said. “You’re putting off a decision we’re going to have to make in the future.”

WASHINGTON — Hopes for a deal this year to extend disability benefits to thousands of “blue water” Navy veterans who claim toxic exposure while serving in the Vietnam War were all but ended Monday after supporters could not get unanimous support in the Senate for a potential fix.
The measure, passed by the House overwhelmingly earlier this year, would require Veterans Affairs officials to automatically assume about 90,000 veterans who served in ships off the coast of Vietnam were exposed to Agent Orange for benefits purposes.
That would move would bring that group in line with hundreds of thousands of other Vietnam veterans who served on the ground there or on ships traveling upon inland rivers. VA officials have objected to the plan, saying the available scientific evidence does not support extending the benefits.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and other supporters had hoped to bring the issue directly to the chamber floor for a quick passage, but that parliamentary move was blocked by Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who cited VA’s cost concerns about the measure.
“VA’s analysis shows the costs could be nearly five times what Congress assumed it was when the House of Representatives passed it,” he said. “So there's clearly more work to do just on figuring out the spending.”
Under current department rules, the blue water veterans can receive medical care for their illnesses through VA, but must prove toxic exposure while on duty to receive compensation for the ailments.
Advocates have argued that VA officials are systematically denying those claims despite cases of rare cancers and respiratory symptoms already linked to Agent Orange because not enough study was done decades ago to support the toxic exposure connections.

The veterans affected can’t afford more legislative delays.
“The only thing standing in the way of this bill to help our Vietnam veterans is the U.S. Senate, and that is shameful,” said. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. “We have just days before this Congress is finished and our blue water Navy veterans are waiting for us. Their families are waiting for us. Some of them are dying waiting for us.”
Senate leaders could bring the bill up under regular order, but given the short schedule remaining — only a few days are left in the current congressional session — and their reluctance to make the issue a priority so far, that prospect is unlikely.
If the measure is not approved by the Senate by the end of the year, supporters will have to start over with the legislative effort again next year, a process that at best will likely take months.
Veterans groups called that a heartbreaking reality.
“If we can afford to send veterans to war, it’s unacceptable that we can’t afford to take care of them when they return home wounded, ill or injured,” said B.J. Lawrence, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “(Enzi’s) obstruction forsakes our nation’s promise to take care of those who were injured or made ill due to their military service.”
Mike Little, executive director for the Sea Service Family Foundation and a longtime advocate on the blue water benefits issue, said senators should be “ashamed” they could not finalize a deal.
“Blue water Navy should be the easiest legislation passed by Congress,” he said. “The science is there, the facts are there, the advocacy is there. Nobody is lobbying against it except money hawks and the VA scientists who, on some levels, still disagree with the dangers of Agent Orange.”
The legislation carries a price tag of about $1.1 billion over 10 years, but VA officials have insisted the total is closer to $5.5 billion. The costs would be offset with a new fee on some VA home loans, a cost-savings measure some lawmakers have opposed.
Congressional supporters also expressed similar disappointment that a deal could not be reached. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee ranking member Tim Walz, D-Minn., blasted Enzi and several other silent opposers for being hypocritical about the costs, given the major tax package passed by the Republican-controlled Congress last year.
“It is especially troubling to see this bill blocked when there is so much work left to do on toxic exposures as a whole, to include those exposed to burn pits and radiologically exposed veterans,” he said.
His Senate counterpart, Montana Democrat Jon Tester, said the “this 11th-hour attempt to block the bill is a thumb in the eye to millions of veterans and service members,”
Isakson expressed frustration that existing research on the issue doesn’t seem to be enough for VA and some of his colleagues.
“This thing has been studied as long as it needs to be studied,” he said. “You’re putting off a decision we’re going to have to make in the future.”

By: Michael J. Little, CEO and Chairman of Sea Service Family, Consulting and Foundation

Local politics are a funny thing. Just when you think you know everything about the political process a local election comes around and really makes you contemplate. It puts you to a test of more than just where do my political beliefs stand when it comes to these positions, but it also calls into play friendships and trust in the people holding the office. Ultimately local politics is, has, and will always be a popularity contest. ​

After leaving Hamilton County my wife and I were relocated to Washington DC, I am very proud to report that I learned bipartisan politics. In four years in DC, I was proud to write and pass legislation that was signed into law by both Presidents Obama and Trump. Many of my colleagues in DC find it hard to work across the aisle andmany find it hard to work in their own party, but the thing that makes me stand out amongst my colleagues and peers is my ability to think back on my time in Hamilton County and remember working with Republicans and Democrats alike for the betterment of our county, which is what led me to write this OP Ed in the first place.

Nothing brings me more pleasure than seeing one of my former Boy Scouts running for a political office, but what makes me prouder than anything is the fact that he is the Chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, making him one of the youngest Chairmen in our state’shistory. Chairman Trenton Butler is a true leader, a man of values, soon to be a Veteran of our nation, and I applaud his accomplishments. That being said, I am writing this oped to endorse my dear friend and current County Clerk, Mary Anne Hopfinger.

Mary Anne Hopfinger has been dedicated to our county since taking office in 2006. It was during Mary Anne’s campaign as County Clerk that I made her aware that Veterans needed someone to be proactive in helping them register and reminding them that elections are coming upso that we can take part in what we are fighting to protect.Since Mary Anne came into office absentee and early voting have both greatly increased. She is dedicated to her job, her office, and this county.

While campaign slogans are good and catchy, not all campaign slogans fit the need for the office being filled. “Make Elections Fair Again” might hold a certain place in National politics but when you are talking about someone like County Clerk Mary Anne Hopfinger they do not hold a true and steady course. Mary Anne Hopfinger has ran a professional office, goes out of her way to contract with the best companies to make sure
elections go smoothly, consults with an IT firm to ensure there is no loss with connectivity, and has worked to digitize our records that are being held in the vault. Mary Anne Hopfinger is right for our county, cares about the community that she serves, and she is exactly who we need in office currently.

While I am not endorsing Chairman Butler at this time for Hamilton County Clerk, I want to applaud him for what he is dedicated to accomplishing as the leader of the Republican Party in our county. Chairman Butler has made a goal to run candidates against incumbents, in as many races as possible, and I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. Nothing makes me more upset than seeing a blank ballot, or only 1 person running for an office. If you are a Republican from Hamilton county you should be proud of the work Chairman Butler is doing, but don’t be too proud because you should also be ashamed of yourselves for making him pick up the slack to carry the entire party on his back.

I feel Chairman Butler is the future of the Republican Party for Hamilton County, but he cannot do this job alone. Our Chairman needs to be focused on finding more candidates to run for positions on the ballot in the county and help state and federal candidates get elected. The Chairman should not be forced to put his own name on a ballot when he has already won an election and been voted by the party to become its Chairman. For too long Republicans in Southern Illinois have been a minority party and have had very little representation. We do not need to be focused on whether the Sheriff of Hamilton County is a Republican or Democrat, we shouldn’t be worried whether the circuit clerk, treasurer, or other offices located in the court house are Republican or Democrat, we should be worried about filling the ballot with quality candidates.

If we want to make elections fair again then we need the citizens of our county to go out and vote. We have one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the state, and frankly it makes me feel angry when people complain about the politicians in town, and when you ask if they voted, they say no. I wish every party had someone like Mary Anne Hopfinger in it, someone who is not afraid to talk with Republicans and Democrats, someone who will engage in conversations with members from both sides, and work with them no matter what party affiliation they align with.

Maybe I am a little bias because over the years we have formed such a strong friendship, but when I think of Mary Anne Hopfinger I think of integrity, and that is not something you use with just one friendship or another, integrity is what you do when no one is looking. County Clerk Mary Anne Hopfinger does right by our citizens whether you are looking or not, whether you are voting or not. I challenge anyone running for local office to publicly state why the person you are running against isn’t doing a good job. I also challenge you to tell us what you would do in order to do a better job than the person filling the position now.

I applaud Chairman Butler again, because I think he is very well intentioned, but I think when running for County Clerk he is in the wrong. He shouldn’t be focused on running for County Clerk just because we need aRepublican in the office, he should be focused on being Chairman of our party and getting our party active. I have a lot of faith in the future of our party under his leadership, but we cannot rely on Chairman Butler to do it alone, we need everyone that considers themselves to be a Republican to step up. I am willing to help him with whatever he needs, if he still wants it after reading this letter.

I have served in countries where elections are not a right of the people, where people are murdered for their political views, but what angers me more than anything is knowing that the county that I love, and that city that I grew up in has one of the lowest voters turn outs in the entire state. I hope to see that change and to work with Republican Chairman Trenton Butler and Hamilton County Clerk Mary Anne Hopfinger to ensure change in the future.


Michael Little is a McLeansboro Native, Navy Reservist, Coast Guard Spouse, and Lifelong Republican. He has both won and lost elections, worked for winning and losing campaigns, worked with members of Congress, Assembly, and World Leaders. His views are his own, and do not reflect that of his company, non-profit, or affiliated organizations. Michael is a Combat Disabled Navy Veteran, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. ​

Coming soon!

Nearly 90,000 veterans who served in ships off the Vietnam coastline during that war may become eligible for disability benefits under a new congressional agreement unveiled Friday.
Members of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will vote next week on a plan to cover benefits for so-called “blue water Navy veterans” from the war with a new fee on home loans through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Committee Chairman Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., called the deal long overdue.
“We owe it to the brave veterans who served in the Vietnam War to provide benefits for conditions they may have developed because of exposure to Agent Orange,” he said in a statement.

The announcement comes the same day as a court hearing on the issue that could eventually force VA to award disability payouts to the veterans, many of whom have felt unfairly slighted by a policy change 16 years ago which stripped them of thousands of dollars a month.
They are approaching the congressional news with cautious optimism.
“While it’s been rumored we are going to get this legislation passed in a Memorial Day package, we have been told before we were close to victory, only to have our legislation held up as a political pawn,” said Mike Little, national executive director of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association.
“This kills the spirits of my members. This time, we have tried the best we can to make sure we have all the facts before we go let them down again.”
At issue is VA’s process regarding presumptive status for exposure to Agent Orange and other dangerous wartime chemicals.
Under current department rules, troops who served on the ground in Vietnam or patrolled inland rivers are assumed to have been working with or near the chemical defoliant, and are given special status when filing disability benefits claims to speed up the process.
But the blue water veterans — who served on ships off the coast of the country — still must prove they were directly exposed to Agent Orange for their illnesses to be labeled as service-connected. In many cases, collecting scientific evidence of the presence of the chemical on or near the ships is impossible, given the decades that have passed.

​Lawmakers in recent years have called the distinction an unfortunate oversight, but have also struggled with how to pay for the cost of extending presumptive status to the excluded veterans.

The new home loan fee — which has the backing of Little’s group and other veterans organizations — will cost the typical veteran homeowner about $350 over 10 years, and will generate about $1.1 billion over the same span to offset the extension costs.
However, only about 60 percent of borrowers will pay that new fee. Most veterans with a disability rating who use the home loan program will be exempt.
Committee ranking member Tim Walz, D-Minn., said he will support the plan, calling it “yet another example of the good we can accomplish when we work together on a bipartisan basis with veterans service organizations and reach across the aisle.”
Committee members are expected to vote on the proposal next Tuesday. A ruling from the pending lawsuit is expected to take several more months.
Little noted that many of the veterans who would benefit from the policy change are elderly or infirm, making every delay more upsetting.
“Congress can’t put this off anymore,” he said.