FRA is the leading voice of enlisted Sea Service personnel on Capitol Hill and has been since 1924.
A Congressionally chartered, non-profit organization that represents the interests of the Sea Service community before the U.S. Congress, the Association’s membership is comprised of current and former enlisted members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. FRA was chartered as the Fleet Reserve Association in 1924 and, after more than 80 years, FRA remains dedicated to its primary mission of serving the interests of current and former enlisted Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel.
In addition to its legislative advocacy efforts, FRA assists its members with career problems by maintaining close liaison with the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, and other government agencies. FRA continues to educate members of Congress, many of whom have little or no military experience, on the challenges facing career personnel.
FRA presents a strong, unified voice to ensure that enlisted issues are heard by Congress and urges support for legislation to increase pay and benefits.
OUR HISTORY:
Setting forth on an uncharted sea, fewer than 100 shipmates assembled in Philadelphia in October 1922 to organize the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA). The group chose the name because its prospective membership would be largely drawn from the Fleet Naval Reserve component or those eligible for transfer to it. This was the first time in recorded naval history that career enlisted personnel were banding together for mutual loyalty, protection and service.
FRA TODAY:
FRA Today is FRA's monthly membership magazine. The subscription is free for members, $7 for widows or widowers of FRA shipmates, $10 for LA FRA members, and non-members of either association can subscribe for $35 per year. This magazine covers a wide range of topics from the most current news from Capitol Hill to feature articles on topics important to all current and former Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard enlisted personnel.
Title
Retirement and Compensation Commission Appointed
Date Event
Jun 28, 2013
Comments
Provisions of the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) called for the establishment of a nine-member Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission to review all aspects of military pay, benefits and retirement compensation. President Obama appointed the Honorable Alphonso Maldon Jr. to serve as the panel’s chairman, and the House and Senate each appointed four commissioners:former Senators Larry Pressler (S.D.) and Bob Kerrey (Nebr.); former Congressmen Chris Carney (Pa.) and Steve Buyer (Ind.); retired Navy Adm. Edmund Giambastiani, Jr.; retired Army General Peter Chiarelli; former Defense Department (DoD) comptroller Dov Zakheim and Mike Higgins, former Professional Staffer with the House Armed Services Committee.
DoD is required to provide the commission with its recommendations by November 1, 2013, with the stipulation that the commission will not reduce benefits for any current retiree.
FRA has consistently expressed serious concerns about cost-driven efforts to “reform” pay and benefits and contends that the current pay and benefit package is key to recruiting and retention and sustaining military readiness.FRA is closely monitoring the activities and deliberations of the commission and will seek opportunities to provide input.