Prior to the formation of the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), Air Force enlisted personnel did not have an independent voice capable of influencing legislation and governmental policies. This came at a time when Congress was questioning its promises to service members about education benefits, health care, pay, and a fair quality of life--all while we were waging a Cold War. During the post-Korean War era U.S. Armed Services were cut to the bone and attacks upon the military by members of Congress, the press, and even the American public resulted in promotion freezes, low pay and allowances, inadequate housing, and many other inequities. Life in the military was rough and much unappreciated. Enlisted life was the roughest. Many enlisted personnel began to talk about starting an association and DOD feared the unions would try to get involved. Of course unionization was not an option; but there remained the needs to educate lawmakers about enlisted life. Four enlisted visionaries from Bolling AFB, DC, decided to accept the challenge. MSgt Benny W. McGehee, TSgt Virgil Perry, SSgt Donald Ward and TSgt Lee Thompson applied to the District of Columbia for a charter as a non-profit association, which was approved on May 3, 1961. At that time, they applied to the Internal Revenue Service for tax-exempt status. The IRS tax exemption was granted under Section 501 (c) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code. In 1975, AFSA received a determination from the IRS and the U.S. Postal Service that AFSA was essentially a “war veterans” organization within the meaning of Section 170 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As a result of this determination, AFSA applied to the IRS and received approval for tax exemption under Section 501 (c) (19) of the Internal Revenue Code. Today, AFSA is a fully recognized professional military organization that is highly respected in the White House, on Capitol Hill, and in the Pentagon.

TODAY
     AFSA is a leading member organization in The Military Coalition (TMC). Additionally, AFSA is one of the largest associations affiliated with the Council of Military Organizations (COMO) and the Ad Hoc Committee (AD HOC). AFSA is highly respected and well recognized on Capitol Hill, within the White House, and by community leaders, commanders, and senior commissioned and noncommissioned leaders at all levels. AFSA is an international organization with chapters located in the United States, Europe, and the Far East. The International Headquarters is located in the Airmen Memorial Building at 5211 Auth Road, Suitland, Maryland, 20757.    

     The Air Force Sergeants Association is a not-for-profit organization serving the professional and personal interests of its 110,000 Association members, made up of active duty, veteran, and retired enlisted members of the Air Force, as well as the Air National Guard and Reserve. The AFSA advocates for 955,873 active duty and retired Airmen, whether they are an association member or not. Including family members, who also "serve," the number of enlisted Airmen represented by AFSA is huge. The Association has an Auxiliary to which family members of Air Force enlisted members can belong.

     The Association began in 1961, and has earned the respect of Congressional, Pentagon, and Veteran Affairs leaders for its relentless role as a voice of the Air Force enlisted. The Association was instrumental in the establishment of the Survivor Benefit Plan for surviving spouses of retired veterans. They played a major role in the recent passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, a comprehensive overhaul of the pervious education benefits that will ensure Air Force members and their families are provided with improved educational opportunities. The Association has ensured that many military family issues have been brought to the forefront, including the need to construct additional child development centers for child care needs and the establishment of an oversight office in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for the Exceptional Family Member program to better manage special needs across all military services.

     The association also played a significant role to assure veterans of Operating Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and other Overseas Contingency Operations receive the proper and well-earned benefits, care, and treatment for their selfless and heroic service to a grateful nation.

     At the vanguard of the efforts to achieve cost-of-Living Adjustments for all those in uniform and those who have retired, the Association was a main force in implementing TRICARE for life medical benefits for retirees over 65 and the implementation of "concurrent receipt" of retirement and disability pay for disabled veterans (rated over 50% disabled).

     Additionally, the Air Force Sergeants Association has been a reliable source of information for the legislative process in support of military members and their families.

     The well-known and highly respected veteran's organization has been dedicated to serving the Total Air Force Enlisted Corps and their families for 50 years. For 2011, they have adopted "The Air Force Sergeants Association - A Global Voice for over 50 years" as the theme for their Professional Airmen's Conference and AFSA International Convention. May the association continue its good work for many years to come.