The Washington State Chapter of the Retired Sergeants Major and Chiefs Association makes it a priority to meet on a professional and social level to inform its members about the latest military, legislative, health and Veterans Affairs news.

But at the very core the group is about something so much more.

"Ninety-five percent of what we are doing are good things for our local communities," said Paul Hardy, who retired from the Army a sergeant major in 2002 and has been a member of the association for the last four years.

That can include contributing money to various units on base for deployment sendoffs or welcome home celebrations. There are also a wide variety of local volunteer opportunities that the association's members participate in. All have to do with giving back.

"It's a chance for us to do good things," said Hardy, who worked as the chief of patient advocacy at Madigan Army Medical Center after retiring from the Army and now lives in Olympia.

TRSMCA Washington State Chapter #1 - which has more than 200 current active members - is a professional military organization, part of the Armed Forces E9 Association, and designed exclusively for the senior enlisted (E-9) personnel of all branches of the United States military and the Allied Armed Forces.

Nationally, the Armed Forces E9 Association prides itself on participation in adopt-a-school and crime stoppers programs, assisting local Public Broadcasting Systems TV station with fundraising activities and numerous other civic and benevolent activities. Chapters also participate in patriotic and veterans' functions. Chapters conduct Memorial Day services in all area cities and many have a standing roster of volunteers to serve as honorary pallbearers for military funeral details. These volunteers - in full dress blues - have served on many funeral details since 1984.

The association conducts a memorial service for deceased members in conjunction with the annual convention held in May each year.

And while philanthropy plays a major role in the association's activities, it also provides a united voice on veteran's benefits, hospitalization, COLA, Survivor benefits, Tricare and pharmacy benefits.TRSMCA formed a legislative liaison committee, charged with the responsibility to monitor all legislative actions concerning veterans, to develop lines of communications with other veterans' organizations, such as the VFW, NCOA, American Legion, DAV and to formulate official positions on veterans' affairs for presentation to the TRSMCA membership and subsequently to legislators and the U.S. Congress.

For more information on the Washington State chapter, visit http://wachap1.blogspot.com/.

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