.png)
VIRGINIA COUNCIL OF CHAPTERS
Military Officers Association of America
Who We Are
The Virginia Council of Chapters (VCOC) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization, chartered to better the overall well being of its member chapters. VCOC supports and serves 16 member chapters, advocating legislative affairs pertaining to active duty, retired and former military members. VCOC enhances the image of America’s uniformed services in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. MOAA is the nation’s largest and most influential association of military officers, totaling 38,398 members in Virginia.
Independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan, MOAA is one powerful voice speaking for a strong national defense, representing the interests of military officers at all stages of a military career.
The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. MOAA is the nation’s largest and most influential association of military officers, totaling 38,398 members in Virginia.
Independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan, MOAA is one powerful voice speaking for a strong national defense, representing the interests of military officers at all stages of a military career.
MOAA Presents Arthur T. Marix Congressional Leadership Award
.png)
Above, immediately prior to presentation of the Arthur T. Marix Award 2022, Office of Representative Elaine Luria (VA 02), Washington, DC, left to right: MOAA Director, Currently Serving/Retired Affairs LtCol Mark Belinsky, USA (Ret), Representative Elaine Luria (VA 02), VCOC President CDR Linc Smith, USNR (Ret) , MOAA Vice President, Government Relations, COL Dan Merry, USAF (Ret), MOAA National Board Member Col Jeri Graham, USA (Ret), MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins USAF (Ret).
On 18 May 2022, MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Dan Atkins, USAF (Ret) presented MOAA's 2022 Colonel Arthur T. Marix Congressional Leadership Award to Representative Elaine Luia (VA 02) for her strong leadership as vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee in support of our servicemembers and their families and survivors.
Specifically, she was instrumental in securing support for servicemembers and their families in the FY 2022 NDAA, including the 2.7% pay raise to match Employment Cost Index, extended paid parental leave up to 12 weeks, bereavement Leave, and a Basic Needs Allowance for military families.
She introduced H.R. 475, Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2021, and while it was not in the NDAA, she made the case to the House Rules Committee for continued support along with her co-sponsor Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) and what is now 138 cosponsors. She was an original cosponsor for Chairman Mark Takano’s Honoring our PACT Act of 2021 (for toxic exposure reform), and she cosponsored the Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2021, signed into law on 8 October 2021. MOAA's Arthur T. Marix Congressional Leadership Award is given annually to lawmakers who distinguish themselves in protecting the rights and interests of servicemembers, their families, and their survivors.
The award is named for Col. Marix, who founded MOAA in 1929. Past recipients include Senators Lindsey Graham, Jim Webb and the late Senator John McCain.
She introduced H.R. 475, Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2021, and while it was not in the NDAA, she made the case to the House Rules Committee for continued support along with her co-sponsor Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) and what is now 138 cosponsors. She was an original cosponsor for Chairman Mark Takano’s Honoring our PACT Act of 2021 (for toxic exposure reform), and she cosponsored the Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2021, signed into law on 8 October 2021. MOAA's Arthur T. Marix Congressional Leadership Award is given annually to lawmakers who distinguish themselves in protecting the rights and interests of servicemembers, their families, and their survivors.
The award is named for Col. Marix, who founded MOAA in 1929. Past recipients include Senators Lindsey Graham, Jim Webb and the late Senator John McCain.
Above, Office of Representative Elaine Luria (VA 02), Washington, DC, left to right: MOAA Director, Currently Serving/Retired Affairs LtCol Mark Belinsky, USA (Ret), MOAA Vice President, Government Relations COL Dan Merry, USAF (Ret), MOAA National Board Member Col Jeri Graham, USA (Ret), Representative Elaine Luria (VA 02), VCOC President CDR Linc Smith, USNR (Ret) , MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins USAF (Ret).
An Award Winning Council of Chapters
.jpg)
VCOC Five Star Award Level of Excellence Winners 2021
Virginia Council of ChaptersCentral Virginia ChapterFalcons Landing ChapterGeorge C. Marshall ChapterHeritage ChapterMount Vernon ChapterNorthern Virginia ChapterPortsmouth Area ChapterRichmond Area ChapterSouthwest Virginia ChapterVirginia Peninsula Chapter
VCOC Col. Marvin J. Harris Communications Award Winners 2021
Five Star
Virginia Council of Chapters (print newsletter and website)Central Virginia Chapter (print newsletter and website)Falcons Landing Chapter (print newsletter and website)Heritage Chapter (print newsletter)Heritage Hunt Chapter (print newsletter)Mount Vernon Chapter (print newsletter and website)Portsmouth Area Chapter (print newsletter)Potomac Chapter (print newsletter)Richmond Area Chapter (print newsletter and website)Southwest Virginia Chapter (website)Virginia Peninsula Chapter (print newsletter) Four Star
Portsmouth Area Chapter (website)Southwest Virginia Chapter (print newsletter)
Virginia Council of Chapters (print newsletter and website)Central Virginia Chapter (print newsletter and website)Falcons Landing Chapter (print newsletter and website)Heritage Chapter (print newsletter)Heritage Hunt Chapter (print newsletter)Mount Vernon Chapter (print newsletter and website)Portsmouth Area Chapter (print newsletter)Potomac Chapter (print newsletter)Richmond Area Chapter (print newsletter and website)Southwest Virginia Chapter (website)Virginia Peninsula Chapter (print newsletter) Four Star
Portsmouth Area Chapter (website)Southwest Virginia Chapter (print newsletter)
Virginia General Assembly and Veterans Military Caucus Legislative Reception 2022
Senator Bryce Reeves (R 17th), Senator John Bell (D 13th), Delegate David Reid (D 32nd) and Delegate Nick Freitas (R 30th) hosted the annual Virginia General Assembly and Veterans Military Caucus Legislative Reception, March 3, 2022, Virginia War Memorial, Richmond, Virginia. Food and refreshments were provided by Mission Barbeque. Virginia Council of Chapters members from multiple chapters attended the reception, as pictured below.
Below: CAPT Mary Lou Wassel, USN (Ret), RACMOAA, COL Monti Zimmerman, USA (Ret), VCOC Third Vice President, CAPT Hardy Josephson, USN (Ret), RACMOAA, CDR Linc Smith, USNR (Ret), VCOC President, and LTC Craig Pinsker, USA (Ret) RACMOAA.
Below: CDR Linc Smith, USNR (Ret), VCOC President, Virginia Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Dan Gade
Below: CDR Linc Smith, USNR (Ret), VCOC President, Senator Bryce Reeves (R 17th), COL Monti Zimmerman, VCOC Third Vice President
Below: CDR Linc Smith, USNR (Ret), VCOC President, Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears
Below: CDR Linc Smith, USNR (Ret), VCOC President, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin
Military and Veteran Bill Signing Ceremony
Members of the Virginia General Assembly and Veterans Service Organizations representatives joined Governor Glenn Youngkin for the 2022 Military and Veterans Bill Signing Ceremony, held at 9:00am on 20 May, Virginia War Memorial.
Virginia House Bill 957, Classification of real property owned by certain surviving spouses for tax purposes, was among the Bills formally signed by Governor Youngkin at the ceremony. Introduced by Delegate Kathy Tran (D 42nd), House Bill 957 (JLC 2022-02) passed the House Virginia House Finance Subcommittee unanimously on 4 February 2022, by a vote of 8-0.
HB 957 provides that beginning with taxable year 2022, any locality may declare real property owned by a surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States who died in the line of duty with a line of duty determination from the U.S. Department of Defense, where the spouse occupies the real property as his principal place of residence and does not remarry, a separate class of property for local taxation of real property that may be taxed at a different rate than that imposed on the general class of real property, provided that the rate of tax is greater than zero and does not exceed the rate of tax on the general class of real property.
HB 957 was based on Joint Leadership Council Initiative 2022-02, authored by VCOC State Legislative Affairs Chair Col. Monti Zimmerman USA (Ret). Passage of HB 957 in the Virgina House is a significant milestone in the effort to expand Tax Relief for Surviving Spouses of Military Service Members in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Below : With Members of the Virginia General Assembly and Veterans Service Organizations, Governor Youngkin formally signs veterans Legislation
HB 957 was based on Joint Leadership Council Initiative 2022-02, authored by VCOC State Legislative Affairs Chair Col. Monti Zimmerman USA (Ret). Passage of HB 957 in the Virgina House is a significant milestone in the effort to expand Tax Relief for Surviving Spouses of Military Service Members in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Below : With Members of the Virginia General Assembly and Veterans Service Organizations, Governor Youngkin formally signs veterans Legislation
Below: Picture in recognition of HB 957 signing, left to right: Ms. Edith Smith, National Military Family Association Survivor, VCOC President CDR Linc Smith, USNR (Ret), Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears, Ms. Tamara Sipes, Gold Star Wives of America President, Governor Glenn Youngkin, Ms. Traci Voelke, Gold Star Wives of America and Surviving Spouse, Attorney General Jason Miyares, Delegate Kathy Tran (D 42nd), Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Craig Crenshaw
"MOAA is the nation's largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization. With more than 350,000 members from every branch of service - including active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, former officers, and their families - we are a powerful force speaking for a strong national defense and representing the interests of military officers at every stage of their careers. MOAA's highest priority is providing first-class service to our members. We are the leading voice on compensation and benefit matters for all members of the military community. We provide expert advice and guidance to our members."
View the MOAA homepage at: MOAA