[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 68 (Tuesday, June 6, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4555-S4556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THE RESERVE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ON THE 
  OCCASION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASSOCIATION'S CONGRESSIONAL 
                                CHARTER

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, it is with a great deal of professional 
pleasure and personal pride that I rise today to honor an organization 
in which I am a life member and served as the 21st national president 
nearly 50 years ago. The organization of which I speak is our neighbor 
across First Street, the Reserve Officers Association of the United 
States, though it is perhaps best known simply by its initials--ROA. 
The association was organized in 1922, at the instigation of General of 
the Armies John J. Pershing, who was then serving as the Army's Chief 
of Staff. Like many others who served in uniform in World War I, 
General Pershing was convinced that the war could have been 
significantly shortened or avoided altogether if an adequate pool of 
trained officers had existed at the time. Taking his sentiments to 
heart, 140 Reserve officers met at Washington's Willard Hotel and 
organized the Reserve Officers Association. It was largely through the 
dedicated efforts of this voluntary organization and its members that 
the United States established its Officer Reserve Corps, which was to 
supply the great majority of America's trained officers in the days 
leading up to World War II. It is appropriate for the Senate to note 
that these first ROA members were citizen-soldiers who clearly saw the 
approaching storm clouds. They pushed the nation toward an 
unprecedented level of pre-war preparedness that arguably saved lives 
and formed the very foundations of the great victories of democracy 
that were to follow.
  With the end of the war, the ROA resumed its normal operations, 
raising and maintaining the nation's awareness of the role and 
contributions of its military forces in the uneasy post-war

[[Page S4556]]

world. It was in these tense days, in June 1950, that the Congress 
granted the ROA the formal charter that established the association's 
object and purpose. That formulation was clear and direct, unambiguous 
and unequivocal: ROA was ``to support a military policy for the United 
States that will provide adequate national security and to promote the 
development and execution thereof.''
  For 50 years, the ROA has followed that guidance, and taken the lead 
in rigorously advocating a strong and viable national defense posture 
for our nation. The ROA has worked to support concepts that have 
strengthened our ability to preserve our freedom and to advance our 
national interests across the world. It worked to revitalize and fund 
the Selective Service System, support our Cold War allies, and focus 
the weight of public opinion in favor of our national commitment during 
the Gulf War and expanding NATO. It has played a major role in 
persuading the Congress to provide more than $15 billion in critically 
needed equipment for our nation's Reserve components. In addition, the 
ROA has also clearly understood that not all ideas are good ideas. It 
successfully opposed efforts to combine the Army Reserve and National 
Guard, and to disestablish the Coast Guard, and Air Force Reserves, as 
well as the Selective Service System and the commissioned officer corps 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

  Mr. President, the ROA has, for the past 78 years, proven itself to 
be a strong and articulate voice in the halls of Congress and the 
corridors of government for all our service members. It has lived up to 
its charter and supported the cause of national defense in seasons when 
it has not been popular to do so. It has established an enviable 
reputation for nonpartisan expertise and even-handed advocacy, a 
reputation that has grown and flourished as defense issues have become 
ever more complex in these days of the Total Force Policy. The ROA 
enjoys the confidence of the Congress and of the Department of Defense. 
Its successful legislative efforts have made it a valued partner in the 
formulation and development of the annual defense bills and in building 
broad, bipartisan support for our men and women in uniform. Over the 
years I have learned that serious debate on any issue dealing with our 
Reserve forces is not complete until we have heard from the ROA. As the 
number of members of Congress with personal military experience has 
declined, the importance of ROA's contribution to developing our 
military policy has increased exponentially. The ROA has played and 
will continue to play a crucial role in shaping the debate over the 
appropriate roles and missions of our Armed Forces. The nation is most 
fortunate to have such an asset to call upon. We should all be 
grateful.
  Mr. President, I urge all Senators to join me in congratulating the 
Reserve Officers Association of the United States on the fiftieth 
anniversary of the granting of its congressional charter.

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