[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 70 (Thursday, June 8, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E913]]



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

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 7, 2000

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, it is with a great deal of professional 
pleasure and personal pride that I rise today to honor an organization 
that I have long admired and respected. The organization of which I 
speak is our neighbor just 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 that 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 and salutary for all of us here to recall 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, 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 world. It was in these tense 
days, in June 1950, that the Congress granted 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, ROA has followed that guidance, and taken the lead in 
rigorously advocating a strong and viable national defense posture for 
our nation. 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, 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. Speaker, 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.
  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 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. 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. Congratulations to the Reserve Officers 
Association of the United States on the fiftieth anniversary of the 
granting of its congressional charter.

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