FRA is the leading voice of enlisted Sea Service personnel on Capitol Hill and has been since 1924.
A Congressionally chartered, non-profit organization that represents the interests of the Sea Service community before the U.S. Congress, the Association’s membership is comprised of current and former enlisted members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. FRA was chartered as the Fleet Reserve Association in 1924 and, after more than 80 years, FRA remains dedicated to its primary mission of serving the interests of current and former enlisted Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel.
In addition to its legislative advocacy efforts, FRA assists its members with career problems by maintaining close liaison with the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, and other government agencies. FRA continues to educate members of Congress, many of whom have little or no military experience, on the challenges facing career personnel.
FRA presents a strong, unified voice to ensure that enlisted issues are heard by Congress and urges support for legislation to increase pay and benefits.
OUR HISTORY:
Setting forth on an uncharted sea, fewer than 100 shipmates assembled in Philadelphia in October 1922 to organize the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA). The group chose the name because its prospective membership would be largely drawn from the Fleet Naval Reserve component or those eligible for transfer to it. This was the first time in recorded naval history that career enlisted personnel were banding together for mutual loyalty, protection and service.
FRA TODAY:
FRA Today is FRA's monthly membership magazine. The subscription is free for members, $7 for widows or widowers of FRA shipmates, $10 for LA FRA members, and non-members of either association can subscribe for $35 per year. This magazine covers a wide range of topics from the most current news from Capitol Hill to feature articles on topics important to all current and former Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard enlisted personnel.
Title
FRA Education Foundation Scholarship Deadline is April 15th
Date Event
Feb 22, 2012
Comments
College-bound students who have an affiliation with the Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard are invited to apply for generous scholarships through the FRA Education Foundation. The deadline to apply is April 15, 2012, and the Foundation’s board of directors encourages all eligible candidates to apply for academic awards of up to $5,000. Applications are available online at www.fra.org/foundation.
Applicants must be affiliated with the Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard, either through their own service or that of a spouse, parent or grandparent. FRA Education Foundation scholarships are funded through private donations, established trusts and corporate sponsorships, and recipients are selected based on financial need, academic standing, character and leadership qualities.
“The scope of the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) scholarship program has grown substantially since 2000, which led to the creation of the Education Foundation in 2009,” explains Joe Barnes, a member of the Foundation’s board of directors and FRA’s national executive director. “Thanks to the tremendous generosity of our members, legacy gifts and corporate sponsors, we’ve been able to provide more scholarships each year. In 2010, we helped 26 deserving students with a total of $118,000 in scholarships. Last year, we awarded $124,000 to 30 scholars. We’re excited about the continued growth of the Foundation and its awards and look forward to expanding the program even more in 2012.”
In addition to its generous scholarship program, FRA is an outspoken advocate for enhanced education benefits for service members and veterans, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit that allows career service members to transfer the benefit to family members.
Donations to the FRA Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, are welcome from individuals, organizations and businesses, and are tax deductible.