About  The Air Force Sergeants Association’s International Auxiliary was established in 1973 to further support the mission of the Air Force Seargeants Association. Delegates to the AFSA International Convention that year recognized and acknowledged the invaluable contributions made daily by enlisted Airmen's family members. Those delegates wanted to add the “family” dimension to the only organization that has Air Force enlisted personnel as its sole focus.  From that dedicated beginning, the AFSA Auxiliary has grown and become an invaluable ally for progress and an essential partner in safeguarding and improving the quality of life for all Air Force Active Duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command families.  Under its current leadership, the AFSA Auxiliary continues to serve Air Force enlisted families’ concerns. The heart of the organization is its nearly 63 local chapters worldwide. The governing body is an Executive Council consisting of six members, five of whom are elected by the general membership. The elected members of the Council include an International President, Vice President and three Trustees. The president appoints a Senior Advisor to the council. Additionally, each of AFSA’s 14 divisions may name an Auxiliary Coordinator to serve as liaison between the AFSA and Auxiliary organizations.  Since its inception, the AFSA Auxiliary has adopted numerous community service and humanitarian projects. It has worked diligently in support of hospitalized veterans by paying visits to the hospitals, working as volunteers for hospital projects, and providing financial assistance in the form of donations to veteran’s programs.  The AFSA Auxiliary has been and continues to be an active and vocal supporter of efforts to attain an accurate accounting of America’s POW/MIAs. Voter registration is another area of interest and activity for AFSA Auxiliary chapters. And, the AFSA Auxiliary is extremely proud of its continuing endeavors on behalf of The Enlisted Widows Foundation. Again, Auxiliary members have donated tirelessly, both personally and financially, to improve the foundation for widowed spouses of those enlisted members who unselfishly served their country.  Caring for our enlisted family is the top priority of the AFSA Auxiliary. For that reason, the Auxiliary publishes and distributes a Surviving Spouse Manual and a wide variety of other pertinent information on topics such as spousal employment, health care, and survivor benefits. The AFSA Auxiliary sponsors a “Cents- Off" coupon program that provides families stationed overseas a little extra help with their grocery bills through the use of coupons collected and sent to overseas areas by the Auxiliary.  Another priority of the AFSA Auxiliary is education for members and dependents. AFSA provides scholarships for dependents pursuing a college degree. The AFSA Auxiliary provides grants to its members through its Education Grant program to qualifying Auxiliary members who may want to change professions or who are entering the job market for the first time. Additionally, the AFSA Auxiliary provides scholarships to college students, age 18-23. “We take care of our own” is more than just a slogan to the AFSA Auxiliary!  Awareness and Action—these are central to the AFSA Auxiliary’s legislative agenda. As mentioned, voter registration is an ongoing project. Auxiliary members work with their AFSA counterparts as advocates on behalf of Air Force enlisted families covering issues pertaining to active duty, reserve component, and retired forces. Among the issues the AFSA Auxiliary has taken on over the years are: improvements in TRICARE, passage of the Forgotten Widows Bill, elimination of the Social Security offset in the Survivors Benefit Program, preservation and expansion of commissary entitlements, and provision for long-term nursing home care. COLAs for retired members are an issue that arises each year, and the AFSA Auxiliary is steadfast in its fight, along with AFSA, to preserve the entitlements of those who have earned them. The AFSA Auxiliary is the voice for Air Force enlisted spouses and families.  AFSA Auxiliary members are eligible for all AFSA benefits and services. These member service benefits include affordable insurances, car rental discounts, travel discounts, and financial services.  Prominently displayed on this bulletin is the AFSA Auxiliary’s “Red Rose of Remembrance.” AFSA Auxiliary members adopted this symbol in 1989. It is a perpetual reminder of our comrades, friends and neighbors who have yet to come home from combat in all of America’s wars. The red rose is the AFSA Auxiliary’s way> of expressing its deep concern and strong support for all members of our armed forces. The Red Rose of Remembrance symbolizes the eternal bond of caring and sharing that exists among Auxiliary members and the families of those who are yet to be accounted for.  The AFSA Auxiliary represents the AFSA “family.” Its members are independent people—dynamic, involved, and progressive. They care about protecting their chosen quality of life and are working to improve the quality of life of those enlisted Airmen's family members who are to come. AIR FORCE SERGEANTS ASSOCIATION AUXILIARY I N T E R N A T I O N A L H E A D Q U A R T E R S 5211 Auth Road, Suitland, Maryland 20746, 301.899.3500 www.hqafsa.org Who Can Be A Member ACTIVE: Any spouse, father, mother, brother, sister, son and/or daughter of members of AFSA, and widowers, widows, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and/or daughters of persons who were eligible for membership in AFSA at the time of their death, shall be considered eligible for Active membership. Former widowers and widows of Active members who remarry shall be considered eligible for Active membership. Any husband or wife divorced from a spouse eligible for Active membership in AFSA at the time of divorce shall be considered eligible for Active membership. AFFILIATE: (Not Eligible to Vote or Hold Office) Any spouse, father, mother, brother, sister, son and/or daughter of Associate members of AFSA, and widowers, widows, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and/or daughters of persons who were eligible for Associate membership in AFSA at the time of their death, shall be considered eligible for Affiliate membership. Former widowers and widows of Associate members who remarry shall be considered eligible for Affiliate membership. Any husband or wife divorced from a spouse eligible for Associate membership in AFSA at the time of divorce shall be considered eligible for Affiliate membership. Persons not otherwise eligible for membership, having objectives in consonance with those of AFSA, and who have demonstrated dedication to these objectives, shall be considered eligible for Affiliate membership.