STANDING WITH MILITARY FAMILIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS
1969
Military Wives Association created
1972
Association’s first major initiative results in the Survivor Benefit Plan becoming law
1976
Military Wives Association changes its name to the National Military Wives Association
First Issues Workshop held by Association to educate military families on their benefits
1979
Association President testifies before the White House Conference on military families
1982
Association’s first comprehensive survey leads to the creation of DoD Office of Family Policy
1983
National Military Wives Association is renamed the National Military Family Association
1985
The Military Coalition is formed with NMFA as a founding member
NMFA is the first organization to testify before a Senate subcommittee about health care for military families—a year later Congress establishes Dependent Dental Plan
1989
The Military Child Care Act is passed as a result of NMFA’s advocacy efforts
Association testifies before Congress; Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits extended to military families stationed overseas
1990
NMFA’s transition plan for military affected by downsizing receives Congressional backing—one year later Transition Assistance Plan is enacted
Association fights for military kids in civilian schools, helping pass the first funding of DoD’s Supplement to Impact Aid
1992
NMFA releases innovative health care plan for military families, with many recommendations later incorporated into TRICARE
1999
Congress designates May as National Military Appreciation Month
2000
NMFA leads the charge to get WIC funding overseas authorized
2001
Association advocates for health care; results in Congress creating the Extended Care Health Option
2004
Joanne Holbrook Patton Spouse Scholarship Program created
Operation Purple® Camp for children of deployed service members begins
Association publishes “Serving the Homefront: An Analysis of Military Family Support” and the “Cycles of Deployment” reports, paving the way for our large-scale research project
2005
Social Security offset to the Survivor Benefit Plan eliminated, an initiative NMFA fought for since 2001
2006
Benefits provided to survivors of all active duty deaths increased after NMFA provides testimony and rallies Congressional support
2008
NMFA wins Emmy for Public Service Announcements produced in partnership with USFHP
2009
Operation Purple Family Retreats® and Healing Adventures® launch
NMFA helps draft the Interstate Compact for the Educational Opportunity for Military Children
2011
RAND releases the first research on the well-being of military spouses and children, commissioned by NMFA
2013
#EndSequestration: Association Staff and Volunteers storm Capitol Hill to illustrate harm caused by sequestration
2015
NMFA defeats ER Misuse Fee proposed by the Department of Defense
2016
DoD creates Urgent Care Pilot program as a result of NMFA’s advocacy
2017
The DoD changes it policy on concurrent hospice for children after NMFA speaks up for families affected
Operation Purple® Buddy Camp launches
2018
Education Revolution campaign launches to bring awareness to military kids’ education
2019
The National Military Family Association celebrates its 50th Anniversary
The Widow’s Tax is repealed thanks to the aid and advocacy of NMFA
The Military Spouse Scholarship Program has a record-breaking year awarding $1,162,012 to 923 spouses
2020
NMFA’s COVID-19 FAQ hub is the go-to source for military families
$1.5M in child care fee relief stipends are given to dual-working families affected by the pandemic
Coast Guard families are given equal access to CDC’s thanks to NMFA’s push for policy change
Operation Purple Program goes virtual to bring camp fun to families at home
2021
NMFA launches Research & Insights department
NMFA conducts first-ever Military Teen Experience Survey to research their well-being
Operation Purple Camp Junior is created with adapted curriculum for kids ages 3-7
2022
NMFA welcomes Bloom: Empowering the Military Teen into the NMFA family and together strengthen the voice of military teens
Hosted two new Operation Purple programs focused solely on parents and teens
Military Spouse Scholarship Program hits $8.2M in awards to military spouse recipients since its inception in 2004
NMFA represents military families at the United Nations
NMFA honored at the Congressional Club’s 109th First Lady’s Luncheon for our longstanding commitment to military families
2023
NMFA celebrates surviving families receiving their first full Survivor Benefit Plan payment
The Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts benefit extended to military families after years of NMFA advocacy
Operation Purple Summer Challenge launched as our newest digital offering for military kids
The Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Scholarship Program awarded 535 military spouses
14,000 military families were reached in our surveys to develop key research and insights