Member Benefits

The Association of the United States Army, with over 100,000 members, is the world’s largest professional education association supporting our U.S. Army. Through its members, AUSA is our nation’s leading advocate for a strong and ready Total Army. AUSA speaks out on behalf of its members on issues such as:

• Pay raises, averaging 3.5% with higher raise (up to 6.25%) for some mid and senior level NCOs and mid-level officers.
• Pay raises of 3.5% for federal civilian personnel, achieving parity with military pay.
• Eligibility for concurrent receipt of military retirement pay and Veterans Administration disability pay extended to all 20 year military retirees with a Purple Heart or combat-related disability, including Reserve Component personnel; full concurrent receipt, phased over 10 years, for military retirees with at least 50% military disability.
• Immediate medical and dental screening and care for selected Reserve Component personnel authorized upon alert or mobilization notification.
• Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) coverage for survivors of Reserve Component members.
• Reserve Component, Reserve Component Retirees and their dependents authorized full commissary privileges.
• Current level of funding for maintained for Impact Aid.
• Eliminating the reduction in Survivor Benefit Plan annuities.
• Permanently increasing maximum amount of Hardship Duty Pay from $300 to $750 monthly; making permanent increases from $100 to $250 per month in the Family Separation Allowance and from $150 to $250 in Imminent Danger/Hostile Fire Pay.
• Create a tax credit that would offer employers a tax credit of 50 percent of the salary provided to activated National Guard and Reserve members for employers who continue to pay the salaries of mobilized National Guard and Reserve members.

Today your association is encouraging the administration and the Congress to address the following issues:

• Close the pay gap (military and federal civilians).
• Fund transferability of the Montgomery GI Bill benefit earned by service members to their family members.
• Encourage all States to provide unemployment benefits for job loss based on a military relocation for the eligible servicemember’s spouse.
• Continue funding maintenance and construction of Soldier’s barrack and family housing at an acceptable level and continue to expand privatization in the U.S.
• Encourage all states to support in-state tuition for Servicemembers and their family members at institutions of higher learning.
• Provide income protection to mobilized National Guard and Reservist who are federal employees that will allow them to maintain their normal salary when called to active service by requiring federal agencies to make up the difference between their military pay and what they would have earned on their federal job.

What about Our Chapter?

The Central Texas/Fort Hood Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) is directly involved in every one of these national advocacy programs, and locally supports our members through:

• A continuing series of Community-building and Regional Networking Opportunities.
• General Membership and Professional Development Sessions focused on real issues affecting our military, and those who support our military,
• A coupon book offering over $5,000 in local discounts provided to all who join, renew or transfer into our chapter during the current year.
• Direct assistance to Family Readiness Groups.
• Direct assistance to the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), as it works to provide timely and accurate information to meet service member Families' education-related relocation and student transition needs.
• Direct assistance to a wide variety of on-post Soldier-based, Family and retiree activities.
• Honor distinguished Fort Hood civilian workers. .
• Support deployed, home-based and returning Fort Hood soldiers and their families, allocating chapter assets in a manner that assures AUSA visibility and involvement
• Sustain Adopt A Unit support structure throughout the chapter’s area of operation.
• Award $1,000 scholarships to deserving active or retired Soldier‑members, or members of their immediate family In 2007, we awarded $58,000 in scholarships; our goal for 2008 in to exceed that number.
• Recognize Major Subordinate Command NCOs and Soldiers of each calendar Qtr, and of the Year.
• Provide financial support to variety of Fort Hood Soldier‑based activities; as examples: NCO and Enlisted Leadership Forums, Monthly III Corps & Fort Hood and 1CD retirement ceremonies, Hood Howdy, Fort Hood Women's Conference, Fort Hood Santa's Workshop, and other needs, as appropriate.
• Recognize one or more distinguished Fort Hood civilian employee(s).
• Recognize and thank our corporate supporters.
• Support Army junior and senior ROTC programs in local schools.
• Support Army recruiting.
• Promote and support the Army’s Wounded Warrior Program
• Promote the Army’s Freedom Team Salute, placing emphasis on corporate members, distinguished individual members and regional or state civic leaders.
• Support AUSA’s Institute of Land Warfare (ILW).
• Staff membership & information booth at Fort Hood's annual Retiree Weekend.
• Support Fort Hood’s Army Birthday Celebration on 14 June of each year.
• Conduct end-of-program year chapter awards and installation of officers/board.
• Other issues, opportunities, activities and contingencies.

Check out our Chapter Business Plan Icon - on this website - for details.

And there are other National Benefits, including:

Armed Forces Services Corporation
AFSC offers a system of services to help members achieve peace of mind in knowing their families will be taken care of when the time comes. AFSC offers members detailed information about their government survivor benefits. At the time of the member's death, they will also offer the family their services in filing claims and other administrative details to ensure they receive everything they are entitled to. Members on AUSA receive a 10% discount on AFSC services.

Army Times/Federal Times Subscription Discount
AUSA members receive substantial discounts on subscriptions.

AUSA Bank Card Program From MBNA
AUSA members are eligible to apply for an AUSA bank card. Earn reward points toward travel or merchandise.

Book Program
AUSA members receive up to a 35% discount on over 400 titles. Discounts apply not only to military titles, but other popular books as well. More information

Car Rental Discounts
Members receive substantial discounts from the following car rental companies:

• Alamo
• AVIS
• Budget
• Hertz
• National

Certificates of Deposit and Money Market Accounts from MBNA
MBNA America is now offering AUSA members competitive rates on certificates of deposit (CDs) and money market deposit accounts. These rates, now available to AUSA members, have consistently ranked among the most competitive interest rates in the nation. And you can open a new account with only $2,500.

The MBNA money market deposit account is a liquid account that allows you to make up to six withdrawals per statement cycle, three of them by check. The MBNA CD offers terms ranging from six to 60 months. Interest on both products is compounded daily and applied monthly with flexible interest options. MBNA America also provides Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) in the form of CD and money market deposit accounts. All accounts are FDIC insured up to $100,000 per depositor.

MBNA GoldOption® & Gold Reserve® Accounts
MBNA offers consumer lines of credit for AUSA members including an MBNA GoldOption® Account - a personal line of credit that is customized to fit your personal situation - and a Gold Reserve® Account - a revolving line of credit account.

Choice Hotels International® Discounts
AUSA members can receive a 20% discount off hotel rooms at the following hotels:

• Clarion®
• Quality®
• Comfort Suites®
• Comfort Inn®
• Sleep Inn®
• Econo Lodge®
• Rodeway Inn®
• MainStay Suites®

You can book up to 9 rooms under one name with this program. Discounts are based on availability.

ElderCare Options
An alternative for the millions of seniors who are unable to obtain long-term care insurance. Receive out-of-pocket savings on long-term care services such as home health aides and senior living facilities; plus 24-hour access to ElderCare professionals who can answer your questions and coordinate whatever care you need.

Select ElderCare Options Plus to save significantly on chiropractic services, vision care, dental care, hearing aids, and more.

One membership fee covers all members of your household. You can also purchase this product for your parents and parents-in-law.

GEICO Auto Insurance
AUSA members (who qualify) receive up to a 10% discount in states where available.

GranthamUniversity
Online Education. Military scholarships available for active duty members, veterans, and family members. "Fast Track" online degree programs in:

• Criminal Justice
• Business Administration
• Computer Science
• Engineering

Scholarships are available for AUSA members: You must be an AUSA member to participate. Join today to take advantage of this benefit.

Lifeplan-Group-Term-Life-Insurance
With Lifeplan, AUSA members will benefit from top-notch coverage at affordable group rates. Up to $250,000 coverage is available for members and spouses. Children’s-rider-offered.

Mastercare
AUSA Group Supplemental Health Insurance Plans offer excellent coverage at economical-group-rates.

New Information!
Sign up for the CollegeSTEPS® Program and have a chance to win $1,000 toward college tuition! You must be an AUSA member to participate. Join today to take advantage of this benefit.