ASSOCIATION OF THE US ARMY (AUSA) MONMOUTH CHAPTER

The Association of the US Army (AUSA) Monmouth Chapter is a 100% volunteer, 501c3 not-for-profit organization serving the greater Monmouth County Region within New Jersey. We support soldiers, veterans of all services, and family members through our unique military-oriented support and recognition programs. We educate and inform the community regarding the US Army, including mission, organizational structure, current operations, priorities, and challenges. We support local youth through scholarship programs, volunteer service opportunities, and by striving to instill values of citizenship and service to the nation. Our chapter is named in honor of the former Fort Monmouth Army Installation in Eatontown, NJ and the Revolutionary War Battle of Monmouth which was fought near Freehold NJ. We have been in continuous operation in Monmouth County since our chartering on October 14th, 1966.

WHAT WE DO—SOME HIGHLIGHTS:

We support veterans and family members in the local area.

• We have a terrific service dog program. We purchase puppies, train them as service dogs, pair them with a local veteran or a family member of a veteran with special needs, train them together as a team, and then hand off the service dog to the veteran, all free of charge to the veteran. We have completed 7 service dog/veteran pairings over the past several years and have 2 pairings in progress as of March 2025. This is an expensive program—each pairing costs approximately $20,000.
• We support the annual New Jersey Run for the Fallen. A cadre of troops run from Cape May to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel over a period of 3 days in late September, stopping at pre-designated markers along the route, each one dedicated to a New Jersey fallen hero. We recognize at least one such hero’s family each year by presenting them with a special “Honor and Remember” flag at one of the markers.
• We hold an annual Veterans Day Luncheon where we honor special groups of veterans. We have honored WWII vets, Korean War Vets, Vietnam War Vets, and Purple Heart recipients. In 2025 we will be honoring Special Forces veterans.
• We also support various local veteran support groups and events through our participation with the Monmouth County Veterans Services Council and the New Jersey State Veterans Chamber of Commerce.

We support soldiers, veterans, and family members locally and nationally through our support to the Fisher House Foundation. The Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes (similar to Ronald McDonald houses) adjacent to major military hospitals. This enables family members of service members and veterans who are being treated at these hospitals to stay at these comfort homes free of charge and be near their loved ones to provide moral support. Over the course of the past 20 years, our chapter has raised over $2.5 million for the Fisher House Foundation.

We Support Soldiers in the Local Area

• We have “adopted” the soldiers of the local Tinton Falls, NJ Recruiting Station, providing them with surprise lunches from time to time, inviting them to our events free of charge, recognizing their recruiter of the year with a special award, and assisting them where possible in their efforts to recruit in local high schools, etc.
• We also work closely with the 254th National Guard Training Regiment in Sea Girt, NJ, inviting their soldiers to our events free of charge, and participating in their award ceremonies by recognizing their outstanding soldiers with special AUSA awards, etc.

We Support our local youth

• We award approximately $5,000 each year in scholarships to graduating high school students in the local area who have participated in their school’s Junior ROTC program.
• We also award $100 gift cards to each of the finalists in the annual Jersey Shore Junior Science Symposium project competition.

We also strive to educate and inform residents and community leaders in the local area through briefings, presentations, and participation with local organizations. We educate young Americans, teachers, community leaders, etc. on the value of service and the fact that Army/Military service is a worthy choice for smart, fit youth. We’re also a voice for the Army, providing information about the Army, its mission, its organizational structure, its priorities, its initiatives, its challenges, etc.

To support our efforts, we conduct various fundraising initiatives throughout the year

• Our signature event is our annual Gingerbread Ball which is a formal gala held on the first Saturday in December with proceeds going to the Fisher House Foundation.
• We host pancake breakfasts and an annual golf outing with all proceeds going to our Service Dog Program.
• We host an annual Army Birthday Celebratory Dinner, and many other events throughout the year.
• We also continue to attract new members and community partners to help us, as again, we are a 100% volunteer organization and rely on the financial generosity of our sponsors and the gift of time from our members and partners to accomplish our mission.

These are just some highlights of what we do for soldiers, veterans of all services, and family members in the greater Monmouth County Region. For more information about the AUSA Monmouth Chapter, please contact:

Contact Us

Ed Thomas
President
Association of the US Army (AUSA)
Monmouth Chapter
732.829.1460 (Cell)
ect0203@gmail.com

Chapter President's Messages:

President's Message: Chapter Accomplishments (Jul - Dec 2024)

President's Spring Message 2023 

Chapter Newsletters:

Spring Newsletter 2023    

Winter Newsletter 2022    

Fall Newsletter 2022  

Summer Newsletter 2022

Spring Newsletter 2022

Winter Newsletter 2021   

Fall Newsletter 2021 

Summer Newsletter 2021

no 2021 Spring Newsletter

Donate

Donate directly to the Monmouth Chapter.