What Our Community Salutes does

Our Community Salutes (OCS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009 by Dr. Kenneth Hartman, an educator and former U.S. Army officer. The organization runs a national network of community-based Enlistee Recognition Ceremonies across 25 states — 58 ceremonies in 2025 honoring more than 4,300 high school seniors who enlist in the U.S. Armed Services immediately after graduation — alongside the annual America Salutes national virtual broadcast. It addresses the structural gap that military-bound graduates, unlike college-bound peers, lack a consistent community ritual of recognition and a curated set of transition resources for enlistees and families.

OCS's product surface includes the OCS Connect digital platform (launched 2021) for educational and financial-planning resources, the Education Pathways Partnership Program (EPPP), the Virtual Thank You Card public appreciation forum, the OCS Store for veteran-made merchandise, and recognition awards such as the General Colin L. Powell Memorial Service Award and the OCS STEM Educator Award. Governance is exercised through a National Board of Directors and a National Advisory Council drawing retired senior leadership from across all service branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard), and the organization holds a Charity Navigator Four-Star 'Give with Confidence' rating and a GuideStar Bronze Seal of Transparency.

Revenue mechanics are donation-based and do not rely on equity or debt funding. Streams include individual donations (suggested monthly tiers of $10/$15/$20), corporate sponsorships with USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union, Comcast (a $1 million disclosed commitment in April 2024), Boeing, GEICO, American Military University, Vistage, Fiserv, and the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation; Combined Federal Campaign designations (code #15989); planned giving via bequests and life insurance; and stock gifts. Go-to-market is event-driven: ceremonies are organized with local OCS chapters, military recruiters, schools, and government officials, and amplified through earned media (Fox News, Military Times, NBC Philadelphia) and paid podcast appearances.

Name

Our Community Salutes

Legal name

Our Community Salutes

Website

https://ourcommunitysalutes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Our Community Salutes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs community-based recognition ceremonies in 25 U.S. states to honor high school seniors enlisting in the Armed Services after graduation, supporting enlistees, families, and local communities through events and the OCS Connect digital platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Military Recognition Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)

Keywords

• Military enlistee recognition
• Nonprofit youth services
• Community recognition ceremonies
• Military transition support
• Veteran community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Maple Shade

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Relies on individual donations from supporters to fund recognition ceremonies and programs for new enlistees. Encourages monthly donations of $10, $15, $20 or more.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with corporations like USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union, Comcast, Boeing, and others who provide financial and promotional support.
3. Combined Federal Campaign (CFC): Federal employees can designate OCS as recipient of CFC contributions. CFC donation ID code is #15989.
4. Planned Giving: Bequests through wills/trusts and life insurance beneficiary designations.
5. Stock Gifts: Accepts stock gifts as donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Our Community Salutes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that recognizes, honors, and supports high school seniors who plan to enlist in the U.S. Armed Services after graduation. Its core offering is a network of community-based Enlistee Recognition Ceremonies held annually across 25+ states, complemented by the OCS Connect digital platform providing transition resources, the annual America Salutes national virtual ceremony, and recognition awards for educators.

Product overview

Our Community Salutes is a single, unified nonprofit program centered around honoring and supporting high school seniors who enlist in the U.S. Armed Services after graduation. The core offering is the Enlistee Recognition Ceremony program, supported by the OCS Connect digital platform for resources and planning tools, the annual America Salutes national virtual ceremony, and the Virtual Thank You Card for public appreciation. Additional programs include the Education Pathways Partnership Program (EPPP), merchandise through the OCS Store, and recognition awards for educators (General Colin L. Powell Memorial Service Award and OCS STEM Educator Award). Together, these offerings create a comprehensive ecosystem supporting new enlistees and their families throughout their military journey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OCS Connect: A free online resource for new high school enlistees and their parents covering topics like money management and early college/career planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,300+ new enlistees honored in 2025 across 25 states and 58 ceremonies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Partnership to recognize and support high school seniors enlisting in U.S. Armed Forces. MOWW chapters will participate in local and national OCS ceremonies and support OCS Connect platform.
• Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Strategic partnership to support and honor new National Guard enlistees across the nation. Unites strengths of both organizations to support Guard members.
• Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Joint initiative to recognize and support new enlistees across the country. Combines OCS ceremony program with MOAA's veteran officer network.
• ComcastmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2024Comcast announced a $1 million commitment to military-serving nonprofits including OCS. Launched Xfinity Military discount program and The Aviators ad campaign honoring military community.
• United States Army Warrant Officers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Joint effort to recognize and support young Americans answering the call to serve. Partnership to acknowledge warrant officers' role in military mentorship.
• GEICOminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2021Partnership to honor military-bound high school seniors with online ceremony during COVID-19 pandemic.
• Navy Federal Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2009 supporting the nation's newest enlistees and their families. Navy Federal participates in over 30 OCS ceremonies annually, providing financial guidance and resources to military families. Partnership has continued for 16 consecutive years.
• USAAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUSAA has been a supporter since OCS's first ceremony in 2009. Sponsors the General Colin L. Powell Memorial Service Award. Provides support for America Salutes events and honors military-bound high school seniors.
• Diana Davis Spencer FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation promoting national security, entrepreneurship, and free enterprise. Supports OCS mission and participated in Washington D.C. ceremony.
• Hiring Our HeroescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Washington D.C. national ceremony hosted at U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Hiring Our Heroes co-hosted the event for high school seniors from across the country.
• BoeingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium supporter of OCS. Leading global aerospace company supporting military community initiatives.
• American Military University (AMU)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner committed to empowering the next generation preparing to serve. Provides preferred tuition rates for military families.
• VistageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorld's largest CEO coaching organization supporting OCS as premium supporter.
• FiservminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services provider supporting OCS as premium supporter for military community.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Bunker Labs: National nonprofit supporting military-connected entrepreneurs through labs, programming, and community. Comparable as a military-community nonprofit that has even formally recognized OCS (2017 Humility and Honor Award); serves an adjacent but distinct mission of veteran entrepreneurship.

Broad incumbents

• Wounded Warrior Project: Large, well-funded nonprofit serving post-9/11 wounded veterans and their families through programming, mental health, and transition services. Comparable as a major incumbent in the military-family support space, though it targets a different population (wounded veterans rather than new enlistees).
• Army Emergency Relief: Official Army nonprofit providing financial assistance, scholarships, and support to soldiers and families. Comparable as a branch-affiliated military-family support nonprofit that intersects with OCS's transition-resource offerings.
• Military Officers Association of America (MOAA): Large, established association representing officers, veterans, and their families with benefits, advocacy, and transition services. Comparable as both an OCS partner (May 2024) and a peer serving military families across the lifecycle, though at much larger scale.
• USO (United Service Organizations): Long-standing incumbent nonprofit supporting active-duty service members and military families through programs, entertainment, and transition resources. Comparable as a broader, better-funded military-family support organization operating adjacent to OCS's enlistee-recognition and transition support mission.

Direct peers

• Travis Manion Foundation: Veteran-founded nonprofit that empowers veterans and families of fallen service members through character-based programming and community engagement. Comparable as a peer military-service nonprofit engaging communities to honor and support service members and their families.
• Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation: Need-based scholarship provider for children of Marine Corps and Navy service members. Comparable as a military-affiliated nonprofit supporting post-secondary education and military families, though focused specifically on Marine Corps/Navy scholarships rather than cross-branch recognition.
• Student Veterans of America: National nonprofit supporting student veterans in higher education through chapters, scholarships, and advocacy. Comparable as a peer nonprofit serving the military-to-civilian transition journey, although SVA focuses on college-going veterans rather than direct-enlist high school seniors.
• Hiring Our Heroes: A program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation focused on military spouse employment, veteran hiring, and transition support. Directly comparable to OCS because it is an active partner (co-hosts the Washington D.C. national ceremony) and operates in the same military-transition support niche for new service members.

Others

• Hiring Our Heroes (DoD SkillBridge ecosystem): Department of Defense SkillBridge program connecting separating service members to industry training and employment. Comparable as an alternative channel for military transition support that competes for the same donor and government attention as OCS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OCSalutes
• Facebookfacebook.com/ourcommunitysalutes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ocsusa
• Instagraminstagram.com/ourcommunitysalutes

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Our Community Salutes