What SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP ASSOCIATION does

Special Operations Association (SOA) is a nonprofit fraternal organization of U.S. special operations veterans, founded in 1976 and rooted in the lineage of MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam — Studies and Observations Group). The first SOA reunion was held in 1971; the association has held an annual reunion — branded SOAR — every year since, with the 50th anniversary (SOAR 50) scheduled for October 2026 in North Las Vegas, Nevada. SOA's core membership base comprises former special operations personnel and their immediate family, with eligibility restricted to verified service in U.S. special operations units; membership is set at $40 lifetime.

The association operates through an all-volunteer board of veterans and a single paid administrator (Linda Leavitt), with seven named staff/leadership contacts on file. Its affiliated 501(c)(3), the Special Operations Association Foundation (SOAF), runs charitable programming including scholarships, benevolence/support funds for members in need, and a Legacy Membership tier that broadens the giving base beyond standard lifetime dues. Year-round engagement is delivered through sub-programs such as SOA Riders (a motorcycle-riding community) and a network of regional Liaison Officers (LNOs).

The revenue model is diversified across four streams: lifetime membership dues, paid registration for the annual SOAR reunion and ancillary events, an online merchandise store and recurring raffles (notably the 2026 Online Raffle run in partnership with Lipsey's), and tax-deductible donations through SOAF. Corporate sponsorship — including firearms-industry partners such as Lipsey's and Smith & Wesson, beverage sponsors led by Anheuser-Busch, watch partners, and venue partner Orleans Hotel (Boyd Gaming) — supports event operations but is supplementary rather than primary revenue. The technology stack is minimal and entirely off-the-shelf: a website, JotForm-based registration, Zoom, email, and social media; there is no proprietary platform or AI/ML capability.

Name

SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP ASSOCIATION

Legal name

Special Operations Association

Website

https://specialoperations.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Special Operations Association (SOA) is a nonprofit fraternal organization of U.S. special operations veterans, founded 1976, that runs the annual SOAR reunion, a lifetime membership program, and charitable activities through its SOAF foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterans Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Operations & Counterterrorism (BPAIAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)

Keywords

• Veterans association
• Special operations
• Membership dues
• Reunion events
• Scholarship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

North Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues ($30-$35 depending on renewal timing) and life memberships ($505 under 70, $305 over 70) generate recurring revenue from veteran members. A $35 non-refundable application fee applies to new members.
2. Event Registration Fees: SOAR reunion events generate revenue through registration fees. SOAR 50 full registration is $285 per person; daily registration is $100 per day. Additional fees for optional events like the Prayer Breakfast ($45) and Blue Man Group entertainment ($110).
3. Quarter Master Store Merchandise: The QM Store sells merchandise including shirts, polos, hats, coins, patches, decals, flags, pins, and specialty items like MACV-SOG 60th Anniversary gear and SOA Logo limited edition merchandise. Store purchases support SOA educational and informational programs.
4. Raffle Sales: Annual online raffles featuring donated items such as SOA Logo etched weapons (from Lipsey's). Only 250 of each item produced, creating scarcity. Proceeds support association programs.
5. Donations: Donations from members, supporters, and sponsors support the association and its programs including scholarships, warrior support funds, and POW/MIA efforts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Special Operations Association is a membership-based veterans organization that provides fellowship, advocacy, and support services to U.S. Armed Forces Special Operations veterans and their families. Its core offerings include an annual reunion event (SOAR), scholarship programs in memory of fallen members, multiple support funds (Brightlight, Warrior's Family, POW/MIA), a motorcycle fellowship program, a video history preservation program, and a merchandise store.

Product overview

The Special Operations Association (SOA) is a membership-based veterans' organization offering a unified portfolio of programs and services for special operations veterans. The core offerings include the annual SOAR reunion event, scholarship programs in memory of fallen members, various support funds (Brightlight, Warrior's Family, POW/MIA), the SOA Riders motorcycle program, Video History Program, and a Quarter Master Store for merchandise. Members can join through annual or life memberships and receive access to communications via the SOA Newsletter. The organization also operates through volunteer roles including Liaison Officers who connect the association with current military units.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SOAF: Special Operations Association Foundation - a separate foundation entity supporting the SOA's mission and Legacy Membership program.
• SOAR
• SOA Riders
• Brightlight Fund
• Warrior's Family Fund
• POW/MIA FUND
• Quarter Master Store

Products and services

• SOAR (Special Operations Association Reunion) Annual reunion event held in the third week of October featuring seminars, meetings, workshops, and a banquet celebrating members and honoring the fallen. The 4-day event fosters camaraderie and fellowship among special operations veterans.
• SOA Membership Membership program for veterans and members of U.S. Armed Forces Special Operations Units, with annual and life membership options, providing access to reunions, scholarships, and veteran support programs.
• SOA Scholarship Programs Annual scholarships awarded in the name of killed or missing in action members, presented to deserving recipients with brief biographies of the fallen members' last missions.
• Quarter Master Store Online merchandise store offering shirts, polos, hats, coins, patches, decals, flags, pins, and commemorative items including official SOA coins and MACV-SOG anniversary gear.
• Brightlight Fund Fund providing support to special operations veterans and their families in times of need.
• Warrior's Family Fund Support program for families of special operations veterans.
• POW/MIA Fund Fund supporting efforts related to prisoners of war and those missing in action, and their families.
• SOA Riders Motorcycle trip program connecting special operations veterans through organized riding events and trips.
• Video History Program Program dedicated to preserving and documenting the history of special operations forces through video records.
• SOA Newsletter Electronic newsletter providing updates to members about association news, events, and relevant information.
• SOA Liaison Officer Program Volunteer program where LNOs represent the Special Operations Association to active and reserve Special Forces and Special Operations units, serving as local points of contact for membership, veteran resources, and unit events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 Medals of Honor received by MACV-SOG members over its 8-year existence
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lipsey'sminorOthers · 1 January 2026Lipsey's, a firearms distributor, generously donated two SOA Logo etched weapons (limited to 250 of each) for the 2026 Online Raffle. The partnership supports SOA fundraising efforts through donated merchandise prizes.
• Orleans Hotel & Casino (Boyd Gaming)coreOthers · 1 January 2026The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas serves as the venue for SOAR 50 (October 12-15, 2026). Negotiated group room rates of $82.48 (Sun-Thu) and $138.98 (Fri-Sat) plus resort fees are available to SOA members using group code SOAJ26C. Room rates guaranteed through September 7, 2026.
• Anheuser-BuschminorOthersSponsor/supporter of the SOA, contributing to the organization's programs and events.
• MK II WatchesminorOthersWatch manufacturer sponsoring SOA. MK II Watches produces military-themed timepieces.
• Smith & WessonminorOthersFirearms manufacturer sponsoring SOA and its programs.
• ExcaliburminorOthersSponsor/supporter of SOA events and programs.
• Savage Game DesignminorOthersGame designer with Patreon presence (cw/savagegame), supporting SOA through creative/media work.
• Memorial BraceletsminorOthersMemorial Bracelets creates commemorative bracelets for fallen service members, partnering with SOA to honor the fallen.
• DC Vintage WatchesminorOthersDC Vintage Watches offers MACV-SOG themed watches, including the 1969 Seiko 6106/8100 MACV-SOG Diver watch, supporting SOA's heritage preservation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Legion: Broad incumbent — massive U.S. wartime veterans organization with posts, advocacy, and programs. Comparable to SOA on veterans membership model and event-driven engagement, but operates at significantly larger scale across all eras and branches.
• Special Operations Warrior Foundation: Broader incumbent in the special operations support space — provides scholarships, financial aid, and family support to children of fallen SOF warriors. Shares SOA's SOF constituency and scholarship-program focus but at a much larger operational scale.
• Green Beret Foundation: Broad incumbent — established nonprofit supporting the Special Forces community through programs, scholarships, and emergency financial assistance. Compares to SOA on veteran support programs and SOF constituency, but operates at a larger, more program-funded scale.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): Broad incumbent — one of the largest U.S. veterans membership organizations, with chapters, advocacy, and benefit programs. Comparable to SOA as a veterans membership association, but covers all combat veterans rather than specializing in special operations.

Direct peers

• UDT-SEAL Association: Direct peer — membership organization for Navy SEALs, UDT, and Special Warfare personnel, with annual reunions, brotherhood focus, and veteran support programs. Closely mirrors SOA's special operations veteran membership model.
• Marine Raider Association: Direct peer — fraternity-style association for Marine Corps Forces Special Operations veterans, with reunions, brotherhood focus, and tribute programs similar to SOA's structure.
• 75th Ranger Regiment Association: Direct peer — association for Rangers and Ranger-affiliated special operations veterans, with reunions, brotherhood events, and welfare support. Compares to SOA as a unit-specific special operations heritage organization.
• Special Forces Association (SFA): Direct peer — a membership-based association for U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret) veterans with annual reunions, chapter networks, and similar brotherhood/support mission. Most directly comparable to SOA in structure, scope, and constituency.

Emerging players

• Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association: Emerging player — combat-veteran motorcycle organization with chapters, rides, and brotherhood events. Directly comparable to SOA Riders sub-brand and shares the veteran fellowship/motorcycle community model.

Others

• National League of Families of POW/MIA: Adjacent organization — the entity that SOA was the first veterans group to support in 1979. Operates the POW/MIA flag and full accounting advocacy mission that SOA's POW/MIA Fund program supports. Ecosystem partner more than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user-103268778/folder/25431388
• Facebookfacebook.com/specialoperationsassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-operations-group-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP ASSOCIATION