Air Force Sergeants Association

What Air Force Sergeants Association does

The Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) is a federally chartered 501(c)(19) non-profit veterans service organization founded in 1961 and headquartered in the Airmen Memorial Building in Arlington, Virginia. AFSA serves more than 75,000 active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve enlisted members, with total membership exceeding 100,000 when including retirees, veterans, and family members. The organization is structured around 125 chapters organized into 7 divisions worldwide, providing grassroots advocacy and member engagement at military installations.

AFSA's core offerings consist of legislative advocacy before Congress and the Department of Defense, a quarterly AFSA Magazine publication, scholarship programs (over $920,100 in AFSA scholarships and over $1.2 million via the affiliated Airmen Memorial Foundation), an annual International Convention and Professional Education & Development Symposium (SUMMIT), the HeroFront podcast, a member benefits platform (insurance through PEARL, financial services through USAA, transition support, and family resources), and an e-commerce merchandise storefront. The organization operates three affiliated charitable entities: the Airmen Memorial Foundation (founded 1983), The Enlisted Foundation (established 2017), and the Uniformed Services Foundation (established 2021). No proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed in available sources; member-facing infrastructure is built on a conventional website (hqafsa.org), member portal (members.hqafsa.org), and standard e-commerce store.

AFSA's revenue model is fundamentally subscription-based, anchored by membership dues priced at $36 (one year), $63 (two years), and $89 (three years), with lifetime memberships available. Supplementary revenue streams include donations routed through affiliated charitable foundations, magazine subscriptions, event registration fees for the annual SUMMIT (which has drawn 1,800-3,500+ attendees), merchandise sales, and member benefits partnerships. The organization is governed by an elected Board of Directors and International President; Keith A. Reed serves as Executive Director overseeing an HQ staff of 11-50 personnel. Steven Haro was elected International President and Dr. James Crissinger as International Vice President in 2025. AFSA reports no parent company, no venture funding, and no public shareholders, consistent with its member-controlled 501(c)(19) structure.

Name

Air Force Sergeants Association

Legal name

Air Force Sergeants Association

Website

https://hqafsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Air Force Sergeants Association is a federally chartered 501(c)(19) non-profit founded in 1961 that represents over 100,000 enlisted Air Force personnel, retirees, and families through legislative advocacy, scholarships, professional development events, and a member benefits platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Military Professional Association / Veterans Advocacy Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans & Military Family Benefits Administration (BPAIAKAI)

Keywords

• Military professional association
• Veteran advocacy services
• Legislative advocacy
• Enlisted military benefits
• Military scholarship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Suitland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Primary revenue stream from membership dues. Annual membership is $36 for one year, $63 for two years, $89 for three years, with lifetime memberships also available. Dues support AFSA's advocacy, legislative activities, scholarships, and member services.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Donations through AFSA International Charities Programs including the Uniformed Services Foundation (USF), AFSA Scholarship Program, Airmen Memorial Building Fund, Airmen Memorial Foundation (AMF), and The Enlisted Foundation (TEF). These fund quality of life enhancements and memorial maintenance.
3. AFSA Apparel and Merchandise: AFSA operates an online store (afsaapparel.itemorder.com) selling merchandise including AFSA branded items, decals, certificates, and commemorative products.
4. Magazine Subscriptions: AFSA Magazine is available via subscription to members and non-members. The magazine is published quarterly (Spring, Winter, Fall, Summer editions).
5. Event Registration and Tickets: Revenue generated from AFSA Summit/Convention events including AFSA International Convention, Professional Education & Development Symposium (PEDS), and various meal function tickets and special events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

AFSA is a federally chartered 501(c)(19) non-profit professional association that sells individual memberships to enlisted Air Force personnel, retirees, veterans, and their families. Its core offering combines legislative advocacy, professional development (conferences, video library, podcast), scholarships, a quarterly magazine, an online member portal, and a curated suite of member benefits (insurance, financial services, family support).

Product overview

The Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) operates as a membership-based professional association serving Air Force enlisted personnel. Its primary digital offerings consist of a public website (hqafsa.org) providing advocacy information and organizational news, a members-only portal (members.hqafsa.org) enabling membership management, event registration, and store access, and the AFSA Magazine publication. Additional offerings include the AFSA Scholarship Program and Airmen Memorial Foundation Scholarships providing educational financial assistance, a Video Library for professional development, annual SUMMIT/Convention events for professional development and networking, the HeroFront podcast in partnership, and a Member Benefits Platform offering insurance, financial services, and family support resources. The organization also operates an e-commerce Store for merchandise. AFSA was founded in 1961 and represents over 75,000 military members and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AFSA Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1.2 million in scholarships awarded to 1,000+ scholarship recipients
• +3 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

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• USAAcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019USAA is a key Mission Partner supporting AFSA events and programs. They sponsor door prizes, provide financial services benefits to AFSA members, and participate in professional development forums on financial readiness. USAA has served the financial needs of military and their families for almost 100 years.
• American Military University (AMU)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019American Military University is an educational Mission Partner providing scholarship opportunities for AFSA members and dependents. AMU offers discounted education programs and recruits students at AFSA conferences.
• Columbia Southern University (CSU)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Columbia Southern University is an educational Mission Partner offering scholarships and education programs to AFSA members and their dependents. They participate in AFSA Info/Expo events.
• Waldorf UniversitycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Waldorf University is an educational Mission Partner providing scholarship opportunities to AFSA award recipients including the AFSA Airmen of the Year scholarship.
• PEARL InsurancecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019PEARL Insurance is a Mission Partner providing group insurance plans exclusively to AFSA members through the AFSA Member Insurance Program.
• Air Force Aid SocietycoreOthers · 1 January 2019Air Force Aid Society is a charitable Mission Partner providing emergency assistance and educational support to Air Force members and their families.
• Air Force Enlisted VillagecoreOthers · 1 January 2019Air Force Enlisted Village is a charitable Mission Partner providing support and housing assistance to Air Force enlisted personnel and their families in need.
• K9s for WarriorscoreOthers · 1 January 2019K9s for Warriors is a Mission Partner providing service dogs to veterans and active-duty service members suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma. Featured at AFSA PAC conferences.
• Airman Heritage FoundationcoreOthers · 1 January 2019Airman Heritage Foundation is a Mission Partner preserving and promoting the history and heritage of Air Force enlisted personnel.
• Air Force Wounded WarriorcoreOthers · 1 January 2019Air Force Wounded Warrior program is a Mission Partner supporting wounded, ill, and injured Air Force members and their families.
• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)secondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019SNHU is an educational Mission Partner offering online degree programs to military members and their families with tuition assistance options.
• US Army & Air Force Exchange (AAFES)secondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019AAFES is a Mission Partner operating military exchange stores and providing discounts and benefits to military personnel.
• Bellevue UniversitysecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Bellevue University is an educational Mission Partner offering degree programs to military members and veterans.
• Vanguard PromotionssecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Vanguard Promotions is a Mission Partner providing promotional products and merchandise for AFSA events.
• Trident University InternationalsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Trident University International is an educational Mission Partner offering online degree programs to military members.
• American Freedom FoundationcoreOthers · 1 January 2019American Freedom Foundation supports AFSA MASS.C hiring/transition events connecting military members with employment opportunities through the JOIN program.

Scale indicators7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• USO (United Service Organizations): The USO is a large, established non-profit delivering programs and support to active-duty service members and their families worldwide. While not a membership/dues organization like AFSA, it is comparable in mission (military family quality-of-life) and as a major partner in the military non-profit ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Disabled American Veterans (DAV): DAV is a congressionally chartered non-profit providing benefits advocacy, transition support, and disability-related services to disabled veterans and their families. Like AFSA, it operates on membership dues and donations, runs a chapter network, and advocates legislatively on behalf of a defined service-member constituency.
• Military Officers Association of America (MOAA): MOAA advocates for the full range of uniformed service members (with an officer focus) on pay, healthcare, and benefits, and is a congressionally chartered non-profit offering insurance, financial services, and legislative advocacy. It is comparable to AFSA in mission and benefits structure, but represents officers rather than enlisted personnel.
• Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA): NCOA is a congressionally chartered non-profit serving NCOs, petty officers, and their families across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is highly comparable to AFSA in target constituency (enlisted/NCOs), advocacy focus, and benefits offering, but operates across branches rather than exclusively the Air Force.
• Fleet Reserve Association (FRA): FRA represents enlisted personnel of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard — active, reserve, and retired — through legislative advocacy, member benefits, and a chapter network. Its structure, mission, and dues-based membership model closely parallel AFSA's, though its constituency is sea-service rather than Air Force.
• The American Legion: The American Legion is the largest U.S. wartime veterans service organization, offering advocacy, scholarships, insurance, and member benefits. Like AFSA it is a congressionally chartered 501(c)(19) non-profit operating on dues, donations, and an extensive chapter network, serving a broader cross-service veteran population.
• Reserve Officers Association (ROA): ROA is a congressionally chartered association advocating for reserve-component service members (officer and enlisted) of all branches on benefits, pay, and readiness issues. Like AFSA it combines legislative advocacy with a chapter network and member benefits, though it is broader in scope (all reserves, not just Air Force).
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): The VFW is one of the largest U.S. congressionally chartered veterans service organizations, providing legislative advocacy, member benefits, and community programs to wartime veterans. It is directly comparable to AFSA in mission, membership/dues business model, and advocacy focus, but covers multiple service branches rather than being exclusive to the Air Force.

Emerging players

• Student Veterans of America (SVA): SVA is a non-profit supporting student veterans through campus chapters, scholarships, and advocacy on education benefits. It overlaps with AFSA's scholarship and education-benefit advocacy mission but focuses on a specific life-stage (higher education) and operates via student-led campus chapters rather than installation-based ones.
• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA): IAVA is a modern veterans service organization focused on post-9/11 veterans across all branches, with emphasis on policy advocacy, mental health, and member benefits delivered through digital channels. It is comparable to AFSA in advocacy mission but competes with a younger, digital-first model rather than a chapter-driven one.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AFSAHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/AFSAHQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afsahq
• Instagraminstagram.com/afsahq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Air Force Sergeants Association