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The ADA Association is a private organization formed
in 1980 as the replacement for a non-appropriated fund activity formed in 1975. It operates
under (1) the provisions of Army Regulation 210-1, Private Organizations on Department of
the Army Installations; (2) IRS Code 501 © (3), tax exempt nonprofit status; and (3) a
Constitution and Bylaws which are periodically examined and evaluated. All donations to
the Association are tax deductible.
The goals of the Association are to support the Air Defense
Artillery soldiers and retirees, to foster a spirit of unity and esprit de corps among
members of the Branch and to provide both moral and financial support to the Air Defense
Artillery Museum and other programs of the Museums Division.
The Association has operated a gift shop
in the ADA Museum since 1983. In addition to providing support to the ADA Museum, proceeds
from the gift shop have enabled the Association to:
Annually recognize the NCO of the Year and the Soldier of
the Year from each Battalion and each Brigade with appropriate plaques.
Annually supply AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY YEARBOOKS to members of
the Association.
Place a Bronze Plaque at the base of the flagpole at Memorial
Circle, Fort Bliss, Texas, honoring the Desert Storm soldiers.
Annually support the receptions hosted by the Chief of the
Branch at the United States Military Academy and the Command and General Staff College.
The Association has also hosted a Branching Ceremony at the Command and General Staff
College.
Annually provide a plaque for the Chief of Air Defense Artillery
to present to the top-ranked United States Military Academy Graduate who selects Air
Defense Artillery as his or her branch of choice.
Provide plaques for the Brigadier General Stephen M. Mellnik
Leadership Award to the outstanding OBC graduates.
Provide incentive grants to Association Chapters.
For these projects and other awards and gifts, the Association has
given over $114,000.
Another program being conducted by the Association is the
management of the Orders of Saint Barbara and the Order of Molly Pitcher.
The Association has been working to generate our branch’s
heritage through artwork. The first venture was the "First to Fire" painting by
Don Stivers depicting the 200th Coast Artillery in the defense of Clark Field
on December 8, 1941. More recently the Association printed the paintings by John Paul
Jones of the landing at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 and the taking of the Remagen Bridge
on March 7, 1945. These prints are available through the Gift Shop.
The Association has an administrative office in the Headquarters
Building at Fort Bliss to conduct Association business and to network with Association
members and Chapters.
The Association is currently conducting a capital fund campaign to
generate funds to refurbish and renovate the Fort Bliss Main Post Exchange Building which
will become the Fort Bliss and Air Defense Artillery Museums in the year 2000 when the new
Post Exchange Building is completed.
The Association has 7,345 individual life members, 80 corporate
members, 4 business partners and 6 chapters.
Lifetime membership in the Association is offered to anyone
committed to Air Defense Artillery. For more information on the Air Defense Artillery
Association, call (915) 568-2711 or write to the ADA Association at P O Box 6101, Fort
Bliss, Texas 79906.
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