Announcement: The Dissolution of NERA
After decades of service and advocacy, the Naval Enlisted Reserve Association (NERA) held its final national conference on April 17–19, 2026, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Membership and leadership reached the difficult decision to formally dissolve NERA. While this marks the end of NERA’s national presence, many NERA chapters have opted to continue.
The following chapters have notified NERA that they are continuing:
Oklahoma Sooners- MSG John Meek [email protected]
Greater Lehigh Valley- EM1 Thomas Rafferty [email protected]
Oliver Hazard- EMC(SW) Ray Barber [email protected]
Central Pennsylvania- PH1 Bob Bentley [email protected]
Windy City- ABHCS Gene Koelker [email protected]
The conference served as both a reunion and a meeting to wind things down. NERA’s leadership was able to honor NERA founders, past presidents and the countless volunteers who maintained the deckplates of the organization for nearly 70 years.
A New Chapter: Partner Organizations
To ensure that no NERA member is left without a voice or a community, several premier military associations have graciously opened their doors, offering a seamless transition for our members to continue their advocacy and fellowship. We encourage you to explore membership with the following organizations, all of which share our commitment to the Sea Services:
Associate of the United States Navy (AUSN) | Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) | Reserve Organization of America (ROA)
The invitations from each organization are below. Please reach out to each organization with any questions regarding membership or to further understand their mission.