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NGAUS membership among active National Guard officers is up over last year.
Active membership stood at 29,363 members or 49% on June 30 of those eligible compared to 28,964 and 48% at the same time last year.
The national strength percentage is determined by dividing total active association members by officer strength nationwide. The total active members figure is the sum of paid active annual members, active/digital life members and complimentary members.
All new Guard officers, regardless of rank, are eligible for one free year of NGAUS membership.
Active annual and active/digital life membership were both up this year. Complimentary memberships was the only active membership category to decline.
“We’re trending in the right direction, but we would like to see continued growth,” said Army Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the association president.
“It is clear more National Guard officers nationwide are seeing how important the association is to their careers, their units and our unique place in the profession of arms,” he said.
“In addition, increased membership also strengthens our mandate to serve as the voice of the 54 in Washington,” McGinn added.
It also boosts membership revenue, he added, not only at the headquarters but among state/territory associations. NGAUS rebates 25% of collected dues back to state/territory associations that meet certain growth criteria.
Twelve states/territories achieved 100% membership by June 30, the deadline for membership to count toward seating and recognition at the 148th General Conference & Exhibition, Aug 28-31 in Indianapolis.
All 12 built on long streaks of consecutive years at full membership: Arkansas (now 21 straight years), Hawaii (27), Kansas (38), Louisiana (27), Mississippi (46), Nevada (eight), North Dakota (six), South Dakota (27), Tennessee (24), Wisconsin (46), Guam (nine) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (14).
Two states are at 92%: Massachusetts and South Carolina.
North Carolina was the most improved, going from 40% at the end of last year to 62%.
The association ended 2025 with nationwide active membership at 51%.
Most states/territory associations will continue to recruit 2026 members until turning their attention to 2027 in the fall, said retired Army Brig. Gen. Maria Kelly, the acting NGAUS director of membership & marketing.
Total NGAUS membership, which also includes retired membership, corporate members and associate members, stands are nearly 45,000. The association has added 200 new retired members in 2026.
—By John Goheen
