Uniformed Services Benefit Association

The Uniformed Services Benefit Association is a nonprofit organization providing low-cost group life insurance plans and other financial services specifically designed for the Active Duty and Retired Military family, as well as well as Honorably Discharged Veterans, IRR, National Guard and Reserves, and Federal Civilian Employees. With over 200,000 lives insured, it is one of the nation's largest military associations.

Mission

USBA provides a family of affordable insurance and financial products and services to military personnel, Federal employees, National Guard and Reserve members, Veterans and their families with the highest ethical standards of conduct and service.

Leadership

USBA's President and CEO is Colonel Jerry V. Patton USAF (Ret.). Prior to his tenure at USBA, Patton served almost 27 years in the United States Air Force where he had varied career assignments in the Logistics, Intelligence and Financial Management fields, including overseas tours in Vietnam and Germany. Patton held staff positions at the Pentagon as the Chief of Personnel Budget Division, the Strategic Air Command and Air Force Communication Command as Director Of Budget and also served as Director, Retired Pay Operations for the US Air Force prior to his retirement. He is the recipient of the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal.

Board of Directors

USBA is governed by a Board of Directors elected annually by the membership. The Board is comprised of active and retired military members and Federal employees. Board members typically serve a 3 year term. Current Board members (2008)are: LTG William M. Steele, USA (Ret.), Chairman of the Board; Lt Gen Paul K. Carlton, Jr., USAF (Ret.), Vice Chairman of the Board; Col Jerry V. Patton, USAF (Ret.), President; Mr. Joseph P. Insinga, SES (Ret.), Secretary; RADM Charles B. Young, USN (Ret.); MG Terry L. Tucker, USA (Ret.); Col Joseph J. Maguire, USAF (Ret.) SES; CSM Steve R. Slocum, USA (Ret.). Supernumeraries: LtGen Earl B. Hailston, USMC (Ret.); CNOCM(SS) Donald R. Kultti, USN (Ret.).

Employees

USBA employees include retired military members with backgrounds in many of the armed services as well as veterans and qualified non-military people. A large number of employees enroll in continuing education courses relating to life insurance each year, and USBA has twice received awards for educational excellence from LOMA (the Life Office Management Association) for high performance on course examinations.

History

USBA was founded in 1959 to meet the needs of Active Duty military personnel, who at that time had difficulty finding adequate life insurance coverage that would cover combat-related deaths. USBA was one of the first companies to do away with the so-called "war clause" in all of its coverage.

Life Insurance Coverage

All USBA-sponsored Group Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Hospital Indemnity Insurance plans are underwritten by New York Life, one of the nation's oldest and strongest life insurance companies. You can feel secure in knowing New York Life has consistently received high ratings for its financial strength from these leading independent rating services: A.M. Best, Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings.

Competition

Life insurance competitors include the government's own Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) as well Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI). USBA offers no War Clause to their insurance which means combat-related deaths are covered. Most non-military focused life insurance companies specifically deny such coverage.

References

* http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,932025,00.html
* http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4PRN/is_2005_March_22/ai_n27848853

ee also

Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance

External links

[http://www.usba.com/ USBA Website]