{{Short description|American not-for-profit U.S. Armed Forces support organization}} {{Infobox company | name = Armed Forces Mutual | former_name = American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association | logo = Armed Forces Mutual logo.svg | logo_size = 200px | foundation = {{Start date|1879|}} | genre = Not-for-profit | location_city = Fort Myer, Virginia | location_country = U.S. | industry = Financial services<br /> Life insurance | homepage = {{URL|aafmaa.com}} | key_people = '''BG Michael J. Meese, PhD (USA, Ret.)''' <br />President<br />'''Mark H. Matsuura'''<br />Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer<br />'''Kevin Kincaid'''<br />Chief Marketing Officer<br />'''COL Jerry Quinn (USAR, Ret.)'''<br />Chief Operating Officer and Secretary<br />'''Charlene Wilde'''<br />Senior Vice President and Assistant Secretary<br />'''Jeff Havener'''<br />President, AAFMAA Mortgage Services LLC<br />'''Charles B. Betancourt'''<br />Chief Operating Officer AAFMAA Property<br />'''LTC Steve Mannell, USA, Ret.'''<br />President, AAFMAA Wealth Management & Trust<ref name="keypeople">{{cite web |url=https://www.aafmaa.com/about/meet-the-team/aafmaa |title=Meet the Team}}</ref> | products = Insurance, Government Benefits counseling, Wealth Management & Trust services, Mortgages | assets = {{decrease}} $1.26 billion<ref name="Report24">{{cite web |url=https://www.aafmaa.com/Portals/0/AnnualReports/2024%20Annual%20Report.pdf |title=2024 ANNUAL REPORT |website=aafmaa.com}}</ref> | num_employees = 150 }}

'''Armed Forces Mutual''' (Formally known as '''American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association)''' is a Virginia-based not-for-profit, tax-exempt, member-owned organization that provides life insurance and financial services, to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=AAFMAA - Overview |url=http://www.aafmaa.com/AboutUs/Overview.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122215957/http://www.aafmaa.com/AboutUs/Overview.aspx |archive-date=2011-01-22 |access-date= |website=www.aafmaa.com}}</ref> At the end of 2019, membership exceeded 85,000<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=AAFMAA Annual Report 2019|url=https://www.aafmaa.com/Portals/0/AnnualReport/2019%20AAFMAA%20Annual%20Report.PDF|work=AAFMAA }}</ref> Founded in 1879 following the Battle of the Little Bighorn, it is one of the oldest military-oriented financial associations in the United States.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=LeDoux |first=Julia |date=2025-01-03 |title=New year, new financial resolutions for veterans and their families |url=https://www.audacy.com/connectingvets/news/new-year-new-financial-resolutions-for-veterans-families |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250529023817/https://www.audacy.com/connectingvets/news/new-year-new-financial-resolutions-for-veterans-families |archive-date=2025-05-29 |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=www.audacy.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Association |first=Army Mutual Aid |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pl3PAAAAMAAJ |title=Annual Report ... for the Year Ended February 28, Organized January 13, 1879 |date=1933 |publisher=B. S. Adams |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Association|first=Army Mutual Aid|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pl3PAAAAMAAJ|title=Annual Report ... for the Year Ended February 28, Organized January 13, 1879|date=1933|publisher=B. S. Adams|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=History of the AAFMAA|url=https://www.aafmaa.com/learning-hub/aafmaa/mission-history|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918145246/https://www.aafmaa.com/learning-hub/aafmaa/mission-history |archive-date=2020-09-18 |access-date=}}</ref>

Armed Forces Mutual operates under IRS section 501(c)(23), as a mutual aid society established prior to 1880 to support veterans through insurance benefits.<ref name=":0" />

The organization has since expanded to provide wealth management, trust, and mortgage services through its wholly owned subsidiaries to past and present members of the U.S. Armed Forces.<ref name=":0" />

== History == Armed Forces Mutual was founded on January 13, 1879, by U.S. Army officers following the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn, which exposed the lack of financial support for soldiers’ families.<ref name=":0" /> Brigadier General Roger Jones led the effort to create a member- owned, nonprofit mutual aid association. Originally named the Army Mutual Aid Association, membership was initially limited to Army officers, however, the organization expanded eligibility over time.<ref name=":0" />

In 1954, membership was extended to the Army National Guard and Reserve. Air Force officers were included in 1984, prompting a name change in 1987 to the Army and Air Force Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-10 |title=EVALUATION REPORT COMMERCIAL LIFE INSURANCE SALES PROCEDURES IN DOD |url=https://media.defense.gov/1999/Mar/10/2001713909/-1/-1/1/99-106.pdf}}</ref> In 1995, eligibility was broadened to include non-commissioned Officers and, in 2000, further opened to enlisted personnel.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Our Mission & History {{!}} About AAFMAA {{!}} AAFMAA |url=https://www.aafmaa.com/learning-hub/aafmaa/mission-history |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=www.aafmaa.com}}</ref> In September 2011, the organization began accepting service members of the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard. To reflect its broader scope, the association's name was changed to American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association on June 12, 2013.<ref name=":3" /> At the end of 2019, membership exceeded 85,000<ref name=":1" /> By 2020, membership included all members of the United States Armed Forces who are on active duty, retired, guard, reserves, students of the service academies, contracted ROTC cadets, and honorably discharged veterans.

In 2021, membership was further extended to encompass all members of the Space Force as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS).<ref name=":3" /> As of 2024, it serves over 95,800 members, spouses, and dependents and manages approximately $1.26 billion in assets.<ref name="Report24" />

In April 2025, AAFMAA adopted the name Armed Forces Mutual, while retaining its legal name in formal settings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-12 |title=Nonprofit rebrands as Armed Forces Mutual |url=https://www.dcmilitary.com/at_ease/nonprofit-rebrands-as-armed-forces-mutual/article_a5299863-58b4-493f-b14c-cbf8dbf1a778.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250529030707/https://www.dcmilitary.com/at_ease/nonprofit-rebrands-as-armed-forces-mutual/article_a5299863-58b4-493f-b14c-cbf8dbf1a778.html |archive-date=2025-05-29 |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=DC Military |language=en}}</ref>

Armed Forces Mutual is headquartered at Fort Myer, Virginia with additional offices in Reston, Virginia and Fayetteville, North Carolina.<ref name=":0" />

== Services == Armed Forces Mutual primarily provides life insurance, including term and whole life policies tailored to military servicemembers, Veterans, and their families.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Thrivedi |first=Dhruv |date=2023-09-14 |editor-last=Reynolds |editor-first=Paul |title=Best Life Insurance for Veterans |url=https://money.com/best-life-insurance-for-veterans/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250529031514/https://money.com/best-life-insurance-for-veterans/ |archive-date=2025-05-29 |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=Money |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-30 |title=American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association |url=https://veteranonthemove.com/american-armed-forces-mutual-aid-association/ |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=Veteran on the Move |language=en-US}}</ref> It also provides financial planning, investment management, and mortgage services through its wholly owned subsidiaries. Some policies do not require a medical exam and provide coverage for life.<ref name=":4" />

A core program is Survivor Assistance Services, through which staff assist families of deceased members with life insurance claims and applications for government benefits.<ref name=":2" />

Armed Forces Mutual collaborated with the Veteran Saves initiative to support financial literacy and savings among Veterans.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-26 |title=AAFMAA Sponsorship Will Contribute to Funding Tools and Resources to Help Build Wealth in the Veteran Community {{!}} America Saves |url=https://veteransaves.org/newsroom/press-releases/aafmaa-sponsorship-will-contribute-to-funding-tools-and-resources-to-help-build-wealth-in-the-veteran-community/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250529041242/https://veteransaves.org/newsroom/press-releases/aafmaa-sponsorship-will-contribute-to-funding-tools-and-resources-to-help-build-wealth-in-the-veteran-community/ |archive-date=2025-05-29 |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=veteransaves.org |language=en}}</ref> The association introduced two new life insurance products, BeyondBasic<sup>®</sup>, aimed at younger active-duty servicemembers, and Simple Term, designed for current and former uniformed service members and their families.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-11 |title=AAFMAA offers two new life insurance products |url=https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/aafmaa-offers-two-new-life-insurance-products |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250529041449/https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/aafmaa-offers-two-new-life-insurance-products |archive-date=2025-05-29 |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=Insurance News {{!}} InsuranceNewsNet |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Membership and organization == Eligibility includes all active duty, reserve, and National Guard personnel from all U.S. Armed Forces branches, including the Space Force, as well as cadets, midshipmen, honorably discharged veterans in most states, and their families. Certain benefits extend to spouses and dependents.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />

== Governance == Armed Forces Mutual operates as a nonprofit mutual aid association.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association - Nonprofit Explorer |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/530213841 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250529031959/https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/530213841 |archive-date=2025-05-29 |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=ProPublica |language=en}}</ref> Members are policyholders and stakeholders. Surplus revenue is used to reduce premiums, increase benefits, or fund Member services. Donations are not accepted and are not tax-deductible due to its 501(c)(23) status, though the organization is tax-exempt.<ref name=":5" /> A board of directors elected from the membership oversees operations. The president, typically a retired officer, manages daily activities. Brigadier General Michael J. Meese, USA (Ret.), has served in this role since 2020.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" />

A board of directors elected from the membership oversees operations. The president, typically a retired officer, manages daily activities. Brigadier General Michael J. Meese, USA (Ret.), has served in this role since 2020.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" />

== Honorable board members and chairmen == *Dennis Joe Reimer is a retired U.S. Army four-star general who currently serves as Chair of the Armed Forces Mutual Board of Directors.<ref name="keypeople" /> *Jack Neil Merritt was a retired U.S. Army four-star general who served on the board of directors for AAFMAA from 2000 to 2017 and was the Vice Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Finance Committee.<ref name="2009report">{{cite web |title=Annual Report |url=http://pub.aafmaa.com/aafmaaweb/AnnualReports/2009%20Annual%20Report.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707072326/http://pub.aafmaa.com/aafmaaweb/AnnualReports/2009%20Annual%20Report.pdf |archivedate=2011-07-07 |accessdate=2011-02-11}}</ref> *Robert W. Sennewald was a retired U.S. Army four-star general who served as chairman of the board for AAFMAA. *Clyde D. Eddleman was a United States Army four-star general who served as chairman of the board for AAFMAA from 1962 to 1982.<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Orders No. 22, October 5, 1992 Death of Clyde Davis Eddleman |url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/pdf/go9222.pdf |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=armypubs.army.mil}}</ref> *John R. Guthrie was a United States Army four-star general who served on the board of directors for AAFMAA. *Walter T. Kerwin, Jr. was a United States Army four-star general and served as a member of the board of directors for AAFMAA from 1969, becoming its chairman in 1982 and serving until 1997. *Michael S. Davison was a United States Army four-star general and served as the vice chairman for AAFMAA from 1982 to 1997 and chairman from 1997 to 2000.

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.aafmaa.com/ Armed Forces Mutual Homepage]

Category:Financial services companies established in 1879 Category:Life insurance companies of the United States Category:Life insurance companies Category:Companies based in Reston, Virginia Category:Companies based in Virginia Category:Non-profit organizations based in Virginia Category:Mutual organizations Category:United States military pay and benefits