OFF-LINE TRAINING COURSE
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
www.legion.org/alei
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
HISTORY & ORGANIZATION
VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHAB
NATIONAL SECURITY
Modules
AMERICANISM
CHILDREN & YOUTH
COURSE CONCLUSION
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHAB
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The American Legion
Extension Institute
NATIONAL SECURITY
AMERICANISM
CHILDREN & YOUTH
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LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Lt. Col. Theodore
Roosevelt Jr..
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The Legion is Born
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LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Paris
Saint Louis
Minneapolis
During the Saint Louis Caucus the name is officially
adopted and the Constitution (including the Preamble)
is drafted.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Indianapolis won the bid in a competition with four other cities –
Minneapolis, Detroit, Kansas City, Mo., and Washington, D.C. –
to become the permanent home of The American Legion National
Headquarters.
In less than a year, The American Legion had emerged from an
idea built on a few general values into a federally chartered and
fast-growing force of patriotic veterans.
“The American Legion Movement”
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The Four Pillars of American Legion Service
began to take shape under National Commander
D‘Olier's leadership:
Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation
Americanism
National Security
Children & Youth
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
1919
Lobbying Organization
Compassionate Care
Benefits
Support for Veterans
Homelessness
“Shell Shock”
Blind, Limbless
Selling Pencils
2013
Lobbying Organization
VAVS
Benefits
Service Officer
Homelessness
Post-traumatic Stress
Disabled Veterans
Employment
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The federal government's disorganized and often
corrupt collection of agencies to help veterans was
consolidated and improved under the Legion-urged
creation of the Veterans Administration in 1930.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
In the decades to come, The American Legion's
continuous efforts to improve the lives of veterans
led to some of the most significant developments in
U.S. society, most notably passage of the
Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, better
known as the “GI Bill.”
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Original GI Bill
By The Numbers
450,000
238,000
91,000
67,000
22,000
1 Million
5 Million
Engineers
Teachers
Scientists
Doctors
Dentists
Other Degrees
Other Training
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The American Legion has created and/or
influenced many significant pieces of legislation
such as; the Veterans Preference Hiring Act of
1944, GI Bill of Rights and the Veterans
Administration.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001,
the Legion started The American Legion Legacy
Scholarship Fund to provide college money for
the children of U.S. military personnel killed on
duty after 9/11.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The American Legion
Legacy Run, an annual
cross-country motorcycle
event, raises more than
$500,000 a year for the
scholarship fund.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
REVIEW QUESTIONS
What are the four pillars of The American Legion?
Name two programs started or revised by The
American Legion after 9/11.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHAB
T
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The American Legion
Extension Institute
NATIONAL SECURITY
AMERICANISM
CHILDREN & YOUTH
A
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LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Veterans Affairs and
Rehabilitation History
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The VA&R Commission's purpose is twofold:
 Provide oversight, guidance and support for an effective
Department of Veterans Affairs
Assist veterans as they pursue their benefits
The Legion's Economic Commission focuses on:
Veteran employment and business opportunities
Education benefits
Veteran homelessness
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The American Legion supports a nationwide network of
service officers who are specially trained and certified to
help veterans and their families understand, seek and
obtain government benefits they are eligible to receive.
American Legion service officers work on more than
160,000 cases per year, always free of charge to the
veterans and families they help. Thousands more are
helped by Legion-certified service officers throughout the
country at the city, county and state levels.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The American Legion's Regional Office Action Review
(ROAR) investigative team conducts site visits at VA
regional offices where claims are processed in order to
gauge success, monitor efficiency and collect information
to help the Veterans Benefits Administration reduce its
massive backlog of unresolved cases. The site visits by
these quality review teams are conducted by VA&R
professional staffers at both state and national levels.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
How do I fit in?
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Name the purposes of the VA&R Commission?
Who does The American Legion employ and train to help
veterans and families obtain benefits?
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHAB
T
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The American Legion
Extension Institute
NATIONAL SECURITY
AMERICANISM
CHILDREN & YOUTH
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LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The arrival of The American Legion's National
Security Commission coincided with the creation of
the Department of Defense and the departments of
the Army, Navy and Air Force. The commission's
purpose has always centered on a well-funded and
resourced military, quality of life for those in
service, and adequate benefits for military retirees.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Specific aspects of the national security pillar include:
 Support for the Department of Homeland Security, and
protection of U.S. borders, ports and other points of access
 Comprehensive disaster preparedness
 Transition assistance for personnel moving from the military to
VA health-care systems, including discharge review, medical
and physical evaluation board advocacy, representation during
the medical discharge process, employment counseling,
education benefits and training
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
New York’s twin towers
New Orleans Superdome
& convention center
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Quality of Life for Troops, Retirees and Military Families:
 Adequate Base Housing
 Family Support
 Pay
 Insurance and Health Care
 Quality Care for Military Retirees
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Operation Comfort Warriors
A program administered by The American Legion Public
Relations and National Security divisions that is
dedicated to meeting the needs of wounded military
personnel by providing them with comfort items not
usually supplied by the government.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Operation Comfort
Warrior
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Nationwide, nearly
50,000 veterans a
year donate more
than 80,000 pints of
blood potentially
saving more than
240,000 lives.
Blood Donor Program
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Foreign Relations
The Foreign Relations
Commission also works
closely with U.S. and
international authorities
to repatriate all military
personnel missing in
action or held as
prisoners of war.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
How Do I Fit In?
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Lobbing
Military Benefits And Retirement.
Media
Family Readiness Group (FRG)
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
REVIEW QUESTIONS
What American Legion program is dedicated to meeting
the needs of wounded military personnel?
What commission works with U.S. and international
authorities to repatriate all POW & MIAs?
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHAB
T
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The American Legion
Extension Institute
NATIONAL SECURITY
AMERICANISM
CHILDREN & YOUTH
A
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LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
To do important work for the youth of America,
sponsoring American Legion Baseball, the National
High School Oratorical Contest, American Legion
Boys State and Boys Nation, Boy Scout activities
and many other citizenship and objective-training
activities.
To combat subversion and all un-American groups
and activities.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Americanism
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LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
“… inculcate a sense of individual obligation
to the community, state and nation, …”
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Civic Responsibility
Respect for Law
Appreciation of Freedoms
Knowledge of Government
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Over 540 Teams
sponsored annually
Almost 100,000
players annually
The league was first proposed at an
American Legion state convention in Milbank, SD
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
American Legion
Baseball
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
American Legion Boys State and Nation
Two outstanding participants in each of the 49 Boys State
programs attend American Legion Boys Nation in
Washington, D.C. They represent their states as senators
and are assigned to one of two mock political parties. The
delegates then caucus, organize into committees, conduct
hearings and act on bills they introduce into the Boys
Nation Senate, all to learn how the federal government
and its agencies operate.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Tom Brokaw
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The Boy Scouts of America was the first youth
activity officially recognized by The American Legion
at its first national convention in 1919.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Every year, the Legion
awards a $10,000 college
scholarship to The American
Legion Eagle Scout of the
Year and three additional
scholarships of $2,500 each to
the first, second and third
runners-up.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The Americanism Pillar grew strong in the early
years of the organization. In a conference called by
The American Legion in 1923, the first U.S. Flag
Code was drafted. It would become law in 1942,
formalizing standards of respect for the banner
under which our nation's military had fought.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
How Do I Fit In?
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Which group is the chief fundraiser for The American
Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund?
What was the first youth activity recognized at the first
American Legion National Convention?
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHAB
T
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The American Legion
Extension Institute
NATIONAL SECURITY
AMERICANISM
CHILDREN & YOUTH
A
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LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
In 1924, Legionnaires elected James Drain of
Washington national commander and charged him
with raising a $5 million endowment fund to aid
disabled veterans and orphans. Today, the Legion's
Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) program
provides direct aid to veterans' children through
earnings from that endowment fund.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
In 1947, The American Legion's Child Welfare Committee
became a commission, and in 1970, its name was changed to the
National Commission on Children & Youth. This commission
has three objectives:
 To strengthen the family unit in an increasingly more complex
society
 To support other organizations and agencies that provide
services for children and youth
 To provide communities with well-rounded programs that
meet the physical, educational, emotional and spiritual needs
of young people
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Family Support Network
Through The American Legion's Family Support
Network (FSN), Legionnaires assist families of
deployed military personnel in various ways:
child care
yard work
car repairs
grocery shopping
routine household jobs
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Child Welfare Foundation
The CWF has granted more than $11 million to
hundreds of deserving organizations that contribute
to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual
welfare of children and youth.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The Legion supports appropriate state and
federal legislation restricting the excessive use of
violence and vulgarity in movies, TV programs,
news, video games and the Internet.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
To promote child safety, the National Commission
on Children & Youth publishes several educational
brochures for parents and children. They are:
Warning Signs of Youth Suicide
Make Halloween a Safe and Fun Night
Gateway Drugs
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Other Children and Youth programs are:
Temporary Financial Assistance
Child Health
National Family Week
Operation Military Kids
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
TFA Sacramento
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
How Do I Fit In?
After World War I, the Legion's founders knew
they had to step up for the children of their fallen
comrades and for the families of veterans who
had become disabled in the service.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
“If you are active in your community doing the
programs that affect your community, you will meet
your membership goals.”
PNC Thomas P. Cadmus, MI (2004 – 2005)
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
“Membership success is not determined by fancy
footwork or gimmicks. Effective membership programs
are the result of one thing, and one thing only, and that
is effective leadership.”
PNC John A. Brieden, III, TX (2003 – 2004)
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
REVIEW QUESTIONS
What Children and Youth program has granted more
than $11 million dollars to deserving organizations
supporting the welfare of our children?
Which commission produces educational brochures like
Gateway Drugs and Warning Sings of Youth Suicide?
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
VETERANS AFFAIRS & REHAB
T
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The American Legion
Extension Institute
NATIONAL SECURITY
AMERICANISM
CHILDREN & YOUTH
A
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LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The four pillars are supported by commissions and
committees that fulfill such responsibilities as:
legislative action
financial management
membership administration
special events and communications
These services ensure that American Legion membership
is stable and growing, well-informed, and given ample
opportunities to meet regularly and assume leadership
positions.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Other Committees & Commissions
The Internal Affairs Commission is responsible for a
number of programs and projects but its main
responsibilities are membership growth which is the
lifeblood of the organization, sustainment of that
growth and healthy posts.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The American Legion Flag and Emblem Sales
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The American Legion
emblem is a registered
trademark and cannot be
used without expressed
written consent of the
national adjutant.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The American Legion
Emblem
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The National Public
Relations Commission
provides a portfolio of
tools for posts and
Legionnaires to spread
the word about the
organization, including
sample speeches, news
releases
and
public
service announcements
for radio and television.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
In addition to printed
publications, the Magazine
Commission is responsible
for:
National website
Facebook
Twitter & YouTube
Online Update
Burn Pit
Many others
3.1 MILLION PER MONTH
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The list of opportunities to serve is nearly limitless for
those who call themselves Legionnaires.
 Service officer
 Boys State counselor
 Baseball manager
 Commander
They are the Legionnaires the organization’s founders
envisioned.
They are you.
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
GRADUATION
LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT