The common denominator of our membership is a desire to further our national aims, policies, purposes and
objectives. The specific qualifications and types of membership are set forth in the National Constitution as follows: 9
1. Regular membership is open to a citizen of the United States of America of good moral character and repute
who served honorably on active duty, to include active duty for training, in the Armed Forces of the United States of America,
Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) as
a federally recognized commissioned, flight, or warrant officer during the period 6 April 1917 to such later date as may be
determined by the Order in Convention.
2. Perpetual membership is open to regular, hereditary and senior members, and former members in the first
two classes, or to qualified new members desiring to join the Order, upon contributing the sum prescribed in the bylaws to
the Perpetual and Memorial Membership Fund through National Headquarters. New members shall be exempt from any and all annual
dues for the fiscal year in which they join the Order through perpetual membership, but all perpetual members shall be exempt
from future annual dues in perpetuity.
3. Senior members are those members who have attained the age of seventy years and whose membership in the
Order has been in good standing for thirty years. Individuals with memberships in more than one chapter must possess the aforementioned
qualifications within each chapter in order to be eligible for senior membership status. Senior members shall be exempt from
any and all further payment of dues whatsoever. Since Perpetual membership in this Order is a higher classification than senior
membership, and exempt from any and all dues payment as such, nominations of Perpetual Members for Senior status will not
be considered.
4. Hereditary membership is open to a citizen of the United States of America of moral character and good
repute who is (1) the spouse of a present or former member; (2) the surviving spouse of a deceased or former member; (3) the
spouse, a descendant, or adopted child of officer who is, if living, or who would have been, if deceased, eligible as a member;
or (4) the descendant or adopted child of member; or (5) in case of failure of lineal issue or adopted child, a descendant
or adopted child of a sister or brother of a member.
5. Memorial membership may be conferred upon a deceased officer who was a member of the Order at the time
of their death, upon a deceased officer who was eligible for such membership but was not a member at the time of their death,
or upon a citizen eligible for Hereditary membership at the time of his death. Upon nomination by a chapter of the Order and
upon contribution to the Perpetual and Memorial Membership Fund through National Headquarters of the sum prescribed in the
National Bylaws, the name of such member shall be inscribed in the records of the Order as a Memorial Perpetual member.
6. Dual (which includes multiple) memberships in two or more chapters are authorized to individual members
provided that such individual members meet annual national dues requirements or Perpetual membership contributions for each
chapter membership, plus annual dues for each chapter involved.
7. Honorary membership in the Order may not be conferred upon any person. The foregoing shall not affect the status of
Honorary Members duly elected prior to 1957.
