The Military Order of the World Wars is a national patriotic organization of American Military Officers, Warrant Officers, Flight Officers and their descendants of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). It includes active, reserve component, retired, or former service members.
In 1918, General of the Armies, John J. Pershing, led the American Expeditionary Forces to Europe to engage the Central Powers and aid the Allies. From what he saw in Europe and in the United States, he became concerned about the lack or patriotism and further the lack of leadership training for the future leaders of the United States. For these reasons, Gen. Pershing petitioned the United States Congress to authorize by Statute an organization which would go forward to accomplish these goals. As a result by statutory authority, The Military Order of the World Wars was founded.
General Pershing asked his Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers to join the Military Order when they left active duty and continue to serve our Country and their Communities as a unified group. However, he specifically prohibited the Military Order from participating in Politics or Lobbying Efforts as an organization. He considered service to the Country more important, and he directed that the Military Order would be a service organization only with the motto “It is nobler to serve, than to be served.” Because the Military Order works behind the scenes, it does not receive much publicity and is not well known.
Since the founding of the Military Order, thousands of Officers and Hereditary Companions have joined rank to work with Police Departments, Firefighter Departments, Youth Leadership Conferences, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, ROTC units and assist Veterans transition into civilian life.
The Military Order is always looking for more former or retired Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers or the Descendants of these Officers to carry on the necessary work which Gen. Pershing envisioned