Mission & History

Generations of Service

Since 1879, military families have counted on us to provide the financial protection they need to support and sustain their financial security. You can, too.* 

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Member Benefits
OUR MISSION

You Are Why We’re Here

To help ensure the financial security and independence of the members of the American Armed Forces Community by providing insurance and other benefits.

THINGS TO KNOW

Trust in What We Do

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Enduring Support

Since 1879, the Association has continuously provided our Members with always-affordable life insurance and exclusive Survivor Assistance Services, including expedited death benefit payments, securing all government benefits available, preparing government and insurance claims for the bereaved families of our Members, and providing complimentary digital vault document storage.  

Support for our Members’ military families doesn’t end when their servicemember dies. Armed Forces Mutual continues to guide survivors by informing them of all new or available government benefits that may benefit them. 

Access to More Opportunities

In addition to offering outstanding life insurance products and unmatched Member benefits, Armed Forces Mutual launched its two wholly-owned subsidiaries to increase the value of Membership and to more fully deliver on our mission. AAFMAA Wealth Management & Trust LLC provides expert financial planning, investment management and trust administration services to military families, while AAFMAA Mortgage Services LLC offers customized residential mortgage services to the military community.  

For the generations to come, Armed Forces Mutual will still be here to provide financial services that “aid the families of the deceased members in a prompt, simple and substantial manner.”

A Strong Foundation

Our pride and strength rest in our status as a Member-owned mutual aid association consisting of more than 95,000 current servicemembers, retirees, Veterans and their families. With Armed Forces Mutual, you can rest assured that our focus will always be on doing what is right and best for you — our Members.  

Military life is made up of many stages and our expert professionals are here to help guide you through each one. Call us at 877-393-2263 today and let us join you on your journey.

Armed Forces Mutual Constitution

Our Constitution provides information regarding how our Association operates, its governance structure, eligibility for Membership, and more. 

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OUR HISTORY

We’ve Supported You All Along

Armed Forces Mutual was originally established as the Army Mutual Aid Association on January 13, 1879, when officials in the U.S. War Department saw the need for an Association to take care of fellow Soldiers in the aftermath of the Battle of the Little Bighorn — "Custer's Last Stand." 

THINGS TO KNOW

Our Story Leads to You

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How We Began

In 1876, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer (former brevet Major General) led his ill-fated expedition against the Cheyenne and Sioux in the Dakota Territory, culminating in the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The result of this battle starkly emphasized the desperate circumstances of bereaved Army families of that era. 

At that time, when a death occurred on the frontier, surviving servicemembers would commence a “passing of the hat” to raise money that would be used to transport the Soldiers’ dependents “back East” to the care of relatives and friends. In the case of the 7th Cavalry, that tradition collapsed. There were no survivors. There was no hat to pass — and there was no one to pass it to! 

Our Historic Founding
The founding documents for the Association were prepared by a Committee of Army Officers chaired by Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier General) Roger Jones, Assistant Inspector General of the Army. The expressed purpose was to “to aid the families of the deceased members in a prompt, simple and substantial manner.”
Prominent Members
Active Armed Forces Mutual supporters and officers have included Generals John J. Pershing, George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Carl A. (Tooey) Spaatz, Omar N. Bradley, William C. Westmoreland, Creighton W. Abrams, Walter T. “Dutch” Kerwin, Michael S. Davison, H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Ronald R. Fogleman, Michael E. Ryan, and Eric K. Shinseki, just to name a few. 
Where You Fit In
Throughout our rich, generations-long history, the Association has evolved — refining, reshaping, and strengthening our ability to serve an ever-expanding military community and enhancing our mission to ensure our Members are financially secure for a lifetime. 
OUR TIMELINE

Always Making Progress

Throughout the years, as our Members’ needs changed and the landscape of our Membership expanded, we have evolved to ensure all servicemembers and their families receive the support they require and deserve.

Armed Forces Mutual Timeline
January 13, 1879
The Army Mutual Aid Association is founded.
Armed Forces Mutual Timeline
1954
Membership eligibility is extended to National Guard and Reserve.
Armed Forces Mutual Timeline
1984
Membership eligibility is extended to Air Force officers.
Armed Forces Mutual Timeline
1987
The Association's name is changed to the Army and Air Force Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA).
Armed Forces Mutual Timeline
1995
Membership eligibility is extended to noncommissioned officers and the entry-level Membership age limit increased to 66.
Armed Forces Mutual Timeline
2000
Membership eligibility is extended to all Army and Air Force personnel.
AFM-MissionHistory-Timeline-07-411x575-2X
2009
AAFMAA Financial Advisors LLC is established as a wholly-owned subsidiary to perform Member Benefits and Survivor Assistance Services for Members and families, while insurance coverage is extended to Member spouses and dependents.
Armed Forces Mutual Timeline
2011
Membership eligibility is extended to the Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard.
Armed Forces Mutual Timeline
2012
SpouseLink.org launches as an online resource for military spouses, while AAFMAA Wealth Management & Trust LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AAFMAA, is established to provide investment management, financial planning, and trust services to the military.
Armed Forces Mutual Timeline
2013
The Association's name is changed to American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association.
Armed Forces Mutual Timeline
2016
AAFMAA Mortgage Services LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary, is established in North Carolina to provide mortgage products to the military, as the Association launches the Spouse Purchase Initiative to enable military spouses to purchase their own life insurance policies.
AFM-MissionHistory-Timeline-12-411x575-2X
2021
Membership eligibility is extended to current and retired employees of USPHS, NOAA, and USSF and adult children of eligible Members.
Armed Forces Mutual Timeline
2025
The Association adopts Armed Forces Mutual as its name to promote who it serves and how it serves them.

Become a Member Today

Be part of a nonprofit built exclusively for the military community. Get access to life insurance, survivor support, mortgage solutions, and wealth management — all delivered with personal service and military values.

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*In the following states/territories, Armed Forces Mutual is only able to issue policies to current servicemembers, military retirees, and their spouses: DC, MS, UT, and WI.