Post Leadership

In The American Legion and our Post, leadership is provided by volunteer members like you. Post leaders are fundamentally responsible for the success of our Post. These volunteers serve in many different leadership roles as Post officers, committee members, chairmen, and mentors to new members. Good Post leaders have the initiative to provide honorable and noteworthy service to our veterans, their families, and the communities we serve.

Many believe leadership is not something you are born with and it cannot be awarded or appointed. True leadership for many is something learned and earned through the hard work of service to others. Legion leaders must have stellar character and transparent integrity.

Good post leaders must give an adequate commitment of time and sufficient personal energy, and must communicate effectively, to give our posts strong roots in the communities where we serve our veterans.

NO PARTISAN POLITICS

The American Legion is a 501 (c) (19) non-profit corporation and is absolutely non-partisan. Policies, Not Partisan Politics is our guiding principle.

SUMMARY OF POST LEADERSHIP DUTIES

Post leaders are responsible for the post's success. Our Post Constitution and By-Laws are the ultimate reference on post leader duties.

The post Commander, Finance Officer and Adjutant are required officers in the annual Certification of Eligibility of American Legion Post Officers. This is one of the forms our post must submit each year to maintain our charter.

Post Officers

Elected Officers

Post Commander

"First among equals" is a good way to look at the relationship of the Post Commander to other post members. The Commander ensures the post's vision of success is completed and keeps the post family together in the process. The Post Commander traditionally serves as the President of the Board of Directors for incorporated posts. The Post Commander is also the voice of the post, within the post and at meetings beyond the post. Post Commanders also work with and through other leaders to complete the post business, as they cultivate and guide them for future leadership roles.

Finance Officer

Much of the Post Finance Officer's work is defined and determined by standard accounting practices and the needs of the post. The Post Finance Officer is the person of integrity that helps develop a post budget and administers the post book of accounts. Finance Officers also advise post leaders on the formulating and administering of financial policies, including the annual Post budget.

Adjutant

Whether seen as a Post 'First Sergeant' or a Continuity Officer, the Adjutant's role is critical in the long-term success of our post. Adjutants are responsible for keeping official records of our post business, minutes of meetings and many key administrative compliance duties.

First Vice Commander

The American Legion "Officer's Guide" states this about the First Vice Commander, "In the majority of posts, a first and second vice commander are elected, with membership the primary concern of the first vice commander." In too many posts, the First Vice Commander serves as a Membership Committee of one. A post, even a small post, should have a true Membership Committee to help with recruitment, transferring members from department administrative posts, member renewals, member retention, and ensuring the post routinely has personal (by phone or in-person) contact, with every member of the post. A Membership Committee of two (or more) is far more effective than a committee of just one.

Second Vice Commander

In our Post, the Second Vice Commander is the designated liaison to other veteran organizations, coordinates new member orientation, and shall oversee Post morale to include entertainment and special programs, and other duties as directed by the Post.

Sgt-at-Arms

Preserves order at all meetings, ensures members are properly greeted at the door, makes new members welcome, oversees flag etiquette/disposal, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Post. This is often the first of four steps in the journey to becoming Post Commander.

Executive Committee Members

The Executive Committee Members are advocates for the general membership, assist post officers in directing post business and act as post representatives in the absence of post officers.