Welcome to the RAFINO Website (as of 15 October 2024)

You know Soldiers love acronyms. Even if there isn’t a need for one, we’ll make one up. Let me give you one I hope you’ll become very familiar with, and want to be a part of: RAFINO.

RAFINO is the Retired Army Finance Organization, and is recognized by the IRS as a non-profit organization, organized for the purpose of maintaining and distributing a roster of membership, issuing a periodic newsletter, maintaining a current website, and conducting periodic reunions. Can I make it simpler? RAFINO is a fraternal/social veteran’s organization, put together and run entirely for the enjoyment of retired Financial Management Soldiers.

The original By-Laws were approved on August 31, 1987, and along the way there were two separate organizations, one for former Officers, and one for former NCO’s. Those organizations were merged by a vote of membership at the 2016 Reunion in Las Vegas to have one, unified, merged organization, now known as the Retired Army Finance Organization.

I proudly serve as the President of RAFINO, and have since our Reunion in 2016. I and our current board have worked hard to communicate frequently with our membership, grow membership, and plan and execute a fabulous Reunion which will be held October 10 – 14, 2018, in Albuquerque, NM. Our Reunion Chairman, Bruce Prater, has worked tirelessly to outline a fantastic program of events centered around the International Balloon Festival. The headquarters hotel is the Isleta Resort & Casino. Here is a link to all of the activities scheduled for this Reunion. If this doesn’t get you excited; nothing will. http://online.flipbuilder.com/vdrd/sklk/mobile/index.html

In a short amount of space, my desire is to both make you aware of RAFINO, and to entice you to join as soon as you are retirement eligible. That’s right, when you’ve served 20 years, where 50% or more of your career was in a Financial Management capacity, you are eligible to apply (online at http://www.rafino.org/NewMemberForm) and be accepted as a member of RAFINO. Dues are very minimal, $12.00/year, and we’ve just offered a lifetime membership which is determined based on age, and ranges from $0 - $200.

As I’m writing this, I’m preparing to attend my 4th RAFINO Reunion in Albuquerque. Others I’ve attended since 2012 included San Antonio, Baton Rouge, and Las Vegas. We’ve also locked in the 2020 Reunion site as Charleston, SC; and there is growing interest to return to Indianapolis, our Former Finance home of Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana in 2022.

Interested? I encourage you to check us out on our website where you can see information that is not restricted for members only. I think it will give you a good idea of who we are, why we exist, and the excitement we’re building leading up to our Reunion this October.

As a retiree, I can tell you that we miss the camaraderie and fellowship we shared in uniform. As we go separate ways, some pursuing other careers, some permanently retired, there is a longing to get together, relive our days together, and retell war stories that get bigger, better, and more unbelievable with each passing year. I can also sadly say that with each passing reunion, we lost members from our ranks that are no longer with us. I’m so happy that I had the opportunity to share a final laugh, toast, and story with people who sacrificed so much for our Nation for each other.

RAFINO is a social organization built around fellowship. Like all organizations, for us to thrive going forward, we need to constantly be growing our membership with younger retirees. Hence this article. I hope I’ve begun to whet your appetite about RAFINO; even if this is the first time you’ve seen that acronym. I hope as you approach retirement you’ll want to be a part of us. Please consider RAFINO your follow-on assignment from the Finance Corps Association !!!

Proud To Be Your Prez,

Kevin G. Troller