SHAPE Officers' Association (S.O.A)

SOA 44th Annual Meeting, 2 October 2004. General Jones (the Supreme Allied Commander Europe), General Carstens (the SOA President) and Mrs. Carstens, welcome H.E. Mr. de Hoop Scheffer (NATO’s Secretary General) and Mrs. de Hoop Scheffer. Mr. de Hoop Scheffer was SOA’s guest of honour and Dinner speaker. (SHAPE Photo JPG/196Kb)

Information General Bantz J. Craddock’s letter to the SHAPE Officers’ Association members (.PDF/729Kb) SHAPE Officers Association Outreach Survey (.DOC/22Kb) Members of the committee Biography of General George A. JOULWAN, President of the SHAPE Officers Association SOA Constitution Application for membership: (.PDF/76Kb) Multimedia Dr Alan Thomas’ Address at SHAPE Briefing by BG Giorgio Spagnol (.WMV 66.6MB ) Briefing by Col Chris Platzer (.WMV 35.5MB ) Briefing by Col Craig Schlattmann (.WMV 13.6MB ) 2008 - Photo Archive 2007 - Photo Archive 2006 - Photo Archive 2005 - Photo Archive Obituary 27 Oct 2008 Gen. Bernard W. Rogers, 87; NATO Leader and Army Chief (Washington Post article) Upcoming events SHAPE Officers’ Association - Florida Fun Weekend 27 Feb-1 March 2009 (.PDF/151Kb)

Historical Background

The SHAPE Officers' Association was founded in 1961 by a group of officers at SHAPE in Paris. They not only established SOA but began what has become a fine tradition, an annual reunion and dinner. The first such event occurred on 7 October 1961. It was attended by General Gruenther, a previous Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Norstad (then SACEUR) and about 200 other officers from all NATO nations. General Gruenther became the first President, a post he held until 1975. He was followed by General Lemnitzer (from 1975 to 1987), General Rogers (1987-1997) and General Shalikashvili (1997-2004), all previous SACEURs. General Peter CARSTENS, GE A (Retired), a former Chief of Staff, became the fifth President on 2 October 2004. The Association activities are planned by the Committee, headed by the Chairman, Major General Jean-Paul CRAVILLON, BE Army (Retired).
Today, the SHAPE Officers' Association counts some 1,750 members.

Aims of the SOA

The aims of the Association are threefold:

• to foster friendships among officers/civilians of equivalent rank who serve at SHAPE and with those who have served at SHAPE;
• to keep members informed about SHAPE and the military situation in NATO; and
• to enable members to serve the Alliance even after retirement. In short, to perpetuate the traditions of SHAPE and to support and propagate the mission, ideals and objectives of NATO.

The SOA Today

• Briefings and luncheons are held throughout the year which feature distinguished political or military leaders on current military or political topics.
• Beer calls which feature a speaker.
• An Annual Symposium (usually the first weekend of October) which includes such activities as cultural visits, a golf tournament, briefings, a presentation by SACEUR, etc. The formal Annual Dinner features a leading political or military figure as the guest speaker.
• There are Chapters in Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• Three newsletters are published per year. (For members’ only)
• A list of members is distributed every two years. (For members’ only)
• SOA items for sale: silk and polyester neckties (dark blue with SHAPE crest), Parker rollerball pens, and cufflinks.

For information, contact us as follows:

SHAPE Officers’ Association
Public Information Office
Room 232, Bldg 102
B - 7010 SHAPE, Belgium(1)

E-MAIL: shapeoa@gmail.com

(1)Replace this line with:

• UK officers: BFPO 26
• US officers: Unit 21420, APO AE 09705
• CA officers: CFPO 5048