Armed Forces Mutual was founded on January 13, 1879, by U.S. Army officers following the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn, which exposed the lack of financial support for soldiers’ families. In 1995, eligibility was broadened to include non-commissioned Officers and, in 2000, further opened to enlisted personnel. In September 2011, the organization began accepting service members of the
Marine Corps,
Navy and
Coast Guard. To reflect its broader scope, the association's name was changed to American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association on June 12, 2013. At the end of 2019, membership exceeded 85,000 By 2020, membership included all members of the United States Armed Forces who are on
active duty,
retired, guard,
reserves, students of the
service academies, contracted
ROTC cadets, and honorably discharged veterans. In 2021, membership was further extended to encompass all members of the Space Force as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). As of 2024, it serves over 95,800 members, spouses, and dependents and manages approximately $1.26 billion in assets. In April 2025, AAFMAA adopted the name Armed Forces Mutual, while retaining its legal name in formal settings.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-12 |title=Nonprofit rebrands as Armed Forces Mutual Armed Forces Mutual is headquartered at
Fort Myer, Virginia with additional offices in
Reston, Virginia and
Fayetteville, North Carolina. == Services ==