MWR NAS Jacksonville: taking care of our sailors and our own.

Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) is committed to "First Class Service." The vision of the MWR Star Service (a customer service training program) initiative is to go beyond just "good enough service" and transform Navy MWR worldwide from the top down into a "best in class" service leader where customer loyalty prevails. Our goal is for Navy MWR to be the Sailors' first choice for fitness and leisure.

Due to recent events and the current state of affairs we as all MWR's have had to shift the old ways to do business and become responsive to change. Ensuring that we are taking care of the military families on-board our base and creating a culture that allows our team members to become customer focus and driven could be what keeps MWR alive. It sounds simple and easy, however it takes time, patience, and total dedication. One step we have taken is to re-enforce the importance of catching our team members doing things right and rewarding them for their efforts. MWR NAS Jacksonville, with the guidance and development of Navy Headquarters (PERS-65) MWR's Training Branch, have put our arms around Star Service and gone the extra step. NAS Jacksonville has adopted several initiatives of PERS-65 by developing a new and improved awards and recognition program. The simplest things can go the greatest distance in awards and recognition; for example, identifying your team members as STARS!

On Thursday, August 16, 2001, MWR at NAS Jacksonville kicked off its "You're a Star" Peer Recognition Program. Employees nominated coworkers along with feedback from our customers' responses on comment cards, for extraordinary service. Once a month, "You're a Star" balloons and certificates are delivered to qualifying employees by a dedicated group of team members made up of Captain Mark S. Boensel, CO, NAS Jacksonville, Master Chief Chuck Lawson, Command Master Chief, NAS Jacksonville, the MWR Director and Deputy Director, and the Star Service support team. Balloons and certificates were delivered to the employees during working hours and announcements were made to grab the attention of everyone around. Every month, this program continues to put smiles on the faces of our team members and customers who witness the presentation.

Striving for Consistent Service

The next step we are taking is working with MWR Headquarters Training Branch and Achieve Global to create the first Regional Center for Excellence. By creating this Regional Center of Excellence, Navy Region Southeast strives to have consistent service throughout; and as our customers go from one duty station to the next, MWR will always be their first choice. The Regional Center for Excellence will help our region set up systematic procedures for not only training, but also feedback and measurement of our customers wants, needs and levels of satisfaction. The RCOE will help provide MWR with the tools needed to achieve the goal of "best in class service leader." As we have learned from Achieve Global, "Training alone will not change our culture ... we need reinforcement and recognition."

MWR at NAS Jacksonville has taken many strides to upgrade our programs and facilities to keep them in tune with the fast changing times. Some examples are our newly renovated Single Sailor Recreation Center, "Liberty Cove." The Recreation Center provides primarily for the leisure needs of single Sailors, but is open to all active duty personnel. The center offers Sailors with free Internet access from their choice of eighteen Computer workstations. Six interactive stations are set up for Nintendo, Play Station, and Sega Dreamcast. Sailors can relax in plush loungers and watch free movies provided by the Navy Motion Picture Movie Service. Sailors also enjoy weekly tournaments in billiards, ping-pong, or darts, to name a few, and travel on base trips to local attractions and tourist spots like Orlando, Cape Canaveral and Key West. The Center arranges for outdoor adventure trips like camping, rock climbing, and kayaking. The staff provides unique challenges for Sailors in the high adventure arena like scuba diving, tandem skydiving, and snorkeling.

The NAS JAX Bowling Center offers Sailors and their families a chance to bowl on a league or in open bowling. Free bowling on Wednesdays is offered for active duty, and Tuesdays is "all you can bowl" open bowling at a reduced rate. The bowling center offers "Xtreme Bowling" on weekends and is a great family outing and experience where the black lights come on and music goes up. NAS Jax Bowling Center is a 24-lane center that has sky rocketed in revenue over the past five years and is one of the most popular in the Jacksonville area. It also does custom ball fitting and drilling, a rarity to find in most centers today. John Duncan, manager and PBA member is in tune with his customers wants and needs and consistently adds new programs and upgrades to ensure quality and total satisfaction.

The NAS JAX Golf Club offers Sailors and base personnel a challenging 27-hole facility that is considered one of the finest in the Navy. Sailors and authorized users can take golf lessons in groups or in private. A Military Invitational Golf Tournament is held annually and is considered one of the largest military tourneys of its kind, including all branches of the military worldwide. One of the newest and most popular activities is the Friday evening ladies Golf Clinic; this give ladies a chance to socialize while improving or learning new golf skills.

MWR at NAS Jacksonville plays its part in the physical readiness aspect of Sailor's life by providing a place to stay fit and ship-shape. The NAS JAX Fitness Source is that place. A unique health club that offers all the amenities comparable to expensive off-base facilities, except it's free! Membership is free for Sailors, their family members, and retirees. The facility offers a complete line of Body master machines, and aerobic fitness equipment. There is a cardio theater area that allows for TV viewing, or listening to your favorite music or radio station while exercising. The Fitness Source has qualified instructors who offer circuit training, aerobics, kickboxing, step, and stretch classes seven days a week. The center has a weight area complete with Olympic weights, dumbbells, benches, squat and power racks, and leg press sled. Added to the Fitness Source menu is Yoga as a result of customer feedback.

With so much to see and do in Florida it would be shameful not to mention our marvelous RV Park. The Recreational Vehicle Park has 28 full hook-up sites, 17 partial sites, and several primitive sites. The bathhouse has showers, restrooms and a free use laundry room. There is a vending station and pay phones are provided as well. Sailors, retirees and authorized users can use the RV Park as a base camp and invite family and friends for an inexpensive vacation to the first coast. The park is located on the prestigious St. Johns River and offers nature trails that can be easily traversed by foot or bike.

MWR at NAS Jacksonville has a wide array of activities for both Sailors and their families to enjoy. Some are offered free of charge, and others for a nominal fee. Annual Events like the air show featuring the Navy's renowned "Blue Angles" precision flight demonstration team, the Navy 10K Run, Bass Tournament, carnivals for Month of the Military Child and Navy Family Day, offer both family entertainment and fun. The few programs and events mentioned are just a taste of the many activities and facilities that provide Star Service" for the military community at NAS Jacksonville.