Operation recreation: Army Morale, welfare and recreation professionals go where the troops are.Editor's note Editor's Note (foaled in 1993 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt Forty Niner, who in turn was a son of Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, Beware Of The Cat. Trained by D. : The U.S. military has long recognized the crucial role that recreation plays in the quality of life of service members and their families. In a time when some policymakers say that public recreation is an unaffordable un·af·ford·a·ble adj. Too expensive: medical care that has become unaffordable for many. un luxury, it's important for NRPA NRPA National Recreation and Park Association NRPA Natural Resources Protective Association (Staten Island, NY) NRPA Niagara Regional Police Association (Canada) NRPA National Rifle and Pistol Association members to remind themselves and others that people in some of the most dangerous places in the world know otherwise. Although the following article mostly details military recreation in Afghanistan, U.S. soldiers currently in the Middle East can be sure that they'll soon enjoy similar service. When U.S. Army soldiers began deploying to Southwest Asia Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia (largely overlapping with the Middle East) is the southwestern portion of Asia. The term Western Asia is sometimes used in writings about the archeology and the late prehistory of the region, and in the United States subregion for Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001, Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation Morale, Welfare and Recreation is a network of support and leisure services designed for use by soldiers (active, Reserve, and Guard), their families, civilian employees, military retirees and other eligible participants. (MWR MWR Morale, Welfare and Recreation MWR Ministry of Water Resources (China) MWR Monthly Weather Review MWR Microwave Radiometer MWR Multiple Worksite Report (US Department of Labor) MWR Microwave Radiometry ) professionals were close behind. The Army sends these recreation specialists to forward areas to organize sports competitions, fun runs, card tournaments and other recreation programs; coordinate touring entertainment, shows and celebrity visits; and operate a recreation center using equipment in the recreation kits and other resources at hand. Five civilian MWR professionals are currently stationed in Southwest Asia. These "emergency essential civilians" deploy for 179 days, generally working 12-hour days, seven days a week, says Kathleen Cole, MWR contingency operations program analyst at the U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center (CFSC CFSC Community Food Security Coalition CFSC Community & Family Support Center CFSC Charleston Financial Service Center (Department of State) CFSC Central Florida Sports Commission CFSC Chatham Figure Skating Club ) in Alexandria, Va. She notes that it's important to send MWR specialists along with the recreation equipment and supplies. "Their expertise on the ground ensures that soldiers get a well-rounded, balanced recreation program, including sports and fitness, recreation, holiday programming and entertainment," says Cole. Army leaders have long known that providing recreation to deployed soldiers supports commanders' missions by sustaining morale and fostering unit cohesion, says Marcy Stennes, director of community recreation at CFSC. "Recreation is for rest, relaxation and regeneration," she says. "Recreational activities divert soldiers' attention from boredom, homesickness and anxiety, and help soldiers manage stress." There are other benefits, of course. Some activities, such as sports and fitness, keep soldiers physically fit. Entertainment, such as movies and live shows, allows soldiers to relax, and provides a mental escape and an emotional release. Military Gear Service-level and small unit-level recreation modules and kits are an important part of this support. The service-level modules include sports and fitness equipment, board games This is a list of board games. This page classifies board games according to the concerns which might be uppermost for someone organizing a gaming event or party. See the article on game classification for other alternatives, or see for a list of board game articles. , playing cards playing cards, parts of a set or deck, used in playing various games of chance or skill. The origin of playing cards is unknown, and almost as many theories exist as there are historians of the subject. , TV/VCR, CD/cassette player, folding chairs, magazine and book racks, and a ping-pong table with paddles and balls. Small unit-level kits contain shorter baseball bats, softballs, exercise bands, a football, a volleyball, a pump, cards, board games, drawing sketch pad/colored pencils, game rule books, flag football supplies and Frisbees. Individual units are responsible for bringing these kits with them and for MWR programming in the early stages of deployment. "We looked at the things soldiers use every day and what's been popular at installations, and then looked for things that would be portable," says Stennes, in explaining how the kits' contents were chosen. "We wanted to offer deployed soldiers some of the same opportunities that they'd have at their home stations." As of late March, 34 service-level kits had been issued to units deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. CFSC recreation staff also put together 97 small-unit recreation kits for units that couldn't deploy with the kits themselves. Seventy-one of these kits have been sent to overseas deployed units, while another 12 are in pre-positioned storage locations. CFSC library staff ensures that deployed soldiers have plenty to read--a favorite pastime during down time. As of late March, the staff had sent 113 book kits monthly to 11 locations in the U.S. Army Central Command area of operations An operational area defined by the joint force commander for land and naval forces. Areas of operation do not typically encompass the entire operational area of the joint force commander, but should be large enough for component commanders to accomplish their missions and protect their . This number increases as additional units deploy. Each book kit contains 25 books, 80 percent of which are fiction. Additional Ground Support CFSC staff have provided support to deployed units and their soldiers in other ways: * An MWR technical assistance team helped the Coalition Forces Land Component Command General Meaning Coalition Forces Land Component Command, or CFLCC, is a generic U.S. and allied military term. In U.S. military terminology, Unified Combatant Commands or Joint Task Forces can have components from all services and components - Army ~ Land, Air, (CFLCC CFLCC Coalition Forces Land Component Command CFLCC Combined Force Land Component Command ) implement an "in-theater" pass program for Operation Enduring Freedom soldiers. The program allows soldiers some rest and recreation in a safe location away from their normal duties, but still within the theater of operations Noun 1. theater of operations - a region in which active military operations are in progress; "the army was in the field awaiting action"; "he served in the Vietnam theater for three years" field of operations, theatre of operations, theater, theatre, field . Internet access See how to access the Internet. is available at all theater pass sites. The team also toured all Army sites and provided guidance to CFLCC staff on future MWR support requirements. (CFLCC is the Army component of U.S. Central Command, a combined-services military command in charge of operations in Southwest and Central Asia.) * MWR contractors provide the following support in leased facilities at Camp Doha Camp Doha was the main US Army base in Kuwait, and played a pivotal role in the US military presence in the Middle East since the 1991 Gulf War and in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The complex is located on a small peninsula on Kuwait Bay, west of Kuwait City. , Kuwait: Camp Doha Gym, video checkout and theater, Uncle Frosty's, the self-help store and the Marble Palace
But CFSC officials aren't resting on their laurels. Planners are helping CFLCC officials determine whether they want an in-theater rest and recreation site similar to the Armed Forces Recreation Center AFRCs (Armed Forces Recreation Centers) exist to provide rest and relaxation in the form of lodging and outdoor recreation for United States Military Servicemembers, Department of Defense Civilians, Military Retirees, and their families. in Bahrain that operated during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. CFSC planners are also discussing near-term quality-of-life enhancement efforts downrange down·range adv. & adj. In a direction away from the launch site and along the flight line of a missile test range: landed a thousand miles downrange; the downrange target area. . Services under consideration include establishing Armed Forces Network satellite TV reception in major troop concentration areas, delivering Stars and Stripes Stars and Stripes nickname for the U.S. flag. [Am. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 8567] See : America newspapers and developing a phone card distribution plan. In addition, CFLCC and CFSC personnel work together to establish standards of MWR support for life support areas in the theater of operation. Sites that will be used for 30 days or longer will receive comprehensive MWR support. which includes fitness and recreation equipment, computer access, TV/ VCR VCR: see videocassette recorder. VCR in full videocassette recorder Electromechanical device that records, stores on a videotape cassette, and plays back on a TV set recorded images and sound. and other activities and supplies. On the Homefront The need for fulfilling and stress-reducing recreational activities during deployments is as important for family members back home as it is for soldiers in the field. "Family members might have a different kind of stress, but they have stress all the same," says Stennes. "They need ways to reduce their stress, and community recreation programs offer them a perfect opportunity." Stennes also says that such programs can be a way for family members to keep in touch with deployed soldiers by continuing to do things they shared with deployed spouses before deployment, or doing things a deployed spouse enjoyed on his or her own. Here are some of the ideas that CFSC's Business Programs and Community Recreation staff put together tot installations to consider as soldiers deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom: * Community recreation staff should work closely with health care professionals, substance abuse prevention staff, housing mayors, Army Community Services social workers, chaplains and youth services staff to ensure information about community recreation programs, facilities and operational hours is included in on/off post family-oriented bulletins, briefings and classes. * Although situations vary locally, program offerings should be diverse, taking into consideration the need for gender- and age-specific creative, cultural, performing arts. social and intellectual pursuits as well as athletic/ fitness activities. Program evaluation Program evaluation is a formalized approach to studying and assessing projects, policies and program and determining if they 'work'. Program evaluation is used in government and the private sector and it's taught in numerous universities. and planning cart take place through focus groups or informal customer interviews conducted in high-traffic areas. * Programmers should be sensitive to customer feedback and be responsive and innovative in program approaches. Supervisors and the military chain of command should be supportive and flexible, rewarding innovation and encouraging collaborative teamwork. * A recreation center can serve as a psychologically unifying center of community; focusing on supportive activity. To maximize resources, several kinds of activities could be consolidated under one community center roof using the best facility available, such as a recreation center. New craft shop, gym, etc. Specific programming ideas that have been recommended include: Entertainment: Consider filming youth/children's theater activities/performing arts. Produce and tape family member variety/talent shows to send to deployed units. Reach out to family readiness groups, (Family readiness groups are command-sponsored support groups for people within the unit to help each other and keep the lines of communication "Lines of Communication" is an episode from the fourth season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. Synopsis Franklin and Marcus attempt to persuade the Mars resistance to assist Sheridan in opposing President Clark. open. They provide a communication network to relay information to families or to identify problems or needs to the commander.) Library: Feature topical adult and youth library reading programs. Publish bibliographies on subjects related to life-coping skills, home/auto repairs, etc. Increase children's story hour-style programming. Outdoor Recreation: Offer introductory programs for spouses and children in activities such as fishing, camping and cross-country skiing cross-country skiing Skiing in open country over rolling, hilly terrain. It originated in Scandinavia as a means of travel as well as recreation. The skies used are longer, narrower, and lighter than those used in Alpine skiing, and bindings allow more heel movement. . Reach out to youth organizations that may find themselves leaderless in major deployments. Operate inexpensive local trips for family outings for hiking, swimming, fishing, nature walks, zoo visits, etc. Coordinate with park rangers to offer nature and environmental education classes and outings. Sports/Fitness: Offer basic classes in the use of weight equipment/bodybuilding for spouses and youth. Conduct noncompetitive sports leagues or festivals that bring spectator events to installations (i.e. world championship wrestling For the Australian professional wrestling promotion, see World Championship Wrestling (Australia). For the poet, see William Carlos Williams. World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. , Harlem Globetrotters Harlem Globetrotters African American professional basketball team. The team was organized in 1927 in Chicago by the promoter Abe Saperstein and initially was a competitive team that won a world professional championship in 1940. ). Arts/Crafts: Offer adult and youth classes to make greeting cards See e-card. , homemade gifts and other items to send to soldiers through family readiness groups or rear detachment personnel. Offer classes in minor home repairs and maintenance. Use photo studios to produce videos and still photographs to send to deployed units. Automotive Shops: Provide maintenance service for stored vehicles. Develop a mobile how-to maintenance/repair program to take to housing areas. Offer winter/summer safety check programs. Offer basic auto maintenance classes targeted to spouses. Recreation Centers: Coordinate and host health promotion activities such as nutrition and stress reduction in conjunction with cholesterol and blood pressure checks. Conduct seasonal and holiday-themed events that bring people together for supportive social interaction, entertainment and relaxation. Reach out to family readiness groups to support meeting locations, theme activities, etc. Other Ideas: Coordinate with Child Development Services to arrange drop-in childcare at community centers/fitness facilities, enabling family members to attend classes and programs. Coordinate with youth services and Child Development Services to provide space and resources for weekend programs in two- to four-hour increments so that adults can have private time for personal pursuits. Establish or expand leisure class curriculum based on patron feedback and current trends. Provide information about opportunities available through local parks and recreation, adult education and other municipal/ host nation programs. Outside the U.S., where feasible, collaborate with United Service Organizations outreach staff to develop mobile teams that can take programs to family members living on the local economy. HOW CAN I HELP? As natural leaders in community efforts, non-military recreation professionals are likely to be asked to help citizens show support for American troops. Here's what the Department of Defense says on the topic. Defense Department officials ask well-meaning citizens not to flood the military mail system with letters, cards and gifts. Because of security concerns and transportation constraints, the department can't accept items addressed to "Any Service Member." Some people have tried to avoid this prohibition by sending large numbers of packages to an individual service member's overseas address. However well-intentioned this approach may be, it clogs the mail and causes unnecessary delays. U.S. troops deployed to the Persian Gulf region and other overseas locations can receive personal messages via the pages of Stars and Stripes, the Stars and Stripes, The Newspaper for U.S. military personnel. It first appeared in single editions during the American Civil War and was revived as a weekly for troops in Europe at the end of World War I. daily newspaper distributed overseas for the U.S. military community. "Messages of Support" is a daily section that gives family and friends of deployed service members a chance to pass their greetings, words of encouragement and announcements free of charge. "Messages of Support" can be e-mailed to Stars and Stripes at messages@ estripes.com. Messages should be 50 words or less and will be printed on a first-come, first-run basis. Stars and Stripes reserves the right to screen and edit all messages. There are other ways to support the troops, particularly the families left behind. Many families of Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve don't live near military posts, but are scattered in small towns and rural areas throughout America. The following Web sites are operated by organizations sponsoring programs for members of the Armed Forces overseas. * Donate a calling card to help keep service members in touch with their families via Operation Uplink. www.operationuplink.org * Send an online greeting through Operation Dear Abby.http://anyservice member.navy.mil or www.Operation DearAbby.net * Sign a virtual thank-you card via Defend America. www.defendamerica. mil/nmam.html * Make a donation to one of the military relief societies: * Army Emergency Relief, www.aerhq.org * Navy/Marine Relief Society, www.nmcrs.org * Air Force Aid Society, www.afas.org * Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, www.cgmahq.org * Donate to Operation USO USO: see United Service Organizations. (UNIX Software Operation) AT&T's Unix division before it turned into USL. See Unix. Care Package. www.usometrodc.org/care * Support the American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. Armed Forces Emergency Services emergency services Emergency care '…services …necessary to prevent death or serious impairment of health and, because of the danger to life or health, require the use of the most accessible hospital available and equipped to furnish those services' . www.redcross.org/services/afes * Volunteer at a Veteran's Administration hospital.www.va.gov/vetsday * Support families whose loved ones are being treated at military and VA hospitals through a donation to the Fisher House. www.fisherhouse.org * Reach out to military families in your community, especially those with a loved one overseas by offering services such as yard work, handyman/small appliance repair, laundry, prepared meals, automotive maintenance, homework help, or day trips and camps for children. * Help replace community volunteers who have been deployed, www.usa freedom corps The USA Freedom Corps is a body within the Executive Office of the President of the United States, the President serving as its chair. Its creation was announced by George W. .gov Douglas Ide works in the public affairs office of the U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center. The center is the Army agency responsible for delivering 50 Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs to soldiers and families worldwide. |
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