MWR is a military acronym for "Morale, Welfare, and Recreation," or more commonly, military recreation. Military recreation is a comprehensive network of support and leisure programs and services designed to improve the quality of life of service members, their families, and other eligible patrons and create a home community feel at the installation. Military recreation consists of about forty-five different programs ranging from fitness and recreation to libraries and bowling centers. Available programs and services vary at each installation.

MWR is a military acronym for "Morale, Welfare, and Recreation," or more commonly, military recreation. Military recreation is a comprehensive network of support and leisure programs and services designed to improve the quality of life of service members, their families, and other eligible patrons and create a home community feel at the installation. Military recreation consists of about forty-five different programs ranging from fitness and recreation to libraries and bowling centers. Available programs and services vary at each installation.

Yes, but not all of the branches use the same name for military recreation programs and services. The Army and Navy use the term Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR). Within the Marine Corps, recreation programs and services are offered through Marine Corps Community Service (MCCS). Military recreation is offered through the US Air Force (USAF) Services.  The Coast Guard uses the same MWR acronym as the Army and Navy, but in the Coast Guard, MWR stands for "Morale, Well-Being, and Recreation."

Yes, but not all of the branches use the same name for military recreation programs and services. The Army and Navy use the term Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR). Within the Marine Corps, recreation programs and services are offered through Marine Corps Community Service (MCCS). Military recreation is offered through the US Air Force (USAF) Services.  The Coast Guard uses the same MWR acronym as the Army and Navy, but in the Coast Guard, MWR stands for "Morale, Well-Being, and Recreation."

Although installations do have the flexibility to offer special-interest programs to meet specific installation-level needs, certain core military recreation programs and services should be available at each installation. Examples of some recreational programs and services found on the majority of installations include:

Fitness and Sports - The physical fitness and wellness programs develop cardiovascular fitness, strength conditioning, and flexibility, and promote healthy lifestyles. These programs include swimming; self-directed, unit level, or intramural sports and athletics; and sports programs above the intramural level that provide competition events.

Libraries Programs and Information Services - The library activities support readiness and the military mission, professional military and technical education and training, personal and technical skill development, quality of life, education, transition and career assistance, relocation assistance, and leisure needs of the military community. The recreation libraries do not include medical, educational, or other libraries within DoD that focus on occupational or academic specialties.

Recreation Programs - Military recreation provides opportunities for social interaction, self-expression, recreation, and cultural and educational programs that appeal to all segments of the community. Military recreation includes free admission movies; outdoor recreation (parks and picnic areas, recreation equipment checkout, camping, horseback riding, fishing, rappelling, hiking, bicycling, mountain biking, water and snow skiing, etc.); basic social recreation activities (video games, entertainment videos, board games, social events, etc.); shipboard, company, or unit-level activities; recreational swimming; and/or special interest recreational programs (i.e., flying/aero clubs, parachute/sky diving, rod and gun, scuba diving, etc.).

Individual Recreation Skill Programs - These programs are designed to impart a life skill to patrons while providing an outlet for recreation. Programs and activities may include amateur radio, performing arts, arts and crafts, and automotive skill development.

Leisure Travel - The DoD Information, Tickets, and Tours (ITT) program provides economical opportunities for service members and their families to experience national, regional, and local travel, tours, attractions, and events. ITT services include informational brochures concerning local and regional attractions; local or regional group tours; tickets to local movie theaters, concerts, plays, sports events, museums, etc.; admission to regional or national theme parks; and air, rail, and bus tickets, packaged tours, group tours, cruises, and travel insurance.

Recreational Lodging - The recreational lodging program offers eligible patrons the opportunity to relax and enjoy their vacation at a premier location and provides significant savings to service members in the process. Installation recreational lodging allows patrons to rent cabins, trailers, chalets, cabanas, and beach houses/cottages, or to rent hook-ups in trailer / recreational vehicle (RV) parks. In addition to local recreational lodging, Armed Forces Recreation Centers are facilities and programs operated by one Service for all DoD Component use for the primary purpose of providing rest and recreation activities.

Single Service Member Programs - This program supports the overall quality of single service members' lives by identifying well-being issues and concerns of single service members, recommending ways to address these issues through the chain of command, encouraging and assisting single service members in identifying and planning for recreational and leisure activities, and providing single service members with opportunities to participate in and contribute to their respective communities. Typical activities include recreation and sports activities; health and wellness activities; trips and tours; concerts; Internet surfing and emailing; holiday and special event activities; life skills development and career progression; community involvement; and addressing quality of life issues.

Child Care and Youth Programs - Child care and youth programs focus on care for and development of children of eligible service members and DoD civilians. Specific programs include the Child Development Program, Youth Activities, Family Child Care, School-Age Care, and child care resource referral. For more information on child care programs and services, please visit the Child Care section of MilitaryHOMEFRONT.com.

Although installations do have the flexibility to offer special-interest programs to meet specific installation-level needs, certain core military recreation programs and services should be available at each installation. Examples of some recreational programs and services found on the majority of installations include:

Fitness and Sports - The physical fitness and wellness programs develop cardiovascular fitness, strength conditioning, and flexibility, and promote healthy lifestyles. These programs include swimming; self-directed, unit level, or intramural sports and athletics; and sports programs above the intramural level that provide competition events.

Libraries Programs and Information Services - The library activities support readiness and the military mission, professional military and technical education and training, personal and technical skill development, quality of life, education, transition and career assistance, relocation assistance, and leisure needs of the military community. The recreation libraries do not include medical, educational, or other libraries within DoD that focus on occupational or academic specialties.

Recreation Programs - Military recreation provides opportunities for social interaction, self-expression, recreation, and cultural and educational programs that appeal to all segments of the community. Military recreation includes free admission movies; outdoor recreation (parks and picnic areas, recreation equipment checkout, camping, horseback riding, fishing, rappelling, hiking, bicycling, mountain biking, water and snow skiing, etc.); basic social recreation activities (video games, entertainment videos, board games, social events, etc.); shipboard, company, or unit-level activities; recreational swimming; and/or special interest recreational programs (i.e., flying/aero clubs, parachute/sky diving, rod and gun, scuba diving, etc.).

Individual Recreation Skill Programs - These programs are designed to impart a life skill to patrons while providing an outlet for recreation. Programs and activities may include amateur radio, performing arts, arts and crafts, and automotive skill development.

Leisure Travel - The DoD Information, Tickets, and Tours (ITT) program provides economical opportunities for service members and their families to experience national, regional, and local travel, tours, attractions, and events. ITT services include informational brochures concerning local and regional attractions; local or regional group tours; tickets to local movie theaters, concerts, plays, sports events, museums, etc.; admission to regional or national theme parks; and air, rail, and bus tickets, packaged tours, group tours, cruises, and travel insurance.

Recreational Lodging - The recreational lodging program offers eligible patrons the opportunity to relax and enjoy their vacation at a premier location and provides significant savings to service members in the process. Installation recreational lodging allows patrons to rent cabins, trailers, chalets, cabanas, and beach houses/cottages, or to rent hook-ups in trailer / recreational vehicle (RV) parks. In addition to local recreational lodging, Armed Forces Recreation Centers are facilities and programs operated by one Service for all DoD Component use for the primary purpose of providing rest and recreation activities.

Single Service Member Programs - This program supports the overall quality of single service members' lives by identifying well-being issues and concerns of single service members, recommending ways to address these issues through the chain of command, encouraging and assisting single service members in identifying and planning for recreational and leisure activities, and providing single service members with opportunities to participate in and contribute to their respective communities. Typical activities include recreation and sports activities; health and wellness activities; trips and tours; concerts; Internet surfing and emailing; holiday and special event activities; life skills development and career progression; community involvement; and addressing quality of life issues.

Child Care and Youth Programs - Child care and youth programs focus on care for and development of children of eligible service members and DoD civilians. Specific programs include the Child Development Program, Youth Activities, Family Child Care, School-Age Care, and child care resource referral. For more information on child care programs and services, please visit the Child Care section of MilitaryHOMEFRONT.com.

Military recreation programs and services have two main categories of eligible patrons: unlimited and limited access. Active duty service members and their families fall into the unlimited access category and may use the recreation programs and services on all installations. Limited access patron eligibility rules are set at the discretion of the installation commander and  may vary from installation to installation.  For more information on limited access, please contact the installation recreation program.

Military recreation programs and services have two main categories of eligible patrons: unlimited and limited access. Active duty service members and their families fall into the unlimited access category and may use the recreation programs and services on all installations. Limited access patron eligibility rules are set at the discretion of the installation commander and  may vary from installation to installation.  For more information on limited access, please contact the installation recreation program.

Hours of operation for recreational programs and services are set to meet the demands of the specific installation. For the hours of operation for a specific program or service on a specific installation, please visit MilitaryINSTALLATIONS.

Hours of operation for recreational programs and services are set to meet the demands of the specific installation. For the hours of operation for a specific program or service on a specific installation, please visit MilitaryINSTALLATIONS.

Yes. DoD has encouraged the individual Services to offer high-adventure recreation programs such as rock and ice climbing, caving, hang-gliding, kayaking, motorcycle racing, mountain biking, paintball, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and white-water rafting. These high-adrenaline programs can serve as a safe and healthy way for service members to deal with stress when returning from a deployment. The exact programs and services vary from installation to installation. For information on high-adventure programs and services available at a particular installation, please visit MilitaryINSTALLATIONS or contact the local installation military recreation office.

Yes. DoD has encouraged the individual Services to offer high-adventure recreation programs such as rock and ice climbing, caving, hang-gliding, kayaking, motorcycle racing, mountain biking, paintball, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and white-water rafting. These high-adrenaline programs can serve as a safe and healthy way for service members to deal with stress when returning from a deployment. The exact programs and services vary from installation to installation. For information on high-adventure programs and services available at a particular installation, please visit MilitaryINSTALLATIONS or contact the local installation military recreation office.