MWR

5 Military Discounts for Your RV Rental Adventures

07/20/2018 By Kimber Green

Are you renting or taking your RV out this summer for some family fun time?

Make sure you get the most for your money with military savings. There are many RV rental companies that offer military discounts as well as military campgrounds that are a lot of fun for low prices. Here are five recreational vehicle rental companies to consider when planning your RV adventure.

Getting a Military Discount when Renting a Recreational Vehicle

If you don’t own an RV and need to rent one, you’ll be happily surprised to find that many RV rental companies offer military discounts. Some MWR facilities also rent RVs.

Share My Rental is a company that matches would-be RV renters with owners in California. They offer a 5% military discount.

RV Rentals USA gives a 5% discount to military families renting an RV in Texas.

Bates International has special military discounts for renting RVs across America and Canada.

American Dream Vacations is a veteran-owned business that offers military discounts for RV rentals.

Roadrunner RV Rental is also a veteran-owned business that offers military discounts for RV rentals.

Affordable and Convenient Military Campgrounds

Looking for a campground? Check out some of the wonderful military campgrounds to take your RV to this summer. They are operated by the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) office of each branch.

The Air Force has more than 60 camping locations around the world. They even have a frequent camper program.

If you plan on taking a few trips with an RV, joining the Air Force’s frequent camper program is a great idea. Membership gives you access to information about camp sites and it also has incentives for visiting them. A wonderful bonus is that you can earn up to 25 free nights of camping at USAF campgrounds.

One campground to try is Birch Lake Recreation Area in Alaska. It has amazing views.

The Army’s MWR has a great collection of campgrounds around the country as well.

If you’re planning on parking your RV at an Army MWR campground, try Fort Benning’s Army Recreation Area in Destin, Fla. I’ve lived in Destin twice and its emerald waters cannot be beat. This campground is situated right on the water with amazing restaurants within walking distance. You can also rent boats from this MWR office.

Related: 5 Simple Recipes for Your Summer Camping Trip

The Navy MWR also has fantastic campgrounds to enjoy with your family. If you find yourself in Florida, the Oak Grove Park in Pensacola, Fla., is a great place to camp.

All the way on the other side of the country is Cliffside RV Park at NAS Whidbey, Wa. This is great place to visit. Your family can explore the area and perhaps see a bald eagle.

All of the MWR campgrounds offer great amenities in a wonderful setting. You can’t beat the rates either.

If you want to venture to non-military campgrounds, make sure you check to see if they offer a military discount before making your reservation. Encore and Thousand Trails offer a 20% discount at RV sites around the country.

I love that you can park your RV at Jellystone Park. Really. There are over 80 Jellystone Parks across the country. They have great amenities including electric and sewer hook-ups, water, 30- to 50-amp service and picnic tables. Don’t forget the military discount.

Tents for Troops is a program where your family can go camping for free. They offer a minimum of two nights stay at RV sites for free. This is possible through the generosity of large organizations that donate the space to active duty military families.

There are so many great opportunities for RV vacations that you’re sure to find the right one for your family.

Where have you taken an RV on vacation?

Should Shoppers Use Their Military Star Card at the Commissary?

07/05/2017 By Veronica Jorden

As part of the Defense Commissary Agency‘s continuing efforts to increase value and convenience at military commissaries across the world, military shoppers at more than 200 commissaries will have the option to use their Military Star card to pay for groceries starting in October. The additional credit card payment method is being incorporated into the point-of-sale payment overhaul already scheduled for the fall.

There are many reasons to be excited about this new option and a few concerns you may want to consider before using your Military Star card at the commissary.

The Benefits of Using Your Military Star Card at the Commissary

Many shoppers are already using credit cards to pay for groceries. Using the Military Star card has some distinct advantages:

Low Interest Rate

In addition to the low interest rate and fair credit lines offered even to those with little or bad credit , the Star card offers no late or over limit fees and the interest rate is reduced and payments waived during deployments. For junior service members and their spouses, the Military Star card can be a great way to build good credit.

Reap the Rewards

In addition to the Commissary Rewards program, shoppers using their Star card can earn extra rewards. Just like many other retail rewards cards, Military Star card users earn 10% back on all of their purchases. These rewards come in the form of a certificate or payment cards that are eligible for redemption at exchanges, shoppettes and on-post food vendors.

Our fingers are crossed that the rewards will also be eligible for use at the commissary. Every reward earned offers shoppers the potential to save some of their hard-earned cash.

Using the Star Card Supports MWR Programs

A considerable amount of the monies earned through interest on Military Star cards is used to fund MWR events and programs. Using your Star card helps keep our military dollars within our community.

Provides Options to Military Families

In her article, Star Card At The Commissary: Good or Bad? , Kate Horrell mentions one important benefit of this payment option:

“Service members who have run out of money will be able to purchase affordable, real food on credit instead of buying expensive junk food at the exchanges or minimarts/shoppettes.”

We know an unhealthy diet is usually a cheap diet, so having the Star card as an option for those months where a paycheck runs a little thin could be a value for some military families.

DeCA Gets to Save

Adding the Military Star card to the list of credit cards currently accepted at commissaries offers a direct benefit to DeCA. For every credit card purchase processed, DeCA must pay a small transaction fee to the credit card processor. Military Star card transactions, in comparison, cost less than say the fees paid to Visa or Mastercard.

The Concerns Associated with Using Your Military Star Card at the Commissary

So we’ve covered the benefits, but what should service members and their families think about before swiping their Star card? Two words – debt management.

Using the card to earn rewards can be a great way to stretch your budget, but that only works to your advantage if you pay off your credit card balance each month.

Credit for Consumables

Many financial advisors warn against using credit to purchase consumable goods. While it is easy and convenient to charge that $200 grocery bill to a credit card, if you only pay the minimum payment, by the time you pay off the balance, you’ll have paid an additional $15 or more in interest. And if you make a habit of it for every weekly grocery run, your annual grocery shopping bill could be more than $700 over what it would have been if you’d just paid cash.

Option for Garnishment

Plus, if you use your Star Card and don’t make a payment, you may soon find your military wages garnished to pay the bill. Regular credit cards don’t have that option.

If you are going to use your Military Star card at the commissary, reap the benefits, but take care to treat it just like any other credit card purchase and shop responsibly.

Do you have a Military Star card? Will you use it at the commissary this fall?

Military Exchange Online Shopping Opens to Veterans

02/20/2017 By Kimber Green

Nearly 20 million honorably discharged U.S. veterans will soon have the opportunity to shop online through the Army and Air Force Exchange service. This change in policy comes after years of pressure to open shopping to all those honorably discharged men and women.

As of Veterans Day, November 11, 2017, all honorably discharged U.S. veterans will be able to shop the exchange online.

This new privilege will only extend to online shopping however, not shopping in the physical exchange. Through the website, veterans will be able to purchase any items except for uniforms, alcohol and tobacco products.

The exchange estimates that this could bring in between $226 million and $1.13 billion in annual sales. An increase in sales also means an increase in funds for MWR programs.

Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) receives the majority of its funding from exchange dividends. The more sales the exchange has, the more programs MWR can offer. MWR programs are in place to support the “readiness and resilience for Soldiers and Families.” Programs include child and youth services, libraries, entertainment, sports and fitness, automotive skills, crafts and more.

Recently, exchange dividends have been low and MWR has not had the funds to support their usual programs. The Army has had to use some of this money to improve its daycare centers since budgets have been cut so much. The low sales have been due to the decline in the active duty force and base closures as well as the ending of tobacco product discounts and smaller profits from cheaper gas being sold. Opening online sales to all honorably discharged veterans is expected to quickly solve this problem.

Veterans will enjoy saving on average 20 percent over commercial stores while those families with base access will be enjoying better MWR programs. It’s a win-win situation for all.

This has been a two-year effort to open online shopping up to honorably discharged veterans. In the fall of 2016 the Defense Department’s Executive Resale Board voted unanimously to open online shopping to veterans and the Deputy Defense Secretary approved it.

AAFES has been preparing for the expansion of shoppers by improving the website, call centers and warehouse and distribution systems. They are working with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Defense Manpower Data Center to determine a way to verify that exchange shoppers are in fact honorably discharged veterans.

Shopping will only be available to veterans online and only for the exchange.

There are currently no plans to open shopping at the commissary up to honorably discharged veterans. This is because the commissary is run differently than AAFES. The Defense Commissary Agency receives a $1.4 billion operational subsidy annually that is funded by taxpayers. An increase in shoppers at the commissary would result in a higher cost for taxpayers in accordance to the current system. DECA therefore, is not considering adding veterans to the list of eligible shoppers.

Honorably discharged veterans however are excited to able to shop at the exchange online, even if they can’t also shop at the commissary. The Army and Air Force Exchange service has received outstanding support for this program and is anticipating a huge turnout of veteran online shoppers on Veterans Day.

You can keep up with announcements as the date for launch of this program approaches and learn how you can establish your identity as an honorably discharged veteran through their website.

What do you think of this policy change for the military exchange shopping privilege for veterans? Are you a veteran that will be shopping online this Veterans Day?

Expect to See More Cuts to MWR Programs

10/07/2016 By Meg Flanagan

Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) is a huge part of military family life. MWR programs in different branches provide much needed support and services to service members and their families.

MWR typically provides staffing and funding for libraries, pools, arts and crafts centers, woodworking shops and auto hobby centers. Other support programs include sports and recreation programs for adults and children. This could include team sports and physical fitness centers on many bases. MWR also funds on-base child development centers (CDC), youth center, teen center and other youth programs.

There will be a $105 million cut in the Army MWR budget in FY 2017.

This is in addition to a separate 23% workforce reduction over 2 years in Army Community Service Centers. These cuts could result in the closure of some facilities and programs. In addition, the budget cuts could result in hours being reduced or fees increased. Army soldiers and their families are the most impacted by these cuts. The cuts took effect on October 1.

The garrison commander will determine how cuts are applied at each base. This means that services and resources impacted will be varied by location. Army families should expect to feel the effects in calendar year 2017.

Army officials, including Lt. Gen Kenneth R. Dahl of Army Installation Command Management, have committed to maintaining CDC funding.

Many Army posts have already been readjusting services and programs for the last 5 years. Some bases have been working to offset costs through investing in programs. The investments ensured that the programs were either profitable or breaking even. Those that did not meet this benchmark were removed or totally revamped.

Outdoor recreation, arts and crafts, and auto skill shops are most likely to be affected by these cuts. Fitness centers could also see reduced hours and staffing.

Volunteers may be able to staff some programs. However, the program structure would need to allow volunteer support. This would allow some services to continue operating, even with the budget cuts.

The cuts should not affect remote or isolated duty stations where comparable services are not available off-base.

Four Army posts should expect to see impacts from the MWR cuts in the near future.

Is your military base impacted by MWR program cuts?

Fort Carson, Colorado:

The 4th Infantry Division will continue to provide staffing coverage for gyms and fitness centers. There will be slight, $1 or less, increase in fees for some programs. The Friday Night Date and Caring Saturday programs are also slated to be reduced. MWR funds both programs. Programs that are costly or have low turn-out are also on the chopping block.

Fort Huachuca, Arizona:

MWR is cutting $500,000. Ammo sales and weapon rentals will stop at the Sportsman’s Center. Skeet and trap shooting, plus Saturday Range 3, will still be available for people who bring their own weapons. There is no word about additional cuts.

Fort Jackson, South Carolina:

This base will see significant cuts in MWR programs and services. One fitness center will completely close. The other 3 centers will be open for 90 hours weekly. The library will be open 5 days instead of 7. One pool will close. MWR funded recreation trips are going to be completely cut. The auto hobby center will be open 4 days instead of 5.

Fort Sill, Oklahoma:

Fort Sill is facing a 25% cut in taxpayer funding. The library’s hours will be reduced. There will also be new fees for the pools, outdoor recreation and special events or programs.

Will other military branches be impacted by MWR cuts?

The budget cuts will also impact joint service bases where Army MWR has the lead. This includes bases that previously had both or all branches providing MWR programs, but switched to have these services provided only by the Army.

The Navy has also made cuts to its MWR programs. Many bases have closed art and craft centers, wood shops and auto centers. There are no additional changes predicted or anticipated this year.

The Marine Corps has not scheduled any cuts to its MWR programs this year. However, the service will continue to look at services and programs.

The Air Force has not released information about potential MWR service cuts.

While these services do not plan to cut services at this time, MWR programs could be changed or removed in the future.

What do you think about the cuts to MWR programs at military bases?

DeCA Hosts Healthy Lifestyle Festivals in July

07/08/2016 By Michelle Volkmann

There’s always a lot of emphasis on adopting healthy habits during the New Year. But you don’t need to wait until January 1 to start a new fitness routine or incorporate more fresh produce into your meal planning. You can pledge to make healthy lifestyle changes today.

Supporting the military community’s health and wellness goals is the focus of the Defense Commissary Agency’s military resale partnership event, Your Healthy Lifestyle Festival.

This annual event features discounted prices on produce at commissary farmers markets, savings on workout equipment and apparel at exchanges, health screenings at local clinics and fitness events hosted by the post morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) activities, according to a DeCA press release. Commissaries worldwide will be hosting healthy lifestyle festivals between July 1 and July 31.

“We heartily support DoD’s many initiatives to improve the health and wellness of service members and their families. Supporting this fest is a great way to continue that tradition,” said DeCA Sales Director Tracie Russ. “Together, the military resale community helps reinforce the installation as the No. 1 destination for partnership events.”

The healthy lifestyle festivals vary slightly from base to base. This event, which is a collaborative effort of commissaries, exchanges, MWR services and our industry partners, may include exchange sidewalk sales, MWR fitness events, demos, music, free nutritious food samples, prize giveaways, discount coupon offers, health and wellness information and children’s programs. Event details will be announced through the local military installation’s media, such as a base newspaper or a Facebook page.

The healthy lifestyle festivals will shine a spotlight on the commissaries’ worldwide farmers market program.

“Our patrons are in for a treat when it comes to the quality produce offered at our farmers markets,” Russ said. “Thanks to the creativity of our store personnel and industry partners who inject plenty of imagination and excitement into our farmers markets, combined with the exchange sales and the MWR fitness events, this festival will be a must-attend for our military customers.”

In the past, commissary shoppers have said that quality fresh produce is a priority for them. They want to buy locally grown produce at their commissaries. The healthy lifestyle festival is a way for commissary patrons to see what types of fresh produce are available at their commissaries that they may be overlooking.

Last year’s festival was the first of what has become an annual event combining the best of the military community’s efforts to help improve the health and wellness of service members and their families, according to the DeCA press release.

The majority of the healthy lifestyle festivals will be held on military installations this month. Commissary shoppers can find the participating military installations and dates on Your Healthy Lifestyle Festival page.

A few locations scheduled their event in June to avoid calendar conflicts, DeCA said in a press release.

Here is the list of bases that already had their healthy lifestyle festivals: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California; Chievres Air Base, Belgium; Dugway Proving Ground, Utah; Izmir Air Station, Turkey; Los Angeles Air Force Base; Naval Station Mayport, Florida; Naval Base Pearl Harbor Commissary, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; Naval Shipyard Portsmouth, Maine; and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California.