Military Community and Family Program Support for Quality of Life

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MWR, COMMISSARY AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMSThe MWR, commissary, and exchange systems are designed to meet the day today needs of our Service members and their families and must be capable at all times ofsupporting our forces deployed throughout the world. These systems support over 12million authorized patrons at nearly 300 military installations in over 30 countries andmilitary missions on board 157 ships and in 82 contingency operations.MWR programs encompass a wide array of mission essential, community supportand business operations. Participation in recreation, fitness, sports, cultural arts and otherleisure activities is the key to active living, which leads to improved personal health andwell-being and helps build strong military families and healthy communities. Activeliving can also reduce stress, loneliness, and depression and builds positive self-esteemand esprit de corps, so critical in the military environment. Family and spousal supportand assistance programs, although closely affiliated and often managed with the MWRprograms, are separate community programs on the installations that help families adaptto life in the military.The commissary and exchange programs, or “the resale system,” are eachcomponents of the military compensation and benefit package and are importantcontributors to morale and readiness. The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA)operates a world-wide system of commissary stores that sell name brand grocery andhousehold necessities to military personnel and their families, who save an average 30percent on their purchases. The Military Services run three world-wide Exchangesystems that operate retail complexes, catalogs, and web sites that sell a wide range ofmerchandise and services to the military community, on board ships and in contingencyoperations. The exchanges price their goods to average at least 15 percent savings to thecustomer and to produce revenues to help finance the MWR programs.6
Collectively, these programs contribute to the readiness and retention of the totalforce while supporting the well-being of their families. These programs comprise theinterconnected framework of the military family and community support structure. Theseprograms must work together as partners to overcome shared challenges and to fulfilltheir unique missions. As we move forward, continued Congressional support will becritical to our success.PROGRAM OVERSIGHTAs indicated in earlier testimonies to Congress, investment in our people is vital.The Military Departments recognize their fiduciary responsibility to provide theresources and set the direction and goals to sustain the MWR and exchange benefits forthe ultimate stakeholders, the military members. Each Military Service supervises theirExchange and MWR programs through a board of directors, except for the Air ForceMWR program which is overseen by the Manpower, Personnel, and Services staff. TheMilitary Departments, through their representation on the DeCA Board of Directors,advise the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness on the funding andoperation of the commissary system and assist in the overall supervision of DeCA.We take great pride in our important mission and in the tremendous efforts of the130,000 employees of DeCA, the Army Family Morale, Welfare and RecreationCommand, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), the Navy InstallationsCommand, the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), the Headquarters U.S.Air Force Services, and the Headquarters Marine Corps Personal and Family ReadinessDivision. Their amazing work is making a difference in the quality of life of ourSoldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and families.In partnership with the Congress, I am confident that we have the leadership, theresources, and the drive necessary to see these important programs through thesechallenges. The Department places great confidence in the leadership of these7
Page 1 and 2: WRITTEN STATEMENTBYLESLYE A. ARSHTD
Page 3 and 4: have 660,000 children. Statistics s
Page 5: PROGRESS AND OUTLOOKWe are managing
Page 9 and 10: Life Social Compact Improvement Ind
Page 11 and 12: service and maximize efficiencies i
Page 13 and 14: forwarded an “out of cycle” req
Page 15 and 16: Domestic Dependent Elementary and S
Page 17 and 18: military installation. There are pl
Page 19 and 20: Supplemental Civilian Human Resourc
Page 23 and 24: provide savings to the customer and
Page 25 and 26: capabilities of the Department's 20
Page 27 and 28: Return and Recreate: The Department
Page 29 and 30: support deployed Marines and famili
Page 31: CONCLUSIONMadam Chairwoman, I would

Military Community and Family Program Support for Quality of Life

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