Navy MWR Programs and Sevices Help Meet Fleet Support Challenge
Navy NewStand
Story Number: NNS030307-08
Release Date: 3/7/2003 11:22:00 AM
By Ingrid Mueller, Navy MWR Communications Group
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- With increased operational tempo and a long fight against terrorism ahead, it's more important than ever for the Navy's Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs and services to help meet the special needs of Sailors deployed around the world.
The fleet support challenge for Navy MWR professionals is to assist Sailors in achieving personal readiness to ensure the Navy is an effective force. In an at-sea or overseas environment, this often means being creative and innovative in offering fitness and recreation opportunities.
"We take care of all Navy ships as equitably as we can," said Kelly Powell, head of Navy MWR's Mission Essential Branch. "When Sailors have some time off, we have to be able to come to the rescue, and we try to dial in on what the fleet is asking for," he said.
The core programs and services designed to help deployed Sailors better perform mission requirements are fitness equipment, afloat fitness and recreation directors, recreation and sports gear, Learning Media Resource Centers, movie program services and fleet entertainment.
"We're trying to make a difference in our Sailors' lives at sea," said Powell. He added that Navy MWR's focus is "fleet centric" and that he welcomes feedback from the fleet on their issues and concerns.
"Five years ago, most ships didn't have fitness programs at sea. Now, to maintain high fitness standards for deployed support, we ensure all ships are fully equipped with quality fitness equipment before they deploy," said Powell. "We have also pre-positioned equipment at major fleet concentration areas to permit us to change out fitness equipment as it wears out from heavy use from embarked Sailors and Marines."
"One key initiative to help create a culture of fitness and personnel readiness in the force is recruiting and hiring professional afloat fitness directors and recreation specialists for all aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships and tenders," continued Powell. More than half of that goal has been met, and a full-court press is on to reach 100 percent by the end of the fiscal year.
Navy MWR continues to look for new ways to provide recreation opportunities to those Sailors who prefer alternatives to working out in fitness rooms aboard ship, or to those who are assigned to small ships with limited workout options.
Watching movies is one of MWR's most popular leisure activities provided to Sailors at sea, as each ship can maintain a library with more than 600 titles and receives a monthly shipment of 16 new movies. The afloat movie program is designed to provide movie screening in small groups, over ship television systems, or in large groups using the large screen equipment package known as "cinema at sea initiative."
"The fleet can rely on us to provide new movies as fast as possible, as many as possible," said Ron Rossman, head of the Navy Motion Picture Service (NMPS) program. "We will continue our partnership with the film industry in creating opportunities to provide special movie program events for Sailors and their families," he said.
NMPS will also continue to deploy Theater in a Box (TIB) units, which are innovative, self-contained movie systems consisting of a portable projector, screen, sound system and videotape player with 250 movies - all the equipment needed to run a movie program.
"These units give us the capability to provide quality service to forward-deployed shore forces, including various personnel with special missions in support of the war on terrorism," said Rossman. "The Theater in the Box systems are going to places where no other MWR programs or services exist, and we have been able to provide 25 of them so far - one unit for every request we've received," he explained. Rossman added that commanding officers of forward deployed ashore units can request a TIB directly through his office.
Navy MWR has also been bringing welcome diversions to the fleet in the form of quality live entertainment, and is on track to meet its FY-03 goal of increasing entertainment to ships by 20 percent. Some examples include Comics on Duty, the popular rock band 3 Doors Down, and athletes such as Napoleon McCullum, a Naval Academy graduate and former pro football player.
"Every entertainer I've worked with has been blown away by the professionalism and dedication of our Sailors," said Cheryl Anderson, special events and entertainment coordinator for Navy MWR. "It's good for the morale of our Sailors, too, who oftentimes can't believe a famous person or band has traveled thousands of miles to perform for them," she said.
"With this program," Anderson added, "I want Sailors to forget where they are for just a little bit."
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