Best kept secret - MWR

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Christopher Stewart
  • 114th Public Affairs
One of the best kept secrets of the military is its Morale, Welfare, and Recreation programs, also known as MWR. Military facilities worldwide offer a variety of discount tickets, lodging, and equipment rentals all intended to maximize the enjoyment soldiers, sailors, and airmen have when they are off duty. The South Dakota Air National Guard is no exception. The Force Support Squadron currently maintains a variety of equipment from tents to yard games that they regularly check out to unit members for personal use.

"If you have a family reunion coming up, come and check out a shelter tent and some yard games" says Senior Master Sgt. Donald Wenzel, 114th Force Support Squadron Services Superintendent. "Come a few days before the event to check out what you need and bring everything back the next week."

When asked what the most popular items were Sgt. Wenzel stated "Definitely the yard games. Corn hole and other miscellaneous yard games are checked out regularly." Wenzel added that he thought tents would check out more often than they do. "We have a good selection of four person and six person tents, many of which are new within the last few years and have never been set up."

"We check everything out on an Air Force form 1297" said Sgt. Wenzel, "We do not reserve items, all equipment is on a first come, first serve, basis."

According to Wenzel, airmen can submit ideas for equipment to add to the MWR program as well. Those recommendations are researched, then they may or may not be purchased, dependent on the interest and need of the unit members.

"Right now we just tell people to come over and look, or ask me for what they need", says Wenzel. "I can tell them off the top of my head whether or not we have the equipment they are looking for."

Future plans include adding a list of items that are available on to the Force Support Squadron Sharepoint webpage so that members can take a look before they come over.
Summer is upon us so spread the word and take advantage of this great free program that the unit has to offer its members.