Glossary

Amateur Radio Program - This is an individual skill development program that teaches eligible patrons long distance, two-way radio operation associated with the Military Affiliated Radio System.  This is a Category B MWR activity.

Appropriated Fund (APF) - APF are funds appropriated by the Congress.

Armed Forces Professional Entertainment Program - This program acquires and supports professional entertainment provided free to armed forces personnel at overseas locations.  This is a Category A MWR activity.

Arts and Crafts Skill Development Program -  This program emphasizes learning by "doing" through formal and informal instruction in fine arts, crafts, and industrial and vocational arts.  This is a category B MWR activity.

Automotive Crafts Skill Development Program - This program provides patrons with automotive and electromechanical skill development by promoting learning by "doing" through formal and informal instruction.  This is a Category B MWR activity.

Boating Program - This program allows patrons to rent boats for recreational use and, in some instances, may offer private berthing for privately owned boats.  Boating operations that do not include private berthing or any resale shops are Category B MWR activities.  Boating programs offering private berthing and / or resale activities are Category C MWR activities. 

Bowling Program - This program typically offers a combination of resale activities, food and beverage operations, bowling instruction, open play bowling, and league bowling.  Bowling programs with twelve lanes or fewer are Category B MWR activities and bowling centers with more than twelve lanes are Category C MWR activities.

Camping Program - The camping program operates small campgrounds to provide camping as the primary recreation activity or to support participation in adjacent outdoor recreation activities.  The camping program is a Category B program, but any snack bar, restaurant, or resale outlet on-site at the campground is authorized only as a Category C MWR activity.

Category A mission sustaining programs - Category A programs promote the physical and mental well-being of the military member, thereby supporting accomplishment of the basic military mission.  These programs are to be supported almost entirely with APF.

Category B community support programs - Category B MWR activities satisfy the basic physiological and psychological needs of Service members and families, providing, to the extent possible, the community support systems that make DoD installations temporary home towns for a mobile military population.  These programs are funded through a combination of APF and nonappropriated funds (NAF).

Category C revenue generating programs - Category C MWR activities have the business capability of generating enough income to cover most or all of their operating expenses.  These activities are predominantly funded through NAF, but can receive limited APF support when the program cannot sustain itself based purely on the business activity, or if the installation is designated a remote and isolated installation. 

Commercial sponsorship - Commercial sponsorship is the act of providing assistance, funding, goods, equipment (including fixed assets), or services to an MWR activity (or activities), event(s) by an individual, agency, association, company or corporation, or other entity (sponsor) for a specific and limited period of time in return for public recognition or advertising promotions.  It does not include volunteer work, activities, or outright donations where no volunteer or donor recognition or acknowledgment is expected or required nor does it apply to products and services that are considered gifts or donations.

Family member - Family members are individuals whose relationship to the military sponsor leads to entitlements, to benefits, or privileges administered by the Services.

Flying Program - This program (also know as Aero Club) provides eligible and qualified patrons with the opportunity to rent aircraft, store aircraft owned by members, or participate in flying instruction, and to access other related services.  This is a Category C MWR activity.

Golf Program - This program offers open play, tournaments, and services such as golf instruction, golf resale, food, and beverage to eligible patrons.  This is a Category C MWR activity.

Information, Ticket, and Tours (ITT) program - Typical services of the ITT program 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 provisions for central registration and advance sales for most military recreation facilities, services, and programs on the installation.  This is a Category B MWR activity.

Joint Service Facilities and Armed Forces Recreation Centers - These are facilities and programs operated by one Service for all DoD Component use for the primary purpose of providing rest and recreation activities.  These include the Armed Forces Recreation Centers (Shades of Green in Florida; Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Germany; Hale Koa Hotel in Hawaii; and Dragon Hill Lodge in Korea), major hotel operations, and recreation sites designed for use by all armed forces personnel.   Joint Service Facilities and Armed Forces Recreation Centers are Category C MWR activities.

Libraries Programs and Information Services - These programs and services provide the DoD community with current, retrospective, and authoritative multi-media materials (e.g., books, magazines, newspapers, microforms, tapes, and electronic data bases) in all subject fields to include literary, musical, artistic, and basic reference for recreation and personal education.  This is a Category A MWR activity.

Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) facilities - MWR facilities consist of buildings, structures, land area, or other real property improvements primarily used for MWR.

Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) programs - MWR activities are those military programs located on DoD installations or on property controlled (by lease or other means) by DoD or furnished by a DoD contractor that provide for the mission sustainment, community support, and other revenue generating programs for authorized DoD personnel.

Public-Private Venture (PPV) agreement - A PPV is an agreement between a DoD NAF Instrumentality (NAFI) and a non-federal entity whereby the non-federal entity provides goods, services, or facilities to authorized MWR and exchange patrons. The non-federal entity may, through the PPV, provide a portion or all of the financing, design, construction, equipment, staffing, and operation of a program for goods, services, or facilities.

NAF - NAF, or nonappropriated funds, are cash and other assets received from sources other than monies appropriated by Congress.  NAFs are government funds, but they are separate and apart from funds that are recorded in the books of the Treasury of the United States.

NAF employee - A NAF employee is a person employed by a NAF Instrumentality (NAFI) program and compensated from NAFs.  NAF Employees do not include contractor personnel.

NAFI - A NAFI, or NAF Instrumentality, is a DoD organization that is supported in whole or in part by NAF.  It acts in its own name to provide or assist Secretaries of the Services in providing programs for military personnel and authorized civilians.  As a fiscal entity, it maintains custody of and control over its NAF and also may administer appropriated resources to carry out its purposes.

On-Installation Parks and Picnic Areas - On-installation parks and picnic areas provide picnic areas, barbecues, pavilions, game fields, fitness trails, nature centers, and playgrounds for self-directed use. These are Category A MWR activities.

Outdoor Recreation Program - This program provides patrons with instruction and structured outdoor recreational activities (such as archery, hunting, fishing, rappelling, hiking, backpacking, bicycling, mountain biking, boating, canoeing, camping jamborees, water and snow skiing, etc.).  This is a Category B MWR activity.

Outdoor Recreation Equipment Checkout Program - This program supports self-directed and directed participation in outdoor programs by allowing patrons to rent or check-out various pieces of recreational equipment.  Outdoor recreation equipment checkout includes tents, coolers, sleeping bags, stoves, skis, canoes, boats, and bicycles. This is a Category B MWR activity.

Parachute and Sky Diving Program - This program offers patrons instruction, sponsored jumps, competitions, etc., in parachuting and sky diving.  This is a Category C MWR activity.

Performing Arts - These programs are individual skill development programs that provide for participation in or attendance at the following events: theater centers, dinner theaters, music centers, performing arts centers, pageants, special entertainment events, and community activities. These are Category B MWR activities.

Physical Fitness and Aquatic Training - These programs develop the cardiovascular fitness, strength conditioning, and flexibility of military personnel and include swimming programs associated with Service member training.   This is a Category A MWR activity.

Recreational Lodging - These programs offer cabins, trailers, chalets, cabanas, beach houses/cottages, and hook-ups in trailer/RV parks to allow Service members to enjoy their vacations at a significant cost savings.

Remote and isolated installation - A remote and isolated installations is located in an area where Category C revenue-generating MWR activities may not be capable of generating a sufficient amount of NAF income to ensure the self-sufficiency of the installation's MWR Category B and C (those that include NAF) programs.  Remote and isolated status for an installation is awarded after evaluating the installation's financial capability, performance, and degree of assistance provided by major commands and the military Service.   A remote and isolated designation for an installation typically allows the installation to fund Category C programs at the Category B level.

Rod and Gun Program - This program provides activities such as skeet, trap, and other shooting programs, instruction, competitions, resale, and food and beverage operations.  This is a Category C MWR activity.

Scuba and Diving Program - This program provides aquatic and scuba type activities, such as instruction and sponsored dives.  This is a Category C MWR activity.

Shipboard, Company, and/or Unit-Level Programs - These programs consist of support and activities that maintain mission readiness, improve unit teamwork, and create espirit de corps. These are Category A MWR activities.

Sports and Athletics Program - These programs consist of support for individuals and teams to enhance fitness, unit teamwork, and readiness, and to provide an outlet for competition between individuals or teams representing the installation or higher level. This includes inter-Service sport competition events sanctioned by the Armed Forces Sports Council as well as participation in national and international sporting events.  Self-directed, unit level, or intramural sports are Category A MWR activities; competition between individuals or teams representing the installation or higher are Category B MWR activities.

Stables and Riding Program - This program provides patrons with the opportunity to ride horses for recreation, board privately owned horses, conduct organized events, and participate in competitions. Recreational riding of government-owned / government-leased horses is a Category B MWR activity and boarding of privately owned horses, organized events, and competitions are Category C MWR activities.

Swimming Programs - These programs provide patrons with the opportunity to use the swimming pools in a recreational manner.  Patrons can also take advantage of swimming lessons.  These are Category B MWR activities.

Video Program - This program provides leisure time opportunities for individuals who have a common interest in video entertainment and technology to include video tape and peripheral equipment checkout and rental as well as limited resale services. This is a Category C MWR activity.