COAST GUARD LODGING/MWR:
Kodiak, Alaska, Offers Award-Winning Programs

At U.S. Coast Guard Base Kodiak, Alaska, Morale, Well-Being and Recreation (MWR) programs, facilities and activities are the lifeline that help service members and their families make it through long, grueling winters, and summers where rainstorms can last for weeks on end. The MWR team at Kodiak understands the importance of these quality of life benefits, and was recognized in 2013 by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) as a finalist for the NRPA Gold Medal Award in the Armed Forces Recreation category.

“Overall, I think the whole idea behind the award for us, and even to compete for the award, was the total involvement of all of MWR and the entire staff,” said MWR Director Joe Bower. “For instance, when it came to the essay questions, I tried to tie in as many of my staff at the different MWR facilities and programs that we have, including on the engineering side, when we were gathering the information and consolidating it into the essays to come up with the best possible answer to their questions. Linda Pena [MWR programs manager] was very good at documenting the process in the system for us, which was helpful because we could bring all of the info together and review it, and then give it to our commander, who assisted in the final review. It was a real team effort all around, and that was the whole idea behind the process for us.” ...

TENTS:
Supporting Soldiers' Needs Downrange

From shelter to sustainment, preparing for life downrange is vitally important. For soldiers of the 542nd Quartermaster (QM) Company, 301st Regional Support Group, headquartered in Fairview, Pa., the annual training they complete at the Base Camp Integration Lab at Fort Devens, Mass., allows them to test the unit’s Mission Essential Task List, including operating the new Force Provider system that supplies everything the soldiers need: climate-controlled billeting, showers, latrines, laundry, dining facilities, an all-electric kitchen, and a power distribution system. These modules support 150 personnel, and the 542nd QM Co. is capable of supporting 24 modules for a total of 3,600 personnel.

“Force Provider equipment is very unique, and it’s very limited on availability,” said Staff Sgt. John K. Schwentner, USA, the shower/bath and laundry non-commissioned officer-in-charge. “Here, we have everything, brand-new and the next generation. You’re not going to get that anywhere else.”

“The 542nd QM Co. is the only force provider company still within the Army’s inventory,” added Maj. Mitchell J. Wisniewski III, USA, commander of the 542nd QM Co. “The only current training sets are here at Fort Devens.” ...