Page 8 - mch0417_Magazine

TOP PRIORITY

with service and aligned with private ing for MWR programs will go down when they are needed most.”
sector wages. as well.” Dailey also said that MWR “is a readi-
• Preserve the savings military fami- Recognizing the subcommittee’s ness consideration. High morale means
lies receive by shopping at the commis- record of legislative support that has better execution of our mission. MWR
sary and oppose any reform measures that resulted in “programs and policies that today impacts the readiness and resil-
would reduce the value of the benefit.” have helped sustain our families through iency of soldiers, families and civilians
these difficult times,” Raezer said, “We by impacting their physical, social and
Times continue to be difficult for are gratified that both Congress and mental well-being.”
military families, Raezer emphasized, DoD have recognized the importance of He added, “We know MWR programs
adding that the frequency of deployments commissary savings to military families and services are great factors in readiness.
hadn’t changed and “Military families and have expressed their commitment This is never taken out of consideration
still need continuous support ... they’re to preserving the value of the benefit. during our reviews of such programs.
still ‘one man down’ on the home front.” However, we are concerned about what Army leaders will always advocate to
With so many issues coming to the will happen if the changes do not gener- provide soldiers and families the quality
fore in healthcare and compensation, ate the expected revenue.” of life they deserve within fiscal con-
the impacts of “commissary reform” Senior enlisted leaders also spoke straints, while still remaining sustainable.”
— also known as transformation — on at length on a multitude of pressing is- The Marines’ Green, in his summary,
exchanges and MWR have been eclipsed, sues. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force wrote of the importance of the Single
even though business at the exchanges James A. Cody, Dailey, Giordano and Marine Program (SMP) and its effects
represents a vital source of funding for Green were among those top enlisted on quality of life. “The SMP allows for
MWR. “It is also important to remember,” non-commissioned officers who spoke participation in a wide variety of social,
Raezer said, “that the Exchange retail to the subcommittee. competitive and educational activities that
stores are highly dependent on foot traffic Dailey commented on the importance may include the great outdoors, such as
from nearby commissaries. Any threat to of fiscal stewardship. “We will protect paintball, deep-sea fishing, river rafting,
the health of the commissary is a risk to soldier and family programs to meet mountain biking and hiking … The SMP
the military resale system as a whole.” DoD standards. However, given the re- social, recreation, and fitness programs
The NFMA director said, “This is cent years of fiscal uncertainty, the Army within Marine Corps Community Services
particularly concerning as services reduce has, in past, paused to analyze spending (MCCS) deployment support provide for
funds for installation MWR programs. in support of MWR programs, specifi- participation in leisure activities when
These programs are increasingly depen- cally. We continue to review these and forward deployed away from the home
dent on the Exchanges for funding. If other family programs to ensure the most installation in austere environments.”
Exchange sales revenues decrease, fund- efficient delivery of service, where and

Marine Corps Lodging Facilities Earn Certified Guest

Service Property Designation

wo Marine Corps lodging properties in the Camp Lejeune-
TNew River area of North Carolina have earned the Certified
Guest Service Property designation from the American Hotel
& Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), the first from the
Marine Corps branch of the military to do so.
Onslow Beach and Inns of the Corps staff members completed
AHLEI’s Guest Service Gold training and earned the Certi-
fied Guest Service Professional
(CGSP) designation to qualify Onslow Beach (from left): Saman-
their facilities for the property- tha Adams; Michelle Chapman;
level certification. Rick Young, general manager;
William Lowery, CHA, direc- Olivia Cavell.
tor, Lodging Division, Marine
Corps Community Services, Lejeune-New River, said that
Guest Service Gold offers training that aligns perfectly with
the vision of the lodging division, which is “to provide Marine
Corps personnel and their families with a 100 percent positive
experience.”
Employees from both properties attended in-person training
sessions, which provided oppor-
tunities for constructive dialogue Inns of the Corps (from left): Chrys-
about guest service and concluded tal Carrier; Alan Hoilman, CHS,
general manager; Gleny Torres;
with the development of concrete Veeta Scott, CHS, guest services
action plans for each staff member. manager; Rachel Householder;
Continued on p. 40 Derrick Hill; Audrieanna Romano.

8 MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY | APRIL 2017