The Defense Department has extended for another year a program that provides free memberships at YMCAs to certain service members and families. The program is designed to provide a benefit for those who don't live near military installations' morale, welfare and recreation programs.
The Armed Services YMCA partners with more than 1,500 community YMCAs and more than 1,400 national and independent fitness centers nationwide for the Military Outreach Initiative. The Defense Department pays for the memberships. Service members at approved independent duty locations have the option to join a private fitness facility, with DoD paying a maximum of $50 per month and the service member paying the difference. This must go through an approval process. Families are not eligible to be included in the private fitness facility memberships, but can be included in the YMCA memberships.
Those eligible:
- Families of National Guard and reserve members deployed on active-duty Title 10 orders for a minimum of six months.
- Active-duty members and their families assigned to independent duty locations where commands don’t have access to free fitness equipment.
- Spouses who have moved from the installation during the military member’s deployment of at least six months.
- Community-based wounded warrior transition units.
Respite child care is offered in some areas, but that may be limited by eligibility requirements and availability. Not every YMCA or fitness center provides these services.
Single service members and married service members at approved independent duty locations have the option to join a private fitness facility, but the benefit is limited to a maximum of $50 per month. Any amount over $50 will be the responsibility of the service member, as well as registration fees.
Family members can't be included in private fitness memberships, but they can be included in the YMCA membership.
Since this program began in 2008, the Military Outreach Initiative has provided more than 85,000 memberships.
For more information about locations, eligibility and applying for the program, visit the Armed Services YMCAsite.
Karen Jowers covers military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times. She can be reached at kjowers@militarytimes.com.
Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.
