About MWR

Overview

Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Family and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (Family & MWR) offers programs and services that strengthen readiness and enhance the lives of Warfighters, families, civilians, retirees, and other eligible patrons. Our work directly supports DLA, America’s combat logistics support agency, by helping it remain solution-oriented, efficient, and resilient.
Family & MWR employees deliver high-quality programs and services in Business Operations, Child and Youth Programs, Family Advocacy, Outdoor Recreation, and Sports and Fitness. These programs reduce stress, build strength and resilience, and help the DLA workforce maintain physical, mental, and financial well-being.

Our History

DLA’s roots trace back to the battlefields of World War I. Behind the lines, Salvation Army sisters and Red Cross volunteers supported Soldiers’ needs and served as forerunners of today’s Family and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) specialists. After the war ended, funding stopped, and morale programs closed.
In July 1940, the Adjutant General’s Office established the Morale Division, later known as Special Services. In 1962, DLA signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Army. This agreement allowed DLA to follow Army regulations and provide core recreational programming to military and civilian personnel.

Today, MWR includes six organizations across DLA host sites: Susquehanna (New Cumberland), Columbus, Richmond, San Joaquin, Battle Creek, and Fort Belvoir’s McNamara Headquarters Complex.

Guiding Principles

  • Family & MWR supports effectiveness and readiness.
  • Family & MWR supports retention and recruitment of quality personnel.
  • The Family & MWR programs are designed to meet the needs of the community. This includes service members, retirees, civilian employees and families.
  • Family & MWR puts customers first.
  • Non-appropriated funds are returned to customers through provisions of market-driven programs and capital improvements.
  • Promotes and maintains the mental and physical well-being of authorized personnel.
  • The Family & MWR workforce, our most valuable resource, will be professionally developed, skilled and trained.
  • Family & MWR supports deployment and mobilization.
  • A corporate body guides and oversees Family & MWR programs and funding.
  • Resource allocation must be commensurate with Family & MWR mandates and program sustainment.

People

More than 350 Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) and Appropriated Fund (APF) professionals deliver programs and services that support the Defense Logistics Agency’s workforce of more than 25,000 Warfighters, families, DoD civilians, tenant agencies, National Guard members, and Reserve units.

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