US Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Programmes : Links to Readiness and Retention

This study evaluates how US Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation MWR programme usage by active-duty soldiers and civilian spouses of active-duty soldiers is correlated directly and indirectly with the following readiness and retention variables desire for the soldier to stay in the Army until retirement , Army career intentions , satisfaction with the quality of Army life , emotional attachment to the Army , and extent to which providing MWR services shows the Army cares about soldiers and their families . The study replicated and extended a 2007 pilot study and found that usage of MWR services is positively associated directly and indirectly with all outcome variables. All direct and indirect associations have notable effect sizes. The findings are consistent across soldiers and spouses in three different Army-wide surveys, four separate databases, and multiple measures of readiness and retention. These robust findings allow the Army to state with confidence that MWR contributes to mission-essential goals.