It took me years of being on active duty before I realized the benefits of the Armed Forces Recreation Centers spread around the world that are hotels and resorts solely for the use of members of the military, their families, and retirees. Armed Forces Recreation Center s(AFRC) are full-service resort hotels that are Joint Service Facilities that provide quality, wholesome, affordable, and family-oriented vacation recreation opportunities to service members, their families, and other authorized patrons.
What Is An Armed Forces Recreation Center?
Armed Forces Recreation Centers have been serving the nation’s service members and their families since 1946. An Armed Forces Recreation Center are centrally-managed, U.S. Army FMWRC-operated hotel and resort facilities with a mission to provide rest, relaxation, recreation, and sustainment for Army personnel, their families, and other members of the military. The rates for staying at the hotel and resort are often less expensive than what you would find elsewhere in the same location from a civilian run chain.
Who Is Eligible To Stay At An Armed Forces Recreation Center?
Active Duty, retirees, currently employed and retired Department of Defense civilians, reservists, delayed-entry recruits, and family members are authorized to use the facilities and book rooms at Armed Forces Recreation Centers around the world. They will need to show a valid military identification card upon check in. Despite being a U.S. Army MWR run facility, all members of each branch of military are authorized to use the resorts and stay there.
Armed Forces Recreation Centers Around the World
- Cape Henry Inn on Fort Story near Virginia Beach, VA
- Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in the Bavarian mountains of southern Germany
- Shades of Green on the Walt Disney World Resort around the corner from the Ticket and Information Center and monorail station leading to the Magic Kingdom
- Hale Koa Hotelon the beaches of Waikiki in Hawaii
- Dragon Hill Lodge in the heart of Seoul, South Korea.
The Benefits Of Shades Of Green Armed Forces Recreation Centers
Shades of Green opened February 1st, 1994 and was originally the only AFRC in the continental United States. The resort has 586 rooms and is located next door to three of Walt Disney World’s exquisite golf courses. The resort has two heated swimming pools, its own spa, two different restaurants including one with a buffet for meals, parking on site, a fitness center, conference rooms, ticket office right on site, and free shuttles to Disney attractions throughout the park.
Overall, Armed Forces Recreation Centers are a great benefit to members of the military and they are very seldom tapped. These hotels and resorts such as the Shades of Green at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL can provide a military family a cheap way to enjoy an incredible vacation at a premiere vacation destination.
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There is also the Armed Forces Vacation Club (afvclub.com) that offers cheap accommodations for military members are vacation sites all around the world. You can get a full week at a resort for a shade over $300, if I recall correctly, which leads to major savings. I wish I was still in the reserves so I could continue to use this as insurance for some excellent vacations!
Jerry
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