From Military.com:
“Army in Germany Extends MWR
Access to Retirees, Some Veterans”
The German government has
approved an Army request for military retirees and eligible veterans to use
Morale, Welfare and Recreation services and facilities such as libraries, gyms,
lodges and golf courses on Army bases in Germany, officials said Tuesday. A
provision in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act expanded veteran
eligibility for shopping at military exchanges and commissaries starting Jan. 1
of this year. "This came out of this same initiative," said Mark
Heeter, a spokesman for Installation Management Command-Europe. "The Army
needed to get some additional permissions from the German government to allow
these same populations to use MWR facilities and services."
The authorized list of facilities
includes paid services such as golf courses, bowling centers, auto skills
shops, arts and crafts shops, outdoor recreation and lodging; and free services
such as fitness centers, libraries and Army Community Service. Retirees
approached IMCOM-Europe "with a request for help" that was championed
by U.S. Army Europe commander Lt. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, IMCOM-Europe said in
a statement. To obtain post access at garrisons within Germany, veterans must
have a Veterans Health Identification Card issued by the Department of Veterans
Affairs in the U.S. The card, which is not yet issued overseas, must be the
newest version that displays the veteran's eligibility status, to include
Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war, and veterans with documented
service-connected disabilities or their VA-documented caregivers, IMCOM-Europe
said. Veterans residing in Germany must also obtain an installation access
pass, which requires a background check. The pass will also allow veterans to
sign on spouses. Veterans who are only visiting Germany may obtain a temporary
installation pass, officials said.
^ This is a start in the right
direction. I think ever Veteran should be given free and full access to ALL US
Military programs in the United States and around the world. ^
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