YMCA of the USA in conjunction with the Armed Services YMCA has created a new Department of Defense-funded initiative to provide family or single adult YMCA memberships to eligible military personnel. This initiative leverages the YMCA movement's national scale and mission to engage families facing the hardship and uncertainty of military deployment. The nation's 2,686 YMCAs have the unique capacity to respond to the needs of this widely dispersed population through supportive, community-based programs that foster child development, family strengthening, and health and well-being. It also carries forward the YMCA's tradition and history of support for our military. YMCA volunteers provided relief services to soldiers during the Civil War. During World War I, the YMCA launched a massive program of morale and welfare service for the military, serving 90% of U.S. military forces in Europe. During World War II, the YMCA joined five other national voluntary organizations as the principal founder of the USO. In 1947, the USO deactivated, and the YMCA's Army and Navy Departments moved immediately to fill the gap in social services for military personnel, changing its name to the YMCA Armed Services Department.. The Armed Service Department has operated under its current name since 1984.
By choosing to participate in the Outreach Initiative, our YMCA facilities will welcome qualified military personnel and their families and support them in reaching their child development, family strengthening, and health and well-being goals. In early October military personnel were provided information on how to activate their memberships at the YMCA.
Military personnel looking for participation guidelines may contact Military OneSource at 800-342-6947.
