MWR partnerships bring choices to naval base - public-private partnerships forged by Moral, Welfare and Recreation Department at Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, to serve military personnel and their families - Military Recreation

Parks & Recreation, Dec, 1997 by Barbara Seagraves

Today's business trends toward doing more with less are very much in evidence in the public sector. In an amazing financial turnaround, the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MOOR) Department at Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, has fought back after coming as close to bankruptcy as any government organization can get. A key element in this comeback was a series of public-private sector partnerships that have infused outside resources into MWR and generated leisure opportunities for military personnel and solid profits for the program.

The most recent of these ventures was the opening of the Laser Storm Recreation Center. In partnership with Dynamic Image, a subsidiary of Entertainment Technologies and Programs, Inc., of Houston, Texas, an 8,000-square-foot bowling center was converted into a multifaceted amusement facility, featuring the Laser Storm Arena. Here, two teams of up to six players compete in a laser-gun "shootout," each trying to amass the greatest number of hits, which are automatically recorded and displayed for the participants at the completion of each round. The battle takes place in a fog-filled maze illuminated by black light and neon accents. Background music adds to the overall "high-energy" atmosphere of the room.

Other features of the recreation center include all the latest video games and pinball machines, air hockey and other amusement devices, a retail outlet for supplies and souvenirs, and a snack bar. Most of the renovation and equipment installation was accomplished under a revenue-sharing contract with Dynamic Image, returning profits to MWR with little investment cost.

Earlier this year, two other commercial interests came together on base to produce what may have been the first cyber cafe on a military installation. CyberNet Cafe, an operation division of Resolute Partners, LLC, of Hartford, Connecticut, provided the "cyber" portion of the concept. New London was the first of many military bases where CyberNet Cafe has partnered with MWR departments to bring Internet and recreational computing to sailors, soldiers, and airmen.

CyberNet Cafe also provided nearly all of the investment for the concept. Six high-end Pentium computers were installed in the Dealey Recreation Center. Each computer is connected to the Internet, affording sailors the opportunity to send and receive E-mail, surf the Web, and use various Internet chat networks. CyberNet maintains a library of the most popular CD-ROM games, which patrons may borrow for individual, networked, or Internet play.

The CyberNet Cafe has proven immensely popular--waiting lines to use the computers are a common occurrence. Each computer is equipped with a dollar-bill acceptor, and patrons pay $5 per hour to use the computers. Other revenues are generated through the sale of private E-mail addresses. Under the terms of the contract, CyberNet returns a percentage of computer revenues to MOOR. New London MWR turned to a local company, CC Bagel of Mystic, Connecticut, to provide the food and beverage component of the cyber cafe. Initially, CC Bagel installed a cart in the cyber cafe area, offering bagels, baked fresh daily and delivered to the base, and a variety of premium coffees. After several successful months of operation, the menu was expanded to offer sandwiches and other items. Again, MWR earns revenues from a commercial company's investment.

An additional benefit of the CyberNet Cafe has been an increase in patron traffic in the Dealey Center, producing increased revenue for other programs. Patrons waiting to use computers will play video games, shoot pool, and sip a beverage.

Each of these initiatives has brought services on base that represent some of the hottest trends in the food, beverage and entertainment industry: high-tech games, Internet and computer technology, and healthy food and drink choices. Further, they have all been based on partnering with commercial interests, producing healthy revenues with minimal investment. Left to its own financial resources, New London MWR would never have been able to mount such an ambitious and innovative program.

There are two main indicators of success in a military MWR program: patron participation and financial return.

The lines and patrons' smiles speak volumes.