Photo by Rob McIlvaine These Soldiers at Fort Gordon are using the Multi-player Online Games in a modular facility purchased and installed as a temporary location while the Soldier Recreation Center was undergoing major renovation. The MPOGs provide multi-functional capability to Soldiers, including internet connectivity, printing, hi-speed internet game play, and web browsing. Lt. Gen. Robert Wilson, Commanding General, Installation Management Command, asked the Family and MWR Command's Army Recreational Machine Program to present ideas to improve the quality of life for Soldiers and to generate new sources of income for MWR programs. After a briefing provided by Don Rojas, ARMP General Manager, Lt. Gen. Wilson directed that ARMP "move out" and provision internet services into barracks and other garrison locations to meet the substantial unmet demand for connectivity that Soldiers confronted.

In the two years since those meetings, ARMP has provisioned internet into barracks and other garrison locations at more than 30 garrisons in the continental U.S. and Germany. This is in addition to ARMP's efforts to provide garrisons the capability to provide free internet support for Wounded Warriors. Provisioning for another handful of garrisons is underway, pending the delivery of circuits and the build-out of the infrastructure needed to carry connectivity to the end user.

Rojas explained that ARMP's business model is structured to support the Soldier's lifestyle. Soldiers using FMWRC's service do not have to sign longterm contracts tying them to vendors who install customer onpremise receiver devices. Instead, they are offered flexible subscription plans permitting hourly, daily, bi-weekly or monthly subscription options.

This model gives Soldiers maximum flexibility based on the unpredictable nature of their training and deployment regimens.

"Soldiers pay only for the internet connectivity that they use which contrasts with traditional vendor delivered services where the customer pays for the internet or cable TV regardless of whether they use it or not," Rojas said.

"For Soldiers, the ability to connect to the internet in a convenient, no hassle and reliable way becomes a QOL enabler because discretionary time is so precious to our Soldiers," he added.

The pilot program began at Forts Benning and Gordon in early 2007.

"We found as we began that we had a learning curve to overcome. But we also saw a substantial market with unmet demand, and we had tremendous support from the command and MWR leadership at these installations," said Rojas.

ARMP returns 35 percent of gross revenues from all subscriptions directly back to the installation. After operating expenses and depreciation are deducted, all residual profits are deposited into the MWR Trust Fund. This is the central nonappropriated fund where net profits from all ARMP operations and AAFES dividends are deposited to earn interest until they are used to fund major construction projects for MWR activities.

The program was interrupted in December 2007, when ARMP was tasked to provide all Wounded Warriors with personal computers, internet connectivity, phone service, and cable television in all government provided housing and barracks.

ARMP executed that mission by March 31, 2007 and continues to provide WTU commanders with sustainment and support for our Wounded Warriors. Additionally, ARMP has been tasked to Support Soldier and Family Assistance Centers with their requirements for internet support, computers, printers, and multi media.

Wounded Warriors now receive free internet service at the 40 Warrior Transition Units across Germany and the U.S., thanks to funding provided through Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command from the U.S. Army Installation Management Command.

"When we received the mission to support our WTUs, we largely set aside our mission to provision payas you-go internet support to other Soldiers living in barracks and focused all of our resources on support for Wounded Warriors," Rojas said.

"Once the initial objective was achieved, we transitioned from ramp-up and execution to sustainment for WTUs and reallocated our efforts back to providing connectivity for other Soldiers living in barracks."

Because of the initial successes with WTU and feebased internet connectivity, requests from garrisons for support has rapidly grown and expanded into areas beyond barracks and traditional MWR internet cafes. To date, about 50 garrisons in Europe, Asia and the U.S. have been provided commercial internet connectivity. Demand has grown to such an extent that circuits are being upgraded at many of these garrisons. Another dozen or so garrisons have requested support and are awaiting build out.

One of the challenges that MWR programs face is the limitation on the access and use of the military net imposed to protect the network from malicious attacks and electronic penetrations that jeopardize national security. These restrictions limit the abilities of Army libraries, Youth Tech Labs, MWR web pages and other program users to access the internet for legitimate end-