The DoD Military Outreach Initiative in Partnership with the Armed Services YMCA
The Department of Defense has contracted with the Armed Services YMCA to fund memberships at participating YMCAs throughout the United States and Puerto Rico for the following Title 10 DoD Military Groups in partnership with the Armed Services YMCA to help make military life easier. Please note, with YMCA memberships, you may add family members. With Private Fitness requests, only the active-duty member can participate in the program. If you are a YMCA or Private Fitness Facility that would like to participate , please contact:
Ashby Collins for Free Military Private Fitness Requests at acollins@asymca.org
Laura Kurth for Free Military YMCA Membership Requests at lkurth@asymca.org
If you have a success story to share, please email us! All stories help continue this impactful program!
Click here to see if your Military Family is eligible for a free YMCA or Private Fitness Membership
1. Families of Deployed National Guard and Reserve
2. Active Duty Assigned to Independent Duty Locations
3. Relocated Spouses of Deployed Active Duty Personnel
4. Community -Based Wounded Transition Units
Click here to download the (Title 10 Independent Duty Personnel Request Form
Click here to download the DoD eligibility form
Please note, to the popularity of this program, please allow up to 30 days for the two Armed Services YMCA Program Coordinators to respond to your request. We are currently averaging over 1,000 new applications monthly! Thank you so much for your patience. Please double check to make sure your form is filled out completely and includes a signature. Incomplete forms cannot be accepted. Thank you!
If you have not received confirmation of your request within 30 days, please contact:
Ashby Collins for Free Military Private Fitness Requests at acollins@asymca.org
Laura Kurth for Free Military YMCA Membership Requests at lkurth@asymca.org
Do you know that over 1,481 YMCAs participate in the YMCA Department of Defense Initiative Program?
The Armed Services YMCA makes military life easier, and has partnered with YMCA’s nationwide along with the Department of Defense to offer youth development, healthy living and social responsibility to military families. Over 100,000 military children have been impacted by this opportunity since 2008.
Fun Fact- The Armed Services YMCA also partners with 300 Y’s for the Navy Special Warfare Recruit Fitness Training Program!
Additional Resources :
Army : http://www.armymwr.com/recleisure/sportsandfitness/ymca_fitness_memberships.aspx
Marines : http://www.marines.mil/unit/marforres/MFRHQ/MCCS/SemperFit/GymMemberships.aspx#MFR_Banner
Navy : http://www.navyfitness.org/fitness/armed_services_ymca_program/
Air Force: Please email AF.YMCA@pentagon.af.mil for process, forms and approvals.
To find participating YMCAs in your area, visit www.ymca.net.
- Ready to Go? Download the DoD Eligibility Form and take it to your local participating YMCA.
- Click here to find the closest YMCA participating in the initiative.
- The A.W.A.Y. program (Always Welcome at YMCAs) is based on the philosophy that when a person enrolls in a YMCA, he or she becomes a member of a nationwide association, and, therefore, when away from home, on business or vacation, will be warmly welcomed by all other participatingYMCAs in the United States. A YMCA’s participation in the A.W.A.Y. program is voluntary, and some restrictions may apply. Check with your YMCA Branch to see what they allow. To find information on any YMCA in the United States, go to www.ymca.net, and conduct a “Find Your YMCA” search. YMCAs participating in the A.W.A.Y. program are noted.
- Travel Log: (YMCA)
In the event you are sent TDY due to Military Assignments, use the Fitness Log for TDY/TAD Travels form to record your visits at a YMCA that is participating in the DoD Military Outreach Program. You must attach a copy of orders showing the TDY dates. It is your responsibility to present this completed log upon your return to your home YMCA location for your visits to be applied toward the minimum monthly eight (8) visits, as required by the DoD Military Outreach Program. This Fitness Log must have the visiting YMCA’s stamp by the proper date in order for the visit to be counted toward your attendance at your home branch. Your home YMCA will retain this Fitness Log and TDY Orders in your file, so they can submit at renewal time. If this log is not completed then these visits will not be recorded at your home YMCA location, and the service member risks having his/her membership canceled at the 6-month renewal period.