We are proud to announce that the Department of Defense has extended this successful program until March 2020!

In partnership with the Armed Services YMCA, the Department of Defense is proud to offer the Military Outreach Initiative. The Military Outreach Initiative offers gym memberships and respite child care services for qualified military members and families nationwide. Through this program, military members and families receive access to vital resources that promote youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Did you know…?

• The initiative has provided more than 82,000 YMCA memberships and more than 39,000 Private Fitness memberships to military families
• More than 157,000 military children have benefited from this initiative
• More than 1,700 YMCA’s and more than 2,300 Private Fitness facilities support this initiative

For issues or concerns regarding the DoD Military Outreach Initiative please call Don Kandel, Chief Financial Officer / Chief Administration Officer at (703) 455-3986 x 208.  

Program Categories:

Category 1: Active Duty Independent Duty Personnel

This category is for military members who are assigned to a command/unit that is geographically isolated from any military fitness facilities and does not offer any access to free physical fitness equipment. Family members may be added to this membership.

Category 2: Unaccompanied Spouse/Family of Active Duty

This category is for spouses/families that have remained at an Independent Duty location following the deployment of an Active Duty Sponsor, or for spouses/families that have relocated to an area where fitness facilities/services are not provided for military dependents following the deployment of an Active Duty Sponsor.

Category 3: Unaccompanied Spouse/Family of Joint Deployed Guard and Reserve

This category is for spouses/families following the deployment of a National Guard/Reserves Sponsor.

Category 4: Community Based Warrior Transition Unit (CBWTU)

This category is for military members who have been sent home to complete rehabilitation/recovery orders due to combat related injury. Family members may be added to this membership.

Respite Care

This service is for any members that are eligible for one of the four categories of the Military Outreach Initiative. Through this service, military members and families are eligible to use drop off child care at select YMCA facilities.

Program Applications:

Please note the applications forms have changed. The older version will only be accepted until May 31, 2019.

For YMCA Centers:

Please submit your YMCA applications to dodymca@asymca.org

These applications are only for YMCA Centers. Please make sure you are not submitting an application for a private fitness facility. Doing so will result in a delayed response regarding your application status. 

Military Outreach Initiative – YMCA Member Application

Military Outreach Initiative - YMCA Member Application for Warrior Transition Unit Category

Military Outreach Initiative -- Respite Childcare Application

Please submit your Private Fitness applications to dodpf@asymca.org.

This application is only for private fitness facilities. Examples are: L.A. Fitness, Snap Fitness, Gold's Gym, etc. Please make sure you are not submitting an application for a YMCA facility. Doing so will result in a delayed response regarding your application status. 

Military Outreach Initiative – Private Fitness Center Member Application

More Questions?
Please take a look at these FAQs.

Submission Requirements

Please note, due to the popularity of this program, please allow up to 30 days for the Armed Services YMCA Program Coordinators to respond to your request. The best way to speed up your application is to ensure it is complete with necessary signatures. Incomplete forms will be returned and will delay your membership. 

If you have not received confirmation of your request within 30 days, please contact: Dess Vince Cruz for military YMCA Membership Requests or Lewa Puhi for Military private fitness requests.