MWR: A World of Online Resources for Military Families

BY SHANNON MASON | FOR LNNUSA.COM

For most of us, one of the first resources and acronyms in the Military we come to recognize is the MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation). You may have called them or been down to the MWR building on post to check out renting assorted items. They do have an array of tables and chairs, sporting equipment, and even inflatable bounce houses to rent out for parties, personal use, or even your company’s fun day. Their services and activities include bowling alleys, golf courses, fitness centers, and travel items such as tickets and attractions to name a few. There are even more options that they operate depending on your location as it varies by duty station. For those who might not know, the MWR has even more resources through their online webpage, and one of these amazing resources is free access to many educational services for Service members and their families. If you head on over to lee.armymwr.com you can find the well-known recreation link for rentals, but by clicking on the Home Life tab and then choosing the Libraries tab you will be greeted with a list of informative services and links you might not have known were at your disposal. You can utilize these services with DOD verification and/or a library card depending on what you are interested in. You can obtain a library card at the Fort Lee Community Library on post if you haven’t already acquired one (they are located on the second floor, just off the elevator in the Army Logistics University). You can access an assortment of reading material via the military network and on a personal computer, or you can download content to a personal device such as a Nook.

You can also sign up for a free account with Tutor.com. This is a great resource that will give you 24/7 access to an online tutor in any subject that you may need. This comes in handy for Service Members and their family members making their way through college. Maybe your child needs extra instruction in a challenging class, or you need a refresher in geometry to help get said child through difficult homework in math? They cover K-12 and higher education to meet your family’s needs.

Wanting to add another language to your repertoire or brush up on one already acquired? Perhaps you’re relocating to an overseas duty station and would like to learn that country’s pleasantries to start you off, or perhaps you want to add a foreign language into your homeschooling curriculum? You can sign up with the Mango Languages program for a free account via the MWR site and explore their many languages to study in your own time.

When it comes to eBooks and audiobooks, there is a list with links to access, read, and download a vast assortment of material in whatever genre you are looking for. From the Army Digital Media Library, EBSCOhost eBook collections to National Academy Press and the world’s largest online news stand, Zinio, you can find exactly what you want. You will also discover a wide array of eBooks for children and teens through different Tumble Books categories from ages 1 through elementary, grade 2-6, and 7-12. From an assortment of animated picture books, games, read along, graphic novels, educational videos and chapter books, there is something to fit every child’s needs.

Under the tab for online Resources for Learning you can find a webpage that gives you one-stopshop access to Gale databases for the Fort Lee

Community and patrons of the Community library here. You can go in and explore the available resources they offer for all different ages and interests. There are so many articles, magazines, self-help, and the list goes on. Want to do work on your vehicle? The Chilton Library link offers a do-it-yourself, step-by-step guide for vehicle repair and maintenance with illustrations. This could come in handy as there is a self-service auto shop on post. Wanting to experiment a bit and bake outside of your comfort zone? You can find recipes and visual guides under Hobbies and Crafts. Likewise, you’ll find various information on legal forms and instructions for filling them out.

Just for the kiddos, there is a wonderful link towards the bottom of the list on children’s websites which offer fun and safe educational activities and reading. From PBS, National Geographic, and Smithsonian for kids to NASA Kid’s Club and Tumble Books eBook libraries, there is something for all interests. For the little ones there is Storytime Online which has a wonderful selection of books to choose from. They are read by various people in an online video format (can be played through YouTube player) and have animation and are quite engaging to view. There is also a link for free coloring pages to print out with an assortment of seasons, holidays, and interests for art time when you’d like something new to keep them busy.

Now that you know of some of the other incredible resources offered here through the MWR to our Service members and their families, I encourage you to check them out in more depth when you have the time! Take advantage of the various tools to assist in your educational and everyday endeavors, personal goals, and enriching you and your children’s lives.