Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Overseas Operations
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Florida Guardsmen open Ali Al Salim MWR By Spc. Spencer Rhodes, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
 ALI AL SALIM, Kuwait, - Soldiers from the 53rd  Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Florida Army National Guard recently hosted  a grand opening ceremony for a newly built morale welfare and recreation room  here. Maj. David H. Butler, executive officer for the Army Life  Support Area, said the project started as something totally different from  building an MWR room. The original plan was to operate and maintain a  functional self help office and tool room that was already in place, but needed  repairs. After the planning started they found that permanent  party service members at the LSA were using half of the building as a  make-shift hang out spot. Previous camp commands had apparently allowed the  permanent residents to have keys to the building so they would have a more  relaxing place to play cards and hang out, due to the overwhelming amount of  transient personnel at the camp’s MWR facilities. “We realized that there was no place for the permanent  party to gather, so people that don’t even smoke were hanging out at the smoke  shacks,” said Butler. “The decision was made to fix the problem.” The project took about four months from inception to  completion, with all the manual labor being done by the IBCT soldiers of the  LSA camp command cell and volunteers from the camp. “The hardest part has been  getting materials,” said Butler. “We acquired our materials from every camp  that we visited for meetings, by going to their self help shops.” Once the USO at the LSA heard about the project they  jumped behind the command with full support. According to Butler the USO spent  about $2,000 on the project by purchasing two poker tables, a big screen  television, surround sound speakers, and a hard drive full of music and movies.  On top of providing the funding for equipment and furniture to fill the new  room, the USO provided all of the food and drinks for the grand opening cook  out. “The USO has been outstanding partners,” said Butler. The new facility will be available 24-hours a day to all  permanent party service members at the LSA. The planning and hard work of the  53rd soldiers along with volunteers from the camp has provided a new MWR area  complete with a picnic and patio area, a grilling area, an outside deck with  shading, and of course the room itself. “We started with a building in disrepair and turned it  into this,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth North, command sergeant major of the  LSA.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 NY National Guard Strengthens Bonds with Allies in Morocco Overseas Operations • 6 days ago
 Alaska Guard Soldiers Honored Before Middle East Deployment Overseas Operations • 13 days ago
 29th Infantry Division HQ Heads Exercise Immediate Response Overseas Operations • 18 days ago
 134th Medical Company Joins Combined Resolve Exercise Overseas Operations • 19 days ago
 Guard Soldiers, Czech Partners Celebrate Victory in Europe Day Overseas Operations • 21 days ago
 2024 (24)  2023 (57)  2022 (71)  2021 (58)  2020 (41)  2019 (56)  2018 (55)  2017 (46)  2016 (31)  2015 (36)  2014 (48)  2013 (64)  2012 (134)  2011 (163)  2010 (179)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil