US Army Morale, Welfare, and Recreation MWR Program Links to Readiness:

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US Army Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR)
Program Links to Readiness The Army Spouse
Perspective Purpose To present study findings
from 2004/5 Survey of Army Families (SAF
V) Dave Westhuis, Ph.D., Indiana
University Joanne Marshall-Mies Amy Turner,
Swan Research Inc. Richard Fafara, Ph.D.
Carleton Sea, Family and Morale, Welfare and
Recreation Command, U.S. Army
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Previous Research

• Caliber Associates (1995, 2003) specified a
  conceptual model of MWR use and identified
  possible links (direct and indirect) between MWR
  use and readiness dimensions.
• Westhuis, Indiana University Fafara, FMWRC
  (2007) tested the Caliber model by conducting an
  in-depth analysis of use of MWR programs using
  Spring 2005 Sample Survey of Military Personnel
  (SSMP) data.
• For Soldiers, use of MWR programs and services
  has
• A statistically significant relationship and a
  positive direct and indirect impact on readiness
  and retention measures
• Impressive strength of relationships (magnitude
  of the Cohen d/size of correlation) for emotional
  attachment to the Army and key outcome variables
• Soldiers use of MWR programs and services is
  highly correlated with emotional attachment to
  the Army, which, in turn, is highly correlated
  with the Soldiers' desire to stay in the Army
  until retirement.

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Current Study Objectives

• To validate a recent analysis of the relationship
  of MWR use to retention and readiness using
  Spouses responses to the 2004/5 Survey of Army
  Families V (SAF V).
• (2) To determine if statistical significance
  exists between Spouses' MWR use and
• --Spouses Desire for Soldier to Stay in Army
  Until Retirement
• --Spouses Intentions for Soldiers Army Career
• --Spouse's Issues Related to Soldiers Army
  Career
• --Spouses Satisfaction with Quality of Army Life
• (3) If so, measure the strength (Cohen d) of the
  relationships of Spouse use of MWR programs and
  groups of MWR programs to the outcome variables.
• Data Source 2004/5 Survey of Army Families V
  (SAF V)

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Key Army Variable Definitions
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Cohen d Standards
Cohen d Range
2
As one variable increases, another variable
increases
0
As one variable increases, another variable
decreases
Based on Cohen (1988) Author of Cohen d Scale
- 2
Cohen d of any magnitude is important. Cohen d
shows strength of relationship between two
statistically significant variables.
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Direct Impact of Spouses MWR use
MWR Program Use in Last 2 Years
.24
.17
.25
.28
Spouses Intentions for Soldiers Army Career
Spouses Issues Related to Soldiers Army Career
Spouses Satisfaction with Quality of Army Life
Spouses Desire for Soldier to Stay in Army
Until Retirement
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Direct Impact of Spouses ACS Use
ACS Use in Last 2 Years
.05
.03
.02
.09
Spouses Intentions for Soldiers Army Career
Spouses Issues with Soldiers Career
Spouses Satisfaction Quality of Army Life
Spouses Desire for Soldier to Stay Until
Retirement
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MWR Programs and Group Definitions
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Direct Impact of Spouses MWR Use
.24
.17
.28
.25
.17
.08
.13
.16
.19
.14
.23
.20
.18
.13
.25
.18
.17
.17
.17
.17

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Spouses with Positive Outcomes Who Used
Differing Numbers of MWR Programs
Of Spouses with positive outcomes, less than
one-fifth had not used MWR programs, compared to
more than four-fifths who had used one or more
MWR programs.
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Major Findings

• This analysis of Spouses responses to SAF V
  replicated the recent analysis of the
  relationship of Soldiers MWR use to Soldiers
  retention and readiness based on their responses
  to the SSMP. This suggests that these findings
  are valid and reliable.
• For Spouses, use of MWR programs/services and use
  of groups of MWR programs have a statistically
  significant relationship with the following
  outcomes
• Spouses Desire for Soldier to Stay in Army Until
  Retirement
• Spouses Intentions for Soldiers Army Career
• Spouses Issues Related to Soldiers Army Career
• Spouses Satisfaction with Quality of Army Life.
  
• For Spouses, use of MWR programs/services and use
  of groups of MWR programs has a small, positive
  (Cohen d) correlation with the outcome variables.
  
• Very small (Cohen d) correlations were found
  between the use of ACS programs on the outcome
  variables.

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Way Ahead - FY 09

• Analysis of other DoD surveys to corroborate the
  findings from the SSMP and SAF V
• Replicate the findings from the SSMP and SAF V
  using the Leisure Needs Survey (LNS) data.
• Identify and evaluate additional intervening
  variables that may vary depending upon the MWR
  programs/services provided.
• Further explore the nature of the MWR use -
  outcome relationships (e.g., curvilinearity).
• Compare the results of the 3 Army surveys with
  results from other DoD components.
• Evaluate alternative ways to increase awareness
  and tailor MWR programs and groups of MWR
  programs to Army subpopulations to strengthen the
  relationship (Cohen d) with outcomes.