3 ms·
I think people misunderstand how MWR funds work. The military isn't taking this gambling money to buy bombs and bullets with. The funds that the military them
by _mlbt 1y ago
I think people misunderstand how MWR funds work. The military isn't taking this gambling money to buy bombs and bullets with.
The funds that the military themselves provide for MWR are very small. Most MWR facilities and activities are funded by what are called non-appropriated funds (NAFs). NAFs are essentially earned through charging fees for services, such as renting equipment like RVs, bounce houses, and other things. MWR funds are also provided from the profits earned by on post golf courses, post exchanges (basically military Walmart), gas stations, etc.
That being said, I do agree that this practice should be ended immediately, as gambling is unhealthy and corrosive to good military order and discipline.
- mytailorisrich 1y agoThe US military buys weapons only with drugs money, as we know (Sorry, could not resist).
- mpyne 1y agoAs another example, the post exchanges / Navy exchanges on base (which are retail shopping centers) also contribute from their profits to the local MWR funds. They even advertise it to the shoppers. "Hey, the money we make stays with you all, not some random PE investors" But no one is confused that Big Morale is somehow pulling the strings behind the scenes to force people to shop at the exchange. In fact, in general the military can't really "make money", to the extent they manage to run activities involving cash receipts with military personnel, it becomes a chore to figure out something productive to do with that spending. MWR is a very minor activity on most bases but it is something that can absorb money on servicemembers' behalf so it often ends up in this role.