The U.S. Department of Defense maintains extensive military recreation programs through branches of the armed services. Although an overriding mission is the fitness and military readiness of personnel, the armed services also seek to provide an array of recreational opportunities for families on bases in the United States and abroad as a means of improving overall morale and a sense of community. Facilities include but are not limited to ski areas marinas, recreation centers, fitness centers youth centers, golf courses, and bowling centers. Since 1948 the armed services have also supported the training of athletes for Olympic and other major international competitions and more than 500 active-duty personnel have achieved Olympic status as a result (Rice, 1996) Military recreation organizations face the same challenges as other government-funded recreation programs. Recent decreases in appropriated funds have challenged the armed services to maintain program quality and to improve their economic performance. The majority of recreation employees at military facilities are civilians rather than military personnel which creates job opportunities for trained people from the local communities.