Military Outreach Initiative
In partnership with the Department of Defense, The Armed Services YMCA is proud to offer a 6-month full-paid gym membership at YMCA facilities across the country. This program is eligible for qualified military personnel through the Department of Defense’s Military Outreach Initiative.
Initiative Eligibility
Updated April 2019
The Armed Services YMCA, Y-USA and the Department of Defense have partnered on an initiative that provides military families with memberships and respite care at America's Ys to provide extra support to our nation's servicemen, women and their families during deployment.
These services offer extra support during deployment so families can spend quality time together, meet and relate to other military families in similar situations, and enjoy fun and healthy activities in a warm, supportive environment. With one parent away from the household, the remaining caregiver can bring their children to a safe and nurturing child care environment, enabling them to better deal with the added responsibilities and stress that can overwhelm them.
Membership fees are underwritten by the Department of Defense. The Military Outreach Initiative responds to a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, which requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to support military family readiness and to ensure that military family readiness programs and activities are available to all military families, including those of the National Guard and Military Reservists.
Those currently eligible to participate in the initiative include: All interested families of joint deployed National Guard and Reserves; Active Duty Independent Duty station personnel (single or family members); Relocated spouses and family members of deployed Active Duty personnel; and Community Based Wounded Warrior Transition Unit personnel and their families.
Should you find you are not eligible for a free membership, but due to financial hardship are unable to afford the full membership fee, please ask your local YMCA about financial assistance. We are here to offer our help and support!
Download Program Instructions and Requirements
Download Our Military Outreach FAQs
The Department of Defense has contracted with the Armed Services YMCA to fund memberships at participating YMCAs throughout the United States and Puerto Rico for the following Title 10 DoD Military Groups:
Eligibility: Those Guard and Reserves who become Active Duty Title 10 Only (Title 32 personnel are not authorized due to funding restrictions).
- Deploying Service member eligible for YMCA membership with family for 3 months pre and post deployment.
- Families of Guard/Reserve personnel who are deployed for a minimum of 6 months are eligible for the duration of the deployment, not to exceed 18 months (which includes Service member 3 months pre and post deployment).
- Membership is renewable in 6 month increments contingent upon required use (8 individual calendar days per month).
- Minimum length of membership is six months.
- Service member must be deployed/mobilized and must have physically relocated away from home. Service members who mobilize but live at home during mobilization are not eligible.
- Single Service Members do not qualify for this membership— this program is for immediate family members or spouse, only.
Registration: A copy of deployment orders and Active Military Dependant ID card must be presented when applying for YMCA membership.
Contact your local Y to see if they are participating in the program or visit www.ymca.net for Military Outreach Initiative program to find a participating YMCA.
Eligibility: Active Duty Title 10 Only (Title 32 personnel are not authorized due to funding restrictions). Relocated spouse category was included in the YMCA contract to support families/spouse that relocate away from an installation/duty station while the active duty service member is deployed. All of the following criteria must be met:
- The Service member is on active duty
- The Service member is DEPLOYED for a minimum of six months (on deployment orders, NOT unaccompanied orders, NOT geographic bachelors)
- The spouse has relocated away from the military installation where the Service member is assigned (most often back home near family)
- YMCA membership authorized in six months increments for a total of 12 months contingent upon required use (8 individual calendar days per month).
Registration: A copy of deployment orders and Active Military Dependent ID card must be presented when applying for YMCA membership.
Contact your local Y to see if they are participating in the program or visit www.ymca.net for Military Outreach Initiative program to find a participating YMCA.
Eligibility: Government-funded YMCA memberships are authorized for commands that have no access to free fitness equipment and those that are not receiving funding for fitness memberships at any location. Active Duty Title 10 Only (Title 32 personnel are not authorized due to funding restrictions). Each Service has a point of contact who must approve requests.
- Independent Duty commands must fill out one request for all interested command personnel.
- Must select between joining a private fitness facility or the YMCA.
- Request must be signed by Commanding Officer and sent to Service POC for approval prior to going to the YMCA.
- At the Y the service member and immediate family members are eligible.
- At the Y memberships are renewable in six month increments. Membership is ongoing for length of initiative contract and duty station location if service member or family meets minimum participation requirements (visits on 8 individual calendar days per month by any family member or by the single (service member) adult).
Registration: Approval letter and military ID card required to be presented for YMCA membership.
Contact your local Y to see if they are participating in the program or visit www.ymca.net for Military Outreach Initiative program to find a participating YMCA.
Eligibility: A service member who has been sent to their home address to recover and complete rehabilitation orders due to combat injury. Active Duty Title 10 Only (Title 32 personnel are not authorized due to funding restrictions).
- These Wounded Warriors will be issued Temporary Duty orders in increments of 6 months to CBWTU in their home of record.
- Service Personnel and their families are eligible for the duration of the 6 months Temporary Duty orders.
- These orders will be renewed based on their rehabilitative progress. Any Service member with a current set of temporary duty orders to a CBWTU is eligible regardless of the time remaining on their orders.
- Renewals will also be allowed as long as the service member has a current set of orders, regardless of the duration, and the service member and/or a family member has met the required 8 individual calendar days of attendance per month for the previous 6 month membership.
Registration: A copy of Title 10 Temporary Duty orders in increments of 6-months to CBWTU in their home of record and an Active Duty Military ID Card must be presented when applying for YMCA Membership.
Contact your local Y to see if they are participating in the program or visit www.ymca.net for Military Outreach Initiative program to find a participating YMCA.