MWR: Taking Care of Those Who Take Care of Us

When the average person thinks of the Coast Guard, they think of those brave individuals who work to protect and defend our country and its coastal waters. But for our Coast Guard men and women, it’s not always all work and no play.
The Coast Guard’s Morale, Well-being and Recreation (MWR) Program aims to deliver a fun, active and enjoyable experience to authorized Coast Guard patrons around the nation. The program’s mission is: “To uplift the spirits of the Coast Guard Family and be an essential element of Coast Guard readiness, retention and resiliency through customer-owned and driven MWR programs and services.”
At the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May (TRACEN), MWR Director Tony Buero and his staff work hard to ensure they provide an abundance of leisure programs and services to improve the quality of life of service members, their families and other eligible patrons.
“We are a very important part of delivering a positive experience to the patrons here,” says Tony. “It’s a challenging job, always having to come up with new, innovative, fun ideas to keep everyone excited, but it’s rewarding and I love it.”
Tony became MWR Director at TRACEN in November 2012. He previously held the same position in Elizabeth City, N.C., after serving in the Navy for 28 years. He leads a team of 47 employees, a mix of both civilians and military personnel.
“It’s a diverse work force, and everyone brings a different level of excitement and experience to the table,” Tony explains. “I couldn’t be more proud of this team and what we’ve accomplished.”
At TRACEN, the efforts of MWR are endless. The goal is to create a home community feel at TRACEN, and MWR does so by offering a wide range of services, programs, activities, events and facilities that are constantly changing.
There are multiple facilities around the base which MWR maintains. These include sports fields and areas such as an archery range, a softball complex, a running track, tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer fields and a skatepark; a picnic pavilion; self-storage units; Gear Issue which allows patrons to rent canoes, kayaks, bikes, grills, tables, chairs and more for low prices; GEO Quarters for service members who are “geo-baching” (came to the area without his or her spouse); Guest Quarters which include three remodeled duplexes, available for rent by authorized patrons and their families; a beach access area; the Child Development Center, a civilian-run operation, which recently received its NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) Accreditation; Lucky Bag, where service members can purchase gently used uniform pieces and accessories for low prices; and the “crown jewel,” as Tony puts it, the Harborview All Hands Club. The club serves as a dining hall, and also features an area with arcade games, pool tables, a bar with local beer and liquor, and an outdoor seating area. 
According to Tony, Lucky Bag and Guest Quarters are the biggest profit centers for MWR. “The program has to have a balance between making profit and improving our patrons’ well-being,” he says. “It isn’t all about the money, but bringing in these funds helps us provide other important services that aren’t necessarily profitable.” Command supports the program financially, as well as by allowing patrons time off to take advantage of all the program has to offer.
In addition to these facilities, MWR hosts special events throughout the year such as Coast Guard Day, move nights, sports tournaments, children’s events for the holidays and more. MWR also provides the opportunity for patrons to participate in intramurals and off-base trips such as white water rafting, skiing, fishing, bus trips to New York City and Washington, and outings at Morey’s Piers and Splash Zone. Through MWR, patrons can purchase discounted tickets for sporting events and theme parks like Disney, Universal, Six Flags and more.
For these efforts and more, TRACEN’s MWR program has been awarded ‘MWR Program of the Year (Large Unit: Ashore)’ three times: first place in 2013, third place in 2015 and first place in 2017.
For the MWR team, it’s more than just a job. It’s about taking care of those who serve our country, and giving back to them for all they give to us. MWR helps those service members and their families live their best lives, and makes them feel right at home here in Cape May County.