Internship Manual

The entire staff of Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department (MWR) welcomes you! We hope that your stay here will prove to be the most beneficial and rewarding part of your university experience.

Interns are welcome at NASP MWR Department to enhance our programs with enthusiastic, professional ideas and to demonstrate our commitment to the advancement of the leisure skills profession. Armed Forces Recreation is a field of which we are proud. We like to ensure that university programs are aware of the varied professional opportunities within our field.

These next few weeks will be a learning experience for both you and the MWR Department. We like to consider ourselves to be a learning organization which remains open to new ideas and challenges. Therefore, please make sure you share your enthusiasm and zest for recreation with our staff. This should be a particularly rewarding and educationally fulfilling time for you. We wish you luck and adventure!

Application and Selection
NAS Pensacola requires students to submit a formal letter of application for the internship and a copy of their resume. Prospective candidates will be notified immediately that their application has been received. Candidates should indicate on their application the recreation areas for which they have a particular interest. Those interests will assist the MWR staff in matching each candidate with an internship which provides the most stimulating learning environment possible.
Address :
MWR Code 31000 Att: Intern Program
190 Radford Blvd., Bldg. 4143
Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL 32508-5217

Duration
Internships are normally scheduled along the collegiate semester cycles. Interns are scheduled on a 15 to 16 week cycle and will work a minimum of 40 hours per week. Adjustments to this format can be made based on the individual school's requirements with the approval of the MWR Intern Supervisor.

Compensation
Interns will be paid a stipend of $100.00 per week and will receive a check every two weeks. Additionally, intern housing at the Bachelor Officer Quarters or Bachelor Enlisted Quarters will be provided at no cost to the student. Although a private vehicle is not required once the student arrives, parking is available in the housing area and at the recreation facilities at no cost. Interns will have access to MWR vehicles for any programmed event requiring transportation.

Intern Orientation
The intern will participate in an in-depth orientation, as part of the regular internship format, designed to introduce the programs and facilities of NAS Morale, Welfare and Recreation to include the Right Start Program. The student will also meet MWR department staff and tour all recreation and club facilities. Internship responsibilities, duties and hours of work will also be discussed.

Internship Supervision
The MWR Intern Supervisor serves as the point of contact for the intern in all internship related matters. The Supervisor is a professionally and academically prepared individual who serves as an advisor, coach and mentor to the student. The Supervisor sets the orientation schedule for the interns introduction to NAS Pensacola. Weekly meetings during the course of the internship are provided to allow the student and the Supervisor an opportunity to arrange schedules, discuss work performance, analyze problems and provide feedback on how the internship is progressing. The Supervisor will complete at least two formal performance appraisals during the course of the internship

Insurance Information
Students will NOT be covered by Workman's Compensation if they are injured during their internship at NASP MWR. Students should maintain their own insurance to cover unforeseen illness or a mishap while on or off the clock.

Right Start Program Overview
The Right Start Program is designed to introduce young Navy recruits to the offerings of the world wide Morale, Welfare and Recreation program. The program was conceived by the Naval Personnel Center (NPC), MWR Branch. It was created in order to advance individual leisure skills training in the Navy community at the earliest possible point in a Sailor's career. Right Start is a partnership program funded by NPC and managed by NAS Pensacola MWR staff. Naval Air Station Pensacola provides an excellent venue to accomplish this task since we have one of the Navy's largest primary training commands represented here in the Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC). We also offer a wide range of leisure opportunities, in modern facilities and managed by a professional staff who are well versed in leisure skills training and program implementation.

The first Right Start program was designed and tested in the winter of 1996 at the Naval Training Center Great Lakes and has run continuously since January 1997. In January 1998 the program was expanded to NAS Pensacola. Students advance through the program after acquiring an understanding of the importance of individual leisure skills development, developing an awareness of how to obtain leisure skills in the Navy community wherever they may be stationed and learning specific lifetime skills. From it's conception, the program was designed to draw upon the enthusiasm and professionalism embodied in the internship program.

The MWR Internship will introduce professionally prepared students to the full range of military recreation programs. After a thorough orientation, and with affirmative supervision, interns will manage Right Start sessions in addition to being exposed to all other areas of the NASP recreation program. Interns will gain experience in every facet of leisure skills training including administration, scheduling, program leadership, budgeting, marketing, safety management and post event evaluation. A student that has successfully completed the NAS Pensacola MWR Internship Program should be qualified and prepared to take an entry level management position within MWR or any general recreational organization.

The Right Start Program is offered by NASP MWR in conjunction with Bureau of NPC Morale, Welfare and Recreation Division. This division functions as the program manager for all recreation and club services within the Navy community. NPC MWR division is based in Millington, Tennessee and has very active program managers for each of the Recreation and Hospitality branches to which you will be exposed. MWR organizations are operated on over 100 Navy bases world wide. Therefore, while an intern is working at NAS Pensacola they are associated with a world wide network of professionals.

Purpose
The purpose of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department is to provide Navy personnel and their family members a varied program of wholesome and constructive leisure activities which will effectively contribute to their mental and physical well being.

Organizational Structure
The Commanding Officer (CO) on a Naval Installation functions very much like a City Manager. All of the support elements of the installation (air field, fire department, etc.) fall under the responsibility of the CO. The MWR Department is recognized as an essential element at NAS Pensacola. Accordingly, the CO at NASP maintains the same responsibility for proper administration of the MWR Department as any other functional element on the installation. The MWR Director at NAS Pensacola functions much like a city recreation and parks director, however, this individual is responsible for all the hospitality functions as well as the recreation programs on the installation. The primary duty of the MWR Director is to develop and manage programs and services designed to improve and maintain the morale of Navy personnel and their family members. To accomplish this duty, the MWR Director must follow strict financial accounting procedures and train and supervise all personnel assigned or employed within the MWR Department. All MWR professional staff members are civilians hired by the MWR Director.

Population Served
The Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department is primarily tasked to serve active duty military personnel and their family members. Reservists, retirees and their family members are also eligible to utilize MWR's programs and facilities. Many MWR facilities and programs are also made available to the civilian employees of NAS Pensacola, though often on a limited basis.

For an individual just checking into NAS, there seems to be abbreviations for everything. Below you will find a summary of the most commonly used acronyms and abbreviations.

APF - Appropriated Funds
BEQ - Bachelor Enlisted Quarters
BOQ - Bachelor Officers' Quarters
CAAC - Counseling and Assistance Center
CDO - Command Duty Officer
CMC - Command Master Chief
CO - Commanding Officer
DAR - Daily Activity Report
DOD - Department of Defense
EM Club - Enlisted Club
FMD - Facility Maintenance Department
GS - General Schedule Employee (APF)
HRO - Human Resources Office
ITT - Information, Tickets and Tours
L.I.B.E.R.T.Y. - Life Is Better Everywhere Recreation Takes You
MWR - Morale, Welfare and Recreation
NAF - Nonappropriated Funds
NAS - Naval Air Station
NASP - Naval Air Station Pensacola
NATTC - Naval Air Technical Training Center
NPC - Naval Personnel Center
NSA - Naval Support Activity
NTC - Naval Training Center
NTTC - Naval Technical Training Center
NWS - Naval Weapons Station
OOD - Officer of the Day
OPM - Office of Personnel Management
PAO - Public Affairs Office
PO - Purchase Order
POD - Plan of the Day
PRT - Physical Readiness Training
PWC - Public Works Center
USO - United Service Organization
XO - Executive Officer

It is NAS Pensacola's policy to fund, promote and provide a well rounded recreation program to assist in attaining and sustaining a high level of morale among Navy personnel and their family members.

The MWR Department at NAS Pensacola has over 30 facilities and programs to serve the installation population. The following breakdown gives an example of how the facilities and programs are matched to their target population.

Child Development Center
Youth Center
Liberty
Portside Nightclub
Portside Recreation Center
Officer's Club
Duck's Club
Acey Duecy
Lighthouse Point Restaurant
CPO Club
Cubi Point Bar Cafe
Family Picnic Area
Oak Grove Campground
Bowling Center
Golf Course
Swimming Pools and Beach
Gymnasiums
Fitness Centers
Marinas
Library
Veterinarian
Tennis Courts and Ball Fields
Information, Tickets and Tours
Auto Hobby Shop
Cinema
Recycling Center

Family members age Infant through 5
Family members age 6 through 16
Active Duty ages 18 to 25
Enlisted Personnel E-1 through E-6
All
Officers and some DOD personnel
All
Enlisted Personnel E-5 & E-6
All
Enlisted Personnel E-7 and above
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All (No DOD)
All
All
All
All
All

During the course of your internship you will be working, in addition to your time in Right Start, within many of the programs indicated above.

For additional information on programs and facilities within NAS Pensacola's MWR Department, visit our website at http://www.mwr-pcola.navy.mil.

Each of the programs and facilities listed above fall under a particular branch of MWR. A step by step process has been developed for presenting new programs in each of these branches. This process allows programmers to have a systematic method for program presentation and approval.

STEP 1 Pre-planning: A programmer compiles all the information necessary to plan for a successful program. The plan is presented to the branch supervisor for approval.

STEP 2 Marketing: Any necessary media fliers, posters, brochures, etc. are prepared by the programmer. If any assistance is required from the Marketing Department, a request to them is made at least three weeks prior to the event.

STEP 3 Purchasing: Any necessary materials, supplies or equipment must be approved through a purchase order request prior to being acquired.

STEP 4 Operations: Facilities and equipment are reserved; the staffing schedule is completed and volunteers are found and duties assigned.

STEP 5 Lead the Program: Programmer leads the program, checks on other staff members and ensures evaluation data is collected.

STEP 6 Evaluation: An After-Action Report is completed giving a synopsis of the pros and cons of the program. Suggestions of how to make the program better should be included in the report.

MWR programs are funded through several sources. The two types of funds that you will hear referred to most often are Appropriated funds (APF) and Nonappropriated funds (NAF).

Appropriated funds are congressional appropriations (tax dollars) and are subject to strict laws and regulations administrated by the Navy Comptroller. The MWR Director uses these funds whenever applicable and in accordance with their restrictions.

Nonappropriated funds represent the revenues generated from MWR fees and charges, funds transferred from other NAF entities and the Navy Exchange. A portion of the profits from the base telephones, vending machines, and fast food sales also gets added into the departments MWR fund as Nonappropriated funds.

While under the guidance of the intern supervisor, the student intern assumes the administrative and programming responsibilities commonly assigned to entry level Morale, Welfare and Recreation management positions. The intern will serve as one of three program leaders for the Right Start Program. The intern will work in a variety of facilities, situations and programs which involve the intricacies of MWR management. The intern will investigate and learn about the business/operational management of various MWR programs through hands-on experience. At the conclusion of the internship, the successful student should be qualified and prepared to take on an entry level management position within an MWR organization.

1. Participates in an orientation which includes a tour of the area and facilities, introductory meetings with staff, brief overview of office and administrative procedures, familiarization of customer services and review of basic intern responsibilities.

2. Works with other staff in the advertising, scheduling, facility preparation, budgeting, staffing, supply requisition, registration, fee collection and evaluations for recreation program activities.

3. Implementation of the Right Start Program. Facets of this include presenting, leading, programming and evaluating. Instructs and/or leads this program under supervision.

4. Works in and with a variety of MWR program branches. These branches will include but are not limited to: child development and youth activities, Liberty programs, fitness, aquatics and club operations.

5. Visits other departments outside his/her primary work area to gain a general overview of the business/agency's operations. Learns the department's primary function, each staff member's function and the inter-relations between each of the departments. A hands-on experience is assigned in each of these departments.

6. Learns and uses, where appropriate, procedures for office management, telephone answering procedures, operational record keeping and various paperwork procedures commonly used in-house and for customer information. Assists with clerical responsibilities to gain further hands-on knowledge of office functions.

7. Occasionally works the front desk to handle customer registration, fee collection, answering questions, directing customers to appropriate departments or staff and fielding complaints. Learns the art of courteous, tactful customer relations.

8. Learns a portion of the budgetary process to gain exposure to such things as accounting, pricing analysis, payroll accounting and zero based budgeting. Sensitive financial records will not be part of this assignment unless approved by the supervisor.

9. Develops a proper sense of professionalism and work ethic through the learning process between student, supervisor and other staff. This includes learning agency policy as well as both written and unwritten rules.

10. Assists with some portion of the marketing, promotions and public relations functions. This may include distribution of materials, design and lay-out of fliers or submission of marketing requests for media support.

11. Uses accepted managerial communication skills to listen and convey messages to customers, supervisors, subordinates and peers. This includes formal memorandum and letter writing as well as small and large group listening and speaking skills.

12. Assumes sole responsibility for a special project (Liberty, Athletics, Fitness, Etc.) from initial orientation through final report completion. The project will fulfill any university requirement for completion of a major project and submission of a formal report on such project.

13. Meets weekly with supervisor to evaluate progress, review the following week's schedule and allow the mentoring process to occur between intern and supervisor. Included in these meetings will be time to review mid-term and final evaluations.

14. Willingly accepts assigned responsibilities, volunteers assistance to other departments when possible and exhibits a certain degree of flexibility in the event of unforeseen situations with people, places or things.

15. Exhibits an attitude supportive of the fundamental business principle of friendly, positive customer service. Develops the ability to adapt to various personality types and use effective interpersonal communication techniques.

16. Prepares a formal report that encompasses an overview of their Right Start Program experience. This is to include an evaluation of the course curriculum and the program administration.

17. Presents a final brief on their Right Start Program evaluation and their own recommendations for additional improvements in the classes and overall program administration.

1. Provide the student with preparatory skills necessary for the internship placement.

2. Supervises internship arrangements and provides official approval of the placement.

3. Provides the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department with a copy of university internship guidelines/manual.

4. Represents the university or college in all official arrangements with the MWR Department during the internship placement.

5. Supervises the student through ongoing communication and consultation with the student and the NASP MWR Intern Supervisor.

6. Submits all necessary forms and reports for evaluation of the student to the NASP MWR Intern Supervisor.

2. Cooperatively develops a plan with the student to accomplish the established objectives and goals of the student, the university and the NASP MWR Department.

3. Provides the student with a comprehensive orientation to the policies, programs, facilities, staff and administrative procedures of the department.

4. Provides the student with opportunities to become familiar with all aspects of the NASP and worldwide MWR program.

5. Provides the student with an opportunity to network with other MWR professionals.

6. Accepts the responsibility of facilitating the professional development of the student.

7. Assigns a single point of contact as supervisor of the student. This supervisor will be responsible for managing the orientation and meeting at least weekly with the intern.

8. Provides the student feedback on the progress of the internship. Conducts at least two formal performance appraisals in the course of the internship using evaluation criteria initially provided to the intern.

9. Provides a learning environment in which a successful intern will have the skills required to accept an entry level position within Navy MWR or a general recreation organization.

Housing will be provided in either the Bachelor Officer's Quarters (BOQ) or the Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ) with room assignments made upon arrival at NAS Pensacola. This consists of a private bedroom and bathroom connected to a semi private living area.

Residents of the BOQ/BEQ are required to maintain a clean and orderly room and to adhere to the rules governing the management of the quarters. Each room is equipped with furniture, phone, cable TV, microwave, refrigerator and iron (The student is responsible for ALL phone charges.). A private bathroom is supplied with towels and wash cloths. There is daily maid service at no charge to the resident. BOQ/BEQ residents will have access to in house washers and dryers.

MWR interns may utilize all department facilities. NASP has a number of commercial restaurants that are open to all personnel and civilians. Interns are welcome to use any of the MWR restaurant facilities as well. Interns, however, are NOT eligible to purchase items at the Navy Exchange or Commissary unless they have a military privilege ID card.

There are various restaurants, supermarkets, shopping centers and recreation facilities off base. Interns are more than welcome to eat anywhere off base they desire and are encouraged to take advantage of the many activities available in our area.

Interns may bring their own vehicle with them to NAS Pensacola. To obtain a pass for your vehicle to come on base, the intern must show a valid driver's license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance.

While a vehicle is worthwhile to have for personal use, it is not a requirement for the internship. Vehicles will be provided for any MWR sponsored activity.

While on duty, the student will need to present a clean, professional appearance. A collared shirt and casual slacks or knee length walking shorts are required. No denim or T-shirts are allowed. Casual shoes or athletic shoes are acceptable, however, sandals or open toed shoes of any kind are NOT acceptable. During off duty periods, the student is free wear whatever type of clothing is appropriate for the season and activity.

The climate of Pensacola is moderate year round. Summer temperatures can reach well into the 90's with high humidity. Winter temperatures occasionally drop below freezing with rain and windy conditions prevalent. Appropriate clothing should be brought with the student for the time of year covered by the internship.