Original Date: 04/07/1997
Revision Date: 04/14/2003

The Outdoor Recreation Division of the Directorate of Community and Family Affairs at Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) provides programs that assist Commanders in maintaining morale, esprit de corps, and mental and physical fitness of the Army family. Support of outdoor recreation activities for active and retired military personnel and their families, civilian Arsenal employees, and other individuals employed by the government is the primary mission of this Division.

The mission is accomplished by providing many types of outdoor recreational equipment for rent to qualified individuals. Inventories include bicycles, in-line skates, camping equipment, tents and party canopies, winter time sports equipment, and pop-up and hard shell campers. The facility also has a recreational vehicle storage lot and several boats and trolling motors. All equipment and accessories are available for rent at reasonable rates.

The benefits gained from supporting family sports activities relate to unit cohesion associated with teamwork, mental and physical fitness, and technical competence resulting from skills development during sporting activities. Recreational involvement also reduces stress, tension, and boredom producing more alert and responsive individuals. All these benefits positively affect the Army family and influence the soldier’s ability to deploy.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.