Covenant benefits kick in for Army programs

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Covenant benefits kick in for Army programs
By Matt Millham, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Saturday, March 1, 2008

Army program managers might not know exactly where all the money’s coming from yet, but they know it’s there. And they’re ready to spend it.

Announced in October with much fanfare, the Army Family Covenant has given the Army’s old-school family programs an unprecedented sum of cash and capability.

At least $10 million in extra funding will make its way to U.S. Army Europe’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Child and Youth Services and Army Community Service programs in 2008, according to the Army.

ACS got an extra $5.5 million to hire more personnel and close a longtime gap in staffing. CYS got an extra $3.2 million to pay for additional staff in its child development centers and to pay for busing to and from its programs. MWR activities, including sports and fitness programs, get at least $1 million.

With much of that cash already at their fingertips, those who run the programs in Europe say the covenant has already fully kicked in.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52969