PLAYpass boosts homefront morale

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alexander Guerrero
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Many Airmen have been deployed and have had to leave their families behind. Those families have to worry about many things, but thanks to the PLAYpass program there may be one less thing weighing on their minds.

The PLAYpass is a redesigned Air Force program available to both active duty service members and their families and is aimed at boosting morale during and after deployments.

"PLAYpass is designed to give deployed families an avenue to go out and have fun at no cost to them," said Master Sgt. John Miles, Airmen and Family Readiness Center superintendent.

One unique item about PLAYpass is that the money allotted for each PLAYpass card is totally free for the families and Airmen applying for them.


"We can issue a family a card with $500 worth of discounts on it, so they can use it throughout their Airman's deployment plus an additional 90 days after the Airman returns," Miles said. "When that active duty member returns, we can issue another $500 card good for an additional 90 days."

The program is not only for families of deployed Airmen, but is also available for single Airmen returning from deployment as well.


"When a single Airman returns from deployment, we can issue them their own $500 card good for 90 days after their return date," Miles said. "The program used to be geared exclusively toward helping families, so it's good to see they've started to include our single Airmen as well."

The discounts on these cards are exclusive to Air Force instillations, but can be used towards a number of things on base.
"You can use the card for many things," Miles said. "Activities at Outdoor Recreation, the Youth Center, Information Tickets and Travel and even different classes at the fitness center."


The PLAYpass program is also easy to apply for and can even start the same day.


"All cards are issued here," Miles said. "All applicants have to do is come see us with the active duty members orders so we can verify it meets the requirements. We'll fill out a log, register, sign the log and hand them a card. It's that easy."


Although the program may seem too good to be true, Miles explains the Air Force's real goal of the program is to help Air Force members and their families cope with the stress of deployments.


"It's all about keeping up morale on the home front," Miles said. "You have a family where the service member is gone and they may not feel like going out, especially if money is an issue. The goal of the PLAYpass program is to allow them to have fun and relax without worrying about financial issues."