Summer offers additional PLAYpass use opportunities Published June 7, 2012 By Eric M. Grill Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- As summer approaches, eligible Airmen and their families have the opportunity to use the PLAYpass Get Out and PLAY program to save hundreds of dollars with discounts in recreational and life skills classes. PLAYpass cards, valued at more than $500, allow single Airmen returning from deployments, families of deployed Airmen and families of Airmen at dependent-restricted assignments to participate in Air Force Services activities such as trips, sports and childcare at either a reduced cost or free of charge. "Summertime activities offer different opportunities to use this great quality of life program aimed at supporting Airmen and their families at all stages of deployment," said Linda Weston, an Air Force Services Agency marketing specialist. "Many installations opened their pools Memorial Day Weekend," Westin said. "Using the PLAYpass card to pay for the summer pool pass and swim lessons is an excellent start to enjoying the summer." The PLAYpass card can also be used for some of the installations' youth summer camps and programs. At Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, the PLAYpass program is a success because of the multiple opportunities offered to eligible users, said Betty Fredrickson, the airman and family service flight chief. "Mountain Home is the Air Force's best kept secret -- we have so much to do here, both on and off base," Fredrickson said. For on-base activities, the PLAYpass card is available for activities including golf, ballroom dance lessons and Kindermusik (teaching toddlers through music). The youth center and bowling center adjusted their programs to provide punch cards so children may use the activities multiple times but only have to pay using the PLAYpass card once. For off-base travel opportunities through outdoor recreation, the PLAYpass card may be used for rafting trips, Yellowstone National Park adventures as well gold panning, Fredrickson said. Since the Air Force program launched in 2011 and later expanded to include dependent-restricted assignments, more than 37,000 eligible members have participated in PLAYpass, Weston said. The top activities used with the discount cards include youth programs, swimming pools, outdoor recreation, golf, bowling, and information, tickets and travel offices, she said. The PLAYpass program runs through Dec. 31, 2012. For more information about the PLAYpass program, program eligibility or how to obtain a PLAYpass card, visit www.MyAirForceLife.com or an installation force support squadron.