Eligibility
Your Military Benefits
The Armed Forces Recreation Centers (AFRC) Resorts serve members of the U.S. Armed Forces, their families and other authorized users. The AFRCs are Category C Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) activities operated by the U.S. Army as executive agent for Department of Defense (DOD). Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) G9 directly manages the AFRCs to provide all uniformed services with high-quality, affordable resort-style facilities consistent with the Army's focus on readiness and quality of life for Service Members and their Families. Personnel eligible to use AFRC guestrooms, food and beverage, recreation, facilities and other guest services are defined below.
Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act
In January 2020 we received new Department of Defense/Army Regulations which expand authorized use at AFRC Resorts to Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war (POW), veterans with VA-documented service-connected disability ratings and Primary Family Caregivers of eligible Veterans under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.
This expanded authorization currently does not include the Edelweiss Lodge
The new law is subject to the limitations of applicable host nation law and international agreements that have not been resolved. If there is a change in policy we will update our website and social media pages.
Below are the guidelines for the new authorized users at Hale Koa Hotel and the Shades of Green Resort:
Veterans who are Purple Heart recipients, veterans who are former POWs, all veterans with VA-documented service-connected disability ratings, and individuals assessed, approved, and designated as the Primary Family Caregivers of eligible veterans under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers are eligible users when identified as follows:
Veterans must present a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) indicating at least one of the three acceptable eligibility statuses (PURPLE HEART, FORMER POW, or SERVICE CONNECTED); paired with an acceptable credentials such as a REAL ID-compliant State driver’s license or a U.S. passport.
Note: VHICs are issued to veterans enrolled in VA health care. For information regarding eligibility please visit https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vhic/ for the application process.
Primary Family Caregivers must present their letter from the VA Office of Community Care that indicates they are assessed, approved, and designated Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible Veteran under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and are eligible for these privileges paired with an acceptable credential like a REAL ID-compliant state driver’s license or a U.S. passport.
Restrictions apply for Disney’s Military Promotional Salute Tickets, Universal Orlando’s Military Promotional Ticket offers and the Stars and Stripes Length of Stay tickets.
To obtain VA forms, go online to https://www.va.gov/health-care
Category |
Eligibility |
Armed Forces and their Families |
Members on Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard and Cadets of Armed Forces Academies. |
Other Uniformed Services |
Commissioned Corps, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps. |
Armed Forces Retirees and their Family Members |
Retired from Active Duty, Reserves, and National Guard with or without pay (gray area) |
Others Separated from the Armed Forces and their Family Members |
Honorably discharged veterans with 100 percent Service-connected disability. ID is DD Form 1173 or DD Form 2765 |
Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 |
This expanded authorization currently does not include the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort. Below are the guidelines for the new authorized users at Hale Koa Hotel, Dragon Hill Lodge and the Shades of Green Resort: Veterans who are Purple Heart recipients, veterans who are former POWs, all veterans with VA-documented service-connected disability ratings, and individuals assessed, approved, and designated as the Primary Family Caregivers of eligible veterans under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers are eligible Shades of Green Resort users when identified as follows: Veterans must present a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) indicating at least one of the three acceptable eligibility statuses (PURPLE HEART, FORMER POW, or SERVICE CONNECTED); paired with an acceptable credentials such as a REAL ID-compliant State driver’s license or a U.S. passport. Note: VHICs are issued to veterans enrolled in VA health care. Visit: https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/vhic/ for information regarding eligibility for the VHIC and the application process. Primary Family Caregivers must present their letter from the VA Office of Community Care that indicates they are assessed, approved, and designated Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible Veteran under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and are eligible for these privileges paired with an acceptable credential like a REAL ID-compliant state driver’s license or a U.S. passport. Restrictions apply for Disney’s Military Promotional Salute Tickets, Universal Orlando’s Military Promotional Ticket offers and the Stars and Stripes Length of Stay tickets. To obtain VA forms, go online to https://www.va.gov/health-care Authorized Government-issued Identification Cards : • US passport or passport card |
Former and/or Surviving Spouses and Family Members |
Un-remarried surviving spouses of personnel who died while on active duty or while in retired status ID is DD Form 1173 or 1173-1 Un-remarried former spouses who were married to military members for at least 20 years while the military member was on active duty ID is DD Form 1173 |
Other Supporters of the Department of Defense |
Military personnel of foreign nations and their family members when assigned or attached to a U.S. military unit or installation or on U.S. Travel Orders. |
U.S. Department of Defense Civilians and Family Members |
Current and retired (APF and NAF) Department of Defense (DoD) and Coast Guard (CG) civilian employees. DOD or CG ID card, CAC, REAL ID - compliant Drivers License accompanied with SF 50 are required for check in. |
Survivor Family Package Eligibility |
The Survivors’ Family Program extends to eligible Family members who have suffered a loss of an Active-Duty sponsor regardless of the cause. A DD Form 1173 with “AD” in the Sponsor Service/Status field in combination with “DB” (DoD Beneficiary) or CH (Child Beneficiary) in the Relationship field on ID cards, is required. Survivors who are also active or retired military members will not have a DD Form 1173 because they receive benefits for their own service. In those cases, their Military ID card and the DD Form 1300, Report of Casualty, will be accepted as proof of eligibility. The Survivors’ Family Program provides a 50 percent discount from published room rates by the applicable rate category. The discount applies to the eligible Surviving Family Member’s room only. Eligible Surviving Family Members can sponsor two additional rooms for a total of three guest rooms. Sponsored rooms will fall in the Category 3 (III) rate, with discounts not available. The Survivors’ Family Program requires the Survivors’ Family Member, with a military ID card, to make/confirm reservations and be the primary occupant. Stays under the Survivor Family Program are limited to a maximum of 14 nights in duration within a calendar year and cannot be booked more than 365 days in advance of the arrival date. Discount is applicable on guest rooms only, cannot be combined with any other offer, and may be limited to certain locations and time periods at the discretion of the General Manager. |
Sponsorship Policies
A. Eligible persons may sponsor friends and family who are not eligible persons. Two additional guestrooms are authorized for this purpose.
B. Sponsors must reside in the hotel during the same period as their sponsored guests and assume financial responsibility.
C. Eligible persons may also share a room with a sponsored guest.
D. An eligible person may not sponsor a room(s) for another eligible person. Each must reserve based on their own eligibility, however they may stay in the same room.
E. Dependents, other than the spouse, who have not attained the age of 18, must be accompanied by a guardian.
F. Dependent adult children (18-23) are not allowed to sponsor additional rooms.
G. Sponsored guest reservations must check in on the same day or after and must depart before or on the same day as the sponsor reservation.
H. Sponsors must accompany guests at time of check in. Sponsored guests will not be authorized to check-in without the sponsor present.
I. Sponsored rooms are based on Category III rate.
Food and Beverage Policies
Food and Beverage facilities may be used by the following categories of personnel:
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Personnel authorized to occupy rooms as outlined above. At check-in, sponsored room guests will be given a temporary Hale Koa Identification Card that will permit them to use the hotel facilities while registered at the hotel.
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Military club system members (active associate and honorary) identified by a valid photo ID and current membership card.
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Non-military ID cardholders, when sponsored and accompanied by an eligible military/DOD ID cardholder.
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Foreign National Armed Forces personnel and their family members when authorized unlimited exchange privileges.