FORT STEWART, Ga. - The ballroom at Club Stewart was filled with smiles - in-person smiles, smiles on posters and smiles on the slide show screen behind the stage - when employees from the five Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation divisions of Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield gathered, May 6.

But the occasion was one of serious commitment. Family and MWR managers, staff and employees joined garrison and Family and MWR leadership in signing a covenant affirming their promise to "Choose Excellence" in serving what Stewart-Hunter Garrison Commander Col. Kevin W. Milton described as "the world's greatest customers"- the men and women serving America around the world.

"Catch a Smile" was the theme for the event, and the smiling faces of Family and MWR employees from Stewart and Hunter were displayed in accordance with that theme.

The Army-wide theme for the Family and MWR Customer Service Program, detailed in the covenant signed by leadership and employees, is "Choose Excellence."

The Employee and Customer Covenant acknowledges a commitment that Family and MWR employees will be given the training, tools and support they need to provide excellent quality of life services and programs and to excel in their jobs.

Employees, in turn, acknowledge in the covenant that they are "committed to providing quality through service excellence to our Soldiers and Families commensurate with the quality of their service to our nation."

The covenant was signed by Col. Milton, Command Sgt. Maj. James E. Ervin, Linda Heifferon, director of Family and MWR at Stewart-Hunter, and Family and MWR Sgt. Maj. Robert S. McRae. Moments later, Family and MWR employees followed in signing the commitment.

Rebecca Towle, customer service coordinator, Family & MWR Academy, Fort Stewart-Hunter, Fort Buchanan and USAG Miami, outlined the "Choose Excellence" program, its purposes and how it will be implemented.

"We want to be the premiere provider of quality of life services," said Towle.