* Has a proven track record that has made the difference in thousands of lives.

U.M. ARMY has been touching the lives of our clients and participants for over 20 years. We have consistently developed the program every year making changes that improve and protect the experience for everyone. This work has attracted attention statewide and nationally.

• In 1995, U.M. ARMY was recognized in Washington, D.C. at the Eighth National Public Sector Productivity Improvement Conference by the National Center for Public Productivity. U.M. ARMY was one of fifteen selected from 300 national entries.
• In 1991, the Texas Long Term Care Volunteers Award was presented to U.M. ARMY by several state agencies.
• The Texas Department of Human Services awarded U.M. ARMY its Outstanding Volunteer Service Award in 1987.
• U.M. ARMY recently has twice been runner-up for the Texas Governor's Outstanding Volunteer Service Award. In addition, U.M. ARMY is continually receiving numerous honors from towns where it works and from local Departments of Human Services.
  
  
  

* Helps those close to home. In every state and every community there is a large population of people who are in need of the services that we provide. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on travel expenses and subjecting tired participants to long drives home we have decided to help those close to our own communities. * Is inexpensive while not sacrificing quality. We have focused on keeping the costs of our program as low as we can so that it is affordable to as many participants as possible. Our program typically cost participants half of what most mission opportunities cost.

* Offers help for smaller churches within their conference that don't have the leadership, finances and/or ability to provide mission opportunities. By combining many churches to fill each camp it allows for the combining of leadership and other resources to staff and run a camp as well as strengthening relationships between churches within your conference.

* Has a guided program, continuing a tradition in Christ focused volunteerism, that you will have to work at, giving you local ownership. We can provide you with structure, organization, guidelines and support. Because our program is volunteer based you will have ownership in it. It means more work, but you will have ownership and control over the program and can make it meet your needs and circumstances.

* Establishes missions as a way of life for our youth. Because this program is designed for the youth, it addresses their concerns and challenges their faith to grow as a Christian. Working through this growth process teaches them how important it is to be of service to others. Many of our participants have continued on in mission work into their adult lives. * Promotes leadership development in your youth. During camp our program gives the youth the opportunity to develop their leadership skills. We also actively support youth involvement on the Board of Directors and a Youth Advisory Board.

These are the core principles that we have developed our program around. It has given us an average growth rate of 18% per year and we are very excited what it has done for our youth. We are also very excited about the prospects of giving youth across the nation this tremendous opportunity. We are looking for handfuls of committed people everywhere to pick up this cross and run with it. If you would like to offer this program in your conference please contact us. We would like to discuss it with you. To contact us: