TULSA -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Wednesday it will continue to waive day use and camping fees for active service military personnel and some Department of Defense civilians. Civilians who qualify are those on mid- or post-deployment (reintegration) leave from duty involving deployments in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.

The Corps began waiving recreation fees for active service personnel on temporary leave from duty in Iraq in 2003. In August 2008, the Corps expanded the waiver to cover DoD civilians and active service military personnel on mid- or post-leave from deployments, a press release from the Corps states.

"This is a fantastic program that recognizes our country's men and women serving in our armed forces, by offering them a great place to visit and enjoy some of the very places their service protects," said Earl Groves, chief of Corps' Operations Division.

Active service military personnel and DoD civilians on leave will be required to show identification and leave orders or forms upon arrival to the recreation sites to obtain the waiver. The waiver will also apply to all immediate family members accompanying them on their visit. The waiver will be applied to day use and camping fees. Fees will be waived on a walk-up and space available basis, as well as for reservations made through the National Recreation Reservation Service call center at 1-877-444-6777. However, fees will not be waived for on-line reservations made through Recreation.gov.

In addition, state, local and other managing entities of recreation areas located on Corps lands are encouraged, but not required, to comply with this waiver of fees in the areas they manage.

The Corps is the nation's largest federal provider of outdoor recreation. Tulsa District operates some 250 parks with nearly 7,000 campsites, more than 250 boat ramps, and nearly 70 improved swimming beaches.

For more information on Corps recreation sites and activities, visit their website.