Contracting out facilities

Was at MacDill recently and learned that a lot of the facilities, clubs, mess hall and others are being contracted out to be civilian run. Not sure of the golf courses, but all of the workers was at a meeting that was being conducted, indicating they too was being taken over. Is this the future for the all of the military stateside, or is MacDill just a fluke. If you haven't been there lately, your in for a surprise, as building is taking shape everywhere. They are also initiating your ID card gate access. Simply swipe your ID on a card reader and the gate opens. I understand the gate will still be manned, but with less guards, to check those that don't have an Military ID.

d.bentley

Too bad, sorry to hear that. My military career (short) and retirement (long) covers more than forty years. Every time a civilian contract takes over anything formerly run by the military, we lose service and it costs more - look at the BX, PX, and (some) commissary for example, and the base gas stations.

So, what are we in for here?? Once again, budget will probably upset the ability to receive good services and it will pick away at our retirement checks again.

And don't get me wrong here, some individuals (civilians) work hard no matter where, but the basic premise for civilian contractors is to make a profit, not to provide a service.

monkey44 wrote:

Too bad, sorry to hear that. My military career (short) and retirement (long) covers more than forty years. Every time a civilian contract takes over anything formerly run by the military, we lose service and it costs more - look at the BX, PX, and (some) commissary for example, and the base gas stations.

So, what are we in for here?? Once again, budget will probably upset the ability to receive good services and it will pick away at our retirement checks again.

And don't get me wrong here, some individuals (civilians) work hard no matter where, but the basic premise for civilian contractors is to make a profit, not to provide a service.

:S
I could not agree more. We become like voices crying in the wilderness, especially when the people who serve us have nothing to do with the military. I feel this does not help our security at the bases, allowing more civilians in the mix.

We go to MacDill when we are at home in Florida and so far we have had the gate manned by military personnel and they scan our card, no idea they planned on self swiping of the cards. With the numerous incidents they had at the gates this past year this really is a surprise to us.

Just left Ft. Benning, Ga. campground and they still are using Wackenhut Security with card scanners.

Will be at Kings Bay over the holidays so will be anxious to see if they are still using military retirees to man the gates.

I have mixed feelings on this subject. In the dark ages at Ft Bragg we would always have a Battalion (or was it a Brigade?) from the 82nd Airborne on "Post Support" for a a period of time. These were Troopers who were mowing grass when they could have been on the range, etc, honing their skills. We also had Troopers doing KP when they could have been doing training. The flip of that is that the Trooper on KP was serving his buddies so he would not want to screw it up and the Battalion got better service than they would from civilians who had no clue as to what their "customers" do when they are not in the mess hall.

As a young Lieutenant, part of my job was to make sure my Troopers were getting good service and chow...then, I owned the Mess Sergeant. Today I would have to file a contract grievance. But, on the flip side, my Troopers would not be doing menial chores and I could have them for training. My gut is that I would rather civilianize the menial stuff and let the Troopers train...or in today's OPSTEMPO, chill.

But then, 2 weeks ago I was at Camp Lejeune's outstanding park at Onslow and the mini PX. There was a Sgt there every time I went. I asked him if this was his duty? He said yes and it was his MOS. He noted my surprise at this and said that a civilian wouldn't do what he would do to get PX kinds of stuff to buddies on he front lines. Hooah!

And the other flip side, if we need civilian support to operate these facilities, HIRE THEM, individually, but keep a military person in charge ...

That way, we get the service "Like the Sargent above", but leave out the profit motive. And we need to eliminate that clause that says "keep 'em forever" after ninety days. Because, if you do your job, you don't get fired ... and it often creates very 'lazy' workers if that threat is absent.