Homesteading

Since the Military Moble Home Parks have been closed more and more of those that live this life style are using the fam camps. Wright Patt being a good example. The Trailer park was located on the road to the SAC Area across from the Aero Club.

We seem to see an increasing number of campgrounds apparently run by/through billeting. Do others believe this practice is on the rise? Could this be a fad among installation commanders or other senior personnel to get around service imposed stay limits and create "trailer parks" for assigned personnel? Or is it all just a matter of which places we've stayed ar or investigated?

We've been using the MCGs for well over ten years. IN general, there's always been a lot of 'long term' stay RV's that in some way save money, either retired 'abusing' the stay rules, or DOD or other services saving part of the per diem funding (illegal, I believe) and also abusing the system. In some cases, BHA is also 'saving allotment money' when AD decide the MCG acts as housing, inexpensive housing ... and pocket the difference, (also illegal, I believe). (We're excluding AD on short-term stay, while looking for housing, they should be allowed)

It's appears also, that Base COs have the final say over MCG stay rules, even when it violates general military law. Some CO's decide MCG rules based on income / revenue stream instead of operating it as a benefit we all earned and should share equally.

Once again, another benefit we all earned is often abused, and one small voice means very little in the grand scheme of 'generate dollars' ... And once again, a benefit we all earned defending this country, and ultimately these same abusers, falls by the wayside. It appears the almighty dollar continues to carry with it more value than ethics and morals, and honesty.

As budgets for our auxiliary benefits decreases we'd expect to see even more abuse of this MCG system, particularly when the MWR managers decide the revenue stream works like a cash cow for supporting other benefits that "struggle" (Like golf courses!)

On the good side of this issue, we also see many more MCGs changing from or continuing the "allow anyone overstay" over to a random and controlled alternating and limited stay policy, understanding and operating as was proposed when the benefit sharing policy and laws were engaged. We'll tip our hats to those MCGs, and frequent those more often than the others who abuse it.

I don't know if I'm the only one that's seen the cleanup at Keesler Famcamp. I was there in April and the place is starting to shape up. I've stayed there many times and been one of it's biggest critics. They've kicked out the homesteaders that had been there for years and years and years (including the old beat up Winnebago). I don't know who's running this park but I'm giving the new host (Al) most of the credit. In the past I've gone in there and been told nothing is available when you could plainly see empty sites. A lot of others should start their cleanup.

I am certainly not an expert on the Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) system as it currently operates throughout the DoD. But what I do know about it is this: NAF functions MUST be self sustaining or they will be shut down. Military campgrounds (MCG) are NAF functions. If they do not make a profit (typically 5% or more) they will be shut down. There are no appropriated funds available to ease the financial burdan of meeting their budget requirements.

Please don’t think for one minute that I condone the practice of allowing homesteading in MCG because I certainly do not. But from a purely technical standpoint, the homesteaders are supplying a continuous cash flow that may just be the difference between keeping the campground viable and shutting it down. And I have to believe that most bases want their campgrounds to remain open.

I’m sure there are examples out there of abuse and malfeasance. But I also believe that most Base Commanders are trying to do the best they can with the budget restrictions they face day-to-day. Is allowing homesteading at MCG a good idea? No; not even close in my opinion. But might it be necessary in certain circumstances or at certain locations due to financial considerations? Unfortunately it may just be so.

Again, I don’t condone homesteading at MCG. But I do try to understand the reality that it might be necessary in few cases.

All interesting comments. Though I suppose a more succinct way of getting to the question I've been wondering about is, is there evidence that installations are moving MCGs out of the NAF system and into the support Sq/lodging/TLF organizations? I can see where that might be attractive in some circumstances, but have no idea if current regs/structure would allow it at the local level?