MWR regulations need to be changed.

QUOTE: "...For you this is a lifestyle choice, for us it's a sacrifice."

Let's see if I have this right ... according to your own words. You are unemployed, but unwilling to volunteer at the campground (which solves your problem, by the way) while you look for work IN CASE you get a job that takes more time up than you can give to the campground. And, you are not in the military yourself, but living off your wife's military pay, allotments, and housing allowance -- but you want to save part of that by extending your stay in the MCG and probably taking a spot that some one that actually earned that spot might want to use because you made a 'not so good' housing investment in Florida and find yourself in financial difficulties ... and you are blaming your problem on a bad ecomomy which we ALL live in now.

AND, just for your information, when you get base housing, you lose BAH because that is a basic allowance for housing when the base does not or cannot supply it. SO, what your saying here is that the base should give you housing, AND BAH so you don't lose your investment.

One important issue here -- the home you own and can't pay for. If that would solve your problem, then your efforts should be spent dealing with that issue, instead of doing cartwheels at your wife's AD base. If you're not working, go back to where your house is and deal with it -- rent it, sell it, make a new deal with the bank (they don't want it, believe me) -- and, you can give it back as a last resort without foreclosure in a manner that will not undermine your security clearance. But, if that's the problem, deal with the problem -- don't balloon this problem into something it isn't ... Nothing you do at your AD base will solve that problem, including MCG use as housing.

Once you admit that the problems you have are of your own making, and quit blaming others and the economy, THEN you might find (or even ask for) a solution. This "poor me" attitude just doesn't cut it -- you are not alone in this situation, but MCG is NOT the answer because it takes MCG aways from others who also earned it because you made a life choice. You are asking others to give up something each earned in order to provide you with an answer to a problem you created yourself.

Probably plenty of us on this site that have been in your situation and survived it. You could have probably gotten some good advice (and may still get it) here about your problem if you'd simply have asked for it, instead of pissing and moaning about the rules, demanding we accomodate your situation, throwing stones, and calling names. You're on the wrong website for that, for sure.

OK, you are getting closer, but still missing the mark. I'll try to explain one more time.

First, ALL spouses live off their AD/Retirees pay, in one form or another. So please don't make me out to be some kind of mooch.

We do want to save by living in MCG, you are right. Who doesn't want to save money, even in a good economy? The point here you have continually missed is that I DO NOT, and WILL NOT take a spot that "some one that actually earned that spot might want to use". Aparently you don't feel we have earned a spot? Either way we ARE following the rules.

"made a 'not so good' housing investment in Florida"?? Are you kidding? We bought our home more than 4 years ago and lived in it for almost 3, it was NOT an investment, like I was some kind of flipper.

I never said or implied that we should get BAH while in housing, I was just stating the fact that you don't get both.

I could go down to Florida, true. How would that help me sell or rent our place any faster? I should micromanage my agent? Stand on the corner with a sign? Yes I could give up the home, but why should we do that if we can do what we can to save money and keep our financial obligations?

Speaking of which, I have to pay for my mothers care. Please leave that alone, I don't talk about your family choices, or down play your issues.

My problems my own making, I can see where you would say that. But bottom line, my problems and issues are not relevent to the topic or point. All I was saying, and will say again, is that NOBODY should have to leave a MCG if there is space available. I don't understand why this point gets lost on everybody.

Your point did not get lost on anyone that I can see. What flamed this issue is that you want to change the rules because you have a personal hardship. We (retired, I speak for here, I think) have a HUGE issue with homesteading because it effectively closes some MCG to our occasional use. I'll name one for example -- MacDill AFB in the winter.

So, ask yourself one thing: If you did not have this personal hardship, would you still advocate changing the rules?

I'd bet not ... because you wouldn't care, for one thing, and it takes too much time for another.
These rules are designed for everyone to have access SOME of the time ... and the use or extended stay rules are generally interpreted and enforced by the CO and he has the right to "bend" the guidelines if the proper case is made through the proper channels -- and that ability is for people exactly like yourself. But, if the CO won't make your case, then that's it. MWR is not, at least should not, change a general rule for the sake of one (or several) individual hardships. That's what appeals to the CO are for, and so he can balance this properly.

I personally have no problem with extended stay in a case like yours ... however, when these rules change and allow that as policy, it quickly becomes the norm, and then much tougher to get some of the homesteaders to move on ... with one excuse or another. So, my suggestion is to "ask the CO" and abide by his decision. That's what he's trained for, and how he got to be CO ... making decisions.

And how quickly would you 'willingly" vacate if someone wanted that space for two or three days -- and if your in it, it's not vacant -- and how often would the CG host says "we're full" when called instead of saying "we have one guy here that we can kick out for you" ... and how soon would you be complaining -- "After three months, I have to move out for some guy that only wants it for three days." Think about that too ... what a nightmare for the CG host. And what if he has "seven hardships" who does he pick, and what if you 'become his friend' like so many homesteaders do ...

Whether you like it or not, none of us (or any other military) made the choice for you to buy a home and that appears to be the major headache here... and, so to answer your question ... Absolutely, I'd go down there and micro-manage my agent right out of the job if he was not doing it -- right it's a tough market everywhere right now ... but the right agents are making money and selling houses, or renting as the case may be .... so you need to take charge of it if the job's not getting done.

If not, one suggestion is to refinance - try your Federal Credit Unions ... they have programs designed for military families in your situation ... and they understand exactly what you're up against. That might give you some cash to either make a change or pay your mortgage while you make plans that work ... but once again, changing the general rules at MCG is not your answer.

And, your "Mooch" comment -- I simply stated a fact ... don't take it as a critique unless you feel guilty ... you want us to leave your comments alone, but you make them in justification for what you want to change... if you don't want the comments talked about, then don't make them. The simple beginning of this could have been "The extended stay policies are unfair to EVERYONE." and see where that goes ... But you made it personal, and that's what got you where you are here ...

I actually hope you have some luck with the CO, but I'll fight every minute against a rules change for extended stays in general ... we have enough trouble with homesteading already.

My problems my own making, I can see where you would say that. But bottom line, my problems and issues are not relevant to the topic or point. All I was saying, and will say again, is that NOBODY should have to leave a MCG if there is space available. I don't understand why this point gets lost on everybody.

This time of the yea,r I am sure there are not many spaces left, since VA Beach is a very popular area in the summer. It was mentioned by someone, that it is harder to keep track of who's in the park, when someone wants to make a reservation. This is why the rules are helpful for everyone.

Ft Meade only allows 2 week reservations, so if someone wants to extend, they must reapply. This way they are able to keep up with who gets to stay, by the most recent reservations. No room you must leave, though they still have homesteaders, they must leave, when there isn't any room.

You say you have been unemployed for 2 years. What is it that you do, that you can't find a job? You mention you are a veteran, which I see 2 advantages, one going back to school or using your veterans status to go to the top of the waiting list. Many military installations have job fairs, and try to help spouses who relocate, to find jobe. I think your big problem, is that you need to add to you income by working. I would even work at the commissary or try the MWR, any salary is better than none. You could also work camp, at a private campground for a space and salary. Many do this to supplement there income. Unless you are totally disabled, I can't see why you can't find a job, somewhere.

got toagree with the last two posts. unemployed for two years hmmmmmmm. many years of service to our country and then out.....hmmmm I can remember the old days, Did my army thing and then had a job after duty hours to make more money. Yes it was very hard but we survived...granted I didn't have time to play but when times got better I didn't have to have the extra job. Sure don't understand this situation at all..... But I do agree that the best way to have come on thiis site was to ask for some advice about your current situation, tell all the true facts, and someone out here may have given you some good advice to resolve your situation. But from what we have gotten, it is hard to feel for you.....YOung man you are talking to folks that have been there, done it and survived. It you want to talk to me one on one my email is [email protected] and hell ... I'll give you my phone number....915 855 9057.

Larry, thanks for the offer, but monkeyboy makes sense. I guess if we (wife and I) as well as the others were not in our various situtations, I'd probably not care about changing the rules. I also guess I'm jumping the gun before even submitting our request because of what I'm hearing about the current CO's opinion. Being I haven't talked with him (and am not likely to), I don't know his true feelings on the matter. We are being told the request needs to reflect how the AD requirement to stay here effects the member's command's mission, i.e. why the member needs to be within a certain distance from the command. This distance thing does not make sense to me.

Anyway, to answer another question, I'm an IT and before we PCS'd I didn't think there would be a problem for a qualified and experienced IT with a clearance to get a job here. Boy I was wrong. It was recently suggested (not just here) to try and get ANY civil service job to get in, then move up when something becomes available, being I'll already be in.

As far an continued education, I heard something about a change in the GI Bill, so that is something I'll look into as well.

Reguarding work camp, just looked into it, and there is nothing at the local civilian CGs, and their winter rates don't start untill Sep-Oct, and they don't have a need for work camp then.

And as far as being a mooch, I guess I do feel a little guilty that my wife is the bread winner and I haven't contributed anything since we moved here. Deciding to live the RV lifestyle and saving as much as we could was my attempt to help our situation out, live below our means, and meet all our obligations untill I can get back on my feet.

I'll volunteer untill I find something, but I hate how MWR is taking advantage of people by not compensating as others do. Working 25+ hours soley for the benefit of not moving has got to be illegal or something.

Anyway, back to the endless online job research.