"Homesteading"

I really have to agree - with several people's comments. I have been to many MCGs since 2004 and found a really good rotation policy at Patrick, not that I liked sitting in overflow, but it all worked; full timers at Grassy Pond with NO military affiliation whatsoever, they are the porch/storage unit sites; we had to stay in a gulley that flooded! Gila Bend (that's via Luke) is full of those fulltimers also! They stay from sep thru mar/apr yearly and so do their non-military friends. AND if you don't get a receipt for the cash (preferred) payment, you won't get one (in someone's pocket???). There are a few others, but I have to get my book and notes out to comment. One had so many full timers (w/garbage, porches, etc), one of them had the gall to ask me to pick some stuff up at the commissary. We stayed at Ft Fisher in dec; followed the rules, paid our money - NO ONE WAS THERE...we had neighbors every night, they didn't pay and several weren't associated w/mil; they said, "the base is always closed (with no gate) at this time of year and we stop over here, no one knows different!" Guess they were right, because, no matter how hard I tried, I could not get ahold of anyone connected with the base or facilities management. At Camp Murray people can only stay Apr thru Oct (I believe) then the ones that are old, old...have a truck from McChord come move all of them over there until apr, then it goes around again; that is except for the 'workers' that stay there year 'round - I was at all of the above and know first hand, not rumor.

There really should be a place to write (a nice, formal letter), root/cause analysis; tell the problems, give solutions/corrective actions. Then see some results! Isn't there a Head of MWR or AAFES for each branch??

No one deserves full time/homestead privileges. My feeling is that all CG's should have host(s) working full time with a reservation system in place. (Hosts ought to rotate, or only get one season and not be able to invite their home neighbors to "come on down".) Camping rates ought to be like lodge/inn, dependent on rank. Prices ought to be similar to the outside, but lower (I have found many MCG's prices to be much higher than I can get outside; time in spots and on base should have a limit and be enforced.

I have been waiting to share my thoughts for months and hope someone has some legitimate advice on how we can all band together to make this a better program for everyone.

Here is what I find interestring: in the Air Force, you have to have Sq or Base CC written permission to stay in Temporary Quarters/Billiting past 30 days. After 60 days, you must present a genuine reason for not procuring housing and then you forfeit your BAS until you find a place to live. This prevents anyone living a life of maid service forever. Sorry, I don't have a lot of sympathy for AD as I was stuck in a dorm for 8 years!!! You have to make sacrifices in the military - i.e. there ARE alternatives ON BASE for active duty, if you have a GENUINE hardship. Making a few buck off of the government at FAMCAMP is not it. Geographic bachelors are given additional BAS to cover their apartment rent (in addition to the the regular BAS they receive for their family) so I am not buying it. Don't mean to make anyone mad, but I would like to enjoy a campsite at MacDill or somewhere nice without it being filled up all the time. AD temporarly staying in FAMCAMP should be like staying in billiting - 1st priority, but with limits. Homesteaders - only allowed when space is available, but get bumped for the regular folks. Building porches and sheds? I am surprised that is not forbidden. Should be.

First, BAS stands for Basic Allowance for Subsistance, which for most who recieve it set at approximately $290/mo and is a food allowance for the active duty member.

Second, BAH stands for Basic Allowance for Housing and is figured at the dependant rate or no dependant rate. Members who recieve BAH at the dependant rate are BY LAW NOT entitled to recieve additional BAH for being a geographic bachelor. Repeat-Geographic Bachelors DO NOT get additional funds for housing unless they are deployed to a restricted area.

I'm a fulltimer by choice and utilize MC whenever possible and get permission. Many times the fulltimers are the ones keeping the lights on in many MC's, especially during the summer in the south. I would much rather have my money spent on base, in the commissary, in the mwr, etc...however, I can take my money and go 20 miles down the road and not spend ANY of my money on base and be in a well run, well maintained campground with a pool, clubhouse, gym, free wifi, etc for only $70 more. The geo's that are here...they are spending their money on base, using assets they have purchased and making the choice to leave their family where-ever for many reasons..usually good schools, housing, job for the spouse...remember they are doing this out of their pocket. They can go into the dorm/barracks but still have to pay and usually get bumped for a "bonafide bachelor", so where are they to go? I lived onboard ship for many years and for those who believe that "it was good for me, so it has to be good for them" need to catch up to 2008 and the "all volunteer force".

I think the best course is a set policy for all MC's and get rid of the cronieism (sp). Folks need to read the rules concerning "entitlement versus benefit" as it relates to their status; AD, Reserve, Guard, Retired, DOD/CG Employee, etc.

Standing by for return fire...

Master Chief,

You are reacting to a few of the last statements posted in this long running string. What is your response to the topic "Homesteading"?

FastEagle

I'm split on the homesteading issue as I'm a full-timer myself and have been for about 3 years while still on active duty. On one side the reason we do the rv thing is the "gypsy" lifestyle and the ability to move about...like I tell folks, "if I don't like my neighbor; I move" whereas those who live in stick houses can't. However, the other side of the wandering in our soul, we also have a job that requires me to stay put for a period of time (2-4 yrs). So how do I balance that with the rv lifestyle...it requires a certain amount of homesteading similiar to what snowbirds do. Now, to stay in one MC for years at a time...that's different since that is no longer rv'ing but living in a trailer.

So for my definitions I'll consider homesteading anything over the six month period. The rules at this MC are stays up to six months and then you disappear for at least 30 days. I don't mind that rule at all. My big bone to pick at is the croneism with the ratio of volunteers who get free rent to the numbers of actual numbers of campsites, and every single one of them are retired and many of them are in the same spot for years...tires rotting off their rigs. How about giving some of those volunteer spots to the geo bachelors or other active duty to give them a break...spread the wealth.

So for all my rambling...in the end homesteading takes up valuable room, violates the mission statement of the MC's, and by definition is not rv'ing.

We do our disappearing act every six months and we take several week long or two week long trips in between. It's just nice to know that I have a spot to come back to...and by the way, I like my current neighbors both retired and active duty.

Excuse me for fat fingering BAS & BAH. I am sure everyone knew what I meant. If you are separated xx miles from your family (do not know the exact milage for FY08/09), you get additonal BAH. There is FSA-1 & FSA-2. Read the Air Force Regs and your PFE! Notice I did not say "all services", I said AIR FORCE. Again I don't mind other people staying beyond 2-4 weeks if there is space available.