Rambling Observations

This web site and it's forums - to me - has been the most beneficial site on the internet ever since I found it and became a member. The information provided here is invaluable to the military RV traveler. As full timers for nearly five years we have relied heavily on this site to make the ultimate decision weather to try and use various Military Campgrounds.

Sometimes we just have to pass by a Military Campground because it's full and does not take reservations. We were both fully retired when we hit the road and never considered or intended to use any sort of dry camp unless we were broke down. We are the spoiled travelers.

We love the Military Campgrounds and use them whenever we are near one we can get into. We had Thanksgiving Dinner with the troops at Barksdale AFB in 2007. If you are spending the holidays at a Military RV Park and have a chance to have dunner with the troops we highly recommend it.

Along with usage comes experience and knowledge.

The difference between the services MWR programs is not substantial and for the most part they are all run much the same. Throughout the posts in this forum you will find references to the various services rules for the operation of MWR facilities and thats where the Military RVer has to look for answers to the various questions that arise.

Military Campgrounds did not just pop up one day. They have been in a slow evolution to where they are today. Any commander that has a MWR program that includes a Military Campground has the authority to run it as he/she sees fit (within the guidelines of their respective branch of service). The ultimate goal is to run in the green. Some Commanders because of their location and excess undeveloped base property have seen that as a way to become a cash cow to their MWR programs and have developed it accordantly. Such a place is Mac Dill AFB in Tampa, FL. Read the rules and make your reservations accordantly. We have wintered twice in the Tampa/St. Pete area and have never stayed at Mac Dill. We use all the facilities such as commissary, exchange and pharmacy. Also do a lot of golfing there. For us the FAMCAMP (s) is just to isolated. And with a little searching you can find places that are just as inexpensive. Besides, I really like fishing off the old Gandy Bridge.

Now here is one we really like to use and do so every time we are in the area because we have learned how to get in there. Fort Bliss, TX. First come first serve. Great RV Park. No over flow. We always try to be going by there during the week - mon-thur - and always plan on getting in there just after lunch (1300). We start calling and checking on availability by 1000 and if there are sites available we keep calling every 45 min until we get there. We never stay there very long as we have been there so often we have seen just about all there is to see in the area.

I've never sit down and counted all the Military Campgrounds we have stayed at but if you look for our Everest in the Campground Review section you will see it at a lot of the Campgrounds photo section.

We are not big on complaining about things we cannot have an impact on. There are excess camp hosts at Mayport in FL but we have never had a problem getting a spot there because we know we have to call well in advance. There is a pet fee at Camp Blanding (also in FL). Have your papers in hand and pay the fee. After you see how many farrell cats there are in that campground you may take a different view on the fee. Short Stay up in Moncks Corner, SC has long term sites (homesteaders) but you seldom see anybody say much about it.

For the most part Military Campgrounds are strictly for the Military. RHIP is known to all that have served. And, thats basically how the MWR programs are run. For the most part that's all we have seen in the Military Campgrounds we have patronized. We have had quests parked next to us at least twice and both times it was all done using the existing rules for the base we were at. We saw a retiree get a nine month extension from the CO at NAS Jacksonville because his wife had to have a liver transplant at a local hospital. We saw a camp host at a small 20 site FAMCAMP in Del Rio, TX and wondered why? Almost everything there is run by the MWR main office. The host was a nice guy and always there but so was the folks parked next to us.

Never been around a place that had contractors or civilians allowed to stay there. Was involved with some Military Contracts once upon a time and those people competing for small contracts at the Base Commander or local area Commander Levels are pretty shrewd and almost always prior military and have got the contract because they can house some or all of their employees at the base motel or RV park.

Have only run into a hand full of DoD folks using Military Campgrounds. Those that we have had the opportunity to talk with are pretty savvy folks and know how to go about using Military Campgrounds. They know that they must always call and make sure they are still welcome even though they have been there before, because the rules for them change quite frequently. Lots of Military Campgrounds only allow local DoD employees to use the MWR facilities. Some of them will not allow retired DoD employees any usage. 100% ID checks at the gate is a big deterant for retired DoD employees away from home because chances are they have no acceptable ID to gain entrance.

The geographical bachelor is the one that is going to start eating up RV sites. The housing crunch is creating more and more of them. Our young service members today are well educated and savvy about most things and have not over looked the short term relief they can get by using an RV to house themselves and family members while trying to sell their burdensome home at their prior duty station that just wont go away. In my day I would have had to take a bunk in the barracks and leave the family to fend for themselves while trying to unload the house. Wonder what has happened to the “recall” system? When I was in the service I always had to provide my CO with a local address and phone number before I was allowed to live off base. May be when you check-in now they just give you a beeper or cell phone and thats it.

This is long winded looking for long winded replies.

FastEagle

www.everest-owners.com/photos/showfull.php?photo=1331
www.everest-owners.com/photos/showfull.php?photo=932

p.s. Fort Bliss has CATV now.

Dear Fast Eagle

I enjoyed reading your post. You make a lot of good points and seem to understand some of the do's and don'ts of using military campground. I am a retired DoD civilian and my husband is still an active DoD civilian, but also a Navy vet. I thought I would bring to light one point....as a retired DoD civilian, I have an ID card which allows me access to the various installations. We can still use the famcamps and have stayed at several. So far we have visited Destin Army Famcamp, Patrick, Uchee Creek, MacDill, Mayport, and King's Bay. They are all great. The only one we have had any problems with is MacDill, and that is due to the "homesteading" every winter and the fact that they do not allow DoD civilians to make reservations. On several occasions we called ahead and luckily was able to get a site. However, we were told that if an active duty, retired, DAV came in for a FHU we would have to move. And it didn't matter that every time there were sites sitting empty, sometimes for days. When we questioned them, we were told they couldn't put anyone in there because they were expecting campers. Well, duh! But they still sat empty (making no money). We even saw them turn folks away, and still the sites sat empty. We filed a complaint with ICE and to be honest, got no where. As DoD civilians we are on the bottom of the totem pole. But why turn folks away when you have empty sites? They advertise 88 sites for first come, first serve. Yet when we arrive, we are told we can only stay a certain number of days on FHU before we have to move to a partial or dry site. Yet, again, empty sites. Just can't seem to figure it out. We have been lucky enough to be able to stay three weeks last year. Only because they had someone new at the desk and when we called, she did not ask our status. We figured they had changed their regulations since that was the first time in about 2 years that we stayed there. When we got there, the "lead" person informed us that the new person did not know. Once I informed her that was not my problem that their employees were improperly trained (no posting to the contrary). In essence, they messed up. So we were able to stay the entire three weeks. Once again there were a lot of site sitting empty for the entire time we were there. I think there needs to be one standardized regulation regarding the famcamps and let it apply to everyone except active duty. They obviously need to be priority. MacDill should check out Patrick or Mayport's rules. They have their stuff together.

Hi llshaw, I also retired from the DoD (FERS) after ten years at the Naval Aviation Depot in Jacksonville, FL. (At age 62 only 5 years are required). I was told there were no picture ID cards for retirees by the nice folks that did my retirement. Being also retired from the USN I did not need other ID so never pursued it. I know that other services and sections of DoD provide some sort of retirement documentation but have never seen any. So please tell us all about it. Many here have mentioned it in past posts.

FastEagle

p.s. I don't think DoD of any kind can use the RV Park at Key West right now.

I know that other services and sections of DoD provide some sort of retirement documentation but have never seen any.

If you haven't already, this FAQ might shed some light on retired DOD ID Cards. If any additional information is posted, I'll add it to the FAQ.

"as a retired DoD civilian, I have an ID card which allows me access to the various installations"

Yes Larry, I've read that FAQ before. But in the quote above the person actually has a retired DoD ID card in hand. Very intresting. I'd like to know which service or baranch of DoD is issuing them as I bet others here are just as intrested. I know some retired DoD people from the Navy that use their LES to gain access to Navy Bases because they were not issued any sort of ID card on retirement.

FastEagle

"as a retired DoD civilian, I have an ID card which allows me access to the various installations"

Yes Larry, I've read that FAQ before. But in the quote above the person actually has a retired DoD ID card in hand. Very intresting. I'd like to know which service or baranch of DoD is issuing them as I bet others here are just as intrested. I know some retired DoD people from the Navy that use their LES to gain access to Navy Bases because they were not issued any sort of ID card on retirement.

FastEagle

As mentioned in the FAQ, I'm aware of the USAF and Army issuing Retired DOD ID Cards. I'd also be curious to know if the Navy is doing the same, and what are the procedures to obtain the card.