Retired Canadian Forces

I'm not sure it is a bad thing to have the Canadians in our campgrounds so long as 1. They are active duty or, 2. Retired, and 3. We have reciprocity in Canadian facilities.

Remember, Canada has been a consistent and good ally of the United States for a long time. They have troops fighting -- and dying -- along side ours right now, which is more than you can say for many other countries. (And I refuse to be drawn into a discussion on the rights or wrongs of the current wars!)

Giving them access to our campgrounds seems a small way to say, "Thanks!".

And, individual abuse of policy and disregard for rules and guidelines always has a greater negative impact than do the rules and regulations in general.

I've also learned over the years that, and this is unfortunate, that the rules are general, but individual base policy contributes somewhat to the negative problem because each base can implement different application of the rules, and so a lack of consistency contributes to that negative impact.

However, I've been on a six-month trip across the southern US -- Va, SC, NC, Ga, FL, Miss, La, Texas, and am currently at Eglin AFB (Postal Point is great, right on the water) in Pensacola area. Have not once been without a CG during this trip, and only occasionally been in overflow for a night or two. It's been a great trip, and I've stayed in numerous CG for short periods - nothing extended. And do tip my hat and salute those that make this happen for all of us.

This topic has also been started in another Military RV Forum by the same person. The following reply here is a word for word copy of a reply I made in the other forum.

OK folks I guess it's about time someone took a stand on this subject. Normally I would not go beyond my first posting on this subject but because of the support being offered to our CDN neighbors to the north some serious enlightenment needs to take place here.

Under the existing service wide (DoD) regulations authorized MWR guests are welcome at almost all military campgrounds on a space available basis when signed in by an authorized user. If you want your family and friends - including foreigners - in OUR campgrounds then exercise your privilege, sigh them in and be responsible for them.

Because we, for the most part speak the same language as our foreign neighbors to the north does not elevate them to the point of being able to share things we have all worked so hard to preserve. We also work hand and glove with foreign service members from Iraq and Afghanistan. Wonder how hard it would be for them to get aboard our bases for a few days in YOUR campground?

Go to other military forums that include discussions about military campgrounds and after you become an experienced browser a few constant discrepancies will emerge. None of the U.S. Military services see eye to eye on just how to run their MWR programs. The bickering among the current authorized users is always present and is almost always about usage/conditions. Give a few foreigners a couple of sites at MacDill or Key West in December or January and stand back and watch. You gonna see fireworks. I spent 31+ years active duty in the U.S. Navy and also have made friends with many people from around the world and would sign them into any campground as my guest if the base allowed such guests. Being born and raised in rural Maine I'm not unfamiliar with the CDN people. But one thing you must remember, we need a passport or passport card to cross those borders.

FastEagle

p.s. We found that nice friendly CDN border guard when entering Canada from ND on US-83.

FastEagle
Guess the forum moderator took my last response off the site.. So I'll just leave it at your wrong on several instances..Take a deep breath and enjoy what you earned with your 31+ years of service..

We do have access to at least 8 of their campgrounds that I know of,, As far as Macdill goes its strictly Space A if there is room they (the Canadians) can stay if not they have to go to dry or leave all together..Good for you not to be drawn into this stupid discussion.. Guess I'm not the sharpest too in the shed

OK! OK! let it drop, I only asked for a couple of friends I've made since we went fulltiming. Where is Macdill? Somewhere on the east coast? Not likely to be there soon as we usually travel the west side, although we are going to venture as far east as Fort Clark Springs Texas this spring. As I said, I will check Fallon and Nellis and also Yuma this year, and if we get over to the wet side, I'll check Mccord and Ft Lewis. I'll be sure to post back here what I find out. BTW I only spent 30 years (4 Navy, 26 US Coast Guard) as CWO's are limited to 30 years total service.