Posted on 11/28/2006 6:12:37 AM PST by pabianice
November 28, 2006: The U.S. Air Force is doing something really unusual, they are cutting back on the amenities that have long served to attract, and keep, the kind of skilled people they needed. It is feared that this move will have a serious negative effect on morale. However, the air force brass see this as the only alternative to something far worse; not enough new aircraft. Faced with huge costs for their new F-22 and F-35 warplanes, a Congress reluctant to be generous, and a war in Iraq and Afghanistan that is being largely fought by the army, the air force sees itself seriously short of cash in the next decade. The war in Iraq is taking money from the air force and diverting it to the army. Already underway is a downsizing that will eliminate 40,000 air force jobs over the next five years. But that will only save about $5 billion a year.
Cutting amenities is not something the air force even likes to talk about, but something official has to be said to explain the large number of fairly obvious changes coming. For decades, the air force has been the butt of jokes, for their more luxurious lifestyle, by sailors, soldiers and marines. Part of it was jealousy, and admiration for how the air force generals managed to get money for all those goodies out of Congress. Making fun of all those golf courses on air force bases was a particular favorite. Going into detail about the cutbacks would, simultaneously, make it known how extensive the amenities are, and elicit some bad publicity once people from the other services chimed in with snarky comments about how much better off the air force people are even after the cuts.
But the air force does have a real problem here, with the morale of their own troops. The 40,000 jobs being lost is causing some anxiety, as does the increased number of air force personnel being sent overseas to support operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. There are actually several thousand air force support troops, on the ground in Iraq, helping the army move supplies and maintain equipment. These guys and girls are actually in greater danger than the pilots flying the bombers overhead, but that's another story. Meanwhile, a lot of the cutbacks will come from consolidating functions (fewer gyms and dining halls on some bases), as well as cutting back hours and services at other facilities (libraries, rec centers and golf courses.) There might even be a few golf courses closed...
Thought you might have been at Phu Hiep.
Just don't close the air-conditioned Officers' Clubs!
Anyone remember the movie Bat 21? Where Gene Hackman is the Air Force officer who gets trapped behind enemy lines. He's got no real combat experience, or training, but needs a code to communicate to his rescuers with. Anyone remember what that code was? :-)
Good man. My dad flew UH-1Bs and H-2s, and my brother is an F/A-18 driver. I drew the bad eyes in the family.
My daughter is Air Force (BTW she was considering a cross commission to USN)
Nothing wrong with the Farce, in my opinion---just some good ol' interservice rivalry. I'd rather my son go to Air Force than West Point!
Army is going to get it's "Ass" kicked Saturday......
It should be a slaughter of epic proportions.
Good man. My dad flew UH-1Bs and H-2s, and my brother is an F/A-18 driver. I drew the bad eyes in the family.
My daughter is Air Force (BTW she was considering a cross commission to USN)
Nothing wrong with the Farce, in my opinion---just some good ol' interservice rivalry. I'd rather my son go to Air Force than West Point!
Army is going to get it's "Ass" kicked Saturday......
It should be a slaughter of epic proportions.
Yup...I've had the same experience. I was in the Navy Reserve after active duty as a submariner and when on my two-week "summer vacation" would usually have to check into a Navy transit barracks (open bay) where the Master-at-Arms would give me a "fart sack" and a pillow (no pillow case). About 20 years ago I went to an ACTDUTRA at Peterson AFB in Colorado and was completely blown away by the clean sheets, single rooms and hospitality. I'd second the "Chair Force" as having the best to offer in the way of bases (Navy probably comes in second, then the Army, with Jarheads being the cow's tail--they don't even give you a sheet; you're lucky to even get a mattress--especially if you're a Sailor ("Hey Squid, we need a messcook and you just volunteered.")
Does Anyone remeber the MWLK barracks at Kadena in the late eighties / early nineties?
The Airforce has nice facilities, but they would not trust
them to Marines.
MWLK=Marine Wing Liason Kadena, in case you were wondering.
I was AF stationed with the Army in Germany. The barracks there had a hole in the ceiling and a latrine that was possibly pre-war. We only had two shootings in there and a few fights. Not Bad for a Kaserne in the 70's.
The AFA fittings were better. But, those foofy golf courses should be privatized.
I was AF stationed with the Army in Germany. The barracks there had a hole in the ceiling and a latrine that was possibly pre-war. We only had two shootings in there and a few fights. Not Bad for a Kaserne in the 70's.
The AFA fittings were better. But, those foofy golf courses should be privatized.
When the service academies play each other it's usually not a slaughter......
Navy is definitely the better team going into this game based on season team results and individual stats but all bets are off due to the emotion of this match-up....
Last year, the midshipmen stole the Army's mascot (Donkey) and "branded" it's "ass" with a Star and the letter N....
Let's see what happens this year....
I doubt there willbe many Golf COurse or other closures -- MWR on AF bases is self sustaining. The revenue from the Golf Course/Enlisted Club/Bowling Alley pay to keep facilities such as the gym/rec center etc open and operating. There may be some cuts in facility upkeep and personnel, but the things the article sites are Revenue makers not revenue drains.
True. Many of us draftees made it to Speedy 5 within our two year hitch. Then they'd sometimes offer us an E-6 if we'd stay.
Right!
CQ. There's a term I haven't heard - or thought of - in a very long time.
http://www.chairforce.com/
Someone else is having fun with the difference too
What is that, like, and E-4?
;)
No but spent quite a few weeks there TDY when I was stationed at Tachikawa AFB in Japan in 63-64.
However, ANYONE who has visited the NCO Club at Clark AFB, Philippines (and yeah, I still remember the name, Coconut Grove) will never forget it.
It was rumored to be not only the nicest NCO Club in the World, but surpassed most Officers' Clubs as well--for all branches of the military.
Ah, San Miguel beer, the best beer I ever had--bar none!!!
( Don't close the AC'd O-Clubs )
And continue to keep the beer supply in a shaded chain-link enclosure out of sight in the back. ( easier midnight requisitions )
It was much the same in '89 when I retired. We worked a lot with other services in Korea and Southeast Asia and would routinely be working with troops one or two grades higher than we were. Also, the Army and Marine chow halls were dumps, but we envied the Navy's, at least the ones at the major bases.
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