Re: Is this Todays Army??

[<Decaturvlp@aol.com>]

Basically, no, there are no more clubs.  There are a few "all ranks" type 
clubs, all run by contract, only open for lunch, must schedule and pay for 
catering for evenings, weekends, etc............ examples - the old (built 
new in 1980 and in 82 had a million dollar computerized bar system installed) 
NCO club at Ft Carson is now only open for lunch and is called "Ben's Buffet" 
or some such idiotic thing ......  the clubs at Great Lakes are gone, only 
the old officers club "Port 'o Call" is left, and it is an E7 and up club, 
small bar, no food unless you contract for a party - run by some contract 
outfit. Same-o  same-o nearly everywhere! The old officers club at Ft Bragg 
is gone.......the "socially correct" services frown on drinking and smoking, 
and most bases are CLOSED on the weekends, as everyone lives off post, no 
comraderie........Oh! Remember the base recreation clubs? Had pool tables, 
TV, reading rooms, photo, woodworking, auto shops, etc, etc?
Very few are left. I think Offutt AFB has one that is open Mon - Fri only 
from 3pm to 9pm !!!  Most bases don't even have MPs on the gate - they hire 
contract rent-a-cops to man the gates, and the gates are closed on the 
weekends just like the whole base!  That is, those bases that are not "open" 
bases!  You can drive on Ft Carson, AirForceAcademy,  Ft Bragg, 80% of all 
our military bases are now "open"............ (welcome, Ben Iman Amman and 
your trucks full of explosives !!!!)  
     Makes you want to puke !

TONY  NEWCOMB- (SOA-570L) (SFA-450L) (AFIO-5746L) (POVA#168)
State Outreach Coordinator, VETERANS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM of ILLINOIS
"The only easy day was yesterday" - Special Ops -   "You have never lived 
until you
      have almost died. For those that have fought for it, life has a special 
flavor the 
      protected will never know."