Wright-Pat Air Base has really nice accommodations

[Stand_watie]

     Those of you in the .mil or retirees might want to put them on your list of good spots to stay if you're in the area. Looks like a nice golf course too, although I wouldn't know as I'm no golfer.

     Stayed at the base hotel over the weekend for my neice's wedding. 39 bucks even a night for suites commercially equivalent to 130 - 150 bucks a night.  Reception at what I think was the officers club (that's how they billed my atm card anyway), very toney. 2 or 3 different clubs and a banquet hall in one building. The grounds in the area I was at (near gate 12c) looked like what I'd imagine an ivy league campus looks like. The officers houses looked like what I imagine Georgetown (DC) looks like.

[vaskidmark]

As a taxpayer, I'm glad to hear that my contributions to the national defense are appreciated.

Seriously, my only begrudgement (is that a real word?) is that the better facilities are not available to the lower enlisted ranks.  As a former one of them, it sucked that the E-Club was a cardboard shack while the field-grade O-Club (that I walked a guard post around) was a literal palace.  Of course, as I got more rank (promoted, you jokers!) the clubs I was allowed/required to patronize got better.

stay safe.

[Stand_watie]

As a taxpayer, I'm glad to hear that my contributions to the national defense are appreciated.

Seriously, my only begrudgement (is that a real word?) is that the better facilities are not available to the lower enlisted ranks.  As a former one of them, it sucked that the E-Club was a cardboard shack while the field-grade O-Club (that I walked a guard post around) was a literal palace.  Of course, as I got more rank (promoted, you jokers!) the clubs I was allowed/required to patronize got better.

stay safe.

     I'm not sure how enlisted vs officer facility works...it's been 15 years since I was .mil, and then I was a reservist and got very little of the actual experience. I do know it was an e6 that booked our rooms and I met at least one enlisted retiree who was staying at the hotel, so I assume that at least some grades of enlisted are allowed to book at that hotel. The barkeep at the "wings" club (one of the eating/drinking establishments at the complex the reception was held at) told me civilians were welcome and didn't need to be "guests" of an officer, so I assumed that applied for junior enlisted as well.

     I have always thought that (upper-level) officer perks were a (cheaper) attempt to retain manpower when in equivalent civilian jobs the officers could be getting paid a lot more.

[wmenorr67]

As a taxpayer, I'm glad to hear that my contributions to the national defense are appreciated.

Seriously, my only begrudgement (is that a real word?) is that the better facilities are not available to the lower enlisted ranks.  As a former one of them, it sucked that the E-Club was a cardboard shack while the field-grade O-Club (that I walked a guard post around) was a literal palace.  Of course, as I got more rank (promoted, you jokers!) the clubs I was allowed/required to patronize got better.

stay safe.

This isn't nearly as true anymore.  Most clubs are all rank and as stated civilans are allowed so enlisted can't really be rejected.

[vaskidmark]

This isn't nearly as true anymore.  Most clubs are all rank and as stated civilans are allowed so enlisted can't really be rejected.

Are you telling me that nowadays active duty E1 - E3, E4 - E6, E7 - E9, O1 - 03, 04 - O6, and O7+ all rub shoulders at the same club?

I am aware that at most .mil facilities retired military of any rank are allowed to join the local O-club, although retired enlisted are sometimes encouraged to join the Senior Staff/Staff Enlisted Club instead.  But any former .mil  (not retired) joining the local O-club?  Don't recall ever running into that.  And civillian employees assigned to the base were permitted to join the O-Club - often explained as because they outranked even the Commanding Officer of the base.

Of course, it has been at least 20 years since I was on a military base other than to transit across to the other side via the public highway.  Back in pre-history the social segregation of the ranks was strictly enforced - including romantic/platonic liaisons.

stay safe.

[Phantom Warrior]

Fraternization (sex and otherwise) is still a No Go.  On post clubs are no longer segregated (there is no O Club) but I don't know of anyone that hangs out on post anyway.  The only thing I've seen on post clubs used for is ceremonies and dinners.

[lee n. field]

Go check out Hanger 18 for your good buddies on APS.com.

[Antibubba]

Did you get a chance to visit the museum there?  It's incredible!

[wmenorr67]

Fraternization (sex and otherwise) is still a No Go.  On post clubs are no longer segregated (there is no O Club) but I don't know of anyone that hangs out on post anyway.  The only thing I've seen on post clubs used for is ceremonies and dinners.

This

[Stand_watie]

Did you get a chance to visit the museum there?  It's incredible!

     I didn't, but Sis-in-law and Neices did, and were very impressed despite not being airplane people (in particular). That made me kick myself.