RV'ing at the Naval Station in Key West
Can someone explain to me the procedure for a veteran to get a site in Key West, or is it first come first serve? Jack L
Forum Discussion
What I find a bit interesting - the DOD civilians make a pretty good paycheck, and a pretty good retirement, plus other benefits. Including Housing!!!
US military worked for peanuts - especially those that enlisted before the huge pay increases a few years back. My highest pay rate in the navy was $870 a month (plus benefits - food, bed, clothes, a base vehicle) - NOT $870 a week. Part of that obligation was gaining some benefits, like medical, commissary, and inexpensive camping - ext.
Our medical is disappearing, our commissary is on the 'out-shelf', so at least leave us the campgrounds. Although they'll eventually go to contract, like the UFS campgrounds - raise prices - and become a cash cow instead of a benefit for those that earned it ...
Benefits - In other words, use of the facilities. Now, it's pretty often we go to a busy or desired area campground, and can't use it - or get stuck in "dry camping' for a week or so, even overnight, when DOD stay full-time and haven't earned it.
There is NOTHING in the DOD contracts that says a DOD gets to use MCG's .. NO where does it say that. So, DOD finagles into the MCG, and pockets housing allowance. Housing allowance is for rental housing - period, not for DOD to camp in a military campground.
Do I respect the work DOD does for our military and protecting this country? Absolutely, no doubt, for sure. But DOD gets a good paycheck, gets benefits they earn, and one of them is NOT crowding the MCGS. That's one that retired military, AD, and disabled vets earned. Leave us with it.
One the other hand, I also believe any disabled vet (or maybe 50% and above) should get camping. But it not in the law - I think it should be, and would vote yes if it came up. The law says only AD, retired, disabled 100% vets. Pressure from DOD and cam funding pushed the CO to get authority for DOD, and the CO took the cash. That makes me sad, that it came to that. But now it's abused, and that makes me sadder.
US military worked for peanuts - especially those that enlisted before the huge pay increases a few years back. My highest pay rate in the navy was $870 a month (plus benefits - food, bed, clothes, a base vehicle) - NOT $870 a week. Part of that obligation was gaining some benefits, like medical, commissary, and inexpensive camping - ext.
Our medical is disappearing, our commissary is on the 'out-shelf', so at least leave us the campgrounds. Although they'll eventually go to contract, like the UFS campgrounds - raise prices - and become a cash cow instead of a benefit for those that earned it ...
Benefits - In other words, use of the facilities. Now, it's pretty often we go to a busy or desired area campground, and can't use it - or get stuck in "dry camping' for a week or so, even overnight, when DOD stay full-time and haven't earned it.
There is NOTHING in the DOD contracts that says a DOD gets to use MCG's .. NO where does it say that. So, DOD finagles into the MCG, and pockets housing allowance. Housing allowance is for rental housing - period, not for DOD to camp in a military campground.
Do I respect the work DOD does for our military and protecting this country? Absolutely, no doubt, for sure. But DOD gets a good paycheck, gets benefits they earn, and one of them is NOT crowding the MCGS. That's one that retired military, AD, and disabled vets earned. Leave us with it.
One the other hand, I also believe any disabled vet (or maybe 50% and above) should get camping. But it not in the law - I think it should be, and would vote yes if it came up. The law says only AD, retired, disabled 100% vets. Pressure from DOD and cam funding pushed the CO to get authority for DOD, and the CO took the cash. That makes me sad, that it came to that. But now it's abused, and that makes me sadder.
