RV'ing at the Naval Station in Key West

2chiefsRus wrote:
Those guys are most likely hired by Contractors. They are paid directly by the Contractors. Outsourcing jobs to the "private sector" has become really big in the government. It is a way to avoid putting workers on the government payrolls. The contractors and the contractors' employees are not eligible for government pensions or government health plans.

Then, what are they doing in our campgrounds! That's my point.

monkey44 wrote:

2chiefsRus wrote:
Those guys are most likely hired by Contractors. They are paid directly by the Contractors. Outsourcing jobs to the "private sector" has become really big in the government. It is a way to avoid putting workers on the government payrolls. The contractors and the contractors' employees are not eligible for government pensions or government health plans.

Then, what are they doing in our campgrounds! That's my point.

I have no idea why they are there, it must be legal or they would not be there...(being Legal and authorized is different than you or anyone else agreeing with it)
I would suggest you ask the office that runs the family camp an go from there.
The theory I go by is if it is Legal and I want to do it then I do,,,, I am sure this is the same theory the contractors go by.
I would be interested to know if you find anything out from your campground.
Best of luck..

djsamuel wrote:


A big thank you from a 33 year DOD (Navy) civilian - NOT A CONTRACTOR, who has spent a lot of time on Aircraft Carriers, Submarines, Destroyers, LPDs, LPHs, P-3s P-8s etc.

Sounds familiar, I know a number of sailors that spent less time at sea then I did (33 years DON). I was talking with a (retired) Master Chief I used to know (died two years ago), he came out of the air-community but had never spent a night at sea,not one. All 30 years at shore installations, not certain how he managed that, but he did.

For those wondering, the pension is 1.1% of your high 3 average salary for each creditable year of service if you retire at age 62 or older. And contrary to popular belief, we do not get housing allowances unless we are on TDY, where we get per diem. At that point, we are required to fly out and back and must stay at a hotel within per diem. and usually one chosen by the Defense Travel System. The Famcamps are not an option.

Ah DTS, one of the many things I don't miss (NMCI, Navy-ERP, etc)

You can select "find own housing", which I did whenever I was traveling to certain areas. One a couple occasions I did take the RV. That proved, interesting. But of course, netted me no more money, since the DOD pays what your housing cost is, if it's $15/day, that's all they pay, period.
We took the RV because I took time off work and did some "fun" things, which came out of my pocket.

monkey44 wrote:


Then, what are they doing in our campgrounds! That's my point.

Ask the people running the place!

As for your assertion that DOD Civs are "making money" staying at a FAM-CAMP, complete and utter BS

When on travel DOD Civs get housing costs, up to a max amount (set by local costs). That rate is whatever the place they are staying actually costs. If its $15/day, that's all the get (for housing), period. If it's $150/day (and that is allowed, some high-cost areas are that high), that's what they get.

One time I took the RV, rather then stay at the hotel I usually stayed at. The RV park was under $20/day, while the hotel was over $100. I got what the park cost, period, not an "extra" $80/day

Topic: RV'ing at the Naval Station in Key Quest
Posted By: NanciL on 01/18/14 05:12am

Can someone explain to me the procedure for a veteran to get a site in Key West, or is it first come first serve?

Jeez !!!!!
Can't someone just have the common courtesy to answer the Ops original question???
They are simply asking for info about NASKW.
No wonder a lot of people have quit posting here.

deejay41 wrote:

Topic: RV'ing at the Naval Station in Key Quest
Posted By: NanciL on 01/18/14 05:12am

Can someone explain to me the procedure for a veteran to get a site in Key West, or is it first come first serve?

Jeez !!!!!
Can't someone just have the common courtesy to answer the Ops original question???
They are simply asking for info about NASKW.
No wonder a lot of people have quit posting here.

The question was answered on the first page:

US Military Campgrounds web site wrote:
Authorized Users
Active, National Guard, Reservists, Retired, 100% DAV, DoD Civilians, DoT civilians working for Coast Guard, NATO allies on orders to the US.

So veterans are not authorized users and the OP can not get a site. The answer is what started the debate

And, btw, here is a link to the page for that campground:

NAS Key West

AprilWhine wrote:

So veterans are not authorized users and the OP can not get a site. The answer is what started the debate

One hitch and done, and you are done. No retirement, no benefits, nothing. That's the deal.

Want something for life, go career (or get disabled)

Wow, I am sorry I asked the original question.
I am a honorable discharged navy veteran, but it sounds like I can't get in so I'll just keep camping at state parks.
Sorry to cause all the bickering and bantering !

jack L

monkey44 wrote:

Maybe you can tell me who are all the guys that stay in FAMCAMPS that work for DOD and stay instead of housing ... they are certainly civilian, and go in and work at the base every day, come back every night ... and when I ask, they say "DOD, we stay here because it saves money ... and admit they get allowance, and it's way more than a FC site. And they stay a lot longer than the 30 or 60 limit too.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you 100%. I imagine they are contractors, but DOD civilians (non-contractors) should NEVER be doing that. The FAMCAMPS are meant for recreation, not cheap housing. A DOD civilian, when on TDY, is only reimbursed the actual cost of the lodging. There is no financial benefit for them to be staying in a campground instead of a hotel. Contractors are often given a set amount of money for per-diem to cover both food and lodging. In that case; they could be pocketing the difference. What gets me is assuming they are contractors, how are they getting access to the campgrounds? That is just plain wrong, and your anger is justified.