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rjniles's avatar
rjniles
Explorer
Oct 06, 2020

Military campground, base access

My wife recently required surgery at MUSC in Charleston SC. I live about 60 miles from Charleston so we decided to get a reservation at the military campground at Joint Base Charleston. I am a USAF veteran with a service connected disability so I have base access, my wife does not. Wife's surgery was scheduled for Wednesday so I reserved 4 nights, Tuesday through Saturday. We Arrived Tuesday afternoon and went to the visitors center to get my wife a pass. I was told that she could only get a 1 day pass (even though we had a 4 night reservation) and would have to get a pass each day.

My wife was discharged on Thursday after 5 PM. The visitors center was closed and I could not get her a pass. I ended up leaving her at a Waffle House near the base while I went to the campground and hooked up the camper. We ended up cutting our stay short and returned home that night.

I sent an email to the base commander expressing my dismay at the short sighted policy. I have not got a response as it has only been a few days. Question to those of you who have stayed at military campgrounds, is this a general policy or unique to this base. I add that the policy only applies to non retiree vets with service connected disabilities. Full retires can get multiple day passes for their spouses.
Seeking Advice
  • lucy6194's avatar
    lucy6194
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2020
    My husband was 100% after 4 years enlistment agent orange!I've had dependant id for years. He passed this past January and I still have id and use of base facilities. Use campgrounds and exchanges
  • rjniles's avatar
    rjniles
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2020
    My situation is different than a retiree as I am a 4 year veteran. Until 1/1/20 I had no commissary or other base access privileges, as of that date vets with a services connected disability and a VA medical card were granted those privileges. But that does not include a dependent ID card for my wife. I can understand having to get her a visitors pass but it seems strange that I can not get her a pass for the length of our stay.
  • mowermech's avatar
    mowermech
    Explorer
    Oct 06, 2020
    As a military retiree, my spouse does not need any pass for base access, she has her ID card.
    We have stayed at two Air Force FamCamps; at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, MT and at McChord AFB near Tacoma, WA. Neither required reservations. In fact, reservations can not be made at Malmstrom, first come/first served only. The campground is not on base.
    It was many years ago that we stayed at McChord, so I don't know what the policy is now. At that time, we had no problems with base access. The campground is on base.
    How the campground is administered is often up to the local command. That includes who is allowed access to the campground. The Pass policy for your spouse may be a local policy, or it may be DOD regulation, I don't know.
    If I were in your situation, I know I would never again patronize any military campground unless it is outside the fence as the one at Malmstrom AFB is!

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