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[MADem]

58. Hanscom is, as USAF bases go, pretty shitty when it comes to facilities/services.

The new commissary/exchange is nicer than the old one, but what else do they have? The bowling alley, the little movie theater that doesn't show first run movies, a couple of clubs, the lousiest class six store I've seen in years, a gas station that doesn't offer any savings, a nine hole golf course that's miles away from the base-it's not a jewel in the USAF MWR crown--and the place is constantly under the BRAC gun. I wouldn't be surprised if they go on the block, again, in the next round. What might save them is that they intend to be the host base for some MA NG units--that will bring people to the base to spend money.

Also, Hanscom doesn't have a need for more MWR money--their MWR footprint is appropriate to the community they serve, and they don't have a lot of fluctuation in the numbers of personnel they support, like some other bases have to deal with (feast when there are personnel aboard; famine when they are deployed). They don't have much, but they don't need much. Even with the possibility of future NG assets, they still have plenty of room--they might need to hire a few people to handle the extra traffic, but they won't run out of room at their facilities.

I was at Hanscom a month or so ago--I had a relative with me who is not affiliated with the military in any way. I showed my ID, and in we went. I used to need a sticker on my car to get in there -- no longer. They've done away with those, too. The only time you have to go through that Visitor Center drill is if you work/live on base and a visitor, unaccompanied by you, is coming to visit you. If you're with the person, you're responsible for them.

Also, Hanscom does open their facilities to the public on occasion. Not as much as MacDill and they don't have a "Friends" program, but they still do it. Air shows, athletic contests--I think they let the local high school use their golf course, and I seem to recall a non-military church group getting in trouble owing to the misbehavior of one of their number at the bowling alley a few years ago.

MacDill has nicer facilities, and TWO golf clubs in a community where golf is quite popular and you sometimes have to fight to get a tee time--there's money to be made, there, and that's why the CO established that program. Hanscom just doesn't have much that would appeal to a civilian, that they could legally use (commissary/exchange are off limits to civilians, no matter where you go). There are better facilities out in town. It's just not a draw. Also, this is New England--local businessmen aren't going to welcome the idea of base facilities being opened up to compete with them for civilian dollars--that kind of scenario just would not fly. In any event, MacDill isn't the only base that has used this kind of program, but you need cooperation from the community and you also have to have "stuff" that's worth using--Hanscom just doesn't have that. It has "adequate" facilities but it's nothing to write home about.