Things That Make Ya Go "Hmmmm"

From the AFA’s Daily Report… “Not Your Father’s Air Force” Department:

A Shower for Every Mobility Airman: Air Mobility Command officials say the construction of new dormitories for single airmen at Dover AFB, Del., MacDill AFB, Fla., and Scott AFB, Ill., is expected to be completed before 2010. These dorms are being built to the new "Dorms-4-Airmen" standard, meaning each airman will have his own bedroom and bathroom in a quad-bedroom set-up that otherwise features a common living room, kitchen, and washer and dryer. "This is a higher standard than previous [dormitory] configurations that didn't provide either a private room or a private bath, or both," said Anthony DeSimone, AMC's chief of integrating planning. The new kitchen set up will make it easier for airmen to prepare their own meals as opposed to having to eat in a dining hall or off base. And the dorm common areas will offer cyber cafes and recreation areas with amenities like pool tables, dartboards, and big-screen TVs. In addition to the new dorms, AMC also plans to renovate existing ones, with improvements including new furnishings, upgraded heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and new cyber cafes and exercise rooms. (Scott report by Desiree Mahr)

No word if there’ll be maid service… but I wouldn’t bet against that.

Further… There’s SO much to say about this, and SO many approaches one could use to say it. The first thing that hit my mind falls into the “I walked two miles to school every day, barefoot in the snow, and it was uphill both ways” category. I spent a few years living in the barracks dorms (sorry; lost my head there) during my career, even after I married (remote tours, TDYs, etc.). I always had a room mate or two, and we always shared a common latrine (dang. Lost it again!) bath. Always… at least until I hit the senior NCO ranks. I ate in the chow dining hall (why does this keep happening?) and I did my laundry in Laundromats run by the Exchange, there were no “free” washers and dryers (except at remote sites). I can’t comment on big-screen teevees and cyber cafés, for what should be obvious reasons. We usually had one wonky color teevee in our day room, albeit with flesh tones more commonly associated with psychedelic drugs. And so it went…

Finally… Here’s one other approach I thought about taking: “Eatcher HEARTS out, Navy!”

Today’s Pic: SN2’s living quarters aboard ship in the way-back. What ya see is SN2 in his “quarters” aboard the USS Rodney King M Davis. Sam was a full Lieutenant at the time, or the equivalent of an Air Force captain (O-3). I don’t have pics of how the Navy’s enlisted swine live, unfortunately. You may draw your own conclusions, based upon how their ossifers live. The junior ossifers on Davis lived three to a room and shared a common head. (See... I can speak "Navy!")