Chamber ponders impact of Stryker deployment
Published Monday, April 28, 2008
Digg
delicious
Facebook
Mixx
Reddit
Stumble It!The Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce is taking a proactive approach to dealing with the upcoming deployment of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
The roughly 4,000 men and women who make up the 1-25th are scheduled to head to Iraq this fall, and the chamber is helping local businesses and families deal with the economic impact of so many people suddenly leaving the community.
A deployment subcommittee held its second meeting Friday to discuss ways to keep military families in Fairbanks and continue to show them how much the Golden Heart City cares about the armed forces.
“We don’t want handouts. We want to know what’s available and what there is to do,” said Col. Burt Thompson, the commander of the Stryker Brigade.
Many businesses in Fairbanks offer active members of the military a 10 percent discount, and the chamber will work to encourage more to do so to encourage the families of those serving to remain in town. However, they’re also hoping to build relationships outside of the business world as well.
“The understanding people who live here can bring (to) those living in Fairbanks for their first winter is invaluable,” said Thompson, noting that something as simple as having someone nearby to talk to on the phone can go a long way.
The chamber is hoping to learn how to better serve the military community for what will be the second large-scale deployment of forces from Fairbanks in the past three years. The 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, now reflagged the 1-25th, was previously deployed in Iraq for 16 months from August 2005 until November 2006.
One thing the military hopes the Fairbanks community can do better this time around is to remember the soldiers still stationed here just as well as those overseas.
“It’s not just about those who deploy, it’s about those who serve,” Thompson said.
With roughly six months until the deployment, the chamber still has more meetings before deciding exactly what it will do to support the military then, but subcommittee Chair Butch Stein was optimistic about the ideas put forth Friday.
“A lot of this can happen, and it’s all good stuff,” he said.
Contact staff writer Chris Freiberg at 459-7545.
Community Discussion
Newsminer.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full user's agreement.
This will coincide with the mass exodus of everyone else who can no longer keep up with rising costs in the interior. Will the last one out please turn off the lights.
It's starting to look like a ghost town already. Count how many boarded up building we now have throughout town. These are 4,000 people who actually have disposable income because the government takes care of their living expenses.
I laugh at your statement of disposable income, because that is a false statement. Yes it's true that the government helps supplement our cost of living, but it does not fully cover all the expenses, so therefore we also feel the crunch of the economy and rising prices. My spouse will deploy soon and my family plans to stay here, but with comments like yours, I don't blame the families for picking up and leaving.
Well I have been working on relocating to Fairbanks so for every 4000 out ya might get 2 in, ya can't count on Army familes for income they come and go that is part of the deal, I was in the Infantry and ya can never realy settle in.
BCT,
He is probably bases his assumption that since many live on base and there housing, heat, and electricity are covered that they are not as directly impacted on the high cost of energy to maintain a home or if they are living offpost the BAH covers most of it if not all of it depending on what and where they choose to rent.
I am sure you feel it at the pump too while filling up your POV, and when you shop downtown, I don't know what the current basic pay,separate rations, and COLA is these days but, if it is anything like it used to be, it's doesn't ever seem to be enough, but it is far better than many have it in the civilian sector.
I dont think that the point fairbanksgas made was that the military families have it easy, just a point that the impact of rising fuel costs have been softened by the COLA and BAH AND they are leaving our community for awhile. That means that the buisness's that cater to them (entertainment, restaraunts, stores, etc) are going to be relying on the rest of us who are truely being hit by the high costs of fuel and dont have an 'expendable income'. That is a comparative statement, not a classification.
Fairbanks is hardly becoming a ghost town. It is too big, busy, and noisy, so a few thousand less people would be an improvement.
I want to emphasis that I fully support our military. The point that I wanted to make is what JB said. Many military families never see a property tax bill, heating oil bill or have to pay rent. These things combined add up to 70% of many peoples income. The service industry that has been built up around Fairbanks is going to dearly miss these 4,000 families. I know that I will be contributing very little to these businesses in the coming months as I have to absorb 100% of the increasing costs by cutting down on my expenses as a COLA is not likely.
amen akhusky! don't get me wrong, the military folks and their families are wonderful neighbors, but fairbanks has gotten too big.
Wow, the gloom and doom in the comments here is pretty sad. This idea that Fairbanks is going to become a ghost town is pretty ridiculous. Many of us have no where else we want to be. Hard times come and go, and people find a way to survive them. Especially Alaskans!
When the Strykers deployed the first time, this community pulled together to support the families and soldiers. It's one of the things I love about Fairbanks -- we're here for each other.
Does UAF offer military dependents a discount?
I am a Soldier, and I pay property taxes on the house I am buying in Two Rivers. I intended to stay in AK for as long as I could afford it, but the truth is not what several people seem to think it is. We recieve a certain amount of money to cover living expenses, but in Fairbanks, we have Soldiers living in dumps because they can't afford reasonable housing. The disposable income doesn't exist. The cost of living in Fairbanks is outrageous! I don't think I will be able to continue living here due to the price gouging going on everywhere around town. I honestly try not to "shop alaskan" due to the shameful lack of service and the high cost assosiated with local businesses. Just because we are somewhat remote shouldn't be a liscense to take advantage of people. I think it takes a year sometimes of no Soldiers buying and renting homes, purchasing cars, clothing, and other items to get local communities to wake up and respect our contribution to the economy. Yes, some Soldiers are horrible citizens, acting like morons, and being disrespectful to the local population, but not all of us. Some of us want to be a part of this community and just can't afford to stay.
The housing market is still quite tight for all. Last week a friend (he is masters student & UAF staff member) was told he couldn't rent an apartment as they would rather have a military member in there. This guy is responsible, mature & works hard but apparently that isn't enough for landlords anymore.
AKhusky and polarmark - I think I can help your wish come true. I'm seriously thinking about moving south, probably to somewhere around Anchor Point. I'm sure the locally owned businesses where I shop in Fairbanks won't miss my money.
All of my income comes from outside Fairbanks. I'm a miliary retiree and disabled veteran. That means there's federal dollars, in the form of my retirement pay and disability compensation, entering the Fairbanks economy every month simply because I live here. When I leave, that money goes with me, never to return unless you can convince another retiree to move here.
Don't forget the PFD -- I'm sure the Kenai merchants would prefer to see it spent down there instead of up here.
If I succeed in selling the magazine articles I've been working on, it will mean more dollars, from Lower 48 publishers, coming to Alaska. Whether that money goes to the Fairbanks area or the Kenai area is solely dependent on where I live.
I was at Elmendorf when I retired and I could have chosen almost anywhere in the world for my final military move. I chose Fairbanks in order to go to UAF on my VA educational benefits. I'm no longer going to school so there's not a lot of reasons for me to stay here.
Because of the attitude from people like AKhusky and polarmark, it wouldn't bother me one bit to watch the Fairbanks economy drop into a deep hole.
those living on post get free heat and that is what is meant by that statement. Ive been in your beautiful homes, and WOW is it hot in there! Or maybe it only seems hot because my house is half frozen? Free heat....or hundreds a month spent to heat my home? YOU guys have it made, good on ya for that. :)
As someone who was raised in Fairbanks, and will be married to a member of the Stryker Brigade next month, I can understand how many people think that the military families here have disposable income. It is true that they receive free housing on post, or a housing allowance to live off post. However, many of those families have two working parents just to make ends meet. Without the housing, many of our spouses earn less than $20,000/year as active duty members. We pay for daycare, school supplies, clothing, and food. We pay for the insurance, gas and maintenance on our vehicles. Our active duty spouses pay for a lot of their gear and personal items they are required to have. Sports and other activities for us and our children come only if we have the money, and that is not always the case. And although I am lucky enough to have family support here in Fairbanks, many of our military families here are far from home, and will be forced to choose to between finding help here, or going home to their families while their spouse is overseas. I will admit that not having to worry about having a roof over my head while my future husband is deployed is a nice luxury, but that doesn't mean that I, and probably most of the other spouses, don't have worries about making ends meet. I'm proud to be a part of a town that supports the military community the way Fairbanks has, and am happy to see that they are trying their best to make things a little better for the families who will be left behind.
No, MEL1776, UAF does not offer any kind of military discount, not to dependents, active duty, or veterans. There is a ROTC program there but the ROTC instructors and scholarships are funded entirely by the Department of Defense.
Actually, from what I've seen while going to school at UAF, a student is best off concealing any military affiliation, especially from some professors. Otherwise, it might adversely affect the student's grade.
I find it extremely interesting that the University of Alaska programs on Fort Wainwright and Eielson AFB are run by UAA. Why does a secondary campus 360 mile away run the programs when the main UA campus is less than 60 miles away?
akprincess72 - I've managed apartment buildings. College students tend to leave a mess when they move out. That means more work for the landlord and a lost of income while they clean the apartment to make it ready for the next tenant. Military tenants, because of their training, tend to leave an apartment neat, clean, and ready for a new tenant to move in right away.
Also, many college students are on a tight budget and sometimes miss rent payments. Military members are also on a tight budget; however, if they miss a rent payment a call to their First Sergeant or Commander almost always brings a prompt resolution.
Yes, it's unfair to your friend. Unfortunately, landlords prefer tenants that require the least amount of overhead and experience has taught them college students tend cost them more.
Griff_in_Fairbanks,
Hey, it's nothing personal. I did not specifically target military folks, present or past. It's just that Fairbanks isn't the town it used to be--box stores, more traffic, more noise, all of the hills being chopped up into subdivisions, worse air pollution. Ahh, the last frontier.
Yes, AKhusky, Fairbanks is nothing like it was when I first visited 25 years ago. In fact, it's changed drastically in the twelve years I've lived here. However, you did say you wanted people to leave so I can help that wish come true.
Where the money comes from doesn't matter. My mere presence means tens of thousands of dollars coming into the Fairbanks area from outside Alaska. And, the simple fact is if I leave, the money goes with me.
Forgive me for assuming you were referring to military folks. However, your comment was connected to an article about the local economic impact of thousands of soldiers deploying, along with the probablity some of their dependents would go elsewhere during that deployment. It's natural to assume your comment was directly related to the article's topic.
Fairbanks has grown so much it is kinda scary i still remeber how nice it was twenty five years ago when there was not so many people it was much better back then in my opinion. This is nothing personal against the military but when they say they have it just as bad as non military i dont agree one hundred percent with that. Those that live on base you are not paying huge heat bills and electric like us non military thats a huge difference i sure dont get a ten percent discount at all the stores. Sure you pay the same for gas but alot of the military drive fairly new cars to. Like the sargeant i seen at the cleaners picking up his uniform getting in his brand new lincoln four door truck wish i could afford to buy and gas one of them. Sorry to disagree with you on your one comment Griff about military renters being more tidy than college people i had four good friends that worked for one of the main moving companies here and they always said they hated moving military cause they were so messy. I'm sure alot of people will take this as a slam about the military it is not sorry if it sounds that way i'm trying not to sound negative.
Instead of complaining and saying that the soldiers and families get things handed to them...why dont you look at the BIG picture and see how they go over and fight and risk losing their lives so that you can stay here and be safe....the families go a year sometimes more without seeing their husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons, or daughters. So while you are surrounded by your loved ones remember we dont have it as easy as you think and most of us are here with no family either.
Right on,army_wife.
It must be nice for us to have that government money to spend and to earn it so easily, right? The government is going to provide all of the brigade with a visit to a huge sunny beach in September(Iraq), and for many of us, our minds will still be here, worrying about whether our families can afford to power and heat their homes. And those guys with the big navigators and such probably spent 16 months of their life already over in the sandbox, saving every penny to buy a vehicle when they returned. Most of us will never buy a nice home, so our vehicle is where we invest.
If you want the same benefits and money from the government as us, it's as easy as visting your local recruiting office, spending months or years at a time away from all of your loved ones, and dealing with folks constantly criticizing your every move. Then, after watching a few of your friends bleed to death for something you don't personally agree with, you get to come home to a city that only wants you around for your money. I used to love this town, but the people have grown cold to the truth of what we do, which is go fight and risk our lives so that average citizens don't have to, whether we like where we are fighting or not.
Tony08 - your moving company friends may very well have seen messes when packing military families. Things tend to get hectic trying to finish up one's duties while going through pages of outprocessing checklist that include, among other things, hours worth of records and equipment inspections. The result tends to be quite a few pizza boxes, sinks full of dirty dishes, and unemptied trash cans. More than once, movers have packed trash I meant to throw out. My wife and I felt good if we could get most of the dishes clean before the movers showed up. As is, we always wound up throwing away pots, pans, and dishes because they didn't get cleaned before everything else got packed.
(By the way, I know of a case, in southern Illinois, where a moving company refused to pack an airman's household goods because of the mess.)
Usually, the military member has a few days, after the movers have left, to clean their housing before departing. I personally know a several cases where end-of-tour awards were redlined based in part on the mess left behind. I know of other cases where coworkers have helped clean a place, even after departure, because circumstance made it difficult for the person to clean it themselves.
To a degree, it's like automobile insurance -- try getting a policy if you're an 18-year-old single male. Experience has taught landlords that military members tend to be better tenants, especially considering the readily available channels for solving problems.
Exactly, and well stated army_wife. The big picture should be our focus. These men and women are making huge sacrifices, and I am so extremely grateful, that I cannot express it in words.
And to suggest that soldiers are somehow getting a financial windfall is the most absurd Barbara Streisand that I have heard in years. Many of these soldiers are such young people, may be first time away from home, and might not have mastered all the living skills that they will eventually. If their onbase housing is overheated, they will learn.
It will be a sad, sad day for many families when the Strykers are deployed. As a Fairbanks citizen, and a US citizen, I am all for treating their families as good neighbors who are sacrificing much more than I.
Thats all well and good Griff maybe in your landloard days you had better results with military renters. I think it has alot to do with the person themselves but in my opinion when landlords say we only want to rent to military i think it is wrong sorry. I had military renters live next door to me years ago and it was a pain in the butt loud music all the time did not care if it woke people up and when you would complain to them it was a waste of time they didnt care. Not to mention the busted door jams and holes in the walls i found this out through tracking down the landlord and complaining to her and she told me all this and said she was in the progress of getting them evicted. Have to say noone in the neighrborhood hated to see them go. I agree with you to armywife. Like i said i am not trying to bash the military although it might sound like i am. I have been reading for weeks about all different sorts of discrimination in the newspaper and reading post about stopping it and to me when somebody says i only rent to military and only military get discounts at some stores i think that could be discrimination.
Tony08 - There are two telephone numbers in your phone book to call when you encounter problems like this. One is the public affairs office for Fort Wainwright and the other is the public affairs office for Eielson AFB. You'll need to provide as much information as you can so the soldier or airman can be tracked down. (Be reasonable and polite when you make your complaint ... it'll get better attention that way.)
One complaint will probably result in a verbal caution for the offending soldier or airman. Multiple complaints may cause the commander to move the person to government quarters and could lead to the individual being restricted to post or base.
This will also work with military dependents in Alaska. Alaska and Hawaii are considered overseas locations and command sponsorship is required to bring dependents to either location. I recall a specific case in Anchorage where a Sergeant's son was being a regular nuisance. Eventually, the military yanked command sponsorship and told the father he had 30 days to ship the son back to CONUS at government expense or lose the entitlement.
Alot of times when renters say they only want to rent to military is because they have the renter set up an allotment with the military. It saves the landlords butt if something were to come up, they know they will always get their money and get it on time. It has nothing to do with the people in fairbanks it just keeps the landlord safe.
And for you that agree with me and see what all the military does to get the little extras...thanks! For you that do not see, then you may never.....it truly is hard being a part of a military family. Take it from me...My husband and I will be having our first child in 2 months after he deploys in which he will miss the birth....so I will be alone here, with no family around! Be thankful for the little things like that, that you do get to share with your loved ones. You don't have to worry about the possibility that your child may never get to meet their father.
I would think it very tough, at least for Enlisted and NCO's, to live up here. Inflated commodity prices and the debased U.S. dollar hit a soldier's pay just as much as any civilian resident(even more so if you're deployed overseas). Throw in our ridiculous borough property taxes on overpriced real estate and you're all but squeezed out of living your Alaska dream.
I wish our soldiers could stay home. Seems like only yesterday that they got back from the last deployment.
I wish I could shop on post...you seen the prices? Puts ol Freddies to SHAME!
Griff, TVC now runs FtW/Eielson programs; recent change. Roomie works the Eielson office.
What I think is stupid is that from what I understand, the Army spouse doesn't have the Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP), where the AF spouse has it.
I think if one was carrying out their duties and gettin' shot at, that you'd want the spouse to have a decent education in case he/she winds up raising the kids alone.
You get military discounts at places around town with out being 55 or older, so what the heck?
Otherwise, yeah, traffic was a lot saner during the last deployment, oye.
Speaking of which, I've always felt the FSNB might see what kind of post infrastructure would allow public transportation interties at the gates' visitor center, ie post bus does dropoff/pickup at the center, so members can hop on the public system.
Hmmm.
I didn't mean to start an us vs. them attack. The point is that when these 4,000 soldiers leave there will be less money to support all the retail businesses in Fairbanks. This combined with skyrocketing energy and food costs is all going to hit really hard this fall. I just hope that Fairbanks is prepared when this happens because there will be no excuse that we did not know it was coming.
I just updated the heating oil prices at www.fairbanksgas.com . This will probably be the last week to get heating oil for less than $4 a gallon. It really bothers me to hear from so many lifelong Alaskans who are being driven away by high energy prices when Alaskans supposedly own the very same resource. I really hope that the next legislature will revisit what maximum benefit of our resources means to us as citizens. A bloated State government is not what the framers of the our constitution had in mind.
Yota99714 - That's great ... however, TVC is NOT UAF. They may be affiliated but there is a distinct difference. (I recall listening to a UAF professor say he wished UAF would do away with TVC because 'it's just a votech school and UAF is for higher learning." He also said the only other reason for TVC was to give bored housewives something to do.)
STAP depends on how much money Congress set aside for each service and how quickly it gets used. It may be Army spouses already used up all the Army's STAP funds. Alternatively, someone may have screwed up the paperwork. (Seen that happen far too often.)
Truthfully, I'd like to get the rest of the VA Educational Benefits I earned instead of being cut off ten years after getting out of the service. It's rather galling to see spouses get help when veterans have been cut off.
Military discounts ... give me a break! The places that do give discounts usually only offer 5% or 10%. I get better rates as an ordinary Fairbanks resident without the military discount. (They give the same rate to all military if they don't insist on a military discount.)
I know one business owner who quit giving military discounts because he got tired of seeing soldiers act like spoiled arrogant children. I hate seeing it but I understand his feelings and don't blame him at all.
(To the young soldiers and airmen reading this: You have nobody to blame but yourselves. If you let your fellow soldiers and airmen get away with obnoxious behavior, you're just as much to blame as them.)
I have a couple things to say:
First, I am glad that traffic is so much better for all of you while the 4,000 + Soldiers are deployed. It really makes me feel good that our service is appreciated while we are getting shot at or blown up daily, with traffic being thinned out and all.
Second, if you would like to enjoy the benefits then visit your local recruiting station, the closest one is right beside of Quiznos...walk right in and volunteer to strap on a pair of boots and grab an M4 and contribute something other that complaining about the businesses that offer a military discount and the traffic problem..
Fairbanksgas, I commented early this morning to your response and I never intended for one news article to have so many comments both positive and negative. My husband and I have always wanted to experience living in Alaska and when we got offered the assignment we jumped on it; knowing we would never be able to afford to visit as civilians. Our first year here with no military housing available we rented off post and our "disposable income" didn't even begin to cover the electric and fuel oil bills. So yes, we have experienced living like the locals and it's very hard with the extreme cold and the cost of living being so high. Military families are not looking for handouts or sympathy, we knew what we were getting into marrying a military person. It's just hard when our loved ones are deployed fighting for everyones rights and it feels like it is very unappreciated by the community and businesses. I wasn't going to comment again, but when I picked up my daughter from NPH today, before I could even say a word, she began talking about how she felt that she and her family were being disrespected because some of the students in her classroom wouldn't stand up while the pledge of allegiance was being recited. She openly told them how she felt, she told them that this will be her dad's third time in Iraq fighting for the nations freedom and everyones rights. Even the right not to stand up during the pledge. She however did tell them that they could at least stand up even if they did not recite the pledge or hold their hand over their heart; it would be better then just sitting there. Please know that the military life isn't all that it seems to be for the families and spouses left behind. There are a lot of hard times and tears to last a life time only to do all over again for the next deployment comes. All we ask is to be appreciated and to support our troops. This doesn't mean giving us money or discounts, it simply means to keep the families and the deployed troops in your thoughts and prayers. Remember what they are fighting for; FREEDOM FOR ALL.
mikegolf- I try really hard not to take the nuckle head comments from one person ( or even ten) and sterotype the rest, you could do the same in return, really, its okay. I believe that you are hearing some people that are upset about what they are spending there money on, fuel in one way or another, and are basically comparing there living situation with what they assume yours might be; if everything in there life stayed the same and they had the extra COLA and BAH pay that they currently do not get. It does not mean you are over paid or have it easy, just maybe not quit having the financial squeeze that they feel. I emphasize the word MAYBE.
Do you like to play golf? Isnt it much more enjoyable when you get out on the greens and you dont have to wait for the party ahead to tee off? Saying that the traffic is better should not be taken as an insult, merely an observation that might not have been written as eloquently as you would like. The sarcasm they showed in expressing these views is no more narrow minded than your assumption that the people who spoke those opinions have not ALREADY served our country, this is one of the largest retirement states for the military around you know.
I am really bothered by some of the comments stated above. I am a military spouse, we live in North Pole, I pay rent, fuel etc, OH and by the way when we got our orders for Alaska, my Husband already had 17 years in, we where not going anywhere. Well, th Government had other ideas, and that is "what we signed up for". We have a home in the lower 48 we can not sale because of the economy, we pay property taxes on it as well, no homestead exemption there anymore. But, we have it easy and make so much more money than you. We get taken advantage of. We rented a home when we first got here, got slammed with $500.+ electric bills, and would easily spend $900. a month in fuel because come to find out the fan on the forced air unit was to big for the unit. Then it started to misfire and not work half the time. Welcoe to waking up to your home at 40 degrees. Worrying about your kids, and your health, handling it on your own, because your Husband has to go to work, he does not get days off, not for that! My Husband is one of the 4,000 deploying. I had planned on staying here with our children until I read this article. I am not so sure now if we are wanted. I find it funny the comments about shopping on post, seriously have you ever? the PX is little, you can not find anything and it IS cheaper at safeway or Fred Meyer's! Which by the way do not offer a military discount! The only place in the 6 monthes we have been here that we have received a military discount is Fairbanks Fuel and Fishtopia, which both gracefully thanked my husband for his service! About the golf comment, who knows if MikeGolf plays golf, but he is a Master Gunner, had you have spent time in the Military you would know that. As far as packing military families...WOW! where to begin, I had 15 packers at my house for three days while my husband was in a snow storm driving with our dogs through canada, no phone service taking care of yr old twins and paying attention to what the movers where doing, YEAH RIGHT! Yep, trash got packed, the pile of jackets got packed, paperwork got packed.. So, the next time you think about how messy it is to pack Military, think about the Men being gone, the spouse doing it on her own with children and no family to boot. But, we suck it up, do it and cry afterwards hoping no one commented about the mess. Then as we walk out of the home where we made memories, we cry again. Then we move to a new place, go through hell to make a HOME again, so our children can feel safe and so our spouses do not worry about us while they are living on STRYKER's not knowing when they will get to call home again... And yet we tell them everything is ok. So, everyone out there that supports the Military and knows what we have done for the Alaska economy, I bless you and those who just don't get it, I feel sorry for you and quite honestly am proud my Husband fights for your freedom to feel that way! A PROUD MASTER GUNNER'S WIFE!
JB,
Then I am not throwing my comment toward the retired community. I respect everything that they have done. I am throwing it toward the narrow minded people that think our life is so easy and NO....they are not just mere observations, they are idiotic comments about service members that they have not earned the right criticize.
MIkegolf- I fully respect and appreciate what you and every service member has done, including the men and women I served with. But the freedoms that you fight for are not a pick and chose arbitration. If you have the right to criticize, SO DOES EVERYONE ELSE! Sorry, that is one of the inalienable rights that you defend so proudly.
here we go...
join the army today and your going to war, very rough on the family, very rough. my single daughter got back from Qatar not to long ago. she is in the air guard. left behind a daughter of 2 years old. i remember when the air guard only served the borders of the USA. now Bush has everyone going to dangerious parts of the world. its a sad war and no one needs to die.
i feel deeply for the military families and personely woundnt join even if i could. i was a air force brat and saw my dad go to korea and Nam. he wasnt the same after Nam. someone has to so my hat if off to them.
i pray for the safe return of our troops and hope the families will be taken care of by the ones here. Big brothers and sisters is a special program that could be used for the military families. youth coaches are needed.
yea things will slow down but in the long run fairbanks will get bigger and bigger. i came in 72 and remember when there was nothing from here to here!
living on post and the base make life so much easier but i couldnt think what it would be like to sleep w/o my wife or see my children daily.
peace
I understand that the military has a very important job to do, and I am thankful there are those who chose to do it. But why is there this expectation that everyone in Fairbanks, or Alaska, needs to be pro-military just because military bases are located here? Like it or not, this community, like most, has people with a diversity of opinions.
When my husband was deployed in 2005, I stayed here in Fairbanks and felt that the community was there for us. After reading some of these comments, I am very disappointed. Many of the military family don't have enough money. My husband is a sergeant and we are on WIC and reduced lunches, like many others. Yes, we are fortunate to have "free" housing, but it comes with a price, our husbands' lives. Living off post, we still pay out of pocket for what BAH doesn't cover. When my husband got extended in Iraq, I broke a promise to my daughter. Her daddy was due home right before her birthday. She kept asking me if he would make it in time and I kept promising her he would. When we got the devastating news that he wouldn't be home and no clue when he would get home, that broke my heart and my daughter's. She went through anxiety problems. No money in the world would make up for the heartache we endured. While he was gone, I also feared late phone calls and the sound of tires on the gravel when I was laying in bed, wondering if I would get the worst news I would ever hear. Do you think that's worth the BAH and COLA? The way I look at it, my husband goes over to Iraq to defend all of you guys who don't want him here, so you can say things about him, his family, his car, his home, and his pay. Honestly, many of these families are struggling to get by on their pay. I don't think you can really put a price on freedom and the men and women who defend this country.
JB,
No...they do not have the right to criticize. This war has taken its toll on everybody in uniform as well as their families regardless of the branch. Gripe about anything you want to gripe about but do not tell me that I am fighting for your freedom to criticize the benefits that we earn everyday. That I will not agree to...if you have truly served then you should feel the same way....
Post a comment
Commenting requires registration.