John Wayne Lives: We Trained And Had Lunch Together - Last Month
By Steven A. Castleton
May 7, 2009

After seeing the photo's and the videos of Military Housing and Medical facilities that appeared on YouTube and other places, I was anxious to see just how bad they really were.

As far as the Medical facilities, well I went and I saw. (web site)

This time I went looking for and found roaches, peeled paint, Gomer Pyle style barracks, mold and other deplorable conditions. I found food so unappealing that I longed for a "dirty water dog". I found conditions so deplorable that a video of this should be on YouTube. Oh wait a minute, YouTube is where and only where I found these conditions!

As with Military medical Facilities all too often members of Congress wait for a photo-op to complain about what's wrong. All too often they forget about funding for the daily maintenance and up keep that is needed for these facilities.

When it comes to appropriations for the military, somehow $74,000,000.00 in spending (yes $74 million...)gets added to the 2007 so-called U.S. Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act gave to peanut farmers (talk about a peanut allergy) gets added to the budget.

Congress gets to decide how much of our hard earned tax money goes to the Military. Yes, there are projects that should be eliminated, but I would like for them to explain how and why the following expenditures are more important than spending to protect and defend this great nation of our and increase the training and quality of life afforded the members of our Armed forces and their families:

$3.8 million for the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy in Detroit;

$1.9 million for the Pleasure Beach water taxi service in Connecticut;

$1.8 million for swine odor and manure management research in Ames, Iowa;

$380,000 for a recreation and fairgrounds area in Kotzebue, Alaska;

$143,000 for the Greater New Haven Labor History Association in Connecticut;

$95,000 for the Canton Symphony Orchestra Association in Ohio; and

$71,000 for Dance Theater Etcetera in Brooklyn for its Tolerance through Arts initiative.

A problem is a solution waiting to happen. The United States Army realized that they are not in the business of building and maintaining military housing. Did they wait for Congress to get around to providing living facilities and a standard of care that they afforded themselves for the men and women and their families who are defending us on the front lines in the War on Terrorism ( oh I forget, the new liberal medias politically INCORRECT term is "Overseas Contingency Operation")?

No they did not!

In 2003, Picerne Military Housing was selected by the U.S. Army to privatize family housing at Fort Bragg.

Picerne Military Housing was formed to partner with the U.S. military in order to address the challenges of providing safe, affordable, quality housing for America's military families and to enhance their quality of life and increase retention.

So far they have built 1,437 out of 2,036 planned housing units. With Over 3,800 families being relocated to new or newly-renovated homes including new Military Construction (MILCON) homes.

By the end of the initial development period in 2013, Picerne Military Housing will have built approximately 2,036 new homes, demolished 952 homes, and renovated 3,236 existing and historic homes at Fort Bragg. All older homes will be renovated or replaced with larger homes and more modern amenities to create a more comfortable and enjoyable family environment. Total privately funded development costs will be to over $400 million by 2013. With much of it going to over 450 local businesses!

Due to (BRAC) Defense Base Closure and Realignment, Picerne also assumed property management responsibilities for 627 homes at neighboring Pope Air Force Base on September 1, 2007. In addition to renovations scheduled on Fort Bragg, all Pope AFB homes will have been renovated by 2013.

Many of you might remember the neighborhoods that sprang up after World War II like Levittown, New York. The new military housing at Fort Bragg is like Levittown on Steroids.

In addition to new homes and renovations, Neighborhood Centers are being built to increase the amenities accessible by military families. These Centers, which are available to residents and military support groups feature swimming pools, half-court indoor gymnasiums, formal lounge areas, community rooms, fitness centers, media rooms, tot-lots, picnic areas, laundry facilities, maintenance facilities, computer labs and other open spaces for community activity.

The Army's Residential Communities Initiative (RCI) is another one of those programs that is making a big difference in the quality of life for our soldiers and families.

Picerne Military Housing is partnered with the Army in the ownership of more than 18,500 homes at Forts Meade, Bragg, Polk, Rucker, Riley and Sill. They are scheduled to assume responsibility for family housing at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in September of 2009.

RCI has already produced more than 17,000 newly constructed and 12,000 renovated homes since the first privatization project began at Fort Carson, Colorado in November 1999. Once complete, the Army will reach its goal to privatize 90,272 homes.

By investing $1.9 billion in government funds in the first 31 projects, the Army has been able to leverage these funds through private sector resources to provide more than $11.9 billion for development of new and renovated homes for soldiers and their families.

With fiscal management like that, I am sure the Army could teach congress and the automobile industry a few things.

Ok, now I wanted to see what kind of K-rations or MRE's (meals ready to eat) were being served in the "mess halls".

I learned to eat whatever food was prepared as I grew up. But let me tell you, the meals we received were not only appetizing to look at, they were nutritious (especially the chocolate cake... well maybe not too nutritious...) and very, very good. I wish the cooks could have given my mother some of their recipes.

Again let me point out, this was not in a "photo-op" setting. This was just a very proud American sitting down to "break bread" with a few hundred heroes.

I also wanted to experience the type of training that the best equipped military in the world receives. So on I went.

Fort Bragg is the home of the famous 82nd Airborne. From Sergeant Alvin C. York, to Omar N. Bradley to Matthew B. Ridgway to Major General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, these leaders have led our fathers, uncles, brothers, cousins and now our mothers and sisters into battle.

From Camp Claiborne, Louisiana to North Africa, Sicily and Salerno, from Grenada to Panama to Iraq the 82nd Airborne was there. Taking part in Operation's named OVERLORD, MARKET-GARDEN, POWER PACK, JUST CAUSE and ENDURING FREEDOM, the real story about the 82nd Airborne is the thousands of unnamed paratroopers in jump boots, baggy pants and maroon berets, who have always been ready and willing to jump into danger and then drive on until the mission was accomplished. As Edward Magorium once said "Your life is an occasion, rise to it!", all of these heroes have continually risen to meet any and all challenges head on.

The Airborne jump tower training brought back memories of the first time I went skydiving a few years ago. After suiting up, I took one of the longest walks I have ever taken to the top of the jump tower. Surprisingly, jumping out held up by a single cable was easy as the last words I heard from a member of the 82nd Airborne were "don't worry, I got you". I would just like to know who was responsible for the sudden wind gust when I jumped...

All that was missing from the jump tower training was "Ballad of the Green Berets," being sung by Sgt. Barry Sadler.

Why are our Armed Forces the best in the world? Because they receive the best possible training. Our Military leaders know that even if a Captain can fly a Blackhawk Helicopter in combat, it does not mean she can keep the Humvee "wheels on the ground" instead of "wheels-up".

The realism in the Humvee convoy training is a wonder to behold. Just ask my shoulders after firing numerous rounds on the 50cal mounted on the back of the Humvee. When many of you tell your children that they should not be playing video games, remember, it is those children who grew up to design these real life "training exercises" that are saving numerous lives.

Next was the M4 and M16 training. Training so real down to the very last detail that I cannot talk about all of it. But let me say this to the dedicated trainers, thank you for training our heroes.

With the way we ate at the officers club one evening I was all ready for PT with Captain Mondido at 0530. But sorry Captain Mondido, I only made it in spirit.

Before departing Fort Bragg I had the chance to enjoy a dinner with many of the heroes I have come to know and train with. Jenn, Greg (aka Adrian Cronauer), Rich, Cory, Natalie, Townsend thanks for a great week. And Colonel Montera, beginning the dinner with your impassioned reading of the Pledge of Allegiance reminded all of us what this country is all about. Vinny, I proudly salute you!

So again some members of the Liberal Media have been proven wrong. This time with their inaccurate "reporting" on the living conditions for the members of the armed forces.

Unfortunately I did not have the same clearance to get a "photo op flyover" like the one recently done in NYC so you will have to take my word for it. My word and that of the over one million members of the Armed Forces that presently live and breathe "duty, honor, country", and who have volunteered to serve, protect and defend the constitution of our United States of America. We all must remember that these heroes volunteer so our sons and daughters will not be drafted.

To all the trainers who I had the distinct honor to learn from, remember you have given yourselves eternal life. As those we teach will teach others and others and so on. Through their eyes, you will always defend this great nation of ours.

Col. Kirby, Sgt. Muldoon, Jamison, Col. Cai, and Sgt. Kowalski, thanks for a week I will never forget and rest assured that you all will live forever through the heroes that walk in these gates.

Hooah!

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Steven A. Castleton is a frequent contributor to GOPUSA. He can be reached at: scastlet@optonline.net

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.