JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
The Commander's Action Line is your direct link to me as the commander of Joint Base Charleston. I would ask that you first give the appropriate base agency a chance to solve the problem, but if you don't get a satisfactory answer, call and leave your feedback at 963-5581, or send an e-mail to 628abw.action@charleston.af.mil.
This forum is your opportunity to make Joint Base Charleston a better place to live, work and play. This is also your venue to tell me how our Airmen, Sailors, Air Force and Navy civilians and contractors are supporting you as a customer.
To ensure you receive a response to your concerns, please leave your name and the information needed to contact you.
Comment:
"I just returned from an outing to the base, where my husband and I had planned to visit Outdoor Recreation, the Arts and Crafts Complex and Auto Hobby. I was shocked to find all three facilities closed on a Saturday morning. What kind of message does this send to hard working active-duty personnel who want to spend down time recreationally with their families? How do the hours of 9-5, Monday through Friday accommodate those for whom the services are intended in the first place? For a community services flight, it misses the mark on both community and service, and that is a shame."
Response:
Thank you for your support of Force Support Squadron activities. It is important that the entire local military community, active duty, civilian and retirees, actively support these facilities so we can continue to operate them.
As you have noted, due to the reductions in Department of Defense spending known as "Sequestration," Joint Base Charleston has had to make many difficult decisions on how to continue our core mission, support our families and customers, and operate with a significantly smaller budget. These funding reductions have resulted in the closure of some facilities, and a reduction in services or hours at others. On June 30, 2013, all Joint Base Charleston Auto Hobby Shop operations were consolidated at the Weapons Station Hobby Shop, thereby closing the Air Base Auto Hobby Shop. Rest assured, the closing of any facility is not an easy decision and was not made lightly.
The Arts and Crafts Center supports many patrons who use the facilities at different days and times. We strive to meet the needs of as many patrons as possible. The current hours are a balance to allow as many patrons as possible to use the facilities, while meeting the stringent budget requirements levied by Congress and the DOD.
Finally, while the Air Base Outdoor Recreation Center is not open for business on the weekends and holidays, the staff is working to provide guided tours and outdoor adventures in the local to our customers. An alternate to consider is the Outdoor Adventure Center on the Weapons Station. This facility offers similar services, and is open on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information on these Force Support activities and other recreational activities, I encourage you to visit the Force Support Squadron webpage (jbcharleston.com).
Thank you for calling the Action Line.
Col. Richard McComb - Joint Base Charleston commander