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Military, community discuss improvements for JB MDL

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dennis L. Sloan
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst military and community members gathered at the Joint Base theater for a town hall meeting Monday.

The meeting allowed military and community members to discuss issues ranging from applying for on-base housing to creating more activities for children and teens on base.

Master Sgt. David Bryden, 87th Medical Group first sergeant, discussed how an Airman and her children are having trouble getting a house on base, due to an existing policy.

"I understand we have policies in place for a reason, but I think it is disgraceful we can't trust her even though she took an oath to defend our country," said Bryden.

Base leadership and United Communities representatives were on hand to address the issues and concerns of base members. They also provided guidance.

The 87th Mission Support Group team will address this issue with the Government Housing office to figure out which policy is holding her back and how they can resolve the problem, said Lt. Col. Ronald Cole, 87th MSG deputy commander.

Activities for children and teens was another issue brought up by servicemembers and their spouses. The teen center is only open Friday and Saturday nights, which more parents would like to see open during the week as well.

"My 15-year-old son has to go to the youth center every day after school and spend time with kids much younger than he is," said Bryden. "He wants to be able to hang out with people his age, like at the teen center."

Transportation for teens to base venues such as the base movie theater, bowling alley and an indoor pool, was another issue brought up during the meeting.

"Is there going to be transportation for children who want to go to programs at the gym or movie theater," said Lori Wilhite, wife of Col. Mark Wilhite, Walson Medical Support Element commander.

Lieutenant Col. Andrew Stark, 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, explained there are existing transportation programs on this installation for all military members and dependents. The base shuttle schedule doesn't directly go through housing areas, but they try to incorporate stops near the outskirts of the housing area.

The JB MDL Facebook page allowed members of the community who could not make it to the meeting to ask questions and provide feedback to base leadership. More than community member submitted a questions through this venue.

"With summer here, I feel as if the base needs to implement a curfew and enforce it," said Angel Hartman, JB MDL Neighborhood Watch Program president.

The JB MDL Commander Brig. Gen. Gina Grosso felt it was her place to respond to the curfew request.

"We've already instituted a neighborhood watch program. If parents of these children are deployed, we have a community," said Grosso. "We need neighbors to help take care of these children, we do not need martial law. I ask us to be wingmen, battle buddies, shipmates and watch over these young men and women."

Approximately 100 community and military members attended the meeting asking several questions. Base leadership addressed the community members concerns and provided guidance to help solve the issues. The town hall meeting was concluded with base leadership and attendees mingling to engage in a less public manner.

"I appreciate everyone's attendance at this year's town hall meeting and genuinely believe anything we know about, we can fix," said Grosso.

Visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/#!/JBMDL for more questions and answers from the meeting.