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RRB acts as voice of housing community

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rebekah Phy
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  The McGuire-Fort Dix Resident Representative Board helps identify, discuss and resolve privatized housing issues/concerns to support the command-level Management Review Committee and to improve housing communities. 

"The RRB, formed in late 2006, was created to serve as the 'voice of our privatized housing community,'" said Jon Russo, 305th Civil Engineer Squadron project asset manager. "The RRB plays an important role in our MRC, assisting McGuire and Fort Dix commanders, and our privatization developer United Communities, assess our project's strengths and weaknesses." 

The RRB helps identify potential trends multiple housing residents may be facing. 

"The RRB is tasked with identifying specific, verifiable performance trends that need to be highlighted; both good practices and potential improvement areas," Mr. Russo said. 

"The RRB can help shape the direction of customer service for our privatized housing residents. They can tell us and our partner, UC, what's important and where we need to focus our attention," he said. 

McGuire and Fort Dix leadership are interested in hearing directly from housing residents. Through the RRB, concerns/issues can be voiced for all necessary parties to hear and take action. 

"The RRB offers invaluable access to McGuire and Fort Dix commanders and UC ownership (via the MRC)," Mr. Russo said. "Our leadership is most interested in the care our Airmen, Soldiers and their families are receiving. The RRB offers a fantastic opportunity to improve the quality-of-life for our entire McGuire and Fort Dix housing community." 

As an RRB member, Master Sgt. Thomas Bathe, 305th Maintenance Squadron first sergeant, joined the board to help take care of his Airmen. 

"As a first sergeant, it's my job to represent my Airmen," he said. "Through the RRB, I gain a first-hand point of view from United Communities and base leadership. Since joining (about a year ago), I feel I've helped represent McGuire members in fixing issues UC may not have been familiar with; such as pay and accounting and equal treatment for every resident, regardless of rank. 

"With 18 years in the Air Force, along with a contracting background, I've seen a lot of contractors come and go," Sergeant Bathe said. "I've seen promises made that never came through ... So far, with housing privatization, I'm pretty impressed." 

To contact the RRB with feedback, e-mail mcguire_ftdixresidentboard@mcguire.af.mil or call the Government Housing Office at (609) 754-3361.