The Officers Club

[FlyinGrunt]

It wasn't the club - though their keg prices sure as hell weren't competitive - it was the commodore. He was hell-bent to make us use the club. As to why we weren't, well, it was July 3 and we figured nobody would be there since they'd be out of town for the 4th.

and we were right. Empty as hell. That having been said, it was still a good winging party as we split the tab - and the time - between the club and Tsunami out on the island.

[brickhistory]

Tell us, when and where did this all get ######ed up?

Tailhook 91 Sep 8-12

Ultimately the careers of fourteen admirals and almost 300 naval aviators were scuttled or damaged by Tailhook.

Just because they were there.

And THAT, I submit, was the beginning of the end.

[Guest whyme?]

Tailhook 91 Sep 8-12

Just because they were there.

And THAT, I submit, was the beginning of the end.

Big surprise the USAF KNEE jerked its way into line.. sheesh. Ok I can see the no stripper rule but the club is beyond reproach. its run by the hilt of the sword now days, or hell maybe the scabbard.

We can't even put pinup noseart on our jets, why are we SO afraid of offending people. We kill people and break shit for Fu(ks Sakes. Offending is what WE DO!

[Karl Hungus]

Being at a similiar UPT base right now I can say that the club rapes the students here. However, the IPs here have a solution. Don't have drop or graduation at the club until you force the club to have reasonable prices and force the leadership to stop being so PC. The security forces on this base park right outside the club or have even been seen in the club in the back room(behind the bar) waiting to catch drunk stupid people. Have the party somewhere else. For God sakes it will take less time to organize a party at another bar, country club, or whatever. It will be cheaper, more fun, and you can go ape shit as much as you like. Strippers, booze, hot wax on the nipples, whatever. If the leadership forces you to have drop at the club, fine. Have a piece of paper with all the names of the students and their assignments stick it up on the wall and go off base and party. ###### them. You fullfill the requirement but still stick it to them.Make them realize how insignificant their rules have gotten. They can't tell you to buy kegs of beer at the club for drop or graduation. Imagine if they tried and someone got in trouble due to them forcing you to buy booze at the club.

We tried that as well, and were told by lots of people that it was a WG/CC policy that assignment night must be at the club, you must buy a certain number of kegs, blah blah blah. When we had our end or course critique thing with the WG/CC, we brought up how much the club sucked and was a ripoff. He asked us why the hell we went to the club and didn't do it somewhere else then, vote with our wallets. He claimed he made no such bogus policy. Great to see people are making up WG/CC policies so their wives working at the club can get business.

[Boxhead]

and were told by lots of people that it was a WG/CC policy that assignment night must be at the club, you must buy a certain number of kegs, blah blah blah.

Same thing was told to my class...one of the few key examples which now has me asking almost on a daily basis "Can you please show me that policy/reg/whatever you are referring to?" My experience thus far has been that it's about a 50/50 split on people just BSing and actual regs.

[pawnman]

We tried that as well, and were told by lots of people that it was a WG/CC policy that assignment night must be at the club, you must buy a certain number of kegs, blah blah blah. When we had our end or course critique thing with the WG/CC, we brought up how much the club sucked and was a ripoff. He asked us why the hell we went to the club and didn't do it somewhere else then, vote with our wallets. He claimed he made no such bogus policy. Great to see people are making up WG/CC policies so their wives working at the club can get business.

Take heed, young'uns...forcing you to buy and provide beer is illegal. You can't force people to drink, especially with the hyper-aware culter we have for alcohol-related incidents. I'm not saying you shouldn't drink...I'm just saying, you have an out to present the next time someone tells you that you "must" buy a certain number of kegs.

[HiFlyer]

Tailhook 91 Sep 8-12

Just because they were there.

And THAT, I submit, was the beginning of the end.

Yep, that was certainly part of it. The other nail in the coffin was a little earlier, when the bean counters in the AF (or was it our friends in the Congress who started it) decided that the MWR facilities couldn't be sustained with DoD funds (i.e., prior to that, the building was AF property and maintained with appropriated funds; after that decision the MWF facility had to generate the funds to pay for electricty, and other utilities, and other sustainment costs. Costs went up, quality went down, O clubs and NCO clubs were consolidated to save facility costs, MWR facilities that were used by many people but didn't generate a large profit were closed (for instance, base stables in many cases), activities that were heavily used by a smaller number of people but generated "profits" were drained of their money to finance poorly operated or money losing facilities that were more PC (many base aero clubs were badly hit by this, particularly when the base commander was a non-rated guy. The result was that they killed the cash cow.).

Too bad. When I was a student at Willie and an IP at Laughlin, the clubs were going concerns. We partied there all the time, the places were packed, and the money was flowing into the system. The same at Beale, Patrick and Hurlburt. And Cannon, well... at Cannon, where else could you go??? Now the same people (at least those in the same positions) that killed the system are whinning that the "customers" need to support the system...but they've made it virtually impossible to do so. God help Walmart and McDonalds if they ever hire those idiots.

[HiFlyer]

Here's the difference in a nutshell. In the 70's, the military leadership (at least at the unit/base level) frequently sought to protect the people from themselves. Sure, we had cops outside the clubs, but when you came staggering out the cop would usually (as long as you were cooperative) say, "Hey there, Lt, why don't you call a buddy and get a ride." As long as you were reasonable and complied, they pretty much left you alone. Now, the emphasis seems to be to apprehend and punish. It doesn't seem to me that there's much incentive to support the base leadership in sustaining the club system when their objective is to arrest rather than protect. Just my opinion...

Edited June 23, 2009 by HiFlyer

[EnriquePallazo]

First the stupid rules article and now this:

I'm sure Air Force Times has been trolling these boards, be on the look out for next weeks 12 page expose on De-Motivational Posters and the bio of a Spec Ops Fighter Pilot.

No link to the article, you have to pay for it and I'm not buying that thing, anyone read it?

Edit: Speeling

Edited June 30, 2009 by EnriquePallazo

[brabus]

When will the AF finally get it...the club sucks ass b/c they made it suck ass. Start allowing people to get hammered without fear of repercussion, strippers and porn in the bar, cigars inside allowed, etc. What's so fucking hard to understand. There's a reason we only hang out at our own bars. I'd be all about the club if it was like all the stories I've heard from the pre-90s. If it goes back to that, then the AF might actually get people to go to the club.

[Guest BUFF DRIVER]

The O clubs did this to themselves so I disagree with the airforce times cover that we need to save them they need to save themselves from being so lame and expensive

[Kaman]

This is just a reflection of where the military is heading...

[Dupe]

Right now is the first time I've been back to Seymour Johnson in a few years. A former intel officer then reservist tanker dude here went in with the bros and openned up a bar down town. For a small southern town, its got a damn good selection of beers and the staff treats ya right. Additionally, you don't have to pay $60 a year for the 'privilage' of going there. Its fairly common now to see the bros there (in southern-standard cargo shorts, flops, and polos vice the bags) telling BS stories with Lts listening in. Last Friday, the O-club lot was completely empty. For some enterprising individuals, the failure of the club has turned into a pretty good business for them.

[Guest JollyGreenBucket]

I ran into something today I haven't had to deal with before.

I'm a butter bar in Intel School. We had previously been told by our SQ/CC that we were expected to be at roll call Friday at 1630. Camaraderie building, that sort of thing. I am totally on board with that, I was prior enlisted aircrew and I think that is where a lot of the real learning occurs. So I show up ready to have fun and use it just as it was described, a chance to build camaraderie, learn some new and interesting things, etc... As I stroll into the O' Bar (since it is a combined club) I hear a woman ask "Can I see your club card?" I turn around and she proceeds to tell me 1600-1800 Friday is Member's Hour. I can either show my club card and get in free, or pay $3 to enter for the evening.

My problem here is the fact that there is a Member's Hour to the club. Perhaps I was mistaken, but I was under the impression that as a commissioned officer in the AF, I already WAS a member, or at least had the right to enter. I just don't happen to be a part of their card membership. I don't want to sign up because I am an IMA assigned to a building not on an AF base. I won't be frequenting the club after I'm done with school, so I don't want to deal with the hassle of 6 months of club dues only to turn around and try to cancel it.

Now, I understand if this comes across as just another dumb stud whining, and if that is the case, by all means, delete/lock the thread, flame me, whatever blows up your skirt. Am I out of line to expect to be able to go in free of charge, or should I just pay the money and shut up?

[Right Seat Driver]

I ran into something today I haven't had to deal with before.

I'm a butter bar in Intel School. We had previously been told by our SQ/CC that we were expected to be at roll call Friday at 1630. Camaraderie building, that sort of thing. I am totally on board with that, I was prior enlisted aircrew and I think that is where a lot of the real learning occurs. So I show up ready to have fun and use it just as it was described, a chance to build camaraderie, learn some new and interesting things, etc... As I stroll into the O' Bar (since it is a combined club) I hear a woman ask "Can I see your club card?" I turn around and she proceeds to tell me 1600-1800 Friday is Member's Hour. I can either show my club card and get in free, or pay $3 to enter for the evening.

My problem here is the fact that there is a Member's Hour to the club. Perhaps I was mistaken, but I was under the impression that as a commissioned officer in the AF, I already WAS a member, or at least had the right to enter. I just don't happen to be a part of their card membership. I don't want to sign up because I am an IMA assigned to a building not on an AF base. I won't be frequenting the club after I'm done with school, so I don't want to deal with the hassle of 6 months of club dues only to turn around and try to cancel it.

Now, I understand if this comes across as just another dumb stud whining, and if that is the case, by all means, delete/lock the thread, flame me, whatever blows up your skirt. Am I out of line to expect to be able to go in free of charge, or should I just pay the money and shut up?

Absolutely retarded. You shouldn't have to pay to enter the club, period. I honestly am surprised they can get away with that, doesn't MWR funds go to the club?

[Fud]

Absolutely retarded. You shouldn't have to pay to enter the club, period. I honestly am surprised they can get away with that, doesn't MWR funds go to the club?

2

Extremely retarded and another reason why I drink in my basement.

[AEWingsMN]

i smell real buffoonery. So it was mandatory and during club "member hours" that they made up... so you're forced to join the club and get the credit card, or pay.... sounds like a quick way for the club to make money that the SQ/CC is helping them out with.

I say y'all ditch and make the SQ/CC drink alone until he knocks some sense into the club.

[Guest Smoke_Jaguar4]

I ran into something today I haven't had to deal with before.

I'm a butter bar in Intel School. We had previously been told by our SQ/CC that we were expected to be at roll call Friday at 1630. Camaraderie building, that sort of thing. I am totally on board with that, I was prior enlisted aircrew and I think that is where a lot of the real learning occurs. So I show up ready to have fun and use it just as it was described, a chance to build camaraderie, learn some new and interesting things, etc... As I stroll into the O' Bar (since it is a combined club) I hear a woman ask "Can I see your club card?" I turn around and she proceeds to tell me 1600-1800 Friday is Member's Hour. I can either show my club card and get in free, or pay $3 to enter for the evening.

Some questions:

1. Was there any signs of life in the Club? Parking lot half empty? Did the door creak when you opened it? Did it momentarily feel like you entered a doctor's office instead of an entertainment establishment?

2. If people were there, how many were retirees? Most of the Clubs I've seen have become daycare for the Depends Generation while anyone with their original teeth goes offbase for the real fun.

SJ4

[slacker]

I would have made them pay me. O clubs suck and they continue their downward spiral doing shit like this. It will never be fixed until crewdogs run the Air Force again.

[Banquet Beer]

FYI, the O-Club at a certain South Texas UPT base is now charging all non-club members $5 to get into each drop night...including the studs that are dropping...who are forced to have their drop at the O-Club...who just spent $400 on two kegs and food....which could only be purchased from the club. UFB.

It's gonna be dead tomorrow night.

[isshinwhat]

FYI, the O-Club at a certain South Texas UPT base is now charging all non-club members $5 to get into each drop night...including the studs that are dropping...who are forced to have their drop at the O-Club...who just spent $400 on two kegs and food....which could only be purchased from the club. UFB.

It's gonna be dead tomorrow night.

YGBFSM...

[SocialD]

FYI, the O-Club at a certain South Texas UPT base is now charging all non-club members $5 to get into each drop night...including the studs that are dropping...who are forced to have their drop at the O-Club...who just spent $400 on two kegs and food....which could only be purchased from the club. UFB.

It's gonna be dead tomorrow night.

Why does this not surprise me! I had a buddy go to XL for UPT, and was told he HAD to join the club. He promptly told them to no f'ing way....show me the AFI that says I have to be a club member. He didn't make any friends doing that but he didn't give a crap, and still graduated just fine. If they tried to charge him 5 bucks to get in, I have no doubt he would have just left and drank at his house. He was Guard so he already knew his assignment anyway. Wonder what they would do if everyone in the class said we aren't going? My guess is the leadership would cave and threaten the studs with some bull@hit lie about paperwork. What are they going to do, give the whole class a LOR

There was a really weak attempt at pushing us to join the club, in UPT. I don't know of anyone who actually joined...that place was a ghost town, aside from assignment nights every 6 weeks. We fought to have our assignment night off base and were shot down by WG/CC. Then we tried to buy our food and beer from a place cheaper than the club, and were shot down again. So we were forced to buy overpriced beer and food from the club.

Edited July 30, 2010 by SocialD

[B*D*A]

We're gonna burn the bar down!

-Boo!!

And we'll build a new one!

-Yay!!

[osulax05]

A few weeks ago, the Club here at Luke suspended food service indefinitely. Rumor is that they had some health code violations. A buddy of mine last week went in to cancel his membership and get a refund since they weren't holding up their end of the deal (ie he can't get discounts on food they aren't serving). Not sure what came of it though.

You'd think at a base with 7 Fighter Squadrons they'd be able to run a decent club.

[Wolf424]

Maybe it's an overseas thing, but the club here at Yokota is packed every Friday. Mostly guys from the 36th and the 459th. This is the first (and probably will be the only) club I've been a member of. The only problem I have with the Friday festivities is that they charge non members 10 bucks to get in, an obvious ploy to get guys to sign up.

As far as charging to get into your own assignment night, UFB. But I doubt anyone here is surprised.