Q&A pt. IX: Facilities, Safety, Dorms and the Dining Facility, and Miscellaneous Published April 6, 2016 By Col. Laura Lenderman 375th Air Mobility Wing commander SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Last week, I ran the eighth in a series of "Q&A" articles, which are in response to questions asked during my last Commander's Call. This is the ninth article in the series. I'll be posting the responses to all of the questions on a Sharepoint site for future access and review. Please keep the questions coming! FACILITIES Commercial wireless in the James gym? Cell signal is bad there. Our Force Support Squadron is reviewing the cost factors for providing WiFi at both fitness centers. We will keep you informed on the decision. Can we hold the grounds maintenance contractor accountable for their responsibility, i.e. street snow removal? We actually receive excellent service from our snow removal teams. There may be some misunderstanding of what is required of the contractor. Snow removal takes place by three different sets of teams. Our civil engineers, often with help of augmentees, do a large portion of the roads and the flightline. One contractor is in charge of removing snow across several parts of the base, and Hunt Housing contracts another company to remove snow in the housing areas. Hunt Housing begins removing snow when 3 inches have fallen; however, you nearly always see them removing snow well before that level. Certainly, if there is problem with work being performed by a contractor in the housing areas, whether it is snow removal or landscaping, then the Housing Office needs to hear about it. Although there are quality assurance checks to help ensure a quality product or service is received or performed, some things may be missed. Contact numbers for the Housing Management Office can be found at http://www.scottfamilyhousing.com/contact-us Are plans in place to add full hook-ups for RVs at the family Camp? Full hookups are very expensive to install. However, Scott has long range plans to develop the Family Camp, which includes sewer connection at the current 22 sites and a possible addition of 18 more sites. We are also considering revitalizing the old TLF area adjacent to the current Family Camp that would allow another 12-16 RV camping sites. Can we have WiFi in the theater? Currently, I don't anticipate allocating funding for WiFi in the theater; however, if required, I can definitely reconsider this decision. In the meantime, we are evaluating expanding WiFi access to other locations later this year to include the Family Camp, Youth Center, etc. SAFETY 1.) Can we allow left turns out of the road behind the Exchange? 2.) Is it possible to insert a stoplight and a pedestrian countdown at the crosswalk between the BX and TRANSCOM? 3.) Can you make reflective belts mandatory for crosswalks at night? 4.) Is it possible to get a pedestrian stop-light kind of system on Winters, especially in the morning and afternoon rush hours? 5.) Can we have more speed limit signs posted through the base? Thank you for your suggestions and sharing your concerns. We will discuss all of these issues at the next traffic safety board. If anyone has suggestions for improving parking, traffic flow or transportation safety, please share them with our Wing Safety team for inclusion in the next Advisory Board Meeting. DORMS AND THE DINING FACILITY 1.) Why is it mandatory for Airman to wait 33 months to leave the dorms? 2.) Can I move out of the dorms? Single airmen (E-4 and below) are required to stay in the dormitories until they reach the rank of E-4 with 3 years' time in service. This allows the opportunity for you to focus on your job as well as become immersed in the Air Force way of life. When you first arrive on station, your job is your main priority. Not only are your living quarters and food free, the bonds you make with your peers living in the dorm are priceless. The Air Force provides members these benefits not only for reasons of military necessity, readiness, and discipline, but also because our service recognizes and values the importance of esprit-de-corps, camaraderie, and wingman principles that we hope the dorm experience provides. Can it be possible for Airmen to get more than two meats at the dining facility? Yes! BAS and Meal Card customers are allowed to get two entrees while dining at the DFAC. In addition, Airmen can go back for seconds to have a third entree. MISCELLANEOUS Why do we hold all-calls on wing training day? Holding All Calls on training days provides an opportunity for most of the Wing to get together on a day when many of the offices on base are closed. We are able to spend an hour together sharing information, and then we have the rest of the day to complete training and team-building exercises. That said, we may flex every now and then and have All Calls on other days.