The military base closure and re-alignment list came out this morning. Link

The base that I'm at isn't on the list...and that really didn't surpirise me.  This is a headquarters base, the lilelihood of this place being considered for closure was slim to none.

The place that we just left last year though (Ellsworth AFB, SD)...that was on the list.  I'm not surprised. 

I've been reading the local paper (www.rapidcityjournal.com) and reading about how the local community has been up in arms and getting their panties in a bind about the base closing or being considered for closure.  I can understand why; the town that the base is in is really nothing that a 4000 person trailer park.  The impact on the local economy if Ellsworth closes will be huge.

The thing is though....well, they don't do anything to make the personnel stationed there feel welcome or wanted.  It wasn't until we came to Scott AFB and saw the huge amount of appreciation shown to military folks here  that we really understood just how little Ellsworth personnel get.  Here for example...when 911 hit and there was a 100% ID check and vehicle search coming on base, the people who owned restaurants locally came and bought free food and drinks to personnel who were stuck in traffic.  They had their employess walking up and down the line of cars, handing out doughnuts and chinese entrees, bottles of soda and water. All we got at Ellsworth was a ton of bitching and complaining from the locals about how the line of cars was clogging up their main street.  Even ordinary people were out and about here, handing out cookies and coffee.  People in Box Elder gave us the finger.

 Businesses around here make a point of giving a military discounts.  Show your ID at everything from car deaerships to beauty salons and you'll get a discount ranging from 5 - 35%.  I can't think of a single place in Box Elder that even offered a military discount.  We asked about a military discount the last time we were looking to buy a vehicle in South Dakota, and the salesman actually snickered (we walked off the lot, across the street, and bought a vehicle from a rival dealership in protest).

I can't think of one person that I know who's stationed at Ellsworth that wants the local community to kiss their ass.  They're not interested in people fawning all over them.  All they want is a little respect and consideration.  For example...there's a coffee shop that opened just outside the gate right before I left.  The owner offers a military discount, but more than that...when there's an exercise going on, she opens up at 5am so that the personnel coming to work can get a cup of java on their way.  Yes, she's making money from it but...it's that kind of consideration that makes people want to patronize her establisment.

I know that the local community offering military discounts doesn't have an impact on whether a base will be on the closure list.  I simply find it amusing that Ellsworth is considered a thorn in the side of the local community until it's in danger of closing, then all of a sudden it's the best thing that ever happened to Box Elder. 

Now I'm waiting for Tom Daschle to get on his soap box and start spouting about how if he were still in the senate this would never have happened.....how the people of South Dakota made a huge mistake when they failed to re-elect him....hahaha!  Yeah, right.....