Col. Michael Bob Starr |
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RESPONSE
Larry - I recently published a letter to our Team Dyess Airmen and their
families addressing your question. In case you haven't seen it, the text is
below. Thanks for your submission.
Team Dyess,
Many of you have questions regarding the recent closure of the Dyess Fitness
Center's indoor pool. The bottom line is that the Air Force requires
lifeguards at all swimming pools, but as part of the budget cuts to our
morale, welfare and recreation services, we no longer have sufficient
funding to provide lifeguards. Back in October of last year, we requested a
waiver to the Air Force Instruction that governs operation of pools, and
knowing that process would take several months, Brig Gen VanHerck and I
approved a series of measures to reduce risk while the issue was being
considered, to include the "buddy system" and a restriction on unaccompanied
swimming by anyone under 18.
That review is now complete, and the risk associated with unguarded swimming
is evaluated to be unacceptable. The waiver request was disapproved. One
of the tenets of risk management is to "accept no unnecessary risk," and
there is not a compelling mission requirement to put our people at risk in
this area. As a result, I have ordered the Fitness Center to cease
unguarded swimming in the indoor pool.
We still want to resume swimming in the indoor pool, but this is unlikely
until funding becomes available. Your Team Dyess leadership has looked at
many options to try to keep the pool available for you. We considered
charging fees to pay for the lifeguards, but the usage levels would require
the fees to be unacceptably high. We considered training volunteers, but
federal law prohibits the use of volunteers to perform the duties of paid
employees. We considered diverting funds from other activities, but those
activities were ultimately a higher priority. We will continue to explore
possibilities, and if you have a suggestion, please forward it through your
chain of command.
The good news is the main outdoor pool is still scheduled to open for the
summer season, and season passes are available now. For those who have
signed up for swimming lessons at the indoor pool, we will continue the
lessons, since the fees cover the cost of the lifeguards. Thank you for
your patience, and keep using the Commander's Corner on the Dyess Facebook
page or the Commander's Action line on the website to voice your concerns.
Accomplishing the mission and taking care of you and your families are my
most important obligations, and I look forward to hearing what you have to
say.
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