Commander's Corner

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DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Commander's Corner is a forum for the Dyess community to make suggestions or voice concerns about Dyess directly to Col. Glen VanHerck, 7th Bomb Wing commander. Each week the Dyess Public Affairs office solicits questions via the official Dyess Facebook page, offering people an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers directly from the wing commander.

QUESTION

Christine Schutter - We just pcs from germany - we have moved on base. I understand that we can have pools for our children. Since its hot, may we have slip n slides?
Col. Glen VanHerck
Col. Glen VanHerck		   RESPONSE

Christine - A big welcome from Team Dyess to you and your family! As you are coming from Germany, I can certainly understand the desire to escape the west Texas heat! Unfortunately, due to water conservation efforts and safety issues, base housing residents are limited in the water activities they can do with their children in the housing area. As we discussed during a recent town hall meeting, historically, allowing folks to have pools on base results in a safety hazard. Additionally, the supply of running water is expensive, and the standing water can become a breeding ground for insects. Since pools are not permitted, Slip 'n Slides can be a great alternative when they are used under parent supervision. However, please note that Slip 'n Slides are only allowed on your house's watering day, which is once a week, and then only before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. I know most of the local area pools will close after Labor Day weekend, but the base gym has an indoor pool that you and your family may use, and our Tickets and Tours office always has deals for mini family vacations in the surrounding area. There are plenty of things you can do both on base and in the Abilene area to escape the hot weather---bowling alleys, movie theaters, museums and more. If you have any questions about these activities, please feel free to ask!
 
QUESTION

Many patrons of the computer lab at the base library, including myself; are unhappy with the closure of the computer lab in the base library. With the start of all schools on the 26th of August, many students and patrons are now looking for an alternative computer lab to focus on their studies. The patrons of the library have been told that the computer lab is being abolished to make way for a new WAPS Testing area. A new WAPS testing area is not needed. It is a shame to lose 25-30 computers in the computer lab to a new WAPS Testing room that is not needed. We will lose the computer lab and there will be a major expense in moving the current WAPS Testing area and making the computer lab into a WAPS testing area. Simply not needed and a major expense. Plus, the timing is all wrong here!

It is very disappointing of the FSS Squadron leadership, both civilian and military, in making this decision. Who is responsible for abolishing the computer lab? Patrons of the library do not need to lose yet another resource. Someone must have signed off on abolishing the learning resource of the computer lab?
Col. Glen VanHerck
Col. Glen VanHerck		   RESPONSE

The decision to move the WAPS testing area to the space where the computer lab resides is linked to the current fiscal environment. As it currently stands, if the Budget Control Act is written into law as is, the Department of Defense will be required to cut an addition $52 billion beginning this October. In anticipation of further budget cuts, our Force Support Squadron has begun planning ways to utilize their real estate in the best way possible. Now more than ever, we have a responsibility to the tax-paying public to ensure we are using the resources available to us as efficiently and effectively as we can. By re-designating the space as an "Information Learning Center" that can serve as a WAPS testing area, the testing capacity will increase from 15 to 50, which is actually much-needed. No plans have been finalized, but FSS hopes to be able to provide patrons with a few general-use computers for public use at the library, although they would not be located in the Information Learning Center. Students and patrons also have the option of using the computers located in the Hangar Center Commons, just down the road, which are equipped with free WiFi. There are computers at the Airman and Family Readiness Center that are available for use by anyone on base, as well. Certainly I would like to be able to maintain the current computer lab while also creating a larger WAPS testing area, but unfortunately, the fiscal challenges wrought by sequestration have forced commanders Air Force-wide to make tough choices, shifting resources that support "like to do" and ought to do" things in order to pay for the "must do" items. If the DoD continues to undergo budget cuts, I think you are going to see more and more facilities and services being consolidated or reconfigured. Nevertheless, I hope you will continue to take advantage of the programs and services available to you at Dyess.