[Always A Marine]

Thank you for your thoughtful reply, deaf man. I do understand the exchange system's benefits to MWR programs, but would argue that these could actually be improved with privatization.

As examples, I would point to the countless fast food restaurants operating on military bases with their own employees, materials and supply chains. Prior to their appearance, the exchanges ran their own canteens with their own employees, equipment and supply chain. While necessary until fairly recently, the system was downright Soviet in its offerings and has become more economically inefficient over time. Today's on-base franchises are contracted to pay a portion of their revenues to MWR, so everybody wins.

Exchanges and commissaries are just as antiquated and inefficient in today's economy, and there is no reason that private companies cannot deliver better for less. Large retailers (WalMart is just one example) have much greater buying power than all MWR activities combined, and have much more efficient logistical systems than the thinly scattered MWR system. The MWR funding that you rightly highlighted can be written into the contracts, just as it is already done with other private MWR vendors.

Here is another guiding principle: Whereas competitive businesses are constantly evolving in order to compete, government institutions perpetually resist efficiency and always devolve into fiefdoms for their employees. Count the double dippers at MWR and I'll rest my case.

[T-Bird45]

Thanks for the response. You make excellent points about dealing with the MWR conundrum as well as addressing inefficiency through operating contracts. I was certain you understood MWR but wrote my reply to also inform the wider FR group that might not.

I never experienced anything other than AAFES running the various fast food outlets. I’m sure the franchises are the better choice.

BTW, on the issue of hearing loss, I have no problems there due to having a wife who was a speech/hearing therapist who regularly rode me about wearing my hearing protection. Additionally, my active duty time was on missiles with only training at Ft. Sill on howitzers and one week in West Germany as a safety officer for the two cannon battalions in the Group. When I left active duty, I went to a National Guard artillery battalion but it was 105mm and I was an officer so I wasn’t right on the firing line all that much.