TOPIC:

My first attempt to stay at a military campground was a disaster. Booked a site at Point Mugu NAS for Janurary 1 for 4 days. Verified that my service connected disability card was all I needed to access the facility.

Arrived early afternoon on the 1st. As after some mixed messages at he gate. I was informed that I could not be vetted and if I was, my wife would not be allowed access to to the base.

I am out $200+ for camping fees and had to drive for hours to locate a campground with a space on new years. Totally frustrated with the process and regret ever trying to use a military campground.

and to add insult to injury, the facility is charging me for the first night as a no show after I notified them that I was turned away at the gate.

Sorry this has happened to you. I can imagine how upset you would be. I am new to this process as it exists today. I signed up here thinking this is where I could make reservations but looks like I made a mistake... I too as a retired soldier have and had no luck using "MWR" facilities and camping. I seem to be last on a long list of "others" including civilian DOD employees. Seems folks running the show at each facility are deciding who gets in... If anyone else is using this site, how do we request for reservations at an facility? Thank you in advance.

rgpigeon wrote:

Sorry this has happened to you. I can imagine how upset you would be. I am new to this process as it exists today. I signed up here thinking this is where I could make reservations but looks like I made a mistake... I too as a retired soldier have and had no luck using "MWR" facilities and camping. I seem to be last on a long list of "others" including civilian DOD employees. Seems folks running the show at each facility are deciding who gets in... If anyone else is using this site, how do we request for reservations at an facility? Thank you in advance.

Welcome to the site.

First - military campgrounds operate independently from each other. Except for the Navy, there is no central reservation system. Even for the Navy, the central reservation system they use ( dodlodging.net ) is messed up most of the time. I've never had luck using their site. The best method to get a reservation at any military campground is to call them directly. This website includes the phone numbers of all military campgrounds. A few do operate their own reservation website. It may take some patience and persistence in getting your call through.

Secondly, as a retired "soldier", you are not at the bottom of the authorization list. "Retired Military" are listed as third in the UNLIMITED authorization for utilization of MWR facilities (DOD Regulation). However, I agree that at some locations (depending on the time of the year), it's very difficult to get a reservation. This article includes copies of the regulations.

Well seeing this string is a little disheartening but not a surprise. I've been calling a Navy campground "Sea Mist" in VA beach almost daily and am still waiting for them to answer or for them to call back. The campground has good reviews but I just wonder how the people got camp sites.
I was hoping creating an account would let me make a reservation online.

Why is there not a standardize FamCamp policy instead of each base using their own criteria.
We made reservation at the Arnold AB FamCamp. I called and talked to the reservation office.
I ask what are the procedures to get into the FamCamp. I was told to just come in the housing gate and their building is on the right. Well there is a guard at the gate and guess what? We were not registered with the base and must go to the visitor center. One there we were told I could register and have the three days, but my daughter and wife had to re-register everyday.
Now the FamCamp at Kirtland AB my wife had to re-register every two weeks.
Our problem with the Navy recreation area at Millington,TN was even worse. We had two weeks booked. We arrived at the wrong gate at 3:00 pm and were told we needed go to the north gate. It took us 34 minutes to get turned around and get through traffic to get to the north gate. The office closed at 3:30. We were four minutes late and the person come to the door and told us to come back tomorrow. After some urging I had not luck and this person was very rude. He pushed my PTSD button. I walked away screaming at the sky next to entrance gate.
We then found the Agra Center in Memphis and spent our two weeks at the Agra Center.

Now after this last two experiences I do not plan on using FamCamps in the future.

Now that being said the Army Camp Carson recreation area was great. No stupid security.

Just to follow up. I was contacted by the base commanders office and explained the situation, but never was contacted with a follow-up. The facility continued to refuse a refund of my no show charge, but my credit card company agreed with me and refunded my fee.

We are going to try one more facility this summer. We have reservations at Wright Patterson Fam Camp and we have contacted the bae security and we should be in good shape. We are planning a few days visiting the Air Force Museum (again)....

If you're "retired" you are eligible for access to a military base by just showing your retirement "blue" card. Your proof of retirement is all you need. And you are eligible for camping.

If you are a veteran and did over 180 days in service, were then discharged honorably at the end of your enlistment, but didn't do a career, thus retired, access isn't normally given without a trip to Pass and ID, which are normally open M-F, Saturdays at some larger bases. Note you you are medically retired, access is granted, because you will also have a retired card.

Each base commander has control on their "access" policy, and they are different throughout the country.

I use military CG when available when I travel. I am retired and never had any issues getting access to post. All CG are different. Some will take reservations, some will not. Always best to call and find out best gate to use to get in. I hope you give FamCamps another try in the future.

Update,
Tried again and was able to book a site at Wright Patterson AFB FamCamp. Arrived at the designated gate and the gate security airman scanned my VA card and I was on the base in about a minute. Great site at a great price...

Maybe I spoke too soon...
After two trip successful trips onto the base and a visit to the commissary, things changed today. Entering the base the AP scanned my card and told me I was not able to access the base. The scanner had a red light which was not good for me. I was told to return on Monday morning and visit the security office. I explained that my RV was parked in the FamCamp and I had nowhere to go. I asked if they could escort me to remove my RV and I got a blank stare. I asked for a supervisor and he asked for more id. I supplied additional picture IDs. After a long discussion in the guard shack and a very long line of cars at the gate, he handed me my IDs and said I could go straight to my RV and follow up with this in the morning. My plan is to pack up and leave tomorrow and never visit another military base again.

Just to follow up again. Stopped at base security after leaving the base and this is what we came up with.

My va card was never properly registered at the base. On the two earlier entries onto the base, my card failed but I was allowed entry. The person reviewing my issue stated that the gate security don't care. It is easier to just let people on then to follow protocol. Welcome to the new military...

So far, our experiences have been positive.

We stayed at Wright-Patterson AFB in August of 2020. Due to equipment problems, we got to the gate after the Visitor Center had closed and the guard passed us through with instructions to go to the Visitor Center when it was next open to check-in. No problems after that but my wife did have to check-in every day after we left the base.

Last June, we stayed at MacDill AFB, NAS Mayport, and Charleston AFB during a 3-week trip. All three of those bases gave my wife a pass that covered our entire trip so she didn't have to check back in whenever we left the base.

We have a reservation for MacDill this October. Hopefully, it will go as smooth as last year as we're supposed to be staying for the entire Winter.