I love it when the higher-ups solicit opinions. I have lots. Mrs. Conkright, I appreciate your question on the spouses page. I am currently the head coach for the Humphreys Hurricanes swim team, though we are leaving the peninsula at the end of August. Given the fact that 8th Army will be moving the bulk of its command and staff down to Camp Humphreys in the next few years, I would have to say that one of the most pressing issues facing this community has to do with options for our youth. There are some incredible people working within Youth Services and they do their best to offer worthwhile programs and activities for the youth at this installation. However, they are consistently hamstrung by ridiculous amounts of red tape, limited (and shrinking) budgets, facilities that do not meet their needs, challenges in accessing facilities that DO meet their needs, and management that often seem incapable or unwilling to help make these programs and activities happen. It is difficult to know where to begin to try to address some of these problems and I realize that many of these issues are far outside the realm of influence of the local command. In the states, if a family was dissatisfied with an on-post activity, they had the option to look for a comparable activity off post. Given the cultural and language barriers here, that is next to impossible. If a child wants more from a swim team than what I can offer them (as an example), they do not have an option. Its the Hurricanes or nothing. Particularly for the older children, this is a problem. It not only limits them while they are here but it impacts their ability to keep up with their contemporaries back in the states. Upon their return to the states, they will often find that they have been outpaced and will have to spend a lot of time and effort literally recovering from their time here. That is unfortunate and, in my opinion, unnecessary. Obviously I am looking at this through the lens of a swim coach but I see it also in regard to all sports and many other non-sporting activities. Please do not misunderstand me - I am grateful there IS a swim program and a pool in which to swim. And CYS (particularly Raina Goodlow) has been wonderfully supportive of our program. I just think better is possible. And I think it is necessary. Thank you for your time and for posing the question in the first place.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 13:44:40 +0000
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