Leaders: Quality of life still priority Published Nov. 30, 2006 KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Airmen can still expect high-caliber quality-of-life programs that take care of them and their families, despite changes within the service, leaders assured recently. "Quality of life continues to be one of our top three priorities," said Lt. Gen. Roger Brady, Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel at the Pentagon. "It's an area we look at carefully, and we have a long tradition of providing for our folks. We are most concerned with what it takes to care for our expeditionary Airmen and their families." Like many other career fields and Air Force programs, the services organization faces cuts in personnel and funding due to the Program Budget Decision 720 directed by Congress. It's a situation that has forced leaders to re-evaluate the definition of quality of life, said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley. "It's very important for us to define quality of life," he said. "In my opinion, it's making sure Airmen have a quality workplace, (and) adequate housing on and off base and in the dorms. It's providing child care and libraries, and ensuring Airmen have access to nutritional meals. "But at the same time, we have to look deeper and determine what are benefits and what are perks."Both leaders said while a top-notch fitness center is probably seen as a quality-of-life benefit to Airmen, a towel handed to them is more of a perk, as are around-the-clock fitness center access and big screen televisions, for example. In a time when the Air Force must make every dollar count, these perks can be costly, so the Air Force may no longer provide funding for them, according to General Brady and Chief McKinley. Towel service at Blake and Dragon fitness centers at Keesler was discontinued sometime ago. On the other hand, Air Education and Training Command Services has provided $18,700 to fund intramural basketball, football and softball programs at Keesler. This support enables the base's new sports director, Laurence Wilson, to launch an intramural basketball season in January. The appetite for recreational activity at Keesler is also about to be served by the scheduled re-opening Dec. 11 of Gaude Lanes. The bowling alley has been closed since June for repairs and renovation. "Nobody likes to be inconvenienced," said General Brady, "and we may sacrifice some convenience, but I don't think those are the kinds of things we are about. We are more concerned with what will affect families and individuals who serve, and those are the things we have to pay attention to." The consolidation of some dining facilities and satellite fitness centers were determined through patronage and cost savings. Those locations, however, ensure they still have the capability to provide for their population with eating establishments both on and off base, he added. Pecan Dining Facility at Keesler has been closed for budgetary reasons. However, food service operations don't seem to have suffered at the three remaining dining facilities -- Azalea, Live Oak and Magnolia. Together, they're AETC's nominee for the Hennessy Award as the Air Force's top multiple facility program. All three fitness centers at Keesler -- Blake, Dragon and Triangle -- have re-opened in the months since Katrina. The use of Blake is temporarily limited due to a floor replacement project. "We have to evaluate all facilities and how we spend our money," General Brady said, "but it's important Airmen know that their readiness will always be at the forefront. Winning the war on terror is the Air Force's top priority. We are committed to maintaining the quality of life for our deployed warfighters, so they can continue their focus on the mission." General Brady also emphasized services devoted to family members, such as child care, won't be greatly affected and there are no plans to close child care centers. "I think child care is very important," he said. "We are a family force, and so we have people who serve this nation who need to be able to take care of their families. We're expeditionary, too, so people are gone a lot or work long hours, and there are dual-military and single-parent families. Things like child care are critically important, and so we must maintain that capability to give confidence to those who serve that their families will be taken care of." Chief McKinley said he doesn't foresee any negative impact on recruiting or retention based upon the changes to quality-of-life programs. "We'll still maintain a great quality of life for our Airmen and families," he said. "We all have to understand that our Air Force must make difficult decisions today to ensure we have the right capabilities for the future."(Air Force Print News and Keesler News staff contributed to this story.)