Support the troops is fine, but support upper crust resorts?

[havocmom]

Members of the Maryland National Guard, sent to AZ to support the Border Patrol are staying at Tucson's Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.

How are our guys in Iraq doing? Still sending pleas for basic supplies to families and friends?

What the hell are the 'leaders of the free world' thinking?

One hundred members of the Maryland National Guard arrived in Tucson Aug 1.
They got checked into the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort through no choice of their own. It is a few miles from the border. I am wondering why they could not have been housed at the historic and scenic Ft. Huachuca. Lots of the troops from there were sent to Iraq. Any Zonies know if they are all home or are some still deployed?

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/141672.php

"We were told we would be here two to three days, tops," he said.

Nearly two weeks later, Zdunowski, who is second in command, said the soldiers are booked through Sept. 26 when their 60-day tour ends.
Luxury living in the Foothills isn't exactly the first image that comes to mind when you think of border duty. However, the soldiers are staying at the resort for a government rate of $76 a night, which equals their per diem and is less than the advertised summer special of $129.

They had no say in the booking of their rooms, which for the most part they share. The rooms were arranged via the Arizona National Guard and meet safety, cost and location requirements, officials said.

Moreover, hotel officials say they are happy to help the soldiers, and noted that during the summer season the rooms would have been empty.

One hundred members of the Maryland National Guard arrived in Tucson Aug 1.
They got checked into the Ventana Canyon Resort through no choice of there own. Rooms that normally would be empty this time of year got rented (for 60 days!)

Glad they at least got a discount, down to what their per diem was. No money left for food though, that comes out of their own pockets, and there is nothing up there besides the restort for chow. Without cars, the Guards are captive, forced to pay resort prices for food. :grr:

Hmmm, Loews, isn't that part of ... Carlyle Group? NOW we know why the border became so damned important to bushco!

[Monkeyman]

1. Welcome to my world

Everyday we fight for our troops and veterans with these replugs. We are getting support from people like you who care

[havocmom]

2. Those guys will be losing their shirts having to buy meals at a resort!

The resort, on the other hand, will make a little jingle in an otherwise dead season in Tucson!

:grr:

[Monkeyman]

3. Yep out of the pocket of kids with families at home

[Breeze54]

4. They get Meal Tickets according to:

http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/comments/index.php?id=141672

31. Comment by Tim R. (#4326) — August 11,2006 @ 11:49AM
Rating: 8 Thumbs Up

"Mark S #4

They are spending only the accomodations portion of their per diem for the rooms.
If they are not receiving cash for the meals part of the per diem then the meals
are being contracted at the same establishment using what are referred to as Meal Tickets.

If they are using Meal Tickets then when their tour is over they are elegible to file for
"Missed Meals" reimbursment for any meals that they did not consume from the Meal Ticket.

Been there and done that with per diem and meal tickets for 24 years in the AZ Guard."

-----------------------------------------------------------

When my son was deployed to Iraq, they sent him and another guy
to NY for specialized training, before they left the states.
The National Guard gave them vouchers(?) for the rooms and meals, etc.
Both were reimbursed, after they turned in all the reciepts.
I think the rooms were paid for in advance, though.

Also, in the article you posted, it said they were getting meals at half price.

[havocmom]

7. IF the poster knows for sure, paper didn't say anything about it.

But even if they are reimbursed at a later date, it is a hardship NOW. They are pulled out of their regular employment. That puts most families in a bind right away. Then they have to siphon funds out of the checking account (or savings) or put it on plastic.

That means anybody back at home goes without NOW.

And the resort makes a money during their dead season.

It's a gimme to yet another Carlyle subsidiary! Bush II funneling monies to Poppy and pals.

[Breeze54]

8. I understand

it is a hardship NOW! On the other hand,
it's better than staying in a frigging tent, in the desert!


http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/141672.php
snip-->
"Typically, annual training is (planned) more than a year in advance," he said.
But with such short notice, officials have had a hard time finding beds
on military installations, which are often filled.
Asked if he thought Ventana Canyon was too upscale,
he said he thought it was a reflection of good planning on the fly.
"If you can put them in a nice place like that, why not?" he said.

Their per diems are also maxed out with the cost of their room, so food and drinks
mostly come out of their own pockets, although they receive a discount.
To fill up their off days, Anderson said soldiers go hiking or swimming.
The other day, he said he climbed to a nearby waterfall and went "sunning."
Wednesday evening, a number of soldiers chatted over drinks at one of the resort's
bars as live jazz played.
For Zdunowski and other soldiers, the gesture has been well received.
"It was dumb luck they put us here," he said.
"We absolutely love the hotel. It's beautiful."

<--snip

I don't know how far they are from town but I'll bet
some of them have gone into town to the store!
They aren't dumb! ;) They aren't there everyday either.
They're working 36 hour shifts, then they go back to the hotel.
Peace.

[PsN2Wind]

5. Not a few BUT quite a few miles from the border

Ventana Canyon is on north of Tucson. From there they go to the armory in Tucson and then to Sells, well out on the reservation.
So we're probably looking at over 60 miles to the staging area at Sells which is still well north of the border.

[havocmom]

6. Yeah, lived there 16 years

Ventana is away from any reasonable places to eat too.

Lots of petro to move them every day.

Somebody is sure making the bucks.

[lectrobyte]

9. Even when you think they might be doing something good, like

increasing border security (why take away my mother-in-law's hand lotion if you can't stop tons of drugs from coming in, for example) there's always a scam. Carlyle group, huh?

[havocmom]

10. Thought Carlyle bought Loews a couple years ago

Would make sense... money for The Family by taking money FROM real American families.

Edited cuz no amount of coffee will undo the damage the allergy meds wrought.

[lonestarnot]

11. I just heard that a 36 year old woman croaked from the heat.

She apparently couldn't take it.

[havocmom]

12. It can be brutal there

And they have had a lot of rain lately. Lots of bugs, scorpions, and oh, the male tarantulas are generally about this time of year, looking for a good time (not really poisonous, but they do bother some).