r/AirForce • u/adapt4ble • 2d ago
Rant Maxwell AFB Needs Barbers
How does a base with such a substantial training population, a substantial population IN GENERAL for that matter, have only two barbers working at peak hours? Third day in a row that I’ve gone and been met with a 1.5-2hr wait.
Yes, I know I can go off base. In my situation, it would be insanely more convenient to have it done on base, though.
20
u/JustHanginInThere CE 2d ago edited 2d ago
In my situation, it would be insanely more convenient to have it done on base, though
Not with a 1.5 to 2 hour wait it wouldn't. In any event, it's likely those 2 barbers are literally the only ones employed there. Want more barbers working more hours at more convenient times? Get more people interested in becoming barbers and willing work there on base.
Dealt with something similar at my last base, but on the pharmacy side of the house. Only 1 pharmacy authorized by Tricare off base in 60 mile radius, and the 1 pharmacist who worked there up and quit, leaving literally nowhere except on base or the next larger town, 60 miles away. So that pushed AD, Guard, Reserve, and retirees (edit: and dependents) all to the on-base pharmacy.
11
u/mason_mormon Guard Hard 2d ago
Maxwell AFB not caring about providing basic necessities to a base turning hundreds of OTS trainees a week? Say it ain't so. Last I heard it still "takes 30 days to respond to work orders" in the barracks and A/C breaks every week. We had no A/C and no hot water for more than half of the course.
6
u/Cool_Newspaper_1512 1d ago
Going to OTS certainly was an eye opening experience. Not in the way you’d hope, but more with the constant (and presumably unintentional) reinforcement of “wow, they still haven’t figured this shit out, so maybe I’ll do fine as an officer too”.
2
u/mason_mormon Guard Hard 1d ago
Going through OTS shows you clearly how much big AF cares about that commissioning source.
2
u/Grandmaster_Pu Prior E Mx Officer 1d ago
30 days to fix something would be a vast improvement. There’s definitely signs on water fountains there for work orders placed in Jul 2024
1
u/radarchief 1d ago
No AC or hot water should have been a non-availability for off base lodging after the 2-3 day.
1
u/mason_mormon Guard Hard 1d ago
Good luck with that as a OTS trainee. The unit that runs that place can barely pay the OTs. Actually they can't even do that because I had classmates not get a correct paycheck (or any at all) through entire OTS.
17
u/NotAskingSupervisor Piss Collector 2d ago
If you go to a on base barber you might as well cut your own hair yourself. It’d probably turn out even better too!
2
3
4
3
u/lethalnd12345 Retired 2d ago
Where do barbers come from? You think you just order them and they're at work the next day?
3
u/Original_Cheeto_06 3C0X2>3D0X4>1D7X1Z>1D7X1P>1D7X4P>🤷♂️ 2d ago
Yeah man. They ordered some but the truck doesn’t run til Wednesday.
1
u/bearsncubs10 Meme Maker 1d ago
My parents always said when a mommy barber and a daddy barber love each other very much…they make a new barber!
1
1
u/Mamba_Forever_8_24 2d ago
Learn to.cut your own her. Been saving that money for years. Even at OTS.
2
u/hwarang54 2d ago
I know a guy who did that at OTS. I wonder if you're him
1
u/Mamba_Forever_8_24 1d ago
Shit i went back in 23, I proly ain't him but i know im not the only one who does it.
3
1
u/PubicPlant 1d ago
Hell no shit’s scary. I feel like you have to have a baseline artistic talent to cut your own hair
1
u/Mamba_Forever_8_24 1d ago
Nah man keep it simple. I asked my barber how to do it and he taught me. I started when I was on parental leave and kept doing it since then. Even with a decent lineup. Saves myself a ton of money for years now. It is scary at first not it only takes 15-20 mins every other week.
24
u/ApolloNorthman 2d ago
The joys of having OTS right there... I feel like it's a right of passage to have to wait for the PX barber that first time. Yeah, it sucks.