EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The installation commander took a walk around base housing June 24 and spoke to residents he met along the way.
Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro and Chief Master Sgt. Adam Guest, 96th Test Wing commander and command chief, spoke with junior-enlisted and their families about a range of housing topics and issues.
This informal walk-around town hall meeting was part of a Defense Department best practice effort to engage with residents where they live instead of in a large group, auditorium-like setting.
"This is a great opportunity to get direct feedback from our people in base housing, whether it’s a specific housing challenge or really anything in their lives that I may be able to help them with it,” said Massaro. “We met with some great people out here and they gave us some interesting ideas on how we can make their community better.”
Some of those ideas and concerns the commander learned about were:
1. Several residents raised concerns about bugs, ants and wasps. Leadership advised them to submit work orders for those issues in and around the home. In addition, the pest control company visits every Tuesday and Thursday for treatments to include common areas.
2. Leaders received feedback regarding the need for cleaning of tile and zero entry areas of the pool. The pool vendor was notified and completed cleaning.
3. Another resident expressed safety concerns with trash cans not being retrieved from the street and curb areas on trash day. Mayroad, the base housing management company, will continue to send reminders to residents and follow up where needed.
The commander’s next walking town hall is tentatively scheduled for fall 2025. If base residents have housing concerns, they can have those addressed by Mayroad, at 850-613-5050.