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Base housing reflects 'Pride of Ownership'

  • Published
  • By Scott King
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Through housing privatization and the base's partnership with Balfour Beatty Communities, family housing areas on base are maintained at exceptionally high standards. It is important to remember that this enduring standard is in the end, the responsibility of military families to be good stewards in the upkeep of their housing.

Fairchild housing residents should become familiar and comply with the lease agreement and Balfour Beatty Communities Resident Guide on the upkeep of the outside of their home. They should identify any areas of concern within the yard, including shrubs or trees around their home to Balfour Beatty while maintaining fenced-in areas or areas not covered by the grounds maintenance teams. Residents are also responsible for mowing the grass in their fenced back yard and ensuring bikes, toys, patio furniture and lawn equipment, when not in use, are moved to the backyard or stored in the garage. With spring and summer weather finally here, now is a great time to start a yard maintenance routine.

Balfour Beatty stresses the importance of maintaining high housing standards, since these reflect on other values within the service.

"'Pride of Ownership' is important because the appearance of on-base residents' homes reflects not only on themselves, but on the Air Force," said Rebecka Bailey, Fairchild Balfour Beatty community manager. "The first impression a visitor gets of the owner [the resident] is from the appearance of their home and grounds."

In cooperation with housing residents, Balfour Beatty is responsible for providing timely, courteous and responsive customer service, maintenance and repair. They provide front yard care to residents' homes to include mowing, edging, mulching and routine tree and shrub trimming. They are also responsible for working with residents who are not meeting their responsibilities for grounds maintenance. Ultimately, Balfour Beatty will escalate issues to the Housing Management Office and installation leadership for residents who are not fulfilling their responsibilities on the upkeep of the outside of their homes.

It's a two-way street to keeping base housing in good shape.

"Our standards need to be high to reflect the pride of Air Force families," said Bailey. While the Balfour Beatty team strives to meet these high standards across base, "ultimately it's the responsibility of the owner to do their part to keep up their home," said Bailey.

Like other aspects of military life, team work is the key to maintaining the exceptional living standards on base. Showing 'Pride of Ownership' helps keep Fairchild a premier base in Air Mobility Command.

"We will maintain our housing areas to the highest standards possible to ensure we take care of our most valuable asset - our people," said Col. Brian Newberry, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. "Airmen and their families can take pride in where they live through the strong partnership we have with Balfour Beatty so that our housing areas and Fairchild itself remains a first-class place not only to work, but to live as well."