BRUNSSUM, Netherlands – Since the NATO Command Structure re-landscaping last fall, the Community Activity Section (CAS) at JFC HQ Brunssum has experienced many changes, including a manning reduction of 62% and significant revenue shortages, due to a 30% reduction in overall JFC personnel.

The CAS is responsible for coordinating events and entertainment for the Tri-Border, such as the recent Neil McCoy concert and visit by the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, Jan. 28. The CAS also operates 25 diverse morale enhancing facilities for the U.S. and NATO community, including the JFC library, swimming pool, fitness center and the Alliance Movie Theatre.

“Some of these changes impact our entire Tri-Border military community,” explained Lt. Col. David O. Andino-Aquino, CAS Chief, “but we’ve managed to creatively adapt to all adverse changes and still provide the best quality of life operation for our customers.”

As an example, CAS made slight reductions in the hours of operation at the fitness center over the last six months, and as of Mar. 1, the swimming pool hours were also adjusted. The reduced hours allow the facilities to remain open on a daily basis and offer the same services customers have grown accustomed too, Andino-Aquino explained.

“Even though the total amount of available hours has dipped slightly (down 2.8%), all CAS operations still provide over 28,480 hours of quality entertainment, and in 2009 they generated more than $104,000 in recapitalization funds for our facilities, programs and services,” Andino-Aquino noted.

“We’ll continue to endeavour day in and day out to provide the JFC staff and our more than 15,000 Tri-Border community members with first rate quality of life support today, tomorrow and always,” Andino-Aquino concluded.

Published March 1, 2010