Joint Forces Training Base

Four times a year in the 2^nd month of every quarter, the Regional Military Affairs Committee of the Los Alamitos Area Chamber of Commerce conducts a tour of the Joint Force Training Base & Los Alamitos Army Airfield. Call the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce (562) 598‑6659 to RSVP for the limited number of spaces available for this tour of the base. For those interested in what a military canteen can offer, there is the Pub at Fiddllers GreenBldg #19, 4745 Yorktown, that opens at 11am serving sandwiches, burgers, salads where there are military & law enforcement personnel in training partaking of the food. Eating here is not exactly tres haut gourmet, but it’s a great place to get into the mood of being at a military base where testosterone is at a high level.
The tour of the base starts at 1pm in Building #244. You are required to show a photo ID to enter at the front gate of JFTB, and ask the guard there for instructions on how to get to the Pub or Bldg. #244. The tour takes about 2 hours in a military transport bus. In other words, no air conditioning, plush reclining seats, tinted windows, scented mood aromas, piped in mood music, restroom in the back with heated toilet seat & bidet. This is for the grunts who can take the hardship and can tough it out. Most of us Americans have gotten too soft by living high on the hog with waistlines & big butts to prove it so don’t complain when you board this spartan, ascetic, no-​nonsense bus which is meant to accomodate the fit & virile.
Highlights of the trip was the visit to the airfield where a fireman associated with the airstrip gave us a brief detail of operations, and at the control center where a seasoned military man informed us that JFTB was the only functional military base in all of Los Angeles & Orange County which can serve as a command center in times of natural & man made disasters. He mentioned that JFTB was an island surrounded on 3 sides by residential developments most of which were built after the creation of the base, and how hard it was to maintain a good neighbor policy by making sure that military air maneuvers & movement would not unduly disturb the peace of the surrounding areas. Although all measures humanly possible should be taken to minimize the effects of noise from a military base, and since the base came in before most of the residential development, people who live near the base should have been well aware of the possible noise before they bought their homes. As the saying goes, «Caveat Emptor, buyer beware.»
The biggest thrill was being able to utilize the Engagement Skills Trainer that uses «real» weapons on an indoor laser range. Although gun ranges using real bullets can potentially be dangerous, witness the 8 year old girl who accidently shot & killed her gun instructor, the lasers used in this simulated rifle range was sheer fun & enjoyment. An amiable master sargeant instructed us on how to load & activate the rifle as well as what kinds of stance would be optimal. We shot at projected gunmen in an urban scene although many more scenarios can also be projected depending on what kind of location is the desired battleground.
Our seasoned Vietnam veteran volunteer was a great guide to showing us around the base. Avuncular & fatherly, he was the right man to show us different aspects of base operations as well as letting us know about the civilian aspects of the functions around base such as a very effective high school for academic at risk students, use of the olympic size pool for Olympic US swim teams, etc. This free tour is well worth the time & effort to get here. Good introduction to what US military personnel & bases do, and their importance to the protection of our society in general. 3 Cheers for our men/​women in uniform.

Every year I attend the Wings, Wheels and Rotors at the Los Alamitos Air Base. The air base is a bit run down, and wish the funds were available to update it. This air base provides swimming and various sports facilities to people who live in the City of Cypress. I also get to Run on the Base 5k here-​j enjoy looking at the planes during my run/​walk.
I’m grateful that the air base allows the Wings, Wheels and Rotors to put this event-it’s always a joy to get up close to planes and emergency vehicle. They always have a representative from the different agencies providing information. A plethora of food vendors to provide your eating needs, and clothing vendors.
This year, they did not have the Big C-​17 which is always a highlight. There were plenty of vintage airplanes, and helicopter rides.
I always stop and Thank our military for serving our country.

JOINT FORCES of protection and TRAINING on the BASE
I’ve been coming here since I was a kid! My dad being in the military would bank here so I would go along for rides! And to get stickers and lollipops!
This base used to look GREAT but over the years it has NOT been kept in the tip top shape but it is making a comeback, slowly but surely!
At one point they were going to close this base and probably build homes or some shopping center or something then the tragic day of ⁹⁄₁₁ happened and well our government decided to keep it open and THANK GOD for that! Security is much more apparent here than in the past and DO BELIEVE the ARMED GUARDS at the GATE DO NOT PLAY and have ABSO-​FRICIKIN-​LUTLY NO PROBLEM in shooting first and asking questions later! I don’t really know if they would do that BUT I also have NO DESIRE to try them EITHER!
This base is really cool and civilian’s can get on to the base baring they can get pass security and have the proper id and validation! They have all sorts of things to do here like a huge Olympic swimming pool with showers and bathrooms for both men and women.
They also have a theater they can be rented out for plays! It is pretty run down but has AWESOME acoustics! They also have different activities during the year such as different races for charity! They used to have Little Leagues play on the base ball field but I don’t know if it exists anymore! And there is a little commissary and place to eat as well!
All the base housing has been torn down after it was vandalized and then used for different law enforcement training. Too bad it’s gone because it was great housing when they used to be filled with military families and they even had a play ground for the kids back in the day! My family never stayed there but I knew kids who did!
There is a huge firework show for the 4^th of JULY and if you live nearby you could have a nice party at your house and everyone can see the fireworks at the end and then go home before I release the dogs!
This base is on the come back and I LOVE it especially because it is conveniently located to my house for when I need to do my banking! I NEVER have to worry about this place being robbed. They would NEVER make it passed the very ARMED GUARDS at the GATE! LOL! Plus there is NEVER a line over 2 people and none of that BULLET PROOF GLASS like at other banks! Everyone knows my family and the SERVICE is AWESOME here! Plus they NEVER had any of the problems other banks had (the recession) because they are self contained and don’t give frivolous loans to people who they don’t know and DON’T bank with them!
Sometimes you will be held up if a body has been flown back of a military person that died overseas! The base comes to a halt IN HONOR of the FALLIN who GAVE their life for us! It’s really quite moving! You don’t know the person yet you have such a deep respect for them and what they did!