FORT SILL, Okla.-- The Warrior Transition Unit allows the Army to rehabilitate Soldiers and return them to deploying units.

A new WTU complex is one of many new projects on Fort Sill. Jan. 6 marked the groundbreaking for the three-phase plan. Among the new facilities are a Soldier and family assistance center, headquarters and a 72-Soldier barracks.

"The Warrior Transition Unit is a force multiplier, allowing the Army to rehab Soldiers and return them to deployable units.

The Warrior Transition Unit also allows a streamlined mechanism for Soldiers who are not able to return to deployable units to transition to veteran status," said John Starling, Fort Sill narrator.

"It's just part of making Fort Sill vital, and it's part of taking care of the Soldiers and families, and really resonates with the Family Covenant in improving the quality of life," said Col. Daniel Karbler, Fort Sill chief of staff. "Here at Fort Sill we continue to improve and increase our capacity and capability for taking care of Soldiers and taking care of families."

He added that the Warrior Transition Unit is a great capability that shows the Army's enduring commitment to recognizing the needs of wounded warriors and the sacrifices they gave, as well as the Army's commitment to their long-term care, well-being, recovery and return to duty.

We've had about 1,300 Soldiers come through our doors. Out of those 1,300, over half - nearly 700 - have returned to the Army, to return to active duty or being released from active duty back to their Reserve or Guard units. A few of those Soldiers have actually come back to the WTU and have functioned as cadre and staff," said Maj. Mark Hoffpauir, Fort Sill's Warrior Transition Unit commander.

"But also, the staff that we have here, both civilians and Soldiers alike, put a lot of time and sacrifice into making sure that we are able to accomplish our mission," Hoffpauir said.

The physical construction of the WTU complex is scheduled to be completed early in 2012.