Maj. Gen. Horst visits JBM-HH

By Rhonda Apple Pentagram Staff WriterMarch 18, 2011

Maj. Gen. Horst visits JBM-HH
Maj. Gen. Karl R. Horst, commander Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, presented commander's coins to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall employees during his installation visit March 11. Hor... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Senior leadership from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall hosted Maj. Gen. Karl R. Horst, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, when he visited the installation March 11.

Horst was greeted by JBM-HH commander, Col. Carl R. Coffman, Deputy Joint Base commander Lt. Col. Jeffrey Dixon and Command Sgt. Maj. Necati Akpinar. Joining senior leadership and installation managers in the headquarters conference room, Horst was briefed on several issues, including the dining facility at Fort McNair; Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation funding and the JBM-HH new barracks concept. Following the briefing, Horst presented commander coins to the following JBM-HH civilian employees: Thania Lama, Directorate of Executive Management and Housing management specialist; Eleanor Thompson and Steven Oliver, Human Resources Directorate transition team; Johnny Bailey, Directorate of Logistics inventory management specialist and Gerald L. White Jr., Directorate of Logistics management specialist.

An installation tour was also on the agenda and included a visit to the 1st Battalion, 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) Caisson stables. Horst greeted members of the Caisson platoon, including a few horses, and then was briefed on the Caisson composting initiative by Francis Douglas, director of Environmental Management.

"The project proposes to change the current process used in The Old Guard Caisson to dispose horse manure and wood shavings," said Douglas. "By adopting the ecodrum composter technology, it will streamline the stalls' cleaning process and reduce the time Soldiers spend cleaning."

Douglas explained the composting will pay for itself within the first two years. "It will eliminate the bin rental and disposing fees, decrease the use of fertilizer," he said. "The composting could also generate revenue because it is a qualified recycling program."

Douglas said Horst expressed enthusiasm for the composting initiative saying it makes good sense to utilize composting because it saves money, it's good for the environment and increases productivity.

Also on the tour was a stop at a Family housing residence for a Solar Initiative Project overview. Dee Spellman, director EMHO and Ron Kaczmarek, director of Public Works conducted the briefing.

"We explained the garages were deteriorated beyond repair and expressed the need for replacement," said Spellman. "If funding is approved to replace the garages, it will allow us to obtain solar panels, to be used to power electricity to the general and flag officer quarters used to house senior leadership on the installation."