FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (Army News Service, April 30, 2008) Aca,!" Between now and the year 2014, approximately 2,340 facilities will be built here at the cost of $152 million, including brand new 1+1 barracks, which are under construction to replace barracks from the 1950s.
According to post officials, Fort Campbell currently employs 76 barracks dating from the 1950s to house more than 9,700 permanent party Soldiers. The installation is moving to the ArmyAca,!a,,cs 1+1 standard, or one Soldier per room, to improve the quality of life for Soldiers.
"We're committed, to both the Soldiers and their Families, to give absolutely the best facilities we can give, because to fight and do what we are asking them to sacrifice, they deserve the best,Aca,!A? said Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, chief of engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Aca,!A"ThatAca,!a,,cs kind of the bottom line.Aca,!A?
The postAca,!a,,cs oldest barracks, termed Aca,!A"Hammerheads,Aca,!A? have space for nearly 3,300 Soldiers, and house two Soldiers per room. The 46 Soldiers on each floor share two large bathroom facilities. The buildings were constructed with administrative space on the first floor with barracks rooms on the second and third floors.
The 1970's Volunteer Army barracks house nearly 2,500 Soldiers. Originally designed to house two, three or four Soldiers per room, these barracks were upgraded in the 1990s to accommodate only two Soldiers per room with a shared kitchenette and bathroom. While the living space is shared, sleeping areas are separated by furniture to provide some privacy. These buildings are three stories tall with external stairwells.
Unit administrative areas are located away from the barracks, contributing to a higher quality of life, said officials. While not physically providing a private bedroom, these barracks are a significant improvement over the 1950Aca,!a,,cs Hammerheads and are considered by the Army to adequately meet todayAca,!a,,cs standards.
In the mid-1990s Fort Campbell constructed two 2+2 barracks with a total of 720 spaces as part of the Aviation Brigade area. These barracks provide a shared living space and bathroom for two Soldiers. Kitchenettes are available on each floor. These buildings are three stories tall with internal stairwells. Like the VOLAR barracks, unit administrative areas are located away from the barracks. According to officials, these barracks are also considered by the Army to adequately meet todayAca,!a,,cs standards.
The ArmyAca,!a,,cs standard and Fort CampbellAca,!a,,cs newest barracks accommodate two Soldiers per suite, each Soldier with a private bedroom and a shared kitchenette and bathroom. The post has nearly 3,250 1+1 spaces with 1,400 more under construction. These buildings are two or three stories and consist of only barracks Aca,!" unit administrative areas are located elsewhere. Army plans call for Fort Campbell to have nearly 7,000 1+1 barracks spaces by 2014.
As the third largest active Army installation, Fort Campbell faces barracks issues. Ideally, all Soldiers would already be living in the 1+1 barracks facilities, said officials, but resources and space are limited and construction takes time. However, the installation and Directorate of Public Works have made efforts with available funds to improve the older facilities.
Nearly $40 million has been spent since 2005 to improve older barracks on Fort Campbell. Improvements to the Korean War-era Hammerheads have been focused on making SoldiersAca,!a,,c lives more comfortable by fixing heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems; painting and updating rooms and hallways; and renovating administrative space. Post officials said a conscientious decision was made to focus first on the living areas of those barracks and then on basements and external facades.
As part of the work completed since 2005, heating and cooling systems were upgraded in the 1970's barracks to prevent mold growth. This year the Army has allocated an additional $7.5 million to Fort Campbell for barracks work while the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is deployed. These funds will be used to renovate the basements in 26 Hammerheads, renovate the two 1990Aca,!a,,cs 2+2 barracks, and upgrade the heating and cooling system in five other barracks.
More than $735 million has been spent since 1999 on construction of 1+1 barracks. An additional 1,400 are under construction today at a cost of about $90 million.
Additionally, the Army will invest $45 million for the Warrior Transition Unit barracks in fiscal year 2009.
As the new barracks are completed, Fort Campbell will soon be able to divert or demolish the older Hammerheads. Once the barracks program is complete in 2014, no permanent party Soldier will be living in the old Hammerheads. Officials said that until that time, the Army will continue to invest in SoldiersAca,!a,,c quality of life in these older facilities.
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