Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, III Armored Corps commanding general, outlines his enduring priorities — Warfighting, Developing Leaders, Partnership and Soldier, Civilian and Family Care — during a briefing to Soldiers at the Lone Star Conference Center on Fort Cavazos, Texas. Admiral emphasized warfighting is the Army’s top priority, underscoring the importance of readiness to defend the nation.

FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — Fort Cavazos leaders are moving forward with the implementation of the Army’s Deferred Resignation Programs while remaining focused on building and sustaining readiness, supporting employees and preserving essential services for Soldiers and families.

While the programs are directed by the Department of the Army, Fort Cavazos is executing locally with precision, transparency and compassion, Fort Cavazos senior commander said.

“Our duty is to support the Army’s mission and care for our people. DRP gives eligible civilian employees a dignified, voluntary off-ramp and we’re executing it with full transparency and professionalism,” said Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, commanding general of III Armored Corps and Fort Cavazos.

The DRP initiative, which includes both Phase 1 and Phase 2 reductions, allows eligible DA civilian employees to voluntarily separate from federal service while continuing to receive full pay and benefits through Sept. 30.

The program supports a strategic rebalancing of the Army’s civilian workforce to align with future mission priorities while ensuring continuity of critical services.

The senior commander has approved a set of coordinated actions to ensure continuity of critical operations at Fort Cavazos while responsibly phasing out or restructuring selected programs at the recommendations of the garrison commander and senior staff across the installation.

Adjustments, continuity

Family housing services will remain unaffected by these changes. Essential mission support services including emergency operations, access control points and range safety will also continue without disruption, ensuring installation readiness and community stability.

Key operational adjustments include:

• Barracks maintenance: While the dedicated barracks sustainment team is being phased out, maintenance for Soldier barracks remains a top priority. Urgent and life, health and safety work orders will continue to be addressed by the existing Directorate of Public Works teams. Leadership is coordinating closely with DPW to ensure response times remain acceptable for high-impact maintenance concerns.

• Facility maintenance: DPW will only support priority 1 (emergency) and priority 2 (urgent) maintenance orders and will defer priority 3 (routine) orders due to a reduction in manpower. Additionally, facility occupants may experience longer wait times for their requests. However, DPW will continue to prioritize life, health and safety work orders and make every effort to meet mission-critical needs with their available resources. For questions or to check the status of a service order, contact the DPW Service Order hotline at 254-287-2113 or online through Army Maintenance at armymaintenance.com/arma.

• Real Property service desk hours (clearing, keys, hand receipts): The new reduced hours will be 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. weekdays for appointments only and noon to 3:30 p.m. weekdays for walk-ins. Appointments may be requested by emailing usarmy.cavazos.id-readiness.mbx.dpw-rppd-front-desk@army.mil or calling 254-553-2012 or 254-287-2801. Please note the front desk will be closed on training holidays.

• Hunting and Fishing: The Hunting and Fishing Program will remain operational, supported by a mix of Army civilians and trained military personnel. Some responsibilities may shift internally, and oversight assignments will be adjusted to preserve safety standards, compliance with regulations and continuity of community access.

• Range Operations: Training ranges will remain fully operational. Support for downtime procedures, range control and compliance inspections will continue with supplemental assistance from safety officers and operational staff as needed. Units will continue to schedule training in accordance with standard procedures.

• Firebreak maintenance: DPW crews in the training areas will continue during spring and fall cleanup and will be augmented by military support throughout the rest of the year to mitigate wildfire risks.

• Access Control Points: All installation gates that are currently operational will remain open at this time. However, leaders are actively reviewing gate traffic data and manning levels to determine whether future adjustments to hours of operation are warranted.

Fish slide out of a tube to stock one of the 12 lakes and ponds across Fort Cavazos, Texas. The Hunting and Fishing Program may have some responsibilities shift internally, and oversight assignments will be adjusted to preserve safety standards, compliance with regulations and continuity of community access. The program’s adjustments is one of several for the installation due to the impact of the Army’s Deferred Resignation Programs.

Programs being retired

The following programs are being retired as part of cost-saving measures and mission realignment:

• The Rental Partnership Program and Military Value Program, which previously helped connect Soldiers with vetted off-post housing and provided discounts or incentives, will no longer be actively managed. Participating property managers and landlords are welcome to and may continue to offer the same discounts and incentives. Leadership expressed gratitude to those who have supported military families through these initiatives.

While these programs are ending, leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring Basic Allowance for Housing rates remain aligned with market trends. Ongoing coordination with the Defense Travel Management Office will continue to advocate for accurate rate adjustments that reflect the needs of the Fort Cavazos community.

“We’re adjusting where necessary — but sustaining what matters most,” said Col. Lakicia R. Stokes, U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Cavazos commander. “Every decision is grounded in mission, care for our community and accountability to the people we serve.”

Non-DRP impacts

In addition to DRP-related changes, several services have been affected over the past year due to staffing shifts and budgetary constraints:

• Sportsmen’s Center Snack Bar and Pro Shop permanently closed on Nov. 15, 2024. The Sportsmen’s Center Trap and Skeet range remains open.

• Equipment rentals are now available at two locations, Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area and the Lone Star Conference Center, based on the type of equipment someone is looking for. To see what rental equipment is available at each location, as well as pricing, visit cavazos.armymwr.com/programs/equipment-rental.

• Four fitness centers have converted into brigade holistic health and fitness, or H2F, facilities. Brigades now own and are responsible for those facilities. To see the hours and locations of remaining fitness centers available, visit cavazos.armymwr.com/programs/fitness-center.

• Freedom Fest has been canceled this year; however, Fort Cavazos is partnering with the city of Killeen, Texas, to support their Red, White & Blue Music Festival July 5 in downtown Killeen. Attendees will see static displays of military equipment, the 1st Cavalry Division Honor Guard and the 1st Cavalry Division Band.

Moving forward

Additional reviews are underway at Fort Cavazos to improve operational efficiency in coordination centers and other administrative functions.

“We will keep showing up for the mission and for our people,” Admiral said. “This isn’t just about personnel numbers. It’s about trust. It’s about the way we lead through change.”