CAMP RED CLOUD -- If you happened to be at Camp Stanley lately and heard the banging of hammers and the whine of power saws, that's the sound of Area I getting ready to welcome a brand new combat unit to our close-knit community.
I'm excited they're coming and want you to know a little about them so you can join me in giving them a true Area I welcome.
About 800 Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment are joining us from Fort Hood, Texas. Camp Stanley and Camp Hovey will be their home.
They're part of the 1st Cavalry Division. But they'll be on a nine-month, unaccompanied rotation here as part of the 2nd Infantry Division's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team.
To give the Soldiers the support they need -- barracks, motor pools, office space -- U.S. Army Garrison Red Cloud and Area I has been busy making upgrades to numerous facilities at the two camps.
With an eye to the Soldier's morale and recreation, we're revamping the building that houses Reggie's Club. That way it can share space with two other important facilities that will move into the building: the post's Community Activity Center and Library.
We're also looking to aid the Soldiers' physical fitness and overall resilience. So we're making upgrades to the Camp Stanley Fitness Center. At the same time we're turning the building next to it into a cutting-edge functional fitness facility. It'll be great for the Soldiers of the 1-12 Cavalry and the rest of our Stanley community.
The battalion comes to Area I under the Army's new concept of putting certain units on nine-month rotational deployments. The 1-12, which is a combined arms battalion, brings with them their own vehicles and other equipment.
They join us during winter and that brings me to a brief but important reminder about maintaining our winter safety.
We had the pleasure of seeing the holidays come and go, and we're already nearing the end of January. But keep in mind there's still plenty of winter ahead and with it all the usual winter hazards.
You know what they are: ice and snow that pose the risk of "slips, trips and falls." And for those behind the wheel, icy roads that raise the risk of skids and accidents. Frigid temperatures can cause frostbite and other injuries, so dressing right for the weather is critical.
Meanwhile, as I said, I'm excited about the rotation of the 1-12 Cavalry into the Area I community.
As we finalize the preparations, we look forward to getting to know these Soldiers, helping them out, and making them feel very much at home with a warm Area I welcome.
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