Barracks and other facility renovations slated for 2015

By Damien Salas, Pentagram Staff WriterDecember 19, 2014

Barracks and other facility renovations slated for 2015
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Regimental Sergeant Major Command Sgt. Maj. Samuel J. Stoker, left, and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Command Sgt. Maj. Randall E. Woods, right, conduct a town hall meeting in the Community Center on th... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Barracks and other facility renovations slated for 2015
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Regimental Sergeant Major Command Sgt. Maj. Samuel J. Stoker, right, and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Command Sgt. Maj. Randall E. Woods, conduct a town hall meeting in the Community Center on the Fort... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Two command sergeants major held a town hall meeting with Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall-based Soldiers Dec. 15 in the Community Center ballroom to discuss living conditions and renovation plans for the barracks on the Fort Myer portion of JBM-HH.

JBM-HH Command Sgt. Maj. Randall E. Woods and 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Regimental Sergeant Major Command Sgt. Maj. Samuel J. Stoker led the 90-minute meeting to encourage Soldiers living in the barracks to take ownership of their living spaces. The two senior enlisted leaders emphasized that living conditions will become "cramped" due to renovations slated for next year.

Building 247, one of The Old Guard's barracks at JBM-HH, is slated for renovations beginning within the next two years, according to Ramon Nieves, branch chief for the Directorate of Public Works' Engineering Division. U.S. Army Installation Management Command awarded $25 million for those renovations. Following the start of those renovations, Building 246 will be fully renovated, he said. Meanwhile, Soldiers are being assigned three per room at the barracks to allow for overflow billeting of additional personnel during the construction.

Due to the uncertainty of project completion time, Soldiers interested in moving off the joint base can apply for a certificate of non-availability. Woods said he will approve Soldiers to live off-base for an indefinite amount of time based on the approval of Soldier leadership. More information about obtaining off-base residences can be found via the JBM-HH housing office at 703-696-3559.

For those who will remain in the barracks, leaders recognized that the current facilities are old and require continual maintenance.

Representatives from the Directorate of Public Works discussed the process of filing work orders for issues ranging from light bulb replacement to emergency situations such as flooding.

Public works may be reached any time at 703-696-3263, but Soldiers are encouraged to communicate with unit leadership to ensure work orders are completed within set time frames.

The JBM-HH Tri-Service Dining Facility is also slated for renovation Feb. 1, which is expected to last up to one month. Food will still be prepared at the facility, but customers will dine at the community center during the renovations.

The Pentagram will continue to follow these stories in 2015.