Army, RCI partner company leaders strengthen integration at housing summit

By Scott MalcomJune 17, 2020

Army and RCI partner company leaders strengthen integration at housing summit
Lt. Gen. Douglas Gabram, commanding general, U.S. Army Installation Management Command, gives his remarks kicking off a three-day housing summit from June 15-17. Gabram hosted Army senior leaders, garrison commanders from around the world, and privatized housing executives to discuss the thousands of housing occupancy transfers across the Army to occur during the summer's Permanent Change of Station season among other topics. "The housing summit brings us together to share best practices, lessons learned and innovative ideas from our garrisons and different partner companies around the Army," said Gabram during his opening remarks. (Photo Credit: Joshua Ford) VIEW ORIGINAL

In the midst of the Department of Defense’s COVID-19 global pandemic response, Family housing remains a top priority for the Army, U.S. Army Installation Management Command and Residential Communities Initiative partner companies.

Lt. Gen. Douglas Gabram, commanding general, IMCOM, hosted Army senior leaders, garrison commanders from across the globe, and privatized housing company executives for a three-day housing summit beginning Monday June 15. The leaders met to further integrate their actions in anticipation of a summer surge in Permanent Change of Station moves that will require thousands of housing occupancy transfers across the Army.

“Summer PCS moves have been delayed and will be compressed into a shorter timeline,” said Gabram during his opening comments. “This housing summit will facilitate quality of life for PCS’ing Army Soldiers and Families during this summer’s move cycle by confirming installation-level plans to support housing transitions.”

Gabram stated the theme for the summit is “Move Forward Together,” a phrase that captures the growing integration of Army and RCI leaders on behalf of Soldiers and their Families.

“This integration is vital if we are to turn houses at a quality rate during the summer surge period,” said Lt. Gen. Ed Daly, the deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command.

Army and RCI partner company leaders strengthen integration at housing summit
Mamiko Takishima, a housing inspector for the Housing Division, Directorate of Public Works, U.S. Army Garrison Japan, checks a kitchen faucet inside a housing unit in the Sagamihara Family Housing Area, Japan, March 12, 2020. (Photo Credit: Winifred Brown) VIEW ORIGINAL

Gabram said each garrison commander and their local RCI partner will jointly update the group on their plans to address the backlog of routine housing work orders, post-COVID-19 related issues impacting this year’s summer surge, and housing scorecards that will provide a common framework to view privatized housing across the Army.

“This housing summit brings us together to share best practices, lessons learned and innovative ideas from our garrisons and different partner companies around the Army,” said Gabram.

Monday’s sessions also included a video teleconference between Daly, Gabram, RCI executives and senior members of the Army staff involved in privatized housing. This group will reassemble Wednesday afternoon to close out the summit.

Gabram was very clear about what will happen during this last session. “We will summarize the list of things we need to accomplish and assign accountability and timelines for action. Housing remains a priority and we are not going to let up.”

During his opening comments, Gabram listed a number of recent accomplishments by the summit participants, including reducing the number of displaced Families in the Army from 178 last September to 43 today.

Related Links

Army.mil: Worldwide News

Installation Management Command

Army.mil: Families

Soldiers on PCS orders can now request to stay extra year at duty station