FORT DRUM, N.Y. (May 11, 2022) -- Fort Drum was among five installations recognized by U.S. Army Installation Management Command as the best in its directorate for 2021 during a presentation May 5 at the Garrison Command Team Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
Representing IMCOM Directorate-Readiness, Fort Drum competed against other installations based on 13 categories of performance, including mission support, quality of life and safety.
“This installation has a reputation for excellence that we can all be proud of,” said Col. James Zacchino Jr., Fort Drum garrison commander. “The award is a reflection of what Team Drum does every day to support the Soldiers, families, retirees and civilians at Fort Drum.”
Home to the 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum is credited for ensuring that training facilities, ranges and Power Projection Platforms are modernized to effectively train Soldiers for large-scale combat operations in the multi-domain operating environment.
Over the past year, two new flight simulators were installed at Fort Drum, representing a significant force multiplier for the division, and garrison employees supported the construction of multiple ranges and facilities, which yielded a cost savings to the Army of $9.2 million.
Fort Drum Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation staff hosted dozens of events throughout the year that emphasized fitness and healthy activity, with participation from roughly 30,000 community members. Additionally, the Fort Drum Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program supported nearly 200 events for 29,000 participants.
The Fort Drum garrison recently established a food donation program that diverted 20 tons of excess edible food away from landfills and into the hands of veterans and community food banks. An aggressive groundwater recirculation treatment process yielded a $7.2 million cost savings. Fort Drum is 100-percent bio-renewable energy sustainable, provides 14-day generator capabilities and ensures the installation’s energy infrastructure is protected and secure.
Fostering a culture of superior performance, the Fort Drum garrison has earned numerous awards, to including the Department of the Army’s 2021 CEL Crystal Award for Service Excellence and the 2020 Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence. Fort Drum previously earned the IMCOM ID-Readiness Best Garrison award in 2019.
“There is a lot that goes into being named an IMCOM Best Garrison,” Zacchino said. “But from what I see here on a daily basis is a group of people who truly care about their community. We do a lot, but we do it with the purpose of building up our community, and one another. I think that, ultimately, our people and commitment to the mission are what makes us one of the best.”
The winners from each directorate are as follows:
IMCOM ID-Training: USAG Huachuca (1st Place, overall)
IMCOM ID-Pacific: USAG Hawaii (2nd Place)
IMCOM ID-Sustainment: USAG Rock Island Arsenal (3rd Place)
IMCOM ID-Readiness: Fort Drum (4th Place)
IMCOM ID-Europe: USAG Benelux (5th Place)
Social Sharing