The Senators toured Fort Stewart to assess the living condition... VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT STEWART, Ga. -- Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson toured Fort Stewart, led by 3rd Infantry Division commanding general Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo, to see the living conditions of the Soldiers based here firsthand, Aug. 31.
The Senators traveled to Stewart to gauge how the base has rebounded from June's news that a fifth brigade combat team would not be coming.
"I get pretty emotional when I come on posts like Fort Stewart, because I know I'm around true, great American heroes," Sen. Chambliss said.
"I'm here with (Sen. Chambliss) to say thanks to our troops," added Sen. Isakson. "We appreciate very much (the Soldiers') commitment to the country and their willingness to serve the country."
After convening at MidCoast Regional Airport at Wright Army Airfield, the delegation received a briefing that covered multiple topics concerning the 3rd ID from the nature of a modular army and the difference between heavy and light infantry brigade combat teams to the upcoming deployment schedule for the division and what they will be dealing with in Iraq. Before concluding, Maj. Gen. Cucolo illustrated the current footprint of the 3rd ID in Georgia - spanning from Kelley Hill at Fort Benning in the west to the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield zone in the east.
"It's a wonderful opportunity when we have members of Congress, and it's an even better opportunity when we have our members of Congress come down and visit us to see how Soldiers live," Maj. Gen. Cucolo said.
The two Senators enjoyed brief stops at the temporary barracks structure that houses Soldiers from 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the new barracks currently being used by Spartan Soldiers of the 2nd HBCT. The exploration of the two sets of barracks was designed to give the Senators an honest appraisal of two very different sets of living conditions for Soldiers stationed at Stewart.
While the Senators weren't able to enjoy a comprehensive tour of every barracks complex, they did leave with is a positive impression of Fort Stewart and the 3rd ID.
"You look at other issues that make the quality of life in the U.S. Army here at Fort Stewart just a little bit better," Sen. Chambliss said. "It gives us more reason to be confident about the fact that we're going to continue to recruit and retain the very finest young men and women in America into the Army."
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