HOHENFELS, Germany - Responsibility for all single Soldier barracks at U.S. Army Garrison Hohenfels will soon transfer from units to garrison employees in a change that will make a big difference in the lives of single Soldiers and their first sergeants.
As part of the Army's First Sergeant's Barracks Initiative, a team within the Department of Public Works Housing division will soon be responsible for all administrative responsibilities of Hohenfels barracks, freeing units and first sergeants of the huge workload associated with running them while simultaneously improving Soldier quality of life.
Under the new system, barracks management will be similar to that of off-post quarters: housing will be in charge of checking tenants in and out, preparing vacated rooms for new tenants, keeping track of furniture, making repairs and other duties.
Perry Clark, Hohenfels FSBI manager and retired command sergeant major, said transferring responsibility for the day-to-day operations of barracks will allow first sergeants more time to focus on other priorities.
"Unit leaders will still have a presence in the barracks to maintain health and welfare, this is just taking away their administrative responsibilities so they can do what they are supposed to be doing, which is focusing on their war-time mission," said Clark.
The program was also established to achieve the equally important goal of improving Single Soldier quality of life by standardizing living conditions throughout the Army. Before, every unit had its own standard operating procedure for their barracks; now there is just one SOP for the entire garrison.
"This is a holistic approach to standardizing quality of life and upgrading current living conditions to meet that standard for single Soldier housing," said Clark.
At Hohenfels, there are now five full-time employees to ensure the barracks meet the high standard of living requirements single Soldiers deserve.
When a Soldier vacates his barracks room, a housing official will inspect it before he can turn in his key, making note of any damages. Soldiers will be held accountable for any damages they create in the room. A cleaning and maintenance crew will inspect the room, and if necessary they will make repairs, repaint walls and update furniture.
Clark said he and his team are adamant that no Soldier be placed in an inadequate room.
"We're not even going to put somebody in that room until it's up to standard," he said.
While the Hohenfels FSBI team works to ensure all rooms meet the standards, they are also busy going above and beyond by raising the bar for temporary lodging.
When a new Soldier arrives at Hohenfels, no matter what time of day or night or weekend, he is placed in a transit room, an FSBI-run room kept to the same standards as permanent barracks rooms. Instead of units having to find a place for their new Soldier to sleep, a Soldier they might not have even known was coming, Clark and his team place him in a comfortable room complete with pillows, linens, blankets and toiletries provided by Army Community Service.
The rooms even have a locking wall locker to secure valuables. The next morning, the Soldier will clear out of his transit room and sign for the keys to his new barracks quarters.
During the Soldier's time in the barracks, housing and DPW will be responsible for any maintenance, though it will still fall upon Soldiers to report any necessary work orders.
For now, these procedures apply only to buildings already taken over by housing. To date, USAG Hohenfels housing has taken control of 16 of the 34 total single Soldier building on post, with plans to complete the remaining transitions by Christmas.
One of the most recent barracks to transition from unit to FSBI control houses the 527th Military Police Co.
Cpl. Chrystal Sowells, a supply technician with the 527th, said she could not be happier with the new arrangement.
"It's been great, especially on the supply side. It took a big load off my shoulders," said Sowells, who in addition to all her unit related duties was also involved with running the barracks.
"It is so much easier now, and (the rooms are) really nice. Some Soldiers that live elsewhere tell us they wish they lived here," said Sowells.
Staff Sgt. Jerimie Parks, FSBI noncommissioned officer in charge, said the FSBI team puts a lot of effort into working with the unit's needs.
"The program works as long as there is good cooperation between units and housing, and so far it has been going extremely well. Everyone works really well together," said Parks.
"This is a great approach to making single Soldier housing better and they definitely deserve it," said Clark.
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