Destination Fort Carson: Event welcomes Soldiers, Families

By Andrea Sutherland (Fort Carson)August 30, 2012

Destination Fort Carson: Event welcomes Soldiers, Families
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Destination Fort Carson: Event welcomes Soldiers, Families
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Artist Matt Rebel, right, draws a caricature of Pfc. Amy Wilkes, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, during Destination Fort Carson Aug. 22 at the ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Destination Fort Carson: Event welcomes Soldiers, Families
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Family members and Soldiers talk with vendors at Destination Fort Carson Aug. 22 at the Special Events Center. The event, the first of its kind, welcomed newcomers to Fort Carson, introducing them to numerous services and progra... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, Colo. -- As Spc. Miguel Vazquez and his wife, Stacey Vazquez, navigated the lines circling dozens of displays set up in the Special Events Center Aug. 22, the young couple collected fliers, brochures and copious amounts of information.

"So far, so good," said Stacey Vazquez, adding that she and her husband arrived at Fort Carson from Germany in July. "I've heard (the post) has a lot of Family activities."

The Vazquez Family, along with more than 1,700 other Soldiers and Family members attended the first Destination Fort Carson, an event designed to introduce new community members to the numerous support offices, programs and services available on post as well as in the neighboring towns.

"We recognize moving is a stress on Families," said Kristen Kea, director of the Warrior Family Community Partnership. "This provides a one-stop (shop) to get familiar with the community."

Hosted by Army Community Service, the event featured representatives from 48 community organizations, including the education center, the Mountain Post Spouses Club, Operation Homefront, the USO, Religious Support Office, the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Center, the City of Woodland Park and the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Beth Anderson, wife of Maj. Gen. Joseph Anderson, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson and a driving force behind the event, said helping Soldiers and Family members connect with the community services is essential.

"Easing that transition is really important to me and Joe," said Beth Anderson. "We want Soldiers and Family members to take full advantage of everything that Fort Carson has to offer."

Having moved 16 times with her husband, Beth Anderson said she understands some of the challenges military Families face.

"You want to connect to what is there," she said. "We hope this allows our Soldiers and Families to connect to the community quickly."

"This is really cool," said Spc. Maxwell Zeissler, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.

Zeissler and his Family arrived at Fort Carson Aug. 10.

"The area is really nice. The people are nice," he said. "This (event) made it easy. We were looking for fun stuff to do."

The event wasn't just for newcomers.

Melody O'Dell, a volunteer with ACS, attended the event.

"There's a lot to learn," she said. "Knowing all the different resources the Army has to offer, it's so important."

Danixa Rosa just arrived to Fort Carson with her husband. New to the Army, Rosa said she was grateful for the event.

"This is our first post," she said. "This is a great opportunity to get to know the different services."