FORT RUCKER, Ala. (September 27, 2012) -- The fall cleanup, scheduled for the first week of October, is one way that Soldiers, Families and workers can help keep Fort Rucker looking spick and span.
Getting "rid of the eyesores" that are lingering around the post is the goal of fall cleanup, said Master Sgt. Sherman L. Winston, Department of Public Works sergeant major.
"Think of it like the spring cleaning that many households perform -- this is just in the fall and at work," he said, adding that it is important to keep the post looking clean for the many visitors that Fort Rucker has every day.
"We want to make sure Fort Rucker is looking the way it is supposed to look. We have so many civilian and military visitors every week, we want them to walk away proud of the Aviation Branch and the post. We want people to have a good impression every single time they visit," he said.
Working smarter not harder is one of Winston's goals for the safety of everyone on post.
"If you have a tree limb loose over your house and you know a big storm is coming, it's better to cut the limb down before it comes crashing into your living room. If everybody is doing their part by patrolling areas for safety hazards in the areas that these units are responsible for it will make Fort Rucker safer," he explained.
The cleanup is a weeklong effort affecting almost everyone on post, according to the master sergeant.
"All garrison, mission and tenant units are required to participate. There are timelines, given out by command, to instruct units on what to do. But generally there will be a cleanup of all interior offices and work areas Oct. 2, people are asked to cleanup outside in police call areas Oct. 3 and then Oct. 4 people will finish up all work that has yet to be completed inside or outside," he said.
Oct. 5 will be inspection day where Winston, the Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Buford E. Noland and the Aviation Branch Command Sgt. Maj. James H. Thomson Jr. will inspect all areas to ensure proper disposal of waste and debris.
"We will do a quality check to make sure all the areas are reviewed and in proper condition. We want to make sure what they have done is satisfactory and we will be making sure nothing has been overlooked," he said.
There will be three drop off points with large dumpsters where anyone can take bulk items to a special dumpster and a 5-ton truck will be dispatched to pick up bags that will be placed curbside during the three-day cleanup.
"People can fill trash bags and leave them on the side of the road for the truck to pick up. The trash items that will be picked up need to be things like bagged leaves, limbs, boxes and furniture. Boxes need to be broken down and furniture must be taken apart," he said.
The designated dropping points will be open for anyone's use.
"One will be across the street from the elementary school, one will be in the parking lot of the barracks complex and the last will be by the Warrant Officer Career College near Bldg. 5911," said Winston.
USAACE, 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group, U.S. Army Aviation Medical Center, the WOCC and Directorate of Logistics, along with other organizations around post, will all participate in the day. DPW will not provide any supplies for the day as units must use their own materials, Winston said.
"We won't have any trash bags, rakes or things like that. We are just coordinating the event," he said.
Any hazardous materials such as paint, batteries, thinners, or solvents can be disposed of during the clean-up.
"These materials must be taken to the HAZMAT point because there is no HAZMAT pick-up capability for the cleanup," said Winston, adding that for specific information on what materials are acceptable for turn in, call 598-1311.
Winston said that the post is not doing anything new, but is trying to get everyone focusing on bulk items like tree limbs and furniture.
"We want things that are harder to dispose of that sat in the corner because no one had the time to dispose of it properly," he said. "It goes back to taking pride in Fort Rucker by its upkeep and maintaining it. The Army is trying to maintain a professional image and we want to keep the base at that level. The more we clean up now the less we have to worry about later on. It's all about beautification, that's our ultimate goal."
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