Source: United States Army
FORT HOOD, Texas — Fort Hood held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the brand new Barrack 101 on May 19, the latest addition to the improvements to housing and quality of life for Soldiers at The Great Place.
The barrack is part of a project authorized and funded by Congress in fiscal year 2022. Congress appropriated $80 million, but the barrack was completed under budget at $65.5 million.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to deliver this first-class facility for the Soldiers of 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade,” said Brian Dosa, director of the Directorate of Public Works. “We had about 50 Soldiers in formation at the ceremony. When complete, they all made a beeline for the barracks, kind of like kids on Christmas morning! Their excitement and appreciation were evident and that’s why we serve. We now have 101 barracks on post, and this is the very best one.”
Sgt. Ramiro Soto Gomez, narrator for the ceremony and Soldier assigned to 69th ADA Bde., thanked the partners who assisted in the construction of the barrack during his remarks.
“We appreciate the hard work and dedication of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cerris Builders, Dominion Energy and American Water to deliver this new facility for our Soldiers, on time and below budget,” he said.
The new barrack will house Soldiers assigned to 69th ADA Bde. It can house 248 Soldiers in 124 rooms. Each room features two separate bedrooms with their own walk-in closets, and a shared bathroom and kitchenette. The kitchenette features a convection microwave, along with an electric stovetop with two burners.
There are three floors, each with its own laundry rooms and communal lounge rooms. Additionally, the first floor features a pool table, foosball table and a fully equipped fitness room while the second and third floors offer balconies.
In addition to the new barrack, there are also seven covered areas nearby complete with a grill and an outdoor fitness area for Soldiers to use.
Command Sgt. Maj. Javier Casanova, command sergeant major of 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 69th ADA Bde., noted Soldiers have expressed significant satisfaction regarding the transition into Barrack 101. Pfc. Kiresten Smith, 69th ADA Bde., agreed.
“It makes me feel more comfortable mentally,” she said of the updated rooms. “It puts me in a better space because I can make this more of my home space.”
The amenities provide a variety of new opportunities, convenience and boost morale, Smith expressed.
“It gives us the opportunity to meet other people and to talk to other people in the lounge room,” she said. “Then I like the built-in weight room; that’s nice. It saves us time, gas, money from going to the gym. We could just go downstairs and work out.”
The upgraded amenities significantly improve support for unaccompanied Soldiers’ quality of life, Casanova said.
“The completion of the new barrack facility has driven an immediate increase in morale across 1-44 ADAR, positively impacting both the Soldiers residing in the building and unit leadership,” Casanova, said. “Furthermore, its placement within the Lightning Brigade’s footprint facilitates greater leader presence and enables more effective barracks oversight.”
Barrack 101 is far from the last of the improvements to housing for Soldiers. Dosa said the next project is a 224-bed barrack planned in the 10000 block, near the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery Headquarters.