In what could truly be described as a monumental year, 2018 shined its big spotlight on the Great Place, showing the Army and the world that Fort Hood isn’t merely a place, it’s a Family working together as a team to achieve greatness.

Looking back on 2018 provides time for reflection, while creating anticipation for all the Great Place has in store for 2019.

III Corps centennial

“The remarkable bravery and sacrifices of III Corps Soldiers turned the tide of World War I and brought about victory, while also laying the foundation of success for the next 100 years,” former III Corps Deputy Commanding General Maj. Gen. JT Thomson said during the centennial ceremony on May 16, 2018.

As Fort Hood celebrated the III Corps centennial, more than 7,000 miles away, Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, III Corps and Fort Hood commander, celebrated in Baghdad, Iraq, with the III Corps troops who deployed in support of Combined Joint Taskforce – Operation Inherent Resolve.

“This group has added to an illustrious century of service of the Phantom Corps,” Funk said proudly during III Corps redeployment ceremony in September.

Instead of a day, or week of celebration, III Corps celebrated its centennial throughout the year, commencing with the unveiling of the centennial logo and concluding with Operation Phantom Warrior Salute, a two week celebration of III Corps’ centennial.

“For the last two weeks, we’ve had Operation Phantom Warrior Salute, and it’s given us the opportunity to link our past legacies to the generation of troopers who will lead us into the future,” Funk said during the conclusion of OPWS in October. “We recognize remarkable excellence and we are reminded that all change is inevitable and that nothing is guaranteed. As we remember our history over the past 100 years, I would be remiss to not highlight that one year ago today, Raqqa (Syria) was liberated by your Phantom Warrior team and that was the destruction of the so-called caliphate. ISIS is on the run and it continues.”

III Corps redeployment

Following a 13-month mission in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, III Corps troops returned to the Great Place in September.

“When our nation calls, they called for America’s hammer,” Funk said during the redeployment ceremony on Sept. 14. “For the eighth time in history, the III Armored Corps answered that call.”

III Corps Headquarters deployed to the Middle East in August 2017 to lead CJTF-OIR, a coalition of nations partnering together to defeat the terrorist organizations known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. According to U.S. Central Command, the operation name reflects the unwavering resolve and commitment of the U.S. and partner nations from around the world.

Under III Corps’ leadership, the coalition increased the capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces, collapsed pockets of ISIS fighters throughout the region, helped to clear Hawijah, Anbar and the Euphrates River Valley and liberated more than two million Iraqis and Syrians. When III Corps departed the Middle East on Sept. 13, 99 percent of the land was liberated from ISIS’ control.

“Day in and day out, your Phantom Warriors took the fight to the enemy as they tenaciously worked by, with and through our Iraqi and Syrian partners to defeat ISIS,” Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Crosby, former III Corps and Fort Hood command sergeant major, said.

With a tug of the camouflage casing enveloping the III Corps colors, Funk and Crosby officially marked the end of the III Corps deployment. Steeped in Army tradition, units case their colors when being deactivated, or deployed. In turn, the ceremonial uncasing of the unit colors signifies the unit’s return.

Hundreds of Family and friends gathered on Sadowski Parade Field on Sept. 4 and 14 to welcome home their troops, tears brimming from their eyes and pride in their hearts.

“To all the Families, thank you for your steadfast love and support,” Funk said, pointing out that while it’s the Soldiers who deploy, it’s the Families left to bear the burden, who make the greatest sacrifice. “It doesn’t matter if it’s your first homecoming or like me, it’s your sixth. Today is tremendously special.”

Wildfires

A combination of record-breaking high temperatures and no rain caused grass fires to flare up in the installation’s impact area over the summer. “The record heat and extreme dry conditions have created intense fire behavior,” explained Bob Adams, chief of operations for the Fort Hood Directorate of Emergency Services, “thus making it a challenge to extinguish fires. The fires are burning extremely hot and burn the dry vegetation very quickly.”

Live-fire gunnery exercises for munitions were suspended as ground and aerial firefighting efforts intensified. The Fort Hood Fire Department, Directorate of Emergency Services and 36th Engineer Brigade worked on the ground, creating firebreaks around the flames with bulldozers and graders. Meanwhile, aviation personnel from 166th Aviation Brigade, 35th Combat Aviation Brigade and Royal Netherlands Air Force dropped water from Bambi Buckets onto the hot spots within the impact area.

“(This has been) exceptional teamwork by all as we fight multiple fires across the range complex,” Perry said on July 25.

More than 300 people were involved in the firefighting efforts, dedicating more than 60,000 man-hours to retard the flames, which were difficult to suppress due to the high temperatures, dry conditions and low humidity.

Credentialing Assistance

“I’m proud to announce Fort Hood will be the pilot site for the Army’s new Credentialing Assistance Program,” U.S. Rep. John Carter (Texas-District 31) announced on Aug. 14.

Carter was joined by Undersecretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey, and Fort Hood officials, who said Fort Hood would be conducting the program’s limited user test, before its potential Army-wide launch in fiscal year 2020. Fort Hood was selected for the limited user test of the CAP due, in part, to its overall size, abundant amount of military occupational specialty designations and the community support of its surrounding communities. CAP will provide Soldiers up to $4,000 per year to pay for credentials needed to prepare them for a successful life outside the military.

The limited user test launched Oct. 1, with Sgt. 1st Class Ramon Edward Bayer, 89th Military Police Brigade equal opportunity advisor, as the first Phantom Warrior to successfully submit his Credentialing Assistance Program application packet.

During the test cycle, Soldiers serving on active duty at Fort Hood, as well as those serving in the Texas Army National Guard and Army Reserve will be able to choose from 28 different credentials the CAP will pay for, although there are currently more than 1,600 different credentials listed under the Credentialing Opportunities On-Line program. Dependent on how well the limited user test performs, the remaining credentials will be offered when the program is fully implemented in fiscal year 2020.

“The limited user test will serve as an indicator of the resources we need to potentially roll out a broader program across the Army, as well as gauge the interest of our Soldiers, industry and academic partners and it will provide a baseline for any future requirements we need to expand this program,” Dailey explained. “Next to academic equivalency, this is one of the most important things we can do for our Soldiers and their Families, in terms of employment and education. It’s directly tied to readiness, as well as the transition of our Soldiers.”

Dailey and Carter said their hope is for the CAP to make the transition from military to civilian life as smooth as possible. The first step is to meet with a counselor at the Fort Hood Soldier Development Center.

Peggy Stamper, education services specialist at the Fort Hood Soldier Development Center, said while the program is popular among enlisted personnel, it is especially popular with officers, because they will not incur any additional Active Duty Service Obligations during the limited user test period.

“If they want to take advantage, they need to take advantage during this initial testing period,” she added.

The program is a brainchild of Dailey’s, who said he had a vision two years ago of being able to ensure Soldiers use the well-earned skills they learned from being in the Army to transition into the civilian world. Soldier education has been an important focus of Dailey’s since he became the sergeant major of the Army in January 2015.

“This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we mean when we say Soldier for life,” Dailey said proudly. “It represents our commitment to our Soldiers and their Families, by ensuring the American values – their skills – when they take this uniform off and go home.”

Environmental wins big

For the fourth consecutive time, Fort Hood was recognized at the Army level for its environmental program and followed that victory up with a Department of Defense level win, while competing against installations from the Navy, Air Force and Marines.

In March, Fort Hood received the Secretary of the Army Award for Environmental Quality for a non-industrial installation.

“Being recognized for the fourth time as the best installation for Environmental Quality in the U.S. Army truly reflects the exceptional efforts of our Soldiers, civilians, Family members and committed professionals across the installation,” Col. Hank Perry, Fort Hood garrison commander, said after the win. “I am extremely fortunate to be a part of a community that demonstrates a commitment to balancing mission readiness and environmental stewardship.”

One example of the installation’s successes is its Net Zero Waste initiative to eliminate landfill waste by the year 2020. Military and civilian units and housing residents are challenged to implement strategies to reduce, repurpose and recycle within their footprints. Competitions for the best recycling and composting programs along with community support had many positive results.

An extension of the Net Zero Waste initiative is Fort Hood’s successful recycle program that not only provides environmental benefits, but also economic benefits. The recycle center’s upgrade to a single-stream facility made recycling easy and simple by allowing for materials to be comingled. Stakeholders’ access to recycle containers in more than 500 locations help to recycle more than 10 million pounds of recyclable materials annually. “Having the support of the Fort Hood leadership is key as well so that we can continue to bring new ideas to the table and continue to improve the recycle program to better serve the Fort Hood community,” Michael Bush, business operations manager, Fort Hood Recycle, said.

“We appreciate the support of our Soldiers and their Families to do the right thing and recycle as much as possible.”

After winning at the Army level, Fort Hood competed at the DoD level against installations within the Navy, Air Force and Marines, once again coming up victorious for the Secretary of the Defense Award for Environmental Quality.

Hailed at the champion of waste reduction, Fort Hood created a variety of policies, programs and projects which placed them far above the other installations. Fort Hood’s comprehensive environmental program extends beyond the installation’s borders, encouraging the greater Fort Hood community in their environmental efforts.

Additionally, spanning across 132 acres on West Fort Hood is a field of 63,000 solar panels.

Together, with the help of 21 wind turbines in the Texas panhandle, Fort Hood created the Army’s first and largest hybrid renewable energy project. Currently, more than 40 percent of Fort Hood’s annual power comes from renewable energy.

“Fort Hood serves as a role model for military and civilian communities to achieve tangible economic and environmental results,” Bobby Lynn, chief of the Energy Management Branch, said. “By becoming less dependent on the grid, we can assure energy resources are available to sustain the mission.”