Page 2 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior, October 2019

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Community
housing team, including RCI program manager, Sandra Key, the Villages Community Director, Adam Hay and project director with Clark Realty Capital, Megan Dougherty.
Dozens of soldiers, civilians and family members gathered at the Sandy Basin Community Center on Sept. 24 to ask questions, voice concerns and get updates on their Housing. These town halls that focus on housing are held each quarter.
BAH Breakdown
High Desert Warrior October 4, 2019
www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin
From HOUSING, Page 1
With Fort Irwin’s isolated location, the option to live off post may seem financially more appealing, even though it may be considered a geographical challenge for some. Housing representatives displayed rent fees for apartments in Barstow, Apple Valley, Victorville and Helendale, to show fees in comparison to Fort Irwin neighborhoods and the average BAH deducted for each one. There was one option shown indicating housing in Barstow would be about $100 cheaper than on-post housing. All other off-post housing costs were shown to be $100-$200 more per month, compared to the Villages. Housing reps made sure to highlight that the rent for apartments and homes in the surrounding areas did not include electricity/power, as the on-post housing does. Other amenities afforded from the Villages Housings at no fee, as opposed to off-post housing, are HOA fees, monthly pet rental charges, application fees and breaking a lease due to short orders—which can add up to about $6,300 a year in ad- ditional fees for off-post housing. Many residents say also appreciate the money they save on gas by living on post. Housing representatives also say they do not want to be considered a monopoly and are will- ing to help soldiers and their families if they prefer to move off post.
2019 Improvements
The Villages highlighted a few of the improvements that residents are currently experiencing and can still look forward to this year. They include more than 600 HVAC replacements and 300 flooring upgrades; 60 kitchen renovations to be complete and renovations of more than 200 exteriors in Calico Estates and Desert Winds, includ- ing painting, garage door openers being installed and new fencing. Crackerjack Flats also received new asphalt.
The improvements also will mean upgrades that personally affect the soldiers and families, in addition to the physical appearance of Housing. The Villages has added additional staffing, including eight more positions, with five of those being dedicated to maintenance and three focused on leasing. They’ve initiated surveys that are sent after work orders and move-ins, as well as an overall assessment of Housing every 90 days. The Villages have added a Marketing Man- ager to ensure information and events are being shared properly on as many platforms as possible. Lastly, Housing leaders have ramped up their community events to ensure there are quality activities for the residents to participate in each month.
2020 Improvements and Beyond
Here’s a look at what residents can expect next year and beyond:
• 255 more HVAC replacements
• 360 more flooring upgrades
• 100 kitchen renovations
• New asphalt in Calico Estates, then additional neighborhoods
• 220 more exterior renovations, including window
replacement in Calico Estates and Sage Brush
• Roof replacements
• In 2023, a new super playground by Miracle Recreation
• All fencing will be replaced from now through 2024
WHO WE ARE
Brig. Gen. David Lesperance
Commanding General
Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Lowe
Post CSM
Col. Jeanette Martin
Garrison Commander
Paul Fedorisin
Garrison CSM
Darryl Darden
Public Affairs Director
High Desert Warrior Staff
Janell J. Lewis Ford, Editor (760) 380-3450
Ken Drylie, Associate Editor (760) 380-3303
Jason Miller, Staff Writer/Photographer (760) 380-3073
Renita Wickes, Staff Writer/Photographer (760) 380-3078
David Dupree, Staff Writer/Photographer (760) 380-8917
Aerotech News Emma Uribe, Graphic Designer
HIGH DESERT WARRIOR
High Desert Warrior, a civilian enterprise newspaper, is an authorized publication for members of the United States Army and Fort Irwin community. Contents of this newspaper are not necessarily official view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or Fort Irwin and the National Training Center. High Desert Warrior is prepared weekly by the Public Affairs Office, National Training Center and Fort Irwin, P.O. Box 105067, Fort Irwin, CA, 92310-5067. Telephone: 380-4511 or DSN 470-4511. FAX: 380-3075.
High Desert Warrior is a digital publication, distributed monthly on Facebook, www.facebook.com/HighDesertWarrior/ as well as emailed to base personnel It is produced at Aerotech News and Review, 220 East Avenue K-4 Suite 7, Lancaster, CA 93535, (661) 945-5634.
Aerotech News and Review is a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Army and is responsible for the commercial advertising found in this publication. Everything advertised in this publication will be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national orientation, age, marital status, physical handicap or political affiliation of the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in refusal to print advertising from that source. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army of the products or services advertised.
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NEWSPAPER AWARDS
2nd Place, 2017 U.S. Army IMCOM
Newspaper Competition — Feature Photograph
Honorable Mention, 2009 U.S. Army IMCOM-West
Newspaper Competition — Tabloid category
3rd Place, 2008 Dept. of the Army
Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Newspaper Competition — Tabloid Category
SEND US FEEDBACK
Send your questions, suggestions, or problems to: 1. Your chain of command
2. ICE (Interactive Customer Evaluation)
3. CG’s Hotline: 380-5463
SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: @ntcfortirwin Facebook (NTC/Ft Irwin): @ntcFortIrwin Facebook (Public Affairs): @FtIrwin Twitter: @NTC_Update
The question of how RCI Housing (Residential Communities Initiative) distributes each Soldier’s BAH has been a recurring one and Hay provided an overview. The graphic shows the amount of BAH taken is broken down into percentages, rather than actual number amount. The chart shows that whether a soldier hypotheti- cally receives $900 or $1,500 of BAH, the same percentage of BAH will go toward administrative services, community improvements and other services, as it’s indicated.
Family Housing Comparisons
See HOUSING, Page 3
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin