Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior, April 2019

Volume 15, Number 4 Published in the interest of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin community • www.irwin.army.mil April 5, 2019
Gearing up for busier-than-normal PCS season
CommandingGeneral,Garrisonleaders, HousingpreparesponsorsandSoldiersforsummer2019’spermanentchangeofstationperiod
Story and Photos by Janell J. Lewis Ford
Garrison Public Affairs
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Each summer at Fort Irwin makes way for a busy PCS (permanent change of sta- tion) season and Commanding Brig. Gen. Jeffery Broadwater said there will be even more traffic at the National Training Center this summer of 2019.
Soldiers, residents and sponsors were asked to attend the CG’s Spon- sorship and PCS Town Hall on April 1, to prepare everyone for what is gearing up to be a busier-than-normal PCS period. The difference this sum- mer is that there is an additional summer rotation that will occur, keeping many soldiers and families here for a longer period of time. At the same time, families who were due to PCS to Fort Irwin will still be arriving, so overall, an overlap will occur with those who will be PCS- ing later than originally scheduled. When you account for the number of soldiers PCSing in, versus those leaving Fort Irwin between June and August, there are a little more than a 100 additional families on post over those three months.
The Town Hall included an abun- dance of helpful information, includ- ing briefings from the Department of Emergency Services, DENTAC, MEDDAC, the MWR and Housing.
Some of the key elements and changes for Soldiers/families arriving: 1. Secure your on-post housing before you arrive and as soon as you receive your PCS orders; reserve RV Park space, if needed (there may not
be RV Park availability)
2. Secure a room with the on-post
lodging accommodations, the Land- mark Inn or On-Base Suites, well in advance of your arrival
3. Make sure your medical status is transferred to TriCare West and ensure children have a recent physical before arriving or as soon as they arrive for CYS requirements
4. Schools: All forms for informa- tion and registration are located at silvervalley.k12.ca.us
5. CYS: Request a CYS Checklist and register dependents with military- childcare.com for waitlist, as well as CYS webtac (before arrival)
6. Have Parent Central Services at current duty station, transfer digital records to new station
7. Register your weapons
8. Have proof of vaccinations for pets
9. Visit CPAC/SFL-TAP for re- sume and job assistance, as well as USAJobs.gov and NAF Human Re- sources for jobs (for spouses): (760) 380-6227; Register with the MWR if you have a special skill or service (spouses)
10. Attend the weekly new resident orientations each Friday at 10 a.m. in Bldg. 109 (Soldier and Spouse)
Some of the key elements and changes for Soldiers/families who are moving away:
1. Provide Housing with your orders within seven days of receiving them and give a 30-day notice to vacate to Housing
2. Schedule a pre-move out/walk through, and final-move out/walk through
3. Visit the Personal Property Processing Office (create application in move.mil)
4. Clearing process begins 10, working days prior to the beginning of PCS leave
5. Get evaluation, military and civilian public service awards in order
Surgeon General of the Army visits NTC, speaks with community, command teams
by Lt. Col. Jim McWherter and Maj. William Edmonds
MeDCoM
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Lt. Gen. Nadja West, the Army Surgeon General and Commanding General of MEDCOM, toured the Defense Department’s only LEED Platinum hospi- tal while visiting Fort Irwin for two days on March 13 and 14.
Construction of Weed Army Community Hospital (WACH) was complete in October. 2017 and the tour fo- cused on the challenges and initiatives of the hospital’s key services. West concentrated on the human element of health care delivery as she met with staff in the Pharmacy, Primary Care Medical Home, Behavioral Health, Labor and Deliver, and the Emergency department, observing and engaging with the 2/1 ID medical personnel.
Following the hospital tour, West and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Gragg hosted a Town Hall for MEDDAC staff and Fort Irwin beneficiaries to address the Military Health Sys-
tems’ transition to the Defense Health Agency and concerns surrounding healthcare delivery. The team provided insight to a crowd of more than 250 people on the driving factors behind the transition and the importance of healthcare in the Army’s focus on readiness. The event wrapped up with West recognizing a few of the MEDDAC’s outstanding team members for their significant contributions to Fort Irwin. The town hall was captured on video and can be viewed on Fort Irwin’s National Training Center YouTube page and on Facebook.com/FtIrwin.
On her final day, West, along with Gragg visited Role I and Role II to observe live medical training and telemedicine capabilities. While at Role I, they observed medical training with two amputees that stressed the medical capabilities of the 5-4 CAV squadron aid station. Additionally, while observing the training, both discussed the importance of readiness, and Soldier lethality, transitioning to the Defense Health Agency, and focusing on medical and warrior task competencies. While
Casey Slusser
Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Santiago,, Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Gragg, Lt. Gen. West and Weed Army Community Hospital Commander, Col. Larry France, pose together after the Army’s 44th Surgeon General’s Town Hall with the community.
See VISIT, Page 17