FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Staff members with Installation Management Command (IMCOM) and Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) held sensing sessions with soldiers and families to gain insight on the quality of life on Fort Irwin, Dec. 2-6. Fort Irwin is one of the Army’s three initial installations to assess, along with Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and Fort Polk, Louisiana.The IMCOM team led by Matt Margotta, Chief Mission Support, G9 IMCOM, held discussions with lower, mid-level and senior soldiers along with their spouses to gain insight for better options that could improve the quality of life.
“Our intent is to get your feedback to turn this assignment into an installation of choice,” said Margotta. “We serve as your voice for the Army’s senior leadership.”
Several topics were mentioned by soldiers and spouses during the sessions, such as spousal employment, housing improvements, childcare availability and more variety for dining establishments.
Before leaving the installation, the team briefed the findings to Brig. Gen. David A. Lesperance, Commanding General of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin. The quality of life team plans to brief their findings to IMCOM and Army Material Command senior leadership.
While the Army is “focused on quality of life at every installation,” it is “conducting initial assessments at three installations: Fort Wainwright, Fort Polk and Fort Irwin,” Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Crystal Boring said in an email. She said the Army’s goal is to make each of the Army’s installations an “installation of choice” for soldiers and families.