Growth planning part of culture shift

By David W. Kuhns Sr., Northwest Guardian

Fort Lewis has been undergoing a population boom. The most amazing result of the growth is how little most people are affected.

This summer the military population permanently assigned to the post will approach 30,000. That is more than have been stationed here in 30 years. It is a 50 percent increase over where we were just six or seven years ago. And that Soldier population is accompanied by even greater numbers of family members. Then toss in an increased civilian work force and the annual influx of Warrior Forge cadets and support units ... it’s a real flood.

You would think people would be screaming about problems obtaining needed services. But what are the complaints about? Traffic.

Now I don’t like sitting immobile in my car any more than anyone else does. But while getting in and out of the gates might be a problem, that congestion pales compared to the problems we could be experiencing.

I remember the problems I saw when Fort Hood, where I was assigned in the early 1980s, saw a much smaller proportionate increase. If you needed to go to CIF to get issued some TA-50 then, you had to plan on spending the day. Going to the commissary on a Saturday? You had to get there early just to be assured of getting a cart and inside you figured on a wait in line of 45 minutes to an hour. It was the same for everything: whatever you needed, you had to wait, if you could get it at all.

Why are things better, 25 years later? Because the Army learned the lessons of those past problems. This time, planners actually planned, rather than reacting after problems arose.

The current surge in population wasn’t unexpected. It was identified long before the numbers started to go up. And smart people went to work on solutions before the problems began.

Plans were put into place to speed up construction of planned facilities. Contracts were pushed through for other necessary additions, too. In some cases, workers were busy around the clock to prepare for the influx of Soldiers and family members. Every directorate and agency on post has taken part in the effort, too.

From the Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, to the Post Exchange, from Housing to Range Control — hard-working individuals and teams continue to look ahead for potential problems and to seek innovative solutions. The ongoing accomplishments here are part of a larger shift in Army culture.

The ceremonies held around the Army to commemorate the signing of the Family Covenant were more than just hollow symbolism. Leaders from the highest level down know that service in the Army asks a lot of Soldiers. In return the Army has an obligation to do as much to ensure a high quality of life as it can.

So now we can ask Fort Lewis residents about the problems they experience as Fort Lewis goes through unprecedented growth and all they can think of is traffic.

Now I know that those in charge are working hard on that one too. It’s a tough nut to crack; there are only so many roads and so many gates to get on and off post. But I bet things get better soon. There are a bunch of good people dedicated to making it happen.