By Tim Cherry
Staff Writer
Thursday, May 2, 2012

Representatives from Fort Belvoir’s Headquarters Battalion looked to enhance their partnerships with representatives from garrison partner organizations during the Installation Service Support Agreement Action Officers Meeting, April 26, at the Army Community Service building.

The meeting helps Headquarters Battalion personnel share information and address concerns with Installation Service Support Agreement partners.

About 20 representatives from tenant organizations, such as the Defense Acquisition University and Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, received updates on topics such as post construction.

“It’s good to have open dialogue to see what they’re doing and share this information with my unit,” said Master Sgt. Tadd Lambert, Night Vision senior enlisted advisor.

The meeting, which is open to all garrison tenants, occurs quarterly. The next meeting will take place in July or August.

Representatives fall under the Installation Service Support Agreement, a commitment Headquarters Battalion makes to participating organizations to provide administrative and personnel support to each partner’s daily operations. The partners, in turn, help Belvoir with garrison specific needs such as providing service members to work in the casualty assistance program. The program was a point of heavy emphasis during the meeting.

Fabian Reinoso, Directorate of Human Resources’ Casualty Affairs Office, casualty chief, expressed the garrison’s need for casualty notification officers and casualty assistance officers.

CNOs notify Families of the death of an active-duty servicemember, to include Reserve and National Guard Soldiers who are federally activated. CAOs provide 180 days of support through the grieving process.

Soldiers must be sergeant first class or above to be a CNO/CAO for enlisted Soldiers, captain or above to be a CNO/CAO for officers, and chief warrant officer two or above to be a CNO/CAO for warrant officers. Servicemembers are also required to attend three days of mandatory training, conducted by DHR.

“It’s imperative that units participate. The more people you have the less people you need to pull the duty,” said Reinoso who encourages all partners to assist regardless of unit size. “We owe that to the Soldiers and the Families of Soldiers.”

Edward Milligan, Headquarters Battalion executive officer, agrees.

“It’s a solemn duty, but it’s an important duty,” said Milligan, who believes participating officers can use the duty to learn about benefits owed to a servicemember and his or her Family.

Headquarters Battalion started ISSA meetings in 2010 and Milligan said there are about 20 support agreements out of the approximately 145 partner organizations on Belvoir.

Milligan encourages all partner units and organizations to join the meeting and help Headquarters Battalion improve the quality of services for Soldiers and civilians.

Last week’s meeting also provided partners with briefings on several service topics concerning Belvoir’s growth and development.

Gunston Road’s completion date is set for May 15, as the reconstructed road is now four lanes from 12th Street to John Kingman Road, with a new four-lane bridge connecting North and South post over Route 1/Richmond Highway.

Construction crews are also finishing paving, installing lights and placing guard rails on other roads on post.

Army & Air Force Exchange Services General Manager, Rebecca Santee informed representatives that the new Express Center on 12th Street is slated for completion in July. She also stated the new Main Post Exchange shopping center on Gorgas Road is tentatively scheduled to open in the spring of 2013.

Tenant organizations were also encouraged to take advantage the USO services on post.

The USO, currently located on Abbott Road, provides numerous services for servicemembers and their Families, such as a free lunch every Friday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The organization is also a volunteering opportunity for servicemembers and civilians.

“The ISSA meetings have provided a beneficial exchange of feedback for both the partner organizations and the Headquarters Battalion,” Milligan said.

For more information on the casualty assistance program call (703) 805-5375.

If we can post them all this one too.