Garrison Support for Barracks Transition

Army and installation leaders recently inspected the living conditions in the Volar style barracks in the Smoke Bomb Hill area at Fort Bragg and directed immediate action to ensure the safety and quality of life of our Soldiers.

There are two possibilites for why you may be moving. The first is that the Volar barracks you live in have been identified for replacement or renovation. The second is that your unit is consolidating its footprint to accommodate Soldiers relocating from the Volar barracks.

If you currently live in the Volar style barracks, Fort Bragg Garrison and your unit are coordinating to move you as quickly as possible to other barracks or provide, based on rank or promotion status, Basic Allowance for Housing.

If you are relocating and are not currently in the Volar barracks, it is likely that your unit is consolidating its footprint. Fort Bragg may also be offering some Soldiers, based on rank or promotion status, Basic Allowance for Housing, to open space for the Soldiers relocating from the Volar barracks.

Fort Bragg Army Garrison is providing support through its agencies to assist units and Soldiers to relocate with moving options, financial resources, and inspections. We are coordinating with the affected units, Corvias, and community leaders to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Army and installation leaders recently inspected the living conditions in the Volar-style barracks in the Smoke Bomb Hill area at Fort Bragg and directed immediate action to ensure the safety and quality of life of our Soldiers.

Soldiers living in the 1970's era Volar style barracks are being relocated to other barracks or are being provided Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), based on rank or promotion status, to move into on-post Corvias managed housing areas or off-post housing.

To facilitate this, units have been tasked to consolidate their unit spaces to make space for Soldiers living in the SBH barracks and to maintain unit integrity. This means that some Soldiers not living in the SBH barracks will also need to move during this phased approach.

Fort Bragg Army Garrison is providing support through its agencies to assist units and Soldiers to relocate with moving options, financial resources, and inspections. We are coordinating with the affected units, Corvias, and community leaders to make the transition as smooth as possible.

The Army is providing Transportation Assistance and Financial Assistance. Their description is below: 

Transportation Assistance Available:

There are two available moving options, a personally procured move (PPM) or a contracted moving company. Both options will be 100 percent reimbursed. For those conducting a PPM, transportation can provide a vehicle if you do not have your own.

The regularly scheduled shuttle buses are available to transport Soldiers. In addition, units can request additional transportation options for Soldiers that have been displaced outside of the unit footprint.

Financial Assistance Available:

All Soldiers will be reimbursed for their moves and receive a partial dislocation allowance.

Soldiers that receive a certificate of non-availability have the option to receive up to three months of advanced BAH to cover first and last month’s rent and deposits.

Additionally, corporations and local communites have pledged further assistance. The non-governmental assistance is displayed in another section of this page.

You have been told you are relocating to another barracks or room within your barracks. Fort Bragg Garrison is coordinating with the commands involved to ensure the Directorate of Public Works Housing Office, the vacating command and the gaining command inspect the space you are moving to and confirm it meets expectations. Further, you will have an opportunity to inspect your room and annotate issues for repair prior to move-in. If there are life, health, or safety issues, they will be addressed. 

You will receive a briefing where your command and Fort Bragg Garrison agencies, such as Military Finance, Transportation and DPW Housing, explain the mechanics and provided support for your successful move. This is also an opportunity to bring issues forward to be addressed by the panel.

Depending on your grade or promotion status, you may be offered a Certificate of Non-Availability. This allows you to sign a lease off-post.

You should work with your command, Finance and DPW Housing to complete the approval. Please ensure you follow all the steps to this process, as there are several. The command letter is the start to the process and is not the final approval. If you enter a lease prematurely, you may be liable for the lease without receiving BAH. 

Soldiers that are offered a CNA will receive support to move. Transportation has two available options, a personally procured move or a contracted moving company. Military Finance is offering up to three months advanced BAH to cover first and last month’s rent and deposits and a partial dislocation allowance. The Airborne Attic may also be able to assist with temporary furniture. 

See the quick tabs and other links below for services available to Soldiers.

Depending on your grade or promotion status, you may be offered a Certificate of Non-Availability. This allows you to sign a lease with Corvias for on-post housing.

You should work with your command, Finance, DPW Housing and Corvias to complete the approval. Please ensure you follow all the steps to this process, as there are several.

Soldiers that are offered a CNA will receive support to move. Transportation has two available options, a personally procured move or a contracted moving company. Houses provided by Corvias will come fully furnished.

See the quick tabs and other links below for services available to Soldiers.

Molds are microscopic organisms found everywhere in the environment, both indoors and outdoors. Moisture and humidity make mold overgrowth a problem in some buildings. Molds produce spores, which are released in the air and can cause allergy symptoms in some people. Most molds are harmless, but some can cause infections, allergy symptoms and produce toxins. Mold usually appears as colored, woolly mats and often produce a foul, musty, earthy smell.

Molds love moisture and need to have a food source. Good food sources for molds are cloth, wood, and wallboard. When there is moisture that is not dried promptly (for example, a burst pipe or leaking windows in rain storms), molds move in and reproduce quickly. In humid environments, keeping surfaces dry enough to prevent mold growth can be quite a challenge.

Molds produce spores, which are invisible and small enough to travel through the air and into your lungs. You can also be exposed to mold by skin contact.

The most common health problem from molds is allergy symptoms, including runny nose, scratchy throat, itchy eyes, sneezing, and in more severe cases, wheezing and coughing. Wheezing is a serious symptom that may mean asthma, and should be evaluated by a health care provider. Allergy symptoms from mold are more common in people who already have allergy problems. Some people exposed to mold report flulike symptoms, dizziness and other nonallergic symptoms, but the cause is unknown. Although molds can produce toxins (“mycotoxins”) research so far has not shown a connection between these and non-allergic symptoms.

Any obvious water leaks or similar sources of moisture should be corrected promptly to prevent mold growth. Visible mold on hard surfaces such as tile or vinyl should be removed through surface cleaning with a detergent or soap solution. Mold on porous materials such as ceiling tile or wallboard requires replacement of the contaminated materials, and may need professional removal with appropriate worker protection. If you live in government housing, you should contact your facility manager for assistance.

Visible mold in your work area should be reported to your supervisor, who will bring it to the attention of the industrial hygienist (643-2447 or 396-7595), your facility manager or DPW at 396-0321. Mold should be removed, and causes of the growth, such as water leaks must be corrected to prevent further growth. Any obvious water leaks or similar sources of moisture should be corrected promptly to prevent mold growth.

You should make note of the timing of the symptoms and see a health care provider for evaluation. Occupational Health (396- 2881) may be contacted for symptoms due to work-related exposures. One benefit of this approach is that the onsite clinicians can work as a team with the industrial hygienist (IH) in evaluating your work area. Ask your supervisor to contact Industrial Hygiene and request a survey.

Surveys and assessments may take up to 10 business days to complete; however, the IH will provide verbal & electronic information needed for occupant-required corrective actions and DPW work order requests. Although formal reports are provided, customers will not need to wait for their report to take corrective action.

DO watch for condensation and wet spots. Call-in or fix source(s) of moisture problem(s) as soon as possible.

DO call-in or fix leaky plumbing and leaks in the building as soon as possible.

DO Keep heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) drip pans clean, flowing properly, and unobstructed.

DO submit work request to DPW to vent moisture-generating appliances, such as dryers, to the outside.

DON’T leave outside doors and windows open while air conditioning your barracks. The warm moist air from outside will condense on cool interior walls and promote mold growth.

DON’T block AC vents to regulate room temperature. This will throw the AC unit out of balance and create a Moisture problem which helps mold to grow.

DON’T mix clorox and ammonia when cleaning mold. This will generate toxic gases and cause serious harm to you and others. Use detergents to clean mold.

Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, YOU can handle the job yourself.

1. Report all plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely.

2. Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. Use Gloves and goggles while cleaning.

3. Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult to remove completely.

4. Avoid exposing yourself or others to mold.

5. Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces. Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel. If the moldy area is greater than 10 square feet, contact your building manager.