NEWS

The Army adapts to face new threats and working during the COVID-19 pandemic is no different. Sgt. 1st Class Donald Castelow, a senior drill sergeant in Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, and a panel member on the latest virtual town hall, recently described how those changes are affecting Basic Combat Training on Fort Jackson.

Most Soldiers are familiar with the Garrison Housing Services Office on Fort Jackson. It is one of the first stops a Soldier will make when in-processing and out-processing the installation. What some may not know are the additional services available for those who choose to reside off-post or purchase a home in the local community.

Through mutual coordination efforts of the Army Training and Doctrine Command and Fort Jackson’s Plans and Operations offices, private charter planes and buses were secured to transport the graduating classes. Each plane and bus was cleaned and sanitized to Center for Disease Control and Army Preventive Medicine standards. Each driver, crew member and pilot screened for virus signs and symptoms as well as their temperatures taken.

Brig. Gen. Milford H. “Beags” Beagle Jr., Fort Jackson commander, announced May 6 that Child and Youth Services will reopen to mission essential personnel June 1.

Newly arrived trainees to 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment meet their drill sergeants and receive instruction for wearing cloth face coverings throughout their future training.

Fort Jackson housing residents have come together in many ways during the pandemic. One group came together to purchase fresh produce, while another Fort Jackson Family is helping in a completely different way - sewing and providing free face masks.

Brig. Gen. Milford H. “Beags” Beagle Jr., Fort Jackson commander and Post Command Sgt. Maj. Jerimiah Gan announced April 30 the installation’s plans to move toward “steady state” operations in near the future. There is no specific date set to reach this goal.

As the weather gets warmer and spring cleaning kicks into high gear, the Garrison Housing Office and the Installation Safety Office are asking on-post housing residents to take the necessary precautions before starting any cleaning or maintenance project.