Corps delivers Fort Lee Soldier Support Center

Posted December 15, 2009
By Jerry Rogers,
Norfolk District Public Affairs

12/15/2009 - FORT LEE, Va — In a continuing effort to improve the quality of life for Soldiers assigned to Fort Lee, Col. Michael G. Morrow, the garrison commander, officially opened the new Soldier Support Center (SSC) Dec. 11.

The $26 million military construction project, managed by Norfolk District, Army Corps of Engineers, is the latest project completed at Fort Lee, under the Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC 2005 authorization.

When the final BRAC projects are completed at Fort Lee in September 2011, the Corps will have managed the construction of 32 military projects totaling an estimated $1.34 billion, said William G. Robson, P.E., the Fort Lee BRAC area engineer.

"In the last two years, Fort Lee has doubled its size with these new construction projects," said Morrow.

"Today's opening of the Soldier Support Center represents a major milestone and concept change here. We are centralizing 20 different organizations from across 10 different locations on post, to serve as a one-stop shop for in and out processing of Fort Lee personnel," Morrow added.

The highlight of the ceremony was the dedication of the auditorium in honor of the late Dwight A. Faughn, an Army retiree and former Fort Lee adjutant general and director of human resources from 1994-2007. A bust of Faughn and a plaque, inscribed Faughn Hall, was unveiled as permanent fixtures of the auditorium.

With family members in attendance, including his wife, Clyda, of 39 years, keynote speaker Esther T. Lee praised Faughn as a shining example of perseverance and devotion to duty, who daily demonstrated an unwavering desire to support the Fort Lee military community.

"Dwight truly deserves this recognition…anyone who knew him quickly discovered that he cared deeply for Soldiers," said Lee, a special project officer for the Strategic Initiatives Group, Combined Arms Support Command. Lee also worked closely with Faughn as a former Fort Lee deputy garrison commander.

On Sept. 23, 2007, Faughn lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. Maj. (ret.) Dwight A. Faughn rests in Arlington National Cemetery.

The new center is 83,876 square feet and features a 350-seat auditorium, four 100-seat classrooms and two conference centers. The center will also serve as a welcome center for visitors on post, and will be open 24 hours a day, seven days week.

Post activities housed at the Soldier Support Center include:

• Human resources directorate/adjutant general
• Casualty assistance
• Records holding /freedom of information act
• Army career and alumni program
• Permanent party personnel services
• Trainee/Student Services
• ID card/DEERS
• Retirement services
• Transition center
• Personnel automation
• Assignments/reassignments (passports/family travel)
• Army community service
• Defense military pay office
• Transportation (personal/inbound property; Carlson Wagonlit)
• Housing
• Vehicle registration
• Medical and dental activities
• Post retention