Chapter 6
6-3
Fort Hills:
Local Troop and Family
Centers
a. Post Situation and
Population
(1) Surrounding Context. Fort Hills is located in a
rural area of the Middle Western United States, in hilly
terrain. It is ninety miles from the nearest large city, but
within a few miles of two medium-sized towns. The clos-
est town has a very extensive strip development along
the long edge of the post boundary. This strip provides
some fast food operations, restaurants, bars, pawn
shops, recreation and entertainment facilities, and retail
services. These off-post services are patronized by some
of the post population, especially single troops; but most
families and others avoid this area because of its unsa-
vory reputation.
(2)
Post Mission and Population. Fort Hills is the
headquarters of an airborne division, with combat-ready
troops and intensive training activities. Esprit de corps
among personnel is high, with one of the highest reenlist-
ment rates in the Army. The military strength of the post
is 21,000. In addition, 26,000 military family members
live on and off the post, 4,000 civilians work on-post, and
80,000 retired military and their families live in the sur-
rounding area. Almost 50% of the military population is
married, and 80% of the families have children.
(3)
Geography. The post cantonment has a well-
organized masterplan (see figure 6 - 9), with a well-
developed Community Center/Main Post Center. The
proposed post administrative center is right in the center.
Most troop billeting stretches in a north-south band on
the west side of the cantonment, with recent additions at
the northern end. The troop billets are clustered in bri-
gade-size units, with open space for sports fields, gym-
nasiums and other service facilities in between. The
family housing consists of a series of neighborhoods on
the east side of the cantonment, with officers' housing at
the southern end and enlisted men and NCO's to the
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