Chapter 6
Fort Sands:
Main Post Center and
Family Center
a. Post Situation and
Population
(1) Surrounding Context. Fort Sands is located in an
isolated desert area of the Western United States. The
terrain is flat, with sparse vegetation and rocky soil. Hot
winds make unprotected outdoor areas uncomfortable.
Distant views of mountains to the north provide a wel-
comed relief to the landscape. The nearest town is forty
miles away along a barren road, and provides only minor
services to the post population.
(2) Post Mission and Population. Fort Sands is a
training facility for desert warfare. Large contingents of
troops visit from other posts, and spend weeks at a time
away from the Fort Sands cantonment, on maneuvers in
the installation's vast training grounds. The population of
the post is rapidly increasing to the projected permanent
party strength of 3,200. Housing units for 1,000 families
are anticipated on post, which will leave roughly 1,000
more military families living off-post, but still dependent
on the post for many services. Of the 3,000 children
among these families, on-post and off, approximately
30% are of school age and 70% younger.
(3) Geography. As one enters along the main road
from the south, the general organization is apparent.
Post headquarters and troop housing are to the right,
with operations and support areas to the east and the
north. Family housing areas, including trailer sites are to
the left, with two elementary schools and a future high
school sited (see figure 6 - 34). However, the existing
community and service facilities are dispersed, creating
no sense of a center for the installation.
Page 6-40 DG 1110-3-142
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