March 16, 2007

Residents Give Housing and Picerne High Marks

By Scarlett Miller

Picerne Military Housing, Fort Bragg’s on-post housing provider, ranked two out of 35 installations for property management and maintenance services on the Army’s annual privatized housing survey.

More than 900 on-post families completed the 2006 Army Resident Opinion Survey and awarded Picerne an impressive average of 3.75 out of 4 points for overall satisfaction with services.

Sharon Williams, community management director for Picerne Military Housing said, “These scores reflect the real service improvements Picerne is making to on-post housing at Fort Bragg.”

In August 2003, the Army selected Picerne Military Housing for a 50 year partnership to develop, build, maintain and manage Fort Bragg’s on-post family housing. During the past three years, Picerne has built more than 500 new homes on Fort Bragg, renovated more than 1,000 homes and completed more than 150,000 maintenance requests.

At Fort Bragg, Picerne manages nine neighborhoods and more than 4,000 homes. Picerne has also partnered with the Army to privatize housing at four other installations: Fort Meade, Fort Polk, Fort Riley and Fort Rucker.

Kurt Ehlers, program director for Picerne Military Housing said, “Privatization is working. In just three years at Fort Bragg, Picerne has improved the quality of life for Soldiers and their families in an obvious way. We’re renovating homes, building new homes and turning ‘housing areas’ into real neighborhoods.”

In overall satisfaction with their total housing experience, Fort Bragg’s residents rated their experience fifth out of 35 installations, up from ninth last year.

Picerne also received a ranking of three out of 35 installations regarding the benefit of military housing privatization. Prior to 2003, family housing at Fort Bragg was managed by the Army and not by a private company.

During the past year, Picerne has opened two 11,000 square foot neighborhood centers. These centers offer on-post families access to recreational and fitness facilities and well-designed spaces to host gatherings and meetings.

During the summer of 2006, Picerne’s two swimming pools at the neighborhood centers had more than 20,000 resident visits.

Picerne plans to open a third neighborhood center next month in the Casablanca neighborhood.

Cathy Cameron, deputy community management director for Picerne said, “We are finally starting to see the positive impact that our homes and neighborhood centers can have on military families. Next year, six neighborhood centers will be open, and it will be exciting to see how Fort Bragg families embrace them.”

She added, “I expect our survey results to continue improving in coming years as a direct result of the outstanding services and amenities we will provide. We’re proud of this year’s results, but we’ve got more work to do.”

Next year’s survey is scheduled to be mailed to on-post residents nationwide next spring.

February 21, 2007

Reasons to Stay On Post During a Deployment

Deployments are stressful for Army families.  Many spouses choose to move back home, but there are great benefits to staying on post during a deployment. 

For those who have become accustomed to living independently, moving back in with family can be surprisingly unpleasant.  Some parents cannot relate to their child’s worries for their deployed spouse.

Unless you have a mother, father or close relative who has been in the military during wartime, it is really hard.  That is probably the hardest thing that spouses find out when they choose to move home during a deployment.  Their families sometimes have the attitude that you’re home now and you need to get over it,” said Donna Degidio, a battalion Family Readiness Group (FRG) advisor.

FRGs are command sponsored organizations of family members, volunteers, Soldiers and civilians which create a support network for military families. 

Families who choose to stay on post can take advantage of their proximity to Family Readiness Groups. 

Kelly Douglas, a former FRG leader said, “As their name implies, Family Readiness Groups work to ensure families are ready and well-prepared to cope with the demands of military life.”

FRGs are especially important during times of deployment. They encourage social interaction and host events to help families feel connected to one another.

 “Moving frequently makes it hard for military families to form meaningful friendships. FRGs work to ensure that families and spouses of deployed Soldiers do not feel isolated.  Often, just talking to someone who understands what you’re going through can be a tremendous comfort,” said Douglas.

FRGs are also a great resource.  Many FRG leaders have an expert knowledge of community resources, answers and advice for younger families.

Sally Bean, who is the team leader for the Family Readiness Group Assistance Program, said, “This post has an incredible amount of support services for family members that can’t be found in the civilian community.  If you’re having a problem in any area, we have a group or know a group that can help you with that.” 

FRGs also act as safety nets in the event of an emergency.  Family members can call their FRGs to help deal with unexpected crises like car repairs, moving, illnesses and deaths.

Most importantly, FRGs act as a network of communication from the chain of command to family members of deployed Soldiers.  When deployed, only a few military personnel have access to phones, email or video teleconferencing capabilities.  FRGs are often the only link to distribute up-to-date information about the status of deployed troops. 

Degidio, who has been married to LTC Don Degidio for 19 years, said, “I strongly feel that families should stay put during a deployment. If you’re married to someone who is planning on making a career out of the military, the sooner you accept it and become a part of military life the better off you will be.”

Access to affordable healthcare and dental care is another reason to stay during a deployment.  Those who choose to move away from Fort Bragg and the Womack Army Medical Center for an extended period of time may need to change their TRICARE plan or region.  In some locations, TRICARE will not cover some services. 

Families who move will also lose convenient access to administrative services like those located in the Fort Bragg Soldier Support Center.  Many support agencies prefer face-to-face contact when resolving issues regarding leave and earnings statements, Army Emergency Relief funds, military identification cards, allotments, reimbursements and childcare. 

In addition, families who move will lose access to MWR agencies like Army Community Services (ACS).  ACS offers workshops and classes to help spouses deal with stress, get jobs and manage personal finances.   

What’s more, low cost childcare and activities for kids like those provided by Child and Youth Services (CYS) and the Tolson Youth Activities Center can be a nearly irreplaceable resource for families during deployments.  These services help give parents time to relax or run errands without the kids.  

Removing children from school or other social networks can also create unnecessary stress for children.  Some kids act out or misbehave while one of their parents is deployed.  Keeping regular routines and continuing to live in the same environment can help reduce children’s stress levels. 

Sally Bean, said, “As a parent, I feel like keeping kids in their normal home environment reduces the amount of change and gives kids more security.  Mom or dad may not be there, but everything else should stay the same.”

 On-post programs like ACS, CYS and the chaplain’s office also offer advice and counseling to help parents and children cope with their feelings.  These vital services are not available to families who move away during deployments.

Saving money is one of the main reasons many families choose to move back home, but in many cases, moving can be very expensive.  Tax-free shopping at the commissary and PX is unavailable away from post, and inexpensive entertainment is hard to come by.  A reduced-price movie theatre, bowling alley and ice skating rink are all centrally located at Fort Bragg.    

Furthermore, the Army will not reimburse travel and storage costs for non-essential moves.  Financial penalties may also penalize families who break their on or off-post housing lease agreements. 

Picerne Military Housing, Fort Bragg’s on-post family housing provider, offers several ways to help keep families connected during deployments.  On-post residents may host family members or other guests for up to 30 consecutive days. 

Douglas, who is communications manager for Picerne Military Housing, said, “We want our residents to have strong ties both with their families and with Army support groups.”
Picerne’s Neighborhood Centers are equipped with computer labs and video messaging kiosks to help families keep in touch. 

During deployments, even the smallest home repairs can become burdens.  Families who live on post have access to Picerne Military Housing’s 24-hour emergency maintenance services.  Picerne’s lawn maintenance services also help eliminate the additional burden of mowing the grass. 

Douglas said, “During Desert Storm, Fayetteville was like a ghost town.  We’ve noticed that this war is different because more and more families are staying to take advantage of improved resources and support networks.”

Bean also added, “Over the years, I’ve found that one of the most rewarding parts of being a military family member has been living in a military community because of the friendships and support in both the good and the bad times.”

For more information about on-post family housing, visit www.picernemilitaryhousing.com

December 9, 2006

Picerne Partners to Bring Children 50 bikes, 6 computers

Picerne Military Housing’s Casablanca / Anzio Acres Neighborhood Center resembled Santa’s workshop Saturday morning as balloons, bicycles and computers lined the walls of the indoor half-court gymnasium.

The Tiffany Pines Community Outreach Center (TPCOC), a local non-profit agency, awarded 50 bikes and 6 computers to Fort Bragg children at a ceremony held in the Neighborhood Center on December 9.

“One of the children who received a computer almost left tears in my eyes. That’s what keeps me going and doing this year after year.” said Ann Mathis, co-founder of the TPCOC.

The TPCOC selected the 56 winners based on the total household income and the number of children in each household.

“I went through those applications, but seeing those people in person made it so much more meaningful. They looked like they really appreciated what we were doing.” said Mathis.

Each family was eligible to receive up to two bicycles or a computer depending on the age of the children in the home.

Nakeya Hardin, an eighth grader at Albritton Junior High School , was awarded a refurbished computer.

Nakeya’s mother, Jenine Hardin, said, “We have a computer, but it’s so old and outdated that we have to go to the library. This is one less Christmas present we’ll have to buy.”

Since 1991, the TPCOC has awarded more than 8,000 bicycles and 150 computers to local children, but this is the first year the program has been open to children living on post.

Maria Montalvo, executive director of the Our Family for Families First foundation said, “We’re very proud of the fact that we were able bring this wonderful program to the children of Fort Bragg .”

Our Family for Families First is a private, charitable foundation established by John G. Picerne, president and CEO of Picerne Military Housing.

In November, the foundation donated $7,500 to the Tiffany Pines Community Outreach Center .

Spc. Clayton Deyo’s 8-year-old son Christian received a bike. Deyo said, “It’s awesome that they actually gave him a bike through the housing department. We appreciate it. All these kids are going to have fun.”

Families who attended the bicycle and computer give-away ceremony enjoyed juice, pastries and doughnuts. Domino’s Pizza also generously donated 20 large pizzas and 20 orders of CinnaStix.

A volunteer committee of Picerne employees chose to adopt the TPCOC for its many outstanding programs. Planning for the Saturday event began four months ago.

Committee members met during lunch breaks to organize the event and volunteered on Saturday mornings at the TPCOC to help prepare the donated bikes.

Kim Hanna, a committee member, said, “Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces and knowing the difference that these bicycles and computers are going to make in their lives was a truly gratifying experience.”

For more information about Our Family for Families First, visit www.ourfamilyforfamiliesfirst.org .

September 16, 2006

Picerne Employee Wins Prestigious Army Spouse Award

Many of Fort Bragg ’s heroes do not wear uniforms. Volunteers devote countless hours behind the scenes to serving Army families.

On September 14, in the Hall of Heroes, 15 Army spouses received the prestigious Dr. Mary E. Walker Award for outstanding volunteer service.

The award is named for the only woman in U.S. history to receive the Medal of Honor. Walker was a humanitarian devoted to the care and treatment of the sick and wounded during the Civil War.

Picerne Military Housing, Fort Bragg ’s on-post family housing provider, is pleased to announce that Carol Dobbs received the Dr. Mary E. Walker award for her commitment to improving the quality of life for Army families.

Dobbs works as a resident service specialist in Picerne’s Ardennes Neighborhood.

Tonia Barnes , the manager of the Ardennes Neighborhood said, “Carol is the epitome of putting Families First. She always helps others before she even thinks about herself.”

In 2005, Dobbs devoted more than 500 hours to volunteering. She delivered baby bundles to new mothers, helped organize food drives and volunteered for numerous Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) activities.

In 2004, Dobbs also acted as Picerne Military Housing’s fundraising campaign manager for the Cumberland County United Way .

Dobbs said, “Volunteering is an extension of what I do for a living. I always go home with a feeling that I have helped military families.”

For 16 years, Dobbs has helped lead Family Readiness Groups (FRG). She has acted as FRG key caller, co-leader and leader.

“I know what it was like to be a private’s wife and not know anything about the Army. When you’ve grown up in the ranks like I have, you see the need to help people and share knowledge,” said Dobbs, who has been married to 1 st Sgt. Benny Dobbs Jr. for 20 years. Dobbs’ husband is currently deployed to Iraq .

Dobbs’ brother, Chief Warrant Officer Delynn Gibson, is also in the Army, stationed in Kentucky .

Dobbs grew up in Monticello , Ky. where she was neighbors with the man who would become her husband.

While her family was stationed at Fort Knox during Desert Storm and Desert Shield, Dobbs worked to establish a family support group for her hometown’s Army National Guard unit. For this accomplishment, Dobbs received a letter of commendation from Kentucky Governor Paul Patton.

Dobbs said, “Soldiers give a lot and they don’t ask for a lot in return. If my volunteering is any help to them, then I think I owe it to them.”

Dobbs also added, “Being a military spouse is the best job you can have really. I feel honored to be recognized.”

At Fort Bragg , Picerne Military Housing employs 38 military dependents and former or retired service members.

August 1, 2006

Picerne to sponsor $40,000 scholarships and $5,000 grants

Our Family for Families First strives to support the educational goals of spouses and children of our active duty Soldiers. $40,000 college scholarships and $5,000 educational grants are available to spouses and children of active duty Soldiers stationed at Fort Meade, Fort Bragg, Fort Polk, Fort Rucker and Fort Riley. The first scholarships and grants will be awarded for 2007. Applications are due October 31, 2006.

As part of John Picerne's personal commitment to Families First TM he has created a private charitable foundation called Our Family for Families First . This foundation will serve Army families and the local communities surrounding the installations where Picerne Military Housing serves as the Army's developer-partner.

Qualifying Army families do not have to reside in Picerne Military Housing homes but do have to be stationed at one of Picerne Military Housing’s five installations: Fort Meade , Fort Bragg , Fort Polk , Fort Rucker , or Fort Riley .

Under the Our Family for Families First education program, scholarships and grants will be awarded as follows:

• 4-Year Scholarships
• Open to graduating high-school students
• 4-year university or college
• $10,000 per year for 4 years