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Quarters are tight for returning Strykers, incoming soldiers

Nov-29-2006 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

By Margaret Friedenauer, Daily News-Miner

A combination of immediate and long-term growth on Fort Wainwright Army Post has Army officials pushing for more housing in the community and borough officials promising the needs will be met.

The short-term housing dilemma has been caused in large part by the four-month extension of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Iraq. The brigade was scheduled to return to Alaska in August but instead had its tour extended so the unit could be moved to Baghdad to help quell violence there.

But the arrival of another group of soldiers in Fairbanks wasn’t delayed. Those soldiers are in Fairbanks to replace those with the 172nd who, upon their return to Fort Wainwright, are retiring or moving to other Army assignments. Now that the 172nd is returning, there is an overlap of soldiers, putting the post at 170 percent strength.

There’s a big-time housing crunch.

To ease the immediate problem, Fort Wainwright has secured 400 area hotel rooms for the next four to six months for incoming and outgoing soldiers and families.

The use of hotel rooms eases the temporary problem. The hotels enjoy a boost in revenue during a usually slow winter season. According to Lori Smith, operations manager with the Regency Hotel, which is leasing 103 rooms to the Army, the situation is much like tourist season, with an influx for a few months. Smith said she hired more housekeeping and restaurant staff to meet the needs of the soldier guests.

Smith said hotels likely would not have been able to accommodate the request if it was summer.

While hotels are providing a solution to the short-term housing problem, the long-term housing situation also presents challenges for the post.


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