Fort Bliss Monitor

Troop Talk

Many of the questions I received when I visited the 108th and 11th Brigade have been answered in previous Troop Talks and I will include the subject with dates at the end of this column. Other inquiries about RCI, personnel assignments, day care, and infrastructure will be addressed in future columns.

One of the inquiries I received was why the dental clinic did not refer orthodontic patients out to be treated by specialists in the local community? The DENTAC commander has provided the following information regarding treatment. For active duty personnel, the availability of orthodontic care for active duty Soldier’s at their current duty assignment will determine if the service can be provided. If available, the severity of the conditions is used as a basis to prioritize patients. The military orthodontist will not begin care for minimal or moderate cases unless the care will fulfill training requirements or is a part of a multi-disciplined treatment plan. Also, the military orthodontist will only begin treatment that can reasonably be completed before the Soldier’s PCS or ETS date after coordination with the Soldier’s commander. The Soldier will receive written counseling indicating that orthodontic care is an elective treatment and will not impact his/her assignment, deployment, or ETS. In addition, the Army is not financially obligated to continue orthodontic care should the service member leave the military or be reassigned to a location where orthodontic care is not available. If the Soldier wishes to continue treatment it will be at his/her own expense.

Another question was asked about providing more medical support to FORSCOM units? WBAMC is evaluating their monthly training schedule to see how they can better support brigades without organic medical assets.

Are there any plans to extend parking lots to allow more parking spaces on the installation with emphasis around motor pools? DPWL will conduct a site survey to determine needed improvements and add these to the FY05 installation requirements. Priority will be given to lighting, crosswalks and maintenance of existing paved areas. There is already a parking lot adjacent to building 614 on Holbrook as well as the new, very large, well lighted parking area adjacent to Building 500 which suggests that more paving may not be appropriate.

The unpaved area across from 635 is not intended for parking, though our initial assessment indicates people park there to avoid the short walk to the existing parking lots. We would encourage people to use the existing parking areas.

Why is there a surcharge fee when purchasing items at the Commissary? The surcharge is used to cover all maintenance and repair of the interior and exterior of the facility and for any major expansions which was done at Fort Bliss a few years ago. The commissary is one of the Soldier’s benefits and regular shopping at the commissary here will result in a savings of 27 to 32 percent when compared to off post establishments. The commissary is essentially a nonprofit organization as they do not realize a profit from the goods sold as the surcharge must be invested back into the system.

Questions answered previously in The Monitor:

Barracks Renovation Schedule, Nov. 23; Traffic flow/gates, Nov. 4; DOIM personnel, Sep. 23: ACU’s issued, Sep. 2; Housing/lawns/work orders, Oct. 14.

Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane
Fort Bliss Commanding General



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	November 10 , 2004

	Troop Talk Many of the questions I received when I visited the 108th and 11th Brigade have been answered in previous Troop Talks and I will include the subject with dates at the end of this column. Other inquiries about RCI, personnel assignments, day care, and infrastructure will be addressed in future columns. One of the inquiries I received was why the dental clinic did not refer orthodontic patients out to be treated by specialists in the local community? The DENTAC commander has provided the following information regarding treatment. For active duty personnel, the availability of orthodontic care for active duty Soldier’s at their current duty assignment will determine if the service can be provided. If available, the severity of the conditions is used as a basis to prioritize patients. The military orthodontist will not begin care for minimal or moderate cases unless the care will fulfill training requirements or is a part of a multi-disciplined treatment plan. Also, the military orthodontist will only begin treatment that can reasonably be completed before the Soldier’s PCS or ETS date after coordination with the Soldier’s commander. The Soldier will receive written counseling indicating that orthodontic care is an elective treatment and will not impact his/her assignment, deployment, or ETS. In addition, the Army is not financially obligated to continue orthodontic care should the service member leave the military or be reassigned to a location where orthodontic care is not available. If the Soldier wishes to continue treatment it will be at his/her own expense. Another question was asked about providing more medical support to FORSCOM units? WBAMC is evaluating their monthly training schedule to see how they can better support brigades without organic medical assets. Are there any plans to extend parking lots to allow more parking spaces on the installation with emphasis around motor pools? DPWL will conduct a site survey to determine needed improvements and add these to the FY05 installation requirements. Priority will be given to lighting, crosswalks and maintenance of existing paved areas. There is already a parking lot adjacent to building 614 on Holbrook as well as the new, very large, well lighted parking area adjacent to Building 500 which suggests that more paving may not be appropriate. The unpaved area across from 635 is not intended for parking, though our initial assessment indicates people park there to avoid the short walk to the existing parking lots. We would encourage people to use the existing parking areas. Why is there a surcharge fee when purchasing items at the Commissary? The surcharge is used to cover all maintenance and repair of the interior and exterior of the facility and for any major expansions which was done at Fort Bliss a few years ago. The commissary is one of the Soldier’s benefits and regular shopping at the commissary here will result in a savings of 27 to 32 percent when compared to off post establishments. The commissary is essentially a nonprofit organization as they do not realize a profit from the goods sold as the surcharge must be invested back into the system. Questions answered previously in The Monitor: Barracks Renovation Schedule, Nov. 23; Traffic flow/gates, Nov. 4; DOIM personnel, Sep. 23: ACU’s issued, Sep. 2; Housing/lawns/work orders, Oct. 14. Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane Fort Bliss Commanding General