Fort Bliss Monitor

Troop Talk

Q: What is the possibility of children living at Biggs (USASMA) to be able to attend Chapin High School?

A: Fort Bliss leadership is presently working with the El Paso Independent School District administrators to align the installation’s attendance boundaries to provide military dependents the opportunity to attend neighborhood schools. Attendance boundaries were set according to a court order filed in 1976, which addressed the disparity between the ethnic percentages in the schools that existed at that time.
At this time school boundaries and attendance zones are governed by board policy. School attendance boundaries for USASMA’s housing area is Austin High School, Ross Middle School and Milam Elementary School.

Any student living in the El Paso area is eligible to apply for the Chapin High School magnet program, as long as they meet the qualifications for acceptance.

Parents can also fill out a transfer request in order to send their children to other schools in the district. This transfer request must be approved by the school principal at the gaining school.

Q: What is Fort Bliss doing to ensure improvements/measures are being taken regarding security at Austin High school?

A: El Paso ISD has placed a pro-active team of new school administrators and new school counselors at Austin High School this year.

They have opened a new Police Drop-in Center on their campus. The new police office is located inside Austin near the front entrance. It will provide city police officers with an area to do paperwork, use computers, make phone calls, conduct other office duties and bring added police presence to the campus.

Austin High School has also established a public safety magnet program to provide initial training of students who wish to enter law enforcement, firefighting and paramedic programs post-secondarily.

Q: What influence can the CG have in lowering the property taxes (mortgages) here in El Paso?

A: Property taxes are determined by the city/county, El Paso Community College, Thomason Hospital and other entities in El Paso. However, both Wells Fargo and Chase Bank offer a discounted mortgage rate to Soldiers who buy homes here in El Paso. If you are moving to another installation, and if these banks are located there, the mortgage rate may be available there as well. Chase at this time is not charging the one percent participation fee on the Texas Veterans program. It is very common in the market for lenders to charge this fee, which effectively increases the cost by one percent of the loan amount. Based on a $100,000 loan in the El Paso market, this would save the troop $1000. Wells Fargo has a Soldier Incentive Program which is offered to all active duty serving in the Armed Forces. Soldiers are entitled to a rate discount or a closing cost credit towards their next home purchase. The discounts allow the buyer to save money and purchase more home for their dollar. The program has been available since Armed Forces Day, May 2004.

Q: What is the plan to have more medical facilities built as more Soldiers become stationed here at BAAF?

A: William Beaumont Army Medical Center plans to build a troop/family medical facility at Biggs AAF with lab, x-ray and pharmacy as soon as funding is made available.

Q: What locations can we see Patriot units being stationed at in the near future?

A: Restationing of units is being worked at the highest level and until those decisions are made we can not speculate as to where Patriot units may, or may not be stationed. Considerations for future stationing include strategic positioning to support the national security strategy, facilitating joint and combined arms training, and providing alternate reenlistment opportunities for Soldiers.

Q: When will the new uniforms be issued to units?

A: The first unit distribution to Soldiers of the new uniform will be to deploying troops. According to Todd Went, program manager, the first priority for issue of ACUs are to deploying brigade combat teams, second priority will begin in October 2005, when they are scheduled to be issued to basic training personnel. Production capabilities are limited and other units will be issued the ACU as supplies become available.

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



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	February 17, 2005

	Troop Talk Q: What is the possibility of children living at Biggs (USASMA) to be able to attend Chapin High School? A: Fort Bliss leadership is presently working with the El Paso Independent School District administrators to align the installation’s attendance boundaries to provide military dependents the opportunity to attend neighborhood schools. Attendance boundaries were set according to a court order filed in 1976, which addressed the disparity between the ethnic percentages in the schools that existed at that time. At this time school boundaries and attendance zones are governed by board policy. School attendance boundaries for USASMA’s housing area is Austin High School, Ross Middle School and Milam Elementary School. Any student living in the El Paso area is eligible to apply for the Chapin High School magnet program, as long as they meet the qualifications for acceptance. Parents can also fill out a transfer request in order to send their children to other schools in the district. This transfer request must be approved by the school principal at the gaining school. Q: What is Fort Bliss doing to ensure improvements/measures are being taken regarding security at Austin High school? A: El Paso ISD has placed a pro-active team of new school administrators and new school counselors at Austin High School this year. They have opened a new Police Drop-in Center on their campus. The new police office is located inside Austin near the front entrance. It will provide city police officers with an area to do paperwork, use computers, make phone calls, conduct other office duties and bring added police presence to the campus. Austin High School has also established a public safety magnet program to provide initial training of students who wish to enter law enforcement, firefighting and paramedic programs post-secondarily. Q: What influence can the CG have in lowering the property taxes (mortgages) here in El Paso? A: Property taxes are determined by the city/county, El Paso Community College, Thomason Hospital and other entities in El Paso. However, both Wells Fargo and Chase Bank offer a discounted mortgage rate to Soldiers who buy homes here in El Paso. If you are moving to another installation, and if these banks are located there, the mortgage rate may be available there as well. Chase at this time is not charging the one percent participation fee on the Texas Veterans program. It is very common in the market for lenders to charge this fee, which effectively increases the cost by one percent of the loan amount. Based on a $100,000 loan in the El Paso market, this would save the troop $1000. Wells Fargo has a Soldier Incentive Program which is offered to all active duty serving in the Armed Forces. Soldiers are entitled to a rate discount or a closing cost credit towards their next home purchase. The discounts allow the buyer to save money and purchase more home for their dollar. The program has been available since Armed Forces Day, May 2004. Q: What is the plan to have more medical facilities built as more Soldiers become stationed here at BAAF? A: William Beaumont Army Medical Center plans to build a troop/family medical facility at Biggs AAF with lab, x-ray and pharmacy as soon as funding is made available. Q: What locations can we see Patriot units being stationed at in the near future? A: Restationing of units is being worked at the highest level and until those decisions are made we can not speculate as to where Patriot units may, or may not be stationed. Considerations for future stationing include strategic positioning to support the national security strategy, facilitating joint and combined arms training, and providing alternate reenlistment opportunities for Soldiers. Q: When will the new uniforms be issued to units? A: The first unit distribution to Soldiers of the new uniform will be to deploying troops. According to Todd Went, program manager, the first priority for issue of ACUs are to deploying brigade combat teams, second priority will begin in October 2005, when they are scheduled to be issued to basic training personnel. Production capabilities are limited and other units will be issued the ACU as supplies become available. Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane Fort Bliss Commanding General