The following anonymous issue comments and responses have been
submitted via the Fort Sam Houston "Innovation Forum".

ISSUE presented 9 July 2009:  The oppressive heat and humidity of the Texas summer should be considered in the scheduling of ceremonial events.  Consideration should be given to attendees at these events, particularly those conducted at the post flagpole.  Often there are many friends, relatives and family members who attend that may not be used to our extreme Texas weather.  Though many sit under the tents provided, many of the more senior as well the youngest of the attendees struggle with the conditions. To avoid possible heat injury and other medical complications, recommend having water available in the seating area, consider the purchase of water cooling fans to cool off the tent seating area, and consider designated medical coverage for these events until the weather gets cooler.  Lets help prevent a heat or medical issue from happening.

RESPONSE 20 July 2009:  The 502 MSG will ensure that all future ceremonial events have ice water and cups, and are currently looking into the possibility of large fans to help with the extreme heat.  The noise factor is being considered in this process, and the issue of misting fans is currently being reviewed for validity and cost factor.  The issue of having medical personnel on hand is a more complicated issue since the Army and civilian care policies must be adhered to.  Medical responders, i.e. ambulance/rescue teams are available under any emergency issue, and BAMC is relatively close for immediate emergency or medical needs as relevant and appropriate.

ISSUE presented 4 June 2009:  All other MWR facilities are open except for ACS.  Training Holidays are the most effective and efficient time for a Soldier and their Families to handle business that they cannot do during duty hours.  Why isn’t the ACS program open for Training Holidays.

RESPONSE 20 July 2009:  ACS has reviewed the opportunity to open on training holidays.  ACS will open for all services with a liberal leave policy on training holidays.  Not all persons will be present, but all services will be available.  The front doors will be open for ACS for normal business hours.

ISSUE presented 13 March 2009:  Walter Street Entrance and City property. When you come over the hill coming into FSH you have two lanes and every morning (especially) vehicles speed down the far right lane and cut in sometimes all the way over to the far left lane and enter the gate. The gate guards and the Traffic desk have already told me that it is city property but if an accident occurs it will be a government employee/dependent who gets hurt. Maybe the city can work with FSH to provide a resolution.

RESPONSE 18 March 2009:  DES and DPW are monitoring this issue.  In addition, per CoSA PW on 11 Mar: "re-striping on Walters Street (from Jim to Hood Streets) will begin on Tuesday, March 17th.  The contractor will work overnight, beginning at 7:00 pm and ending at 4:00 am each day.  The re-striping should take around 2 days with completion by  Thursday, March 19th (weather permitting)."

ISSUE presented 4 March 2009: Outbound traffic through the Walters Street gate during the 1600-1700 has increased dramatically.  It used to take me nine minutes to leave my office and be at the stoplight at Walters and I-35, it is now taking twice that.  I believe some of this is due to the additional personnel that work at BAMC, and are now using the satellite parking lots on this side of the post.  Has there been any thought given to reopening the New Braunfels gate to outbound traffic in the afternoon, the way it used to be until a year ago?  This certainly would help the traffic flow through the Walters gate.

RESPONSE March 2009:  The Provost Marshal’s Office is experimenting with different options to ease the traffic congestion, especially during peak hours.  The New Braunfels gate will not be an option due to Force Protection reasons.  Many customers have raised this issue through the ICE program as well, and suggestions from customers are being considered in this process.