May 09, 2006

1st Infantry Division soldiers looking forward to return to Kansas
Lt. Governor and Kansas delegation meet with Big Red One’s Fort Riley-bound soldiers

Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division are looking forward for the unit’s return to Kansas, and now have more information about what will await them at their new post.

During a trip to the division’s base in Germany, Lt. Governor John Moore and a delegation of leaders from the Fort Riley region briefed members of the 1st Infantry Division, including Commanding General Kenneth Hunzeker, and soldiers at several other installations in Germany who will also move to the Fort Riley area in the near future.

“We wanted to provide information to the troops about the Fort Riley area and answer any questions they had about everything from housing to transportation to employment prospects for family members,” said Lt. Governor Moore. “There are a variety of resources available in the Fort Riley area and we wanted to let our soldiers know how they can access them and who they can talk to for guidance when they arrive.”

Topics covered during the question and answer sessions included: schools, housing, transportation, employment opportunities for spouses, child care and area amenities such as recreational facilities.

“We have been working to accommodate troops coming to Fort Riley and their dependents for 17 months. This trip was an extension of those efforts,” said Moore.

The delegation of 20 represented the Governor’s Military Council, the State of Kansas, Junction City and Manhattan city governments, Fort Riley, and the Geary County and Manhattan-Ogden school districts.

“No other state has made the effort to visit troops before they arrive and I believe our trip reflects how much Kansas and Kansans respect their service to our country and how welcome they will be while they are stationed at Fort Riley,” said Moore.

Kansas will see its military installations grown significantly due to the recent Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. The state will receive approximately 13,000 new troops and related government jobs. The Fort Riley area is expected to grow by 30,000 people over the next five years based on the BRAC process.

For more information see http://www.fortrileyconnection.com.