The Distinguished Visitors Quarters at Logistical Support Area Anaconda helps support the mission of the 3rd Corps Support Command by housing guests from the theater and abroad at their 56-bed compound.
Recently completing the turnover of mission from the 301st Area Support Group in October, the 35th Area Support Group, based in Lexington, Mo., has been extremely busy the last two months running the DVQ.
"We have been pretty busy. Traffic has really increased. Normally it's been ebb and tide, ebb and tide, but the last two months have been all tide," said Sgt. 1st Class Sam Hathaway, NCOIC of the DVQ.
In the last two months, the DVQ has averaged 560 nights of guest time each month."We don't count by the guest, we count how many times a bed was slept in over the month," Hathaway said.
Hathaway, along with a small staff of four Soldiers, has to maintain 24-hour operations seven days a week.
"We have two Soldiers on shift between 0600 and 2200 and one Soldier at night. We have to keep things running at the facility. It's self-sufficient, we do everything here," he said.
With 13 visitor trailers and rooms within the main building, the crew is tasked with general upkeep of the facility. This involves laundry, Third Country National housekeeping management, equipment troubleshooting, food services and check-ins.
"We also have to respond to whatever issues the visitors have during their stay. We try to make it as pleasurable here and relaxing as possible," Hathaway said.
Hathaway also said if a special event is taking place the staff has to rearrange their hours to accommodate the visitors.
"We also have to pull guard duty so it doesn't necessarily mean we can have days off. But we try our best when we work long hours," Hathaway said.
The DVQ is much like hotels in the United States, with amenities geared towards the comfort of its guests.
The quarters all contain televisions with Armed Forces Network and some have refrigerators with stocked refreshments. A continental breakfast is provided daily.
Three lounges with big screen televisions and DSN phone and Internet hook ups are also available for guests to check their email and make military phone calls.
Besides the military guests, the DVQ also houses entertainers who visit Anaconda throughout the year.
"We recently had Aaron Tippin, the Purrfect Angelz and the Jesse James crew stay here," Hathaway said.
"It's all been different and it's pretty challenging, but we do get to meet a lot of people," said Spc. Mitch Miller, staff at the DVQ.
When not housing entertainers, the DVQ policy for housing is only O-6 and above for officers, command sergeants major for enlisted, GS-15 pay grade for civilians and chief warrant officer fives.
Also, no guest can stay for more than seven straight days and no more than 10 days within a 30-day period, which is all tracked by the DVQ staff.
The Secretary of the General Staff and the Joint Visitors Bureau are responsible for scheduling reservations at the DVQ, said Staff Sgt. Jeff Ferrell, JVB NCOIC.
"When the DVs come in we receive their itinerary from their planners and if they are staying overnight we arrange for the housing," Ferrell said.
"Overall we have received a lot of support from our commander and the mayor's cell along with the 3rd COSCOM staff," Hathaway said.
With important meetings on the horizon and several guests coming in the next few months, the DVQ will continue to stay busy supporting the 3rd COSCOM and its visitors.
| Date Taken: | 02.02.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 02.02.2006 07:33 |
| Story ID: | 5283 |
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| Web Views: | 161 |
| Downloads: | 43 |
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