Photo By Ayumi Davis | Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, commanding general of III Armored Corps and then-Fort...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas — From a historic return to its original name to sweeping changes in how Soldiers are fed, housed and supported, 2025 marked one of the most consequential years in Fort Hood’s modern history. Across leadership transitions, infrastructure modernization, readiness exercises and people-first initiatives, The Great Place reaffirmed its role as a cornerstone of Army readiness while strengthening its bond with Soldiers, families and surrounding communities.
At the heart of the year’s developments was a clear theme: investing in people while preparing for the future fight.
Putting People First: The People Directorate Pilot One of the most significant organizational changes in 2025 was the establishment of the People Directorate, a consolidation of prevention and people-focused services designed to better support Soldiers, families and civilians.
After months of planning under Operation Phantom Steel, the People Directorate became operational Feb. 17, 2025, as part of the broader Fort Hood People Pilot Program, an initiative launched by senior Army leaders in 2023 to enhance commanders’ ability to resource prevention programs.
Lt. Col. John Terminato, former interim director of the People Directorate, said the initiative reflects a shift toward centralized coordination.
“People — Soldiers, their families and civilians — will be at the center of everything we do,” Terminato said.
Nine prevention and people-focused programs from U.S. Army Garrison–Fort Hood and III Armored Corps were aligned under the new directorate, reporting directly to the commanding general: the Army Substance Abuse Program, Army Community Service, the Integrated Prevention Advisory Group, Military Equal Opportunity, Ready & Resiliant Performance, Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention, the Suicide Prevention Program, the Phantom Forge Center and the Installation Reception Center. The goal, leaders said, is to eliminate fragmentation and ensure services reach those who need them when they need them.
Housing modernization continues with McNair Village Progress was also visible in brick and mortar as Fort Hood took a major step toward modernizing on-post housing.
In March, senior leaders, housing officials and community partners gathered for the demolition of McNair Village, the installation’s oldest family housing area, originally built in the 1940s. All 272 homes were slated for removal.
“The demolition of McNair Village represents progress, modernization and a stronger future for Team Hood,” said Col. Lakicia R. Stokes, U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Hood commander at that time.
The demolition is part of a $420 million, five-year community development plan announced in 2021. McNair’s replacement, Heritage Heights, is a new neighborhood for junior-enlisted Soldiers featuring modern single-story homes, garages, fenced yards and energy-efficient systems. More than 500 homes are planned when construction is complete.
Ready for the unexpected: Full-scale emergency exercise tests coordination and partnership Readiness took center stage May 6 when Fort Hood conducted a full-scale emergency response exercise simulating a train derailment near Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center.
The exercise tested coordination among installation agencies, medical personnel, emergency responders and community partners, including area hospitals, local school districts and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway.
“This is about making sure we’re ready for unexpected events,” said Juan Nava, exercise director with the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.
Inside the medical center, staff practiced mass casualty triage, patient movement and coordination with off-post facilities. Leaders emphasized real-world readiness depends on constant training and communication.
“We have to be ready at all times,” said Sharon Moton, a registered nurse at CRDAMC.
The exercise reinforced the importance of partnerships and a shared operating picture to ensure timely decisions and public safety.
Addressing food insecurity: Key readiness issue Food security emerged as a key priority in 2025, driven by the understanding that a Soldier’s readiness is directly tied to their family’s well-being.
Through the Garrison Religious Support Office, Fort Hood expanded multiple food assistance programs, including a food pantry, monthly Fresh Food for Families distributions and a Department of War pilot program offering commissary gift cards.
“Food security is a readiness issue,” said Michael Miles, food security program specialist. “When Soldiers know their families are taken care of, they can focus on the mission.”
Launched in January, the Defense Commissary Agency gift card pilot provided $2.5 million in funding to assist eligible active-duty households. Soldiers received cards from $50 to $300 and were connected with financial readiness counseling.
By June, nearly $190,000 had been distributed, and several Soldiers successfully exited the program after stabilizing their finances. “It’s about teamwork and long-term solutions,” Miles said.
The Fresh Food for Families monthly distribution continued to grow, serving up to 450 families at each session as of June 2025 with fresh produce, frozen proteins and pantry staples. The Main Post Food Pantry, supported year-round by the Central Texas Food Bank, ensured no eligible family left empty-handed.
“People eat 365 days a year,” said Teresa Parris, administrative support specialist. “We can’t rely only on holiday drives.”
Fight Night packs Abrams Gym Fight Night made its long-awaited return to Fort Hood in 2025, drawing large crowds, national online attention and renewed energy to Abrams Physical Fitness Center across two installation-level boxing events that culminated in a championship showdown.
The revival began June 27, 2025, marking Fort Hood’s first installation-wide boxing event since 2009. More than 2,600 people packed Abrams as 14 active-duty Soldiers competed across seven bouts. While there were no knockouts, every match delivered intensity and grit, with one bout stopped early by the referee. Fighters said the crowd — shoulder to shoulder around the gym — create an atmosphere unlike anything they had experienced. Hosted by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, the event immediately sparked interest in future competitions, with Soldiers and community members flooding social media asking how to attend or compete next.
“Fight Night is electric — filled with cheers and sheer excitement,” said Lance Pooler, acting director, DFMWR. “Something you need to experience to understand. The event is a fantastic morale booster for our Soldiers and is a great way to bring the Fort Hood community together.”
That momentum carried into Sept. 12, 2025, with Fight Night: Return 2 The Ring, which expanded both participation and reach. Sixteen Soldiers competed in eight bouts, and the event drew thousands in person and more than 100,000 livestream views. Experienced boxers and first-time fighters alike stepped into the ring, emphasizing unit pride, personal growth and camaraderie. Leaders praised the event as a major morale booster, noting how Soldiers rallied around fighters representing not just themselves, but their units.
The Fight Night series culminated Dec. 12, 2025, with Fort Hood Fight Night: Championship, filling Abrams Physical Fitness Center to near capacity and airing live on the Fort Hood Facebook page and a local television station. Fourteen fighters — including Golden Gloves champions, collegiate champions, a junior Olympian and mixed martial artists — competed for weight-class titles and the opportunity to represent Fort Hood at the III Armored Corps tournament in summer 2026. The main event featured Pfc. Sativa James, 1st Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, who won the female heavyweight title by decision, continuing a multigenerational boxing legacy while serving on active duty. Six additional Soldiers earned championship titles and advanced to corps-level competition.
Across all three events, Fight Night showcased more than athletic ability. Organizers and fighters highlighted the discipline, adaptability and accountability shared between boxing and Soldiering, as well as the strong bonds formed during months of training. With packed gyms, strong online engagement and confirmed plans to continue in 2026, Fight Night closed out the year as one of Fort Hood’s most successful morale and readiness initiatives.
Leadership transition: New garrison commander Col. Mark R. McClellan assumed command of U.S. Army Garrison–Fort Hood from Stokes July 11, 2025.
Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, III Armored Corps commanding general, praised Stokes’ accomplishments, including improvements to housing, dining, energy resilience and transportation.
McClellan pledged to build on that foundation.
“My focus is learning this installation and continuing to make Fort Hood an installation of choice for the U.S. Army,” he said.
Historic return: Fort Hood reclaims its name Perhaps the most symbolic moment of 2025 came July 28, when the installation officially returned to its historic name: Fort Hood. The redesignation honored Col. Robert Benjamin Hood, a World War I hero and Distinguished Service Cross recipient. During the ceremony, leaders cased the Fort Cavazos colors and unfurled the Fort Hood colors.
“Colonel Hood represents the ideal citizen-Soldier,” Admiral said.
The change followed a June 11, 2025, order by the Secretary of War and a presidential announcement restoring original installation names nationwide. Family members of Hood attended the ceremony, reflecting on his legacy of service and integrity.
Feeding the force: Dining transformation takes shape Food service modernization accelerated in 2025 as Fort Hood became one of five Army installations selected for campus-style dining pilots.
The Black Jack Dining Facility closed in October for renovations and will reopen in 2026 as the installation’s first contractor-operated campus-style dining venue, offering extended hours, action stations, modern seating and improved ambiance.
“Food equals morale,” said Sgt. Maj. Kresassidy McKinney, III Armored Corps chief culinary sergeant major.
Meanwhile, the Always Ready Dining Facility reopened in November with expanded options, including Tex-Mex, Mongolian grill and pizza stations. The Army also tested the Flexible Eating and Expanded Dining (FEED) initiative, allowing Soldiers to use meal entitlements at select on-post restaurants.
Boosting lethality: New weapons, engineer innovation Training and modernization reached new levels in 2025 as Fort Hood units fielded emerging technologies.
In September, 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers conducted the installation’s first-ever live-fire exercise with the Switchblade 600 loitering munition, expanding precision strike capabilities for armored formations.
“This extends our reach and protects Soldiers,” said Capt. Jeffrey Weller, commander, Multifunctional Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav. Div. “It increases our lethality, minimizes collateral damage and helps protect Soldiers on the front lines.”
Combat engineers also demonstrated evolving breaching techniques, incorporating unmanned systems and remote-controlled equipment to reduce risk during high- threat operations.
“Our goal is fewer Soldiers in the breach,” said 1st Lt. Jacob Nelson, 59th Combat Engineer Company (Armored), 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade.
Looking ahead As 2025 ended, Fort Hood stood transformed — modernized in infrastructure, innovative in training and deeply focused on people. From its historic name restoration to investments in readiness, housing, food security and lethality, the year reflected a commitment to preparing for future challenges while honoring the past. The mission remains constant: take care of Soldiers, families and civilians — and ensure The Great Place remains ready to fight and win.
| Date Taken: | 01.05.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 01.09.2026 16:08 |
| Story ID: | 555906 |
| Location: | TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 20 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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