Photo By Janecze Wright | Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, III Armored Corps and Fort Hood commanding general,...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas — Spirits were high as Fort Hood senior leaders, Directorate of Public Works staff and Soldiers conducted a walk-through celebrating the completion of upgrades and renovations to the Fort Hood Ammunition Holding Area.
The AHA supports unit training missions by providing a safe and secure area to draw, store and return ammunition, and the improvements help streamline the process, explained Mario Perez, master planner, Real Property Planning Division, DPW.
“So, it's like mission enhancement. It makes the operations and the training where they're using live munitions on post a lot more efficient,” he said.
The renovations focused on structural upgrades such as new latrines, walls, systems and the addition of a blast wall to contain any explosives within the area. Buildings were updated with new flooring and fixtures, and to complete the transformation, everything was resurfaced and finished with a fresh coat of paint — a stark contrast to what was available before, Perez said.
“When we first came out to the AHA, it did not have any utilities to provide sewage for the trains,” he described. “It was kind of an austere environment for the Soldiers. Most folks expect to have a bathroom where they work. They did not have that.
“When we started to do updates for the AHA, the standards for the ammunition storage were grandfathered under previous standards,” he continued. “So, by doing this renovation, we brought them up to the current standard and enhanced security.”
The renovations support the installation’s commitment to safety and quality of life, Perez conveyed.
“Those are the two biggest improvements. These buildings were in pretty poor shape, so everything freshly painted and resurfaced … they added this work desk, created the break room … all that stuff is enhancements, so that’s quality of life, it's just a better environment for them,” he said.
Shibo Yu, project manager, RPPD, DPW, agreed.
“It’s quality of life driven, but also a safety focus on the entire installation because that's the initial driving point,” he said.
Yu said plans for the renovations began in July 2022 and were completed in October 2025, providing Soldiers who use the AHA, as well as those who maintain it, much needed improvements.
“The impact of a renovated building, not only for the AHA staff, but for the guards as well, is huge because we have more space, we got better amenities and we also got a blast wall inside the live yard, which is a nice improvement,” said Staff Sgt. Israel Diaz Vega, lead noncommissioned officer at the AHA, 664th Modular Military Ammunition Company, 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade. “We will be able to handle different types of ammunition in a safer way.
“Everybody is more comfortable when it comes to feeling safe not being in the outdoors like in the TA (training area) when you are exposed to different types of animals and weather,” he continued. “Being protected from the elements and having a better environment to work … my Soldiers’ morale is through the roof right now. They’re very motivated and it makes it easier because I don’t have to rely that much on if they’re doing their job or not, because I know they already have it handled.”
Soldiers’ dedication to duty — working unlimited hours outside duty days and ensuring accurate ammunition counts and compatibility — did not go unnoticed. A select few earned Army Commendation Medals presented by Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, III Armored Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, for their hard work.
| Date Taken: | 02.12.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 03.18.2026 16:23 |
| Story ID: | 558308 |
| Location: | TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 32 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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