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Army Mission
John Nerger, SES, enjoys waking up each and every day as he and his staff work tirelessly to support soldiers and their families.
Since July 2008, he has served as Executive Director of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM), where he directs the multi-disciplinary management of facilities, programs, services and infrastructure for 110 Army installations worldwide. As “city manager,” he oversees a $13 billion annual budget, 116,000 employees, 15,000 million acres and 934 million square feet of facilities worth $212 billion.
From October 2004 to July 2008, he was the deputy chief of staff, G-1/4 (Personnel and Logistics) for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at Fort Monroe, Va., an organization of 40,000 soldiers and 16,000 civilians at 16 locations. From July 2000 to October 2004, he was director of Facilities, Housing and Environment on the Army Staff responsible for a $3 billion global capital investment program.
Nerger recently spoke with Military Club & Hospitality about the transformation taking place throughout the Army, and how this will impact IMCOM's primary goal of enhancing the quality of life for Army families.
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 Submeters can be installed in military
facilities and other federal buildings to monitor energy usage in order to comply with energy policy initiatives. (Photo Courtesy of E-Mon D-Mon). |
In response to rising energy costs and tightening budgets, the last few years have seen a wave of new federal and private-sector energy policy initiatives designed to micro-manage existing resources, reduce greenhouse gases and encourage, whenever possible, the move toward renewable, non-fossil fuel energy sources.
According to Don Millstein, president and CEO, E-Mon, LLC, although similarities exist in many of these programs, the common thread in all of them is the clear need for submetering hardware and automatic meter reading (AMR) software solutions to cost-effectively benchmark, measure and verify compliance with whatever program guidelines the military facility is pursuing.
Two leading energy initiatives now impacting the facility landscape are the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005 and the Energy Independence Security Act (EISA) of 2007. “Advanced submetering solutions from E-Mon and other leading suppliers — readily available through most electrical distributors — can directly facilitate compliance with these policies in specific application areas,“ Millstein said.
 Energy-saving light bulbs are among the products that GSA provides to preserve the
environment. (GSA Photo). |
Balancing the need to conserve our energy resources and meet national and regional goals while maintaining and improving our environment is a challenging mandate.
The General Services Administration (GSA) is committed to the environment and uses green products and services daily. Many products and services are being placed on Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts to assist federal customers in making environmentally oriented purchases. By adopting an environmental policy committed to providing products and services that are environment friendly, GSA has helped its federal customer agencies comply with federal environmental regulations.
In addition to improving the federal government's energy performance, federal procurement of energy-efficient products can have an impact on the worldwide market. By setting a clear standard for energy performance, federal procurement requirements can shift the market toward greater production of energy-efficient products. That, in turn, improves availability and reduces cost for all consumers.
GSA highlights energy-efficient products in GSA Advantage! — www.gsaadvantage.gov — by placing product designations next to relevant items: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)/DOE Energy Star label, the EPEAT (Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool) registered symbol or the FEMP symbol. These designations signify that those products meet or exceed the energy-efficient criteria for federal government purchasing.
Manufacturers do their part to not only preserve the environment, but also provide quality “green” products for lodges and other Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities.
Crossville, which offers an extensive line of porcelain stone floor and wall tile under GSA Contract #GS-07F-0429, depends on natural resources to create its products. “When we take from the Earth, we give back,” said Sheila Wynn, national accounts sales representative.
A member of the U.S. Green Building Council, Crossville is committed to protecting the environment through quality manufacturing processes and offering recycled and environment-friendly products. Products are not only “green,” but also manufactured in the United States.
Crossville's EcoCycle is the first porcelain tile with certified recycled content. Wynn explained that Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an independent third-party certifier of environmental claims, conducts regular audits of the company's processes and assures that EcoCycle is in strict compliance.
 Gazebos offer pleasant settings where service- members and their families can socialize, eat their meals, enjoy their snacks or simply relax.
(Photo Courtesy of
Cedarstore.com) |
With all of the unsettling events going on in the world today, we need to be reminded, from time to time, that good things are still happening. That's why it is important to point out that the military has taken a number of hospitable actions lately.
As an example, gazebos have been called into service mainly as auxiliaries to Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities and many other military buildings, according to Steve Day, director of Web site design and development, CedarStore.com.
Among the most popular and inviting structures to be found anywhere, gazebos offer pleasant settings where those who are stationed on base can socialize, eat their meals, enjoy their snacks or simply relax. Furthermore, gazebos even extend a warm welcome to smokers, “who may feel like 'personnel' non grata nearly everywhere else they go these days,” Day said.
Buildings of choice for MWR professionals are 10-foot-by-10-foot treated pine octagon and 10-foot-by-16-foot treated pine oval, single-roof gazebos, which come already stained and equipped with full sets of screens and benches, 30-year asphalt shingles and cupolas. Although gazebos are usually shipped in easy-to-assemble kits that can normally be put together in an afternoon with a few household tools, Day noted that CedarStore.com delivers them to the bases fully assembled.
 Clear span structures are used to set up sleeping quarters for troops.
(Photo Courtesy of Mahaffey Fabric Structures). |
From manufacturing tents during WWII to supplying clear span structures in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mahaffey Fabric Structures has provided the U.S. military with tent and structure solutions since 1924.
As an approved General Services Administration (GSA) provider, Mahaffey provides clear span structures for projects such as Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities, temporary base camps, emergency and semi-permanent warehouses, temporary hangars and many other applications.
In addition to having a full line of tents and clear span structures to set up sleeping quarters, Tactical Operations Centers (TOCs) and dining facilities, the company has a wide range of accessories to equip a dedicated recreation space. Typical accessories include tables, chairs, cots, lighting systems, personnel and metal roll-up doors, insulated hard sides, flooring and climate control.
 Portable sound-system technology has evolved to provide a suitable alternative to installed sound systems in conference centers.
(Photo Courtesy of Anchor Audio) |
Military conference centers host a variety of events, including meetings, retirement parties, wedding receptions, birthday parties and other catered events.
These facilities require high-quality public address systems, whether it be for speeches, ceremonies, shows and audio-visual (AV) presentations, but a professional sound-system installation may not always be affordable. A portable sound system may be the answer.
In recent years, portable sound-system technology has evolved to provide a suitable alternative to installed sound systems. In many cases, a portable system will actually deliver clearer sound than an installed system because all the components are designed to work together as a package, according to Anchor Audio Marketing Manager Debbie Lombard.
“The amplifier, mixer, microphones and speakers are factory engineered to work together without distortion,” she explained. “In a permanent installation the professional sound contractor attempts to achieve this balance of components with varying degrees of success.”
The increased use of better products and materials that promote sustainability in military design and construction is visible in many areas of billeting and lodging.
 Ceramic cooktops offer a “green” solution for lodging guests who prepare hot meals in kitchenettes. (Photo Courtesy of
Kenyon International) |
“Green” facilities are conservative of natural resources and do not cause repeated depletion.
One of the basic construction types of compact two-burner cooktops used in kitchenettes is ceramic. While the ceramic cooktop is also commonly referred to as “smooth top,” it is also important to realize that smooth-top ceramic cooktops may differ in the method by which they generate their heat. The most common are the radiant type of ceramic cooktops, which are widely available, moderately priced and are used in kitchens, as they pose no health concerns and have been available for decades.
Ceramic cooktops serve the purpose of allowing guests to prepare hot meals on a stovetop that would be difficult or inconvenient to do in a microwave oven. They are tested and UL-approved to meet minimum standards with regard to user safety.
Expeditionary Tricon System (ETS) field kitchens are being used to help feed troops deployed overseas.
A key element of the Army's Force Provider System, ETS kitchens are modular 6-1/2-foot-by-8-foot palletized equipment packages designed to be highly mobile, air-liftable, quick to set up and tough enough to withstand the weather extremes of deployment anywhere they are needed.
Recently AccuTemp, a steam equipment company, joined forces with the Army to utilize its Steam'N'Hold steamers as a key component of these field kitchens.
 Steam'N'Hold-equipped Expeditionary TRICON System (ETS) field kitchens are specifically designed for use with Unitized Group Ration (UGR-A) meal packs. (Photo Courtesy of AccuTemp) |
Each ETS field kitchen module includes one six-pan, Steam'N'Hold connectionless steamer, plus a small griddle, two cook-and-hold ovens, a 10-quart steam-jacketed kettle, a three-well sanitation system and under-counter refrigerator. This kitchen package is designed to set up in minutes and feed up to 150 soldiers, three meals a day. It is only one component of a modular tent city designed to house and support troops for extended overseas deployments.
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Alexander T. “Alex” Douvres, long-time chief of the Washington, D.C., office of the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), died on July 29, 2009, in Fairfax, Va. He was 60.
Maj. Todd R. Alcott, USAF, recently took over the reins as chief, Air Force Lodging, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters Air Force Services Agency. He succeeded Lt. Col. Kerri A. Kilgore, USAF, who retired from active duty on June 1, 2009, after more than 21 years of service.
Paul Savarese took over as Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) director of the Recreational Food & Beverage (F&B) Program on June 24, 2009. He is based at CNIC Head- quarters in Washington Navy Yard, D.C.
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