The Fort Carson Main Post Exchange Shopping Center is located at Bldg. 6110, Martinez St. It provides customers a variety of services under one roof. It includes the PX, Barber Shop, Beauty Shop, GNC, Flower Shop, Vision Center and Doctor of Optometry, Portrait Studio, 576-2057, Carson Flags. The food Court offers Taco John’s, Charlie’s Steakery, Burger King Express, Robin Hood Sandwiches and Anthony’s Pizza. For more information, call the PX at (719) 538-5737 or the Food Court at (719) 576-5661.

THRIFT SHOP

The Community Thrift Shop, located in Bldg. 1008 on Wetzel Avenue, sells used merchandise in good condition for soldiers and their families. Sales are open to the public. The shop is open from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the first Saturday after end-of-the month payday. Consignments are taken on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

FORT CARSON ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICE (ACS)

VOLUNTEER Corps - "Make A Difference, Volunteer!!!" There are many volunteer opportunities at our ACS Center. Volunteers serve important roles in the delivery of many of the programs and services that ACS offers. As a volunteer, you can get involved by helping others learn how to help himself or herself. Regardless of your skill and interests. ACS has a place for you to contribute to our community, learn new skills, meet new people, and make new friends and maybe even figure out your future career path. Volunteer opportunities are varied and can meet diverse interest such as administrative, teaching AFTB or parenting classes, serving as Community Mayors, sewing baby bundles, serving as Victim Advocates, serving as Consumer Advocates, welcoming new families to Fort Carson, and helping people find employment opportunities. On-site childcare is provided for all volunteers. Volunteer work at ACS is a great way to get a job experience that can count on employment applications. Volunteer work at ACS not only makes a difference in the Fort Carson community - they make a difference in their own lives!! For more information about volunteering or to join the ACS Volunteer Corps, please call 526-4590.

SCHOOLS

Fort Carson is served by El Paso County School District No. 8. Three elementary schools and a middle school are located on-post. Patriot Elementary School is the newest to Fort Carson, having opened for the 2003- 2004 school year. Located across the street from Blackfoot Hills Village, Patriot serves over 500 students and hold classes from pre-school to 5th grade. For more information, call Patriot Elementry School at 382-1460. Mountainside Elementary is a new $6.5 million, state-of-the-art facility, which serves preschool through fifth grade. The school currently serves approximately 700 students, which makes it the largest school on-post. For more information, call Mountainside Elementary School at 382-1430. General Creighton Abrams Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade. The school currently serves about 650 students. For more information, call General Creighton Abrams Elementary School at 382-1490. Fort Carson Middle School serves the sixth through eighth grades. The school’s current enrollment is approximately 450 students. For more information, call Fort Carson Middle School at 382-1610. High school students are bused to Fountain-Fort Carson High School located in Fountain, Colorado. The school currently serves approximately 180 students who live on-post. For more information about the school or bus transportation, contact Fountain-Fort Carson High School at 382-1460. For additional assistance contact the Fort Carson School Liaison Office, located in Bldg. 5510, Room 31, at 526-1071.

EVANS ARMY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

The Commander and Staff at Evans Army Community Hospital would like to welcome you and your family to the premier hospital, civilian or Military, in the Pikes Peak area. On a recent survey conducted by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), Evans Army Community Hospital received a rating that was higher than any medical facility in the Pikes Peak area. JCAHO is an independent civilian quality assessment organization that evaluates military and civilian healthcare organizations on such elements as patient safety, process improvement, environment of care, and patient satisfaction. In January 2003, Evans was also recognized by the National Research Corporation/Picker Institute as the Army’s Benchmark Hospital for the Respect for Patient Preference Dimension of Care. This recognition is a sign that our patients believe that we have respect for their values, preferences, and expressed needs. This organization surveyed 11 Health Systems, 122 Hospitals, 39,860 individual patient survey responses. Evans Army Community Hospital was one of two Army Hospitals recognized by this institute. Please give us the opportunity to provide you and your family with the best care in the Pikes Peak Area by enrolling in TRICARE Prime here at our hospital. Family member enrollments may be accomplished by visiting our TRICARE Service Center on the first floor of Evans Army Community Hospital. Failure to enroll family members in TRICARE Prime may severely limit their access to care. TRICARE Standard patients are seen only on a space available basis. There is very limited access to care for this category of patient. TRICARE Prime provides you the best means to get guaranteed access to healthcare at Evans Army Community Hospital.

RULES OF THE ROAD

All Colorado state statutes apply to driving on Fort Carson. Additional federal regulations apply, such as mandatory helmets and reflective vests for personnel operating motorcycles on and off post.

Military traffic violators are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or the Magistrates Court depending on the offense. All civilian traffic violators are subject to the U.S. Magistrates Court.

OFF-POST REFERRAL SERVICE

The Housing Referral Office assists military families  in locating suitable off-post housing. The service  maintains nondiscriminatory listings of available  homes, apartments and mobile homes.

Soldiers are advised on rental costs, commuting  time and environmental conditions. They can also get  information about neighborhoods, leases, deposits,  and hazard insurance for personal property and sanctioned  facilities.

To promote the health and well being of animals  owned by eligible personnel, the Fort Carson  Veterinary Treatment Facility (VTF) offers vaccination  clinics and limited sick call clinics. For further information  or to schedule an appointment call 526-3803.

The clinic is located on the corner of Nelson and Harr  in Bldg. 6001.  If you own pets and live on Fort Carson, you must  abide by the following regulations, IAW FC Reg. 40-5  and the Fort Carson Family Housing Guide:

UNIFORMS

BDUs are the duty uniform at Fort Carson. The post  has an offpost uniform policy, which normally allows  wearing BDUs. to lunch or traveling to or from offpost  housing. Soldiers should contact their unit for more  information regarding the uniform policy.

INPROCESSING

All incoming personnel should report to the United  States Army Replacement Detachment and Fort Carson  Welcome and Farewell Center, Bldg. 1218, located on  the corner of Wetzel Avenue and Ellis Street. It is not  necessary to report in uniform. The detachment operates  24 hours a day. You will receive an inprocessing  appointment after signing in. Allow two to four days to  in process, depending on rank.  Be sure to have your dental, medical, finance, and  personnel records, orders and a DA 31 (leave form). If  your finance records are in order, you will normally be  paid your travel time entitlements within five days of  your first day of inprocessing.

WELCOME

Fort Carson, the "Mountain Post," is located just  south of Colorado Springs at the base of the Rocky  Mountains. Colorado Springs' unparalleled beauty and  mild climate make it a gateway to a wide variety of outdoor  activities. Many internationally-known ski areas,  some of the nation's most scenic parks and finest hunting  and fishing areas are located within a short drive.  Fort Carson families also have easy access to the  many cultural attractions of "The Springs" and the  bright lights of Denver.  Whether you have already arrived at Fort Carson or  have just received orders to report here, the information  in this publication will help you get settled and  take advantage of the on- and off-post services and  attractions for your enjoyment.

Fort Carson has a very diverse military and civilian population. Over 14,000 soldiers and about 3,000 civilians are assigned to the Mountain Post. The major units assigned to the post include the first Reserve Component/Active Component Division, a mechanized infantry brigade, a Special Forces group, an armored cavalry regiment and an area support group. Many other smaller units also call Fort Carson home. More detailed information about these units can be found on the Fort Carson Web site, http://www.carson. army.mil. In 2003, soldiers from Fort Carson were deployed around the world in support of the War on Terrorism, which includes Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and guarding suspected terrorists at the U.S. facility at Guantanamo, Cuba. In keeping with the honorable tradition of service to our nation, our soldiers, families and civilians continue to devote their time, their talent and more to safeguard our way of life and secure our nation’s future. To honor those who have gone before us, and especially to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, the entire Mountain Post Team is resolved to continue its mission: to train, equip and deploy soldiers anytime, anywhere, whenever our nation asks.