FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — New beginnings are happening all around Fort Cavazos as Army civilians finish their new-hire orientation and shuffle into their respective roles.
Fort Cavazos civilians serve in a variety of roles across the installation, from food service to nuclear medicine. The installation offers more than 100 open positions at any given time and is a major employer for the Central Texas area, directly employing around 14,000 civilians, having an economic impact of more than $39 billion, according to the most recent Fort Cavazos fact sheet.
“I was a contractor when I retired, back in 2020,” said Jose Lopez, a recently hired technical engineering technician for the Directorate of Public Works. “I did that for two years, then I moved to building the new homes at Chaffee Village, and I always came in contact with the guys over in DPW.”
Before he started contracting, Lopez was a construction engineering technician, or 120A, in the Army, a career spanning over 25 years.
Lopez initially didn’t plan to continue working for the Army as a civilian but chose to keephimself busy, as his wife still serves in uniform.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Lopez said. “I love that I’m still working with the military community, but that wasn’t my intent when I retired. It’s either me working right now or doing nothing, so I prefer to make myself useful.”
Lopez’s favorite perk of his new job, compared to his time in service, has been the more flexible hours, allowing him to have a healthier work-life balance.
Janica Hatcher, a general engineer for DPW, agreed.
“I’m currently working toward my Principles and Practice of Engineering exam; I’m a civil engineer,” Hatcher said. “Before working for the federal government, I worked at the state level, and before that, I worked in the private sector. So, I can confidently say that private doesn’t have too much work-life balance.
“I feel like, on the government side, they push you to learn and develop professionally,” she continued. “Like, ‘Hey, take classes. Do this training. Do that.’ I really like that part. Private employment is more, ‘These are your billable hours, and there’s not a lot of time for development except for when you’re home and not getting paid.”
Hatcher recently moved to the Fort Cavazos area with her husband, who was previously stationed here. Before that, she worked at West Point under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She also serves in the Army Reserve as a 12A, or engineering officer, and is a first lieutenant.
Hatcher said navigating the nuances of federal employment as a reservist required more individual effort, but she gave some grace to the onboarding team, as federal regulations and benefits adjust frequently to better meet the needs of service members and employees. She also considers the opportunity a blessing because her job has given her the space she needs to study for the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam, which she likens to the bar exam for lawyers.
"You have autonomy of what to do,” Hatcher said. “I remember asking, and they’re like, ‘Yeah of course, this is part of your career development.’”
U.S. Army Garrison–Fort Cavazos has more than a dozen departments and directorates overseeing the management of the installation, including DPW. It seeks employees in various fields, including administration, finance and emergency services, and provides numerous benefits that come with being a federal employee.
“Don’t sell yourself short, don’t water yourself down,” said Melissa Burgess, lead facilities management and maintenance specialist for DPW. “Come in with your skill set, be proud of what you do and give your best.”
Col. Lakicia Stokes, U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Cavazos commander, said the civilian workforce works hard to support the Soldiers in their mission in protectingthe nation.
“Our civilian workforce is diverse and dedicated,” Stokes said. “They work tirelessly to support our Soldiers, families, retirees and veterans. Their commitment and dedication allow our warfighters to focus on training and preparing to fight and win anywhere in the world.
“I’m proud of the work our Army civilians do,” Stokes continued. “We work closely together to ensure we’re constantly improving, finding new and innovative ways to enhance the quality of life at The Great Place. Recently, we won the 2024 Commander in Chief’s Award for Installation Excellence and the IMCOM (U.S. Army Installation Management Command) Best Garrison Award for fiscal year 2023, which reflects our effort to push our benchmark further each day.”
To see available positions at Fort Cavazos, visit www.usajobs.gov/Search/Results?l=Fort%20Cavazos%2C%20Texas.
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