Six people standing hold on to a long, blue ribbon while the man standing left center holds the ribbon between a pair of scissors.
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, III Armored Corps, and Tracey Foster, area manager for the Directorate of Public Works, cut the ribbon to commemorate the reopening of the Phantom Village barracks Nov. 1, 2024, at Fort Cavazos, Texas. III Armored Corps has been working with DPW for the previous three months to renovate the Phantom Village barracks and conduct mold abatement to ensure healthy and safe living conditions for the Soldiers that live there. (Photo Credit: Photo by Sgt. Joshua Tanner, 7th MPAD) VIEW ORIGINAL
Three people walk down an outdoor hallway.
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, III Armored Corps, tour the newly renovated barracks at Phantom Village Nov. 1, 2024, at Fort Cavazos, Texas. New furniture, individual bedrooms and other new amenities are set to better the quality of life and increase privacy for Soldiers residing in Phantom Village. (Photo Credit: Photo by Sgt. Joshua Tanner, 7th MPAD) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — Phantom Village reopened in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 1, highlighting improved living conditions for Soldiers.

For Sgt. Geovannie White, the barracks manager for the newly named Phantom Village, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, III Armored Corps, and Tracey Foster, area manager for the Fort Cavazos Directorate of Public Works, the ceremony symbolized closure for both the Soldiers who worked on the renovations as well as the Soldiers who will be returning to live there.

Soldiers from HHBN have been working alongside DPW on renovations and mold abatement at the Phantom Village for the past three months to ensure safe living conditions for the Soldiers.

White worked from day one on the project to help improve the lives of the single Soldiers who live there.

“I was a single Soldier here for the last three to four years, so this really means a lot, and it means the command team cares,” White said. “The command team, as well as DPW, taking the necessary steps to correct these issues is a major milestone for us Soldiers.”

Soldiers living in Phantom Village were moved to another barracks during the three-month renovation.

With the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the reopening of Phantom Village, Soldiers will be coming back to safer living conditions. Prior to the renovations, mold was found in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, system, possibly causing health hazards for the Soldiers living in the barracks.

“Command Sgt. Maj. Torrian Peterson (HHBN sergeant major, III Armored Corps) came to us to address some concerns that he had with our HVAC system, which they thought possibly had some mildew or mold concerns,” Foster said. “We found there was a malfunction within the DOAS (Dedicated Outdoor Air System) and called DPW specialists to come in to address the concerns and issues.”

Foster further explained the issue with the DOAS was resolved and mentioned during the renovation, all the mildew and mold in the rooms were removed.

The renovations also include new furniture, as well as giving Soldiers their own room. This is a welcome change for the single Soldiers living in the barracks, allowing them to have privacy in their living space.

White and Foster both expressed they are proud of the work and the results of the extensive project. These renovations are set to transform the quality of life for Soldiers at Fort Cavazos.