The Army Continuing Education System provides education programs and services to the Fort Bliss community.
Services
Note: The expected influx of troops and families may mean some changes to information and phone numbers in this guide.
Living on an Army post can be one of the most enjoyable experiences of your military career. For one thing, an Army post offers something we’re all very conscious of in today’s fast moving world – convenience.
Fort Bliss has it all. You’ll find banking, medical, shopping, recreational and religious facilities right at your door-step.
But in order to take full advantage of post services, you need to acquaint yourself with each special branch. That’s what this section is all about.
Hopefully, it will give you a working knowledge of Fort Bliss’ many services, how they operate, and how you can take advantage of each one.
ADA Association Gift Shop
The ADA Association provides air defenders with their own company store. The ADA Association Gift Shop in the lobby of the Fort Bliss Museum and Air Defense Artillery Museum and Study Center, Bldg 1735, Marshall Road. The gift shop is loaded with specially designed logo items that include T-shirts, ball caps, bumper stickers, patches, apron tops, bags and coffee cups.
For additional information on the gift shop, call 564-4331 or write: ADA Gift Shop, P.O. Box 6101, Fort Bliss, Texas 79916. To reach the ADA Association business office, call 568-2711.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross at Fort Bliss offers a wide variety of services to Soldiers and their families in meeting emergencies.
The Fort Bliss office is located in Bldg. 45, on Slater Road. For information, call 568-5085.
The Red Cross also maintains an office at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, located in the Bradley Building, 3rd Floor, Room K15. For additional information call 569-2483 or 569-2493.
Emergency Red Cross services are available 24/7 by calling 1-877-272-7337.
Armed Services YMCA Program Center
The Armed Services YMCA Program Center is located on lower William Beaumont Army Medical Center near the corner of Dyer and Hayes Streets, Bldg. 7061.
This modern, up-to-date center includes rooms for meetings of all kinds – support groups, celebrations, dinners and educational activities. The conference room is expandable to hold small to large numbers (up to 200). There is complete food service at economical prices with banquet catering capabilities. Pets can also be accommodated at this facility.
In addition, there are rooms with electronic games, pool, darts, weight exercise equipment, and outdoors, two beach volleyball courts and a lighted basketball court.
An ASY Child Development Center is also located in the center with slots for hourly, daily, weekly, extended hours, weekends and over nights. For information, call 562-8461 ext. 304.
A rocket is lowered to its stand at the Fort Bliss Museum and ADA Museum and Study Center.
Army Continuing Education System
Army Continuing Education System is located in Bldg. 639. The center provides educational programs and services to the Fort Bliss community. For more information, call 568-5635.
Post-secondary institutions
El Paso Community College offers transfer degree programs, vocational/technical career programs, certification programs and associate degree programs. EPCC is located in Bldg. 639, 562-4004.
Park College offers associate and baccalaureate degrees. Park is located in Bldg. 639, 562-8450 or 568-8466.
Webster University offers master of arts degrees. Webster is located in Bldg. 632, 562-4400.
Army Substance Abuse Program
The Non-Clinical (Garrison) Army Substance Abuse Program provides drug and alcohol educational services, prevention training, and urinalysis testing and collection point for active duty and Department of the Army Civilian personnel. The Non-Clinical ASAP also has an Employee Assistance Program Coordinator who assists DA Civilians with possible issues regarding employment, substance abuse, stress or anger management and family problems. The ASAP can also assist families by referring them to the appropriate service agencies.
The Non-Clinical ASAP is located in Bldgs. 2437 and 2438, Cassidy Road, or call 568-1033.
The Clinical (WBAMC) ASAP provides counselors for each brigade and partner unit on the installation and assists Soldiers by providing screening, counseling and rehabilitation services for active duty personnel. The Clinical ASAP is located in Bldg. 49, Slater Road, or call 568-0503.
Retirees can be screened at the Veterans Affairs Substance Abuse Treatment Program, located in the VA Health Care Center next to WBAMC.
Banking facilities
Fort Bliss is served by two banking facilities and one credit union – Armed Forces Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, and FirstLight Federal Credit Union – offering an array of banking services for military and civilian personnel.
Wells Fargo Bank maintains a limited service facility and an automatic teller machine at Biggs Field and WBAMC, Bldg. 7777. Wells Fargo Bank is in Bldg. 1722, Marshall Road.
Armed Forces Bank is located in Bldg. 1720, Marshall Road.
FirstLight Federal Credit Union’s Fort Bliss Branch is located in Bldg. 1741, Marshall Road, and the WBAMC Branch is located in Bldg. 7777.
Civilian Personnel Advisory Center
The Civilian Personnel Advisory Center provides advice and assistance on the Army’s civilian personnel program for Fort Bliss and William Beaumont Army Medical Center. The CPAC is located in Bldg. 504-B, at the corner of Doniphan and Holbrook. Persons eligible for military spouse preference should call 568-2596/2508/ 2327 to schedule an appointment to register.
The West Region Civilian Personnel Operations Center at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, services Fort Bliss and WBAMC. Job announcements, job eligibility information and job application procedures for appropriated fund positions are posted on Civilian Personnel On-Line at http://cpol.army.mil. The Non-appropriated Fund personnel office is located with the CPAC.
General federal employment related information, including job opportunities worldwide is on the internet at www.usajobs.opm.gov . Specific Department of the Army opportunities and employment related information is found on the CPOL website at http://cpol.army.mil/index.html.
For general questions, call 568-2508/2596.
Commissary (DECA)
The Defense Commissary Agency operates on a self-service basis for the convenience of active duty, Reserve components, retired military personnel and their family members.
Soldiers repair bicycles for Operation Santa Claus.
Identification cards must be presented by all military personnel, retirees and family members before gaining entry to the Commissary.
Merchandise discount coupons are redeem-able at the Commissary. In addition, the Lone Star Electronic Benefit Transfer System is also available to patrons.
The Commissary is in Bldg. 1717 at Haan and Marshall Roads adjacent to the Post Exchange complex. For more information, call 568-1985.
Country Junction
The Country Junction is sponsored by the Officers’ Civilians’ Spouses’ Association and sells a variety of items on a consignment basis. Crafters are always welcome. The shop is located in Bldg. 2011 on Sheridan Road. Call 562-7467 for consignment information.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Equal Employment Opportunity Office administers and processes complaints of discrimination of civilians based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age and handicap.
The Special Emphasis Programs, which are an integral part of the overall EEO Program, promote the employment, training and advancement of minorities and women.
The EEO Office is located in Bldg. 114, or call 568-3510 or 568-1489.
Equal Opportunity Office
The Fort Bliss Equal Opportunity Office is available to assist Soldiers, civilian employees and their family members with issues that relate to race, color, religion, gender, national origin or sexual harassment. They are also available to assist commanders and directorates with training and resources relating to EO. Contact the EO Office or your Unit EO Advisors if you have any questions or concerns. The EO Office is located in Bldg. 114, second floor, and can be reached through EO assistance line, call 568-1213.
Fort Bliss Museum and ADA Museum and Study Center
The Fort Bliss Museum and Air Defense Artillery Museum and Study Center in Bldg. 1735, Marshall Road, houses the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Museum, the Fort Bliss Museum and the Air Defense Artillery Association Gift Shop. There is also an outdoor park-like exhibit area that features large Air Defense or U.S. Army weapons and vehicles. Long-term plans include adding state-of-the-art exhibits, educational facilities, research facilities and other museum activities. For more information, call 568-5412.
Old Fort Bliss
Old Fort Bliss is located at the corner of Pleasonton and Pershing Roads, across from the Noel Field Parade Grounds. Call ahead for details about our special events, programs and volunteer opportunities. For more information, call 568-4518/3137/ 5412.
Junior Enlisted Family Center
The Junior Enlisted Family Center is co-sponsored by the ASYMCA. The center is located in Bldg. 53 on Slater Rd., next to the fire station. Activities are designed for spouses and children of E-1 through E-5 personnel and others.
Free babysitting and transportation are offered to family members participating in a wide variety of activities sponsored by the JEFC. Activities include exercise classes, home skill classes, creative crafts, ceramic classes, shopping excursions and family enrichment workshops. Most are free and all are fun and enlightening. The post Ceramic Shop is also located in and managed by the Junior Enlisted Family Center.
Hours are from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 568-7291 during business hours.
Legal Assistance Office
The Legal Assistance Office provides legal counseling and guidance to active duty and retired military personnel and their family members free of charge.
Services provided by the office cover the full spectrum of civil law, including but not limited to family law, consumer law, wills and estates and landlord/tenant law. Legal Assistance attorneys can only give legal advice and cannot represent clients in civilian court proceedings.
Trial Defense Service provides legal counseling to all active duty Soldiers pending adverse actions.
For more information, call 568-6040.
NCO Wives’ Club
The Noncommissioned Officers’ Wives Club is open to spouses of enlisted military personnel in the ranks of E5 through E9. Attendance at coffees, social meetings, cards and many more diverse activities are all a part of the schedule. The main objective of the club is to promote better relations between the city of El Paso and Fort Bliss and to raise funds for charity.
Officers’ Civilians’ Spouses’ Association
The Officers’ Civilians’ Spouses Association is open to all spouses of officers and warrant officers, active duty and retired, and spouses of GS-7 and above, and focuses its activities on community services and welfare. Monthly OCSA functions are normally held at the Officers’ Club. Many OCSA members volunteer for Army Community Service and the American Red Cross, in addition to other Soldier service projects. In addition, funds from the OCSA Thrift Shop and annual fundraisers are donated to charity, college scholarships and Fort Bliss activities. If you are interested in joining the OCSA, write to: Officers’ Civilians’ Spouses Association, P.O. Box 6128, Fort Bliss, Texas 79906.
Operation Santa Claus
One of the most popular and successful Fort Bliss community relations projects is Operation Santa Claus. It is jointly sponsored by the various units and organizations on Fort Bliss.
Now in its 50th year, Op Santa is a year-long toy collection and repair effort that seeks to obtain, repair and donate toys of all types to needy children throughout El Paso.
An integral part of the toy repairing effort is the volunteer work of a group of El Pasoans affectionately known as “The Doll Makers.” Each year, these men and women take old, unwanted dolls, and clean, repair and dress them for Op Santa.
Op Santa is located in Bldg. 1123. Persons interested in making toy donations may bring the toys to this building or call 568-1010 for toy pick-up or further information.
Post Exchange facilities
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service, maintains a wide variety of retail merchandise, food and service outlets to meet the needs of Soldiers, retirees and their families.
The main Post Exchange is located in Bldg. 1611, across the street from the Commissary and adjacent to the Haan Road Shoppette. This facility encompasses the Food Court, Military Clothing Sales Store, concession activities and the WBAMC Refill Pharmacy.
Other retail facilities include shoppettes, gas stations, bookstores, troop stores, a retail annex located at WBAMC, and various specialty stores.
For convenience, food facilities include Anthony’s Pizza, Robin Hood Deli, Manchu Wok, Cinnabon/Seattle’s Best, Charley’s Steakery, Baskin-Robbins, Pretzelmania, and Taco Bell, which are located in the Food Court Mall.
For complete information about what AAFES has to offer the Fort Bliss family, call 562-9551 or 562-9545, or visit the AAFES web site at www.aafes.com.
Post Office
The U.S. Postal Service has post offices on Fort Bliss and WBAMC. The Fort Bliss post office is in Bldg. 1733. The WBAMC branch is in Room I-136 on the ground floor of the Medical Center, Bldg. 7777.
Public Affairs Office
The Public Affairs Office plays two major roles. It establishes and maintains good community relations between Fort Bliss and the local community through events, concerts, tours and publications such as this one. Secondly, the PAO is responsible for telling the Army’s, and particularly Fort Bliss’ story. This is done primarily through the weekly installation newspaper The Monitor, online version at www.fbmonitor.com, and the Commander’s Access Channel.
The Monitor is the command’s medium for disseminating news and information to the Fort Bliss community. By reading The Monitor, residents of Fort Bliss can be up-to-date on everything from breaking news to movie premieres. Submissions can be e-mailed to monitor@conus.army.mil or call 568-4088. The contract to print and distribute The Monitor is with Laven Publishing Group.
KBLS is the Commander’s Access Channel. The station provides music, news, Fort Bliss and community event updates. The station is a 24-hour, seven days a week source of both entertainment and information that includes the Pentagon Channel. KBLS can be viewed on Cable Channel 15, and The Pentagon Channel can be viewed on Cable Channel 20. To contact KBLS, call 568-7002.
PAO also works with local, regional and international news media to tell the Army/Fort Bliss story. The Public Affairs Officer is the spokesperson for the command. PAO staff members respond to all media queries, arrange media interviews, and, in compliance with post policy, escort media representatives when they are on the installation. If you have a story you would like the media to cover, call 568-4601/4505.
The PAO is also responsible for the Army Hometown News Program. This valuable program allows the noteworthy accomplishments of Fort Bliss Soldiers to be passed along to the Soldier’s hometown news media for friends and family to enjoy. Soldiers, family members, and DA civilians can complete DD Form 2266 and submit it to the Public Affairs Officer, or submit the information electronically on the Fort Bliss Website http://hnforms. afnews.af.mil:8080/lfserver/USAADACFTBLISS. For more information, call 568-2497.
Another important aspect of public affairs is community relations. Public Affairs project officers serve as liaisons between the military community at Fort Bliss and the civilian community of El Paso and beyond. Requests include speakers, equipment displays, tours of the installation, Army Band support, Soldier appreciation events, etc. Events such as the annual Race for the Cure, the Amigo Airsho and Armed Forces Day celebrations are all coordinated by the PAO. For more information on any of these activities, call 568-4505.
Thrift Shop
The Thrift Shop is located in Bldg. 1301 on Cassidy Road and is open to the public. The shop is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday with consignments 9 a.m.-11 a.m. It is also open the first and third Saturdays of each month 10 a.m.-1 p.m. with consignments 10 a.m.-noon. You must have a valid I.D. Card to be able to consign. For additional information call 562-5451. Volunteers are always welcomed.
U.S. Army Museum of the NCO
The U.S. Army Museum of the Noncommis-sioned Officer portrays the history and traditions of U.S. Army NCOs from their birth more than two centuries ago to the present.Visitors to the museum are taken on a journey which includes the Civil War, American expansion overseas, World Wars I and II, Vietnam and other crucial periods in American military history.
The museum is located in Bldg. 11331 on the corner of SSG Sims and Barksdale Roads on Biggs Army Airfield. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call 568-5646.
USO
The USO is located in Bldg. 2408 and offers recreational activities for Soldiers and family members. For more information, call 569-5644.