Fort Buchanan Volunteers Honored at 61st ACS Anniversary

When your parent deploys halfway around the world, having someone at home who cares can make all the difference. That's exactly what volunteers at Fort Buchanan's Army Community Service have been providing for 61 years.

Service members, families, and community volunteers gathered July 23rd at Las Casas Lake Recreational Area in Puerto Rico for a celebration that was equal parts anniversary party and thank you. Kayaking, volleyball, bounce houses, and music filled the day while highlighting the free programs that help military families navigate everything from financial planning to relocation stress.

The timing couldn't be more meaningful. Hundreds of soldiers assigned to Fort Buchanan and units throughout Puerto Rico are currently deployed across Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. Additional units continue preparing to mobilize from what serves as the Army's Caribbean readiness platform.

"For 61 years, Army Community Service has provided critical support to our Soldiers and their families," said Command Sgt. Maj. Kimberly D. Bergman-Gándara, Fort Buchanan's command sergeant major. "None of that would be possible without our volunteers, whose dedication strengthens our community every day."

The volunteers don't just fill gaps. They make programs like employment assistance, family counseling, and relocation services accessible when military families need them most. Army Community Service specialist Luis Torres emphasized that every service they offer comes free of charge.

For newly arrived families like Capt. José Rafael E. Aponte-Sánchez's, the support transforms what could be an overwhelming move into a warm welcome. "The Fort Buchanan Army Community Service has been one of the best welcome experiences my family has received in my military career," he said.

The Ripple Effect

The impact extends beyond individual families. When military children attend events like this before school starts, they build friendships that ease transitions throughout the year. Aponte-Sánchez watched his son finally experience the kayaking adventure he'd been dreaming about, surrounded by other military kids who understand what it's like to move frequently.

Those connections matter because strong families enable mission readiness. "When Soldiers deploy or focus on the mission, they can do so because someone is taking care of the home front," Bergman-Gándara explained. The volunteers serving at ACS aren't just helping families adjust; they're ensuring deployed soldiers can focus on their duties knowing their loved ones have support.

Fort Buchanan supports approximately 15,000 active-duty personnel, Army Reserve Soldiers, Puerto Rico National Guard members, and Marine Corps Reserve members with an annual budget exceeding $500 million. Behind those numbers are real families who rely on volunteers who show up, prepare food, run programs, and create moments of joy during challenging times.

When volunteers strengthen one military family, they strengthen the entire force.