(Fort Lewis release) — Deploying service members no longer have to worry about how their privately owned vehicles will weather the wind and rain of Washington during separation.

Troops now have the option of storing their POVs at a new indoor storage facility thanks to a contract that was recently awarded to Skookum in Lacey.

The contract, which was prompted by Installation Management Command Headquarters, is just one example of how the the Army is striving to enhance quality of life - particularly for those who are deployed.

"It was one of their initiatives," said Arthur Dearen, director of Joint Personal Property Shipping Office, Fort Lewis. "They were looking globally at the Army for ways they can improve."

The facility officially opened its doors on Nov. 2 with a grand opening, but had a "soft opening" in mid September. There are currently about 340 vehicles stored at the site, but it can hold up to 1,300.

Dearen said the number of POVs is so low right now primarily because the contract was awarded after thousands of troops had deployed.

"If the contract had been able to be awarded out earlier, we'd probably have a lot more use of it, but, unfortunately, those things were beyond our control," he said.

Dearen said those who are deployed but plan to come back to Fort Lewis during R&R will have the option of moving their POV to the covered site, which is located just a few miles off-post in Lacey.

"If they meet the criteria established by the Army for storing POVs, then by all means there is not a problem," said Dearen.

According to Dearen and the staff at Skookum, there are plenty of good reasons for storing a POV at the new site.

Vehicles in storage at the Lacey site receive much more than protection from Mother Nature. A group of dedicated workers perform a list of preventive maintenance checks monthly to ensure each vehicle is running to standard.

"We maintain the vehicle so that every month it's driven, all the fluid levels are checked and it's brought up to operating temperature," said Bradley Baker, automotive worker for Skookum.

In-processing for storage at the facility is very similar to what customers would experience if they chose to leave vehicles on an outdoor lot at Fort Lewis.

After scheduling an appointment with JPPSO, the service member brings his POV to Skookum along with necessary paperwork. A staff member conducts an inspection of the vehicle using a DD Form 788, where cosmetic flaws such as dents and cracks are annotated. They also take photographs, document mileage and keep track of fluid levels.

The customer accompanies the inspector and is encouraged to ask questions or address concerns if they arise.

A record of all maintenance checks is kept on each vehicle, so the service member will know exactly what has been done to the POV since leaving it there.

"If the Soldier is deployed for 12 months, you'll see 12 different notes on what we did to the vehicle," said Don Carter, assistant site manager, Skookum.

"We also take care of any minor repairs," Baker added. "If there's a leak or the battery is dead, we fix it ... all at no cost to the Soldier."

Dearen said he hopes the indoor facility will provide peace of mind to deploying troops.

"A (service member) going down range should never have to worry about his personal property or POV," Dearen said. "We want to do everything humanly possible to relieve that stress or frustration so he can concentrate on what he has to do."

Future plans for the contract include giving the service member permission to remove the POV during R&R.

"Currently, the contract does not allow for a Soldier to store their vehicle, come back on R&R, take his car out, then put it back," Dearen said. "We are going to submit a formal request to modify the contract to allow that."

Dearen said he is also working on amending it to provide shuttle service from the site to Fort Lewis.

"The people at Skookum are committed to doing a great job," he said. "You have somebody there taking a look at your vehicle, starting the engine up ... It's a pretty good deal."

Deployed service members with questions about POV storage are encouraged to contact their rear detachment or the JPPSO office.