Camp Atterbury houses center similar to Ft. Hood facility

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Army posts across the country have soldier readiness centers like the one at Fort Hood, where Thursday’s deadly shooting took place. There is even a soldier readiness center located in Central Indiana at Camp Atterbury.

The centers are used to prepare soldiers who are about to deploy overseas as well as for soldiers who are returning from deployment.

"Soldiers, Navy, Air Force, Marines come here. They process their medical, legal, finance, those kinds of things to make sure their personal lives are in order before they deploy," said Camp Atterbury Security Officer Cpt. Anthony Mitchell.

Cpt. Mitchell said the readiness centers also offer counseling for soldiers who feel stress or anxiety. The centers can be extremely busy if units are preparing to deploy or are returning from overseas.

The centers are not places where soldiers would be seen carrying weapons. According to Army officials, the Fort Hood gunman used two handguns. Where those weapons came from is still under investigation.

Like so many people, Cpt. Mitchell watched the aftermath of the shootings on television.

"It's a tragedy, my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their family members and soldiers at Fort Hood," said Mitchell.

A Greenwood man who is stationed at Fort Hood spoke to 24-Hour News 8 Thursday.

Staff Sgt. Noland Howard just arrived at Fort Hood about a week ago and lives off base. But he was on base Thursday morning, attending meetings. He was given permission to leave after lunch to move into his apartment.

Sgt. Howard recalled finding out about the shootings.

"As I left, everything seemed normal to me and I drove through the gate, nobody stopped me. But as I left, I received a few phone calls from my father, who didn't reach me the first couple of times. Finally he got a hold of me and he, you know, immediately (asked) 'Are you OK?'," said Sgt. Howard.

Sgt. Howard has served in the Army for five years. He's married with a daughter and will be deployed to Afghanistan sometime in 2010.

Meanwhile, the Indiana National Guard said they are not aware of any Indiana National Guard Soldiers or Airmen currently stationed or on duty at Fort Hood.