It is not known what percentage of soldiers completing their service that number represents.
The 12-question survey, compiled between January and March, was released by the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce.
The idea for the survey came from Operation Economic Transformation: The Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, a plan to identify, measure and capitalize on new and emerging economic development opportunities present in the Fort Hood region.
Of the soldiers responding, 576 soldiers were leaving the service before becoming retirement-eligible; 217 were being medically discharged and 271 were retiring after 20 or more years of service.
“This is extremely significant for the region,” said John Crutchfield, president of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce. “You have to view these people as a very talented labor supply. They have skills that they acquire in the military that they can use in the private sector.”
Many of those soldiers who are staying are not just focused on Killeen as potential homesteads, but Copperas Cove, Belton and Temple as well.
Bob Oakes, contracting manager for Fort Hood’s Army Career and Alumni Program, said many of those soldiers who stay in the region are attracted because of the climate, the schools in the area and the proximity to major metropolitan areas, such as Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.
Jobs also are what makes the area attractive to separating soldiers.
“The guys are more than willing to stay here if there is something for them,” Oakes said. “A great percent of these people like the area, their kids like the area and their spouses like the area.”
One of the most attractive job opportunities in the region is found at Fort Hood, where most soldiers try to find employment with one of the more than 80 civilian contractors who work on the installation.
Other attractive employment options include the school districts in close proximity to Fort Hood as well as law enforcement opportunities with Killeen, Temple and Bell County.
Meanwhile, the survey - initially launched in 2006 - has proved to not only be an extremely valuable tool in gauging where separating soldiers are going, but also in identifying the types of services and industries that make the Central Texas region attractive.
Of course, the survey also relates to the growing population of military retirees.
According to the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood MSA, the region experienced a 2 percent increase in retirees in the first quarter of this year and current figures indicate that overall, more than 16,000 retirees live in the MSA, an increase of 420 from January 2007. Killeen, with a total of 7,798 - an increase of 239 - leads the 10 area cities in the number of retirees, but most of the other cities also showed growth above the MSA average.
Data in response to an education level question show soldiers are better educated than their civilian counterparts, both in the region and statewide.
The report comments: “This is reflective of a high degree of self-initiative and demonstrates that soldiers willingly embrace the notion of lifelong learning.”
Respondents also were asked to indicate improvements they would desire in “Quality of Place” that would affect their decision to remain in the region. Twenty-one percent of the respondents listed entertainment, followed by higher education (19.8 percent) and housing (17.4 percent).
The quarterly report concludes with this comment: “Veterans ending their service at Fort Hood are clearly a talented and educated workforce worth retaining in the Central Texas region.”
Oakes said when separating veterans and retirees look at the region, as opposed to the rest of the country, they can’t help but stay and put down roots.
“They find something good and they stay. Every career fit you could think of is here at Fort Hood,” Oakes said.
The Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce Contributed information for this article
