There's a lot of fun history to see right here! First, you'll notice that one of these houses isn't quite like the others. The green and white house across the street from the cache coordinates is known as the Pershing House (or Quarters Number 1). With a few exceptions, it has typically been the home of the commanding general at Fort Bliss and is named after General John J. Pershing, who occupied the house from 1914 to 1916 while he commanded the post.
Also located around the cache are two historical markers. Closest to the cache is a dedication to Colonel George Ruhlen, who was in charge of constructing the first buildings at Fort Bliss in 1891. Across the road to the south, you'll see the Freedom Square, a memorial to the prisoners of war (POWs) and those missing in action (MIA) during the Vietnam War.
Take a moment to observe the history around this location. The cache should be a reasonably quick find—you're looking for a black micro container labeled with the Geocaching logo. There's only room for a log, so bring a writing utensil (BYOP).
Getting access to Fort Bliss
This cache is located on Fort Bliss, a military installation with strict security requirements. That shouldn't stop you from visiting to find it, though!
If you don't already have access to Fort Bliss with a DoD ID card, you'll need to request a guest pass, which requires a REAL ID-compliant card and a quick background check. Generally, this can all be done online. Go to the Visitor Management System, enter the information on your driver's license or passport, and request either a "Day Pass" or a "Community Pass" (365 days). You should soon receive text messages with updates on the status of your application.
If your application is denied (which could happen for many reasons—don't worry) or you experience any other issues with the online application, you'll need to visit one of the Visitor Control Centers (VCCs) at Fort Bliss to obtain a pass. Buffalo Soldier VCC is open 24/7 at 5400 Buffalo Soldier Rd, and Chaffee VCC is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays at 2616 Chaffee Rd.
Once you have a guest pass, you can use the same driver's license or passport at one of the many gates to Fort Bliss.
For gate hours and further information on visiting Fort Bliss, see here.
This geocache has been placed with permission from the Garrison Commander at Fort Bliss. Don't hesitate to share any questions or concerns regarding the cache, either via a log on this page or privately through my profile.