Fort Bragg

The article is about the US Army post in North Carolina. For the City in California with the same name, see Fort Bragg, California

Fort Bragg
Near Fayetteville, North Carolina
image=Source=108th ADA BDE Public Affairs Office Shoulder sleeve insignia of units stationed at Fort Bragg
Type	Military Base
Built	1918
In use	1918-Present
Controlled by	United States
Garrison	XVIII Airborne Corps 82nd Airborne Division Special Forces Group Delta Force John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School

Fort Bragg, North Carolina
—  CDP  —
Location of Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Coordinates: 35°8′21″N 78°59′57″W / 35.13917°N 78.99917°W / 35.13917; -78.99917
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Cumberland
Area
- Total	19.0 sq mi (49.2 km2)
- Land	18.9 sq mi (49.1 km2)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Population (2000)
- Total	29,183
- Density	1,540.0/sq mi (594.6/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	28307, 28310
Area code(s)	910
FIPS code	37-24260[1][page needed]

Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland, and Hoke Counties, North Carolina, U.S., near Fayetteville. It is also a census-designated place and as of 2000, had a population of 29,183. The fort is named for Confederate General Braxton Bragg. It covers over 251 square miles in four counties.

History

Camp Bragg was established on September 4, 1918, as an artillery training ground. It was named for a native North Carolinian, Gen. Braxton Bragg, who fought in the Civil War. In early 1921, two field artillery units, the 13th and 17th Field Artillery Brigades, began training at Camp Bragg.

Camp Bragg was renamed Fort Bragg, to signify becoming a permanent Army post, on September 30, 1922. The Field Artillery Board was transferred to Fort Bragg on February 1, 1922. From 1923 to 1924, permanent structures were constructed on Fort Bragg, including four brick barracks, which still stand. ^[2]

World War II

By 1940, the population of Fort Bragg had reached 5,400; However, in the following year, that number ballooned to 67,000. Various units trained at Fort Bragg during World War II, including the 9th Infantry Division, 2nd Armored Division, 82nd Airborne Division, 100th Infantry Division, and various field artillery groups. The population reached a peak of 159,000 during the war years. ^[3]

Postwar

Following World War II, the 82nd Airborne Division was permanently stationed at Fort Bragg, the only large unit there for some time. In July 1951, the XVIII Airborne Corps was reactivated at Fort Bragg. Fort Bragg became a center for unconventional warfare, with the creation of the Psychological Warfare Center in April 1952, followed by the 10th Special Forces Group. ^[4]

Vietnam War

In 1961, the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) was activated at Fort Bragg, with the mission of training counter-insurgency forces in Southeast Asia. Also in 1961, the "Iron Mike" statue, a tribute to all Airborne soldiers, past, present and future, was dedicated.^[5] In June 1972, the 1st Corps Support Command arrived at Fort Bragg.^[6]

1980s

The 1980s saw a series of deployments of tenant units to the Caribbean, first to Grenada in 1983, Honduras in 1988, and to Panama in 1989. The 5th Special Forces Group departed Fort Bragg in the late 1980s.^[7]

1990s

In 1990, the XVIII Airborne Corps along with 82nd Airborne Division deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Desert Storm. The mid and late 90s saw increased modernization of the facilities on Fort Bragg. The World War II wooden barracks were largely removed, a new main post exchange was built, and the Devers Elementary School was opened, along with several other projects.^[8]

21st century

Troopers of the 82nd training on Fort Bragg

One of the signs at an entrance to the fort.

Barracks of the 1st Brigade at Fort Bragg

Paratroopers in training at Fort Bragg

Following the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, the units on Fort Bragg have seen a sizeable increase to their Operations Tempo (OPTEMPO), with units conducting two, three, or even four or more deployments to combat zones. The Korean War-era barracks that house the 82nd Airborne Division are currently (as of time of writing: January 2007) being torn down and replaced. Both FORSCOM and USARC Headquarters are scheduled to relocate to Fort Bragg by the summer of 2011 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (2005) initiative which recommended that Fort McPherson, GA, (current location of both commands) be closed.

Tenant units

Several airborne units of the U.S. Army are stationed at Fort Bragg, notably the XVIII Airborne Corps HQ, the 82^nd Airborne Division, and the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). In addition to these and other tenant units, Pope Air Force Base is also adjacent to Fort Bragg.

Other units stationed at Fort Bragg include the:

• 1st Sustainment Command (Theater)
• 1st SFOD-D
• 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
• 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment
• 4th Psychological Operations Group
• 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
• 10th Press Camp Headquarters
• 16th Military Police Brigade
• 18th Aviation Brigade (inactivated in 2006)
• 18th Fires Brigade
• 20th Engineer Brigade
• 35th Signal Brigade (inactivated and colors moved to Fort Gordon, GA, as a non-Airborne unit)
• 44th Medical Command
• 82nd Sustainment Brigade
• 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne)
• 101st Chemical Company
• 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade[1]
• 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion (Airborne)
• 189th Infantry Brigade
• B Company, 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power)
• 270th Signal Company (Airborne)(inactivated in 2009; now Co C, Special Troops Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps)[2]
• 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade
• 722nd Ordnance Company (EOD)
• John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School
• Joint Communications Unit
• U.S. Army Parachute Team
• Womack Army Medical Center

Geography

Fort Bragg is at 35°8'21" North, 78°59'57" West (35.139064, -78.999143)^{[9][page needed]}.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the base has a total area of 19.0 square miles (49.2 km²), of which, 19.0 square miles (49.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it is water. The total area is 0.32% water.

According to the Army Officer's Guide by LTC(R) Keith E. Bonn, Fort Bragg occupies 148,609 acres (232.2 sq mi). The main gate is located 10 miles northwest of Fayetteville, adjacent to Highway 24.

Popular international security website Globalsecurity.org reports, "Fort Bragg occupies an irregularly-shaped parcel of land, covering approximately 160,700 acres (or 251 square miles), that stretches into four counties."[3]

Demographics

As of the census^{[1][page needed]} of 2000, there are 29,183 people, 4,315 households, and 4,215 families residing on the base. The population density is 1,540.0 people per square mile (594.6/km²). There are 4,420 housing units at an average density of 233.3/sq mi (90.1/km²).

Racial makeup

The racial makeup of the base is 58.05% white, 25.25% African-American, 1.15% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 0.87% Pacific Islander, 8.29% from other races, and 4.55% from two or more races. 15.77% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Households

There are 4,315 households out of which 85.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 88.9% are married couples living together, 7.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 2.3% are non-families. 2.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 0.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.72 and the average family size is 3.74.

Ages

The age distribution is 25.8% under the age of 18, 40.9% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 1.1% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 22 years. For every 100 females there are 217.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 293.5 males. All of these statistics are typical for military bases.

Income

The median income for a household on the base is $30,106, and the median income for a family is $29,836. 10.0% of the population and 9.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.4% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Events of note

Bronze Bruce

• In 1967, Manuel Noriega, who would later go on to become the dictator of Panama, received Psyop training at this location.
• On February 17, 1970, the pregnant wife and two daughters of Jeffrey R. MacDonald were murdered. The events surrounding the murders were retold in the book Fatal Vision, itself made into a television miniseries of the same name.
• On October 27, 1995, William Kreutzer Jr. opened fire at Fort Bragg, killing an officer and wounding 18 other soldiers.
• On June 28, 2005, President George W. Bush gave a nationally televised speech at Fort Bragg to reaffirm the United States' mission in Iraq.
• On April 2008, after a YouTube video was posted concerning the living conditions in Fort Bragg barracks, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Dick Cody responded, "There's no excuse." Officials at the base acknowledged there are serious problems. Ed Frawley said the Army had promised to have new barracks ready when his son's unit, part of the 82nd Airborne Division, returned. However, the construction was behind schedule, so the unit lived in the 50-year-old buildings after the unit's return.^[10] The video triggered response from US senator Elizabeth Dole to contact the secretary of the Army.^[11]
• On July 28, 2008, President Bush approved of the execution of dishonorably discharged former Ft Bragg Army Specialist subsequently demoted to private, Ronald A. Gray, after he was court-martialed by a Ft. Bragg military court, found guilty and sentenced to death, in 1988, for multiple, brutal rapes and murders and attempted murders of military and civilian women. He is being housed in the prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. On November 19, 2008, the death sentence was approved to be carried out on December 10, 2008. The last such approval of a military execution was given by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in 1957. That execution was carried out in 1961.
• Comedian "Gallagher" was born at Ft. Bragg (approx. 1962).

See also

• The Special Warfare Memorial Statue (Bronze Bruce)
• Pathfinder
• Pope Air Force Base
• Camp Mackall

Notes

• Fort Bragg (North Carolina) is at coordinates 35°08′21″N 78°59′57″W / 35.139064°N 78.999143°W / 35.139064; -78.999143 (Fort Bragg (North Carolina))Coordinates: 35°08′21″N 78°59′57″W / 35.139064°N 78.999143°W / 35.139064; -78.999143 (Fort Bragg (North Carolina))

v • d • e Current Military installations of North Carolina Army Fort Fort Bragg Port Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point Air Field Mackall AAF • Simmons AAF Range Camp Mackall Army National Guard Camp Butner Marines Air Station MCAS Cherry Point  • MCAS New River Camp Camp Lejeune  • Camp Geiger  • Camp Johnson  • Courthouse Bay Range Piney Island  • Greater Sandy Run  • Stone Bay Landing Field MCOLF Atlantic  • MCALF Bogue Field  • MCOLF Camp Davis  • MCOLF Oak Grove Navy Military Sealift Command Wilmington  • Morehead City Range Brant Island  • Piney Island  • Dare County Air Force Range  • Stumpy Point Air Force Air Force Base Pope Air Force Base  • Seymour Johnson AFB Other Air Force Combat Climatology Center Air National Guard Station Charlotte/Douglas Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City Sector Cape Hatteras  • Fort Macon Station Elizabeth City  • Emerald Isle  • Fort Macon  • Hattaras Inlet  • Hobucken  • Oak Island  • Ocracoke  • Oregon Inlet  • Wrightville Beach Support Center Elizabeth City

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Cumberland County, North Carolina County seat: Fayetteville City Fayetteville Towns Eastover | Falcon‡ | Godwin | Hope Mills | Linden | Spring Lake | Stedman | Wade CDP Vander Unincorporated communities Chestnut Hills | Dogwood Acres | Montclair Military bases Fort Bragg | Pope Air Force Base Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Hoke County, North Carolina County seat: Raeford City Raeford Town Red Springs‡ CDPs Ashley Heights | Bowmore | Dundarrach | Five Points | Rockfish | Silver City Military base Fort Bragg Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties