Base realignment brings changes to Fayetteville
In the past five years, BRAC has become a household name around Fayetteville. This year, Fort Bragg and surrounding communities enter the home stretch for completing the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure mandates.
Officials say everything is on track to meet the Sept. 15, 2011, deadline set by Congress.
It is likely to forever change the landscape of our community.
The moves of Forces Command and U.S. Army Reserve Command from Atlanta hold the promise of boosting the area's economy and prestige.
A 600,000-square-foot headquarters is being built at Knox and Randolph streets for the two commands. In recent months, the building of the headquarters has boosted the local construction industry.
The two commands' arrival will bring almost 3,000 well-paid civilian and military workers into the community, as well as the prestige of an additional four- and three-star headquarters. Job opportunities will open up for local people with all sorts of military-related experience - from aviation to intelligence.
The two headquarters are expected to serve as a magnet for defense-related industry in southeastern North Carolina.
Local businessmen are looking for a bump in the real estate and retail markets from the workers.
July 13 marked a major milestone in the move as Forces Command held a Torch Party departure ceremony in its headquarters at Fort McPherson in south Atlanta.
The initial cadre was about 50 people. Hundreds more will follow in October. Groups will continue to move through the summer of 2011.
U.S. Army Reserve Command also will gradually move people to Fort Bragg in time for the deadline.
Other actions are taking soldiers and airmen and their families out of the community.
The 7th Special Forces Group will be leaving Fort Bragg for its new home at Eglin Air Force Base at Fort Walton Beach, Fla. That's a loss of about 2,000 soldiers plus family members. However, growth of forces at Fort Bragg assigned to U.S. Army Special Operations Command will result in a gain of several hundred people.
In coming months, Pope Air Force Base will complete its transition to Fort Bragg's Army Airfield.
The Air Force population will drop from about 6,000 in 2005 to about 3,000 in 2011, but its mission of serving as Fort Bragg airport and providing "battlefield airmen" to work with the Army will not change.