Fort Bragg Set to Get More Soldiers

American Forces Press Service

Dec. 20, 2007 - Fort Bragg will receive about 1,400 more soldiers as part of the Army's "Grow the Army" stationing plan, base officials announced yesterday. The Army is using the president's January 2007 plan to increase the Army by 74,200 soldiers, and Fort Bragg will receive an additional 1,405 soldiers by the end of fiscal 2013.

The Army is adjusting its global footprint to support accelerated growth and force structure realignment and to improve readiness while complying with 2005 Base Realignment and Closure law, sustaining current global commitments, and preparing to meet future challenges, Army officials said.

"The Army's integrated approach to stationing is complex and requires the synchronization of many efforts, including growth, BRAC, global repositioning, and force structure realignment," said Tom McCollum, Fort Bragg's garrison public affairs officer. "When all is said and done, we should have an end strength here of more than 56,300 soldiers, which will continue to make us the Army's largest post worldwide.

"As the Army adjusts its global footprint to support accelerated growth and force structure realignment, as well as to improve readiness to meet future challenges, Fort Bragg will receive additional forces mainly in the areas of emergency ordnance disposal, signal, chemical, finance and quartermaster units," McCollum said. "Some of these units started arriving here this year."

To house and support this increase, Fort Bragg will receive $215 million in military construction funds for unit operations and maintenance facilities and barracks. In addition, $59.4 million will be provided for construction of an additional 446 homes on post for family housing.

"As highlighted at our Army Family Covenant ceremony last month, Fort Bragg is committed to accomplishing stationing actions and building a campaign-quality Army while simultaneously working to ensure that our soldiers and families enjoy the benefits of installation improvements and subsequently contribute to our surrounding communities," McCollum said.