The Department of the Army oversees 43 U.S. Military forts, with five located in Georgia. In 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure committee, also known as BRAC, made the decision to restructure several Army bases to achieve a more effective and efficient Army. As a result, Fort McPherson is set to close and Fort Gillem will become a military enclave in 2010.
Fort Benning
Fort Benning sits in the tri-community of Columbus and Fort Benning, Georgia., along with Phenix City, Alabama. The military training base, founded in 1918, was named after Gen. Henry L. Benning. Commonly referred to as the "Home of the Infantry," Fort Benning serves more 107,000 soldiers, dependents, and civilian employees, as of September, 2010.
Fort Gillem
Fort Gillem was established in 1941, and named in honor of Lt. Gen. Alvan C. Gillem, Jr., a retired commanding general of the Third U.S. Army. Formerly known as the Atlanta Army Depot, the military base was renamed Fort Gillem in 1973. Today, Fort Gillem serves as a satellite installation for Fort McPherson, and is home to the only criminal investigation laboratory in the Army.
Fort Gordon
Fort Gordon, formerly Camp Gordon, began as a camp for infantry and armor training in World War II. Camp Gordon derived its name from Confederate Lt. Gen. John Brown Gordon. Situated on 55,000 acres of land, Camp Gordon served as a prisoner of war camp for German and Italian World War II prisoners in 1943. Camp Gordon was renamed Fort Gordon in 1956 when it became a permanent Army post. Fort Gordon instructs more military employees than any other Army training facility.
Fort McPherson
Fort McPherson sits in the center of Atlanta, Georgia. The military garrison was established in 1867, and named in honor of Union Maj. Gen. James Birdseye McPherson. Fort McPherson has since become the command center for The U.S. Army Forces Command, U.S. Army Reserve Command and the U.S. Army Central.
Fort Stewart
In November, 1940, Camp Stewart was named to honor Gen. Daniel Stewart, a Revolutionary hero from Liberty County, Georgia. In 1956, Camp Stewart was officially renamed Fort Stewart. The 280,000-acre military base is the largest armor training base on the eastern coastline and home to the 3rd Infantry Division.
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