DestinationFAY

Military town Fort Bragg stands ready when the nation calls O ver more than a century, Fort Bragg has grown from a humble artillery camp to the largest military installation by population in the nation. Along the way, the Army post's importance has grown with its size. Fort Bragg is colloquially known as the "Center of the Military Universe." Its unofficial motto is, "When the nation calls 911, the phone rings at Fort Bragg." Today, the Home of the Airborne and Special Operations is home to approximately 53,700 service members — nearly 10% of the entire Army — and another 14,000 civilians. That includes the nation's Contingency Corps, the 18th Airborne Corps, and the bulk of the Global Response Force, which falls under the 82nd Airborne Division. Army Special Operations is also headquartered on the post, as Paratroopers throughout the 82nd Airborne Divison par cipate in the Airborne Review during All American week in May 2018 at Fort Bragg. Paratroopers past and present converged on Fort Bragg to celebrate being members of the All American Division and America's Guard of Honor. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jada Owens) is the secretive Joint Special Operations Command. And the sprawling installation includes the headquarters of the Army's largest command, U.S. Army Forces Command, which oversees the bulk of the nation's warfighters. Covering about 500 square miles and supporting a population of roughly 260,000, including military families, contractors, retirees and others, Fort Bragg is an economic juggernaut, with a daily impact of nearly $31 million for the state and more than $11 billion a year. Since its creation in 1918, Fort Bragg has been inextricably linked with Fayetteville not only by the dollar but culturally, as well. With the city's most famous neighbor's role on the world stage, that partnership is unlikely to fade. PHOTO BY C APT. THOMA S CIESL AK 40 DestinationFAY 2022-2023

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