DestinationFAY

A er more than a century of service that saw the installation grow into an integral part of the nation's defense and its largest installation by population, Fort Bragg has officially been renamed Fort Liberty. e new name, which took effect June 2, pays tribute to past and future service members by highlighting their roles in global fights for liberty that have seen local troops participate in every major military operation, and many of the most secretive, since the installation was founded in 1918. Changing to Fort Liberty was part of a Defense Department effort to rename installations, facilities and roads — essentially anything under the purview of the nation's military — that could be seen as honoring those who voluntarily served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. With the new name came new branding, updated street names and a public ceremony marking the change. It's not the first time the installation now known as Fort Liberty has had to adapt. From a humble artillery camp to the Home of the Airborne and Special Operations, local soldiers have oen changed to keep pace with the nation's defense requirements. What has not changed is the installation's overarching mission to be ready when the nation needs it. Fort Liberty's unofficial motto has long been, "When the nation calls 911, the phone PHOTOS BY TONY WOOTEN rings here." Local troops stand ready to deploy in a matter of hours, and the garrison repeatedly trains throughout the year to get the soldiers supplied and out the door as quickly as possible. Today's Fort Liberty is home to more than 51,000 service members and thousands of civilians and government contractors. Key commands include the 18th Airborne Corps, known as the nation's Contingency Corps, and the 82nd Airborne Division, which provides the majority of the Global Response Force. Army Special Operations is also headquartered on post, as 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. Not only a military powerhouse, Fort Liberty is also an economic juggernaut, with a yearly impact of more than $8 billion for the state of North Carolina, with most of that centered on Cumberland and surrounding counties. Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of the 18 th Airborne Corps, addresses the audience during the Fort Liberty redesigna on ceremony. Military town New name, same mission BY D RE W B RO O K S 50 DestinationFAY 2023-2024

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