FORT BRAGG SUMMARY

The history of Fort Bragg began in 1918 when 12,700 acres were allocated as a US Army Installation. It received its name in honor of Confederate General, Braxton Bragg. The 82nd Airborne Division was assigned to Fort Bragg in 1946 upon its return from Europe. In 1952, the Psychological Warfare Center was established. Fort Bragg then became headquarters for Special Forces soldiers. At the peak of the Vietnam War in 1968 the military population increased to 57,840. Today, Fort Bragg and neighboring Pope Air Force Base form one of the largest military complexes in the world. Fort Bragg is the home of Xviii airborne corps, the 82nd airborne division, the 10th special forces group, the U.S army special operations command, joint special operations command, us army civil affairs and psychological operations command, us army parachute team (golden knights), Womack army medical center, us army dental activity, 4th brigade ROTC, US army operational test command, 1st theater sustainment command, 14th human sustainment center, 18th fires brigade, 44th medical command, 16th military police grigade, 18th financial management center, 20th engineer brigade, 50th expeditionary signal battalion, 108th air defense artillery brigade, 507th corps support group, 10th military police battalion, 525th battlefield surveillance brigade, US army security assistant training management organization, 189th infantry brigade – the first army, 2125th garrison support group, 2nd judicial circuit, 192nd explosive ordinance disposal battalion and 406th army support brigade.

Fort Bragg, "Home of the Airborne," is located 50 miles south of Raleigh and 10 miles northwest of Fayetteville. It occupies an irregularly-shaped parcel of land, covering approximately 160,700 acres, that stretches into four counties and Camp Mackall covers an additional three counties. Fort Bragg is like a self-contained city, has its own schools, shopping malls, medical facilities, churches, grocery stores, golf courses, swimming pools, lakes, bowling allies, hunting fields, craft shops and a variety of recreation facilities.

The military population comprises of 5,101 officers, 1,205 warrant officers, 38,751 enlisted men and women. A vast a majority of the military population (38,751) live on post and 10, 827 reside off-post. According to the last census report, the racial mix of the population is 58.3% white, 25.25% African – American, 1.15% Native American, 1.84 percent Asian, 0.87% Pacific Islander, 15.77% Hispanic or Latino and 8.29 % from other races and 4.55% from two or more races.

The median age is 22 years. For every female there are 217.1 males.

Fort Bragg annual military pay is $2,660,065,706 and it awards $274,315,941 in government contracts. In addition, the Fort Bragg pays out $328,774,360 in civilian pay and $22,539,147 in NAF employee pay.

According to the East Carolina University study, Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base contributed $9 billion to the state’s economy. Statewide, 83,000 jobs are created by Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base. These jobs are directly related to military operation contracts and retirement pay. Fort Bragg and Pope Air force base also affect nearly 21,000 civilian jobs. Fort Bragg contributed $7 billion (about $1.5 billion more than last year) to the economies of Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson and Scotland counties. The military contribution to the retail sales in Cumberland County is approximately $1.77 billion. Military personnel expenditures have proved to be a vital source of economic growth and development for both the city of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Cumberland County’s median income including military is approximately $29,000 annually compared to $22,000 annually, excluding the military.

The direct and indirect economic impact of military on 10 counties contiguous to Fort Bragg is $7,874, 622, 634.

Every day approximately 45,000 military personnel and 9,846 civilian employees in careers ranging from trades and labor to engineers and attorneys provide the services needed to train, sustain, and deploy the combat forces to America's Crisis Response Contingency Corps and Special Operations Forces. In the time of crisis, Fort Bragg serves as the major nexus for massive troop deployment.