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POPE AIR FORCE BASE
Pope Air Force Base is located adjacent to Fort Bragg and is the forward deployment platform for the XVIII Airborne Corps. The Green Ramps at Pope Air Force Base houses the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group operations. The Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group area provides critical command, control, staging, and out-load facilities to support the deployment of personnel and equipment by aircraft. In accordance with the recommendation of the Base Closing and Realignment Commission, the Pope Air Force Base will cease it operation as an independent installation and in its place the Air Force Reserve’s 440th Airlift Wing, which will move this year from Milwaukee to Pope Air Force. Pope Air Force Base will become Fort Bragg’s Pope Army Airfield by 2011. Approximately, 3,240 people will be stationed at Pope when BRAC mandated moves are complete.
To strengthen the ability to deploy troops, a major new interstate-standard highway, the Outer Loop/US 13 is planned. This will provide direct access from all major troop areas to Interstate 95, which provides direct access to all major transportation hubs on the east coast.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
Fort Bragg has been the home of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) for over four decades. It began in 1952 with 10 soldiers and today there are approximately 26,000 soldiers assigned to USASOC. Special operations are conducted by specially-trained, equipped and organized Department of Defense forces against strategic or tactical targets in pursuit of national military, political, economic or psychological objectives. Army Special Operations Forces consist of Special Forces, Ranger, Special Operations Aviation, Psychological Operations, and Civil Affairs.
MILITARY BUSINESS CENTER
The General Assembly appropriated $2 million to establish at Fayetteville Technical Community College a Military Business Center. Although the Center is located in Fayetteville, it is designed to serve the residents and businesses throughout the state. The Center provides assistance to prospective businesses interested in military contracts. Specifically, it assists businesses in marketing, contracting, registrations and certifications required for obtaining government contracts. It will serve as a mentor to clients interested in developing proposals and bidding for military contracts. The Center also has the capability to forecast the needs of military installations in the state.
WORKFORCE INNOVATION CENTER
To meet the skilled workforce needs of the defense industries to be located in the region, an All American Center for Defense Innovation will be established at Fayetteville Community College. The Center will match region’s workforce, economic and educational assets with the present and future needs of defense industries and contractors who will locate in this region as a result of BRAC.
DEFENSE AND SECURITY TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATOR (DSTA)
The center provides technical assistance, expertise and network of valuable relationships to incubate new, just-in-time solutions to meet the military and commercial needs in the areas of defense, security and intelligence. The DSTA touts a state-of-the-art laboratory to facilitate research, prototype product testing and innovation.
ALL AMERICAN DEFENSE CORRIDOR
The purpose of the defense corridor is to highlight the research and development capabilities of the Research Triangle Park and 16 campuses of the University of North Carolina, defense partners, military requirements and homeland security.
MILITARY BUSINESS PARK
Recently, the public officials held a ground breaking ceremony for the future site of the 250 acres Military Business Park. The park is the result of a partnership between the public and private entities to house on one location numerous defense related companies that are expected to move to this area as a result of BRAC. These companies will collaborate with local universities and firms in the Research Triangle Park to create and produce products that meet the military needs. Defense contractors already in the Fort Bragg area include Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Booz Allen Hamilton, RLM Communications, K3 Enterprises Inc and the Logistics Co. The arrival of FORSCOM will create enormous opportunities for this region because FORSECOM has $30 billion annual authority for defense and other contracts. By creating a ready infrastructure, the Military Business Park will attract many more contractors in this region.
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