Posted on Fri, Mar. 28, 2008
Change is coming
By now if you don't know that Fort Benning is going to grow thanks to the Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, process you have not read a newspaper in several years or watched any television news programs lately.
I do think some people may have expected instant change, which never happens. We are still a few years away from the influx of tens of thousands of soldiers, civilians and families associated with this move. Fortunately the Fort Benning and community leadership have continued to refine plans and actions to make this transition as smooth as possible and to ensure that the facilities exist to support the changing mission and population.
In recent weeks I've had the opportunity to hear presentations by representatives from Fort Benning and the city. Both clearly have much to do, but also have a plan and are working hard to execute it. As always when dealing with the federal government anything that affects budgeting can have a negative effect elsewhere. Funding is slowing some projects that are critical to complete others. Road network improvements must occur to support the ranges to be constructed on the north side of the installation and training areas in the south.
I'm sure once those gunnery ranges go in I'll have the opportunity to hear the outcome. Even now I sometimes hear gunfire and explosions as units train. Midland is, after all, barely off the installation. A little noise doesn't bother me. I'm one of those people who truly do believe the noise is the sound of freedom.
After living just off Fort Sill, Okla., with its artillery impact area, living near the south side of Fort Bragg where Air Force bombs would turn pictures on the wall, and living on the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany, a little noise brings back fond memories.
If you haven't driven down I-185 south of St. Mary's Road recently, you might want to do that. The interstate will eventually be straighter and wider. The interchange where Victory Drive crosses I-185 is undergoing a major reconstruction to handle the increased traffic flow and to provide a first-class entrance to Fort Benning. The construction will even include large columns with replicas of the "Old Bill" cavalryman statue and "The Infantryman" (or "Follow Me") statue. This entrance will honor the infantry and armor heritage of the Maneuver Center of Excellence.
Most of us know that a new Infantry Museum is under construction. The Armor Association is also now working to raise private funding to construct an Armor and Cavalry Museum near the new Infantry Museum. The entire community will benefit from this effort because all of us will have an opportunity to visit an unsurpassed display of America's military history with these two museums.
So change is coming and lots of people are working to make it happen. All of us will benefit from the economic surge of the influx of people. We also will benefit from the opportunity to honor the service and sacrifices of those who serve today and before. We should be proud now of the community's efforts. I am confident we'll be proud of the outcome.
John M. House is a retired Army colonel who lives in Midland, Ga. His e-mail is housearmylife@aol.com.
