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FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – Fort Campbell will host a community listening session Jan. 20 to receive public comments on reductions currently under consideration at the Department of the Army level.
The listening session will begin at 6 p.m.at the Family Resource Center and is open to the public. Local mayors, Congressional representatives, governors and senior military leaders are expected to attend.
During the session, leaders will address the Army’s reorganization of its force structure to meet the requirements set by the Budget Control Act of 2011. The Army plans to reduce end strength by 40,000 to 70,000 soldiers by the end of Fiscal Year 2017, for a 450,000 troop level with 32 active component brigade combat teams.
Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett believes attendance at the listening session is a key factor and encourages as many people to attend as possible.
“It’s an opportunity for community leaders and average citizens to come up and talk about Fort Campbell, what they mean to our community, and the benefits that our community provides to the soldiers at Fort Campbell,” he said. “I think every community leader should be there. I think everybody that owns a business should be there, and I think all of our average citizens that work for local businesses should be there because ultimately if we lose 48 percent of the troops that are out there right now it will affect every single person in Clarksville and Montgomery County.”
Potential force structure scenarios project Fort Campbell losing up to 16,000 of its 30,000 soldiers by 2020. These troop reductions go beyond the previously announced 4th Brigade Combat Team and 159th Combat Aviation Brigade inactivations.
“In some of the reports that I’ve seen, if we were to lose 16,000 soldiers and civilians from Fort Campbell, the economic impact would be in the billions a year lost for this community, which is detrimental,” said Brian Carrigan, Fort Campbell’s Chief of Plans.
Officials hope the listening session will provide a clearer picture to the Department of the Army on area impacts, ranging from fewer students in local schools to fewer new jobs and a less fluid housing market.
“Basically we’re talking about cutting half of what’s out there right now,” Mayor Durrett said. “We’re looking at having to close schools and redistricting. Teachers are going to lose jobs because there won’t be kids there to educate. Financially, I think it will be devastating.”
Durrett said leaders will discuss Fort Campbell’s unique qualities as an installation and believes strong political representation in Washington for Tennessee and Kentucky may be helpful in the persuasion process. Ultimately, he feels troop reduction on any level is not the answer.
“As volatile as our world is today, I don’t think we can reduce our Army to levels that were lower than WWI levels. I don’t think we can do that as a nation,” Durrett said.
Attendees will be able to access post via Gate 1, where special security precautions will be put in place to make accessing the event easier for off-post community members. Participants must present a government issued photo ID upon entrance. The event space at the FRC will accommodate up to 700 people per fire code.
Click here for more information about writing a letter to leaders in response to the potential cuts.
Below is a map of the immediate area surrounding the FRC on Fort Campbell where the Community Listening Session will be held. The map shows important details such as where guests may enter the installation, designated parking areas, Cole Park Commons, and road closures.
