CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce held their Power Breakfast Thursday featuring guest speaker Maj. Gen. Brett G. Sylvia, commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell.
More than 120 people attended the event at Dock 17 inside the City Forum presented by Bell Textron Inc. Sylvia took command of the 101st in July and has served at Fort Campbell before as the Commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team in 2016 and 2017, and in 2018 as chief of staff for the 101st.
Sharing a few facts and figures about Fort Campbell, Sylvia said he wears two hats on post. One of those is commander of 20,000 soldiers in the 101st Airborne Division, which Sylvia reminded everyone is the only air assault division in the world.
“Roughly another 10,000 soldiers also serve on Fort Campbell that comprise incredible warrior organizations: The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and 5th Special Forces Group, we’ve got EOD and a host of other organizations that serve,” Sylvia said.
The general said he is not just responsible for the training and oversight of the 101st, but to also provide the environment for the success of those other units. “I don’t give them operational direction, but I do provide for their ability to serve and work on Fort Campbell,” Sylvia said.
Sylvia then talked about support for all of the soldier’s family members which he said is another 50,000 family members that are associated with the installation. Sylvia said there are also around 70,000 retirees that have chosen to stay in this region, along with another 80,000 or so family members.
Deployments
Earlier this year Fort Campbell’s 1st Brigade Combat Team replaced the 2nd Brigade in Europe working with America’s NATO allies in Operation European Assure, Deter and Reinforce. Sylvia said right now they are preparing the 3rd Brigade to deploy to replace 1st Brigade.
“We don’t have an order actually yet to do that, but we have started to move in that direction, and we have started to prepare them so that they are ready when we believe the call will come, and we think that will come any day now,” Sylvia said.
What’s next
There is growth in the future for the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade on post. A new heavy lift battalion, to be known as the 7-101, is set for 2028 which will add 24 CH-47 Chinook helicopters to the CAB. Fort Campbell has also requested $101 million in funding to update hangars, aprons and airfields.
Fort Campbell is the division of choice to receive future vertical lift aircraft. “Over the course of the next few years, between now and 2028, we’re going to grow out that Chinook capability, and we believe as early as 2030 we’re going to start seeing that future vertical lift that will be showing up here,” Sylvia said.
He said around 4,500 soldiers leave the Army from post every year. “At least a third of that, so about 1,500 of those soldiers and their families, choose to stay here,” Sylvia said. With that, the local community is getting a soldier that is highly trained and highly disciplined and has a tremendous skill set.
For more about the Chamber, visit the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce website or call 931-647-2331.