FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett has been informed that the Army’s plan to reduce troops by 40,000 over the next two years will have minimal impact on Fort Campbell.

Fort Campbell will see a reduction of 363 troops, according to Congressman Blackburn’s office.

“I could not be more pleased with the news. We hate to lose any troops from Ft. Campbell, but with the looming question of a potential reduction of thousands, taken down to around 350 active duty over a two year period, the impact to our base and our county will be minimal,” Durrett said.

The Army will reduce the active-duty force from 490,000 soldiers to 450,000 within two years. The biggest cuts are expected to be made at units based in Georgia and Alaska.

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Hopkinsville Mayor Carter Hendricks was also glad to hear the news.

“It’s gratifying to see Pentagon officials reinforce Fort Campbell’s importance and excellence in operations. Moreover, it has been an honor to work with regional leaders from our community as well as Clarksville-Montgomery County in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration. Fort Campbell unifies our region and we are better for it,” Hendricks said.

According to the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce, for each individual reduction at Ft. Campbell, slightly greater than 2.5 people are directly affected. With today’s announcement of 363 reductions, the Chamber estimates a total direct impact of 914 men, women and children.

“One positive outcome from this grueling exercise has been increased public awareness for the direct and indirect economic impacts that Ft. Campbell and its Soldiers impress upon our community. We are confident that the show of support from our community at large influenced the Army’s decision to keep Ft. Campbell’s cuts to a minimum,” said Melinda Shepard, Chamber Executive Director.

Fort Campbell hosted a listening session earlier this year to speak to top officials about the impending cuts. Public attendance was so high that many had to be turned away.

“We know the importance of the Ft. Campbell community and this shows that the Army does too,” Mayor Durrett said. “I want to thank our Washington delegation for their work to save Ft. Campbell and also much gratitude is due to the citizens of Montgomery County, Christian County and the surrounding area for stepping up and making your voices heard during the listening session. The message regarding the importance of Ft. Campbell was made loud and clear, and obviously heard.”

Other local leaders spoke positively about the announcement:

“From an economic development perspective, our best course of action is to minimize the impact by communicating the advantages for veterans and their families to remain in Clarksville-Montgomery County as they begin a new chapter in their lives. As we market our resources to prospective business and industry we simultaneously connect Veterans with jobs and opportunities that make staying in our community a valuable proposal. Among the multitude of reasons that our area is a prime retirement location for veterans and their families includes above average property values (vs. State of Tennessee average), TriCare Prime healthcare, robust Network of Care and other social services, continuing educational opportunities, and new and growing industries to provide future employment opportunities.” – Cal Wray, Executive Director, Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council

“I’m sure there may be comments from some about the economic impact the soldiers have on our economy. But the people of Clarksville don’t see our men and women in uniform as dollar signs. For us, this is about family. As I’ve said before, the soldiers at Fort Campbell are people we worship with, go to school with, share running trails and play softball games with. They are our neighbors, our brothers and sisters. Their value to our community is much greater than economics. I do not envy the men and women who had to make the tough decisions about these reductions or the communities where significant reductions are being made. We know that the soldiers play a vital role in those communities as well. While I will always appreciate our community’s involvement and support of our troops, I believe this decision demonstrates the military’s belief that the soldiers who serve at Fort Campbell are essential to the safety and stability of the United States on an international scale. As always, our gratitude goes to our soldiers and their families for their willingness to serve and their commitment to each of us.” -Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan

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