Response to Questions for Fayetteville NC Page: 14 of 72
This text is part of the collection entitled: Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission and was provided to UNT Digital Library by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
SECTION 3: MISSION REQUIREMENTS AND CAPABILITIES
3A: Mission Capability
Fort Bragg and Pope AFB constitute a unique power projection capability unlike
any other military installation in the country. Forces on Fort Bragg must meet
requirements to execute on the shortest timeline of any forces in our military as directed
by the Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan (JSCP). With the Pope AFB airfield adjoining
Fort Bragg, crisis response forces can stage and deploy faster than at any other
installation, and units do not have to leave the installation to stage and board aircraft,
allowing force movements to remain undetected. These forces include three 82"nd
Airborne Brigade Combat Teams, with a fourth projected; Special Forces from the US
Army Special Operations Command; and the Joint Special Operations Command. There
are combat planning staffs on Fort Bragg/Pope AFB from the 18th Airborne Corps, U.S.
Army Special Operations Command, Joint Special Operations Command, and the 43"
Airlift Wing. In addition, combat controllers from the 18th Air Support Operations
Group, and 14th Air Support Operations Squadron, and the Combat Controllers School
train and deploy with Army units. The capabilities that exist at Fort Bragg and Pope
AFB can not be replicated anywhere else due to the wide range and specialized training
of crisis response forces at Fort Bragg; the training, planning, execution and airlift
support provided by the 43r Airlift Wing; the capability to deploy quickly to meet crisis
timelines; and the ability to conceal preparations and maintain secrecy.
Forces at Fort Bragg provide a variety of options to the President and Secretary of
Defense during crisis planning that no other base can provide. With the addition of the
Homeland Defense mission, units at Fort Bragg may be required to respond quickly to an
international crisis or to a national emergency or terrorist act in the United States. If this
response capability is degraded, our national security could be affected. Some other
major Army installations that have runways on the post that can accommodate strategic
lift aircraft are: Fort Bliss, Fort Hood, and Fort Campbell. Fort Bliss is home to the
Army Air Defense Command, which does not have a rapid response mission. Fort Hood
is home to III Corps, the 4th Mechanized Division and the 1st Cavalry Division, all heavy
forces that move the majority of their equipment by rail. Fort Campbell is home to the
101st Airborne Division, which is heavily equipped with helicopters, which also deploys
primarily by rail. None of the Army's airfields operate at the same level, alert status and
tempo of Fort Bragg/Pope AFB.
3B: Combat Airlift Operations from Pope AFB
Over the last four decades, the unique relationship and organizations of Ft Bragg
and Pope AFB were created specifically to support the nation's Crisis Response mission
as directed in our militaries' classified contingency plans. Airlift Wings at Pope AFB
have supported Combat Operations that were planned and executed from the base. They
provided the primary airlift and execution planning for Grenada, Panama and Haiti. This
required the wing to closely coordinate with the Corps staff and to provide the majority
of the Air Force planning for the operation and to orchestrate the preparation, briefings,
loading, marshalling and launching of all aircraft, personnel and equipment, and
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This text can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Text.
Response to Questions for Fayetteville NC, text, July 25, 2005; (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc18496/m1/14/: accessed May 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.