The United States stands as a global leader in military readiness and personnel; indeed, it boasts the largest military force in the world based on the number of active members. Listed below are five of the largest military forts globally, all of which are located within the continental United States.
Fort Bragg (North Carolina, U.S.)
Population: 238,646; Area: 163,000 acres
Founded in 1918, Fort Bragg initially served as a training site for artillery, selected for its consistently favorable climate, appropriate landscape, and access to rail transportation. It was named in honor of Braxton Bragg, a native of North Carolina who led Confederate States Army troops during the Civil War. Today, the installation is home to the US Army airborne units and Special Forces, along with U.S. Army Forces Command, U.S. Army Reserve Command, and Womack Army Medical Center. In 2016, Major League Baseball revealed that the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins would compete in a unique game at a newly-built ballpark within Fort Bragg on July 3, 2016, marking the first occasion an active military base hosted a regular-season game for a professional sports league.
Fort Campbell (Kentucky, U.S.)
Population: 234,914; Area: 105,000 acres
Situated on the border between Kentucky and Tennessee, two-thirds of the installation lies within Tennessee, while the remaining portion is in Kentucky. Fort Campbell serves as the base for the 101st Airborne Division Air Assault, famously known as the “Screaming Eagles,” along with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The fort is named to honor Brigadier General William Bowen Campbell, a Union Army officer and the last Whig Governor of Tennessee. Currently, the Fort is home to the Air Assault School, recognized as the “Toughest 10 Days in the Army.” The installation functions as a self-sufficient community, featuring a shopping mall, hotel, bowling alley, veterinary clinic, post office, schools, and much more.
Fort Hood Military Base (Texas, U.S.)
Population: 217,003; Area: 214,968 acres
Fort Hood was initially created due to the necessity for expansive areas to conduct testing and training with tank destroyers during World War II. Approximately 300 families were relocated to accommodate this new installation, but the government established a land leasing agreement that allowed cattle to continue grazing in the region, a pact that is still in effect today. Currently, Fort Hood serves as the base for the III Corps, 1st Cavalry Division, 13th Sustainment Command, First Army Division West, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade, along with numerous other Forces Command and various units. Notable former residents include icons like Elvis Presley and Jackie Robinson. Additionally, the installation hosts a Fourth of July celebration featuring one of the largest fireworks displays in the nation.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Washington, U.S.)
Population: 209,486; Area: 414,000 acres
The only Army power projection base west of the Rocky Mountains, Joint Base Lewis–McChord is a training and mobilization center for all services, and is home to I Corps and 62d Airlift Wing. The current installment is the result of merging the United States Army’s Fort Lewis and the United States Air Force’s McChord Air Force Base in 2010. Its geographic location provides easy access to the deep water ports nearby,
Fort Benning (Georgia, U.S.)
Population: 107,627; Area: 182,000 acres
Another Fort to straddle the border between two states – this time Georgia and Alabama – Fort Benning possesses the capability to deploy combat-ready forces by air, rail, and highway. The Chattahoochee River also runs through the fort, and the installment has been used as a setting for tv and movies since the 1940s. It was named a center of excellence for its training schools, and it now is home to the Maneuver Center of Excellence, the United States Army Armor School, United States Army Infantry School, and the Western Hemisphere Institute for the Security Cooperation.