Fort Benning is a United States Army base, located southwest of Columbus, Georgia in Muscogee County, Chattahoochee County and Russell Counties. It is known as the U.S. Army Infantry Center. Adapted from Wikipedias GA county maps by Seth Ilys. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Columbus is a city located in Muscogee County, Georgia. ... Muscogee County is a county located in the state of Georgia. ... Chattahoochee County is a county located in the state of Georgia. ... Russell County is a county of the State of Alabama. ...

History

Fort Benning is named for Henry L. Benning, a general of the Confederate States of America Army and a native of Columbus. It was established in October 1918 as Camp Benning, and did not receive permanent quarters and status until World War II. The base covers 182,000 acres (737 km²). During World War II, Fort Benning included 197,159 acres (797.87 km²), and had billeting space for 3,970 officers and 94,873 enlisted persons. The Chattahoochee River runs through Fort Benning. Due to the deep green color of the water, it is known to the soldiers of the 586th Engineer Co. (Float Bridge) as the 'Chattanasty'. Henry Lewis Benning (April 2, 1814 – July 10, 1875) was a Confederate general in the American Civil War. ... General is a military rank, in most nations the highest rank, although some nations have the higher rank of Field Marshal. ... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: With God As Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (popular) The Bonnie Blue Flag (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865 Danville, Virginia April 3–April 10, 1865 Largest city New Orleans... Combatants Allies: Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France/Free France, United States, China, Canada, India, Australia, Poland, New Zealand, South Africa, Greece, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, Bulgaria, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Burma, Slovakia Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8... A billet is the place to which a person, generally a soldier, is assigned to sleep. ... In military service, an enlisted rank is generally any rating below that of a commissioned officer. ... The Chattahoochee River runs from the Chattahoochee Spring in the mountains of northeast Georgia, southwestward by Atlanta and through its suburbs, then turns southward to form the southern half of the Georgia/Alabama state line. ...

During World War Two (WWII) Fort Benning became home to the 555th Parachute Infantry Company, known as the Triple Nickel. Their training began in December 1943. This represented an important milestone for black Americans. The Triple Nickel became a respected nickname for the infantry and represents the proud legacy of the first black airborne unit. German soldiers at the Battle of Stalingrad World War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the worlds nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. ... The 555th Parachute Infantry Company (called the Triple Nickel, later the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion) was an all-black airborne unit that began service during World War II. It was the first African_American airborne unit, marking a tremendous milestone. ... The 555th Parachute Infantry Company (called the Triple Nickel, later the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion) was an all-black airborne unit that began service during World War II. It was the first African-American airborne unit, marking a tremendous milestone. ...

The Airborne School on Main Post has three 250-foot (76 m) drop towers for training paratroopers. The towers were originally an amusement park ride of the New York Worlds' Fair and were brought to Fort Benning in the 1950s. [1] Airborne School is an advanced Infantry School for training of airborne infantry. ... An American Paratrooper using a T-10C series parachute Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and formed into an airborne force. ... Amusement park is the more generic term for a collection of rides and other entertainment attractions assembled for the purpose of entertaining a fairly large group of people. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Convicted Vietnam War war criminal William Calley spent 3 1/2 years under house arrest at Fort Benning. Combatants Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) United States of America South Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand the Philippines Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) Strength ~1,200,000 (1968) ~420,000 (1968) Casualties South Vietnamese dead: 230,000 South Vietnamese wounded: 300,000 US dead... A war crime is a punishable offense, under international (criminal) law, for violations of the law of war by any person or persons, military or civilian. ... Lt. ...

Mission

Fort Benning's first mission was to provide Basic Training for units participating in World War II. With the end of that war, Benning was closed until the Army could find a use for it. The first Tenant Unit to arrive was the Infantry School, which has been there ever since. The Civilian Conservation Corps completed the wooden permanent buildings in the 1930s, and Fort Benning expanded from that point forward. U.S. Army recruits learn about bayonet fighting skills in an infantry Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. ... Civilian Conservation Corps workers restoring the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. ... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ...

The 555th Parachute Infantry Company was trained at Fort Benning and deployed only within the continential United States during WWII. The specialized duties of the Triple Nickel were primarily firefighting duties as parachute smoke jumpers. The 555th was secretly deployed to the Pacific Northwest in the United States in responce to an anticipated threat. There was concern that forest fires were being deliberately set by the Japanese military using incendiary balloons as an attempt to produce terror among the citizens. The 555th successfully completed over 1,000 missions as smoke jumpers and thwarted the enemy's attempts to spread terror within the United States. The 555th Parachute Infantry Company (called the Triple Nickel, later the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion) was an all-black airborne unit that began service during World War II. It was the first African-American airborne unit, marking a tremendous milestone. ...

Fort Benning is where the US 2nd Armored Division was formed. Shoulder sleeve patch of the United States Army 2nd Armored Division, Hell on Wheels. ...

The post has a large basic training facility for infantry. It is home to the Infantry Training Brigade of the United States Army as well being the Army's airborne (parachuting) training center. Further, it is home to a Basic Combat Training Brigade (BCTB) on Sand Hill. This is distinguished from the Infantry Training Brigade (ITB) in that ITB includes both basic training and infantry Advanced Individual Training (AIT). ITB training therefore lasts 14 weeks while BCT is 9 weeks. BCTB is used to train non-infantry personnel, who go on to AIT at other duty stations. Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. An infantry is a body of soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... U.S. paratroopers jump into Australia on a military training exercise. ... Skydiver about to land Parachuting, or skydiving, is a recreational activity, competitive sport and method of deployment of military personnel (and occasionally, forest firefighters). ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. An infantry is a body of soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other...

Post organization

There are four main cantonment areas on Ft. Benning. They are the Main Post area, Kelley Hill, Sand Hill and Harmony Church. A cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military quarters, typically in South India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. ...

Main Post houses various garrison and smaller FORSCOM units of Ft. Benning such as 36th Engineer Group, 988th Military Police Co., the 43rd Engr Bn., and the 29th Infantry Regiment, as well as a number of TRADOC-related tenants, e.g., Officer Candidate School, Primary Leadership Development Course and Airborne School. Supporting the American Army ... It has been suggested that Gendarmerie be merged into this article or section. ... TRADOC shoulder sleeve patch. ... The United States Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) is a school located at Fort Benning, providing training to become a commissioned officer. ... Primary Leadership Development Course or PLDC is the first course of study that must be attended by a U.S. Army non-commissioned officer candidate. ... Airborne School is an advanced Infantry School for training of airborne infantry. ...

Kelley Hill houses the 3rd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized).

Sand Hill is the primary location of the Infantry Training Brigade and Basic Combat Training Brigade.

Harmony Church area houses the Sniper and Ranger schools, and the 1st Battalion of the 29th Infantry Regiment (training support for Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Strykers) at Building 5500. Victoria Pond, where the amphibious training for the Bradleys take place is out there. Way out in this area, about 1 mile (2 km) from Red Diamond Road is a Civil War era cemetery in a large meadow. The graveyard is marked in the C C 2 area on the Fort Benning tactical military map as CEMETERY 2. Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederate) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties Killed in action: 110,000 Total dead: 360,000 Wounded: 275,200 Killed in action: 93,000 Total dead: 258...

Fryar Drop Zone, the drop zone that airborne students land on, is in the Alabama portion of Fort Benning.

Fort Benning is also home to:

• The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), formerly known as School of the Americas
• The US Army Pathfinder training school
• US Army Officer Candidate School
• US Army Rangers School
• 75th Ranger Regiment Headquarters
• 3rd Ranger Battalion
• The Infantry Officer's Basic Course (IOBC)

As of August 2005, Major General Walter Wojdakowski is the current post commander. Former logo of the School of Americas, now the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation at Fort Benning, Georgia The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHISC or WHINSEC; formerly School of the Americas, SOA - Spanish: Escuela de las Américas) is a United States Army facility at Fort Benning... The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHISC), formerly School of the Americas (SOA), is a US Army facility at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia, USA. It is a training facility operated in the Spanish language especially for Latin American military personnel. ... The United States Army Officer Candidate School (OCS) is a school located at Fort Benning, providing training to become a commissioned officer. ... Official force name 75th Ranger Regiment Rangers Other names Airborne Rangers Army Rangers Task Force Ranger U.S. Army Rangers Branch U.S. Army Chain of Command USASOC Description Special Operations Force, rapidly deployable light infantry force. ... Official force name 75th Ranger Regiment Rangers Other names Airborne Rangers Army Rangers Task Force Ranger U.S. Army Rangers Branch U.S. Army Chain of Command USASOC Description Special Operations Force, rapidly deployable light infantry force. ...

Because of all of the essential programs it is home to, Fort Benning is considered extremely unlikely to be impacted by the Base Realignment and Closing Commission (BRAC), unlike many of Georgia's other military facilities, which are at risk. Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the US Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory in order to save...

Fort Benning is the main set of the popular and free online first-person shooter, America's Army. Americas Army (also known as AA or Army Game Project) is a tactical multiplayer first-person shooter owned by the U.S. government and released as a global public relations initiative to present an image of the current U.S. Army and help with U.S. Army recruitment. ...

Post Commanders have included General John 'Black Jack' Pershing and General Omar Bradley, for whom the Bradley Fighting Vehicle was named. General John Pershing John Joseph Black Jack Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was an officer in the United States Army. ... Omar Nelson Bradley (February 12, 1893 – April 8, 1981) was one of the main U.S. Army field commanders in North Africa and Europe during the World War II and a General of the Army of the United States Army. ...

Fort Benning in the movies, books, and legend

In the movie "We Were Soldiers", FT Benning is used as the background for the scenes where the housing area is, as well as Doughboy Stadium.

In the movie Tank, James Garner was inside a bar on an Army post and a neon sign reading END OF THE HALL was visible. That footage was shot inside the Fort Benning Non-Commissioned Officer Club. James Garner (born April 7, 1928) is an American film and television actor of partially Cherokee Indian descent. ...

In one of W.E.B. Griffin's books in the Brotherhood of War series a chewing out at the Airborne School was described as a high school drop-out screaming into your face that "He didn't know what kinda chicken-shit outfit you came here from, but you better get your act together real quick, or I'll ship you outta here so fast your asshole won't catch up with you for 2 weeks!" W.E.B. Griffin (born William Edmund Butterworth III on November 10, 1929) is a writer of military and detective fiction with some thirty novels in five series published under that name. ...

A story circulates in the Columbus, Georgia area that in the past there had been a situation where Phenix City, Alabama, a town across the Chattahoochee River, had some Ft. Benning troops in jail and wouldn't give them back. The story goes that the (unnamed) Commanding General assembled 8000 troops at the bridge and threatened to send them in to rescue the men if they weren't released. An alternate version told was that the General pulled several tanks up on the banks of the river and threatened to open fire. The version with tanks often is cited as having been General George S. Patton when he was at Fort Benning. However, a military historian has stated that the story was partially true in the sense that a general once threatened to roll tanks into Phenix City but that the general in question was not Patton. Columbus is a city located in Muscogee County, Georgia. ... Phenix City is a city located mostly in Russell County, Alabama, and partly in Lee County. ... George Smith Patton, Jr. ...

In Scent of a Woman, Al Pacino's characters is questioned by his nephew at which US Army fort he lost his vision. "Fort Bragg?" questions the nephew. "No, Fort Benning," replies Pacino's character, Lt. Col. Frank Slade. Scent of a Woman is a 1992 film which tells the story of a preparatory school student who takes a job as an assistant to an irascible blind former military officer. ... Al Pacino (right) with Robert Duvall in The Godfather. ...

United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)

Installations: Aberdeen Proving Ground • Carlisle Barracks • Fort Belvoir • Fort Benning • Fort Bliss • Fort Eustis • Fort Gordon • Fort Huachuca • Fort Jackson • Fort Knox • Fort Leavenworth • Fort Lee • Fort Leonard Wood • Fort Rucker • Fort Sill • Redstone Arsenal Schools: Adjutant General School • Airborne School • Air Defense Artillery School • Armor School • Army Logistics Management College • Army Management Staff College • Army War College • Aviation School • Aviation Logistics School • Chaplain School • Chemical School • Combatives School • Command and General Staff College • Defense Language Institute • Drill Sergeant Schools • Engineer School • Field Artillery School • Finance School • Infantry School • Intelligence School • Military Police School • Officer Candidate School • Ordnance Mechanical Maintenance School • Ordnance Munitions and Electronics Maintenance School • Physical Fitness School • Quartermaster School • Ranger School • Recruiting and Retention School • School of Advanced Military Studies • School of Information Technology • School of Military Packaging Technology • Sergeants Major Academy • Signal School • Transportation School • Warrant Officer Career Center