Fort Bragg is set to change the installation's name and is currently asking the community for their input in the name selection process. 

“We’re amplifying the opportunity for the community to be involved with the name-changing process,” Col. Scott Pence, Fort Bragg garrison commander, said. “We are engaging the community to solicit their feedback on name recommendations.”

The name change comes as a result of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, passed by Congress last year that requires the renaming of military installations which were named after Confederate soldiers.

“Fort Bragg will be renamed,” he emphasized. “It is written pretty clearly that names should be inspiring, have some connection to the area of the installation, and most importantly, it’s not the name of a confederate leader or soldier.”

The commander said the name suggestions can vary and don’t have to be limited to individuals but can also be a value or a virtue. 

“Some folks have thrown out names like ‘Honor’ as a name for the post or ‘Fort Liberty’,” Pence said. 

Fort Bragg was initially named Camp Bragg on Sept. 4, 1918 after Confederate General Braxton Bragg for his actions in the Mexican-American War. 

It is among nine other installations that will undergo a name change per the new act. The other military installations are Camp Beauregard, Louisiana; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Gordon, Georgia; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia; Fort Lee, Virginia; Fort Pickett, Virginia; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Rucker, Alabama. 

“The name means something for all of us and so it’s important that we are all involved in soliciting which names we choose and that everyone feels like they have a role,” Pence said. “Anybody who’s been at Fort Bragg knows how important this community is. This is an installation like no other.”

The Garrison commander encouraged the community at today’s event to help assist the Fort Bragg team in renaming the base. 

“We want to ensure our stakeholders, soldiers, families, civilians and members of the community have the unique opportunity to provide a name recommendation for our installation,” he said. 

Fort Bragg has formed a diverse panel with the top stakeholders and community members in the region. They will also be hosting a Facebook Live town hall meeting on Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. on the City of Fayetteville Facebook page, hosted by Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen, where the community will be addressed and can have their questions answered. 

“On the 23rd of September, our invite-only stakeholders with the top leaders in the community will help narrow this growing list of names we are collecting to pass on, all towards the goal that the naming commission has a small list of names that are acceptable to this community,” Pence said. “The installation needs to be renamed in three years by January 2024.”

Yesterday, the XVIII Airborne Corps team released a podcast addressing the renaming processes and emphasizing the importance of community engagement. The podcast can be found here. 

The community can participate in the renaming process by submitting their name suggestions here. ​​

For more information, visit https://www.thenamingcommission.gov or https://www.facebook.com/fbncgarrisoncmd 

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Some of the invite-only stakeholders 

Chairs

Retired General Dan McNeill

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Steve England

Senior Panel Members

Glenn Adams, Cumberland County Commissioner (Vice Chair)

Patricia Elliott, National Secretary of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. 

Robert Van Geons, Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation 

Harvey Godwin, Lumbee Tribal Leader

Pastor Alfonzo McAllister, Community of Faith

Mike Nagowski, CEO, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center