A Deep Dive into some of your Local Army Base Name Changes
Who Authorized the Name Changes?
If you are wondering why some of your local Army installations are changing their names, wonder no longer. The Department of Defense press release informed the public that, under the Secretary of Defense of Acquisition and Sustainment, William A. Laplante, all DOD organizations have been directed to begin implementing several name changes for installations before the end of 2023. The name changes were accepted in September by the Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III.
Why Did They Decide to Change the Names of These Installations?
A Naming Commission that was Congressionally mandated was formed to review all Confederate references in the military, and it recommended that nine army bases change their names to remove references to Confederate military leaders and the commemoration of rebel victories.
Nine Army Bases That Will Undergo Name Changes
The nine Army bases that will receive name changes are as follows: Fort Picket will be changed to Fort Barfoot, Fort Rucker to Fort Novosel, Fort Benning to Fort Moore, Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty, Fort Gordon to Fort Eisenhower, Fort A.P. Hill to Fort Walker, Fort Hood to Fort Cavazos, Fort Lee to Fort Gregg-Adams, and Fort Polk to Fort Johnson.
Cost of the Name Changes
The cost of these name changes has nearly doubled since the Congressionally-mandated Naming Commission first made its estimations. The Army can expect to pay almost $39 million to remove the Confederate-honored bases. The initial estimate of the cost of changes was $21 million, according to Military Times.
When Will Name Changes Take Place?
As of October 27, 2023, all Army installations have officially been renamed, meeting the timeline given under the Department of Defense early.