The Fayetteville Observer reports the 2014 defense budget proposed by President Obama includes more than $202 million in military construction on Fort Bragg. That’s a slight increase from last year’s $198 million in construction on the post but a far cry from past years, when Fort Bragg benefited from a building boom related to base realignment and closure.
The bulk of the construction plans focus on Fort Bragg’s special operations community. Special Operations Command requested $135 million in projects for Fort Bragg, including a civil affairs battalion annex for the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, a combat medical skills sustainment course building for the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center, an engineer training facility for the 1st Special Warfare Training Group, a language and cultural center for the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, and an upgrade to a training facility at Camp MacKall.
The projects are scheduled for completion between September 2015 and May 2016.
The language and cultural center comes with the largest price tag. It’s expected to cost more than $64 million and includes a pedestrian bridge that will connect it with the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. That project is scheduled to be completed in March 2016.
Other Fort Bragg projects include nearly $6 million for a command and control facility for the 18th Airborne Corps, more than $24 million for a new home for Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command and more than $37 million for a new school. Those projects are scheduled to be completed in September 2015, April 2016 and June 2016, respectively.
Overall, the amount of money earmarked for military construction in the 2014 budget proposal is similar to last year’s budget. North Carolina will benefit from nearly $370 million in military construction, including projects at CampLejeune and New River Marine Corps Air Station. Only Hawaii, Kentucky, Guam and Maryland will see more military construction, according to the proposal. Read More.