Fort Bragg

Fort Liberty stretches across 251 square miles and functions as a primary training center for airborne and special operations forces of the United States Army. The installation includes numerous training grounds, firing ranges, airfields, and military housing communities spread throughout the territory.

The installation opened as Camp Bragg in 1918 for artillery training, expanded during World War II, and received its current name in June 2023. The renaming followed a nationwide initiative to review military installation names and their associations.

The base operates several education centers, including Department of Defense schools that serve military families and their children throughout the academic year. These schools follow a standardized curriculum that allows children to transition smoothly between different military installations.

New personnel arriving at the installation must report to the Reception Company, which processes incoming troops around the clock, including weekends and holidays. Visitors without military identification need prior authorization and must present valid identification at the main gates.

The base protects specific natural habitats for endangered species like the Saint Francis' satyr butterfly, implementing training restrictions to preserve these environments. These protected zones share the grounds with active military exercise areas, creating an unusual contrast between conservation and military training.