U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), David Perdue (R-GA) and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) is urging the U.S. Army to station the new 16th Armored Brigade Combat Team at Fort Stewart in Georgia’s Liberty and Bryan counties.
In a letter sent to U.S. Secretary of the Army Mark Esper on Tuesday, the lawmakers highlighted Fort Stewart’s existing capacity to accommodate the 16th Armored Brigade Combat Team, as well as the need to strategically distribute armor units around the nation, in making a case for Fort Stewart.
“Fort Stewart is the premier power projection platform on the east coast, and there is no place in the Army where it is less expensive for combat soldiers to live, train and deploy,” the letter stated. “It maintains the largest base east of the Mississippi River with a digital, multi-purpose range complex with training land available for two brigade combat teams to conduct training maneuvers concurrently year-round.”
The lawmakers also noted that Fort Stewart is located less than two hours from four major ports and that Hunter Army Airfield offers the largest runway and aircraft parking capacity east of the Mississippi River.
“Additionally, coastal Georgia has little to no environmental impediments, a robust frequency spectrum, and large air corridors that can accommodate joint and combined training of any size or scope,” the lawmakers wrote.