Com-Central.net

Army Times has the following article on the new Maneuver Center being formed at Fort Benning, including two interesting points:

"Moving the Armor Museum to Fort Benning but not the Patton Museum because it tells the story of the evolution of Fort Knox. 'The challenge is that the Army owns the artifacts, but private organizations own the buildings,' said Stieghan, noting that monuments will also be moved and rededications will be held."

That kinda adds to the word that the Patton Museum hadnt quite gotten the reprieve it would appear to have from the Congressman's announcement a year or so ago...

But this point is also interesting:

"Recovering historic vehicles that were dropped off as targets or for training purposes. Benning workers are finding rusted-out tanks in the process of clearing terrain for firing ranges. Some of the relics will be used in memorial displays, preserved for posterity or used for spare parts. 'We’ll find more things like that as we use more of Fort Benning that hasn’t been used in a long time,' Stieghan said. 'We’re very excited. The only people who know about them are pig hunters.'"

Armor, infantry set to share heritage
New ‘maneuver center’ presents cultural challenge for Fort Benning

By Gina Cavallaro
Staff writer

FORT BENNING, Ga. � As much of a culture shock as bringing the Armor Center here may appear on the outside, it’s not the first time in Benning’s history that tankers and cavalrymen have rolled through infantry country.

“This will be the fourth time in history that Fort Benning has exploded, when, because of wartime conditions, the number of troops and facilities have multiplied,� said former artillery officer David Stieghan, the command historian for the last five years. “In 1918, this place was established in 10 days.�

It’s the third time, he said, that Benning has been the “maneuver center.� The first was in February 1919, when the Infantry Tank School moved from Camp Colt at Gettysburg, Pa., to what was known then as Camp Benning. It moved again in 1927 to Camp Meade, Md.

The second time, he said, was in the 1930s when the Army converted infantry regiments into infantry tank regiments in anticipation of World War II. The 2nd Armored Division was formed here and trained under Gen. George Patton from 1940 to 1942.

The move of the Armor Center from Fort Knox, Ky., however, presents some unique considerations that involve lineage and history.

“You have two cultures that have been in friendly competition for almost 90 years,� Stieghan said. “It’s not just money, bean counters making decisions. It’s an emotional thing. We want to do it with the least amount of trauma as possible.�

Among the steps being taken to successfully co-locate the two branches over the coming five years are:

• Designing a patch for the Maneuver Center of Excellence. “We’ll still have an Armor School patch and an Infantry School patch, but those who are doing post functions, general staff, military police � those who are supporting the post and this center will wear the new patch,� Stieghan said.

• Developing a unit motto and a unit crest, working with Fort Knox and the Institute of Heraldry. The institute is “the one that makes the design and they make it official. They’re very sensitive to ideas and suggestions,� Stieghan said. A patch helps build unit pride over a function that’s been happening since 1918.

Starting in January, a 60-day contest seeking suggestions for design will be held. “The goal is not to keep this small and in-house. We want to get some of the great ideas that are out there,� he said. “The goal is to have a patch, crest and motto done by Oct. 1, 2008.� Details will be announced in January, he said.

• Changing the entrance to Fort Benning to reflect the new “brand� of the armor and infantry branches. The display will probably contain a Bradley fighting vehicle and an Abrams tank, although no final idea has come together yet, Stieghan said. “Camp Benning will have its 90th anniversary in 2008. Next year is the 100th anniversary of the School of Infantry. We’re no longer the home of the infantry � we’re maneuver. We’re looking at things that combine that heritage.�

• Moving the Armor Museum to Fort Benning but not the Patton Museum because it tells the story of the evolution of Fort Knox. “The challenge is that the Army owns the artifacts, but private organizations own the buildings,� said Stieghan, noting that monuments will also be moved and rededications will be held.

• Naming or renaming of streets, ranges and buildings on Benning to reflect armor and cavalry heritage and partnership. “We need to be thinking in terms of armor and armor-infantry heritage when we name streets. We’re going to pave new streets, build new buildings, open new ranges. We may use some of the same names that are at Knox, but a memorialization committee is looking at armor and cavalry names from locations, battles, tanks or even the motto of a famous regiment,� he said, as well the memory of soldiers.

• Moving monuments and tanks from other posts that are slated for closure under the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment commission. The commission also decided Armor would move to Benning.

• Changing the name of Infantry Hall to Maneuver Hall. The monument in front of the building � called the Infantryman, even though it’s also informally referred to as “Follow Me� � will have to be rethought to represent the two branches. Stieghan pointed out, as an aside, that many confuse the statue with that of “Iron Mike,� which is at Fort Bragg, N.C.

• Refurbishing Campbell King Horse Bowl riding rink. It’s an old terraced amphitheater overgrown by kudzu that was cleaned out by Eagle Scouts a few months ago. It will be refurbished and put back into commission for activities with horses, such as the Cavalry Association’s annual competition. “They used to have horse shows and rodeos with cavalry and artillery horses or supply wagon horses. It will be revived as part of the cavalry heritage of Patton,� he said.

• Recovering historic vehicles that were dropped off as targets or for training purposes. Benning workers are finding rusted-out tanks in the process of clearing terrain for firing ranges. Some of the relics will be used in memorial displays, preserved for posterity or used for spare parts. “We’ll find more things like that as we use more of Fort Benning that hasn’t been used in a long time,� Stieghan said. “We’re very excited. The only people who know about them are pig hunters.�