Fort Benning
There is no higher calling in the Army than to train the next generation of our nation's warriors. Here in the Infantry Training Brigade, we train nothing but Infantry soldiers to fight our nation’s wars. It is a mission which requires dedication and professionalism; you must be at your best because the young men entering the Infantry deserve it. An Infantry soldier is special: he must be able to shoot better, perform better under extreme physical duress, and fit into an Infantry squad upon graduation. He must have discipline and high morale and understand the core values that make our Army great and the Infantry the Queen of Battle.
Columbus, GA
Founded in 1828 by an act of the Georgia Legislature, Columbus was situated at the end of the navigable portion of the Chattahoochee River and on the last stretch of the Federal Road before entering Alabama. The city was named for Christopher Columbus, its founders likely influenced by the writings of Washington Irving. The plan for the city was drawn up by Dr. Edwin L. DeGaffenried who placed the town on a bluff overlooking the river. Across the river, where Phenix City, Alabama is now located, Creek Indians lived until their removal in 1836.
The river served as Columbus' connection to the world, particularly connecting the plantations in the region with the international cotton market via New Orleans and ultimately Liverpool, England. The city's commercial importance increased in the 1850s with the arrival of the railroad. In addition, textile mills began springing up along the river, bringing industry to an area reliant upon agriculture.
By 1860, the city was one of the more important industrial centers of the South, earning it the nickname the Lowell of the South. When the outbreak of war came in 1861, the industries of Columbus expanded their production and Columbus became one of the most important centers of industry in the Confederacy. In addition to textiles, the city had an ironworks as well as a shipyard for the Confederate Navy. The city finally saw its only fighting on Easter Sunday, April 14, 1865, when a Union detachment under General James H. Wilson attacked the city and burned many of the industrial buildings.
Reconstruction began almost immediately and prosperity followed. The industrialization of the town led to rapid growth; the city had outgrown its original plan. Columbus was graced with the Springer Opera House on 10th Avenue, which has hosted over a century of great performers and still delights audiences today.
By the time of the Spanish American War, the city began to see much modernization including the addition of trolleys and a new water works. Mayor Lucius Chappell also brought a training camp for soldiers to the area. This training camp would grow into Fort Benning, named for General Henry L. Benning, a native of the city.
With the expansion of the city, the need for a university saw the establishment of Columbus Junior College which would later grow into Columbus State University. The city would consolidate city and county governments in 1971 and become the first of its kind in Georgia (and one of only 16 in the U.S. at the time). As the city has turned from its initial industry of textiles, it has found a home for other prominent industries including the headquarters for AFLAC and Synovus.
Columbus lies right next to Fort Benning, home of a U.S. sniper training school. It was the site of the first ever Olympic women's fast-pitch softball competition during the 1996 Olympic Games. Was the home of RC Cola until the 1960s. Local folklore maintains that Coca-Cola was developed here by Dr. John Pemberton, who resided in Columbus during the 1860s. Columbus, GA is the largest city in the United States which has a larger namesake (Columbus, Ohio).
Fort Benning Hotel Map
Bases by Service
Basic Training Bases
- Lackland AFB
- Fort Benning
- Fort Jackson
- Fort Knox
- Fort Leonard Wood
- Fort Sill
- MCRD Parris Island
- MCRD San Diego
- Great Lakes NTC
Popular Bases
Visit Military Bases is an R2 production. © 2013 R2 Productions, LLC.
Military images have been released to the public domain by the DoD. Lodging fulfillment provided by IAN, a division of Expedia, Inc.
Try some of our partner sites at Discover Baltimore Basic Training Graduation Beaches and Towns Network Minor League Baseball Stuff