Category: Fort Knox

  • Why Fort Knox matters to the local economy / The News-Enterprise

    One hundred years ago this month during World War I, the U.S. Army leased 20,000 acres of property in the area of Stithton, a small farming community in Hardin County.

    Chosen for its high ground and proximity to the railroad, the Army later acquired the land along with parts of Meade and Bullitt counties and named it Camp Knox, in honor of Gen. Henry Knox, chief of artillery in the Revolutionary War and the first U.S. Secretary of War.

    Over the past century, millions of soldiers and their families have trained or have been stationed at the iconic post. Now more than 100,000 acres, Fort Knox has been and continues to be an invaluable tool in our nation’s defense arsenal.

    First home to field artillery units, then for decades the Army’s Armor training center where soldiers learned the art of tank warfare, today, Fort Knox is a multi-faceted installation with a wide array of missions including human capital management, leadership development, recruitment, reserve training, reserve aviation and active component engineering and sustainment commands.

    While it is no doubt a great asset for the Department of De­fense and a source of patriotic pride for central Kentuckians, people often underestimate Fort Knox’s economic value to our region.

    For example, more than 16,000 people — soldiers, De­part­ment of the Army civilian employees and contractors — work at Fort Knox each day. And that doesn’t include the hundreds, if not thousands, of soldiers who, on any given day, are on post for training.

    Those 16,000 jobs equate to upwards of $750 million in annual payroll. That incredible spending power fuels another estimated 27,000 jobs off post. All told, the annual economic impact of Fort Knox is $2.6 billion.

    That’s worth repeating: an annual economic impact of $2.6 billion.

    Further, the potential for greater economic impact exists if the DoD adds more organizations to the installation and if we can attract more defense related businesses to our region.

    That includes:

    • Military organizations and state and federal agencies that want or need access to Fort Knox’s world-class training areas and ranges.

    • Military organizations that want to realize cost savings and increased cybersecurity which the installation’s energy independence provides.

    • Businesses that want to realize the synergy and opportunity that exists to grow their operations at the doorstep of the world’s largest human resource organization or an installation that is a global leader in energy independence.

    That just scratches the surface of why Fort Knox is poised to grow and why our region’s economy is poised to grow with it.

    That said, we all have a role to play in Fort Knox’s success. Our support to soldiers and their families, our great schools, affordable housing, top-notch health care, great transportation networks and the entertainment, retail and outdoor recreation options we have in central Kentucky provide an unmatched quality of place that makes Fort Knox all the more attractive.

    That’s why it should come as no surprise that the Association of Defense Communities named the Greater Fort Knox Region a 2018 Great American Defense Community, one of only five in the country.

    It is a well-deserved recognition, but also an opportunity to set the bar even higher. We have to be vigilant in our efforts to work collaboratively and make our region even better. That’s why we need to support the Lin­coln Trail Workforce De­vel­opment Board’s efforts to grow the available talent in our region, because new missions and new businesses need access to a highly skilled labor pool. That’s why we must continue to limit development near Fort Knox so there are no preventable restrictions placed on training operations. That’s why we must continue our steadfast support to soldiers and their families.

    As we celebrate Fort Knox’s centennial and our designation as a Great American Defense Com­munity, let’s honor the past with a commitment to the future.

    Fort Knox 2118 — the possibilities are endless. Here’s to the next 100 years.

    Work Matters column by Brig. Gen. (Ret) Jim Iacocca

  • Legislation makes Fort Knox’s energy program permanent / The News-Enterprise

    Source: The News-Enterprise 

    Fort Knox’s energy independence was secured in the 2019 federal defense policy bill passed Thursday by the U.S. House of Representatives.

    Kentucky lawmakers worked to insert language into the Fiscal Year 2019 National Def­ense Authorization Act to allow Fort Knox to continue producing natural gas. The $716 billion authorization bill also includes a 2.6 percent pay raise for service members and $26 million for a digital air/ground integration range at Fort Knox.

    The local post overhauled its energy program after the 2009 ice storm. Starting in 2015, it has used its own energy resources to power the post and is no longer dependent on the power grid. It was the first military installation to do so. The energy program is expected to save the Army about $8 million annually.

    A round of service contracts was expiring and the program required a legislative fix to continue operating, according to a news release from U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie’s office.

    The Bowling Green Republican and U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul worked with the Departments of Defense, Army and Interior, and congressional committees to ensure the provision was included in the final NDAA.

    “This has allowed Fort Knox to become energy independent when needed, preparing the base in the event of another emergency,” Guthrie said in a statement. “With the help of Leader Mc­Con­nell and Senator Paul, Secretary Zinke, the Army, the Armed Forces Committees and the Natural Resources Committees, we were able to get this done.”

    Jim Iacocca, director of the Knox Regional Development Alliance, praised the legislation in a statement.

    “The Fort Knox energy security program is a leader among other branches of the military and a boon to the Fort Knox area,” he said. “We want to thank the Kentucky congressional delegation for spearheading this effort to include this legislation in this year’s NDAA. We look forward to seeing Fort Knox continue to grow as a result of this legislation.”

    McConnell said Fort Knox continues to play an essential role in the nation’s defense and he was proud to promote the installation’s energy security and self-sufficiency.

    “As Congress continues its work to support our men and women in uniform, I am pleased that we accomplished this priority for Kentucky and our nation’s security,” he said, thanking Guthrie, Paul and leaders in the Departments of Defense, Army and Interior.

    Paul and Guthrie previously have introduced legislation designed to protect the energy program.

    “This provision, much like my previously introduced amendments on this issue, will allow the U.S. Department of Defense to continue producing natural gas at Fort Knox,” Paul said in a statement. “I look forward to its passage and hope Fort Knox can continue to lead the way in cost-effectiveness and ingenuity when it comes to natural gas development and sustainability.”

    The Senate is expected to vote on the authorization bill this week. Other provisions in the bill are aimed at supporting military readiness and investing in missile defense and nuclear deterrents.

    “Our military must be ready to face any number of threats around the world,” Guthrie said. “This year’s NDAA improves our military readiness and supports our troops. We ask our servicemen and women to put their lives on the line for us, and we must make sure they have the best care we can provide for them. I look forward to seeing this bill signed into law.”

  • Ft. Knox Region Celebrates ADC Honor

    Source: Association of Defense Communities 

    Local officials and leaders from Fort Knox, Ky., gathered on the post’s parade field last week to celebrate two events — the Greater Fort Knox region being named to the 2018 class of Great American Defense Communities (GADC) and the post’s centennial. ADC board member Bob Ross presented the community with the GADC banner. At the event, more than 1,500 soldiers and 700 civilians formed the words “Fort Knox,” to commemorate a 1918 photo. See then and now photos in the June 2018 issue of America’s Defense Communities Magazine.

    The Greater Fort Knox region is one of five communities that make up the 2018 class of GADC, a program recognizing the unique contributions made by communities that host military installations to improve quality of life for service members and their families.

     

     

  • Fort Knox Graduation Dates

    Basic Camp Graduations at Brooks Field from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
    1st Regiment: 6 July
    2nd Regiment: 11 July
    3rd Regiment: 16 July
    4th Regiment: 21 July
    5th Regiment: 26 July
    6th Regiment: 31 July
    7th Regiment: 5 Aug
    8th Regiment: 10 Aug

    Advanced Camp Graduations from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
    1st Regiment: 5 Jul 18 at Natcher Gym
    2nd Regiment: 10 Jul 18 at Brooks Field
    3rd Regiment: 15 Jul 18 at Brooks Field
    4th Regiment: 20 Jul 18 at Brooks Field
    5th Regiment: 25 Jul 18 at Brooks Field
    6th Regiment: 30 Jul 18 at Brooks Field
    7th Regiment: 4 Aug 18 at Brooks Field
    8th Regiment: 9 Aug 18 at Brooks Field
    9th Regiment: 14 Aug 18 at Brooks Field
    10th Regiment: 18 Aug 18 at Brooks Field

  • Fort Knox general discusses post’s future at Chamber / The News-Enterprise

    Fort Knox general discusses post’s future at Chamber / The News-Enterprise

    Source: Katherine Knott, The News-Enterprise

    Since Maj. Gen. Christopher Hughes assumed the job as commanding general of U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, he said he’s often been asked if the Armor Center is coming back.

    He said those he spoke to believe the post has lost its purpose with the departure of the armor command.

    “But I don’t see it that way,” Hughes said Wednesday at the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s November luncheon. “What Fort Knox has been given is a tremendous opportunity.”

    Hughes updated chamber members about new medical facilities and museum renovations at the post.

    With Veterans Day approaching, Hughes first took a moment to thank the military veterans in the audience. Saturday is Veterans Day.

    He said those who served in the military have enabled the American way of life.

    “What really sets our veterans apart from so many great leaders in this nation is that veterans are willing to risk everything they have, everything they own, everything they believe in to protect a document, an idea, the U.S. Constitution,” he said.

    Hughes’ speech to the chamber comes amid various projects on post.

    Fort Knox will have a groundbreaking at 10 a.m. Thursday for a new Ireland Army Health Clinic, Hughes said. The new facility will be more than 101,000-square feet and include state-of-the-art technology.

    Recently, the General George Patton Museum closed for renovations. Hughes said the museum falls under Cadet Command’s purview, so he decided to invest $4.8 million into the museum to improve the visitor experience.

    Renovations to the museum include a new roof and roof facade, replacing glass and metal in the atrium and opening access to the museum from U.S. 31W.

    Hughes said when the museum reopens, it will feature new exhibits about Patton and Fort Knox, and an ROTC Hall of Fame.

    “Believe it or not, the Patton Museum has never displayed the history of Fort Knox,” he said. “We’re finding history tucked away in closets across the entire post.”

    Hughes said the post is marking its centennial next year and asked the community to celebrate with them.

    “It’s amazing to think what’s happened with our community and this installation in the last century, but what I find more exciting and interesting is to think about what is yet to come,” he said.

    Katherine Knott can be reached at 270-505-1747 or kknott@thenewsenterprise.com.