Often referred to as the unofficial home of the U.S. Army, Fayetteville, North Carolina, is bursting with military history and culture. But how much do you really know about the area or the installation it supports? Here are five things everyone should know about Fort Bragg and the surrounding area.
1. It’s a beast.
Fort Bragg is one of the Army’s largest installations in the world with more than 60,000 service members spread across 161,000 acres. The major player there is U.S. Army Forces Command, which is responsible for the readiness of more than 75 percent of the Army’s force structure and 87 percent of the Army’s combat power. On post you’ll also find the U.S. Army Reserve Command, XVIII Airborne Corps and the popular 82nd Airborne Division. It’s a full-service post with a hospital, but there’s also a Veterans Affairs medical center in the area. Also located a stone’s throw away? Pope Field, which is home to the 440th Airlift Wing.
2. Diverse jobs.
In addition to service members, about 14,000 civilians work at Fort Bragg. The range of employment opportunities is diverse at both the installation and in Fayetteville. The largest employers in the region are Fort Bragg, Cumberland County Schools, Goodyear Tire Company and Cape Fear Valley Health System. At Fort Bragg, you’ll find jobs like a geospatial intelligence analyst, a principal linguist and a WMD targeting analyst. In Fayetteville, available jobs include positions like a full motion video analyst, financial analyst and intelligence analyst. In August 2014, the unemployment rate was 6.4 percent for Fayetteville versus the national 6.1 percent for that time period. Interesting fact – Fort Bragg and Pope Field pump $4.5 billion a year into the region’s economy making it a prime spot for small businesses.
3. It doesn’t cost much.
The cost of living in Fayetteville is about 7 percent lower than the national average with the median home price ringing in around $128,000. Although living there isn’t tax-free, there are some tax exemptions for those that qualify. For example, retirees with five years of service as of Aug. 12, 1989 are fully exempt from taxes on military retirement pay. And while everyone else is taxed, up to $4,000 a year, or $8,000 if married filing jointly, may be excluded.
4. Higher Education is available.
For those looking to pursue a degree, look no further than the local Fayetteville State University. The university, which is part of the University of North Carolina system, offers degree programs through the doctoral level. It also has a satellite campus located at Fort Bragg for convenience. Other higher education opportunities are available at the Fayetteville Technical Community College. They offer curriculum classes that count toward degrees as well as continuing education classes geared toward personal and professional development.
5. It’s not all work.
With such a large military presence in the area, it should come as no surprise that there are several museums dedicated to military history. In fact, the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum is one of the oldest and largest organizational museums in the Army system. The region itself is also steeped in history with the 1897 Poe House nearby and more than 750 miles of themed driving trails. For those interested in golfing, you’ll find more than 20 courses within an hour’s drive. And there are blueberry farms, vineyards and the Cape Fear Botanical Garden for family fun. Not to mention more than 1,500 retail shops and 400 restaurants to visit in your free time.
The main thing you need to know is that Fort Bragg is big – in size, and in mission. There’s a wide range of employment opportunities and the cost of living is low. If you enjoy living in a military environment – because Fayetteville is definitely a military town – you may want to add Fort Bragg to your job search.
