82nd Airborne Division Community Guide

The 82nd Airborne Division, known as "America's Guard of Honor," is one of the most storied units in U.S. military history. Based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, the division forms the heart of the military community in Fayetteville.

Division Overview

The 82nd Airborne Division serves as the primary fighting arm of the XVIII Airborne Corps and maintains the nation's strategic response force, ready to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours.

Key Facts:

• Nickname: "All American Division"
• Motto: "All the Way!"
• Home: Fort Liberty, North Carolina
• Mission: Strategic response force
• Strength: Approximately 14,000 paratroopers

History

Origins

The 82nd Division was constituted on August 5, 1917, and organized at Camp Gordon, Georgia. It earned the nickname "All American" because its original soldiers came from all 48 states.

Becoming Airborne

On August 15, 1942, the 82nd Infantry was redesignated as the 82nd Airborne Division, becoming the first airborne division in the U.S. Army.

World War II

The division participated in historic campaigns including:

• Sicily and Italy (1943)
• Normandy D-Day invasion (June 6, 1944)
• Operation Market Garden (Netherlands, 1944)
• Battle of the Bulge (1944-45)
• Occupation of Berlin

General George Patton called the division "America's Guard of Honor" for its performance during the occupation of Berlin.

Integration Pioneer

In 1946, the 82nd became the first Army division to integrate Black soldiers when the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion ("Triple Nickles") joined the division.

Modern Era

• Korean War standby force
• Dominican Republic intervention (1965)
• Vietnam War deployments
• Operation Desert Storm (1991)
• Iraq and Afghanistan operations (2001-present)

Division Structure

Major Subordinate Units

• 1st Brigade Combat Team ("Devils")
• 2nd Brigade Combat Team ("Falcons")
• 3rd Brigade Combat Team ("Panthers")
• Division Artillery
• Combat Aviation Brigade
• Sustainment Brigade

Special Units

• Division Headquarters
• Military Intelligence Battalion
• Signal Battalion
• Division Band

Community and Family Support

Family Readiness Groups (FRGs)

Each battalion and brigade maintains active FRGs providing:

• Information dissemination
• Social events and activities
• Deployment support
• Newcomer integration
• Resource referrals

Division Support Programs

• Spouse employment assistance
• Financial readiness programs
• Child and youth services
• Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR)
• Army Community Service (ACS)

82nd Airborne Division Association

The 82nd Airborne Division Association supports paratroopers, military families, and veterans through:

• Scholarship programs
• Emergency assistance
• Veteran services
• Historical preservation
• Community outreach

Website: 82ndairborneassociation.org

82nd Airborne Division Museum

Located on Fort Liberty, the museum chronicles the division's history from 1917 to present.

Location: Ardennes and Gela Streets, Fort Liberty Admission: Free Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 AM - 4 PM

Exhibits Include:

• World War II artifacts
• Paratrooper equipment through the ages
• Medal of Honor displays
• Interactive displays
• Rotating special exhibits

All American Week

The division's signature annual event celebrating the 82nd Airborne legacy.

Events Include:

• Division Review ceremony
• Airborne operations demonstrations
• Physical fitness competitions
• Unit competitions
• Memorial ceremonies
• Family day activities
• Veterans reunion events

Veterans travel from around the world to participate in this annual celebration.

Community Events

Regular Events

• Division change of command ceremonies
• Deployment and redeployment ceremonies
• Holiday celebrations
• Family fun days
• Memorial Day and Veterans Day observances

Community Outreach

The 82nd Airborne maintains strong ties with Fayetteville through:

• Parade participation
• School partnerships
• Community service projects
• Local event support
• Veteran organization collaboration

Living in the 82nd Community

The Paratroooper Lifestyle

Life in the 82nd Airborne is unique:

• High operational tempo
• Frequent training exercises
• Global Response Force (GRF) rotations
• Strong unit cohesion
• Proud traditions

Family Considerations

• Be prepared for frequent TDY and deployments
• Build a support network early
• Connect with FRG leadership
• Utilize on-post resources
• Embrace the airborne community

Resources

Official Channels

• Division Website: home.army.mil/liberty/units-tenants/82nd-airborne-division
• Army Website: army.mil/82ndAirborne
• Facebook: Official 82nd Airborne Division page

Support Resources

• Army Community Service: 910-396-8680
• Family Readiness Support: Contact your unit FRG
• 82nd Airborne Division Association: 82ndairborneassociation.org
• Division Museum: 910-432-3443

The 82nd Airborne Division community represents the best of military service - courage, commitment, and camaraderie. Welcome to the All American team!