Army command considers Fort Benning in relocation process

FORT BENNING - Columbus officials and U.S. Rep. Mac Collins&#39; office want to attract a major U.S. Army command to Fort Benning, a move that would create about 1,500 jobs. <br> <br> City officials said they believe U.S. Army South plans to move from Fort Buchanan in Puerto Rico and has narrowed its prospects to Fort Benning and Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. <br> <br> ``As we understand it, USARSO has been approved to move, and it appears it is between Fort Benning and San Antonio,&#39;&#39; said Chuck Hunsaker, Collins&#39; military liaison. ``It also appears that the Army is leaning toward San Antonio.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> A Fort Benning spokeswoman said the post was aware of the proposed move but understood that more than two locations were under consideration for Army South. <br> <br> ``There were a number of posts mentioned, and we were one of them,&#39;&#39; Elsie Jackson said. <br> <br> Army South, one of 17 major Army commands, provides support for U.S. embassies and is the center for U.S. military power in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Army South helps coordinate disaster relief and peace-keeping missions for the region and works with its militaries to counter organized crime, terrorism, illegal migration, narcotics and arms trafficking. <br> <br> ``The chamber is actively involved in supporting this, and the development authority is as well,&#39;&#39; said Carmen Cavezza, a former commanding general of Fort Benning and Columbus city manager. <br> <br> Cavezza said Army South would be complemented by Fort Benning&#39;s Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly known as the School of the Americas. <br> <br> But Hunsaker noted that annual protests of the institute pose a problem. <br> <br> ``The demonstrations are a drawback for the Army,&#39;&#39; Hunsaker said.