Commission Seeks Public Input to Rename 10 Army Posts

Commission Seeks Public Input to Rename 10 Army Posts

Soldiers stand in formation at Fort Hood, Texas.
Photo by: U.S. Army/Blair Dupre

The commission tasked with renaming military installations that honor Confederate leaders is asking for the public’s participation in suggesting new names.

Seeking names that are consistent with U.S. military and national values, the Naming Commission is asking local, city, state and federal leaders, as well as members of the community, to provide insight and feedback to ensure a well-rounded process.

The targeted installations include 10 Army posts: Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Lee, Fort Pickett and Fort Belvoir in Virginia; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Fort Benning and Fort Gordon in Georgia; Fort Hood, Texas; and Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Citizens can submit name recommendations here.

Members of the Naming Commission began visiting DoD-owned installations over the summer and will continue to meet with commanders and local leaders through the fall. 

Their mission is to provide Congress with naming, renaming and removal recommendations for DoD items that commemorate the Confederate States of America or any individual who served voluntarily in that organization.

The eight-member commission, which includes two retired Army general officers and a former drill sergeant, was mandated by the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. 

The law contains a detailed three-year process for renaming or removing Confederate names from U.S. military installations. Army forts named for Confederate generals have received the most attention, but the law also applies to ships, buildings, streets, parks, monuments or any other display.

The commission is due to provide an initial update to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees by Oct. 1, with a final report due by Oct. 1, 2022. The defense secretary must implement the plan by Jan. 1, 2024.